Nov 15 (AD) Saudi Arabian Embassy of Sri Lanka informs the general public that it is mandatory to be registered with the Engineering Council of Saudi Arabia before flying for employment in engineering and technology fields at construction sites in the country. Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) announces that a number of employment opportunities related to construction field in Saudi Arabia will be received to Sri Lanka in near future. more..

Nov 15 (DM) IGP and Public Security Ministry Secretary were summoned by the Human Rights Commission of SL (SLHRC) to inquire into possible violations of human rights following the arbitrary actions by policemen these days. While issuing a media announcement, SLHRC said they had observed the illegal activities the policemen are in involved, concurrently violating human rights. They said the situation poses a serious threat to the life of a democratic society and the rule of law more..

Nov 16 (DM) President Wickremesinghe�s 2023 budget was a big change from the usual run-of the-mill budgets the people of this country have been used to hearing. There were no big promises of looking into easing the burdens of the poor and needy who today are struggling to make ends meet. There were no promises of salary increases to the state sector employees or to those in the private sector, many of whom are still enduring wage cuts imposed during the height of the Covid-19 more..

Nov 16 (DM) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe says he wants to resolve the grievances of ethnic minorities by February next year when SL celebrates the 75th anniversary of its independence. He has invited the Tamil and Muslim parties to join the cause, and also appointed a ministerial panel to formulate a plan for ethnic reconciliation. He might have a genuine interest in this, and might even benefit electorally from such a gesture-- unlike his predecessors, the Rajapaksas, who thrived in fomenting ethnic more..

Nov 16 (CT) SL has liberalised petroleum stations and its law now, where the Govt is willing to provide necessary infrastructure through Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd (CPSTL). This will entitle the investor to come with their own US dollars and run the stations under a competitive rate under their brands but the debate is whether such an initiative would alleviate the fuel scarcity, more..

Nov 16 (CT) Budget 2023 presented by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe may on the face of it, appear to look like the light at the end of the tunnel but what is actually in stock for the public and institutions with the proposed economic reforms for the following year is yet to be seen. Will Budget 2023 get the country out of the debt trap it is entrapped in or will it seek to sugar-coat concessions leading to a further long-term economic crisis? As published in this paper on 23 July 2022, more..

Nov 16 (TM) The United Nations (UN) declared yesterday (15) the Day of Eight Billion, as it had been projected that the global population would have reached a staggering eight billion by yesterday. While it has also been projected that the overall growth rate of the global population would slow down compared to the speed at which it grew from seven to eight billion, international commentators say that the increased human lifespan will result in more people scrambling for resources. more..

Nov 16 (TM) One of the most prevalent opinions held by ordinary SL citizens at present is that for a country that boasts about a history of diverse and rich cultural and traditional values, SL has not achieved enough, and that the country�s tendency to excessively revel in those values is one of the reasons that have kept it stagnant. The whole debate on how much the country should allow its cultures & traditions to influence modern-day more..

Nov 16 (CT) First, a message from K. Sritharan, who was with Rajani Thiranagama and Rajan Hoole in the Uni Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna). �The rule of law is in decline and has provoked much discussion even in developed countries, where it has been the norm for over a hundred years. The West which continually championed democracy and the rule of law itself is facing a major crisis as populist right-wing politics make inroads into the mainstream. In the US the legitimacy of institutions more..

Nov 16 (ST) A man who was walking ahead of me suddenly stopped and stooped down eagerly to see something at his feet. He was a few metres ahead of me � we were both walking along the same street in Amsterdam city. Although he stooped down to pick up something, he didn�t take whatever it was. Then, he kicked it off with his boots and, continued to walk. As I was behind him, I was curious to know what and why he kicked it off. It was a currency note with a face value of 1,000 from a SA country. more..

Nov 16 (Island) The primacy being given to the defence budget at time of cost slashing in virtually every other area is a pointer to the govt�s reliance on the security forces to maintain and exhibit political stability and their grip on power. It is also a reflection of the govt�s fears that the worst is still to come. This does not bode well for the people who are hoping that the country will come out of its worst ever economic crisis soon. Prez�s accession to power was greeted with the hope more..

Nov 16 (Island) President Ranil Wickremesinghe has, in his budget speech, sought to kindle hopes of economic recovery. Claiming that the ongoing talks with the IMF, India, China, etc, would lead to positive outcomes, he has offered to build a social market economy or an open economic system of social protection whatever that means. However, there is no harm in the Head of State trying to infuse the public with some optimism amidst a national feeling of doom and gloom. more..

