Nov 8 (DN) PM Harini Amarasuriya announced that in the next Parliament, ministries would be allocated scientifically, based on relevant fields, instead of the previous practice of awarding them as political favours. She stated that the new system would establish 25 ministries focused on interconnected sectors. Speaking further at a meeting with pre-school teachers held at the main post office auditorium more..

Nov 8 (CT) Private-sector pharmacy owners have cautioned the public about a potential collapse of services, citing the National Medicines Regulatory Authority’s (NMRA) insistence on enforcing strict regulations that require the full-time presence of a qualified pharmacist for a pharmacy to operate. Chandika Gankanda, President of the All-Island Private Pharmacy Owners’ Association (AIPPOA), expressed concern on Thursday, revealing that the NMRA had refused to re-register at least more..

Nov 8 (EN) SL’s cement availability has hit a 32-month high of 419,000 metric tonnes in August 2024, official data shows, indicative of a steady recovery in construction activities. In August domestic production was 328,0000 metric tonnes, up 25.4% from a year earlier. Local production is highest since 365,000 metric tonnes were produced in Dec 2021. Imports were 91,000 metric tonnes, down 3.7%. Total cement availability at 419,000 metric tonnes was up 17.6% from a year ago. more..

Nov 8 (DM) The CID arrested a 52-year-old man, Dhammika Ranasinghe, who returned from Malaysia this morning, at the BIA, for his involvement in defrauding over Rs. 10 billion through a pyramid scam. Police said Ranasinghe had fled the country a year ago amid a case before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court, where he was accused of financial fraud. CID also arrested his wife, 42-year-old Samudra Surangani, more..

Nov 8 (AD) Minister Vijitha Herath made a visit to the Colombo Port on Thursday to look into the existing issues including a delay in container clearances. There, the officials shared their concerns over the persistent delays in container clearances which have been ongoing for about two years. They pointed out that, about two to three years ago despite following all the methods, around 1,800 to 2,000 containers could be dispatched from the port daily. However, they noted that recently, more..

Nov 8 (AD) The female principal of a school in the Ragama area has been arrested for allegedly soliciting a bribe of Rs. 150,000 in exchange for admitting a student to the Grade 1 class for 2025, CIABOC said. The officers of the Bribery Commission had made the arrest last evening following a complaint lodged by a woman in the Mattumagala area of Ragama. The female principal in question has demanded the bribe for the admission of the complainant’s child into more..

Nov 8 (FT) If there is anything everyone supports, it’s digitalisation of govt. It’s seen as the panacea for all our ills: tax avoidance, corruption, inefficient agriculture… You name a problem, that is the answer, or at least part of the answer. We’ve been trying for over two decades but with meagre returns. What lessons for a reset can be drawn from our successes and failures? This moment when Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya has agreed to serve as Chief Advisor on the Digital Economy is more..

Nov 8 (FT) The victory of Donald Trump in the US Prez election held on 5 Nov 2024, is likely to be a defining moment in our global epoch. Trump brought together the decades-long projects of the American oligarchy and reactionary social forces. He ran on the agenda of amplifying the darkest trends in the American polity. But while the spectre of his return rose, the Democratic leadership held onto a bankrupt vision for the future that resisted interrogation of the US empire. more..

Nov 8 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has assured that SL’s workforce will see a reduction in current Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax rates by March 2025. He outlined significant tax reforms and economic measures that his administration intends to implement in the new Budget, scheduled for Feb 2025. Prez announced that the Budget would include targeted relief from high PAYE tax rates, particularly benefiting more..

Nov 8 (DN) Police figures reveal that the police spends nearly Rs.1000 million annually for 45 police vehicles and 530 police officers deployed to protect five former Presidents and a late president’s wife. All expenses incurred by the police, including fuel issued by the police, salaries and allowances of police officers, electricity and water costs of the barracks and offices where the police officers stay, have been added to it. Some former Presidents are even entitled to military protection and more..

Nov 8 (TM) The Election Commission (EC) is expected to announce the Local Govt (LG) Elections within this year and aims to hold it in Jan 2025, it is learnt. Originally scheduled to be held early last year (2023), the LG Elections had to be postponed due to the lack of funds or the non-provision of funds. EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said that the plan is to hold the LG Elections soon after the Parliamentary Election, though a brief period will be required for preparations. more..

