Sep 7 (Island) SJB MP Mujibur Rahuman yesterday demanded to know why a wheelchair exports had been banned. Pointing out that the regulations listed in the Parliament Order Paper under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act referred to wheelchairs as banned items, MP asked whether the govt was expecting the disabled persons, and patients, to crawl on their bellies. �There are many people abroad sending wheelchairs as donations to poor people who cannot afford them. more..

Sep 7 (DM) Environment Minister Naseer Ahamed, in his capacity of the president�s envoy to Saudi Arabia, has initiated discussions with the Saudi govt last week seeking for a five year credit line of US $ 6 billion for the supply of fuel on a govt to govt basis, as a long-term solution to SL�s current economic crisis. Minister Naseer Ahamed as the Special Envoy also proposed Saudi investments in SL for manufacturing agricultural fertilizer, constructing petroleum storage facilities, more..

Sep 7 (UN) The country is in the grip of a serious economic crisis which has had a severe impact on the human rights of all communities. This has sparked demands for deeper reforms and accountability, giving the authorities a fresh opportunity to steer a new way forward, said the report, which calls for holding a national dialogue to advance human rights and reconciliation. However, for sustainable improvements to take place, more..

Sep 7 (ST) The Foreign Ministry backed by the Justice Ministry is in the final stages of establishing a new office known as the Overseas Sri Lankan Coordination Secretariat to serve Sri Lankan expatriates with the aim of strengthening relations with the expat community. Work on the new office is now mostly complete and the government will also be inviting the country�s Tamil Diaspora to coordinate with this office, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe told the Sunday Times. more..

Sep 7 (TM) Compared to the last few months, the stocks of pharmaceutical drugs and other medical equipment in the country is at a satisfactory level, stated the Ministry of Health, which added however that it will take at least another year for such stocks to return to the standard level maintained before the emergence of the prevailing crisis. A senior official of the Ministry said: �Compared to the past few months, the stocks of drugs and other medical equipment in SL are at a satisfactory level. more..

Sep 7 (CT) As SL has always proved that the country is ready to produce sustainable and eco-friendly handloom textile products preserving its own identity. Asserting that those skilled hands still create value added products, Vajira Peiris, an individual who is engaging in the handloom industry introduced a tabletop loom which can be used by any person. Introducing the newest product, she says that it would open the avenues for anyone to start a home business or go for a small scale commercial more..

Sep 7 (EN) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe said he is facing a deep currency crisis which led to external default with no team from his party, as the UNP celebrated its 76 the anniversary. �I address you today as the 4th Prez from this party,� Wickremesinghe said, after sitting flanked by his PM and former school mate Dinesh Gunewardene who has relentlessly opposed his policies in the past. �I am facing a different situation to what other UNP leaders had to face. I have no UNP govt. more..

Sep 7 (TM) Revealing that he had objected to the decision taken by then-Prez Rajapaksa to ban the import of chemical fertilisers in April 2021, former Minister of Agriculture and incumbent Govt MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage claimed, however, that Rajapaksa had assured him there was no cause for concern, as a Presidential Task Force (PTF) was to be appointed regarding the matter, and that there was a separate more..

Sep 7 (DN) SL needs to learn from its experience of the past, especially when the country moves forward in terms of establishing the appropriate framework for formulating monetary policy, former Governor of Central Bank of SL Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy said. �If I can have a brief historical perspective in leading up to the subject, macroeconomic stress has been a major causal factor in Sri Lanka�s decline from being second in Asia on most socio-economic indicators at the time of independence. more..

Sep 7 (DM) Highlighting that a Devani Aragalaya (A second struggle) will be launched for a systems change shortly, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe said the parties will finalise an agreement on the proposed National Council. Speaking during a gathering held to mark the 76th anniversary of UNP, the Prez said PM Dinesh Gunawardena had informed him that parties will finalise an agreement on the National Council next week. �We will begin a Devani Aragalaya to bring in vast reforms shortly. more..

Sep 7 (FT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday extended an open invitation to all political parties to join without differences, to build a powerful country for the future generation. �Let�s unite and build this country as we are children of one mother. I urge you all to unite for the sake of the country. Let�s start this journey together and forge ahead fearlessly in building a glorious SL,� he said at the 76th anniversary of the UNP more..

Sep 7 (FT) When the 22 March 1965 election results were announced, no single party had obtained a simple majority on its own. It was a hung parliament. As stated in the first part of this article last week, the UNP had obtained 66 seats. SLFP came next with 41 seats. ITAK was third with 14 seats. Prevailing Parliamentary arithmetic after the elections indicated that the ITAK with its 14 seats held the balance of power. What happened thereafter will be related in detail in this article�s second and final part. more..

