Sep 20 (Island) One of only 3 Sri Lankans to have cleared the 80 metres mark in the men’s javelin throw and probably the only SL thrower to have performed better than current Olympic and World Champion Niraj Chopra at regional level in the latter’s formative years, Waruna Dayaratne is set to deliver his swan song at the SL Army Volunteer Force Inter Regiment Athletics Championships at Diyagama today. The first Sri Lankan to break the 75 metres barrier in the men’s javelin throw, more..

Sep 20 (CT) The way the economic system works is very peculiar but unique and hence predictable. A few months ago, the world never thought that China was about to experience an economic crisis or severe disturbance in the economy. But a weak ago, The IMF has warned that China’s debt has risen by 7% and is driving global debt back towards unsustainable levels. A few days ago, Bloomberg reported that China told some brokerage firms to reduce proprietary trading in more..

Sep 20 (ST) South Asia’s fastest Yupun Abeykoon, perhaps the only sprinter to clock Asia’s best timing in Men’s 100m in the recent years, has withdrawn from the upcoming 19th Asian Games, which will be held in Hangzhou, China from Sept 23 to Oct 8. However Abeykoon was part of the approved list by Ministry of Sports, upon the recommendation of National Selection Committee, which included a total of 106 more..

Sep 20 (Island) The net result was the recalibration of capitalist rule in Sri Lanka, which was threatened with anarchism. The new class alignment was consummated with departure of the former president and the election of the new president by the parliament. As one could expect, bourgeois support for Aragalaya rapidly faded away in sync with the new class alignment. The fragmented and weakened Aragalaya found itself to be no match to the combined force of the capitalist class, more..

Sep 20 (CT) In a significant step to foster a safer and more nurturing environment within SL’s universities, State Minister of Higher Education, Suren Raghavan, recently announced the establishment of a national anti-ragging committee. This move comes as a response to the alarming rise in ragging incidents that have marred the academic landscape, affecting both students’ mental and physical well-being. During a press conference, Minister Raghavan underscored more..

Sep 20 (Island) Opposition politicians are making the most of Channel 4’s recent claim that the Easter Sunday attacks were part of a political conspiracy, and the Rajapaksa family and its loyalists in the state intelligence agencies were behind it. They are flogging the issue really hard in a bid to gain political mileage, which they are badly in need of, on the pretext of trying to have justice served for the victims of the carnage. The past few days have seen the Opposition top guns going ballistic in P'ment more..

Sep 20 (TM) Sri Lanka has finally got around to establishing a formalised mechanism to counter the cruel practice of ragging, which have long taken root in the Sri Lankan higher education system. While it has taken a long time for such a body to be constituted, it is commendable that the Govt has moved, finally, to establish a National Anti-Ragging Committee. The committee is envisaged as a formalised body to address the long standing issue. However, one must ask, more..

Sep 20 (TM) Ragging in universities should not be looked at as a solitary issue. It is interconnected with various aspects of society that exist within universities, and is an intricate matter. Therefore, efforts aimed at finding solutions to ragging should be based on concerns that come from within universities rather than an external mechanism that does not recognise those concerns and tries to see ragging as more..

Sep 20 (ST) How strange. Is there nothing called order and respect in this govt of many hues and even more wagging tongues? Shortly after the Channel 4 documentary on the Eastern Sunday massacre caught the govt completely unawares, and its parliamentary forces started shooting wildly like in the days of the American Wild West, Prez Wickremesinghe advocated a constrained response to the allegations. He said that only those implicated in the allegations should respond more..

Sep 20 (DM) Last week, a wildcat trade union action by the locomotive drivers cost the lives of two commuters and inconvenienced hundreds of thousands of others. A young man who rode on the roof was killed when he hit a bridge, and another passenger fell to death while travelling on the footboard of an overcrowded coastal train. Despite the tragedy, the strike continued for another day, in a display of callous disregard for the public and also violating an essential services decree issued more..