Nov 16 (TM) Two cruise ships, one bearing 800 confirmed tourists and the other with approximately 2,500 tourists, are scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka this month, according to the ACTSPA. while Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has stated that a vessel carrying 2,800 passengers and 500 crew members and a vessel carrying 3,500 passengers and crew are also expected to arrive on the island this month. more..

Nov 16 (Island) Reigning national champions Ravindu Laksiri and Fathoum Issadeen won the men�s and women�s titles of the Air Force Open PSA (Professional Squash Association) Satellite Squash C'ship-2022 which concluded at the Squash Complex of SL Air Force Base Ratmalana on Saturday. Nine-time national champion Laksiri, who recently won his first PSA int'l tour, continued the good form to defeat Pakistan�s Farhan Zaman in the men�s final. The tournament favorite, more..

Nov 16 (IE) A Delhi court granted bail to actor Jacqueline Fernandez in a Rs 200 crore money laundering case involving alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. Judge Shailender Malik granted bail to the actor on a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh and one surety of like amount. Earlier, during the bail arguments, the judge had warned ED not to implement a pick and choose policy, posing questions to the agency as to why it did not arrest her, was using different yardsticks in this case more..

Nov 16 (CT) Panadura Health Medical Officer said a complaint has been received against a private hospital, regarding an incident in which the ECG machine�s leads (wires) were incorrectly attached to the chest of a patient and the ECG was obtained. A woman named Irangani Samarasinghe, is said to have filed a complaint. Woman had gone to a Panadura private hospital on 8 Nov for an ECG test, due to chest pain and the doctor of the same hospital�s OPD informed her that more..

Nov 16 (TM) The Govt of Sri Lanka expects to earn Rs. 31 billion from Treasury Bond (T-Bond) premiums in 2023, up from Rs. 23.1 billion in 2022, and pay Rs. 2.1 trillion in interest payments and discounts, the 2023 Budget estimates revealed. Accordingly, the Govt estimates total interest payments of Rs. 1.27 trillion on domestic debt and Rs. 188 billion on foreign debt, while discounts on Treasury Bills and Treasury Bonds will go up to Rs. 675 billion from Rs. 370 billion in 2022. more..

Nov 16 (TM) JVP-led NPP MP Vijitha Herath claimed that the Arjun Aloysius-owned liquor manufacturer W.M. Mendis and Company Ltd, which was granted permission to recommence business operations earlier this year (2022) on the condition that it would settle Rs. 204 million in outstanding taxes owed to the Excise Dept, has still not settled the amount. �An amount of Rs. 5.3 billion in terms of tax has not been collected by the Excise Department and more..

Nov 16 (FT) Country�s premier private sector lobby the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said that the National Budget for 2023 presented by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe contains many laudable reform proposals which, if implemented in a timely manner, will complement the on-going fiscal reforms outlined. The Chamber in a statement said it is refreshing to see that the direction of the Budget is towards reforms as compared to unsustainable relief measures seen in past Budgets. more..

Nov 16 (FT) Bank of Ceylon has reported Rs. 27.5 billion Profit Before Tax (PBT) for the 9-month period ended 30 Sept as per its unaudited quarterly financials. This performance was achieved despite many headwinds caused by unforeseen challenges that erupted in the economic and social landscape during the period. Despite of never experienced economic and operating environmental challenges prevailed, the net interest income grew by 32% to Rs. 107.9 billion contributing 72% to more..

Nov 16 (FT) SJB MP Dr. Harsha De Silva called on the Prez to exercise powers vested in him under the 21st amendment and call for a general election come March 2023, and form the team to steer this country forward. Addressing Prez Wickremesinghe who was in parliament yesterday, De Silva said the money is available with the Elections Commission and both LG polls and a general election could be held on same day. more..

Nov 16 (FT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe will keynote the popular and high-profile post-Budget organised by the Daily FT in partnership with the University of Colombo MBA Alumni Association on Friday (18) at 9 a.m. at the Grand Ballroom, Shangri La, Colombo. It will also be President Wickremesinghe�s first in-person public forum since presenting the reforms and relief oriented 2023 Budget as Finance Minister in Parliament on Monday. A host of experts from the Govt, multilateral & private sector org more..

Nov 16 (CI) Favourable conditions for the pace bowlers, bouncy surfaces and massive boundaries contributed to the 2022 T20 World Cup being the second-slowest scoring edition. Tournament's average run rate was 7.49, only behind the 2021 edition's 7.43 hosted by UAE and Oman. The bowlers took a wicket every 18.4 balls, the best among the eight editions of the T20 World Cup. Batting average this time was 20.16, which was just ahead of the 2010 edition held in WI, more..

