Sep 14 (TM) Former NPC Provincial Minister of women�s affairs & rehabilitation and incumbent Eela Thamilar Suyatchi Kazhagam General Secretary Ananthy Sasitharan will address the UNHRC's 51st session meetings in Geneva, tomorrow, urging justice and accountability for missing persons in SL. Sasitharan said that she would address UNHRC session, highlighting the point that a domestic mechanism to address issues regarding missing persons is merely an eyewash. more..

Sep 14 (FT) The Govt yesterday said import restrictions will be reviewed every two weeks, to accommodate valid recommendations by the private sector. �It is not a permanent or a blanket restriction. It is only a temporary limitation due to foreign exchange crisis. The amendments to the list of items will be presented to Parliament for approval,� Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday. more..

Sep 14 (ST) Citi Foundation has joined hands with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in SL to pledge a Rs.70 million contribution, with a primary focus on the diversification of agricultural livelihoods. The focus would be from paddy to cash crops such as cowpea and mung beans under uncultivated minor irrigation tanks, to not only boost stagnant cultivation activities, but to ensure food security and increase farmer income for economic recovery, UNDP said. more..

Sep 14 (Island) In Part I of this article, the writer argued that the determination of the Supreme Court in the case of the Nineteenth Amendment was preferable to that of the Twenty-second Amendment Bill (22A). The writer submits that in 22A, the Court seriously erred by assuming that the power to dismiss a Prime Minister is an essential part of executive power. While the President is directly elected by the People, the PM is elected indirectly by the very same People. more..

Sep 14 (Island) Under 20 boys� triple jump event of the Sir John Tarbat Senior Championships witnessed a dramatic finish with the top two destroying the meet record and the event favourite finishing just outside the podium as the highly competitive field event set the tone for an intriguing first day at Diyagama yesterday. The winner Ashmika Koralage of Yoshida Shokanji Int'l School Sapugaskanda and runner up K.V.M. Yasiru of Kahawaththa Central more..

Sep 14 (CT) The Clarks Hotels and Resorts strengthens its footprints in SL by opening The Albatross Golf Resort in Kandy. They are aiming to promote the country to Indian travellers and take advantage of the growing SL business and leisure travel market. The brand is aggressively looking for expansion in the neighbouring country by opening properties in different key locations in SL, a spokesman said. Albatross Golf Resort Digana, Kandy by The Clarks is perched on top of more..

Sep 14 (DM) The results of the decisions taken by the selection committee appointed one and half years ago to pick new, young players are visible in SL�s Asia Cup win, all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne said. SL won their sixth Asia Cup title on Sunday, beating Pakistan by five wickets, and in the process successfully defending a score for the first time in 2022. Players like Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka and himself, were given opportunities by the selection committee headed by more..

Sep 14 (FT) Sandya Ekneligoda, the wife of missing journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda, and human rights activist has accused the Govt of adopting impunity as its unofficial policy relating to human rights in SL. �In a country where impunity is the unofficial adopted policy consisting of a slow and lagging legal system, in the midst of poverty, constant pursuit, and intimidation, the only thing the victims can do now is to cry out and lament while engaged in a constant struggle on the country�s streets,� she said, more..

Sep 14 (TM) SLPP MP D.V. Chanaka, who assumed duties as the State Minister of Power and Energy on 9 Sept, rejected allegations of having requested the said portfolio after being sworn in as the State Minister of Conservation of Wildlife and Forest Reserves a day earlier, on 8 September. Chanaka said that he had informed the relevant authorities including Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe regarding his stance on the portfolio he was given just minutes after he was sworn in. more..

Sep 14 (AD) The multi-sector mechanism to empower rural economic revitalization centres to ensure food security and nutrition was initiated under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe today (13). The vision of the Food Security Programme of the Govt is to ensure every citizen has access to enough food at a reasonable price to lead an active and healthy life, at any given situation of the country, PMD said. more..

Sep 14 (DN) Sanath Jayasuriya ended with superb figure of 4 for 3 as Sri Lanka legends recorded an easy seven wickets win over England with 33 balls to spare at the Road Safety World Cricket Series fixture played at Kanpur, in India yesterday. It was a good team effort by Sri Lankans legends while Sanath Jayasuriya was leading the way with taking 4 for 3. SL chasing a target of 79 runs reached 79 for 3 wickets in just 14.3 overs. Skipper T. M. Dilshsn was out for 15 in 21 balls with two fours more..

Sep 14 (EN) Sri Lanka stocks slipped on Tuesday for the first time in the five sessions on retail selling amid profit taking with some shares which had risen in the past few sessions, brokers said. The main All Share Price Index (ASPI) fell 0.65% or 64.09 points to 9,749.09, falling from highest since March 28 hit on the previous session. �After gaining continuously in the last few session, we saw selling coming into the counters that mostly moved the market,� a market analyst said. more..

