Apr 18 (FT) First quarter tea exports in $ terms had hit a six year high of $ 354 million, Asia Siyaka Research said yesterday quoting data published by Sri Lanka Customs. Sri Lanka shipped 62 Mnkg during the period January - March 2024, up 15% on last year’s figure of 54 Mnkg. “Due to steady strengthening of the SL Rupee against US$ YoY and lower auction prices, Rupee earnings show only a nominal change with an increase from Rs. 36 billion to Rs. 38 billion,” Asia Siyaka said. more..

Apr 18 (TM) Reproductive health is a crucial aspect of overall wellbeing, particularly for women living in urban slums where access to healthcare services may be limited. Colombo is home to a significant population living in slum areas, and the reproductive health of women in these communities is a matter of concern. One of the key reproductive health-related challenges faced by women in Colombo slums is the high prevalence of teenage pregnancy. According to the WHO, more..

Apr 18 (TM) The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) stressed that in the event of attempts to postpone the Presidential and Parliamentary elections, the former which is expected to take place towards the end of this year, it will not hesitate to oppose such attempts and will show zero tolerance regarding the same. It noted that such an attempt will erode the public confidence in universal suffrage and challenge the franchise of the people. more..

Apr 18 (FT) DP Education, the philanthropic initiative of MP Dhammika Perera’s DP Foundation, yesterday opened the country’s first digital pre-school in Bibile in Uva province. Perera also opened the latest branch of DP IT Campus at the Bibile Wagama Sri Saddaramalankara Pirivena consisting of 21 computers with internet connection enabling students and youth to learn software development and coding free of charge. The initiative at Bibile is with the blessings and support of more..

Apr 18 (FT) Techtextil and Texprocess will take place from 23 to 26 April 2024 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Techtextil is the leading international trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens, while Texprocess showcases the latest in garment and textile manufacturing machinery and services. These events provide numerous benefits for SL’s technical textile sector, including market access, networking opportunities, knowledge sharing, promotion of innovation, attracting investment, and more..

Apr 18 (DN) Top four SL athletes are expected to participate in the UAE Grand Prix Athletic Championship scheduled for May 3 in Dubai. This presents an excellent opportunity for SL athletes to earn points for ranking aiding them in reaching the Olympic qualification mark, added SL Athletic President Palitha Fernando. SL ace sprinter Yupun Abeykoon based in Italy, will compete in the 100m event at the Dubai Grand Prix. more..

Apr 18 (Island) Sri Lanka Insurance concludes the year 2023 with remarkable success, achieving an impressive profit before taxation of Rs. 10.6 billion, reflecting a robust improvement in combined Gross Written Premium (GWP) of Rs. 44.2 billion, marking a growth of 7.2%. As of December 31, 2023, SL Insurance Life recorded a premium volume of Rs. 21 billion, while SL Insurance General recorded a premium value of Rs. 23.1 billion. Reaffirming its commitment to customers throughout 2023, more..

Apr 18 (Island) Derek Underwood, the man who mesmerized Sri Lankans with an eight-wicket haul in our inaugural Test match at P. Sara Oval 42 years ago, is no more. He passed away at the age of 78 on Monday. Arjuna Ranatunga thrilled us all becoming the first Sri Lankan to post a half-century in Test match cricket. He was dismissed by Underwood. The manner in which the old fox, 37 at that time, set up the 18-year-old was a treat to watch indeed. Arjuna was cleaned up shouldering more..

Apr 18 (FT) Heralding a new era for both SL and Kuwaiti accounting professionals, the Kuwait Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of SL (CA SL) is poised to catalyze professional growth and knowledge exchange opportunities for Sri Lankans through an impactful partnership with the Kuwait Accountants & Auditors Association (KAAA). The MoU was signed by CA SL President Heshana Kuruppu and KAAA Chairman Sabah Mubarak Al-Jalawi, in the presence of Ambassador more..

Apr 18 (DM) Knuckles, renowned for its commitment to purity and quality, has announced the launch of its newest innovation: Knuckles Bottled Drinking Water in glass bottles. Bottled at the source in the Knuckles Mountains range, the water undergoes a meticulous bottling process that ensures it retains all the natural elements and qualities historically associated with the region. From its pure, natural spring origins to its high pH value and rich essential mineral content, Knuckles Bottled Drinking Water more..

