Jan 7 (TM) Govt procurement practices have long been a contentious issue, criticised for their inefficiency, lack of transparency, and frequent delays. These systemic flaws disrupt the timely acquisition of essential goods and services, resulting in significant financial losses for the State and immense frustration for the public. While procurement guidelines and the committees tasked with overseeing them are designed to more..

Jan 7 (DM) Today (6), will mark the 40th anniversary of the killing of Fr. Mary Bastian, a Catholic priest from the Catholic Diocese of Mannar, in the Northern province in Sri Lanka. It will be yet another anniversary to be marked without a body and grave. The govt at the time of his killing had claimed that Fr. Bastian would have fled to India. For 40 years, the truth of Fr. Bastian’s killing hasn’t been officially acknowledged by any govt and there is no indicator the new govt may be different. more..

Jan 7 (TM) The NPP Govt has focus on addressing corruption, and the Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the senior govt leadership seem to be frustrated with the Attorney General’s Dept for the slow progress on several key cases where indictments have not yet been filed. It is clear that the Govt wants to begin to deliver on the anti-corruption agenda, and is keen to get things moving quickly. The Sunday Morning reported last Sunday a special meeting was scheduled for yesterday more..

Jan 7 (SO) The 2020s began with significant challenges for SL. From the devastating Easter Sunday attacks in 2019 to the global pandemic and an economic crisis that took years to recover from, the nation faced bleak times. However, the 2024 elections rekindled hope for a brighter future. December’s grand Christmas celebrations and the resurgence of tourism, with two million arrivals last year, signal a return to normalcy. more..

Jan 7 (CT) If the Aragalaya had any lesson to offer, it was the dominant demand for a “System change.” Prez and Parliamentary elections showed emphatic support. Although the Throw out all 225 did not (thankfully) materialize, the never in a life-time experience, saw large numbers resigning/retiring. This was suggestive of a large scale abandonment of a sinking ship, or of lobsters sensing the warming of the pot. “No progress without change, but all change is not necessarily progress”. more..

Jan 7 (DM) The big question these days is about the NPP manifesto. Some want to rub the nose of our current rulers in the gap between promises and performance. But is this a productive path? The purpose of a manifesto is to convince voters to support the candidate or political party presenting it. Manifesto-making is political. Experts or those perceived as experts may be called in to contribute, but the principal criterion for what goes into the document is not expertise, but more..

Jan 6 (EN) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake discussed restoring public confidence in the island nation’s justice system when he met the Attorney General of officials from the Attorney General’s Department amid the new govt’s efforts to speed up high profile legal cases. The govt is in the move to resume high profile legal cases including the Easter Sunday attack and legal cases related to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family members. more..

Jan 6 (AD) The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the release of 34 individuals including the Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) Joseph Stalin from a case filed over staging protest violating quarantine rules in 2021. This case was taken up before Colombo Additional Magistrate Manjula Rathnayake today (06). Police had arrested 34 individuals including Stalin during a protest staged by IUSF, CTU and FSP against Kotelawala National Defence University Bill more..

Jan 6 (DP) Sri Lanka is adopting more American Bell 206 helicopters and a Pakistani Chengdu J-7 aircraft to enhance the country’s air force capabilities. The investment stipulates eight of the 206 systems in their TH-57 Sea Ranger military derivative ordered from Washington DC and a single Chinese-made J-7 in its FT-7 export trainer variant from Islamabad. SL Air Force (SLAF) Commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa confirmed that more..

Jan 6 (DM) The students of the Debarara Junior School in Wellawaya Education Zone had been served wheat flour roti and dates for their midday meal instead of rice and curry. When the parents questioned about it the woman who had undertaken the contract attributed it to the shortage of rice. The strength of Debarara Junior School with classes from Year one to eleven is 121 students. The contractor should have supplied a balanced diet of rice and curry including vegetable, and more..