Sep 14 (Island) Rajanganaya Ambul Kesel (Sour Plantain) Plantation has earned USD 28,000 by exporting their produce in the first six months of this year. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that the Project, which is being implemented under the Agricultural Sector Modernization Project (ASMP), established to modernize SL�s agriculture under World Bank assistance, was a huge success. This cultivation has been established, targeting the int'l markets and the project has also provided more..

Sep 14 (Island) The govt�s lethargy towards the gem and jewelry sector prevented more than US$ 1 billion in foreign exchange from coming into the country per year, a well-known gemologist said. �Currently SL�s gem and jewelry export income is less than US$ 300 per year, which could be developed to a US $ one billion industry if the govt adopted proper promotional methods. However, certain countries, such as Hong Kong, where gems are not even available, earn more than more..

Sep 14 (TM) Tamil diaspora organisations noted that they would only invest in SL if a suitable political solution for the Tamil national ethnic question with the maximum devolution of power is achieved, not just for the North and East of the country, but also for all other provinces. Global Tamil Forum (GTF) Spokesman Suren Surendiran said that if SL achieves an acceptable political solution for the 70-plus-year-old Tamil national ethnic question more..

Sep 14 (FT) Cabinet Ministers, at its meeting on Monday, has decided to seek the advice of the Attorney General to resolve the legal dispute concerning the $ 1.5 billion coal procurement, to avoid longer power outages from the latter part of October. �The matter was discussed at length at the Cabinet meeting on Monday. It was decided to seek advice from the AG and to make a submission to the SC highlighting the importance of a quick resolution to avoid adverse impact on economy at large" more..

Sep 14 (AD) European Union (EU) remains committed to supporting SL in its process of economic recovery and advancing the reconciliation agenda and justice reform, in full respect of democratic values, the EU delegation to the UN and other int'l organisations in Geneva said today. The remarks were made during the General Debate on the oral update of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights today (13). �We see the amendment to the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), more..

Sep 14 (EN) Sri Lanka has sought genuine support and understanding of the UNHRC to address the island nation�s past human rights issues amid fresh calls to address economic crimes possibly targeting the former first family. Sri Lanka under former leaders Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa have rejected many past UN resolutions aiming at addressing the past human rights violations, but were compelled more..

Sep 14 (FT) All changed, changed utterly is a powerful line from Easter, 1916, the famous poem of William Butler Yeats. The poem by W.B. Yeats was about the Irish Easter uprising in 1916, its cruel suppression and how all changed utterly in Ireland. A terrible beauty is born, says Yeats. In SL all changed and changed utterly with the ascension of Junius Richard Jayewardene to the premier seat of power in 1977. J.R. Jayewardene known popularly as JR ushered in more..

Sep 14 (AD) Veteran Sri Lankan lyricist Ananda Padmasiri has passed away at the age of 63. He had reportedly passed away due to a heart attack this morning (Sep 14). His contribution to the development of Sri Lankan music industry includes many Sinhala songs written by him such as Ran Samanala Joduwa Wage sung by Ranjan Ramanayake, Oba Inne Koheda Kiya sung by the Gypsies, Devadara Gas Atharin Ebi Balana sung by H.R. Jothipala etc. more..

Sep 14 (AD) Police have arrested two suspects who were abducting a woman in a car in the Baddegama area. The relevant suspects were arrested by Baddegama police when they were travelling in the car with the abducted woman. The woman in question had been abducted this morning while she was on her way to work at a garment factory located in the Dikwella area, police said. Suspects had travelled along the Southern expressway with the abducted woman in the car and exited more..

Sep 14 (EN) A resolution to constitute Sri Lanka parliament�s National Council committee has been added to the legislature�s order book to be taken up on September 20, parliament said. The National Council will comprise the Speaker as the Chair, the PM, the Leader of the House, the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Govt Whip, and no more than 35 members of parliament as determined by party leaders, a statement from the parliament said on Wednesday September 14. more..

Sep 14 (DM) Chinese Embassy in Colombo today clarified reports related to the entry ticket of the Lotus Tower in Colombo which is being circulated on social media. A ticket claiming to be that of the Lotus Tower is being circulated on social media with information on exemptions for MPs and Chinese Nationals. The Embassy said that the circulating ticket was forged and responded stating to visit the tower tomorrow and buy a ticket more..

Sep 14 (EN) SL can build Mannar island into a entertainment filled tourism hotspot which will use dollars as its currency like Macau, newly appointed state minister for tourism Diana Gamage has said. Macau adds to a long list of dream countries with stable single anchor monetary regimes with currency boards of currency board like systems. Other such countries that SL frequently aspires to become economic hubs like Singapore (modified currency board), Dubai (currency board like system) more..

