Apr 24 (AD) President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Iranian Prez Dr. Ebrahim Raisi jointly inaugurated the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project (UOMDP) on Wednesday (24). Dr. Raisi arrived on the island nation on Wednesday morning via the Mattala International Airport, where he was accorded a warm welcome by PM Dinesh Gunawardena. His visit comes after a special invitation extended by his SL counterpart, more..

Apr 24 (TM) Following the cabinet nod for the establishment of the five new investment zones in Northern, Eastern, Northwestern and Southern Provinces, the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka awaits to conduct a feasibility study on their economic prospects once the Govt provides the lands. BOI Director General Renuka M. Weerakoon said: “Though the identification of the land parcels and the transfers are being done to the BOI, the lands are yet to be identified by the Govt.” more..

Apr 24 (AD) The two drivers of the race cars involved in fatal crash during the Fox Hill Super Cross 2024 motorsport racing championship at Diyatalawa, have been granted bail by the Bandarawela Magistrate’s Court. The two drivers in question had been arrested while undergoing treatment in hospital on April 22 and were ordered remanded in custody by the Bandarawela Magistrate on the same day. As many as seven people including an 8-year-old girl lost their lives and more..

Apr 24 (FT) The Leader of the Opposition (LoO) having a public debate with Anura Kumara Dissanayaka (AKD) is simply a mismatch and an insult to the office of the LoO. It is a globally accepted practice that an argument, debate or a discourse on an important issue or subject has to be conducted between two equal individuals, groups or societies. Otherwise, it will become a joke or useless exercise that fails to meet the expected objectives. The office of the LoO is a statutorily more..

Apr 24 (FT) On the morning of 16 April, Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne’s family informed me that he was in critical condition. In the quiet of the evening, I was heartbroken to learn that Ari Aiya of Sarvodaya—as I affectionately called him for more than half a century—departed us peacefully. With a clear and sharp mind until his last breath, the 92-year-old soul lived for others with his quintessentially Buddhist way of life as a compassionate servant-leader. Undeniably, Ari Aiya drew equal inspiration more..

Apr 24 (FT) In a significant boost to bilateral ties the Islamic Republic of Iran Prez Dr. Ebrahim Raisi, is due today in SL to further consolidate strong relations and enhance support. His visit is in response to a special invitation extended by Prez Ranil Wickremasinghe, marking the first visit of an Iranian Prez to SL since former Prez Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit in April 2008. During his one-day official visit, Prez Raisi will participate more..

Apr 24 (DN) Railways General Manager H.M.K.W. Bandara passed away tragically yesterday morning while staying at the railway bungalow in Anuradhapura. Police reported that a group of railway engineers including the General Manager, were staying at a railway bungalow located near the East Nuwaragam Palatha DS on Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha in Anuradhapura. On the day of the incident (23), this group of engineers, including the General Manager, more..

Apr 24 (AD) The 3-day adjournment debate on the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks will be taken up in parliament today in accordance with a motion brought forward by the Opposition. The decision was taken at the meeting of the Parliamentary Business Committee convened earlier this month. Soon after the commencement of the parliamentary proceedings today, Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill (Second Reading) and Regulations under the Poisons, Opium more..

Apr 24 (TM) Co-Organisers of the ill-fated Fox Hill Supercross 2024, SL Automobile Sports (SLAS), has initiated an investigation into the 21 April tragedy that claimed the lives of seven persons and injured over 20. SLAS Council, which convened yesterday, has appointed a three-member independent inquiry panel, led by a retired High Court (HC) Judge, to conduct this investigation. In response to questions about security more..

Apr 24 (FT) Several representatives of the Chinese Communist Party including the Vice Minister of the International Department Sun Haiyan met with JVP led NPP party leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the JVP head office in Pelawatta yesterday. The delegation included the Deputy Director General of the Int'l Affairs Department Lin Tao, Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in SL Chen Xiangyuan, Director of the int'l Affairs Dept Li Jiyan, Deputy Director Wen Jun, Secretary to the Deputy Minister more..

