Oct 12 (DM) Renewable energy producer WindForce PLC marks yet another milestone with the opening of 10MW agrovoltaic plant, the Solar Universe. Plant was commissioned on Sept 28 and was officially opened by Minister Kanchana Wijesekera yesterday. Construction of the 10MW ground mounted solar power plant started in Sept 2021 and was commissioned 10 months later. Being an agrovoltaic plant, Solar Universe is the first of its kind for the company, as well as for SL. more..

Oct 12 (FT) Colombo stock market began a fresh week with a sharp plunge in indices reaffirming worsening local investor sentiment though foreigners stepped up their buying especially in JKH propelling the year-to-date inflow to over Rs. 16 b. The active S&PSL20 plunged by over 4% and the benchmark ASPI by over 3%. The Colombo bourse last week marked its third consecutive week of losses and highest in recent times as investor sentiment tumbled on macro issues. more..

Oct 12 (AD) A country�s security is not only ensured militarily but is also secured through food and economic security, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has emphasized. Prez said this during the progress review meeting of the National Food Security and Nutrition Assurance Program held at the Prez Secretariat last morning (11). Emphasizing that urgent measures should be taken to provide the country with fuel and food, the Prez said more..

Oct 12 (Island) The stage is set for the eighth edition of the T20 World Cup in Australia. Host country Australia, the defending champion has put in place elaborate preparation and exceptional Australian hospitality awaits the participating teams and others. The proud moments of winning the world cup in 1996 at Lahore still resonate in the hearts and minds of Sri Lankans. A proud cricketing nation that produced outstanding players of the calibre of Sathasivam, HIK. Fernando, Abu Fuard, more..

Oct 12 (DN) SL Economic Summit (SLES) 2022 organised by the CCC, under the theme Resetting from Turmoil to Opportunity, will be held on Dec 5 and 6 the Shangri-La, Colombo. The SLES 2022 will focus on key levers that will lead to macroeconomic stability as well as ensure private sector-led growth, enabling the country to swiftly embark on a growth trajectory and implement short and medium-term reforms. These levers will play a vital role in the formulation of an economic recovery plan, more..

Oct 12 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on Monday approved the establishment of a National People�s Council Secretariat to strengthen participatory democracy in the formulation of public policies. �Before this week�s Cabinet meeting started, a presentation was conducted by the NMSJ Chairman Karu Jayasuriya and Senior Journalist Victor Ivan on the Jana Sabha concept, its importance, the implementation process and its implications on the country. more..

Oct 12 (Island) If the Prez and SLPP are confident that they have public support, they should hold local govt elections as soon as possible, independent MP Prof. Charitha Herath says. �Prez has decided to reform the electoral system. He wants to change the local council election laws. This is a long process. First of all, he has to get a committee in Parliament to work on this, place it before MPs and then present it to the people. He can�t just decide to change LG election laws. more..

Oct 12 (Island) Foreign Minister Ali Sabry has reiterated that a handful of persons who advised Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa caused the unprecedented economic meltdown. Sabry has alleged that politicians, officials, public sector as well as the trade unions are responsible for the crisis. Minister said so in response to seeking an explanation regarding the UNHRC taking up the contentious issue of economic crimes in SL. more..

Oct 12 (DM) The SL delegation that is currently in Washington D.C met with a senior official of the IMF to discuss the way forward in the efforts taken to iron out the issues faced in the island nation. Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe and State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe held talks with First Deputy Managing Director of the IMF Gita Gopinath on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Group (WBG) Annual Meetings. The discussions focused on the issues pertaining more..

Oct 12 (AD) President Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued instructions to streamline the process of responding to letters, emails and phone calls addressed to govt institutions. The president has focussed his attention on streamlining and expediting the process of responding to letters, emails and phone calls by the public instead of them having to waste their time, effort and money by having to come to these institutions personally to attend to their requirements. more..

Oct 12 (TM) A majority of the members from the ruling Govt party, the SLPP, are of the view that a new Constitution should be adopted in Sri Lanka instead of introducing amendments to the existing Constitution, The Morning learnt, and the party has suggested that the new draft Constitution � recommended by the 9-member committee of experts headed by Romesh de Silva (PC) � be considered for this purpose. more..

Oct 12 (FT) Since our economy was driven off a cliff, economic revival has become a central topic among many who have left their hearts back in SL or are broiling within the crisis. Until the crisis hit all our lives, the topic of our national economy was mostly confined to the subject matter experts in the local universities, tuition masters, and to the experts in the Central Bank and Finance Ministry. Once per year we hear few parliamentarians debate on the economy while majority grant a blind vote more..

