Dec 20 (SO) Director General of Sports, Shemal Fernando, duly authorized and entered into a MoU on behalf of SL with the president of the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Fumio Ogura in Kuala Lumpur. It coincided with Minister Harin Fernando securing two Olympic-level Blue Polytan Astro hockey turfs for SL through the AHF. �It is great news for Sri Lankan hockey players and this has been a long felt need of the country to uplift hockey and the stakeholders of the sport�, more..

Dec 20 (ST) Ever heard of the abbreviation MML and what it means? I hadn�t. So I thought it was one of those verbal concoctions pulled out of the mixed bag of verbiage of that self-elevated superpower of world sport, the ICC, to describe its antipathy towards our grinding mill of Socratic wisdom, also known as the House of Parliament. After all it was only last week that Sports Minister Harin Fernando who wore the same mantle five or six years ago, but now vacuum-cleaned and renamed more..

Dec 20 (FT) We are all well aware of the crisis that has gripped SL for over two years: it is unprecedented, multi-faceted, and extremely complex. At the root of this crisis are long-standing structural weaknesses in the SL economy. These weaknesses reflect fiscal sector imbalances, inadequate external policy buffers, financial and monetary sector vulnerabilities, deficiencies in governance, and shortcomings in the legal and institutional more..

Dec 20 (CT) SL�s main stream media, both print and electronic, has miserably failed to highlight the ongoing US-European backed Israeli genocide of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Thereby they denied the right of the readers to know the truth. There were a few feature articles analyzing the worst ever war crime since World War 2. However the daily killings and maiming of innocent Palestinian men, women, children and new born babies, flattening of more than 85 percent of the residential buildings more..

Dec 20 (FT) Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), along with the Securities and Exchange Commission of SL (SEC), revised the corporate governance rules for the listed entities after 16 years. These revised rules are applicable to companies listed on the main market segment, i.e. the main board, diri savi board and catalyst board, from 1 October 2023, subject to certain transitional provisions. Corporate governance rules are quite significant for listed companies as they play a crucial role in ensuring more..

Dec 20 (Island) Over 20,000 persons in 12 districts, have been severely affected by the current spell of inclement weather, according to the DMC. Storms, winds, earth slips and flash floods have been reported from 13 districts. About 61 houses had been damaged as at noon yesterday, the DMC said, adding that the affected number was around 20,000 persons from 3,200 families. 2,796 persons of 849 families had been removed to safety. Four persons were injured and hospitalised. more..

Dec 20 (DM) Sri Lanka is one of the most preferred and favourite destinations for Russian tourists, said Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to SL, Levan S. Dzhagaryan. Dzhagaryan indicated an estimated 200,000 Russian tourists are likely to visit Sri Lanka in 2024 and air connectivity too would be further strengthened. He said this to Chamber of Tourism and Industries (CTISL) President A.U.M. Jaufar when he paid a courtesy call on Dzhagaryan. more..

Dec 20 (CT) Govt of SL is gearing up for significant amendments to the governing laws of major State banks, including Bank of Ceylon (BOC), People�s Bank (PB), National Savings Bank (NSB), and the minor State Mortgage and Investment Bank (SMIB), the respective banks� heads and govt sources said. �We will change the existing Acts of all major state banks within the first quarter of next year and individually plan to divest 20% of more..

Dec 20 (Island) Prisons Commissioner and spokesman Gamini B. Dissanayake yesterday said that their Department had commenced installing CCTV cameras in busses that transport inmates labelled as special category inmates. This initiative would help enhance security, he said, adding that the CCTV cameras would enable the Prisons authorities to monitor the buses. He said that the initiative would also boost the ongoing measures to prevent contraband entering prisons. more..

Dec 20 (DM) Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith today said he did inform former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa not to appoint Ali Sabry as the Minister of Justice in his cabinet. �I did inform former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa not to appoint Ali Sabry as the Minister of Justice in his cabinet. I did this after a Buddhist monk cautioned me about the move by the former President to appoint Sabry as the Justice Minister,� Cardinal Ranjith told a press conference. more..

Dec 20 (DM) Electricity supply to 22 schools, including five national schools, in the Zonal Education Division of the Matara district, has not been paid, CTU general secretary Joseph Stalin said. He said that though the electricity bills of schools should be paid by the relevant Zonal Education Division, the Matara Zonal Education Division has not paid the bills due to lack of funds. "We see this as some kind of conspiracy by govt to make the parents pay school electricity bills. more..

Dec 20 (DM) SL will see the arrival of around 35 luxury passenger cruise ships next year, according to the Navigation Division of SLPA. To facilitate the increased number of cruise ships, t Minister Siripala de Silva has instructed to convert the Bandaranaike quay at the Colombo port to a passenger terminal and to relocate the warehouses at the location elsewhere. With this development, even if three large ships 350 metres in length arrive at the same time, the Colombo port will be able to more..