Jan 6 (CT) The Free Media Movement (FMM) has sent an urgent letter to the IGP, calling for swift legal action in response to recent attacks on journalists. The letter was signed by Hana Ibrahim, the Convener of FMM, and Lasantha de Silva, the Secretary of the organisation. In the letter, FMM expressed grave concern over recent violent incidents targetting Tamilchelvan, a freelance journalist from Kilinochchi, and Achala Upendra, President of the Ampara District more..

Jan 6 (DM) In response to concerns over the risks posed by fixed structures at the Colombo International Airport, Ratmalana and the recent Jeju Air Flight 2216 tragedy at Muan International Airport, South Korea, which claimed 179 lives, Minister Bimal Ratnayake has directed authorities to remove such structures. The Aircraft Owners’ and Operators’ Association of SL had previously raised alarms, urging the govt and more..

Jan 6 (DM) India has pledged to provide unconditional support for the development of sports in Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports said. This commitment was made during a meeting between Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and Sri Lanka's Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage. The Indian High Commissioner expressed that support will be extended for sports development initiatives across the country, focusing on a range of sports, more..

Jan 6 (AD) SL Police reiterated that modifications and decorations to three-wheelers are only permitted if they adhere to the guidelines approved by the Dept of Motor Traffic. DIG of Police for Traffic Control and Road Safety Indika Hapugoda emphasized that any alterations to a three-wheeler must be recorded in the vehicle’s registration book without altering its original model. “This allows police officers to easily verify approved modifications through the Dept of Motor Traffic, more..

Jan 6 (DM) The expenses for the tea party hosted during the inauguration of the 10th Parliament was higher as the cost of the goods and services had gone up in the market, Parliament said while clarifying reports on expenses for the tea party hosted during the inauguration. Parliament's Communications Dept said the cost of the preparation of food items had gone up by approximately 100 percent when compared to 2020 when the tea party was hosted during more..

Jan 6 (TM) Following complaints from farmers in certain areas about not receiving the fertiliser subsidy of Rs. 25,000 per hectare provided by the Govt, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development assured that all subsidies would be credited to farmers by the end of this week. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed the Treasury to allocate an allowance of Rs. 25,000 per hectare to paddy farmers for the 2024/25 Maha cultivating season. more..

Jan 6 (DM) In the wake of a mysterious viral outbreak in China, the health authorities are still up in the air whether it could lead to a massive outbreak worldwide like COVID-19 pandemic. The virus spreading in China is called human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and it is spreading especially among those under 14 in northern provinces. Its symptoms are mostly similar to that of COVID-19. more..

Jan 6 (Island) Former Chairperson of Human Rights Commission Prof. Deepika Udagama strongly condemned the cancellation of a lecture, titled How to fight against the IMF austerity programme, at the Peradeniya Uni. Responding to The Island query in this regard, Prof. Udagama said: “This reported move to censor a programme, within a uni, is surprising and is extremely problematic to say the least. It sets a chilling precedent. Universities are critically important sites more..

Jan 6 (AD) The Grade 11 Term Tests in all govt schools within the North-Central Province have been cancelled until further notice. This was announced by Education Secretary of the North Central Province (NCP). Earlier today, it was revealed that the Sinhala Literature question paper for the Grade 11 term test in the NCP has been confirmed to have leaked on social media, prompting authorities to take immediate action. As of this morning, the distribution of the compromised question paper more..

Jan 6 (EN) Hundreds of online followers of Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe slammed domestic tyre producers after he revealed a request to further control imports, saying it will lead to a Rajapaksa administration style exploitation of consumers by protectionist businessmen. Local tyre makers had asked for import controls as there were more than enough locally made products, and after that prices more..

Jan 6 (Island) The SJB was yet to decide on a specific course of action in the aftermath of presidential and parliamentary elections held last year, Kalutara District lawmaker Ajith P. Perera said. MP Perera, who is also the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s nominee at the Constitutional Council, said that they weren’t in a hurry and were in the process of looking at all options. He said that a cohesive opposition political grouping would be much better than going it alone. more..