Sep 7 (FT) Sri Lanka's unprecedented economic and political crisis, still unfolding, has not only exerted immense pressure on businesses, but also the governance of businesses � particularly, on boards. Whether an unlisted private company or family business, or a top listed corporate, director boards have had to contend with numerous macro and micro challenges over the past few years, coming to a head in early 2022 when the economic crisis reached a crescendo. more..

Sep 7 (TM) All Island Three-Wheelers� Association has shot down Minister Kanchana Wijesekera�s request that all three-wheeler drivers register themselves at the nearest Police station for the purpose of the easy identification of full-time three-wheeler drivers. Association Prez Lalith Dharmasekara said that despite Wijesekera�s request, no such system is in place. �Even now, there is no such system in place. Wijesekera says that it will make identification process easier, more..

Sep 7 (DM) Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera has filed a Fundamental Rights petition in Supreme Court seeking an order staying the purported award made to a company incorporated in UAE for the procurement of 4.5 million MTs of coal to the Lakvijaya Power Plant. The petitioner is challenging the decision of the Special Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee to award the coal tender to the Black Sand Commodities Company and subsequent approval issued more..

Sep 7 (FT) Public policy subverted for private gain; laws broken with impunity in the certain knowledge there will never be a reckoning. Unintelligent governance brought us to our knees. Lankagama-Neluwa road is a microcosm of that expressway to disaster. In 2020, Prez Gotabaya ordered the army to build the road in 90 days. About 8 km sliced through Sinharaja, a world heritage primary rain forest. No Environment Impact Assessment more..

Sep 7 (AD) A suspect infamously known as Molkawe Chamiya has been arrested with stolen items including two motorcycles and six bicycles worth Rs. 2 million. The arrestee was involved in a number of thefts reported in the Bulathsinhala police area, said the police. The police seized two motorcycles, six bicycles, a water motor, two domestic gas cylinders, an air compressor, a vehicle battery and a stock of rubber sheets in possession of the suspect. The arrest has been made based on a tip-off more..

Sep 7 (AD) A special category for fuel quota increases is expected to be tested on selected private and public sector entities this week, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera says. This was decided at the meeting held with the development partners and stakeholders this morning to review the National Fuel Pass QR system. Meanwhile, tourist fuel pass and non-vehicle category are slated to be introduced next week, the lawmaker added. He said the filling station code would be added from next week more..

Sep 7 (TM) In the backdrop of the UNHRC's 51st regular session around the corner in Geneva, Switzerland, the TNA is presently conducting bilateral talks with UNHRC Member States with a view to moving a fresh Resolution concerning SL at the upcoming session, while Tamil Makkal Thesiya Kuttani (TMTK) is pushing for Sri Lanka�s case to be brought before the International Criminal Court (ICC). more..

Sep 7 (FT) The legendary Tudor styled Grand Hotel nestled in the salubrious hills of Nuwara Eliya has announced the appointment of Suresh Abbas as its new General Manager. High performance individual with a wealth of experience spanning over three decades in operations in three continents. Suresh had his primary education at St. Thomas Preparatory School in Colpetty and St. Thomas Mt. Lavinia and worked at the Hilton Colombo. His first love being food and beverage, he went on to more..

Sep 7 (CT) Students will not be admitted to intermediate classes, up to the G.C.E. Ordinary Level, in the schools that admit students to Grade 6 only based on the marks obtained at Grade 5 Scholarship examination in the future, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said, adding this will be a significant positive step in Sri Lanka�s education system. The Minister said, he believes that by not having such a system, serious injustice to gifted students can be avoided. more..

Sep 7 (ANI) SL middle-order batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa was very vocal about his team's performance at the press conference after his side's win over India on Tuesday. Speaking to the reporters, the southpaw termed his win over the Indian side extraordinary and that the team was feeling great after beating India. The explosive left-handed batsman said, "Great feeling beating India, it's always special, lots of people didn't believe that we could win the game and compete more..

Sep 7 (TM) SL has been ranked sixth in global child malnutrition rankings based on the number of underweight children under five years of age, and has been ranked second among countries facing severe malnutrition in South Asia, stated SJB MP Rohini Kaviratne in Parliament. MP mentioned this while presenting the adjournment motion on the malnutrition of children and mothers in SL. The MP stated that due to the economic crisis in the country, the price of food has become more and more..

Sep 7 (AD) US Secretary of the Treasury, Janet Yellen, has informed that the U.S., as a creditor nation, will participate in restructuring SL�s debt. A press release issued by PMD read that the critical need for the full cooperation of all official creditors in debt negotiations and restructuring through timely participation and equal burden sharing have been outlined. US Treasury, welcoming Prez Wickremesinghe�s proposal for more..