Dec 20 (TM) The Bar Association of SL (BASL) is planning to write to the Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles on the ongoing Islandwide operations conducted by the Police to eliminate drugs and organised crime, and a recent statement made by Alles regarding lawyers. BASL President Kaushalya Nawaratne said that they were currently in the process of finalising a letter to be sent to Alles regarding the Islandwide operations more..

Dec 20 (TM) All MPs representing the Freedom People�s Alliance (FPA) in the Parliamentary Opposition are of the opinion that they should form an alliance with political parties representing the Opposition, including the SJB, but there is some division regarding when such an alliance should be formed. In the wake of reports that several FPA MPs including Prof. G.L. Peiris, Dilan Perera, Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, and Prof. Channa Jayasumana are to join the SJB, MP Dullas Alahapperuma more..

Dec 20 (FT) International Sangha Forum 2023, a collaborative effort of numerous int'l Buddhist organisations, is set to unfold in the sacred site of Bodh Gaya, India, from 20 to 22 Dec. This monumental gathering is poised to host around a thousand Buddhist monks from SL, India, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and many other countries, shaping up to be the most extensive assembly of the Sangha worldwide. With its primary aim being the fostering of awareness more..

Dec 20 (TM) As the CID continues to carry out investigations into the controversial substandard intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) import case, necessary action will be taken against anyone including the former Health Minister (a reference to incumbent Environment Minister Keheliya Rambukwella) who are found to have an involvement in the matter, stated the Police. Several individuals including the former Secretary more..

Dec 21 (Island) Re-elected leader of the SLPP Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) and its founder Basil Rajapaksa (BR) declared last week that the party would definitely win the next national election. The boastful prediction was made at the second convention of the party held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on Dec 15, two days after the SLPP voted for Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe�s (RW) Budget for 2024, presented on Nov 13, in his capacity as the Finance Minister. more..

Dec 21 (FT) The education system in SL was, for several decades, one that worked well despite the downfall of many other sectors. Education is the fundamental backbone of the success of a country, society, and the individual. Our education system played a crucial role in this success. Many highly successful Sri Lankans, making significant contributions within the country and around the world, are indebted to that system. However, I have doubts whether the good old system is more..

Dec 21 (CT) Janaka Ratnayake is a familiar figure in Sri Lanka, recognised during his tenure as the PUCSL Chairman for highlighting the issue of exorbitant electricity tariffs, emphasising the burden it places on people. However, despite his impactful stance, he was removed from his position by Parliament. Undeterred, Ratnayake�s journey continues, now aiming for the upcoming presidential elections. more..

Dec 21 (ST) �Enda, enda, laabai kema, enda (Come, come, cheap food, come),� shouted Aldoris, the choon-paan karaya, braking furiously outside our gate in his tuk-tuk. �Mokakda mae kalabaley (What�s the fuss),� asked Kussi Amma Sera, running to the gate. �Aei, ena avurudde badu wediwena-ne. Dan api vikunanne badu wedi karanna issara-wela milata (Why, taxes are going up from next year. We are now selling at pre-tax prices),� he said, grinning. �Monawada mae badu (What are these more..

Dec 21 (TM) Similar to a Hollywood blockbuster production, the Operation Yukthiya (Justice) recently launched by the newly appointed acting IGP has captured the attention of the masses, giving them, at least for a brief moment, the illusion that law enforcement is functioning properly in SL. And why wouldn�t the average Joe believe the narrative which is being sold, the operation was a show of force, with the Police and STF deploying in numbers, with a brigade of media personnel and more..

Dec 21 (TM) As families struggle to provide well-balanced meals for their children, further price increases from VAT on top of already-high prices are likely to further erode the already-tenuous food security situation, especially for children under five. The Committee on Public Finance (COPF), giving approval for a VAT increase to 18%, also proposed exemptions for key items, including infant foods. COPF Chairman, SJB MP Harsha de Silva, more..

Dec 21 (CT) The ongoing economic crisis/financial meltdown that has sparked in the country and what appears to be the result of an imprudence financial management of the previous Govt has given rise to dire consequences in the lives of many middle-class, average and underprivileged and the grass-roots level to the extent that they had to take refuge on pavements. Ceylon Today spoke to a section of cobblers and street vendors near the Dehiwala Junction flyover to observe their current more..

Dec 21 (Island) Sri Lankan politicians are adept at obfuscating issues and confusing the public beyond measure. Former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa, a master of shifty and cagey responses, was shown on television, the other day, fielding a barrage of questions from a group of hectoring journalists. When he was asked to comment on the economic woes of the public, he expressed concern, and went on to say in answer to another query that the solution was to form a govt. more..