Apr 18 (CI) Sri Lanka completed the highest successful chase in women's ODIs, against South Africa, and the only one over 300 thanks to a sensational 195* from their captain Chamari Athapaththu. She finished with her career-best ODI score and the third-highest individual score by a batter in women's ODIs to help SL level the series 1-1. In a battle of the captains, Athapaththu's knock trumped Laura Wolvaardt's 184* more..

Apr 18 (CT) Recent warnings issued by the Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) point out a critical issue plaguing our healthcare system – the need for transparency and accountability in governance. The ongoing internal investigations within the Health Ministry, coupled with accusations of serious procurement violations, that took place with the influence of ministry higher ups, demand swift and decisive action to restore public trust. more..

Apr 18 (TM) 15 years after the end of the war in the N&E, a tourist might, at first glance, have a difficult time figuring out whether a war was fought there at all. There is not much difference between the towns in the North and the South. There is an appearance of peacefulness and normalcy that tourists have taken to. SL has claimed the coveted title of the number one destination for solo female travelers this year, according to a leading global media and hospitality business, Timeout.com. more..

Apr 18 (Island) Tourist arrivals are on the increase, according to the SL Tourism Development Authority. Prestigious international travel guides are very generously promoting SL as a must-visit tourist destination. Lonely Planet says endless beaches, timeless ruins, welcoming people, oodles of elephants, rolling surf, cheap prices, fun trains, famous tea and flavourful food make SL irresistible. The New York Times has ranked Negombo as one of the 52 Places to Go in 2024. more..

Apr 18 (TM) This week, Medawachchiya Magistrate court ordered the IGP to hand over all investigations being carried out by the Kebithigollewa Police against two police officers who allegedly assaulted a 23-year-old man causing him grievous injuries leading to the removal of a testicle, to the CID. The alleged case of police brutality is the latest in a long list, spanning decades, and is a part of a dark sub-culture of brutality, custodial death and torture within the law enforcement community, more..

Apr 18 (CT) Not many know that SL is self-sufficient when it comes to the poultry and egg industry and it, in fact, was one of the fastest-growing livestock sub-sectors in SL and has expanded to a great extent in recent years. It contributed 0.38% to the country’s GDP in 2019, which is 64% of the total contribution of SL livestock. The poultry sector’s contribution to GDP showed a gradual increase until 2019, yet, it was highly affected by Covid-19 more..

Apr 18 (CT) In Jaffna, Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) completed the circle of waging peace in the country after starting it in the rest of the country and promoting it in the countries of the diaspora. We were waiting for this to happen. National People Power (NPP) is the space created by the JVP for the Grand Alliance of Good People (GAGP) to take root, blossom and spread its fragrance throughout the country. This is what the good, decent citizens had been waiting for so long. more..

Apr 18 (DM) The 2022 Football World Cup in Qatar centered the world’s attention on the abuse faced by thousands of primarily South Asian migrant construction workers. The spectacle was a rare opportunity to press the case for reform not just in Qatar, but across many Gulf-region govts whose glittering skylines conceal a staggering amount of migrant abuse. Yet, just as the fervour of fair weather football fans has waned, so too have international outrage and promises of reform. more..

Apr 18 (CT) Water quality on the Jaffna Peninsula is at concerning levels. It is almost impossible to find a faucet, a kettle or even a drain on the peninsula that has not been covered by limescale – a hard, off-white-to pink-brown calcium carbonate build-up. A result of the hard water that is extracted from the Miocene limestone aquifers that underlay the entire peninsula. But according to the International Water Management Institute, more..

Apr 18 (DM) Kachchativu is a small island a mile long, three quarter mile broad at its widest and area wise less than half a square mile, located about halfway between India and Sri Lanka close to the median in the Palk Strait. In the drawing of the maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka, the question as to which country Kachchativu should be assigned to arose. Both countries put forward claims supported by evidence to show that it was within their sovereignty. more..

