Nov 16 (CT) Members of the Indigenous Vedda community in Dambana did not cast their votes in yesterday’s (14) General Election, after election officials present at the respective polling stations prevented them from entering the polling station carrying their traditional axe (Keteri), claimed Vedda Chief Uruwarige Wannila Aththo and the PAFFREL. Wannila Aththo alleged that as the members of the Indigenous community, more..

Nov 16 (Island) Sri Lankan shuttlers impressed on the second day of the ongoing Bahrain International Series 2024, which is currently underway in Manama, Bahrain. The tournament, organised by Badminton Asia, continues until Sunday at the India Club Bahrain in Manama. Top SL female athletes, Rashmi Mudalige and Ranithma Liyanage recorded straightforward wins against their respective opponents in the Women’s Singles Round of 16 to reach the quarter-final stage, more..

Nov 16 (FT) Batticaloa became the sole district in the country to withstand the NPP landside at Parliamentary poll. Batticaloa was the only district out of 22 electoral districts that NPP lost as ITAK received 96,751 votes and won three of the five seats. Shanakiyan Rasamanickam received 65,468 preferential votes, highest by any candidate in the history of Batticaloa beating the previous highest of 57,000. Second on the list only got 22,000, a gap of almost 43,000. more..

Nov 16 (FT) Cabinet Minister Vijitha Herath representing the NPP has set a new benchmark in Sri Lankan politics by securing a historic 716,715 preferential votes in the 2024 Parliamentary Election. Herath who contested from the Gampaha District, not only claimed the top spot in the district but also shattered the previous record for the highest number of preferential votes received by a single candidate in Parliamentary Election history. more..

Nov 16 (CT) SL’s capital market authorities plan to revitalise the country’s capital market with new leadership under a stable govt and an improved external sector environment in the upcoming post-debt restructuring scenario, industry sources revealed to Finance Today. “This strategic change aims to build a dynamic and resilient market ecosystem, improve market capitalisation and liquidity through new listings with incentive processes, foster investor confidence, more..

Nov 16 (FT) Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) extended its warm congratulations to the National People’s Power on securing a resounding majority in the General Election. “As Sri Lanka begins a new chapter, JAAF reaffirms its commitment to working closely with the new leadership to drive economic growth, foster sustainable employment, and support Sri Lanka in achieving its merchandise export target of $ 25 billion by 2025,” said JAAF representing SL’s largest export industry. more..

Nov 16 (DN) SL has made a strong impression at the ongoing 6th Carrom World Cup in the US, securing two bronze medals in the Men’s and Women’s Doubles events. In the Men’s Doubles, SL’s Shaheed Hilmy, the team captain, and Anas Ahamed clinched the bronze after a close contest. Both players are former Royal College Colombo students, with Hilmy also representing the SL Air Force Sports Club. In Women’s Doubles, SL pair of Tharushi Himahansika & Hirushi Malshani, more..

Nov 16 (PO) A 158-run third wicket partnership between Mohammad Suleman and Ali Zaryab helped Pakistan Shaheens defeat Sri Lanka ‘A’ by seven wickets on the fourth and final day at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Suleman was dismissed after scoring 86, while Ali returned unbeaten on 83 as Pakistan Shaheens achieved the 222-run target in 53 overs. Earlier, Khurram Shahzad picked up the last SL wicket on the fourth ball of the day without any addition to more..

Nov 16 (EN) SL’s NPP will not mis-use a two third majority given by voters to carry out its program, Tilvin Silva, General Secretary of the JVP, the main party behind the political group said. “We have understood the weight of responsibility of this victory,” Silva told reporters after the landslide win. “That trust we have to protect. We have got 159 votes, exceeding two thirds. There was opinion in society that there should not be two thirds. more..

Nov 16 (EAR) In the SL Prez election held on Sept 21, the candidate of the leftist National Peoples Power (NPP), Anura Kumara Dissanayake, just scraped through. But in the parliamentary elections held on Nov 14, his party, the NPP, romped home with a stunning two thirds majority. SL’s only major leftist party, the NPP, is continuing its dream run in the island nation’s electoral politics. It registered a stunning improvement in its electoral standing in the parliamentary elections held on Nov 14. more..

