Aug 16 (TM) Ministry of Power and Energy has called for an explanation from the CEB regarding an engineer attached to the CEB being promoted to the post of Additional General Manager (AGM) � Distribution Division Two, just a day before her retirement. In a letter dated Monday (14), the Office of the Deputy GM (Personnel) of the CEB has informed N.U. Perera that the CEB has decided on Monday to promote her to the Special Class more..

Aug 16 (DM) Galle Titans recorded a convincing eight-wicket win over Colombo Strikers in the final match of the group stage of the Lanka Premier League at the R. Premadasa Stadium today, which secured them second spot in the points table. Crucially it gives the Titans two opportunities of reaching the final, as they will face Dambulla Aura in Qualifier 1 on Thursday. Even if they lose, they will face the winner of the Eliminator between B-Love Kandy and Jaffna Kings on Thursday, more..

Aug 16 (DM) SL Customs seized a stock of Hashish worth over Rs.10 million at the Central Mail Exchange (CME), which had come as dog food inside a parcel sent from Canada. Customs Postal Appraising Branch officials at the CME on suspicion opened a parcel which had arrived in SL in May addressed to a consignee in Maharagama. The officials found a variety of dog food, dog biscuits and the narcotics that were contained in two dog food cans, Customs Spokesman said. more..

Aug 16 (DN) Ceylon Motor Traders Association (CMTA) hailed the move by the govt extraordinary gazette notification relaxing restrictions on importing motor vehicles for public transport including buses, lorries, tankers/bowsers and trucks. Chairman, CMTA, Charaka Perera said that this is a very good step that was taken to strengthen the public transport and many other sectors. He also said the move by Minister Bandula Gunawardhana to import electric buses to strengthen public transport more..

Aug 16 (TM) Ministry of Agriculture has decided to look into the possibility of initiating legal action against farmers who set fire to their paddy fields in protest over crop damages due to the prevailing drought, and not to pay any compensation sum for them. An official of the Ministry said that there have been several incidents of certain individuals setting fire to paddy cultivations that have been damaged due to the drought. "Setting fire to a paddy cultivation is an illegal act. more..

Aug 16 (EN) A team from the IMF will be in Sri Lanka from Sept 14 to 27 to conduct the first review of an EFF arrangement. The review will be conducted on June data. Officials have said Sri Lanka has over-achieved key IMF quantitative performance criteria though tax revenues, which is an indicative target has fallen short. SL also has met several structural benchmarks, some of which are under WB & ADB prior actions. more..

Aug 16 (Island) The Chairman of the Welfare Benefits Board B. Wijayaratne has resigned from his position with immediate effect. The Welfare Benefits Board is currently tasked with handling the controversial social security programme �Aswesuma.� The resignation was announced in the wake of continuing accusations regarding the project introduced by the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government to replace Samurdhi. Close on the heels of his resignation, the PMD said more..

Aug 16 (EN) State-run Rupavahini Corporation will lease airtime of its Channel Eye to UK based Lyca group to earn revenue and mitigate losses, Minister Bandula Gunawardana said. �A few hours of airtime would be leased to Lyca group for cricket broadcasts for which 25 million rupees would be charged for a month,� he said. �At the moment it is making losses and cannot even pay the electricity bill.� When the transaction was brought to cabinet for approval, he was informed that more..

Aug 16 (FT) In a decisive move, Cabinet approved the termination of what was once described as the largest-ever foreign direct investment agreement between the BOI and Hambantota Oil Refinery after years of protracted inaction to fulfil the stipulations of the contract. �Lack of engagement and failure to honour the commitments outlined in the agreement has prompted Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to more..

Aug 16 (FT) Lakshman Kadirgamar�s 18th death anniversary was observed last Saturday. The former foreign minister fell victim to a LTTE sniper in Colombo on 12 Aug 2005. Kadirgamar was one who defined himself first and foremost as a Sri Lankan. This endeared Kadirgamar to a very large number of Sri Lankans. However the fact remains that he was by ethnicity a Tamil and a Christian by religion. His parents hailed from Jaffna. This article focuses on Kadirgamar�s Jaffna Tamil Christian heritage. more..

Aug 16 (FT) In July 2014, social media, primarily confined to Facebook then, had an unusual spike in public discourse against the Rajapaksa regime though a presidential election was not on the horizon. No one sane would take credit for initiating the Yahapalanaya digital campaign, as it was a public uprising, mainly on Facebook. Fast-forward to 8 January 2015, President Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated by a commoner who lacked charisma, intellect, and leadership. more..

Aug 16 (EN) Shares closed up on Wednesday, Colombo Stock Exchange data showed. ASPI was up 1.44% or 162.18 points to 11,386.40, while S&P SL20 was up 1.76% or 57.29 points to 3,314.63. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has said debt restructuring is matter involving public finances coming under parliament and not courts, and has called opposition groups not to disrupt the process through legal action, a statement said. EPF will not take up an offer to exchange rupee bonds more..