Oct 12 (EN) Sri LAnka has published changes to the Inland Revenue Act in a gazette notice giving effect to tax hikes announced by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in May. The taxes were expected to be legislated in October 2022. Key changes include reducing the tax-free threshold for personal income tax to 1.2 million rupees from 3.0 million and raising the corporate tax to 30% from 24%. Capital gains tax for companies is expected to be raised from 10% to 30% for investment assets. more..

Oct 12 (FT) Annual Meeting of the Boards of Governors of the IMF and the World Bank Group (WBG) in Washington DC this October, will discuss issues of global concern. Debt justice should be at the top of their agenda. SL and many other nations classified as lower-middle-income countries by the WBG are not developing, and the financial tools that are being provided to help them develop and reform prove to be unsuitable. These countries are falling behind on a range of socio economic more..

Oct 12 (DM) Former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa congratulated former Norwegian Minister Erik Solheim for being appointed as an International Climate Adviser to Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and assured to support him in his new role. Mr. Solheim met Mr. Rajapaksa in Colombo today during his special visit to the island where the latter during his discussions with the former, remembered the contribution made by Mr. Solheim to SL as the peace negotiator between the SL govt and more..

Oct 12 (EN) Sri Lanka�s Leave No One Behind welfare programme for low-income families has received 2.3 million applications, the president�s office said quoting the Welfare Benefit Board. A statement from the president�s office said that the applications are being promptly entered into the system through Welfare Benefit Information Units established in 341 divisional secretariats around the country. more..

Oct 12 (DM) Court of Appeal today fixed for Friday (14) to announce whether it issues an order quashing the summons issued by Colombo Fort Magistrate on former Prez Maithripala Sirisena in connection with the Easter Sunday attack incidents. Court of Appeal 2-judge-bench comprising Justices Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Dhammika Ganepola today concluded preliminary hearings into the writ petition filed by former Prez Sirisena and announced that order regarding his initial pleadings more..

Oct 12 (TM) Relatives of missing persons condemned the Govt�s decision to pay an additional amount of Rs. 100,000 to the families of missing persons � thereby increasing the compensation paid in such cases from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 200,000 � as a tactic to end the longstanding struggle for justice by the families of the disappeared. Mullaitivu District Organisation for Missing Persons President said that compensating relatives will not conclude their unresolved issues. more..

Oct 12 (AD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that using children as shields in demonstrations is a serious offence according to the law of the country and advised the SL Police to take immediate measures to prevent the perpetuation of such conduct. Prez issued these instructions during the special discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (12) on the protection of children�s rights. more..

Oct 12 (TM) The latest venture undertaken by Bondville Manufacturing (Pvt) Ltd. to set up a new factory in the Gonapola area to manufacture bonded garments for export purposes, is set to use bonding techniques to join fabric panels, as opposed to using needles and thread as the main joining method. The agreement in this regard was signed recently in the presence of the BONDVILLE management and the BOI officials. This new BOI project will create more than 1,000 direct & indirect job opportunities more..

Oct 12 (Island) Former Prez Chandrika Kumaratunga has highlighted the need to address the growing problem of malnutrition, especially among the children. SL is among the ten countries with the worst malnutrition rates among 200 countries and that over 20% of the children under five years were severely malnourished, she has said. The former Prez said so while speaking at the first meeting of the National Combined Mechanism for Food Security and Nutrition of more..

Oct 12 (AD) Amidst the recent reports pointing to a problematic situation in the country due to the nutritional status of children due to the current economic crisis, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella says that malnutrition in the country has increased by 2% compared to last year. Minister stated that he has no other priority as Minister of Health than creating a healthy generation in the country. �Malnutrition prevailed at a level of 12%. It has now gone up to 14%. It is an increase of 2%. more..

Oct 12 (CT) The building which previously housed the Royal Thai Embassy in Colombo, located in Town Hall, has been transformed into a multi -functional cultural centre called Siam Nivasa. Siam Nivasa � or in Thai Language �Siam Nivas� means the home of Thai people. Siam Nivasa was opened on 26 September. The event featured a Hun Kra Bork or traditional Thai puppet show and a traditional musical performance, followed by a workshop of the Thai puppetry art. more..

Oct 12 (Hindu) As Sri Lankans continue braving their worst economic crisis since Independence, urban poverty on the island has tripled in the last year, from 5% to 15 %, according to a recent World Bank report. SL is experiencing �its highest poverty rate since 2009 [when the civil war ended], and an erosion of the steady gains in welfare made between 2006 and 2019,� the Bank noted in its recent SL Development Update more..