Nov 16 (CT) Never in the annals of Ceylon’s election history has there been a verdict so ruthless and final. What the voter showed just one and a half months ago was reaffirmed on Nov 14, 2024. The cliched egg was not broken; it was smashed to smithereens. In one of the most peaceful elections, the voter expressed his anger and disgust in the most decisive manner. Has traditional politics come to an end? How could the voters in the North, East, South and the West decide like one person voting? more..

Nov 16 (Island) JVP-led NPP has achieved the unthinkable. It made history when it swept Thursday’s general election and bagged all electoral districts except one. This is something unprecedented in this country. The NPP polled a staggering 6,863,186 votes (61.6%) and secured as many as 159 seats. ‘Even the ranks of Tuscany could scarce forbear to cheer’. Hardly anyone would have expected a political party to secure a two-thirds majority outright under PR system, more..

Nov 16 (DN) “We had a chat about the opening partnership, and we wanted to bowl tight overs. That was the only way to win the first ODI against New Zealand,” said Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka after the game at Dambulla. The Sri Lanka team’s plan was well executed and they won the first game by 45 runs (DLS method), taking a 1-0 lead. The two teams will meet for their second game tomorrow (17) at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Skipper Asalanka further said, more..

Nov 16 (CI) Kusal Mendis took home the post-game accolades for a career-best 143 as SL won the first ODI against New Zealand on Wednesday by 45 runs via DLS method. However, it might have all been for nought if not for an exemplary effort by the bowlers. NZ's openers Will Young and Tim Robinson had given the visitors an ideal start in pursuit of an adjusted target of 221 in 27 overs, with an 88-run opening stand more..

Nov 16 (DM) How can one explain the massive two-thirds victory of the NPP at the Thursday’s Parliamentary election, based on the results of the Presidential election held two months ago, on Sept 21? Also, how can one explain the unprecedented massive support the Tamil and Muslim people have extended to the NPP at the Parliamentary election? Although NPP leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake won the Prez election he failed to secure 50% of mandatory votes at the first round of more..

Nov 16 (ST) When Sri Lanka’s National Policy on Migration, to enhance the governance and management of labour migration, was being reviewed a few years ago, after it was first introduced in 2008, officials and civil society activists began deliberating on a reworked policy to suit current needs. This process went through the tenure of three presidents and three governments until the process was completed and ratified by the Cabinet in Sept 2023. more..

Nov 16 (TM) The African swine fever spread in SL during the past few months had a significant impact on the pig farming industry also leading to restrictions on the transport and sale of pork, and for the first time in recent memory, those who were in possession of pork faced the risk of arrest. In the general society and on social media platforms, this situation was viewed mostly as an issue affecting pork consumers, when in reality, it caused more..

Nov 16 (DM) In the run-up to the general election, newly elected Prez Dissanayake asked voters to drive corrupt politicians out of parliament. Well the public has done just that. Now it is up to Dissanayake and his team of brand new MPs to help Lanka’s people out of the misery their experienced politicians led them them into. According to WB statistics, “...poverty rates continued to rise for the fourth year in a row, with an estimated 25.9% of Sri Lankans living below the poverty line in 2023. more..

Nov 16 (ST) Many students are surprised, when they hear for the first time that banks can multiply your deposits. Banks do that, actually. Their business is to make money from others’ money unlike other businesses which make money by doing something else. In the process of making money from others’ money, banks create more deposits, not intentionally but effectively. If you deposit Rs.5,000 in your bank account, for example, the bank must lend it to somebody else to earn an interest income. more..

Nov 15 (NW) Several former ministers have failed to secure a seat in Parliament following the 2024 General Election. Former Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera is out of Parliament as his party fell short of securing a seat in Hambantota. Former Ministers Ramesh Pathirana and Manusha Nanayakkara are also out of Parliament as their party failed to secure a seat in Galle. Kanchana Wijesekera, who served as Power and Energy Minister in the previous govt, has failed to more..

Nov 15 (DM) Defeated candidate from the Gampaha district Ranjan Ramanayake said he and his party, the United Democratic Voice (UDV) did not have enough time to campaign ahead of the Parliamentary Elections. “We did not have much time to carry out an effective campaign,” Ramanayake, who is the party’s leader said. "We formed our party only on Oct 9, 2024 and had only 22 days of campaigning," he said. "My people need to be educated to hear my voice," he said, more..

