Mar 8 (DN) The tourism and hospitality landscape in Nuwara Eliya known as Little England will see the addition of a unique luxury property this year, with BOI approved Horton Heights setting to make its debut in the scenic city with an investment amounting to over US$ 3 million. Owned by Al Araf Hotels & Resorts, Horton Heights is a 49-room super luxury hotel, designed for high-end tourists across the world especially the Middle East. Horton Heights is geared to welcome and entertain more..

Mar 8 (CT) Minister Douglas Devananda said arrangements have been made to form a volunteer task force, in addition to the SL Coast Guard, to combat poaching in SL�s territorial waters off the Northern coast. According to Devananda, the poaching of Indian fishermen in SL waters is on the rise and the costs to the country�s fisheries industry and economy are too high. A long-term solution to this problem must be found soon. He emphasised this during the recently held more..

Mar 8 (TM) Several trade unions (TUs) within the health sector have decided to launch a 24-hour strike from 6.30 a.m. onwards today following the failed discussions held yesterday between them and Secretary to the Ministry of Health Janaka Sri Chandraguptha regarding the crisis situation in the health sector and the problems faced by health professionals. CMLS President Ravi Kumudesh said that despite the ability to resolve issues in the health sector through negotiations, thereby avoiding more..

Mar 8 (AD) The Managing Director of the IMF has welcomed the progress made by the SL authorities in taking decisive policy actions and obtaining financial assurances from all major creditors including China, India and the Paris Club. In a statement, Kristalina Georgieva said she looks forward to presenting the IMG-supported program to the organization�s Executive Board on March 20. �Extended Fund Facility (EFF) will support more..

Mar 8 (DM) Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC), garment industry�s largest alliance of labour unions and NGOs, called on major brands sourcing apparel from Sri Lanka to take responsibility for their workers� survival in the wake of severe economic crisis in the country. The brief titled No relief: why clothing brands should take responsibility for worker relief payments amidst the economic crisis in SL, released last week, called upon the brands to ensure that workers in their SL supply chains more..

Mar 8 (TM) Following Minister Susil Premajayantha expressing his regret regarding the incident of him using an expletive against SJB MP, Rohini Kumari Kavirathna during the Parliamentary session held on 24 Feb, the latter made critical comments about the former yesterday. Premajayantha expressed his regret over the incident saying: �I would like to mention with utmost respect that I am extremely sorry if anything hurtful to Kavirathna was read during my speech in Parliament on 24 Feb. more..

Mar 8 (TM) Noting that the country's economy has been stabilised through very difficult economic growth-related measures, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the Govt would take strict action against any group which attempts to disrupt the economic progress through agitations, while also noting that the Govt would however accept the people's right to express their ideas and hold protests peacefully. more..

Mar 8 (FT) Many SL political leaders have been assassinated by the LTTE in the past. Several of these LTTE victims were known to me in my professional capacity as a journalist. Some of them had over the years become personal friends. I remember them all with sadness and feel their loss keenly even now. One such person was former Jaffna MP Vettivelu Yogeswaran who was elected to Parliament in July 1977 from the TULF. He was killed along with former Opposition leader more..

Mar 8 (FT) Reading news from Sri Lanka is depressing. Suffering of the people due to cost of living, loss of employment or small businesses, and breakdown of welfare assistance from the Govt, are some of the reasons. News from daily life of the people is also disheartening being full of crime, family violence, cheating, drug use, and stealing. All these are symptoms of a deeper crisis in society and a breakdown of a value system. The day-to-day language (yako, uba, thopi, thow) more..

Mar 8 (FT) The main opposition SJB has called on the Govt to take into consideration the recent report released by the Save the Children organisation which revealed that half of SL families are reducing the food intake of their children. SJB national organiser Tissa Attanayake said the situation revealed by the charity is extremely dangerous and highlights the plight of the country�s children. �We cannot reject these findings though the Govt appears to be displeased by it,� he said. more..

Mar 8 (CT) Sri Lanka�s fish production fell to a 12-year low last year, scarred by the country�s kerosene oil and diesel shortages due to Sri Lanka lacking US dollars to import the same, CB showed. Sri Lanka�s total fish production, both marine and inland, registered a figure of 397 million kilos (kg) last year, whereas in the Covid-19 impacted years of 2020 and 2021 which restricted movements, however, registered higher fishery catch figures of 429 million and 435 million kg, respectively. more..

Mar 8 (SLC) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Tuesday felicitated the four SL female officials who were elevated to the ICC Match Official panels following nominations made by SLC. Vanessa De Silva, Michell Pereira, Dedunu De Silva, and Nimali Perera were recognized during a ceremony held at the SLC headquarters with the participation of Mohan De Silva, Honorary Secretary of SLC; more..

