Jul 11 (Island) SLPP-UNP govt has become an epitome of absurdity. Its leaders made frantic efforts recently to grant Attorney General (AG) Sanjay Rajaratnam a service extension amidst protests. They even strove to manipulate the Constitutional Council to compass their end. Thankfully, their plan went awry. Rajaratnam, however, should consider himself lucky; if they had succeeded in extending his term, he would have ended up having to pull a lot of political chestnuts out of the fire for them. more..

Jul 11 (TM) Over the last few weeks, SL’s slow and cumbersome state sector has staged their annual roaring. Hibernation has ended, with the arrival of the election season, and it is timely for the taxpayer-funded giant to take to the streets. Yes, the last few years have been hard on us all, and all except a few of the elite have not gone unscathed. We have all made sacrifices and many have been pushed below the poverty line. It must be acknowledged that some in the public sector are poorly paid. more..

Jul 11 (TM) From its establishment in 1978, the Medical Faculty of the Uni of Jaffna (UoJ) has grown into a valuable contributor to healthcare and medical education in the region. Over the decades, it has not only expanded its academic and research-related capabilities but also played a pivotal role in community health initiatives, particularly in the Northern Province. UoJ Medical Faculty Dean, Prof. R. Surenthirakumaran, more..

Jul 11 (GV) Uncover photography exhibition, curated by the Act Now Initiative, is a profound visual and narrative exploration into the themes of truth, justice and life in SL. Exhibition is a reminder of the country’s tumultuous history and ongoing struggles, inviting visitors to confront the harsh realities faced by many Sri Lankans. The exhibition delves into various critical issues such as enforced disappearances, land grabbing, militarisation, religious discrimination and the plight of more..

Jul 11 (CT) Last Friday, airport authorities intercepted a serval cat, a wild feline native to Africa and protected under the CITES (Convention on Int'l Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora) convention. This incident is part of a broader pattern of illegal wildlife trade, as evidenced by the arrest of a couple attempting to smuggle 88 live animals from Thailand and the Navy’s seizing of a trawler involved in the smuggling of bird and reptile species on 27 March and 7 July respectively. more..

Jul 11 (CT) National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency, known as NARA, a research arm of the Fisheries Ministry, conducts various scientific research on the surface and under the seas surrounding the island of SL. This is to ensure the protection of aquatic resources and to boost fisheries by disseminating research findings to the relevant authorities for implementation. NARA also significantly contributes to the national more..

Jul 11 (DM) The issuance of visas to enter Sri Lanka became a much discussed topic in May 2024, after a SL national challenged the way in which his foreign wife’s entry visa was handled at the BIA. The concerns of foreign nationals running visa counters at the SL border, the procurement process by which VFS Global (Visa Facilitation Services) was selected to implement the e-Visa programme, and increased costs of visas to SL were widely debated in the media after this incident. more..

Jul 11 (DM) With the Sri Lankan political parties and the citizens focusing mainly on the Prez Elections to be held later this year, the country has an urgent need not just for smart political leaders but a statesman who will work for the next generation and not for the next election. SL has produced few if any such statesmen who are in the calibre of Nelson Mandela. If we could mention a few who come near that status it could include our first PM D. S. Senanayake and his son Dudley Senanayake more..

Jul 10 (TM) SJB emphasised that public sector employees should be satisfied and be empowered within the State mechanism, and that their demands should be looked at in a fair manner. SJB MP Thushara Indunil cautioned that the public would have to face the consequences of failing to take measures to improve the public sector employees’ lives, and that it is a concerning situation. He pointed out the importance of the Govt being more receptive when it comes to dealing with protests more..

Jul 10 (DM) The strikes that are prevailing in the country could be the beginning of another Aragalaya that might destabilize the nation, Minister of Transport Bandula Gunawardene told Parliament today. “Strikes that are prevailing today could be the beginning of an exercise to destabilize the country that might end up with the burning of the parliamentary complex,” the minister said. “The strikers are making an impossible demand for an upward revision of salaries. more..