Sep 14 (DM) A lawyer who had been charged under Motor Traffic Act for tooting vehicle horns for the popular rhythm of Kaputu kaak kaak kaak was today ordered to be discharged from the case by Colombo Colombo Additional Magistrate M. S. Prabhakaran. The Fort Police filed charges against Attorney-at-Law Dushmantha Weeraratne under section 155(2) of the Motor Traffic Act for whistling other than a horn sounding a single note at Galle Face green on last Friday (9). more..

Sep 14 (EN) State-run electricity regulator Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) has launched a hotline specifically to address consumer inquiries related to the recent electricity tariff hike. PUCSL approved a proposal by the CEB to increase monthly electricity charges by an average of 75% on Aug 10. Price hike came nine years after the last price hike in the country with the CEB was incurring billions of losses as more..

Sep 14 (FT) The National Science Foundation is the premier national institution mandated to promote science, technology and innovation for socio-economic development of the country. In keeping with its mandate and in order to advance a digital economy in SL, the NSF recently embarked upon several novel initiatives. They included, among others, establishment of a global digital platform (GDP) to harness SL expatriate scientists, technologists, entrepreneurs and more..

Sep 14 (TM) GRI Tyres, an industrial tyre manufacturer, recently announced the opening of its corporate office in the US. The corporate office has been strategically located at Research Triangle Park (RTP) in North Carolina, to primarily provide ease of access to its growing customer bases located across the US. GRI Managing Director Prabhash Subasinghe said: �As we rapidly expand our specialty tyre business across the US, we realised that a corporate office with experienced staff more..

Sep 14 (DM) The restrictions enforced on visitors to the Parliamentary Complex and to the Galleries have been relaxed from Sept 20, Communications Dept of Parliament said. The decision has been taken at the Committee on Parliamentary Business today following a proposal made by the Serjeant-at-Arms. As a preliminary step, it was agreed to allow parties who request to visit the Parliament, including school children, on days when there are no parliamentary sittings. more..

Sep 14 (Island) President Ranil Wickremesinghe was a puppet of the Rajapaksas, who had to flee the country in the face of public anger, Opposition Leader, Sajith Premadasa said, in Puttalam, at a SJB meeting on Sunday. �Look at the State Ministers they appointed. Aren�t they the biggest Rajapaksa stooges? The govt talks about too many people in state owned enterprises, but what about all the State Ministers? They are a bigger burden than any govt servants,� he said. more..

Sep 14 (TM) As Ceylon Fisheries Corporation (CFC) has not been making payments related to Employees� Provident Fund (EPF), Employees� Trust Fund (ETF), and the gratuities of retired employees for a prolonged period, CFC Employees� General Union (EGU) has alleged that the outstanding amount of such payments has now exceeded Rs. 620 million. In a letter to Minister Douglas Devananda, CFCEGU Secretary more..

Sep 14 (TM) The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the appointment of a committee to identify priorities in essential recruitments and to recommend suitable timelines for them, as well as making appropriate recommendations for the State sector to carry out public service more efficiently. The proposal was presented by PM Dinesh Gunawardena in his capacity as Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, PCs, and LG, to review the recruitment process in the public service. more..

Sep 14 (DM) Malsha Kumaratunga, daughter of former politician Jeewan Kumaratunga today denied reports circulating on social media that she had been arrested by a team from the Police Narcotics Bureau for being in possession of 2 kilos of drugs. When contacted, Kumaratunga said the reports were false and she was in fact at her house with her mother. According to the reports that circulated on social media, it claimed that Malsha was stopped by police in the Boralesgamuwa area last night more..

Sep 14 (DM) The case against former Minister Namal Rajapaksa and five others under Money Laundering Act was today fixed for further trial by Colombo High Court. High Court Judge Nawaratne Marasinghe fixed the case to be taken up for further trial on Dec 8. The witnesses in the case were advised to appear before Court on next trial date. Attorney General had filed indictments against six accused for their alleged involvement more..

Sep 14 (Island) European Union (EU), together with the Embassy of Switzerland, Italian Embassy, French Embassy, Alliance Fran�aise, Goethe-Institut and British Council, will be hosting a multilingual jazz music tour across three key cities in SL, with the view of celebrating this year�s European Day of Languages, falling on Sept 26. As part of the broader EU Campaign on a Peaceful and Inclusive Society, the multilingual jazz music tour will feature mainstream, pop rock, jazz fusion, jazz pop more..

Sep 14 (ANI) The final phase of the rehabilitation camp for SL Tamils in Dindigul District, Thotanuthu village, has been completed. The cost of setting up the camp is estimated to be Rs.17.17 crores. M K Stalin said, "Today's day started auspiciously with the opening of residences for SL Tamils who are relatives of Koppulkodi who have returned to their motherland". To give the SL Tamils residing in the state a safe and respectable existence, the construction of these homes has been more..