Apr 18 (DM) While Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, the splintered SLPP govt and opposition parties are focusing on the elections, what election should be held or when and on what basis, more attention needs to be given to vital issues relating to Mother Earth, as the world marks Mother Earth day on Monday (22). In a statement, the UN said that Mother Earth is clearly urging a call to action. Nature is suffering. Oceans are being filled with plastic and turning more acidic. more..

Apr 17 (EN) A total of 15 SL fishermen arrested in Myanmar and sentenced to 7 years of rigorous imprisonment were released today, Minister Ali Sabry has said. “The 15 SL fishermen taken into custody last December by Myanmar authorities sentenced to 07 years rigorous imprisonment, granted a general amnesty,” he said. Today marks the first day of the traditional Burmese new year’s day, during which the junta govt released more than 3,000 prisoners, according to CGTN, more..

Apr 17 (TM) Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) blamed the Ministry of Education for their lack of interest in investigating the complaints filed by the parents regarding the unnecessary collection of money in schools under the guise of functions and projects. Stating that it is the responsibility of the Govt to maintain the schools and allocate funds to fulfil the necessities, CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said that the Govt is endorsing the privatisation of the school system more..

Apr 17 (DM) Mage Rata organization president Sanjaya Mahawatta today, lodged a complaint with Illegal Assets Investigations Division, calling for an inquiry into model Piumi Hansamali using the Range Rover vehicle previously used by former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa. "It is clear that an election is near and politicians tend to inject all their saved black money into the upcoming election campaigns and it has become a good time more..

Apr 17 (CT) Sri Lanka Cement Corporation (SLCC) is presently inactive in the manufacturing of cement or related products and is relying solely on revenue generated from resource taxes. On 1 January 1959, the Corporation was reconstituted as Ceylon Cement Corporation under the Industrial Corporations Act No. 49 of 1957. In 1980 the name was changed to Sri Lanka Cement Corporation through a Gazette notification. According to the annual fiscal reports presented to Parliament, more..

Apr 17 (DM) Member of the Communications Committee of the Archdiocese of Colombo Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando has been summoned by the CID for questioning on Friday (19). Fr. Fernando who is also the editor of the Sinhalese Catholic Weekly Gnanartha Pradeepya said he has been summoned by the CID as they believe he is aware of certain details on the Easter Sunday attacks. Fr. Fernando was summoned by the CID earlier on Nov 3 to 8 2021. He obtained a stay order against more..

Apr 17 (Island) A group of govt and opposition MPs are planning to meet the House Committee, which is responsible for MPs’ amenities, seeking duty free vehicle permits entitled to them as in the past when parliament meets next week, parliament. The group comprising most backbencher MPs would seek a meeting with Speaker Mahinda Yapa in this regard and they are of the opinion that if parliament cannot provide them with more..

Apr 17 (DM) According to the family members, the funeral service for former Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma is scheduled to take place this Friday (10). He had experienced an electric shock yesterday while attempting to connect two electrical wires at his residence and had passed away after being admitted to the Nagoda Hospital. He had already prepared his burial plot in Kalutara for him to be laid to rest. His last wish was for his burial to take place within 24 hours of his death more..

Apr 17 (DM) Six students from the Burhani Serendib School in Colombo have qualified to take part in a prestigious global robotics competition, marking the first time Sri Lankan schoolchildren have qualified for this particular competition. Known as the International Creativity and Innovation Award (ICIA), the competition celebrates the most inventive young minds globally and will see the Sri Lankan students showcase their talents later this month in Thailand. ICIA is not just a competition but more..

Apr 17 (DM) Health officials have noticed significant prevalence of diarrhoeal disease among children these days, urging parents to exercise caution. LRH consultant pediatrician Dr. Deepal Perera said “It is a normal scenario to witness an uptick in cases of child diarrhoea following the extended holidays since children tend to consume more food from outside sources." The symptoms include frequent loose or watery stools, abdominal pain or cramps, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. more..

Apr 17 (AD) Actress Damitha Abeyratne and her husband, who were arrested over alleged fraud, have been further remanded on the orders of Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court. Accordingly, the couple will be behind bars on remand until 24 April. The actress and her spouse, who had been wanted by the CID, were arrested after they appeared before the court on 04 April. The CID is investigating Abeyratne and her husband, in connection with their involvement in an alleged money scam. more..