Aug 16 (AD) State Minister Shehan Semasinghe says the welfare beneficiaries can rest assured that there will be no delays in implementing the Aswesuma program due to the resignation of the Welfare Benefits Board (WBB) chairman. The lawmaker dismissed certain media reports raising concerns about such delays. According to the state minister, former WBB chairman Mr. B. Wijayaratne has informed the Prez that he stepped down from the position due to personal reasons. more..

Aug 16 (EN) Prices of Colombo city hotels will be increased from Oct 1 under a Minimum Room Rate (MRR) with an aim to elevate the island nation�s capital as a high-end tourist destination, but local hoteliers vary of the move. Piyantha Fernando, Chairman of SLTDA last week announced plans for MRR, adding that the charges within city hotels are ridiculously low rates, such as 65 dollars a night with bed & breakfast on some 5-star properties. more..

Aug 16 (PMD) State Minister of Indigenous Medicine Sisira Jayakodi stated that necessary steps have been taken to promote the indigenous medicine sector as an industry with commercial value that can generate foreign exchange. The State Minister also pointed out that many new trends have been made in the indigenous medicine system and Ayurvedic system in order to build a healthy population in the country as well as to solve the problems that have arisen in the health sector. more..

Aug 16 (AD) Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella has stated that despite certain claims, no decision pertaining to non-approval of foreign leave for doctors has been made yet. Rambukwella assured that a decision regarding the non-approval of foreign leave has not yet been made. The Minister noted, however, that a discussion is due to be held with the health sector trade unions focusing on how Sri Lanka can retain its doctors, despite the ongoing situation. more..

Aug 16 (FT) SJB Deputy General Secretary Mujibur Rahuman slammed the Govt for failing to prevent the mass exodus of medical professionals from the country amidst the ongoing economic crisis. Rahuman said the Govt has done nothing to prevent the concerning trend. �We hear 830 medical professionals and 274 specialist doctors have already left the country. 23 doctors attending to emergency treatments have also left SL. more..

Aug 16 (FT) 77th Independence Day of India was celebrated with great fervour in different parts of SL on 15 Aug. The main event in Colombo was held at India House, the official residence of High Commissioner of India. HC Gopal Baglay hoisted India�s National Flag and inspected the Guard of Honour. He also read excerpts of the address by the Prez of India to the nation on the eve of the 77th Independence Day. Members of Indian community participated in the event in several hundreds. more..

Aug 16 (Island) Japan has provided a total sum of US$ 547,443 (approx. Rs. 170 million) to Skavita Humanitarian Assistance and Relief Project (SHARP) for humanitarian demining activities in Northern SL, the Japanese Embassy announced. The grant contract was signed on 11th Aug 2023 at the SHARP�s Base, in the Kilinochchi district, by Japanese Ambassador Mizukoshi Hideaki, and Major Gen (retd) Sumathi Ranjan Balasuriya, Director/Field Reporting Officer of SHARP. more..

Aug 16 (CT) The National Fuel Licence or QR code system is currently under review and a decision regarding the suspension of the code will be made in the upcoming month, revealed Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekara yesterday (15). If a decision is not reached, there are plans to increase the fuel quota within the following week. Notably, discussions have taken place with companies like Sinopec regarding fuel supply and potential capacity expansion. more..

Aug 16 (CT) SL Customs intercepted a sizable stash of Hashish, valued at more than Rs 10 million, at the Central Mail Exchange (CME). The illicit substance had been cleverly concealed in a parcel originating from Canada, ostensibly labelled as dog food. Upon suspicions raised by officials from the Customs Postal Appraisal Branch, at the CME, an examination was conducted on a package that had arrived in Sri Lanka back in May. The package was addressed to a recipient in Maharagama. more..

Aug 16 (Island) The ruling SLPP parliamentary group should intervene to make Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe examine the draft Constitution formulated by the nine-member committee appointed by Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa�s Cabinet-of-Ministers, rebel SLPP List MP Gevindu Cumaratunga said. President�s Counsel Romesh de Silva headed the committee. Having elected UNP leader Wickremesinghe in July last year as more..

Aug 16 (Island) NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa said that those who sought to dispute his claim of US involvement in Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa�s ouster should follow international media coverage of Pakistan PM Imran�s Khan�s removal. Referring to agency reports, the former minister said there was no doubt that Premier Khan has incurred the wrath of the US for refusing to condemn Russia over the war in Ukraine. MP said that both the US and the EU had brought pressure to bear more..