Dec 21 (DM) Spiritual revelation says that when we bear each other�s burdens, we will fulfill the law of the Truth. We need to deeply ponder on this insight as we consider how and in what way we could assist in the vital area of poverty alleviation. According to the UN, this issue should be based on the theme �Decent Work and Social Protection: Putting Dignity in Practice for All�. The world body says, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, celebrated annually, aims to promote more..

Dec 21 (FT) This year's global climate change negotiations in Dubai took place amid growing alarm. Year 2023 saw record temperatures worldwide and unprecedented heat waves, crop failures, floods and bushfires, all supercharged by global warming. SL wasn�t spared. At the same time, the world�s leading climate scientists and the United Nations have confirmed the urgency to move away from fossil fuels that still underpin our economies if we are to limit global warming to 1.5C. more..

Dec 21 (FT) Ally of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, SLPP called for urgent reduction in the tax burden on the people and businesses. In a statement SLPP Leader and former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa revealed that around 40 professional associations and trade unions representing vital sectors of the economy and the public services have been agitating for a reduction in income taxes for many months. more..

Dec 21 (FT) Boosting innovation and fuelling business acumen, Macubator, the external accelerator by MAC Holdings Ltd., has announced an exciting platform to give wings to the startup ambitions of aspiring entrepreneurs and university students. Macubator by Guardian Angels Fund is supported by a diverse panel of industry experts and knowledge partners from SLASSCOM (SL Association for Software Services Companies), SLTC (SL Technological Campus) more..

Dec 21 (FT) MV. Caravos Liberty, a bulk carrier owned by Iason Hellenic Shipping Co. Ltd, had grounded in Indonesian waters and requested assistance from Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC) for the repair of the bow damage. Promptly responding to the owners, who have been repeat callers to CDPLC, shipyard�s marketing team discussed the confirmed line up of vessels to rearrange and create a special dry-dock slot for MV. Caravos Liberty. more..

Dec 21 (TM) Fuel prices in the domestic market can be reduced by almost 15-25% by upgrading the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery to enhance its efficiency which would enable SL to process cheap crude oil to proper standards, Former Chairman of the CPC Uvais Mohommed pointed out. He said that the oil refinery in Sapugaskanda is currently processing Murban crude oil, one of the most expensive and quality crude oil in the world which is reflected in the fuel prices in the domestic market. more..

Dec 21 (TM) The tea exporters expressed their concern over the imposition of 18% VAT on tea from 1 Jan 2024 which was exempted earlier, since over 90% of tea is exported and it could be challenged to remain competitive in the global market. Issuing a statement, the tea industry said: �Tea industry value chain involves a number of stakeholders � over 400,000 tea smallholder farmers who account for over 70% of the tea production, 21 regional plantation companies (RPCs), more..

Dec 21 (TM) Colombo High Court Lawyers' Association (CHCLA) urged politicians not to make baseless statements which could be harmful to the integrity of attorneys-at-law. In a letter to Prez Wickremesinghe regarding a recent statement made by Minister Tiran Alles about the conduct of lawyers and the appointment of Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon as the Acting IGP, CHCLA stated that Alles has made more..

Dec 21 (DN) Rangiri Dambulla Int'l Cricket Stadium is now equipped to host floodlight (day-night) cricket matches, sporting a revamped venue with a modern light system, said a senior official of SLC. Dambulla Stadium faced challenges playing under lights due to light capacity issues, but it has now been constructed with a new light system, the official of SLC said. SLC cricket management�s decision to install a new light system has been completed, with six LED light towers surrounding the ground. more..

Dec 21 (DM) A recent survey has revealed that more than 5,000 girls under 16 years of age had been raped at their own will within four years. Dr. Palitha Subasinghe of Kandy National Hospital said 6307 complaints on rape of girls under 16 years of age had been received by police stations all over the country from 2018 to 2021 and 5055 of them had been raped with their consent. Dr. Subasinghe said 132 girls under 16 years of age in 17 police areas in the Kandy police division more..

Dec 21 (Island) SJB MP Kavinda Jayawardana said that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa govt fiercely protected those who had been responsible for a spate of corrupt deals at the Health Ministry. The recent arrest of former Health Secretary Janaka Sri Chandragupta over the procurement of fake Immunoglobulin by the Ministry was just one of many corrupt deals, MP said. Parliament on 08 Sept, 2023 defeated more..

Dec 21 (Island) Arrest of former Health Secretary Janaka Chandragupta over the immunoglobulin scam had proved that public officials will have to face the consequences of carrying out illegal orders from political masters, JVP-led NPP says. NPP General Secretary Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe said yesterday: �Law says that every govt worker must check if the orders they get from politicians are fair and make sense. They should only follow orders that feel right to them and don�t go against more..