Jun 7 (CT) The Ministry of Trade and the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) have conveniently made price regulation of eggs and chicken the answer to the soaring cost of vegetables and fish, All Ceylon Egg Producers� Association (ACEPA) charged. ACEPA Secretary, Ratnasiri Alahakoon, when contacted said, �It is unfortunate that the Ministry of Trade and the CAA were attempting to find answers to the country�s protein requirement by slapping regulatory prices on chicken and eggs more..

Jun 7 (DM) The Afghanistan cricket team that visited the island for a one-day cricket tournament in Sri Lanka took steps to prepare a special meal at the hotel where they were staying. Afghan superstars Rashid Khan and Yamin Ahmadzai had prepared this dish. A video recorded by the Afghanistan cricket team was published on the Afghanistan Cricket Board's official Youtube channel as well. The meal was called "Shinwari Rosh or Mutton Rosh," which is a famous dish in Pakistan. more..

Jun 8 (DM) When we cut trees or destroy forests, we cause physical or criminal harm to our mother. When we waste fresh water or other natural resources, we waste what has been given to us with love by our mother. When we pollute the environment by using excessive fuel, we are threatening our her with death. We may not be aware of it, but many of us are doing it and we know that ignorance of the law is not a justification for such a crime. These and related factors would have come to mind more..

Jun 8 (DM) Food safety goes beyond individual well-being; it plays a crucial role in a nation's overall welfare and economic progress. The imperative lies in prioritizing the modernization of food safety policies, which not only unlocks the immense potential of the food industry but also safeguards the health and safety of all Sri Lankans. What is not safe is not food. Globally, contaminated food results in about 420,000 deaths. Unsafe food also hinders economic growth, more..

Jun 8 (FT) In 2005, the Newsweek magazine reported that officials at Guantanamo flushed a Koran down a toilet to hurt the feelings of Muslim detainees. In several Muslim-majority lands, protests erupted. 15 people lost their lives. An Australian journalist called religious leaders of that country, including Ajahn Brahmawanso, asking a test question. What would you do if your holy book was flushed down the toilet? Answered Ajahn more..

Jun 8 (GV) Increased deforestation, greenhouse gas emission, coal mining, chemical waste and solid waste mismanagement are some of the grave global environmental issues faced at present. The govt�s initiative to establish a Climate Change University reflects Sri Lanka�s proactive efforts towards mitigating the impacts of climate change. Despite the hardline economic measures that have been introduced in a bid to address the country�s economic woes, more..

Jun 8 (CT) A govt without the Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghes: That will be the day. Whoever succeeds the defamed Rajapaksas and politically sterile Wickremasinghe in Sri Lanka in the current environment would have a day to celebrate; without any inhibitions. The country would be observing a day of relief; that might happen or that might not happen. Who would be the bold person or party to usher in such an alleviated circumstance? But history has taught us, if ever we are patient more..

Jun 8 (TM) The unsafe use of alcohol or unsafe drinking is observed almost exclusively in males with alcoholic fatty liver being associated at the baseline with the male gender, the state of being overweight, and central obesity while new onset alcoholic fatty liver was associated solely with the male gender, a prospective, community-based study conducted among adults in an urban Sri Lankan community found. more..

Jun 8 (ST) Now that was a shocking thing to say, even if it came from the mouth of a govt MP. Just the other day I read an MP of the Pohottuwa party claim there are some idiots in the cabinet. So what. Even idiots have a constitutional right to sit in the cabinet and vote with their hands held high or whatever way they show approval in that sanctum sanctorum. If anyone convicted of criminal offences or anyone with an unsavoury past like dabbling with the banned LTTE has at one time or more..

Jun 8 (TM) The discussion on the Govt�s newly introduced tax regulations has triggered various concerns as to what new parties would have to pay taxes, how the opening of tax files would materialise, tax evasion related issues, and most importantly, how fair the new tax regulations are in the current economic context. Amidst these concerns, in a move that is likely to be welcomed by the public, the Govt recently announced that politicians would not be exempted from taxes. more..

Jun 8 (Island) Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa govt, continuing to struggle on the economic front, is keen to consolidate its position, both in and outside Parliament. The media has emerged as the major challenge to the govt due to the failure on the part of the Opposition to adopt a cohesive political strategy. Both the govt and the Opposition seem to be in disarray and unable to come to terms with the continuing political-economic and social crisis, fuelled by external forces. more..

