Apr 28 (AD) The ongoing case against Shashi Weerawansa, wife of MP Wimal Weerawansa, has been adjourned until 2 May, as per an order issued by the Colombo Magistrate�s Court this morning. The order was issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis when the case against Shashi Weerawansa pertaining to her alleged move to obtain a diplomatic passport after producing forged documents was taken up in court today. Accordingly it was decided that the case will be heard on more..

Apr 28 (DM) While expressing surprise on the US decision to blacklist him and his family from entering US, North Western Province Governor Wasantha Karannagoda said that there is something else behind the move. �I have some doubts about the move and believed that there is something else behind this,� the former Navy Commander Karannagoda said adding that, �It was a surprise to me that 14 years after the war, suddenly the US has taken a decision to blacklist me.� more..

Apr 28 (AD) COPA has instructed SL Police to dispose of the expired tear gas at all police stations across all of SL. Senior police officers who attended the meeting told the COPA that the process to discard the expired tear gas is already underway, assuring that these items would never be put to use again. Chaired by the committee�s chairman State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, COPA convened a meeting on Wednesday with senior officers more..

Apr 28 (EN) Shares edged down at close on Friday, as investors are waiting for more clarity after Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe on local debt restructuring, an analyst said. ASPI fell 0.32% or 29.19 points to 8983.21, since Feb 17, while the most liquid index, S&P SL20, was down 0.28% or 7.40 points to 2,617.79. �The index dropped to 8,900, on comments made by the Prez regarding debt restructuring,� an analyst said. Shares fell across the board after comments made by Prez more..

Apr 28 (DM) The govt of former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa actually decided to go to the IMF for financial assistance, but an invisible force prevented the move, Minister Ali Sabry told Parliament. �Everyone in the former President�s cabinet agreed to go to the IMF except MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara. However, an invisible force prevented us. This is why there was a delay in seeking IMF assistance,� the minister said. �The IMF is like a doctor. It prescribes medicine, more..

Apr 28 (CI) Prabath Jayasuriya became the fastest spinner in the history of the game to 50 Test wickets, Ramesh Mendis reeled in another five-wicket haul and Asitha Fernando roughed Ireland up. Although they had conceded 492 in the first innings, SL completed an innings victory shortly before scheduled tea on day five. Only Harry Tector had mounted any serious resistance, batting out 189 balls for his 85, more..

Apr 28 (FT) Undoubtedly, SL and its people will be compelled to pay a heavy price unless it introduces necessary reforms expeditiously, to make the socio-political system respectable, modern, corruption-free and orderly, rather than restricting its efforts only to launch economic and financial reforms to solve the balance of payments crisis. Failure to do so might even jeopardise the efforts to solve the balance of payments crisis. Some of the main problems that need to be solved by a reform program more..

Apr 28 (AD) Russian Ambassador to SL Levan Dzhagaryan says sanctions imposed by the US on SL�s former navy commander Wasantha Karannagoda are totally unacceptable. Dzhagaryan�s objections came after US State Dept announced that Karannagoda, the current Governor of North Western Province, and his family are banned from entering the US over the alleged gross violation of human rights. However, SL govt hit back at the move, expressing grave concerns more..

Apr 28 (FT) The Embassy of SL in the Netherlands in collaboration with the SL Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), recently organised a successful briefing for over 50 tourism industry representatives including Dutch Govt officials, media professionals, tour operators, travel agents, travel bloggers, social media influencers, travel journalists, TV professionals, and airline representatives. The event which took place on 19 April, at the Embassy was aimed at highlighting more..

Apr 28 (CT) Amidst the increase observed in the number of influenza and dengue cases being reported, the Covid-19 statistics, given by the Govt Information Dept (GID), show that on Wednesday a total of 7 cases have been diagnosed with the corona virus. GID, in its latest update has shown that with the seven cases, the total number of Covid -19 patients detected from SL, had increased to 67,2150. Dept also noted that on Tuesday (25), four new cases of Covid-19 had been detected more..

Apr 28 (Island) The ongoing controversy over sunken X-Press Pearl has taken a new turn with former State Minister Dr. Nalaka Godahewa contradicting Justice Minister Dr. Wjeyadasa Rajapaksa, pertaining to a statement made by the latter in parliament on the previous day. Dr. Godahewa said: �I have been greatly prejudiced by a false statement made yesterday in this Parliament by the Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakse more..

Apr 28 (TM) Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera and the State Minister of Power, along with the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Power and Energy have discussed the progress on the 2030 roadmap and policy for renewable energy. Wijesekera revealed via twitter that the progress on the ongoing projects pertaining to renewable energy, projects on policy loans and grants, setting up an efficient and transparent approval process, more..