Mar 8 (AD) SriLankan Airlines announced that they celebrated the power of women on International Women�s Day which falls today (08 March), with an all-female crew aboard a flight to India. Flight UL131 departed to Trichy, India this morning, staffed by Captain Chamika Rupasinghe; First Officer Bimalee Jeewandara; Purser Roshani Dissanayake; Cabin Supervisor Upuli Warnakula; and Flight Attendants Lakmini Dissanayake, Jayakalani Kinson and Harshi Walpola Kankanamalage.. more..

Mar 8 (DM) Seventeen ships that arrived at Colombo Port turned back due to the recent protest by the port trade unions, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said today. He told Parliament that he made a tremendous effort to bring them back to the port and said he only managed to bring only a few of them back. "I discussed with shipping agencies to bring the ships back to the port. But, I only managed to bring only a few of them," he said. more..

Mar 8 (DM) Chairman of PUCSL Janaka Ratnayake is to be sworn in as a national list MP from a certain political party, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera told Parliament. �One must not take the PUCSL Chairman seriously as he actually engaged in politics,� he said in response to a question raised by Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa. �We have got proper approval from the PUCSL for the recent power tariff hike more..

Mar 8 (AD) National Fuel Pass (NFP) will be topped up at midnight every Tuesday effective from today, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera says. Accordingly, all accounts have been topped up this morning, the lawmaker said taking to Twitter. Earlier, National Fuel Pass was topped up weekly, at midnight every Sunday. The changes were made in a bid to reduce the distribution cost incurred for operating the CPC and CPSTL on weekends, Minister Wijesekera explained in his tweet. more..

Mar 8 (DM) Price of a 450-gram loaf of bread will be reduced by Rs. 10 with effect from midnight today, All Island Bakery Owners' Association announced. ACBOA President N.K. Jayawardena said the decision was taken considering the price reduction of flour from the main wheat flour importing companies (Prima Ceylon (Pvt) Ltd and Serendib Flour Mills (Pvt) Ltd). "The price of a kilo of wheat was reduced by Rs. 15," he said. Accordingly, the price of a 450g loaf of bread will be reduced more..

Mar 8 (Island) Representatives of Opposition political parties threatened legal action against Treasury Secretary, Mahinda Siriwardana, for his failure to attend a meeting with the members of the Election Commission (EC) to discuss releasing necessary funds, to hold the LG elections. General Secretary of the SJB, Ranjith Madduma Bandara told the media, that Siriwardana had not turned up for the meeting, stating that he had another meeting to attend to. more..

Mar 8 (ANI) Six refugees have been arrested by 'Q' division officials for their alleged plan to illegally escape to SL from Velankanni in Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu, the police said on Wednesday. They were arrested from a hostel in Velankanni during a raid. The arrested refugees were identified as Kanujan (34), Jenibarraj (23), Dinesh (18), Bhuvaneshwari (40), Dushyanthan (36), and Satheeswaran (32), they added. On interrogation, the accused revealed that more..

Mar 8 (CI) SL's preparation for this Test series has very nearly been ideal. Before the squad even assembled, most were playing in the four-day National Super League, SL's top first-class competition. They then had a residential camp at the newly-refurbished ground at Radella (roughly 1330 metres above sea level), a venue whose conditions - both in terms of the climate and the seam movement the surface offers - aim to emulate more..

Mar 8 (DM) If the CB Governor is unable to take a firm decision to prevent the contraction of the economy, the consumer market will shrink by 60% by April, SL United National Businesses Alliance (SLUNBA) said. The consumer market had shrunk by 40% last December and due to this, the unemployment rate had increased. Small & medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be forced to close their companies and while facing the current situation, govt is requesting that SL should downsize more..

Mar 8 (DM) Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court today permitted former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa to travel abroad from April 20 to April 30. Counsel appeared on behalf of the former PM requested that his client be permitted to travel abroad between April 20 to April 30 to attend a summit in South Korea. Court had earlier issued an order preventing former PM, MP Namal Rajapaksa and 15 others from leaving the country regarding the mob attack that took place at Temple Trees/Galle Face on May 9, 2022. more..

Mar 8 (TM) In the backdrop of trade union leaders (TU) requesting the Govt to reconsider the current percentage of taxation on earnings, the Govt has promised to review the matter and make necessary amendments in the near future. Prez's Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake said that IMF representatives have acknowledged the effectiveness of Prez's efforts to revive the country's weakened economy, and added that the IMF is expected to more..

