Apr 18 (DM) There is something peculiar about human psychology. What people accept as normal can change suddenly, without warning, due to natural disasters, political upheaval, military conflicts and economic downturns. New situation � people becoming refugees, going broke, losing touch with each other, or going hungry � becomes the new normal. It then becomes a pointless exercise to talk about the good old days. People need to adapt themselves to the new normal to survive. more..

Apr 18 (DM) A universally agreed definition of terrorism does not exist - mainly because the countries have overlooked the means of terrorism in favour of their political goals. But there is a common-sense legal consensus that an effective legal instrument to fight terrorism should be founded on an unambiguous and narrowly focused definition of what terrorism is. That mitigates the potential abuse of the law but also prevents law enforcement agencies from being overburdened with more..

Apr 18 (CT) The decision of Minister of Agriculture to export 100,000 toque monkeys stirred a debate as to the ultimate purpose of such export together with concerns as to whether it is done in accordance with the law and necessary assessments. According to Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, 100,000 toque monkeys will be exported to China to be displayed in zoos. This is in an effort to control monkey population in SL more..

Apr 18 (CT) Leader of Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Mano Ganesan, who moots setting up a Tamil MPs Caucus in Parliament, declared there are 10 MPs altogether with C.V. Wigneswaran, Leader of Thamil Makkal Thesiya Kuttani (TMTK), also responding positively to the move. The caucus was considered to be set up in a bid to ensure main political parties do not take numerical minorities for granted anymore, was what Ganesan said, elaborating on need to set up such caucus. more..

Apr 18 (CT) I have come to realize that without a System Change there is no solution to the present day crisis. The prevalent system is established not to serve the interests of the masses in our land but to serve the self-interests of the greedy politicians. Hence such a system-change can happen only if a people-friendly political party takes over the reins of power in the country by dislodging those currently wielding power. In my view, NPP is the party which can bring about the desired change more..

Apr 18 (Island) SL Navy is at war even during peacetime! It is leading the country�s war on drugs from the front. It has seized another haul of heroin in the southern seas. A fishing craft which was intercepted, while transporting about 175 kilos of hell dust, was brought to Galle yesterday. The street value of the stock of heroin is believed to be as much as Rs 3.5 billion. Six suspects have also been taken into custody. Let the Navy be praised for its successful drug bust, and more..

Apr 18 (Island) Veteran shuttler Chandrika de Silva won two gold medals and a silver at the 105th All England Senior (Masters) Badminton Championships 2023, held from Apr 14 to 16 in Hertfordshire Sports Village, England.She clinched the gold medal in the Over 45 Singles beating Zoe Weller in the finals. De Silva dominated the finals winning the first set by 21-15 and then going on to win the second set 21-9. De Silva went on to secure the gold in the Over 45 Mixed Doubles more..

Apr 18 (CI) In his first eight innings in Test cricket, way back in 2017, Sadeera Samarawickrama's best innings were two thirty-odds. There was promise there for sure - his first knock, a sparkling 38 off 35 balls in a Dubai Test that SL won, was especially good. But then he went to India, as tough a place as there is for a 22-year-old batter to tour, & made 23, 0, 13, 0, 33, 5. He was dropped, but has been on the fringes of the team ever since. more..

Apr 18 (FT) Institute for Health Policy (IHP) released today the March 2023 update of its Consumer Confidence Indices, which are generated from its SL Opinion Tracker Survey (SLOTS). There was broad improvement in consumer sentiment in March, during which the IMF approved new funding for SL according to consumer confidence indices generated from SLOTS of IHP. This led to all three of IHP�s Consumer confidence indices significantly improving, although all remain at pessimistic more..

Apr 18 (FT) In 1997, an important strategic collaboration took place between two leading commercial business establishments � Maclaren�s Holdings Ltd and Alliance Finance Company � which launched a new business venture; Macbertan. Macbertan pioneered the manufacture of expanded polyethylene foam products and polyethylene air bubble sheets in SL, marketing its prestigious product range of McFoam, McFoil, McFoil Ultra, and McWrap, which quickly became popular more..

Apr 18 (Island) Moose Clothing Company has once again reaffirmed its commitment to the sport of cricket by pledging to support Sri Lanka Cricket as the Official National Team Sponsor at the upcoming Ireland tour of SL in Apri 2023. The tour will include two Test matches, with the first taking place from Apr 16th to Apr 20th, and the second taking place from Apr 24th to Apr 28th, at the Galle Int'l Stadium. Furthermore, the sponsorship will be extended and remain effective more..