Jun 8 (Island) Rajapaksa-Wickremesinghe administration has earned notoriety for trying to defend the indefensible. Minister Bandula Gunawardena made a vain attempt at Tuesday�s weekly press briefing to defend the proposed Broadcasting Authority Bill (BAB) and dispel fears being expressed about it. Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, who was present there, stuck his oar in; he said there was no reason for the media organisations that neither committed more..

Jun 8 (FT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe announced plans to establish a Digital Promotion Agency aimed at developing computer applications for the collection and monitoring of data from various state entities. Previously, private companies had been responsible for creating such applications for Govt organisations. However, Prez emphasised the need for a dedicated agency to carry out this task in the future. more..

Jun 8 (ST) Ceylon Graphene Technologies (CGT), SL based start-up company, is driving export revenue for SL by expanding and commercialising its graphene production as this wonder material enhanced industrial led acid batteries are about to hit the market, two high officials of the firm said. CGT is a joint venture between the SL Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC), a research agency backed by the govt, and private partners in which LOLC owns 85% of CGT & SLINTEC 15%. more..

Jun 8 (FT) Institute of Analytics (IoA), the UK-based professional body for analytics and data science professionals last week launched its operations in SL. IoA is a not-for-profit organisation that is committed to advancing the study, application and standing of analytics and data science in society and we exist to promote greater awareness, understanding and innovation in analytics. At its launch, IoA recognised two partners SL � Uni of Moratuwa for their Bachelor of Business more..

Jun 8 (FT) The severe challenges faced by the local construction industry were revealed in Parliament during a sitting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Alleviating the Impact of the Economic Crisis recently when it was disclosed that at least one million jobs in the sector have been affected due to the ongoing economic crisis. The Committee chaired by MP Gamini Waleboda met with representatives of associations representing small, medium, and large-scale construction companies more..

Jun 8 (FT) SJB MP, Eran Wickramaratne, called on the Govt to extend debt moratoria offered to small and medium businesses. He said following the fallout of the pandemic, the prolonged economic crisis has heaped further burden on SMEs, and warned the failure to provide relief could result in more job losses. �This cannot be done by the banks alone, Govt should take a policy decision with the involvement of the CB to ensure the implementation of the moratorium extended in the past,� more..

Jun 8 (TM) Police stated that apart from MPs including Ministers, a significant number of Police officers have been deployed for the provision of security for members of the clergy and judges. Following a revelation that about 5,400 Police officers have been deployed for the security of various other persons in addition to those deputed for the security of MPs including Ministers, Minister Tiran Alles said that Ministry of more..

Jun 8 (DN) Dushmantha Chameera the 31-year-old paceman said his come back after eight months really gave a good boost with two Afghanistan matches. �I had very tough period during last eight months and after successful recovery period I came back strongly�, said Dushmantha Chameera after the match. �We had a good bowling department and our team commitment was very high to get success. Getting wickets always make me high while this is good boost for next World Cup qualifier more..

Jun 8 (DN) The experience opener Dimuth Karunaratne is named for the 15-member squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifying cricket tournament while experienced Angelo Matthews couldn�t find a place. The Lankan squad is expected to leave for Zimbabwe tomorrow. 15 member squad was named by National Cricket Selection Committee and subjected to get approval from the Sports Minister. Dasun Shanaka is named captain of the team while young Matheesha Pathirana more..

Jun 8 (TM) Police will initiate legal action against the organisers and others involved in the stand-up comedy programme in which stand-up comedian Nathasha Edrisooriya made the controversial statement that allegedly insulted Buddhism, only if it is revealed during the investigation that they had a prior knowledge that she was going to make such a statement. Edirisooriya was arrested by the CID more..

Jun 8 (Island) MS Empress which made its maiden port of call at the Port of Hambantota with 1,600 passengers and crew onboard, is scheduled to make voyages SL every week, and is estimated to contribute USD 18 million to the country�s economy in the next four months. This was revealed by the owner of the cruise ship�s Jurgen Bailom who is an Austrian businessman. The business plan for the time after the four months will be drawn depending on the upcoming monsoon season. more..

Jun 8 (TM) The Ministry of Finance is to present a time-bound programme on relaxing import restrictions to the IMF by the end of this month (June). State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe told that the Ministry expects to relax the import restrictions that have been imposed on around 100 harmonised system (HS) codes. However, Semasinghe also said that he is not capable of speaking about the types of products that they expect to relax restrictions on. more..

Jun 8 (DN) GCL China, one of the leading renewable energy companies in the world will invest USD 200 million to build, install and generate 200 MW of renewable energy to the national grid in SL. GCL China with their facilitator in SL, SL MAAVI Agro Lanka International Pvt. Ltd will build two 50 MW generating solar plants and two 100 MV generating wind power projects. Mahindaratne Thennakoon the Chief of the Mission and Consultant for the project said that this proposal more..

