Jul 18 (Island) Much is being talked about the need to eliminate bribery and corruption in SL, where these twin evils have become institutionalised. The govt and the Opposition are vowing to get tough with the corrupt as if their own members were paragons of virtue! They are making some anti-corruption laws on the anvil out to be a cure-all, but nothing will help usher in good governance unless the rule of law is restored and the existing culture of impunity done away with. more..

Jul 18 (ST) Prez Wickremesinghe�s assertion during a recent interview with the French media that the Govt of SL will invite foreign jurists to observe the sittings of the proposed Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Commission and that therefore, no one can say that it is a cover-up, is political satire of the most rip-roaring kind. I say this with tongue firmly in cheek. Typically, Prez Wickremesinghe pulled out what would have occurred to him as a trump card before international media. more..

Jul 18 (Island) Interest-free loans of LKR 1.1 million are to be offered for students to follow degree programmes at private higher educational institutions. An amendment to the Universities Act has been proposed to establish a Quality Assurance Council under the UGC to maintain the quality of academic programmes offered by state and non-state higher educational institutions. According to the govt, these policies are designed to increase access to higher education and standardize more..

Jul 18 (CI) This being an article about Dhananjaya de Silva, one of Test batting's foremost stylists, it must necessarily begin with an overwrought appreciation. (I don't make the cricket-writing rules.) Let's get the imagery out of the way. His batting brings to mind a cool, sweet drink on a scorching day, a dip in a babbling mountain stream, the sound of birdsong on a still morning, silk moving through air� look, you get it. more..

Jul 18 (Island) Business pertaining to the second parliamentary week of July was decided on the 7th at the Committee on Parliamentary Business Chaired by Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, the Speaker. Accordingly, the Parliament is scheduled to convene from 18th July to the 21st. Time from 9.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. on each day is reserved for Questions for Oral Answers. Parliament is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, 18th July 2023 at Parliament at 09.30 am & from 10.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. more..

Jul 18 (ST) Despite the banking regulator cutting down benchmark interest rates, it will take at least another five months before the banks reduce their rates up to the desired levels, bankers said. Last week, the Central Bank (CB) reduced the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank by 200 bps to 11% and 12%. While the full impact of the rate cut would take some time, some banks have already reduced their rates. more..

Jul 18 (CT) At a time when the country is facing an economic downturn, people living at the grassroots level as well as middle-income earners have been compelled to cut corners in an effort to deal with the ever-increasing cost of living. This situation has created untold hardships for many families who depend on a limited income, either by way of a monthly salary or daily wages. Such a situation has brought the daily life of more..

Jul 18 (FT) Sri Lanka marked a significant milestone by welcoming over 100,000 tourist arrivals from the Russian Federation through 314 direct flights to BIA in Katunayake and MRIA in Mattala. Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, in collaboration with the Airport and Aviation Services, organised a special ceremony at BIA yesterday to celebrate this milestone where a warm welcome for passengers and crew arriving on an Aeroflot flight from Moscow was extended. more..

Jul 18 (FT) Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) yesterday said it was concerned about recent developments in the healthcare sector, particularly regarding the quality of pharmaceutical products procured for the public healthcare system. �While the shortage of essential medicines has stemmed from the economic crisis, it persists due to the lack of a robust and transparent procurement system,� it said in a statement. CCC recommends that swift action be taken to ensure and enhance more..

Jul 18 (ST) In response to our news story of last week (July 9) headlined; Dangerous trend in health sector, Yaden International (Pvt) Ltd states that its supplier/principal, Indar� which is the Ukraine company from which it will procure insulin for Sri Lanka�s State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC)�is a registered entity with the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA). This means Indar has met the necessary requirements and standards set by the NMRA and more..

Jul 18 (Island) The European Union (EU) Delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives held its first Team Europe BIOthlon on 24-25th June in Kalpitiya. The event was organised to highlight Kalpitiya as a top destination for sports tourism while celebrating it as one of Sri Lanka�s biodiversity hubs. The two-day event brought in over 35 participants including renowned SL sports personalities, diplomats, youth from the local communities and tourists. Participants were given the opportunity more..

Jul 18 (FT) Tax revenue collection in the first half of this year has nearly doubled to Rs. 697 billion boosted by higher VAT. Inland Revenue Department Commissioner General D.R.S. Hapuarachchi revealed that collection during January to June 2023 was Rs. 696.94 billion, as against Rs. 361.8 billion a year ago reflecting a hefty increase of 92.5% or Rs. 335 billion. He said that factors such as decisive changes to the tax policy, gradual recovery more..