Jul 10 (Skift) SL’s tourism industry is witnessing a resurgence. Central Bank of SL reported that earnings from tourism soared to over $1.5 billion in the first half of 2024, marking a 78% increase year-on-year. Tourist arrivals hit 1.01 million, up 62% from the same period in 2023. By June 2024, tourism earnings had climbed to $151.1 million, a 23% increase year-on-year, despite a slight month-on-month decline. more..

Jul 10 (DM) Claiming that governors in some provinces were spending colossal amounts of money for various things such as vehicles, Vesak and Poson zones without adhering to any circulars or laws, NPP MP Vijitha Herath said such arbitrary actions must be stopped immediately. MP told Parliament that governors in certain provinces have appointed advisors using their arbitrary powers. Governors in the Western Province take decisions without considering any circular or law more..

Jul 10 (DM) Govt MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage today criticised the Election Commission for allowing the appointment of SJB MP Mujibur Rahaman through the national list. Aluthgamage, speaking in Parliament, faulted the Election Commission, questioning how a candidate who intended to contest the Local Govt election was appointed to Parliament via the national list. “The Election Commission talks about the appointment of coordinating officers to Governors. more..

Jul 10 (EN) Freedom Peoples Congress (FPC) led by MP Dullas Alahapperuma, a breakaway faction of the ruling SLPP, will join an alliance led by SJB, MP Charitha Herath said. Herath told reporters that the FPC’s discussions with the SJB have been successful and the group intends to join the mainstream opposition as part of a broader alliance. “A very decisive prez election is likely to be held this November. more..

Jul 10 (EN) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed the Treasury Secretary to develop a program to address low interest rates paid to retirees, his media office said, raising questions whether a senior citizens interest subsidy scheme would be revived. “For business development, bank interest rates need to be kept low. However, lower interest rates can disadvantage pensioners, so I have directed the Treasury Secretary to develop a program to address this issue,” the president said more..

Jul 10 (AD) Tea Research Institute of SL predicts that SL’s tea exports are expected to generate a revenue of USD 1.5 billion in the year 2024. Meanwhile, as part of the first stage of a three-phase program to provide fertilizer at a concessionary rate, 10,000 metric tonnes out of the planned 30,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer has been distributed among tea planters so far. Recently, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera convened a progress review meeting of St. Coombs Estate in Talawakelle more..

Jul 10 (TM) SL contestant Savindri Perera (Savi) has been selected as one of the 3 semi-finalists in MasterChef Australia, joining Tassie butcher Josh (Pezza) and Thai-Australian Nat. The competition saw Harry eliminated in the high-stakes battle for the last spots. Next Monday, one more contestant will be eliminated before the grand final on 16 July, with a $250,000 prize at stake. Savi’s Lamprais brought judges Poh Ling Yeow and Sofia Levinto to tears, despite some viewers dismissing it as more..

Jul 10 (AD) State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya stated that the final decision regarding the lifting of the restrictions on vehicle imports will be taken in the second week of August. He pointed out that the committee appointed to look into the matter met recently and agreed to submit the final report to the Cabinet within the second week of August. He mentioned that accordingly, it will be able to import vehicles according to SL’s revenue situation while prioritising the needs of the people. more..

Jul 10 (PTI) The ambulance service in Sri Lanka assisted by India is to get a boost with grants from Tata India and the ADB to augment their services, the Govt announced on Wednesday. Suwaseriya was initiated in 2016 with 297 ambulances obtained from TATA India under an Indian govt grant. It was later increased to 322 with ambulances added by SL providing pre-hospital emergency care. Cabinet approved a proposal to obtain the grants. more..

Jul 10 (AD) Cabinet of Ministers has green-lighted the second multi-sectoral national action plan (2024-2028) for the elimination of sexual and gender-based harassments in SL. Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardane said that since policy involvement is necessary to ensure the rights of women, men, children and all diverse groups to live in a fair and social environment without any violence, the first national action plan to address the harassments based on sexual and gender sociality more..

Jul 10 (AD) Minister Bandula Gunawardana says that the clearance of the Attorney General has been received for the draft bill to amend the National Transport Commission Act. During the parliamentary session today, the minister stated that even though the National Transport Commission can intervene only with regard to bus fares, the act has been amended to also allow the regulation of school vans, three-wheelers and other passenger transport vehicles as well. more..

