Jan 18 (AD) Colombo District Court today fixed a dated to announce the decision pertaining to whether or not Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe would be released from 108 lawsuits filed against the criminal negligence of duty in Easter Sunday Attacks of 2019. Accordingly, the decision will be delivered on 1 March 2023. This was announced by Colombo Additional District Judge Mahesha de Silva, when the 108 petitions filed by victims of the Easter Sunday Attacks seeking compensation were taken up in court this morning. more..

Jan 18 (DM) Former Prez Maithripala Sirisena accepted the money collected from people on the streets by Sudaththa Thilakasiri, a YouTube social activist and actor, to pay as compensation for the Easter Sunday terror attack victims. The actor had started begging for money in money tills at the Colombo Fort yesterday to pay the sum of Rs. 100 million as compensation to former Prez Sirisena. He collected Rs. 1,810 as the day's collection, which he handed over to the former Prez. more..

Jan 18 (Island) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe had no right to make use of his presidency to promise the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, Parliament was told. SLPP MP Rear Admiral (Rtd.) Sarath Weerasekera said that the Prez had no mandate to promise the implementation of the 13th Amendment. �He has not been given such a mandate. He has been made the Prez by the MPs who had been voted by 6.9 million people who are against the implementation of the 13th Amendment more..

Jan 18 (DM) A group of lawyers today staged a protest in front of the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court in Hulftsdorp condemning the Attorney General's alleged interference with the judiciary. The lawyers staged a protest during lunch hour condemning Attorney General's attempts to prevent Colombo Additional Magistrate Tharanga Mahawatte from hearing the case filed against Convener of Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF) Wasantha Mudalige and Ven. Galwewa Siridhamma Thera. more..

Jan 18 (Island) Labour & Foreign Employment Ministry Secretary, R.P.A. Wimalaweera, who is also the Chief Accounting Officer of the Ministry, has been asked to appear before the COPE today to explain the failure on his part to address concerns raised by the parliamentary watchdog, late last year. At a special meeting, chaired by COPE, on Jan 5th, the all-party grouping decided to summon Wimlaweera in the wake of Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara�s strong criticism of Auditor General more..

Jan 18 (FT) The influential CNN Travel has put spotlight on Jaffna as one of the 18 most underrated places in Asia. In compiling the list, CNN Travel tapped into its network of colleagues and contributors to ask them where the locals go. It said for the travellers who are fortunate enough to have time to dig a little bit deeper, there are less-crowded, equally-rewarding treasures to be found. In its commentary on the selection of Jaffna, CNN Travel said: �Most foreign tourists head to SL�s beautiful south coast more..

Jan 18 (EN) Media reports that SL planned to ban women massaging men and vice versa at ayurvedic spas has been denied by the Commissioner of Ayurveda, who said he had been misquoted and that there were no such plans. Ayurveda Commissioner Dr M D J Abeygunawardena said that a newspaper report had misquoted a remark by him that a female nurse must be present when a male doctor examines a female patient. He had made no comment on banning women massaging men or vice versa, he insisted. more..

Jan 18 (AD) Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry has deemed the IMF bailout a catalyst for reforms, rather than a solution as a whole. Taking to Twitter, Sabry noted that although SL is currently heading closer towards the EFF programme due to be received by the IMF, bailout alone will not solve the country�s pivotal economic crisis. He noted, however, that the IMF bailout will be a catalyst for reforms, while also acting as a confidence building measure to rebuild the economy. more..

Jan 18 (Island) CMC member Sharmila Gonawela has drawn the attention of Western Province Governor Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Gunathilake to the shocking disclosure made by the National Audit Office (NAO) regarding rampant corruption at the Council, which has cost local authority about Rs 5.8 bn over the past 12 years. Gonawela said that she had felt the need to take it up with the former Air Force Commander as the CMC was yet to take tangible measures regarding the forensic audit conducted by the NAO more..

Jan 18 (TM) In the wake of the TNA giving an ultimatum of one week from 10 Jan to yesterday for the Govt to decide regarding the issues of the release of PTA prisoners, considering the issue of missing persons, and the release of lands in the North, the Party�s Spokesman and MP, President�s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran said yesterday that no response was received from the side of the Govt and that the party will not meet with Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe or the Govt again. more..

Jan 18 (PMD) PM Dinesh Gunawardena said that the National Youth Corps is one part of a visionary program implemented by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe when he was the PM to create a generation of young people with ability and personality. PM also said that the program of the National Youth Corps aimed at producing national leaders is commendable. PM said this during his address at the National Youth Corps annual art festival and award ceremony Paurshabhimana-2022 (පෞර්ෂාභිමාන) more..