Oct 12 (Island) Election Commission (EC) Chairman Nimal Punchihewa said that it would be prudent for all political parties to reach a consensus on the proposed electoral reforms and avoid holding a referendum at a time the country was struggling to take care of the basic needs of the people. Prez Wickremesinghe, on Sunday, said that a referendum would be held for the people to decide on electoral reforms, if the Select Committee to be established failed to reach a decision on the matter, more..

Oct 12 (AD) Financial scammer Thilini Priyamali, who is under remand custody for defrauding money from businessmen and VIPs, was brought to the World Trade Centre in Colombo this evening where her financial institution is headquartered. Priyamali was escorted to the 34th floor of the World Trade Centre by the prison officials, under a special court order the CID had obtained. It is reported that Priyamali is slated to be taken to three other locations for further investigations. more..

Oct 12 (ICC) SL all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga took last year's ICC Men's T20 World Cup by storm and played a major role in helping his side win the recent Asia Cup � and it was just the latest step in the rise of the island nation�s latest superstar. SL legend Mahela Jayawardena spoke about Hasaranga�s meteoric rise, shedding light on his early years and growing maturity while also drawing a link with another SL great, Lasith Malinga. more..

Oct 12 (EN) Sri Lanka�s tax rate hike has been gazetted by President Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Minister of Finance with an aim to double tax to GDP ratio by 2025 as the island nation is in the process to finds ways to come out of an unprecedented economic crisis. Here are the key facts on the budget and possible impacts on the public, and corporates: Key facts: � A person who earns more than 100,000 SL rupees will have to pay taxes depending on additional amount they earn. more..

Oct 12 (AD) Police has sought public assistance to arrest the main suspect and shooter in the killing of three members of the same family in Gamangedara, Minuwangoda. The wanted suspect has been identified as Jayagodage Sanjeewa Dona Sanjeewa Lakmal (39), who had been residing at No. 10, Mahindarama Road, Sri J'pura Kotte. Police said that the suspect has currently fled the area and requested the public for assistance in apprehending him. more..

Oct 12 (TM) Due to increased interest rates and a reduced number of investments, the construction industry continues to languish in the standstill it has been pushed into with the economic crisis, The Morning Business learns. Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka (CCI) immediate past President Maj. Eng. Ranjith Gunathilake stated: �The construction industry will never move forward when the interest rates are at 28-30%.� more..

Oct 12 (DM) The CID has received at least nine complaints against Thilini Priyamali, the owner of Thico Group (Pvt) Ltd, over her alleged links to mega financial fraud. Police said complaints are being received by the CID and the police stations island-wide over alleged financial frauds committed by Priyamali while operating a luxurious office at World Trade Center in Colombo. It was reported that as per the complaints received so far, the suspect has defrauded more than Rs.2,510 million. more..

Oct 12 (TM) Cabinet has granted approval to the introduction of a digital driving licence in Sri Lanka, stated Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister of Transport and Highways Bandula Gunawardana. He stated that a driving licence containing a Quick Response (QR) code would be introduced in the future, instead of the current one that contains a microprocessor chip. Gunawardana had submitted the proposal to the Cabinet in his capacity as the Minister of Transport and Highways. more..

Oct 12 (DM) Swiss Embassy employee Ganiya Bannister Francis who is facing criminal charges before Colombo High Court for allegedly making a false claim that she has been abducted and sexually harassed today raised preliminary objections challenging the maintainability of the charges. Ganiya Bannister has been accused of giving false information to embarrass the SL Govt and fabricating evidence in her abduction claim. The Attorney General had filed indictment more..

Oct 12 (TM) In a context where illegally imported luxury sports utility vehicles are being found at the Customs despite a total import ban on vehicles, the Sri Lanka Customs stated that it only keeps in its custody vehicles that pertain to ongoing investigations, while the others are auctioned off, The Morning learnt. Customs Spokesman Sudattha Silva said that while the majority of such vehicles are sent for disposal through auctioning, there are however no bids for such. more..

Oct 12 (TM) Public Administration Ministry possesses no authority to extend the retirement age of health professionals, and therefore, will abide by the decision of the Health Ministry, said Secretary to the Public Administration Ministry M.P.K. Mayadunne. He said: �The Health Ministry can make a decision on this matter and put forward a Cabinet paper and we can then accommodate that decision.� more..