Apr 28 (SLN) SL Navy apprehended 22 persons for engaging in light-coarse fishing and night diving, during search operations conducted off Nayaru, Mullaitivu and around Kinniya Bridge on 27th April. Along with the suspects, 08 dinghies, diving gear and fishing equipment were also taken into naval custody. To safeguard the marine ecosystem from the negative impacts of unlawful fishing practices, the Navy is carrying out continuous operations in the coastal areas surrounding the island. more..

Apr 28 (FT) When the civil war in SL ended in 2009, the apparel sector was one of the first industries to enter the Northern Province, hoping to infuse much-needed investment to rebuild the community. Over a decade later, the apparel industry remains the only large manufacturing sector that has ventured North to set up large-scale operations employing over 8000 individuals in the region. Among them are Dianna, Durkadevi and more..

Apr 28 (TM) SDIG Ajith Rohana should explain as to how a particular SDIG is being protected through the transfer of seven SDIGs including the former, said Minister Tiran Alles. The Department of Police had taken a decision on Tuesday to transfer seven SDIGs due to service requirements. Following the announcement, SDIG Rohana had claimed in a letter to the National Police Commission (NPC) that the transfers in question had been made as Alles wanted to protect a particular SDIG. more..

Apr 28 (DM) The Cabinet Paper would be presented next week and steps would be taken to issue the circular which would allow state employees who are contesting the LG elections to report for duty outside the local govt authority they were contesting, Public Administration Minister and PM Dinesh Gunawardena said today. PM said the decision has to be made so that the election laws were not violated as the Elections Commission has not officially cancelled the election. more..

Apr 28 (EN) SL govt, taking a U-turn from its original stance, said it will delay the tabling of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) to the parliament until broader consensus is reached, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe told the parliament. His statement comes amid increasing local and international resistance to the proposed ATA because of some vague language in defining terrorism and speculation of ATA being used against anti-govt protestors and dissidents. more..

Apr 28 (EN) SL�s Standard Chartered Bank said it had made its first Indian rupee remittance on behalf of company to Mumbai after the currency was approved for official transactions. The transaction was executed via the SWIFT mechanism involving the Mumbai correspondent banking account, realizing proceeds in the beneficiary�s account maintained with a third-party bank in India within 24 hours, the bank said. CEO of Standard Chartered SL, Bingumal Thewarathanthri, more..

Apr 28 (SMH) One of the reasons I�m not really a fan of big, organised tours is that you never get the chance to go free range in a destination. Everything you see and do is packaged and proscribed. The story is worked out ahead and you have to fit into it. It�s the people you meet spontaneously who make the experience wonderful, more than beautiful vistas or wiggling your toes in white sand. At least, for me. more..

Apr 28 (TM) A Gazette Notification was issued yesterday (27), by the Ministry of Transportation, revising the fares of all expressways. As per the Gazette Notification, expressway tolls will be increased by 25% and fares will be increased from Rs 50 onwards. Accordingly, from Kottawa to Katunayake the toll will be Rs 400 while from Katunayake to Hambantota Rs 1,300 and Kottawa to Galle Rs 500. The the new toll fees for motorists using the Central Expressway as follows: more..

Apr 28 (EN) Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry will leave for Incheon, South Korea to attend the 56th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The event is scheduled to be held from 2 - 5 May. Sabry will represent Prez Wickremesinghe at the Annual Meeting of ADB�s Board of Governors. Annual Meeting is a high-level event attended by around 3,000-4,000 participants, including Ministers of Finance, Governors of Central Banks, more..

Apr 28 (TM) Chief Opposition Whip and SJB MP, Lakshman Kiriella said yesterday (27) in the Parliament that the IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF) agreement has not yet been tabled in the Parliament by the Govt, even though the MPs are debating on it for three days. He revealed this yesterday while speaking during the Parliamentary debate on the IMF EFF agreement which started on Wednesday (26). more..

Apr 28 (CT) Both stunting and wasting among children under five years of age, increased to 9.2% and 10.1%, respectively last year (2022), from 7.4% and 8.2%, respectively, recorded in 2021, CB 2022 Annual Report released yesterday said. �The latest official assessment of Ministry of Health that was conducted under the concept of Nutrition Month in Oct 2022 on nutritional status of children under five years, reveals that the nutritional status of children deteriorated in 2022 reflecting more..

Apr 28 (AD) The Resolution for the Implementation of the Arrangement under the EFF of the IMF for Sri Lanka was passed in the parliament today with majority votes. MPs voted for the resolution on the implementation of the IMF-supported program following a three-day debate from April 26 - 28. A total of 120 MPs voted in favour of the Resolution while 25 voted against it. Thereby, the resolution was passed by 95 majority votes. SJB, TNA, SLFP did not back the resolution. more..