Apr 18 (FT) Second annual ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Summit organised by the Daily FT and the Colombo University MBA Alumni Association and HSBC as strategic partner recently shared key insights from several experts to get the new corporate imperative right. Environment Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe was the Chief Guest whilst HSBC SL and Maldives CEO Mark Surgenor delivered the keynote address. The ESG Summit focussed on several pertinent issues. more..

Apr 18 (FT) Purchasing Managers� Indices for both manufacturing and services activities returned to positive territory in March 2023, its compiler the CBSL said. Manufacturing PMI turned positive in March 2023, after nine consecutive survey rounds, recording an index value of 51.4. CBSL said this month-on-month expansion was driven by the increase in new orders and production sub-indices mainly due to seasonal demand. more..

Apr 18 (TM) The International Sovereign Bond (ISB) holders are very interested in coming back to Sri Lanka to reinvest on the assurance of continuous economic improvement in the country, Prof. Shanta Devarajan said. The former World Bank Chief Economist, who is part of the Sri Lankan team discussing with the creditors, said that in some of the discussions Sri Lanka had with the creditors last week, ISB holders have said that they are very interested in reinvesting in Sri Lanka. more..

Apr 18 (Island) Accelerating momentum of serious violent crimes in our society is disconcerting to Sri Lankans who pride themselves as a moral society. Sociologists will explain a general upward trend in petty crimes as a consequence of moving into a new money economy, which upsets the social controls of a traditional society such as SL. Daniel Lerner in his famous monograph, Passing of traditional society alerted this diminishing social capital as an unfortunate consequence of modernity. more..

Apr 18 (TM) No decision has been taken so far by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Cabinet of Ministers regarding the formation of a national Govt. Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera said that even at yesterday�s Cabinet meeting, there was no discussion regarding this matter. He said this when he was inquired about media reports claiming Prez Wickremesinghe has decided to invite other political parties to more..

Apr 18 (GV) For forty years, human rights activists have demanded repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) of 1979, which the state has used to terrorize minorities with impunity. Ultimately the threat of losing preferential trade status with the EU (GSP+) forced Sri Lanka�s hand. Money, not human rights, prompted the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and a close read reveals it for what it is. ATA tinkers at the margins but does not change what is rotten at its core. more..

Apr 18 (DM) A resident of Thorayaya in Kurunegala has given birth to quadruplets (three males and one female) at Peradeniya Teaching Hospital today. The babies were weighing 1.3 kg and 1.1 kg at birth, and they were sent to the special infant treatment unit. The obstetrician and gynecologist at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital are providing medical treatment to these quadruplets. In the meantime, the father of these infants, Buddika Herath, said that he was extremely happy about this and more..

Apr 18 (DN) Another Ace with jockey Sai Kiran survived the challenge from a competitive field to snatch the Governor�s Cup, while Royal Crystal, ridden by jockey Nikhil Parmar claimed the Queen�s Cup, at the RTC horse racing event concluded at the Race course in Nuwara Eliya. Continuing its winning form from the last race day, Another Ace, with the winning connection of jockey Kiran, trainer S.V. Mathialagan and owner Hasanga Jayaratne won the prestigious Governor�s Cup powered by more..

Apr 18 (FT) NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake claimed the Employees� Provident Fund and Employees� Trust Fund are now under threat as a result of the Govt�s attempt to restructure domestic debt. The MP said the EPF and the ETF have lent close to Rs. 3 trillion to the Govt making them its main domestic lenders. �They are now attempting to use the monies in the EPF and ETF to cover its various thefts,� he accused. The MP noted that according to the agreement between more..

Apr 18 (Island) PHU leader Udaya Gammanpila has given notice to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena that he intends to raise a privilege issue regarding the conduct of the Speaker and his Media Secretary Indunil Abeywardena pertaining to the Supreme Court determination on the Bill titled Central Bank of SL. Speaker announced the SC determination on 04 April. In addition to Gammanpila, MPs Gevindu Cumaratunga more..

Apr 18 (Island) Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) leader Mano Ganeshan MP yesterday said that he along with SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem initiated talks with the UNP to explore ways and means of bringing the SJB and the UNP together following a spate of requests from SJB lawmakers as well as members of the now defunct Local Govt bodies. Lawmaker Ganeshan said so in response to The Island query whether they acted unilaterally in opening talks with the UNP in January this year. more..

Apr 18 (Island) Political commentator Chaapa Bandara recently alleged that having facilitated IMF�s latest intervention here, GMOA was protesting against the new tax formula introduced at the behest of the Washington headquartered lending agency. Bandara pointed out that the GMOA couldn�t absolve itself of the responsibility for creating an environment conducive for such intervention. The civil society activist said so in response to Dr. Chandika Epitakaduwa on behalf of the GMOA more..