Nov 15 (EN) The National People’s Power (NPP) has swept the 2024 parliamentary elections raking in a two thirds majority winning 159 out of 225 seats in the assembly. NPP painted the island winning across ethnicities and religious groups and made history wining the Northern Jaffna district. Since the preferential votes started under the current constitution, no single party on its own has been able to get such a majority. more..

Nov 15 (NW) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has extended gratitude to his supporters who voted in the 2024 Parliamentary Election, via a statement on ‘X’. “පුනරුද යුගය ඇරඹීමට උරදුන් සැමට ස්තූතියි! மறுமலர்ச்சி யுகத்தை ஆரம்பிக்க‌ தோள் கொடுத்த அனைவருக்கும் நன்றி! Thank you to all who voted for a renaissance!” the President said. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s NPP gained a majority in Parliament, claiming 141 seats, excluding National List. more..

Nov 15 DM) Harin Fernando and Ruwan Wijewardene, who both contested under the NDF in the Badulla and Gampaha District respectively have been defeated. Meanwhile Rehan Jayawickrama who contested for the Galle District from SJB was also defeated Jayawickreme took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to confirm that he had not received a seat in parliament. "Thank you to everyone who supported me in Matara. I placed third on the preferences list and didn’t make it to P'ment. more..

Nov 15 (EN) Sri Lanka’s 2024 general elections has returned an overwhelming majority of candidates from the NPP Anura Dissanayake followed by the SJB. The following is a list of reported candidates and preferential votes in the 2024 general election. Anuradhapura District: NPP Wasantha Samarasinghe – 251,639; Sena Nanayakkara – 86,150; Susil Ranasinghe – 72,508; Susantha Kumara – 71,695; Bhagya Herath more..

Nov 15 (EN) Ambassador of Japan to SL, Akio Isomata has congratulated SL’s people on the peaceful and democratic parliamentary elections. He commended SL people’s active engagement in the democratic process, and extended congratulations to all newly elected members of the parliament, the Embassy of Japan in SL said. “Japan looks forward to working closely with the govt, newly-elected MPs and people of SL, to achieve peace and prosperity in our countries and in the world, further more..

Nov 15 (NW) Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Ministerial candidate from the NPP for the 2024 general election, has emerged as the top candidate in the Colombo district, securing over 655,289 preferential votes. This vote count marks a historic record as the highest number of preferential votes ever received by a single parliamentary candidate in SL’s election history. Previously, the candidate with the highest number of preferential votes was Mahinda Rajapaksa, who contested from more..

Nov 14 (EN) SL’s election turnout at the 2024 parliament election has been around 55 to 65% at several districts, according to their returning officers, which is the lowest since the 2010 general election, according to information now available. Prez Anura Dissanayake said he expected a “strong mandate” to govern during his term. In 2010 when Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa’s UPFA won 144 seats, the turnout was 61.3%. Initial assessments by the district returning officer of Puttalam put the turnout at 56%, more..

Nov 14 (AD) Voting in the 2024 Parliamentary Election in Sri Lanka officially closed at 4 p.m. today. Accordingly, the ballot boxes have now been sealed at polling stations across the island, and counting is expected to begin shortly. Meanwhile, it was previously reported that the overall voter turnout as at 2 p.m. today had exceeded 55 percent in several districts. In the meantime, DIG Nihal Thalduwa stated this afternoon that polling for SL’s parliamentary election has been peaceful more..

Nov 14 (DM) Sri Lankans will vote for the election of MPs to the country’s tenth Parliament today, the first to be constituted after Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake took office. The last parliamentary election was conducted in August, 2020 when the country was hit by the pandemic. At this election, 196 MPs will be elected through direct votes and the remaining 29 to be nominated on the National List. Voters can cast their ballots more..

Nov 14 (EN) Voting in Sri Lanka's parliamentary poll started Thursday to elect 225 members to the parliament with Prez Anura Dissanyake seeking a majority to govern the sovereign debt defaulted nation amid calls for a new political culture without corruption and misappropriation of public funds. SJB led by Sajith Premadasa, SLPP of ex-Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa, the NDF made up breakaway legislators backing ex-Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and minority parties in the North are seeking seats. more..

Nov 14 (AP) Sri Lankans are voting in a parliamentary election Thursday that is key for the country's new, Marxist-leaning president to consolidate his party's power and follow through on promises of economic recovery. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won the presidential election on Sept. 21 in a victory that marked a rejection of the traditional political parties, which have governed the island nation since its independence from British rule in 1948. more..