Mar 8 (EN) SL must emulate New Zealand and Scotland in combating period poverty which remains a much neglected issue in the country, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa said. In a women�s day message, Premadasa tweeted that male chauvinism and male-dominated political processes have prevented SL from taking progressive steps to address the problem. �As we celebrate the International Womens Day today, let us all mobilise all our strength and determination to more..

Mar 8 (DM) Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Food Security was planning to import under-weight eggs from India at a low price, SJB MP Thushara Indunil said today. He told Parliament that eggs that are produced in Sri Lanka weigh about 50 to 55 grams whereas the eggs that were planning to be imported from India weigh only 35 to 40 grams. MP Indunil who raised a question said egg prices have gone up due to prices of other substitute foods such as meat, fish, dried fish and canned fish gone up more..

Mar 8 (DM) While completing the total of 70% of school uniform materials donated by the Chinese govt, Minister Susil Premajayantha today accepted the remaining 40% of them at the ministry. The final stock was donated by China's Ambassador to SL, Qi Zhenhong at the Ministry. On Jan 13, the govt received 30% of the fabric, which were officially handed over to the minister by the acting Chinese Ambassador, Hu Wei. He said the balance 40% of the school uniform materials were received, more..

Mar 8 (PMD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe said that we cannot be satisfied with the status of women in the Asian region, but compared to other countries in the region, SL women are ahead and that situation will be expanded further and work will be done to win women�s rights like in the developed countries of the world. Prez highlighted that the National Policy on Gender Equality and Women�s Empowerment, as well as the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, will aid in achieving this goal. more..

Mar 8 (AD) The COPE has recommended that a committee, headed by a retired court judge, be appointed to investigate the issues raised by the special audit report of the Central Cultural Fund for the period between 2015 and 2019. It was also recommended that the report of the newly-proposed committee be presented before COPE within 03 months. These recommendations were amongst five recommendations more..

Mar 8 (DM) A prisoner who escaped from the Kegalle Remand Prison was shot by a prison guard this morning and died after being admitted to the Kegalle Hospital. The inmate, 33-year-old Ajith Kumara, who was a resident of Malsiripura, was shot dead when he had made a daring escape from the Prison. The victim fell on the field near the Municipal Council building, which is adjacent to the prison, and died after being admitted to the Kegalle Hospital by the prison officials. more..

Mar 8 (TM) Panadura branch of Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) was officially opened to the public by CSE Chairman Dilshan Wirasekera on 2 March with the participation of a few stockbroker firms, Sinhala Business Association Prez Gihan Kuruppu, CSE CEO Rajeeva Bandaranaike, senior management, and staff. Commenting on the latest addition to the CSE�s branch network, Wirasekera stated: �It is important that market presence and growth initiatives are sustained during more..

Mar 8 (BN) SL�s rupee, which became the world�s best performing currency this year amid hopes of an IMF bailout, may resume declines and lose a fifth of its value against the dollar by end-2023, according to Fitch Solutions. �We are optimistic that SL will be able to secure an IMF board approval by early 2Q 2023,� said Seah Wang Ting, country risk analyst at Fitch Solutions. Nevertheless, there�s potential for disruptions more..

Mar 8 (SCMP) Sri Lanka holds a special place in Hyun Chang Chung�s heart, for two contrasting reasons. Firstly, his daughter was conceived there, and secondly, he was caught in the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, when he and his wife returned there to mark their child�s first birthday. It was with this emotional connection in mind that he decided to run the newly minted 300-kilometre Pekoe Trail. The trail is split into 22 stages, each designed to take one day. more..

Mar 8 (TM) Despite the looming global recession, SL Tea Board anticipates that the demand of the Middle Eastern market for Ceylon tea would remain unaffected unlike most European market countries. SL Tea Board Chairman Niraj de Mel stated: �With tea being a much-sought-after beverage in most of the Asian region, they (tea products) are also strongly in demand in the Middle Eastern region. I don�t think the recession has affected the demand for tea in those countries as much, more..

Mar 9 (DM) Kanchana Wijesekera was all, but salivating in a tweet following trade union action launched by CEB employees. Pointing out that despite the strike, operations continued, he did obtain some traction for the govt�s plan to restructure the CEB. Arguments for restructuring are typically underscored by references to revenue. The recently implemented tariff revision was accompanied by heavy rhetoric on the need to increase the CEB�s revenue. Let�s deal with that first. more..

Mar 9 (DM) Freely what we receive, we often tend to misuse or waste. This is the case with water, which is essential for life. We have heard the saying that little drops of water make the mighty ocean. Experts have found out that just as the superpowers like the US have gone to war for oil, in the coming decades they may go to war to gain control of fresh water resources. SL as a paradise isle is surrounded by water. We have been blessed with 12 major rivers�the Mahaweli, Malvathu, Kelani, Yan Oya, more..