Jun 8 (DM) A businessman suspected of abducting a 29-year-old mother of three children under death threat and keeping her within closed doors, was taken into custody by the Matara Division Women and Children�s Bureau during a raid on a house in Kamburupitiya. The woman who lived in that house under threats and intimidation for about 6 months was admitted to Matara General Hospital after recording her statement. She stated that the suspect threatened her with the death of her husband more..

Jun 8 (FT) LIRNEasia, a Colombo-based think tank revealed its study on Social Safety Nets and the state of Poverty in SL found that only 40% out of the 1.7 million Samurdhi social welfare beneficiaries can be identified as poor. According to the organisation, this is despite at least 7 million Sri Lankans now living in poverty with 4 million of them having fallen into poverty since 2019 following the Covid-19 pandemic and economic crisis. more..

Jun 8 (DM) Since its resumption of international scheduled flight operations between Jaffna and Chennai after the global pandemic, Alliance Air completed its 100th flight to Jaffna Int'l Airport (JIA), Alliance Air, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India Asset Holdings Pvt Ltd. (AIAHL), recommenced commercial flight operations from Chennai Int'l Airport (MAA) to JIA on Dec 12, 2022. At present, the airline operates four scheduled international flights a week, and is planning to increase more..

Jun 8 (SLN) Embassy of China in SL organised a special ceremony in Colombo to felicitate the diving team of the SL Navy, which engaged in a heroic diving operation at the overturned Chinese fishing vessel LU PENG YUAN YU 028. Chinese vessel upturned in the Australian Search and Rescue Region, south of Sri Lanka on 16th May 2023. The event was presided over by the Ambassador of China in SL, Qi Zhenhong and Chief of Presidential Staff Mr Sagala Ratnayaka. more..

Jun 8 (DM) Sri Lanka decided to expedite the proposed projects under trilateral cooperation among Israel, India and Sri Lanka. Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said that he held talks with Israel Ambassador to SL Naor Gilon and discussed bilateral relations. The ambassador who is accredited to Sri Lanka from New Delhi was in Colombo recently to celebrate Israel�s 75 years of independence. Minister said he discussed the implementation of projects under more..

Jun 8 (CT) A mother and her infant were diagnosed with monkeypox and admitted to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID). The husband of the 25-year-old pregnant woman had returned from Dubai where he was employed for his wife�s delivery. He was alleged to have had the Zoonotic disease before he arrived in the island and had been cured of it. The baby, who had been receiving treatment at the LRH, had been transferred on Tuesday to the NIID where the disease more..

Jun 8 (AD) Chairman of the COPE Prof. Ranjith Bandara has taken stern exception at the non-compliance of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) that despite this being the third time it was summoned before the committee, no redress had been made for outstanding issues. Chairman especially voiced his displeasure at the fact that this entity had the unceremonious honor of having the highest more..

Jun 8 (TM) State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said that Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies is to introduce a series of new laws apart from the proposed Anti-Corruption Act, in order to overcome corruption-related vulnerabilities and to promote good governance in the country. Semasinghe said that the Govt is focusing on strengthening the prevailing laws while introducing new laws that can make Sri Lanka a well-accepted nation all around the world. more..

Jun 8 (DN) State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya told Parliament yesterday that the import restrictions on another 300 items will be eased at the end of this week. He also said that the list of restricted imports of items have been reduced to 1216 right now. He was speaking during the adjournment debate on issues faced by the Industrial Sector of Sri Lanka including Small and Medium Scale Enterprises. He said that the govt implemented various decisions to get rid of the economic crisis more..

Jun 8 (TM) Ministry of Health has presented an alternate proposal for the retirement of specialist doctors, in relation to the case filed by a group of specialist doctors in the Court of Appeal (CoA) challenging the Govt's decision to lower the retirement age of public servants to 60 years. The relevant case was taken up before the CoA on Tuesday (6). A specialist doctor who is among the petitioners, said that more..

Jun 8 (FT) �We must all focus on a single goal: reviving the economy and achieving high growth,� said President Wickremesinghe in Nuwara Eliya last week, implying an economic override on electoral democracy, already delayed and deferred, and next year�s Presidential election. The President�s Plan B, or probably his Plan A, peeps out in the Politics column of our sister Sunday paper, under the caption �Major move to strengthen military and role of CDS�. more..