Feb 16 (CT) As per the notification from the Secretary of the Public Security Ministry, several senior Police personnel have been transferred due to the need for emergency services. The IGP ordered the immediate implementation of the transfers subject to the approval of the National Police Commission. Accordingly, DIG K.P. Karunanayake was transferred from the position of DIG in charge of Community Police and Environmental Protection District to DIG more..

Feb 16 (EN) Activities in SL�s service sector has shown some improvement in January including tourism and financial services, according to a Purchasing Managers� Index compiled by the central bank, while industry continued to decline. Employment continued to fall in both sectors due to migrations and retirements. �New Businesses improved at a faster pace in Jan 2023 compared to Dec 2022, more..

Feb 16 (DM) State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon and Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne today held discussion with the delegation led by U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs (PDASD) Jedidiah P Royal over the matters of defence cooperation enhancement and regional security stability. Jedidiah P Royal paid a courtesy call on the State Minister of Defence and Defence Secretary during two separate occasions today. more..

Feb 16 (DM) Newly appointed Court of Appeal President, Justice Nissanka Banduala Karunarathne today said that his fervent expectation is to uphold the sanctity of the rule of law and to fearlessly defend the fundamental principle of Equality before Law without resorting to any form of discrimination when dispensing justice. Justice Karunarathne made these remarks while speaking at the ceremonial sitting held at the Supreme Court�s ceremonial court to welcome him and Justice M.A.R. Marikkar more..

Feb 16 (TM) The office of the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) Chairman Janaka Rathnayaka has been taken over and sealed off by the police further to a tip-off received by the police department, The Daily Morning learns today. SSP Nihal Thalduwa, it is learnt that the tip off was given to the police yesterday by a classified source and acting upon this, the police had requested for a court order for more..

Feb 16 (NR) Uni of Sabaragamuwa has closed for all students excluding students in the 2020/2021 academic year until further notice. A notice in this regard has been issued by the Vice Chancellor of the Uni. Accordingly, all students excluding those in the 2020/2021 academic year have been requested to vacate dormitories. The notice also informed students that will not be able to remain within the uni premises after 4pm today. The decision has been reached after a group of senior students more..

Feb 16 (TM) Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development and Ceylon Workers� Congress (CWC) Leader Jeevan Thondaman stated that the Govt would very soon commence talks with the regional plantation companies (RPCs) and the Employer�s Federation of Ceylon (EFC) with regard to the wage increment of plantation workers. �Govt will speak to the RPCs and if we are not satisfied with their response, then we will have to approach the Wage Board directly. more..

Feb 16 (AD) Officers of CIABOC have arrested four individuals for accepting bribes to issue a passport under the one-day service. The arrested suspects include a woman who is working as an office assistant in the Dept of Immigration and Emigration, a primary grade semi-skilled artisan of the Dept of Buildings, a lottery dealer and a mobile SIM card dealer, Bribery Commission said. Suspects have obtained a sum of Rs. 22,000 to issue a passport under the one-day service without obtaining more..

Feb 16 (TM) While stating that applications have already been called to recruit 50 air traffic controllers to fill the shortages, Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation Attorney Nimal Siripala de Silva claimed yesterday (15) that the Sri Lanka Air Traffic Controllers� Association (SLATCA) is yet to submit a comprehensive report officially requesting for a meeting with the Treasury and noted that the air traffic controllers are showing a lack of interest in the same. more..

Feb 16 (MB) The Feb 11 beaching of 14 pilot whales in Kalpitiya, may have occurred due to the recent seismic activity in the Indian Ocean, marine experts say. The whales beached on SL�s northwestern Kudawa beach in Kandakuliya, Kalpitiya, prompting 15 and a half hours of strenuous efforts from authorities to send the mammals back into sea. �We launched efforts to send these whales back into the sea at more..

Feb 16 (TD) Two top foreign officials visited SL within a fortnight spanning late January and early February. The optics of these tightly choreographed events may have obscured the nuts-and-bolts objectives sought by the US and India. As Quad members, the two powers are on the same page in their bid to counter China�s influence the region. With Sri Lanka going through its worst-ever economic crisis and on its knees for an IMF bailout, diplomatic interactions with such visitors more..

Feb 16 (EN) Stocks jumped more than two percent at close on Thursday rebounding from the previous fall with renewed hopes on IMF loan as China engage in debt restructuring discussions. ASPI gained 2.49% or 214.47 points to 8,843.05, its highest since Feb 10. �Market was quite positive as yesterday market closed on an oversold territory which is why today was a rebound and turnover was decent,� an analyst said. �There is also hope that IMF will be finalized by March because more..