Sep 7 (Island) Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) Regional Managers of Ampara and Polonnaruwa have been dismissed for neglecting their official responsibilities in connection with the Aralagangwila paddy storage facility. Agriculture Ministry officials said that some 4000 kilos of paddy, purchased by the PMB in 2015, had been left to ruin. �This had been investigated,� an official said. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera instructed the Paddy Marketing Board Chairman Neil de Alwis to initiate more..

Sep 7 (FT) The W15 Collection has announced its latest accolades in recognition of its websites in the annual BestWeb.lk competition organised by The LK Domain Registry. Under the W15 Collection, W15 Hanthana managed to clinch the Overall Silver Award for the Best Website and win Gold under the Travel and Tourism category. The W15 Collection website (www.w15.lk), W15 Weligama, W15 Ahangama and W15 Colombo have all been recognised as Merit winners in the Travel more..

Sep 7 (CI) Take a deep breath. This was not a fever dream. Don't doubt it. No need to pinch yourself. If you live in SL, the economy is doing much worse to you anyway. It happened. It's real. You've lived through the golden age. Remember that? SL won five Asia Cups, made three T20 World Cup finals, won one of those - their players at the forefront of the game's evolution, their attack so varied it was almost perverse, their batting more..

Sep 7 (DM) Along with the education reforms, Education Ministry is planning to introduce the English medium in all schools from Grade 1 next year, Minister Susil Premajayantha said. While addressing an event organized under the theme English is Simple, Minister said the decision was taken to help children in rural areas to move with the new technology and with the world without fear. "Along with education reforms, English language competence is essential in the advanced more..

Sep 7 (TM) The reduction of VAT in 2019 by former Prez Rajapaksa�s Govt saved jobs of the people in the country as the tax relief provided enabled businesses to continue to operate during the Covid-19 pandemic, stated SLPP MP Sanjeewa Edirimanne. He said that the reduction of the VAT to 8% from 15% in 2019 provided relief to the middle-class business community in SL, which was able to operate without shutting down from the impact of the pandemic, thus saving jobs of people of SL. more..

Sep 7 (DM) Cabinet approval was granted for the payment of the retirement gratuity of govt employees, which was delayed until now, the Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Govt and PM Dinesh Gunawardena said. Accordingly, approval for the payment of retirement gratuity relating to the year 2021 was granted. The Treasury Department of Pensions has also stated that the necessary funds for the payment will be made available by end October this year. more..

Sep 7 (CT) Women Parliamentarian�s Caucus discussed a potential Bill to ensure rights and protection of SL women as well as gender equality. The meeting was headed by Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle. Accordingly, the proposals to the Bill includes establishing an independent commission titled the National Women�s Commission through an Act of Parliament which would provide leadership on legal and policy reform, monitor implementation of laws and women�s rights and gender equality, more..

Sep 7 (TM) All-Ceylon Filling Station Owners� Association (ACFSOA) stated that challenges in securing sufficient funds to place orders for fuel by 10.30 a.m. have proven to be a challenge to many fuelling station owners, leading to fuelling stations having to close down for business for the day. ACFSOA President Kumar Rajapakshe stated that the new system introduced by Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, which calls for more..

Sep 7 (AD) A circular has been published granting five-year no-pay leave for public officers to be spent in or out of the country, without affecting their seniority and pension. The communiqu� was issued by the Secretary to Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs & PCs. On June 13, the Cabinet granted approval amend existing provisions to allow govt employees to take no-pay leave for employment or other productive work abroad or to work in the private sector more..

Sep 7 (DM) The rise in COVID-19 virus, current economic crisis and lack of awareness about nutrition, the country is witnessing a greater change in nutritional status among children who are lesser than five-years-old and an increase in malnutrition, Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) Consultant Pediatrician Dr. Deepal Perera said. He said general malnutrition and malnutrition level have also increased. Meanwhile, the children with skinny posture bear witness to this, he said. more..

Sep 7 (EN) China may become the key factor in deciding the timing of the IMF�s loan disbursement for Sri Lanka to ease the ongoing unprecedented economic crisis, local and international analysts say. China has agreed to help Sri Lanka in facing the economic crisis, but so far has not committed for any debt restructuring plan, govt officials who are dealing with the debt structuring said. more..

Sep 7 (DM) The Registrar General's Department advised the Education Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Immigration and Emigration Department and the Department of Registration of Persons to refrain from considering the validity period of birth, marriage and death certificates issued by the Registrar General's Department. The Registrar General P.S.P. Abeywardana stated in a notice that the six-month validity period for birth, marriage and death certificates will no longer be considered. more..