Nov 16 (FT) MP S.M. Marikkar says the budget for 2023 presented by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe is entirely hollow and consists of false data as well as impractical programs. Speaking during the budget debate held in parliament, SJB MP said the Govt has presented nothing new in its budget proposal. Pointing to several budget proposals presented to support his argument, Marikkar noted the Govt has allocated Rs. 200 million to establish a medical faculty at Uva Wellassa Uni. more..

Nov 16 (FT) President Xi Jinping�s top-most international roaming ambassador said SL�s infrastructure facilities, human resources and other required facilities are in place and the country is all set to take off. Prez of the Chinese Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Ambassador Lin Songtiyan said now what is needed to attract foreign investments is to enact necessary legal reforms. Ambassador Songtiyan, who called on PM Dinesh Gunawardena together with more..

Nov 16 (TM) The IUSF, IUBF, CTU, and several other civil organisations, are demanding that Prez and Minister of Defence Ranil Wickremesinghe not extend the 90-day detention orders imposed on IUSF and IUBF Convenors Wasantha Mudalige and Ven. Galwewa Siridhamma Thera, respectively. They have warned that if the detention order is extended, they would surround Colombo, and hold a series of protests more..

Nov 16 (CT) Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings have retained Wanindu Hasaranga and Bhanuka Rajapaksa, while Kolkata Knight Riders have released all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne ahead of IPL 2023 mini-auction. Chennai Super Kings led by M S Dhoni has also retained SL�s Mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana and Malinga-like Matheesha Pathirana. Hasaranga was bought by RCB for a whopping INR 10.75 crore at the previous edition, more..

Nov 16 (DN) Two bowling all rounders Dhananjaya Lakshan and Dunith Wellalage have been recalled for ODI squad for the forthcoming Afghanistan three ODI series which will commence on Nov 25 at Pallekele. Bowling all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne has been axed from the ODI team while also missing from the side is Danushka Gunathilaka, who is embroiled in a court case in Sydney over allegations of sexual intercourse without consent with a woman he found on Tinder. more..

Nov 16 (DN) There are a little over 300,000 tax payers in Sri Lanka which is just 1.33% of the entire population and hence the tax base has to be widened, said Tax Policy Advisor to the Ministry of Finance Thanuja Perera. She opined this at the CA Sri Lanka organized post budget seminar yesterday. Perera said that even in the corporate sector there are only around 10% that pay taxes and the govt is looking to widen the tax net and increase the tax revenue. more..

Nov 16 (TM) Two independent Opposition MPs who were among the five such MPs who are reported to have joined with SJB, namely John Seneviratne and Piyankara Jayaratne, denied claims of joining any such coalition. In a media briefing held after a discussion took place at the Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa�s Office on Monday between some MPs of the ruling SLPP Party�s breakaway faction � led by Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, who became an independent MPs more..

Nov 16 (EN) SL�s budget experts raised concerns over higher defence allocation in 2023 budget and said the move gives wrong signal on rationalizing the public spending. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the finance minister presented 2023 budget in the parliament on Monday which was expected to signal the policies needed to move out of the county�s economic crisis including hard reforms to satisfy the IMF to more..

Nov 16 (CT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe handed over a sum of Rs 9.025 million, donated by MPs, to the wife of Amarakeerthi Athukorala, the former Polonnaruwa District MP of the SLPP, who was killed on 9 May. Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapaksa handed over the relevant cheque to the Prez at the ruling party�s group meeting held yesterday at the Parliament Complex and Prez presented the cheque to the family of Amarakeerthi Athukorala. Around 183 MPs donated money for this purpose. more..

Nov 16 (DM) While commenting on the start of distributing textbooks for Islamic schools that contain extremist teachings, the education minister said several amendments have been made to remove certain words and sentences from textbooks through a committee appointed by the ministry. Minister Susil Premajayantha said that the committee had decided before he took over. In recent times, there have been many revelations that Islamic school textbooks contain extremist teachings. more..

Nov 16 (AD) The govt has unpaid bills of about Rs. 200 billion, mainly to the construction and various other institutions, says the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardana. He stated that the govt has come up with revenue and tax policies because the govt is unable to pay those bills. Treasury Secretary stated this while speaking during a post-budget seminar on the 2023 budget, under the theme more..

Nov 16 (EN) SL�s Laugfs Gas Plc, said it had exited from its Bangladesh unit and will use the sale proceeds to settle debt. A 69% stake in Laugfs Gas (Bangladesh) Ltd (LGBL) made up 2,645,203 million shares was sold for UDS 16.1 million, the firm said. Another 31% stake held by Dubai-based Slogal Energy DMCC, which is also a Laugfs unit was sold for UDS 7.254 million, the company said. �The above proceeds are net of LGBL debt and will be used to reduce the debt exposure of group� more..