Apr 24 (DM) State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya urged people to verify their vehicle documents with the Dept of Motor Traffic (DMT) to ensure whether their vehicle is among the 112 luxury vehicles that have been temporarily prohibited from sale or transfer. Additionally, he stressed the importance of confirming whether the vehicles imported into the country have followed legal procedures. He made these comments in response to the decision to temporarily halt the sale or transfer more..

Apr 24 (Island) Australia and SL’s commitment to countering maritime security threats has been on display with the launch of a new joint maritime security operation in Colombo recently. A joint media release between the Australian Border Force and the Dept of SL Coast Guard said: Aptly named Disi Rela, which means keeping a watchful eye over the maritime environment, the new joint activity will see the Australian Border Force (ABF) and Department of SL Coast Guard (SLCG) undertake more..

Apr 24 (AD) Special traffic plans will be set in place today around Colombo and Mattala in consideration of the arrival of Iranian Prez Dr. Ebrahim Raisi. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and his Iranian counterpart are scheduled to jointly declare open the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project (UOMDP) today. According to the police media division, the main road from Mattala to Uma Oya is planned to be temporarily closed from 9.45 a.m. to 11 a.m. and again from noon to 1 p.m. more..

Apr 24 (DM) The proposed Public Financial Management (PFM) Act remains crucial for the disbursement of the third tranche under the IMF US$ 3 billion bailout package, stressed Former CB Governor and economist, Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy. “It (PFM) is one of the prior actions to get approval of the IMF extended fund facility review. We already got the staff level agreement, but before getting executive board approval, more..

Apr 24 (DN) A seven member committee led by a Major General has been appointed by the SL Army to investigate the tragic accident that happened during the Fox Hill Super Cross 2024 racing event at Diyatalawa in which seven people were killed. The committee is headed by Major General Rohitha Aluvihare, Security Forces Headquarters (Central) Commander and includes two Brigadiers, two Colonels, one Lt Colonel and a Major. The other members of the committee are more..

Apr 24 (DM) Sri Lanka is in a dilemma to decide whether to adopt an open skies policy or not in the event of divestiture of shares of the national carrier SriLankan Airlines, a top official said. An Open Skies policy means liberalization and ease of access and rules of use of national airports for foreign airlines. It is joined in order to increase the tourist flow and to develop the potential as a regional air hub. Govt has now called for bids to privatize or restructure the national career. more..

Apr 24 (FT) Electricity Users Association has filed a formal complaint with Human Rights Commission SL (HRCSL) against the recently gazetted Sri Lanka Electricity Bill, alleging that it violates the rights of electricity users. The Association’s Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika outlined that the complaint was filed focusing on five critical concerns regarding the Bill. He also highlighted that under the proposed legislation, key entities such as the National Energy Advisory Council, more..

Apr 24 (DN) SL Para Table Tennis player Dinesh Deshappriya excelled at the ITTF 15th Al – Attani Jordan Para Championship when he won gold medal at the class 9-10 category in Amman, Jordan yesterday. The chairman of the National Paralympic Committee Colonel Deepal Herath said Dinesh has good chance to get the Paris Paralympic qualification while his last chance at Bangkok Para meet is going to be very vital. If he excels in Bangkok next month he has good chance more..

Apr 24 (DN) SL women’s cricket skipper Chamari Athapaththu is back at the top of the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings after a superb 195 not out in the third ODI against South Africa in Potchefstroom that helped her team level the ICC Women’s Championship Series 1-1. The 34-year-old left hand opener Athapaththu who played her 101th ODI against South Africa scored ninth ODI century, more..

Apr 24 (FT) Highly respected tourism industry veteran Prema Cooray passed away yesterday after a brief illness at a private hospital. Cooray has a distinguished career, accumulating over three decades of experience in the travel and tourism sector. Among his key achievements were leading and developing SL’s premier hotel chain Aitken Spence from 1984 to 2003 and taking SL’s hospitality expertise overseas to the Maldives in 1991 and building the first-ever resort more..

Apr 24 (FT) SJB leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday questioned NPP’s seeming reluctance to hold a debate between the economic councils of both parties. Premadasa pondered whether their refusal stemmed from the incompetence of the NPP economic council. “The reluctance to hold a debate between economic experts suggests an issue with their economic council, which appears to lack capability. Therefore, it’s suggested that they participate in both debates in May without more..

