Dec 2 (Island) Having repeatedly accused previous govts of showering perks and privileges on lawmakers, the newly elected NPP govt is continuing with the practice, says SJB MP Ajith P. Perera. Kalutara District SJB leader Perera has challenged the NPP to reveal any perk or privilege that their parliamentary group had decided to forgo in keeping with the pledges they made during the presidential and parliamentary elections. more..

Dec 2 (TM) The CID has arrested four individuals for disturbing the peace by allegedly promoting the LTTE under the guise of commemorating war dead last week. DIG Nihal Thalduwa stated that the four suspects had been produced before Magistrates Courts. The suspects, aged 28, 35, 45, and 50, are residents of Baddegama, Inuvil, Maradana. The individuals circulated photographs and videos of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on social media, along with footage from previous LTTE more..

Dec 2 (DN) Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe said that a Bill to abolish the pension of all members of Parliament will be presented soon. “Salary is something that MPs are entitled to, but the pension will definitely be abolished,” he added. The Minister disclosed this while inaugurating the East Anuradhapura People’s Co-ordination office of NPP. The minister said neither the President nor the PM would use any govt residence. more..

Dec 2 (ST) Green light has been granted to reclaim 45 hectares of land area within the Bay of Galle to facilitate infrastructure and real estate developments similar to Colombo Port City. The Port of Galle is to be developed as a major state-of-the-art tourism hub in the region by reclaiming the land. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) secured the green light to go ahead as the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resources Management Dept more..

Dec 2 (DM) A 43-year-old man from Kilinochchi, who holds British citizenship, was arrested at the BIA due to a travel ban imposed on him in 2009. The man, who had left the country in 2009 and acquired British citizenship, is accused of collecting funds for a terrorist group from the UK. He had allegedly returned to SL and distributed the money to individuals in the Colombo and Vanni areas. Colombo (North) Crime Division had obtained the travel ban from Colombo Magistrate's Court more..

Dec 2 (ST) Inland Revenue Department (IRD) experienced a last-minute rush of people trying to file their tax returns before the Nov 30 deadline last night. At one point yesterday (30), 16,000 persons had logged in and were trying to file their returns. Some taxpayers had found the underpowered computers unable to cope with concurrent transactions. Many complained that the system had crashed after making several attempts, thereby forcing them to restart the filing process, but more..

Dec 2 (AD) Senior Economic Advisor to the President Duminda Hulangamuwa claims that the new government is encouraging the private sector to be at the forefront of economic development in the country. However, he noted that the govt will retain control over strategic sectors of public interest. Hulangamuwa highlighted that the govt is pursuing a liberal market strategy to encourage private sector investment. Commenting on the restructuring of state-owned enterprises, more..

Dec 2 (DN) Sharujan Shanmuganathan, the wicket-keeper and batsman, smashed a brilliant knock of 102 as the Sri Lanka Under-19 team recorded a comfortable 131-run win over Afghanistan U-19s in their Asia Cup group fixture played at the Sharjah International Cricket Stadium yesterday. The 18-year-old left-hander was undoubtedly the match hero, anchoring the innings as a number three batter. His century helped SL set a challenging total of 243 for 7 after choosing to bat first. more..

Dec 2 (FT) The external sector continued its growth trajectory in October 2024, driven by strong inflows to the current account, resulting in an increase in foreign reserves and an appreciation of the rupee, the Central Bank reported. In its latest external sector report, the CBSL highlighted a 24% year-on-year (YoY) growth in exports for Oct 2024, surpassing the $ 1 billion threshold, while the trade deficit during more..

Dec 2 (DM) South Africa climbed to second place in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings with a commanding 233-run victory over SL in the first Test. Marco Jansen was the standout performer for the hosts, delivering exceptional match figures of 11/86. After losing the first Test of their away series by a large margin, SL dropped to 5th place in the WTC 2023-25 points table, with a points percentage of 50%. SL began the match in 3rd place, holding a points percentage of 55.56%. more..

Dec 2 (DM) United States is actively working with the SL govt to develop a roadmap for the sustainable development of the country’s port sector, as part of its multi-faceted support for the maritime industry, according to a senior US diplomat. Speaking at the Colombo International Maritime and Logistics Conference last week, Regional Indo-Pacific Strategy Coordinator at the U.S. Embassy Dustin Bickel, emphasised the ongoing assistance to Colombo Port, through various initiatives. more..