Jul 18 (DN) International Boxing Association (IBA) President Umar Kremlev is keen to uplift Sri Lanka Boxing and has agreed to increase financial support to Sri Lanka Boxing after successful discussion with the Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe yesterday. Sri Lanka Boxing President and Director of IBA Dian Gomes, Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, IBA President Umar Kremlev, former World Heavy Weight champion and Olympic Medalist Roy Levesta Jones JR, Sports Ministry Secretary more..

Jul 18 (ST) The Court of Appeal issued an Interim Order preventing Sports Authorities from interfering with the administration and affairs of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR), effective until the final determination of the writ petition. It is unclear if the Interim Order allows the elected SLR administration to officially resume duties, replacing the Stabilisation Committee, headed by Chula Dharmadasa, appointed by the Minister of Sports. The Court of Appeal�s two-judge-bench, more..

Jul 18 (FT) SL Parliament will hold an adjournment debate today on The Difficulties Faced by the Palestinian People at Present following a request made by opposition leader Sajith Premadasa. SJB MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar will present the adjournment motion following which the debate will take place from 1.30 p.m. - 5.30 p.m. Bakeer Markar in his motion will highlight that all efforts made by the United Nations to mete out justice to the freedom struggle of the Palestinian people more..

Jul 18 (TM) SJB group of MPs approved the proposal to submit a no-confidence motion (NCM) against the Minister Keheliya Rambukwella after a series of crises and shortcomings that have occurred in the State health sector. SJB General Secretary MP Ranjith Maddumabandara said that the proposal was unanimously approved by all the SJB MPs at its Parliamentary group meeting held yesterday. The calls for action against Rambukwella come in the wake of several suspicious deaths more..

Jul 18 (BBC) At first glance, life in SL's financial capital Colombo looks deceptively normal. Roads are packed with traffic, public spaces and restaurants are full of both locals and tourists, while shops are bustling. It is hard to imagine that just a year ago, this was a country struggling with massive shortages after it ran out of foreign currency. With no money to buy fuel, roads were empty with even public transport at standstill. more..

Jul 18 (DN) Two SL cricketers Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva were given a special cap by SLC to mark their milestone Test matches (75th of Chandimal) and (50th of Dhananjaya). Special cap was handed over to Chandimal by former skipper Angelo Mathews yesterday before the commencement of the second day�s play of the ongoing Test match between SL and Pakistan. With the ongoing second test match, Chandimal is also playing his 300th international match across more..

Jul 18 (DN) State Minister Chamara Sampath Dasanayake visited SL State Phosphate Company in Eppawala for an inspection, a heated situation arose when a group of employees tried to expose the fraud and corruption of the company. An attempt by one of its employees to attack an executive officer yesterday in the presence of the minister was thwarted by the intervention of the Police. The employees pointed out that the company has incurred a big loss by importing a sparepart more..

Jul 18 (FT) SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam said that despite the growing opposition and protests surrounding the ongoing crisis in the health service, there was no necessity for the Minister of Health, Keheliya Rambukwella, to resign. �Though various people may call for the Minister to be replaced, the Minister has been elected by the people�s vote. He was then appointed to carry out certain duties. At the time he took over the Ministry of Health, the country was more..

Jul 18 (DN) Colombo Stock Exchange expanded to the Eastern Province and opened a branch office in Batticaloa on July 17. Batticaloa branch was opened by the CSE Chairman, Dilshan Wirasekera, on the with the participation of investors, Stockbroker Firm representatives, CSE CEO, Rajeeva Bandaranaike, CRO Renuke Wijayawardhane, Senior Management, and staff. Batticaloa Branch is CSE�s 10th regional branch office. It presently maintains branches in Matara, Kandy, Kurunegala, more..

Jul 18 (PTI) Ahead of his first official visit to India this week, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe will hold talks with the TNA on Tuesday in Parliament in a bid to settle the long-standing Tamil minority demand for political autonomy, sources said here on Monday. TNA is an alliance of parties that represent Tamils from the North and East regions. TNA-Wickremesinghe parley is to take place on Tuesday afternoon in Parliament, sources said. more..

Jul 18 (DM) Irrespective of the recent unfortunate incidents involving the quality of medicines, SL Medical Association (SLMA) urged the people not to be carried away by such incidents and thereby lose trust on the free healthcare services. SLMA Chairman Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne acknowledged the challenges faced by SL health sector but emphasized that it would be unfair to judge the entire system based on isolated incidents. He highlighted the importance of conducting more..