Jul 10 (DM) Security has been tightened near the Kaduwela Magistrate's Court and surrounding areas as suspects arrested in connection with the Athurugiriya shooting incident are brought to court. Police said that the suspects would be produced before the court to obtain a detention order for further questioning. Seven individuals, including the owner of a tattoo shop, have been arrested over the shooting. more..

Jul 10 (DM) Following Railways Dept's announcement yesterday, the Executive Committee of SL Railways Station Masters' Union (SLRSMU) has decided to convene shortly to determine their next course of action. SLRSMU chairman Sumedha Somarathna said the Dept announced yesterday that Station Masters who do not report for duty today will be considered as having vacated their positions. As per the announcement, employees who did not report for duty today will not be allowed to more..

Jul 10 (AD) Actress Piyumi Hansamali has filed a petition with the Court of Appeal seeking a writ order to suspend the investigations being carried out against her by the Illegal Assets Investigations Division of the CID. The petition has named several officials including the IGP and the Director of the CID as respondents. Hansamali, who highlights in her petition that the Illegal Assets Investigations Division of the CID has launched an investigation against her, alleges that the manner in which more..

Jul 10 (CT) Public Petitions Committee (PPC) of the Parliament is scheduled to commence investigations on officials allegedly involved in the suspension of Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) President Dr. Chamal Sanjeeva. A spokesperson for MCPA said that the investigation related to the incident would be held in Parliament at 2 p.m. today (9). Dr. Sanjeeva’s services at the Health Ministry were suspended in Nov 2022 while he was reinstated in April this year. more..

Jul 10 (CT) Health Trade Union Alliance (HTUA), giving the Government and the Health Ministry a reminder of its pledge to give even the non-medical State health service employees economic justice, warned it would support the public service trade union action in the future if the Govt further delayed meeting the second half of the allowance as agreed upon. Member of the HTUA Convening Board, Ravi Kumudesh, yesterday, accused the Health Ministry and the Govt of having failed to stand by more..

Jul 10 (CT) In the wake of recent development in regards to the substandard quality of cosmetic products, the health authorities have come under huge criticism for not regulating cosmetic products for years. This follows a storm of discussion that ensued after beauty products endorsed by model Piumi Hansamali came under scrutiny following her questioning by the CID. A lot of parties have raised grave concerns with more..

Jul 10 (CT) The allegations made by the Chairman of National Housing Development Authority (NHDA), against the Leader of the Opposition have no basis and has been made with the upcoming elections in mind, claimed the former Chairman of NHDA Lakvijaya Palansooriya. Palansooriya’s remarks comes following recent media reports surrounding claims made by the Chairman of NHDA Rajeev Sooriyarachi alleging that the Govt has incurred over Rs. 5500 million, due to informal provision more..

Jul 10 (EN) State Minister for Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya has said that the final decision regarding the lifting of the ban on vehicle imports will be taken in the second week of August. Minister said he hoped to be able to import vehicles depending on the country’s exchange rate status and the priority of people’s needs. Public transport vehicles, goods transport vehicles, and private vehicles will be imported under the regulations. Although the Cabinet had approved more..

Jul 10 (HS) Sri Lankan cricket legend believes investment partnering national cricket boards could help smaller nations compete at the highest level. Sangakkara was speaking at World Cricket Connects, an event at Lord’s hosted by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) designed for the leading voices in the game to discuss the health of cricket and consider the path required for its future success. more..

Jul 10 (DM) Cabinet of Ministers has greenlit a resolution aimed at amending specific articles of the Constitution concerning the terms of office for the Prez and Parliament. This decision targets articles 30 (2), 62 (2), and 83 (b) of the Constitution, which govern the duration of presidential and parliamentary terms. Recent observations have pointed out discrepancies between the tenure of the Prez and the duration of parliamentary terms as stipulated in the mentioned articles. more..

Jul 10 (AD) SL Railway Station Masters’ Union says that their trade union action will continue further. General Manager of SL Railways had warned that all Station Masters and Railway Controllers who fail to report to duty by 12.00 noon today will be considered as having vacated their positions. Accordingly, all the striking Railway Station Masters and Railway Controllers were instructed to report for duty at their respective railway stations or at least to the nearest railway station. more..