Dec 2 (EN) SL’s govt has recieved debt relief of around US$ 8.4 billion from the time a default was declared in April 2022 to Aug 2024, but the banking system has repaid debt or collected reserves of US$ 7.3 billion, official data show. The debt relief over banking system repayments was about US$ 1.11 billion. SL stopped servicing bilateral and commercial debt on April 2022, and the central bank hiked rates previously kept artificially low rates low by printing money, helping ending more..

Dec 2 (Island) Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe commended President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, on Saturday, for continuing with the IMF programme, initiated under the former’s watch as the President. He said it was a critical step for SL’s economic recovery. Wickremesinghe said so at the inauguration of the Amari Colombo Hotel, the first-ever five-star international hotel owned by a Lankan entrepreneur in Colombo.The hotel, part of the Amari Hotel chain, is owned by W. Winil, more..

Dec 2 (EN) A controversial imputed tax on housing promoted by the IMF, with rents on second houses already taxed will be deferred, a senior advisor to President has said. The govt was also working on a policy of targeted subsidies rather than indiscriminate tax reduction, he said. The imputed rental tax, which was to have been paid on owner-occupied houses and later adjusted to a second house, has been controversial. more..

Dec 2 (ST) In the midst of the country’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) risking their status as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) over potential misconduct and corruption, they are being charged with another possible misconduct of funds granted to athletes and the NOC Athletes’ Commission. The allegation raised by certain interested parties, connected to the NOC, reveal that a sum of USD 10,000 granted by more..

Dec 2 (ST) The Govt has reversed an earlier decision to provide ruling party MPs with official vehicles, a senior official said yesterday. Instead of providing them with official vehicles, they would be provided with a fuel quota, he added. The change of decision comes after considering the issue of vehicles that would be in conflict with the policies of the NPP. Moves to issue vehicles to all govt MPs also drew criticism from opposition parliamentarians, with some of them claiming that more..

Dec 2 (TM) Disaster Management Centre (DMC) urged public institutions and the general public to act responsibly during hazardous times to minimise the adverse effects of natural disasters, threatening legal action against those who act irresponsibly. DMC Director General, Udaya Herath emphasised that disaster management is a collective effort requiring active participation from all sectors. Herath criticised the lack of more..

Dec 2 (FT) A host of corporates came forward to empower over 100 students from State universities with the latest knowledge and insights to cyber security at the recently concluded Daily FT-CICRA Holdings organised 10th Annual Summit. The companies who extended support are John Keells Holdings, Carson Cumberbatch, Aitken Spence, LOLC Holdings, Bank of Ceylon, Diesel and Motor Engineering, Commercial Bank, Sunshine Holdings, Hatton National Bank, AIA Sri Lanka, more..

Dec 2 (FT) ONYX Hospitality Group, a leading force in Southeast Asia’s hospitality industry, has announced the grand opening of Amari Colombo in Sri Lanka from yesterday. This much-anticipated launch marks the beginning of a new chapter for SL’s hospitality sector, coinciding with the season’s start and heralding a vibrant new era of sophistication and modernity in the region. The landmark property, located in the heart of SL’s bustling commercial and economic centre, is set to redefine modern elegance more..

Dec 2 (FT) Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe last week said tourism industry must establish robust financial buffers and shock absorbers to weather future crises independently. Participating as the Chief Guest at The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) Annual General Meeting and 59th Anniversary of the Association last Thursday, he urged the industry to reduce reliance on Govt intervention such as moratoriums during economic downturns. more..

Dec 2 (SO) At just 17 years old, Yevan David captivated a packed press conference in Colombo with the poise of a seasoned professional. For SL sports fans accustomed to cheering for international stars in the Premier League, NBA and Formula 1, Yevan is a breath of fresh air – a homegrown talent poised to make history as SL’s first Formula 1 driver. Displaying a maturity beyond his years, Yevan navigated a barrage of questions with ease, balancing his youthful enthusiasm with more..

Dec 2 (Island) SL’s former captain, Dinesh Chandimal, didn’t mince his words after his team was skittled out for a paltry 42 runs in their first innings of the Durban Test—a performance that will haunt them like a bad dream. SL’s lowest-ever Test total came in just 13.5 overs, leaving the tourists in dire straits in their pursuit of a spot in the World Test Championship final. Having entered the series perched at third on the table, SL’s hopes more..