Feb 16 (DM) Transparency International SL (TISL) today filed a fundamental rights petition (SC/FR 65/2023) in the Supreme Court naming 47 Respondents, in relation to the steps taken by the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Health, Ministry of Health, and National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) to procure medical supplies from two Indian private companies. This case is filed in the public interest more..

Feb 16 (TM) Commissioner General (CG) of the Dept of Agrarian Development A.H.M.L. Abeyrathna said that strict disciplinary action will be taken against certain officials who were involved in allegedly disrupting the programme launched by the Dept to pay allowances at rates of Rs. 10,000 per hectare and Rs. 20,000 per two hectares to about 1.2 million farmers under the financial aid received from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). During a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture more..

Feb 16 (USE) The first group of SL public sector accounting and auditing professionals participated in SL Public Sector Accounting Standards 11-20 through a training by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of SL (CA SL) and its public sector wing, the Association of Public Finance Accountants of SL (APFASL). U.S. Govt, through its development arm � USAID � supported the training under its Partnership for Accelerating Results in Trade, National Expenditure & Revenue activity. more..

Feb 17 (DM) Citizens of this country received yet another rude shock on Wednesday when the CEB with the approval of PUCSL increased electricity rates by 66%. People are frustrated with the rising costs of living, but they have limited chances of voicing disapproval because the govt ruthlessly cracks down on protesters. There are also ample signals let out by the govt that it wants people to be aggressive and have confrontations with the law enforcement authorities; hidden agenda more..

Feb 17 (DM) A one-day breakdown in the system in the passport office creates chaotic scenes, with thousands of applicants for new travel documents refusing to leave the premises despite pleas that they will be given priority the next day. Hundreds stayed overnight outside the gates. Meanwhile, a Colombo medical laboratory checks a minimum of 500 people a day. In a related development, the real estate market sees prices tumbling due to oversupply, with people in a hurry to sell more..

Feb 17 (TM) Implementing the duties contained in the standard operating procedure (SOP) of Health Ministry in all medico-legal units pertaining to the desired quality of post-mortem samples and College of Forensic Pathologists together with the Ministry developing updated recommendations on sample collection with a particular emphasis on appropriate containers, equipment, and registers at such units, are essential. more..

Feb 17 (CT) With the persisting high cost of living, electricity tariff rise, shortage in medicine, increase in tax, people�s standards of living and future prospects have most clearly been sabotaged. Although citizens have been guaranteed Fundamental Rights by way of the Constitution, it has been violated by those in power time and again. The basic right of people to have access to proper healthcare has also been neglected by the failure to ensure that hospitals are properly equipped more..

Feb 17 (TM) Even though the Govt appears to be taking newer and effective, although not very public-friendly, decisions to rid the country of the impacts of the economic crisis, many parties have pointed out the importance of improving the existing means of foreign income, and employing newer ones. One such industry that could and should be improved is the country�s tourism industry, which contributes greatly to the national economy. However, this industry could be more than a mere foreign more..

Feb 17 (CT) �Every crop grown in this land has gone through a pledge of trust in God, rather than in any human authority. The govt�s actions have caused all of the problems, but we must find solutions. When the govt speaks about agriculture, it sees and feels only for the harvesters of rice. We are getting stepmotherly treatment. We simply want to know if rice can be eaten without vegetables. We are wondering what we should do to draw more..

Feb 17 (Island) Govt has succeeded in manipulating the PUCSL and having a 66% increase in electricity tariff approved amidst widespread protests. It had some PUCSL members loyal to it override their Chairman Janaka Ratnayake�s decision to disallow power price hikes. Two PUCSL members resigned recently, enabling the govt to make new appointments, and muster the required numbers to bend the Commission to its will. Govt has adopted the same modus operandi to tame the EC more..

Feb 17 (ST) During the early 1980s when Lalith Athulathmudali was trade minister, the rallying cry was export or perish. R. Paskaralingam and Dr. P.B. Jayasundera (at a junior level) were key members of that administration. That cry has come to haunt Sri Lanka and is more relevant today; the need to increase exports and income from services as the country battles the twin effects of high import costs and a huge hole in the balance of payments. For that matter nothing has changed nowadays more..

Feb 17 (CT) SL has been in the news, again for the wrong reasons. For the first time in the history of the Commonwealth, one Commonwealth country has imposed sanctions on not on one but two former presidents of a fellow Commonwealth country. Rather than focussing one�s anger about this shame to the country exclusively on these individuals, focus should be shifted to the legislature whose spineless members enabled the looting, corruption and despotic violation of human rights more..

Feb 17 (FT) Link Natural Products Ltd, a leading manufacturer of herbal products, has announced the debut of its flagship brand and iconic herbal drink Link Samahan at Costco Wholesale stores in Japan. Importantly, with the launch, Link Natural has achieved another milestone in its growing int'l journey. Costco Wholesale is an American multinational corporation and as of 2022, was the fifth largest retailer in the world. Costco was also ranked Number 11 on the Fortune 500 listings more..