Sep 20 (DM) Although it is raining heavily in most parts of SL these days, there are still many districts that have not received any rain. Ampara district is one and the locals are awaiting the arrival of rain; hoping it would improve their lives. Due to the severe drought about 300 families in 68/5 Marangala Grama Niladhari Division, Padiyathalawa, in Ampara district, are struggling to survive because they have no choice, but to live each day more..

Sep 20 (DM) MP Diana Gamage is often accused of making outrageous suggestions regarding ways and means through which Sri Lanka can raise foreign exchange earnings. She first suggested enhancing nightlife in the country. The suggestion led to some of our MPs suggesting that she was encouraging prostitution. Gamage rebutted the allegations saying her detractors had one-tracked minds. She also suggested the growing of cannabis be legalised rather than being prosecuted. more..

Sep 20 (SO) The prestigious State Literary Awards ceremony for 2023 witnessed the recognition of literary excellence across diverse categories, celebrating the outstanding contributions of authors and creators in the realm of Sinhala, Tamil, and English literature. The celebration held at the Elphinstone Theatre on Thursday (14) recognised veterans and emerging talents who have enriched the literary landscape of SL. Among the recipients of these coveted awards were more..

Sep 19 (Wisden) Mathews was dropped from SL’s ODI squad for the World Cup Qualifier in June. SL went on to win the competition and secure their place in the main tournament which gets underway in less than four weeks. Despite his good ODI record, Mathews will also not be part of SL’s squad for the highly anticipated competition. Mathews has played 221 ODIs for SL and averages over 40 with the bat. He’s scored 3 hundreds in the format and registered 40 half-centuries with a best more..

Sep 19 (AD) Six persons have been arrested in connection with the recent finding of a body inside a travelling bag which had been left on the banks of the Dandugam Oya in Seeduwa. Accordingly, the suspects, identified as residents of Katana, were arrested by the Seeduwa Police. A father and his two sons are also believed to be amongst the arrestees, police said. On 15 Sept, the body of a man was discovered inside a travelling bag left on the banks of the Dandugam Oya in Seeduwa. more..

Sep 19 (CT) National carrier SriLankan Airlines is in the process of recruiting approximately 30 foreign pilots to manage airline operations and has currently recruited five foreign pilots, while the Govt actively seeks investors to take over the ground handling and catering services of the airline. CEO of SriLankan Airlines, Richard Nuttal said. “We received permission to hire foreign pilots a couple of months ago. more..

Sep 19 (FT) LOLC Group's Divi Saviya has successfully reached out to 2000 schools to date, transforming the educational journey of countless children. Launched in Feb 2023, Divi Saviya has been a beacon of hope for the most deserving children across SL thereby reaffirming its commitment to corporate social responsibility. To commemorate this momentous occasion, a special event was organised at the Punkudathivu Roman Catholic Tamil Mixed School on 15Sept2023 more..

Sep 19 (EN) Dept of Agriculture has found that two varieties of pomegranates can be successfully grown in the island to give a high yield, which will be released to farmers within two months. The two varieties had been successfully grown by researchers in the areas of Norochcholai and Weerawila. After eight months, a tree will give a yield of 10 to 15 kilograms. A tree has a lifespan of about 35 years. The findings were released by agronomists to Minister of Agriculture more..

Sep 19 (EN) Sri Lanka’s plans to bring a law to arbitrate on the truth or otherwise of statements made online to hurt religious sentiments is drawing concern given the potential of any such law to undermine free speech. Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa questioned whether it was an attempt to suppress democratic dissent, since online action has been a key method used by citizens to organise themselves in the recent past. more..

Sep 19 (DM) The govt has no plans whatsoever to increase the prices of eggs and chicken in the future, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said. He said that the import of eggs was a temporary measure to address shortages caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. He further stated that there are no plans to continue the imports in the future. The govt's focus is to boost local egg and chicken production instead. By supporting and increasing local production, the govt aims to ensure a steady and more..

Sep 19 (AD) The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court and the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Courts today (19) issued an order prohibiting the commemoration of Thileepan, a member of a proscribed organisation, in several areas within Colombo, on account of the inconvenience likely to be caused to the public. Accordingly, the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court issued the order prohibiting commemorations in the Kollupitiya, Colombo Fort and Slave Island areas, while the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court more..

