Feb 4 (CT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, throughout last week, personally looked into the preparations being made to celebrate the 75th Independence Day, while paying attention to measures in place to obtain the loan premium from the IMF. Meanwhile, he was also involved in drafting the govt�s policy statement to be presented at the beginning of the Parliamentary session on 8 Feb. Prez went to meet the Cabinet, as usual, more..

Feb 4 (DM) The very debate whether SL should celebrate its Independence this year amidst an unprecedented economic crisis poses the question of what we, as Sri Lankans gained from the Independence. It has now been an established and incontrovertible fact that the current economic downturn is the outcome of the failed policies, mismanagement and large-scale corruption of those who ruled this country since Independence, especially by the Rajapaksa administration. more..

Feb 4 (ST) Bringing gold-plated credit cards and capsules that contain gold gel are the newest ways of smuggling gold into the country. Customs officials are employing technology to detect gold of more than 22 carats. �We are always one step ahead by following tip-offs that we receive beforehand from multiple intelligence sources, including revenue monitoring divisions among nations, about such illicit activities,� Sri Lanka Customs Spokesman Sudattha Silva said. more..

Feb 4 (CT) Ranil Wickremesinghe and his Rajapaksas-led govt are planning to hold the 75th Anniversary of Independence at the Galleface Green. The soil and turf that was consecrated by the tears, sweat and blood of our youth during the famous Aragalaya period is waiting to be debased, sullied, soiled and desecrated by the stupidity of our rulers. Giant army tanks would be rolling over the ground underneath; school students� splendor more..

Feb 4 (CT) The tug-of-war between the Election Commission of SL (EC) and the Govt, with regard to Punchi Chandaya (LG Election) is now on public display, creating dilemma in the people�s mind whether the election will actually be held on 9 March. This paper reported last week that the much awaited notifications pertaining to the holding of the LG Poll on 9 March 2023, have been published in the Govt Gazette. Local Govt notifications were issued by the respective District Returning more..

Feb 4 (FT) I don�t mean to trifle with you as some folks may say that bankruptcy will help us build back better if only they�re given more time. Not enough, the past almost 50 years, sir? So let me say at the outset that this is not about the Central Intelligence Agency or other phantom menaces. But that doesn�t mean the great game of our geopolitically charged region isn�t always and usually afoot. And recent high-powered official state visits � to say nothing of our nosy, concerned neighbour and more..

Feb 4 (Island) SLPP-UNP regime is celebrating Independence on a grand scale today while trifling with people�s sovereignty, which includes the power of govt, fundamental rights and franchise. It makes no bones about the fact that it is all out to delay the LG elections and deprive the public of an opportunity to exercise their franchise. It is pulling out all the stops in a bid to throttle the electoral process by denying Election Commission funds for conducting mini polls scheduled for 9 March. more..

Feb 4 (Island) Cassandra has groused, groaned and suffered, yes suffered both emotionally and in mere existence by the stubbornness with which the National Day parade and all that will take place tomorrow. She is joined by almost the entire population of SL. We are greatly angered by the expense of rs 200 mil on a pointless, useless, far too extravagant celebration with no feeling of freedom or democracy enjoyed. This grand show is on (almost solely for Ranil�s W R�s benefit) more..

Feb 4 (ST) The import of 10,000 rail tracks, each 45 feet long, to minimise derailments and upgrade the railway services, are expected to arrive within two months from China. This is in the wake of a spate of derailments which occurred recently, including the derailment of the Samudra Devi on Monday at the Kalutara Railway Station. This caused delays for other trains on the coastal line. Railways Dept General Manager W A S Gunasinghe said the imports were expected to arrive more..

Feb 4 (DM) The resplendent Island of SL celebrates her seventy-fifth anniversary of Independence from Britain today - Feb 4th 2023. Earlier there was some hope in the air that the contours of a political settlement to the Tamil national question would be publicised by Prez Wickremesinghe on this 75th freedom day. It was Prez himself who set this deadline in an optimistic mood last December. Alas! the course of events in January was not so conducive to that commendable expectation. more..

Feb 4 (CT) SL will be celebrating its 75th Independence Day on Feb 4, 2023. As a republic the country has come a long way from the dominion it was at the time of independence. The shaky step with which Prez Wickremesinghe steps into the 75th year of independence, tells that his job to mend the fractured country left in disarray by Prez Rajapaksa is far from over. His govt has to survive at least one more year to ensure the economic recovery process is started as per IMF norms. more..

Feb 4 (CI) Yes, and it's been quite a ride between editions. The Women's T20 World Cup, the global short-format showcase, was last played in early 2020 and a record MCG crowd of 86,174 watched hosts Australia thrash India by 85 runs in the final on March 8, 2020. That was just days before the world changed dramatically in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. With life now back to normal, for want of a better term, and with women's cricket making the huge strides that were hoped for off the back more..