Apr 24 (ST) A serious fraud using SL’s Postal Dept as a front is victimising unsuspecting people, with the Computer CID struggling to catch the masterminds behind the scam. The scam is in the form of a general SMS sent to mobile phone owners, notifying them of unpaid customs fees or an invalid delivery address for a package that is meant for them. It contains a link which, when clicked, redirects them to a duplicate (identical) more..

Apr 24 (ST) Retired Supreme Court judge Ameer Ismail passed away yesterday. Educated at Wesley College, Colombo, he obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from the Uni of Ceylon and was sworn in as an advocate in 1969. He joined the Attorney General’s Dept as a Crown Counsel in 1971 and was later promoted to Senior State Counsel. He was appointed as a High Court Judge in 1983, as a Judge of the Court of Appeal in 1990, and as President of the Court of Appeal in 1998. more..

Apr 24 (ST) Some Sri Lankan companies not in the renewable energy space are making inroads into Africa to set up clean energy projects while certain others are eyeing manufacturing facilities, industry officials said. Sri Lanka already has a number of strong engineering and renewable energy companies in clean energy especially in West Africa. Officials point out that the new companies venturing into Africa are not typically in the clean energy space but they are trying to get into it. more..

Apr 24 (FT) Former MP Hirunika Premachandra has been issued notice in respect of a contempt of court matter. The bench of the Honorable Court of Appeal consisting of Justice Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Justice Dammika Ganepola, heard submissions made on behalf of the Complaining Party. According to the complaining party Hisham Jamaldeen, whilst there is an ongoing proceeding before the Magistrate’s Court of Mount Lavinia, Hirunika Premachandra has made a statement more..

Apr 24 (FT) Tourism Minister Harin Fernando revealed plans to amend the recently implemented visa procedures, allowing tourists to apply for a single-entry 30-day visa starting from 1 May. The move comes in response to concerns raised by industry stakeholders and aims to rectify loopholes in the new visa system launched by the Govt last week. “Minister Tiran Alles has forwarded a proposal to the Parliament Consultative Committee to enable the online visa application process, more..

Apr 24 (ST) SLC will look at a significant increase in match and contract fees for women cricketers as an incentive to the players who have made great strides in recent years. Although these payments will not match what men’s cricketers are earning, the Board recognised that the players deserved a fair increase. Led by Chamari Athapaththu, the team’s latest adventure was in South Africa, a country which, with its bouncier pitches, more..

Apr 24 (FT) This article captures the core insights from the recent webinar hosted by the Daily FT, Board of Investment, SLID, CIMA, ACCCA and the Int'l Chamber of Commerce. The event fostered dialogue with the diplomatic community from crucial markets about the critical role of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in SL’s growth trajectory. As SL works to recover from its recent economic crisis through robust macroeconomic and fiscal policies, its future growth prospects remain constrained. more..

Apr 24 (DM) The saying Whom the Gods would destroy, they first make mad is believed to have been made by the Greek Tragedian Euripides and has been used in English literature since the 17th century. Leon Tolstoy in his novel War and Peace uses the phrase in reference to Napoleon. Wikipedia quotes SL Catholic Priest Father Simon Gregory Perera, SJ using the phrase about the belief of Portuguese colonialists that the loss of Sri Lanka to the Dutch was divine punishment. more..

Apr 24 (Island) There seems to be no end in sight to debates on the Easter Sunday carnage (2019), the latest being the one Parliament is scheduled to commence today. Chances are that the House will be thrown into turmoil, with the sittings descending into a three-day slanging match. If experience is anything to go by, nothing is likely to come of the debate. It may be recalled that on 23 Oct 2019, a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), which looked into the Easter Sunday terror attacks more..

Apr 24 (SO) Who this country picks as the next leader is a question that’s very much up in the air these days for several reasons. People are not sure when the next leadership contest is going to be, and what exactly it would look like. But it’s a contest that will have to happen sooner or later. It’s a pivotal confrontation because it’s the first time a leader will be elected by the people after a President was ousted. The incumbent on the other hand was elected by Parliament, more..