Sep 19 (CT) Three Police officers, allegedly linked to the killing of Rajakumari, a domestic aid, who was in custody at the Welikada Police, were identified by the witnesses yesterday (18). Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawala presided over the proceedings and issued an order for the continued remand of the four Police officers implicated in the case, including the three officers who were identified. They are to remain in custody until 2 October. more..

Sep 19 (CT) Govt should not think it could conceal issues, especially those in the State health service, by bringing in laws to suppress the increasing tension amongst the trade unions, the Academy of Health Professionals (AHP) said. An Extraordinary Gazette has been released, by the Acting Secretary to the President, officially designating electricity, petroleum, and health services as essential services. As per the Gazette Notification, all activities related to the provision of electricity, more..

Sep 19 (AD) The names of several senior members of the SLFP are widely tipped for the position of party’s General Secretary which currently remains vacant, political sources revealed. However, MP Duminda Dissanayake is in the lead among the party members who are eyeing the post, according to sources. It is also said that former Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake, who is a Senior Deputy Secretary of SLFP, is also keen on this more..

Sep 19 (FT) Jewellery Design Competition 2023 conducted by the SL Gem & Jewellery Association under the theme Celebrate Sri Lanka, received an overwhelming number of entrants, with many professional and aspiring jewellery designers submitting a range of creative and attractive designs. Intending to bring together talented jewellery designers from around the Island, the competition encouraged entrants to celebrate the natural beauty and cultural heritage of SL through design. more..

Sep 19 (DM) SJB MP Nalin Bandara said a minister who was attired in an improper dress in the Parliament Chamber recently had removed his coat inside the Chamber and hence urged the Speaker to take action against him, claiming that it was an indecent act. The MP said a minister, who was thus in the Chamber during the vote on the no-confidence motion on Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, had removed the coat he had been wearing in the Chamber. "No one can remove dresses inside the Chamber. more..

Sep 19 (Island) The year 2023 commenced against the backdrop of multiple crises facing our nation. Long queues for oil and gas became a common sight, while daily power cuts lasting five to six hours plunged the country into an energy abyss. The non-availability of 24-hour electricity delivery proved a severe blow to the nation’s economy. However, today, the nation is making a remarkable recovery. At the outset of the year, prospect of uninterrupted 24-hour more..

Sep 19 (EN) Sri Lanka hopes to resume suspended road infrastructure projects soon and complete them faster with the expectation that foreign funding and grants will start after finalizing external debt restructuring and ongoing first review of the IMF programme, State Highway Minister Siripala Gamlath said. The unprecedented economic crisis has forced the Sri Lanka govt to suspend most of its infrastructure projects due to lack of funding. All bilateral lenders stopped their funding more..

Sep 19 (EN) Labor minister, Manusha Nanayakkara, met with members of the transgender community on Tuesday to discuss their workplace rights. “Pleased to share that we’re considering a dedicated trade union and aligning our labor laws with global standards like ILO’s C190 and C180,” Nanayakkara said. SL’s efforts to recognize the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) community has been progressed by the private member bill more..

Sep 19 (AD) Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate has ordered Anuradhapura Police to immediately arrest all the suspects in connection with the recent shooting incident that targeted MP Uddika Premaratne and produce them before courts. Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate has ordered the investigators to seek assistance of the police intelligence units and informants in order to identify the shooters. Furthermore, the court has called for a report on the progress of the investigations. more..

Sep 19 (EN) Shares were marginally down at close of trading on Tuesday, mainly due to profit taking and selling pressure. The ASPI was down 1.01% or 115.14 points to 11,248.50, the lowest the market has been since Aug 31. The S&P SL20, meanwhile, was down 1.05% or 33.73 points to 3,179.69 “The market remained sluggish, on a wait-and-see approach, due to uncertainties among investors around the IMF review. Most opted to sell now and wait with cash,” an analyst said. more..