Feb 4 (CT) Greenlink Global Consulting Inc (Greenlink), a boutique consulting firm, announced that its Consortium members have expressed strong interest in revisiting and implementing the Hambantota Energy Project (HEP), which was signed with the Govt of SL (GoSL) in 2012. Greenlink is holding fresh talks with Prez Secretariat on how it was stalled and has expressed keen interest in re-examining the executing of the HEP, as the country is in dire straits in the face of more..

Feb 4 (DM) Tim Draper, a prominent cryptocurrency advocate, and billionaire investor faced unexpected resistance during his recent visit to SL. The Silicon Valley entrepreneur was in the country to film an episode of his TV show Meet the Drapers and to promote the widespread adoption of Bitcoin. However, his proposal was not well received in a 30-minute meeting by the country�s Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and Governor Nandalal more..

Feb 4 (DN) Sri Lanka 'A' took major honours in their drawn four-day unofficial Test match against visiting England Lions played at Galle Int'l Cricket Stadium yesterday. Chasing a huge 333-run target England Lions were 67/4 at one stage. However, Josh Bohannan struck an 86-ball 57 with 7 fours and Jack Haynes made 43 in 38 balls with 3 fours which helped them to force a draw by making 221 for 7 wickets by the close. Paceman Milan Ratnayake did early damage by sending back openers more..

Feb 4 (FT) Sithara Ltd, the leading printing ink manufacturer in Sri Lanka, recently won the Merit Award in the extra-large category, national level, manufacturing sector at the annual CNCI Achiever Awards 2022, organised by the Ceylon National Chamber of Industries (CNCI). Sithara Director Chayanka Wickremesinghe accepted the award on behalf of the company at a gala event held in Colombo. Prez Wickremesinghe was the Chief Guest of the event. more..

Feb 4 (CT) SL women�s skipper Chamari Athapatthu is brimming with confidence her team will put up a good show during the upcoming T20 World Cup 2023 scheduled to begin this month in South Africa. �I�ve got a good team. The team is especially made up of a mixture of experienced players as well as young players. One thing that everyone knows is that at any time in T20 format, a match can be changed by either player. more..

Feb 4 (ST) China Harbour Engineering Corporation (CHEC), the party selected for the proposed elevated highway from New Kelani Bridge to Athurugiriya, said this week that it has not yet received contract. �The contract related to the project has not yet been awarded to any Party and NO [sic] agreement was reached between CHEC and the Govt of Sri Lanka,� a statement�which was unsigned but had the CHEC seal�from the company said. Last week, more..

Feb 4 (PHC) President S. Deivanayagam and committee members of SL Pakistan Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, called on H.E. Maj. Gen (R) Umar Farooq Burki HI (M), the High Commissioner of Pakistan in SL. HC was briefed on various activities and initiatives being planned by the business council in order to promote trade and investment opportunities between Pakistan and SL. In this regard, a delegation visit is being planned in early March 2023 more..

Feb 4 (AD) The delegation led by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt. Patricia Scotland KC met with Dr. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Education in Parliament. The delegation led by the Commonwealth Secretary-General was welcomed and received by the Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake, Dept of Communications of the Parliament said. Extensive discussion on developing the education system and transition towards Artificial Intelligence more..

Feb 4 (SLA) The 8th SRIMED contingent in South Sudan, including 10 Officers and 43 Other Ranks who completed their tenure of service in the South Sudan Level - 02 hospital under the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNIMISS) returned to the island this morning (3). The UN chartered Ethiopian Airlines flight No ET 8604 touched down at BIA at about 2.30 am this morning (3) and was warmly welcomed by Colonel Shantha Kumara, Deputy Centre Commandant, SL Army Medical Corps more..

Feb 4 (CT) Supreme Court on Friday (3) rejected the interim relief, sought by the Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL), preventing the CEB from imposing power cuts during the GCE A/L Exam period. This was when the Contempt of Court case, filed by HRCSL, against CEB Chairman, Secretary to Ministry of Power and Energy and Chairman of CPC, over the failure to supply continuous power during A/L Exam period, was taken up. more..

Feb 4 (DM) The pledge given by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to fully implement the 13th Amendment was a ploy to hoodwink the people, JVP Gen Secretary Tilvin Silva said. He said that Prez Wickremesinghe was trying to divert the people's attention from burning issues and mounting protests against them. "It is Ranil who initiated this dialogue on 13A again. No one was talking about it. People across the country were talking about rising cost of living and economic crisis. more..