Jan 6 (EN) Sri Lanka’s red rice shortage was created by the govt through its price controls and import controls, by trying to interfere with the price signals, in a deterioration of policy seen over several years. The lack of food security and shortages is a direct result of self-sufficiency policies which had made exports impossible. The only way to prevent a similar crisis next year, is to avoid repeating the same mistake again. Price controls have a severe negative impact on perceptions of economic more..

Jan 6 (AD) Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), D.J. Rajakaruna has initiated legal action against Ananda Palitha, a trade union leader affiliated with the SJB, over defamation. Accordingly, the CPC chairman has reportedly sent a letter of demand to Ananda Palitha seeking Rs. 500 million in compensation, alleging that Palitha caused damage to his reputation through a statement he made. The letter of demand, sent through Attorney-at-Law Sampath Yalewatte on Dec 24, more..

Jan 6 (AD) Office of the PM and Minister of Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, has categorically denied any involvement in the cancellation of the scheduled lecture organized by the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) at Peradeniya Uni. Issuing a statement, PM’s Office said that Dr. Amarasuriya has consistently championed academic freedom and democratic engagement, values fundamental to fostering critical discourse in educational institutions. more..

Jan 6 (DN) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa announced that the Govt had decided to modernise and develop the Thriposha Company in Kandana, operating under the Health and Media Ministry and continue it as a State-owned enterprise to fulfill the nutritional needs of the nation. Minister revealed this decision during a discussion with officials to review the current status and future development plans of Thriposha Company. more..

Jan 6 (EN) SL has held a prepatory meeting for an Integrated Field Exercise under the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, the Defence Ministry said, though the international body in charge and the Foreign Minister said the event had been postponed. SL announced in 2023 that it had ratified the agreement the country signed in 1996. Soon after signing the agreement a in 1996, an auxiliary seismic station was set up in Pallekele, Kandy. Work under the treaty including on-site inspection more..

Jan 6 (FT) SJB MP Mujibur Rahman has requested Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to reconsider the Govt’s decision to deport 103 Rohingya refugees, including over 40 children, who arrived at the coast of Mullivaikkal in Mullaitivu, on 19 Dec 2024. “We are deeply saddened by the Govt’s decision to deport these Rohingya people who fled their war-torn country due to fear. SL Human Rights Commission has stated that there are over 40 children among them and their desire is to seek more..

Jan 6 (Island) Minister Ananda Wijepala said that investigations were underway to ascertain whether a group of Rohingyas rescued off Mullaitivu late last month were genuine asylum seekers. The Rohingya are a Muslim minority in Myanmar. Minister said that 12 members of the crew had been remanded pending investigations while others, numbering 103, had been moved to the Mullaitivu SLAF station, which was recently more..

Jan 6 (AD) Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation, Dr Susil Ranasinghe, has stated that steps have been taken to launch a special place investigation into lands allocated for various purposes since 2015. The Deputy Minister also mentioned that necessary legal action would be taken following the investigation. “Land is being allocated to industries and agriculture through the LRC. However, in the past, there have been many issues with land distribution and land transfers. more..

Jan 6 (FT) Resemblances to the early pre-transformation days of Singapore are beginning to show up with the new regime in SL. Six decades following Lee Kuan Yew’s cleansing and development of that nation has given rise to a world leader in a number of contexts including corruption elimination and cleanliness. More recently, it has also emerged as a leader in digitalisation. Ironically at the beginning of Singapore’s transformation journey Lee Kuan Yew set out to model more..

Jan 6 (DM) Let lovers make love! Why should others bothered about it? What has social media got to do with it?" asked Minister K.D. Lalkantha from the media after an event. He was responding to a question about the implications of his colleague MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi in a case. He said social media even fabricated a story, saying his daughter was studying at a university in Canada. "Even the state media made that news at that time. I, along with my daughter, was watching this news. more..

Jan 6 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake or AKD launched the most important project of his Govt – Clean Sri Lanka – on the eve of 2025 by addressing the nation standing on a red carpet at the front yard greens of the Prez’s Secretariat lively viewed by almost all Sri Lankans. It was followed by the affirmation of an oath by ministers, politicians, and all public servants throughout the country containing six points and pledging their support for the successful implementation of the project. more..