Dec 2 (Island) In a tragic incident, Deeghadanthu, the largest tusker in Kalawewa National Park, fell victim to electrocution on the night of November 27th, marking another devastating loss in SL’s conservation history. This incident reflects a recurring tragedy in the region, where famed tuskers such as Barana, Revatha, and Walagamba have also met untimely deaths over the years. The Kalawewa National Park, renowned for its high population of tuskers, has faced severe more..

Dec 2 (ST) Soothing rhetoric that we are all one has always come very easy for SL politicians. This velvet glove of oneness hiding a far uglier steel hand of majority rule was discarded during the short-lived Gotabaya Rajapaksa regime (2019-2022) when a new President declared without demur that he was a leader of the Sinhala-Buddhist majority, later permitting nakedly communalistic constituents of his Viyathmaga base to run riot in the political space. The end result of that disastrous more..

Dec 2 (Island) India’s Adani Group has been in the news of late —for all the wrong reasons. It has come under fire for very serious corporate malpractices for the umpteenth time. This time around, it has had legal action in the US to contend with. US Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York, has made an official announcement that a five-count criminal indictment was unsealed on 20 Nov, 2024, in federal court in Brooklyn, inter alia, charging Adani Group Chairman Gautam S. Adani, more..

Dec 2 (TM) SL’s agricultural sector has many woes and has long been in need of well-planned overhauling, based on sound policies which are practical. The impact of ad hoc decisions and arbitrary ones which are forced implemented over-night are not well-learned lessons in the sector. Sector needs a fundamental change in its culture and perception of what is to do business in the 2020’s. Further, the sector remains hindered by structural inefficiencies and a lack of more..

Dec 2 (SO) Cabinet Spokesman, Chief Govt Whip, Minister of Health and Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa in an interview outlined the Govt’s strategy to ensure a free media culture without any State interference and how the State and private media should play their legitimate roles to fulfill the aspirations of the people as a significant turnaround in the country’s political landscape had taken place following the Nov 14 general election. more..

Dec 2 (CT) The death of Deegadanthu 1, a majestic tusker from Kala Wewa, is a tragic reminder of the deep failures in Sri Lanka’s wildlife conservation efforts. Electrocuted by an unauthorised power line, Deegadanthu’s death symbolises not only the loss of an animal but also the erosion of the country’s natural heritage. As elephants in Sri Lanka continue to fall victim to illegal electric fences, Hakka patas, gunshots and train accidents, the authorities remain alarmingly silent. more..

Dec 2 (CT) SL’s recent political shifts and economic woes have created both challenges and opportunities. As you rightly highlight, emergence of new leadership is a chance to redefine the country’s global image, rebuild trust among creditors, and solidify international partnerships. Proactive diplomacy should prioritize reassuring stakeholders of SL’s commitment to economic stability and sovereignty while maintaining strong ties with traditional allies like China and India. more..

Dec 2 (TM) The CEB, Sri Lanka’s State-run utility, has once again found itself at the centre of public discourse. This time, it is over demands for employee bonuses amidst reported profitability. The calls, led by Trade Unions (TUs), are reigniting debates over the board’s financial management, its responsibility to the public, and whether bonuses can be justified in the face of high electricity tariffs and a debt-laden balance sheet. more..

Dec 2 (DM) As the month of December dawns, it brings to the minds of Christians the world over of the birth of Christ in a stable at Bethleham in Palestine. Christ’s message is love of fellowmen and peace to this world. Christ himself, a man of love and peace, paid price of his convictions with his life. Sadly, most political leaders in the Christian US and the West, seem to have lost sight of Christ’s message.Today, the political leadership in these countries, trample underfoot, more..

Dec 2 (DM) Sri Lanka has achieved another Staff-Level Agreement for the Third Review of the IMF program. The IMF delegation during its recent visit to Colombo praised the state of the economy and the success of their programme in Sri Lanka. The reality is far from its applause, where real output and incomes for people is much lower than where it was prior to the onslaught of the crisis. Worse, the IMF prescriptions of inflation targeting have drastically gone wrong, and the economy is caught in more..