Feb 4 (Island) UNICEF has said 7 million people in SL are in need of humanitarian assistance due to the economic crisis. In its SL Humanitarian Situation Report, issued on 2 Feb, UN agency said essential services for children such as health, nutrition, and education have been severely impacted by shortages of medicine, food insecurity, lack of fuel and long power cuts. In 2022, UNICEF reached over 1.3 million people, including 750,000 children with humanitarian assistance through more..

Feb 4 (ST) The number of young people who become permanently disabled due to motorcycle accidents is increasing daily according to recent data reports. Over the past year, 966 people who died in fatal accidents were motorcyclists accounting to more than one third of the deaths caused by road accidents. �Although the number of people killed in motorcycle accidents is recorded in statistics, the number of precious young lives that become permanently disabled is not documented. more..

Feb 4 (DN) The vast majority of us celebrate this occasion to acknowledge our privilege of being born in a free Sri Lanka and proudly unfurl our National Flag to mark this momentous occasion. This is also an occasion to reflect on the pangs of the anguish suffered by those who were born before Feb 4, 1948 living in subjugation under colonial rule and the struggles carried out by our ancestors to win freedom for us, states PM Dinesh Gunawardena in a in a message to mark the 75th Anniversary more..

Feb 4 (Island) Deputy Director of the National Hospital, Dr. Rukshan Bellana, who had to be rescued by the police recently as an unruly minor staff laid siege to his office and threatened to cause him bodily harm, alleged that he was under threat subsequent to the exposure of what he called a narcotics mafia operating in govt Hospitals. President of GMOF found fault with the govt for its lethargic response to threats more..

Feb 4 (PMD) Our 75th Anniversary of Independence from colonial rule is being observed during an extremely critical and challenging time in the country. It is, indeed, a decisive moment. However it presents an opportunity for us not only to review our strengths and gains as a nation but also to rectify our errors and failures. Since 1948, we have, as a nation, undergone many tests and travails � from riots, insurgencies and war to natural disasters. These experiences have left us with more..

Feb 4 (Island) A sinister campaign was underway to undermine the Election Commission, Executive Director of PAFFREL Rohana Hettiarachchi alleged. He accused the govt of issuing media releases and carrying out activities that made people doubt whether the Commission was doing enough to hold the local council election in March. �Some people are now claiming that the commission misuses the deposits placed by political parties and independent groups contesting the election. more..

Feb 4 (DW) The SL govt has decided to commemorate the 75th National Independence Day with public funds. But given the country's economic turmoil, locals are in no mood to celebrate. Sri Lanka is preparing for an independence day, which is commemorated on Feb 4, like no other. But it isn't the grandness of the occasion, nor the significance of three-quarters of a century, that makes this anniversary stand out. more..

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Feb 5 (Island) It is very clear at present that the new income tax net cast by the Ranil Wickremesinghe govt has provoked a situation that may well become unmanageable and ominous signs of this are clearly emerging. Strident protests from groups including doctors, university academics and others including port and airport employees and many others have been becoming increasingly strident over the past several days. Hints of direct trade union action, obviously meaning strikes, have been made. more..

Feb 5 (GV) SL�s national anthem presents a vision of the country as a motherland to many, life giving and filled with nature�s abundance and beauty, a place of truth seeking and wisdom. It celebrates all enfolding love overcoming ill will, hatred and strife and moving forward to fullest freedom. In the 75 years since independence to what extent have these ideals been put into practice? How well have safety, dignity and rights for all been upheld and the environment, on which humans and other species rely, more..

Feb 5 (TM) Amid rising costs and taxes and the non-delivery of a timely IMF bailout, things are looking increasingly bleak for Sri Lanka on the economic front. This, amid a dismal budgetary situation that seems unsurmountable. �The Govt is planning to earn a revenue level of Rs. 3.4 trillion in 2023 as against a gross expenditure of Rs. 11.7 trillion � a massive gap of Rs. 8.3 trillion or 28% of GDP estimated at Rs. 30 trillion for the year,� more..

Feb 5 (CT) Prez led the ceremonies to mark SL�s 75th independence anniversary. Toward the end of last year, he made a daunting promise � to achieve national reconciliation before the 75th anniversary of independence, that was yesterday, Feb 4. His intention was laudable, but its realization was never a certainty. So, it has turned out to be. Full reconciliation was scaled down to full implementation of the 13th Amd. That was not going to be possible anyway before yesterday. more..

Feb 5 (Island) With the LG elections in full sway, SL�s main political parties are once again formulating and debating policies. SJB has come out against parties seeking alternatives to engagement with the IMF. it has been particularly critical of its main opponent in the Opposition, JVP-NPP, which organised an Economic Forum at the Galadari Hotel last week. As the SJB�s Harsha de Silva implied at a press conference, whatever the party in power may be, we need to implement IMF reforms. more..