Nov 8 (DM) Meteorology Dept will be able to provide more accurate weather forecasts from 2026, following the installation of two Doppler radar systems by the end of this year. Deputy Director of Forecasting and Early Warning, stated that the two Doppler radar systems will be provided to SL as part of a grant from the JICA. Civil construction work to install these radar systems is set to begin soon in Puttalam & Pottuvil. more..

Nov 8 (ST) Finance Ministry is crafting the 2025 national budget with a focus on enhancing production capacity, improving living standards, and managing economic policies to facilitate a recovery on the directions of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. It aims to introduce a transformative strategy designed to rejuvenate the economy for the benefit of the people. It intends to tackle the urgent economic issues citizens face while fostering sustainable growth and inclusivity, more..

Nov 8 (ST) The Supreme Court has ordered the Dept of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) Director General to submit a comprehensive report on the current situation of the trenches that had been dug as part of the project undertaken to mitigate the human-elephant conflict. The bench comprising Justices A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Achala Wengappuli and Arjuna Obeyesekere gave the order after taking up a fundamental rights petition filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) alleging that more..

Nov 8 (DN) Senior Advisor to the Prez on Economic and Financial Affairs Prof. Anil Jayantha stated that the government will focus on reducing the VAT levied on school material including textbooks and essential foods and medicine. The professor said this while participating in the meeting of Gampaha district farmers organised by SL Agricultural Development Council, chairman Sashika De Silva, at Miriswatta yesterday. The Gampaha Minsara organisation President who attended the event more..

Nov 8 (EN) More people were falling prey to financial scams conducted through social media apps, including WhatsApp, SL’s Information Dept said, urging the public to be alert. Incidents of WhatsApp accounts being hacked have been reported, with messages then sent to those in the contacts list asking for money. There have also been incidents reported of fake websites posing as those of various established banks, govt or non-govt org, business org, etc fraudulently obtaining money. more..

Nov 8 (EN) SL’s application to become a member in the BRICS has been rejected by the group’s current membership, but its request to become a member of New Development Bank (NDB) established by member countries to mobilise resources for infrastructure in emerging markets, the cabinet spokesman said. Established in 2015 by BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa), NDB is a multilateral development bank more..

Nov 8 (DN) Federation of Information Technology (Guarantee) Limited (FITIS) is proud to announce the outstanding achievements of 11 Sri Lankan organizations at the ASOCIO DX Awards 2024, held during the ASOCIO Digital Summit from November 6-8, 2024, at the ANA InterContinental Hotel in Tokyo, Japan. Eleven FITIS member and partner organizations received ASOCIO DX Awards, showing Sri Lanka’s increasing impact and leadership in digital transformation. more..

Nov 8 (TM) National Hospital of SL (NHSL) in Colombo currently has more Accident and Emergency (A&E) Physicians than required, while the Provincial General Teaching Hospital (TH) in Ratnapura, which has a well-established A&E Unit, lacks adequate physician support, it is learnt. According to a member of the Health Ministry’s Specialist Transfer Board, the NHSL's approved A&E physician cadre is two, yet, six are currently serving there — two permanent Consultants, more..

Nov 8 (FT) Dialog Axiata PLC yesterday announced a strong rebound in third quarter of FY24 delivering growth in core revenue and profitability. Dialog said the Group delivered a strong performance across Mobile, Fixed Line, Digital Pay Television, Int'l and Tele-infrastructure businesses recording a positive core revenue growth of 6% Year-to-Date (YTD). Excluding revenue from Airtel Lanka, YTD core revenue growth was at 3%. Group revenue reached Rs. 125.4 billion down 10% more..

Nov 8 (FT) Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is off to a robust start in November, with over 30,000 tourists arriving within the first five days of the month. From 1-5 November, the island nation welcomed 30,620 tourists, marking a 38% increase from the 22,202 arrivals during the same period a year ago. The surge in arrivals has also lifted year-to-date (YTD) tourists to over 1.65 million, pushing the country closer to its annual target of two million visitors. In addition, the daily average tourist arrivals more..