Aug 16 (DN) Public Security Minister Tiran Alles yesterday made a complaint in connection with the statement made by Duminda Nagamuwa of the Frontline Socialist Party yesterday. Nagamuwa had stated that the Public Security Minister Duminda Nagamuwa together with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna had invested money in an island in Europe at a press conference held on August 12. Minister Alles in his complaint to the CID had sought a full scale investigation into this statement. more..

Aug 16 (EN) Until a new scheme is ready, authorities will continue to pay kidney disease, disabled and low-income elderly allowances unchanged for 647,683 people, State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said. Up to 517,962 elderly, 88,602 disabled and 41,119 kidney disease allowances will be paid including the waiting lists, Semasinghe tweeted. �The payments will be made in the coming days. more..

Aug 16 (CT) Three individuals have filed a petition in the Supreme Court (SC), praying for an order, to Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, to institute legal action against 34 top officials, including Commissioners of the Ministry of Labour. This is due to the Labour Ministry Commissioners and top officials, having allegedly held a protest opposite the Ministry premises, to oppose the arrest of current Secretary to the said Ministry, R.P.A. Wimalaweera, after the Horana Chief Magistrate�s Court more..

Aug 16 (FT) DFCC Bank said it continued its commitment to serving customers across the country, delivering high-quality customer centric banking services, despite the volatile and challenging economic environment and the bank has recorded a resilient performance for the first half of 2023. DFCC Bank PLC, the largest entity within the Group, reported a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs. 5,110 million and a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs. 3,205 mil for the period ended 30 June 2023. more..

Aug 16 (PMD) A successor Donier-228 maritime surveillance aircraft was handed over to Sri Lanka by India at a ceremony held at the Sri Lanka Air Force Base in Katunayake. During the bilateral security discussions that transpired between India and Sri Lanka on January 9, 2018, in New Delhi, the potential acquisition of maritime surveillance aircraft akin to the Dornier type from India was brought to attention. The aim was to bolster Sri Lanka�s capabilities in maritime surveillance. more..

Aug 16 (CT) Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda announced that the Ministry of Fisheries aims to export 50,000 MT of shrimp by the end of this year. However, achieving this goal presents a significant challenge due to the proliferation of fungi and parasites. Urgent measures are necessary to address this issue promptly in order to safeguard the industry and the livelihoods of the farmers, he said. Devananda emphasised that swift action will be taken to resolve more..

Aug 16 (CGTN) Wang Yi, director of the Office of Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, vowed that China will help SL effectively address the challenges of financial debt on Wednesday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting with SL PM Dinesh Gunawardena at the sidelines of the 7th China-South Asian Expo more..

Aug 16 (FT) The Invest Sri Lanka investor forum, which was organised by Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) in association with the Confederation of the Indian Industry (CII), was concluded successfully on 11 August in Mumbai, at the Taj Lands End Hotel. The forum made a strong case for investment flows into Sri Lanka and witnessed a strong turnout of over 120 prospective investors from Mumbai. State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe was the keynote speaker at the forum. more..

Aug 16 (Island) Vietnamese Foreign Minister, Bui Thanh Son, had a bilateral meeting lasting nearly 60-minutes with Ambassador for Sri Lanka in Ha Noi, Prof A. Saj U. Mendis, at the ministry head office. The primary objectives of the meeting with the Foreign Minister were to discuss and explore possibilities and avenues to enhance and aggrandize economic, commercial, investment, touristic and trade dimensions and other concomitants of foreign policy issues, more..

Aug 16 (DN) Minister Bandula Gunawardhana said that the news published by Dinamina and Daily News newspapers with the headline Atamasthanadhipathi admonishes Minister Dr. Bandula is not false. He also said that as the Media Minister, he has given freedom to publish true news without insulting or slandering people. Minister said this while answering a question raised by a journalist at the Cabinet decision notification press more..

Aug 16 (SLN) A special search operation conducted by the Navy in the Serakkuliyamunei lagoon, Kalpitiya on 15th Aug led to the apprehension of a suspect (01) with over 07kg of Kerala cannabis and a dinghy. SL Navy remains vigilant and actively carries out operations to curb illegal activities in its waters and coastal zones. As an extension of these efforts, SLNS Thambapanni in the Northwestern Naval Command conducted a search operation in the Serakkuliyamunei lagoon on 15th Aug more..

Aug 16 (AD) Two suspects were arrested on Tuesday, in connection with a burglary of valuables estimated to be worth over Rs. 20 million. The suspects, identified as residents of Talangama and Malabe, had broken into a house in Kalapaluwawa, Welikada on 8 August, and stolen valuables, including gemstones, gold jewellery and electronics worth Rs. 26.8 million, police reported. Accordingly, 924 gemstones, 08 wristwatches, 5 gold chains, 4 gold bangles, 6 gold rings, 7 gold bracelets, more..