Jan 18 (DM) SJB MP Sarath Fonseka and Former Prez Maithripala Sirisena were engaged in a verbal battle in Parliament on defence issues and the latter�s appointment as Field Marshal. Accordingly, Fonseka said he was appointed as a Field Marshal as per the election pledges made during the 2015 prez election while MP Sirisena said the former begged to be appointed as Field Marshal. �I am the one who appointed Fonseka as a Field Marshal and it is sad to see him criticizing me,� MP Sirisena said more..

Jan 19 (CT) ITAK) was founded in late 1949 by a group of three Ceylon Tamil MPs, SJV Chelvanayakam, C Vanniasingam and Senator EMV Naganathan. They had withdrawn from GG Ponnambalam�s ACTC over the latter�s decision to enter UNP govt of DS Senanayake. ITAK was commonly called or known as the Federal Party (FP) in English. However, Ceylon being a multi-racial and multi-cultural polity and the ITAK being branded as the Federal Party, that branding by itself more..

Jan 19 (GV) The past few weeks have seen a rapid escalation of justice and accountability mechanisms on the national and international landscape for SL�s gross human rights violators; the nooses are tightening around the necks of perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity. In Colombo, the Supreme Court ordered former President Maithripala Sirisena to pay compensation of Rs. 100 million to victims of the April 2019 Easter Sunday attacks for a reckless intelligence failure. more..

Jan 19 (TM) Stage dramas have played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka�s theatrical arts sector, and there are a plethora of examples that uphold that rich history. However, with new developments in the arts sphere, especially those that have distanced people from the theatrical arts, there is a pressing need to support and strengthen stage dramas. One of the main ways of achieving it is by preparing the new generation to embrace the beauty more..

Jan 19 (DM) While the Govt still struggling hard to get Sri Lanka out of its worst socio-economic crisis since independence, there are other vital world issues to which we need close attention. One of those main issues is climate change and its devastating effects. A key area is wetlands and what we are doing or not doing about them. On Feb 2, the United Nations marks the World Wetlands Day with the aim of reviving and restoring degraded wetlands. In a statement, the world body says more..

Jan 19 (DM) The recent Canadian sanctions against two former Presidents Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Mahinda Rajapaksa and two security forces personnel for gross and systematic human rights violations show the great clout Tamils of SL origin have in Canada. The Canadian Tamils� power stems from three factors: The first is, their large number. Canadian Tamils are said to be the single largest group in the global Lankan Tamil Diaspora and are politically relevant in Canada. more..

Jan 19 (CT) Sri Lankan citizens are presently going through a difficult period and are attempting to survive with the bare minimum. There are daily wage earners and there are people who get paid a fixed amount monthly. Notwithstanding, most of these individuals have obtained different types of loans. Some have obtained loans from regulated banks while some have obtained loans from microfinance companies. more..

Jan 18 (CT) It is alleged that a certain high-profile politician and officials serving under the Gotabaya-Mahinda Rajapaksa Govt were responsible for inviting Covid-19 into the country, which was a key contributor to the present economic crisis. It now seems apparent that Minister Nalin Fernando, his officials and certain media organisations with vested interests under the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa Govt are bent on inviting a similar disease which would deal a death blow to more..

Jan 18 (Island) The prospect of having to face an election always fills an unpopular regime with horror and has a sobering effect on self-important politicians intoxicated with power. SLPP-UNP govt has awakened to the fact that many people are starving, and something needs to be done urgently to help them. It has decided to provide 10 kilos of rice each, free of charge, to two million families per month for a period of two months. Technically, the proposed handout amounts to an election more..

Jan 19 (TM) The tourism industry is showing signs of picking back up. According to the SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), so far this year (2023), a total of 47,353 tourists have arrived in SL, and the tourism industry plans to see 105,000 tourist arrivals by the end of this month. At the same time, even amidst the economic crisis, many tourists have recommended Sri Lanka as a potential travel destination and have stressed the importance of supporting the country�s tourism industry. more..

Jan 18 (TM) The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was established when the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) was created on 15 March 2006, by the UN General Assembly. On 18 June 2007, one year after its first meeting, the members of the UN HRC agreed on its institution building process, providing a road map to guide the future work of the UN HRC. The UPR is the newest addition to the longstanding regulatory framework for monitoring or supervising UN member states. more..

Jan 18 (SO) It is no secret that many police officers in our country have amassed fortunes by illegally assisting and protecting underworld robbers and drug dealers. Those who demand that politicians� assets be searched are not interested in investigating these types of unruly officers. These cops are wealthier than politicians. Some of these cops have foreign bank accounts. If one digs into the stories of some high-ranking police officers more..