Jul 18 (DM) The samples of the four-month-old baby girl who died after the alleged administration of the Pentavalent vaccine have been sent to the Medical Research Institute (MRI) for further investigation, according to health officials. Kuliyapitiya Teaching Hospital Director Dr. Prabhath Werawatte said the baby had been administered with the Pentavalent vaccine on Saturday (15) from the MOH office and she had developed complications at night the same day. more..

Jul 18 (TM) While investigations have revealed that Pastor Jerome Fernando has received substantial amounts of money from various individuals, the Police stated that it should, however, be confirmed that the receipt of such sums could be charged under money laundering in order for him to be extradited. Fernando has come under fire for allegedly insulting Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam and their founders. more..

Jul 18 (FT) SL�s public debts, comprising of dollar borrowings (external debt) and rupee borrowings (domestic debt), totalled $86.5 bil in March 2023. Its current external debt obligations of $36.1 bil are unsustainable and crippling. SL can theoretically fulfil all its rupee denominated domestic debt obligations as it has a currency issuing sovereign govt. There is no equivalence between SL�s domestic debt in rupees and external debt in dollars due to the difference in the riskiness of more..

Jul 18 (FT) Debt restructuring is fundamentally about allocating the associated economic costs to someone. The onus is typically on the debtor country to secure participation from its creditors, applying comparable treatment to all. As with all negotiations, the level and modalities of relief will always be subject to some degree of controversy. SL�s recently gazetted domestic debt restructuring (DDR) exercise too has drawn expressions of both support and criticism. more..

Jul 18 (AD) The Cabinet has granted approval to publish the bill prepared in order to introduce amendments to the Inland Revenue Act in the Govt Gazette and to table it in the Parliament consequently. On June 28, the Cabinet approved to amend the Inland Revenue Act for revising the income tax rate levied on income earned by investing in Treasury Bonds by the EPF, ETF, Pension Fund or Gratuity Fund and similar funds to facilitate the local debt optimization process. more..

Jul 18 (DM) MP Wimal Weerawansa questioned Minister Bandula Gunawardane on how the Sri Lanka Legume tree (Crudia zeylanica) which blocked the construction of Colombo-Kandy Expressway in the Daraluwa area of Veyangoda, was removed within a short period of time. Minister said the tree was removed so quickly due to the efficiency of the state officials who carried out the Cabinet decision to remove the tree. "Minister, can you explain how you cut the tree and more..

Jul 18 (Island) Dissident SLPP MPs alleged that the ruling SLPP was likely to try to dilute the Anti-Corruption Bill at the committee stage tomorrow. SLPP MP Gevindu Cumaratunga said so when The Island asked whether the Opposition was confident that Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, wouldn�t permit SLPP amendments that were contrary to the Bill approved by Parliament without a division on 06 July. more..

Jul 18 (DM) The Colombo Fort Magistrate�s Court issued an order permitting the CID to inspect the details of nine bank accounts maintained by Pastor Jerome Fernando, his wife, the Glorious Church and his company, as a part of ongoing investigations into Pastor Jerome over his hate remarks against religious harmony in the country. The CID is also conducting investigations into Pastor Jerome Fernando under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. more..

Jul 18 (FT) SLTC Research University has announced the appointment of Prof. Veranja Karunaratne as the new Vice Chancellor and CEO, with immediate effect. Dr. Karunaratne brings a distinguished academic background, extensive leadership experience and international recognition to his new role, positioning him as the ideal candidate to drive the university�s vision of excellence and innovation. With a commitment to personalised education and more..

Jul 18 (NR) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has commended Committee on Public Accounts (CoPA) for its exceptional efforts in enhancing efficiency within the public sector, during an award ceremony held at the Parliament complex, today. Head of State also expressed his gratitude towards Minister of State Lasantha Alagiyawanna for his dedicated leadership in this endeavour. Prez highlighted the Parliament�s special more..

Jul 18 (DM) Govt has approved the revision of water and sewerage fees, Minister Bandula Gunawardana said. He said the ministers approved the revision of charges that minimizes the impact on low-income groups and the social security base provided in connection with educational, religious and public water supplies. Moreover, he said the financial viability and sustainability of National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) should be confirmed in order to achieve the objectives of more..

Jul 18 (EN) Stocks closed up on mixed sentiments on Tuesday after domestic bond restructuring assurances and fears on investing in the banking sector diminished, sparking interest in the banking counters due to undervalued share price. ASPI edged up 0.63% or 68.08 points to 10,796.07, while the most liquid index S&P SL20 was up 0.48% or 15.08 points to 3,172.00. �There is continued interest in the banking sector, because the shares have been down for so long it is undervalued more..