Apr 18 (TM) Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Opposition MP Rajitha Senaratne yesterday said that the media reports stating that he has been asked by the SJB to make a statement saying he will not join the Govt, are false and baseless. He claimed that there is no rivalry between him and the SJB as the media has reported, and that there will be no change in his position no matter what happens. �Some media had reported that I was summoned before a disciplinary committee of the SJB. more..

Apr 18 (CT) SriLankan Airlines has been forced to ground five of its aircraft for several months due to the lack of engines and spare parts. The state-of-the-art Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft joined the national carrier post-2017. A320neo can carry 150 passengers while the A321neo can accommodate 188 passengers. The registrations of these aircraft are 4R-ANA, 4R-ANB, 4R-AND, 4R-ANE, and 4R-ANF. Root cause of this issue is operating six different aircraft types, more..

Apr 18 (TM) Ministry of Public Security, despite deeming the claim that certain Police stations tamper with evidence by mixing drugs found in the possession of suspects with various other substances and present the same to courts as being absurd, is to probe the same. Minister Tiran Alles said that even though the accusation that certain Police stations mixing drugs found in the possession of suspects with various other substances more..

Apr 18 (FT) FPC member G.L. Peiris says the Govt will have to hold the LG polls prior to conducting a prez election. Peiris said under the existing legal provisions, the opportunity for a presidential election will only occur between 18 Sept - 18 Oct 2024. �There is no room for a prez election to be held this year or early next year under the current law,� he said. MP said a successor president cannot call a prez election after four years and will need a two-thirds majority in Parliament to do so. more..

Apr 18 (NR) Another nine inmates who escaped from the Thaldena Open Prison Rehabilitation Centre in Badulla on Saturday have been apprehended. The three remaining inmates were located this morning from a reserve in close proximity to the Rehabilitation Centre. Four inmates who escaped from the Thaldena Open Prison Rehabilitation Centre in Badulla were apprehended last evening as well. Nine persons held at the Thaldena Rehabilitation Centre escaped more..

Apr 18 (Island) Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said the politicians who had ruled the country since the Easter Sunday carnage had been party to a conspiracy to hide the truth about the tragedy. Cardinal said: �We recall vividly the statement made in earlier times by the former Attorney General that behind these attacks, there was a grand conspiracy. It is clear to us and to many others that the attacks were more..

Apr 18 (FT) You find yourself in a challenging situation, lost in the jungle with your group, and the guides have lost their way. It�s dark, and no one has a torch. With one wrong turn, you all fall into a deep pit. Now you have a bigger problem: before you can continue your journey, you need to get out of the pit. As you search for a way out, someone offers to lend you a ladder, and you accept their help. Blindly trusting the first person who offers assistance might not be the wisest thing to do, more..

Apr 18 (FT) The world of marketing has always intrigued me. Why some brands can appeal to a consumer psyche and go on to capture the heart and mind of a consumer whilst some brands even with the fat marketing budgets fail to win a single consumer sometimes baffles even the strongest performing marketing professional. Can a wrong product be promoted to get consumer share or will a right product wrongly promoted kill a brand is a perennial debate that has been in existence for years. more..

Apr 18 (EN) Shares edged down at close as investors are slowing down their activity waiting for more clarity on local debt restructuring, an analyst said. ASPI was down 0.64% or 60.37 points to 9,345.53. �There is pressure in the banking counters as fears of domestic debt restructuring have surfaced in the market after the approval of the IMF,� the analyst said. �Banks are decreasing in value due to risks associated with domestic debt restructuring, debt optimization, and more..

Apr 18 (AD) Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Mr. Keith Bernard met officials from the U.S. Dept of Transportation on 6/04/2023 at the Chairman�s office at HQ Colombo. Officials of the U.S. Department of Transportation discussed on further collaboration between the U. S Department of Transportation and SLPA. The Chairman of SLPA Mr. Bernard at the discussions updated the U.S. officials on future developments of the Port of Colombo (POC) and especially, more..

Apr 18 (AD) Cabinet has granted approval to reserve the Galle Face Green for the public only to spend time leisurely. SL Port Authority has taken over the development of Galle Face Green under a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project, with an expenditure of around Rs. 220 million to date. Minister Bandula Gunawardena emphasized that the total amount of money spent just to repair the properties damaged during the Aragalaya more..

Apr 18 (DM) Former Attorney General Dappula de Livera has been informed to appear before the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) tomorrow to record a statement he had made over the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks. Police said he was informed to appear before the TID to record a statement regarding his controversial statement of a coup behind the Easter Sunday attacks. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe also said at a Cabinet briefing that he has informed the Attorney General more..