Feb 17 (CI) Only in the very early stages of this match could Sri Lanka have held serious hopes. Once Chamari Athapaththu - the only SL batter with a history of scoring heavily against Australia - was dismissed for 16, SL's chances nosedived substantially. Their innings never got going. Australia's spinners delivered plenty of dot balls on a slow Gqeberha surface, as Harshitha Samarawickrama and Vishmi Gunaratne more..

Feb 17 (DN) Sri Lanka cruised to their third successive victory as they defeated Saudi Arabia 3-0 in their ITF World Boys� Junior Team Tennis Championships, continued at the SLTA Courts in Green Path, Colombo yesterday. After having defeated Mongolia and Nepal in their previous two outings, the SL Boys� Team continued to remain unbeaten as they sealed the contest by claiming the two Boys� Singles and the Doubles tie convincingly. Methika Wickremasinghe gave home side more..

Feb 17 (TM) The Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) urged the Government to prioritise restructuring of the public sector so as to reduce the burden on taxpayers and add value that is essential for the recovery of the Sri Lankan economy, the Chamber added in a statement. The COYLE, consisting of a membership of over 120 entrepreneurs and business entities, hosted their annual evening of open discussion and networking with the diplomatic community in Sri Lanka. more..

Feb 17 (Island) Former Secretary General of UN, Ban Ki-moon, who engineered a high profile project that culminated with SL betraying her armed forces, at the UNHRC, in early Oct, 2015, received a warm welcome here, recently. The one-time South Korean Foreign Minister, served as the UNSG for two terms, from 2007-2016. Ban Ki-moon, who was here on the invitation of Prez Wickremesinghe, received an invitation, from Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, to visit the Parliament. more..

Feb 17 (FT) Dankotuwa Porcelain PLC (DPL), said yesterday it has recorded impressive results for the third quarter of the financial year 2022/23. The Group continued to pursue its growth strategy, in challenging times, and this perseverance enabled the Group to post impressive third quarter (Q3) results. As businesses in Sri Lanka are navigating through a challenging business environment, the results achieved by Dankotuwa Group demonstrates business stability and sustainability. more..

Feb 17 (TM) B-report submitted by CID to Colombo MC in relation to case B48037/01/2021 states that State Minister Diana Gamage has submitted the birth certificate bearing number 6553 to obtain a SL passport, hiding the fact of her British citizenship as well as another birth certificate bearing number 4683 to obtain a diplomatic passport during her tenure as the Chairperson of the Ranminithenna Tele Cinema Village. more..

Feb 17 (PHC) High Commission of Pakistan, in collaboration with Ministry of Commerce and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), organized a promotional event for Pakistani Kinnows (Mandarins), at the BMICH in Colombo today. Mohan Priyadarshana de. Silva, State Minister A.H.M. Fowzi, MP graced the occasion as Chief Guest and Guest of Honour. In his remarks, the High Commissioner of Pakistan, Maj. Gen (Retd.) Umar Farooq Burki HI (M) stated that more..

Feb 17 (FT) Year-to-date tourist arrivals crossed the 150,000 mark with 54,685 visitors during the first 14 days of February. As per provisional data released by the SLTDA yesterday, a total of 157,230 visitors arrived in the country so far. Sri Lanka welcomed 26,506 in the first week and 28,179 in the second week of February, the provisional data showed. It also showed that the daily average arrivals have picked up to 3,906 in February so far ─ a significant improvement compared to last year. more..

Feb 17 (DM) CID who are investigating the death of billionaire businessman Onesh Subasinghe who was found dead in a serviced apartment in Jakarta recently revealed that the businessman had been threatened with death on several occasions in SL allegedly by his Brazilian wife. Earlier, the IGP has instructed the Director CID to launch a probe into the death of the Managing Director of OPEX Holdings and more..

Feb 17 (ST) Two young athletes from OKI International School, Wattala � Sithupa Thenu Wickramarachchi and Genevera Fernando � are depicting their versatility towards sports, heading to bring glory to OKI Network of Schools and the beloved mother land. Both Sithupa and Genevera are aspiring martial artists with karate being their main forte. These to proud products of OKI will be shining in many international games making the mother land proud in time to come. more..

Feb 17 (DN) Former chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of SL (CAASL) Upul Dharmadasa, has been appointed as the new Chairman of Hotel Developers (Lanka) PLC, which operates the Hilton Hotel, Colombo. Dharmadasa was a student of the Ceylon Hotel School specializing F & B, further, currently sitting for a MBA (UK). Following his migration to USA with the Air Ceylon experience he excelled in the travel industry in Los Angeles through the well-known name brand in the USA more..