Nov 8 (FT) South Asia’s premier precious stone showcase, Gem Sri Lanka, is set to make a dazzling return from 7 to 10 January next year at the Cinnamon Bentota Beach, with a goal of taking the country global. Organised by the Chinafort Gem and Jewellery Traders Association (CGJTA), Gem SL has become a significant platform to connect international buyers with SL traders. Gem SL 2025 is the 2nd edition of the exhibition, more..

Nov 8 (Island) SL’s coconut industry is facing a significant crisis, with production levels plummeting from three billion nuts annually to just 2.85 billion nuts. Erratic policies of previous govts regarding fertilizer use have played a key role in precipitating this situation, Coconut Development Authority (CDA) chairman said. He highlighted that the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations has led many farmers to neglect best practices in nurturing coconut trees, thus exacerbating the problem. more..

Nov 8 (DM) India-based HRV Global Life Sciences and New Horizon Global Pharma is exploring possible expansion into SL, which is emerging as a strategic growth market in South Asia. HRV Global Life Sciences & New Horizon Global Pharma is a leading manufacturer, seller & market expansion company for a wide range of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, Advanced Pharma Intermediates, Pellets, Food Grade Chemicals, Food Additives and Food Ingredients across the world. more..

Nov 8 (TM) National Democratic Voice (NDV) organisation urged the Govt to reconsider any attempts to close or merge SL Thriposha Ltd (SLTL), warning that such a decision would jeopardise the nutritional support provided to vulnerable social groups. NDV Spokesperson Ravi Kumudesh raised these concerns, emphasising the critical role that the SLTL plays in addressing malnutrition among low income communities. more..

Nov 8 (FT) As Sri Lanka enters a new era of creativity and innovation, the SL Design Festival (SLDF) has reintroduced its acclaimed Product and Interior Design Exhibition, a cornerstone event showcasing SL’s design talent. This year’s exhibition emphasises products designed and made in Sri Lanka, underscoring the nation’s rising focus on homegrown design-led industries and innovation. The exhibition was opened on Wednesday by British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick. more..

Nov 8 (Island) New Zealand cricket team took a breather, immersing themselves in the natural splendor of Minneriya, where they witnessed the breathtaking Gathering — a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle where elephants congregate around the Minneriya Reservoir during the dry season. It’s a sight to behold, one of the world’s most captivating wildlife events, and a must-see for nature lovers. But today, the Kiwis will shift their focus back to the pitch, preparing to face Sri Lanka more..

Nov 8 (DN) “Getting more overseas tours for the SL ‘A’ team is vital for youngsters,” said SL ‘A’ team head coach Avishka Gunawardena before their departure for the Pakistan tour yesterday. Sri Lanka ‘A’ team recently toured South Africa and participated in the ACC Emerging Asia Cup tournament in Oman, both of which ended successfully. Our players gained experience and had a good chance to adjust to different conditions. Credit should go to SLC for organising more..

Nov 8 (ST) During a recent visit to Germany to study migration trends and the prospects for skilled and professional Sri Lankans to work there, the first stop was at the Dept of Civic Education where Frank Burgdorfer, an independent expert, briefed our group of journalists from India, SL, Bangladesh and Nepal on demography, the skilled labour shortage and the economic transformation. He spoke at length about migration trends in Germany starting with Polish migrants who came there many decades more..

Nov 8 (Island) For nearly two decades, state universities have been under siege. They were targeted by a deliberate campaign of discreditation. Various expert committees were set up by incumbent govts to deliberate on the problems in higher education, with minimal involvement of university communities. The sector was increasingly politicized, with undue state involvement in recruitments and appointments. more..

Nov 8 (ORF) In SL, the new govt of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has decided not to sell the state-owned enterprise (SOE)—Sri Lankan Airlines. The decision mirrors the govt of former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, who also scrapped plans to privatise Sri Lankan Airlines in July. State-owned enterprises have impacted SL’s economy for decades. SL defaulted on its sovereign debt in April 2022 amid power blackouts and long fuel queues, with its reserves dropping below US$50m. more..

Nov 8 (Island) Donald Trump has done the impossible. He has made a triumphant return to the White House against all odds. Even his ardent loyalists may not have expected him to secure a non-consecutive term like Grover Cleveland, when he refused to concede defeat following Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election, which, he claimed, had been stolen, and went on to instigate his backers to rebel. His opponents said he had cooked his goose. Trump, impeached twice, more..