Jan 19 (CT) The human-elephant conflict (HEC) is an ugly consequence of perhaps the longest land dispute in SL. While the residents in areas where elephants frequently raid crops complain the authorities should take measures to confine elephants to the national parks and reserved forest areas, the animal rights activists and experts on the field argue that elephants who have their own behavioural and migratory patterns know no boundaries defined by humans and more..

Jan 18 (FT) SJB MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar has called on both the Govt and the Opposition to take up for debate all three proposals presented by him on increasing youth representation in key decision-making bodies in SL including the Parliament, PCs and other LG bodies. �You now have these three proposals before you. I ask the Govt and Opposition to take an interest in them and take it up,� he said. �Don�t drop these proposals. Allow youth fair representation in decision making bodies" more..

Jan 19 (DN) Australia won the battle to finish second in Group A of the inaugural ICC Under 19 Women�s T20 World Cup with a comprehensive, 108-run win over SL in Benoni, east of Johannesburg yesterday. The win came courtesy of a hustling performance with the bat and a clinical effort with the ball which saw them wrap up the match with 42 balls to spare. Chasing 160 to win after Australia posted 159/5, SL lost their first wicket for three and never recovered from the slide to be bowled out for 51. more..

Jan 19 (ST) Commander�s Cup Golf Tournament 2023, the premier event in the golfing calendar, and the 10th version, will unravel next weekend at the Air Force Eagles� Golf Links and Courses (AFEGLC), hosted by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), in the spectacular Eagles� Golf Links in China Bay, Trincomalee. This will be the 10th iteration of the tournament, which commenced in 2013, and this milestone event is being set together under the guidance of the Commander of SLAF and more..

Jan 19 (FT) Central Bank Executive Officers Union (CBEOU) has expressed strong displeasure and objection against the new tax regime warning it will cause severe damage on multiple fronts. It has made written representations to Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena with a copy to CBSL Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe. Letter signed by CBEOU Prez D.J. Perera and General Secretary M.N.P. Jayaweera, more..

Jan 19 (ST) Sri Lanka�s apparel industry is to face a further drop in orders in the next few months as a result of low sales volumes in the exporting markets. This has caused much distress to an already burdened industry that is trying to cut costs amidst an economic crisis in the country. Former Chairman of Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) and the head of Fascination Exports Noel Piyatilleke said that within the next three months the industry expects a further drop in orders by 30%. more..

Jan 19 (FT) Sri Lanka has welcomed over 54,000 tourists during the first 17 days of the month, propelled by Russian visitors. With average daily arrivals topping 3,200, up from over 2,000 in December and the highest level since March 2022, the industry is off to a bright start. �This is a great start for the year and we hope the trend of boosted arrivals will continue throughout 2023,� Minister Harin Fernando said. Sri Lanka has welcomed 54,615 tourists in first 17 days of the month more..

Jan 19 (TM) Lawyers� Union of the Colombo Magistrate's Court yesterday held a protest in front of the Attorney General�s (AG) Department to protest against the AG's Dept�s preparations to submit affidavits submitted by four Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) officers, regarding Colombo Additional Magistrate Tharanga Mahawatte to Judicial Service Commission (JSC), and the incident of AG�s Dept requesting more..

Jan 19 (TM) At a special occasion yesterday, J. Sri Ranga was appointed as the new President of Football Federation of SL (FFSL). Many retired players and former officials who represented the Sri Lankan national team were present at the occasion. Ranga said: �I did not expect so much representation for such an occasion. There is no difference between those who voted against me and those who supported me. From today onwards, we all have to embark on a journey together. more..

Jan 19 (FT) The Investor Facilitation Coordinating Committee Meeting chaired by State Minister Dilum Amunugama was recently held at the Investor Facilitation Centre (IFC), to review and discuss the issues currently faced by investors with respect to seeking approvals from relevant line agencies for investment projects. During the meeting, the issues faced by four BOI companies operating in diverse sectors such as agriculture, fish export and mixed development, were taken into consideration. more..

Jan 19 (EN) SL�s poll monitors collectively said govt�s move to introduce Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill should not be used to delay the upcoming local govt polls, in which the ruling govt coalition parties are likely to face a defeat. The party leaders have decided to debate the proposed Bill in the parliament on Thursday after a meeting headed by Prez Wickremesinghe. Bill seeks to regulate election campaign financing. �However, Bill is woefully inadequate to serve these purposes� more..

Jan 19 (FT) SL�s Consul General in Shanghai Anura Fernando of private sector fame is spearheading multiple initiatives to boost exports and tourist arrivals as China opens up to the world post-COVID. Harnessing the platform and advantages of the sister city arrangement between Shanghai and Colombo, Fernando is using the commercial capital of China to step up showcasing of SL products and services as well as woo tourists from China. �Shanghai-Colombo Sister City arrangement more..