Apr 29 (DM) The details of the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding our debt restructuring facility, have finally been made public and the debate in Parliament is ongoing. The persons, who designed the IMF framework at Bretton Woods in 1944, claimed the Fund would be an independent and objective body, subject to broad political constraints and limited by financial resources. However, the limitation of the IMF�s role is obvious. more..

Apr 29 (DM) There was a highly tense situation in the country exactly a year ago with hundreds of thousands of people protesting against the Govt across the country and especially in a permanent protest site at the Galle Face Green obstructing the main entrance of the Presidential Secretariat. Protestors were calling Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa -who was blamed for an unprecedented economic and political crisis-to quit the office with a catchy slogan Gota Go Home. more..

Apr 29 (CT) Whilst poor conservation of elephants in SL has been strongly criticised, the issue surrounding the alleged move to send two elephants to Pakistan has exacerbated the concerns. According to reports, SL has agreed to gift two elephants to Pakistan following the death of African elephant Noor Jehan in the Karachi Zoo. A 17-year-old elephant named Noor Jehan in Pakistan�s Karachi Zoo died after being critically ill. more..

Apr 29 (CT) Someone is Colombo asked me; What are you trying to tell the Sinhala-Buddhists? Do you realize you are hurting their feelings? My response was; I was born among the Sinhalese and Muslims. I consider them my brothers and sisters. But when we stumble upon the truth it is no use covering it and hiding it. If someone were to tell me I was not born to my parents but was adopted by them, how will I feel? It is the same feeling the Sinhala Buddhists undergo when truth dawns upon them. more..

Apr 29 (CT) �SL has achieved strong health outcomes over and above what is commensurate with its income level. The country has made significant gains in essential health indicators, witnessed a steady increase in life expectancy among its people, and eliminated malaria, filariasis, polio and neonatal tetanus. At the same time, SL�s health system faces challenges arising from a rapidly ageing population, and the need to address the burden of non-communicable diseases more..

Apr 29 (CT) Shangri-La green premises, which was occupied by those engaged in the Aragalaya last year, took a carnival atmosphere last Saturday due to Sinhala-Tamil Avurudu (New Year) festivities, organised by a few State institutions led by the Presidential Secretariat. These festivities were held giving prominence to Avurudu customs and many traditional games were part of it. Among those in attendance were Ambassadors and more..

Apr 29 (TM) In 2020, the number of malaria patients that were reported in SL was 30, and in comparison to other diseases, that is a very low number, while for 2021, we have so far recorded only seven cases of malaria, National Anti-Malaria Campaign revealed. However, authorities believe danger still lurks with the possibility of the disease being imported to the country. National Anti-Malaria Campaign also stated that every year the Ministry of Health allocates nearly Rs. 1 billion to prevent malaria more..

Apr 29 (ST) Sunil malli � one of my relatives � called me early morning on the New Year day, to greet me. Our phone conversation was, however, not limited to greeting each other, but to discuss many more things. As usual, we continued a long conversation. He too, whenever he calls me, usually brings interesting news and stories from around his different social circles to discuss and ponder. This time he brought a really interesting story, circulating through social media: �The govt is hurriedly more..

Apr 29 (TM) linguaGPT is a new platform that enables users to access the fast evolving world of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven services via a range of languages. It helps remove obstacles for Sri Lankans and others who are often challenged by language barriers in seeking assistance and trying to use a range of services. The website enables users to communicate with the ChatGPT AI using as many as 100 different languages. linguaGPT, which is a web-based platform that is only 8 weeks old, more..

Apr 29 (ST) The sudden deaths of hundreds of fish in Kotmale Oya, which supplies water to the Upper Kotmale reservoir have left local authorities baffled. Lindula medical officer of health Dr. Dureirajah Rishinee said dead fish and water samples have been sent to the Peradeniya Uni�s Veterinary Hospital to test. People have been asked to not eat the fish. �But people in the surrounding areas were seen collecting dead fish washing up on banks. We also noticed a change in the water colour more..

Apr 29 (ST) Prabhakaran Udayamalar, a resident of Katkulam�three villages in Vavuniya�is struggling to make ends meet as she looks after her ailing husband and three young children. Udayamalar taken a loan of Rs. 30,000 from a micro-finance company prior to the Covid-19 pandemic to build a kitchen in her house. The loan required a monthly payment of Rs. 2,000, which she managed to pay through her daily earnings. more..

Apr 29 (EN) Australia-based Intrepid is expanding its adventure tours to Sri Lanka as tourism in the Indian Ocean island recovers after an economic crisis, a Chief Executive of the firm, James Thornton said. �The number of adventure traveller�s Intrepid hopes to help reach SL this year is expected to increase from the 3,500 who visited there in 2019, before the outbreak, to 5,000,� Thornton said in Colombo. Though Sri Lanka has not recovered as quickly as some of the other locations more..