Mar 24 (TM) A senior official of the CEB said yesterday (23) that the supply of all the pending electricity connections would be resumed as soon as possible, after the CEB receives the expected revenue from the recently increased electricity tariff. He said that it would take two or three months to get back to the level of normalcy that the public expects from the CEB. �At the moment, the CEB has received more..

Mar 24 (ST) Incomplete projects that were abandoned due to the economic crisis� adverse impact on the construction industry will be reviewed and steps will be taken to complete them, while finding ways to pay outstanding dues, the Construction Industry Revitalisation Committee has decided. The committee held another round of talks on Thursday. Govt last month appointed the committee headed by Sagala Ratnayake, senior advisor to the Prez on National Security, more..

Mar 24 (FT) The fast expanding IT industry is to hire more this year though there were mixed views on compensation strategies given internal and external challenges. The growth in the industry and recent trends were released yesterday by the SLASSCOM, the national chamber for the IT/BPM industry. As per the Compensation and Benefits Report for 2022, developed in collaboration with SLASSCOM�s HR Forum and PwC SL, the industry�s workforce has increased by 22% and it intends to hire more..

Mar 24 (TM) Director (Media) of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), Group Captain Dushan Wijesinghe said that the decision taken to blacklist the retired Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha by the SLAF was taken with the aim of maintaining the internal administrative affairs without any political interruption. He said that Thuyacontha cannot enter any of the SLAF camps and enjoy the facilities given by the SLAF. more..

Mar 24 (Island) Hardly a day passes without a labour dispute reported from the state sector. There are signs of public opinion turning against the warring trade unions that resort to strikes at the drop of a hat. The govt has sought to make the most of public ire to settle political scores with the trade unions that pose a threat to its interests. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken a swipe at the education sector trade unions that are perennially on the warpath. more..

Mar 24 (DM) The govt continues to show no accountability towards the policies introduced in 2022 to tackle the crisis faced by SL, Colombo-based think tank Verit� Research said. A recent assessment conducted by Verit� Research showed that 93% of policies introduced by the govt in 2022 pertaining to health, agriculture and power, have no record of implementation. �The results reveal the closed culture and lack of accountability present within govt,� Verit� Research said. more..

Mar 24 (TM) Minister Tiran Alles is waiting for Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe to provide him with detailed information on alleged incidents of certain Police stations having falsely reported drug-related cases. Claiming that certain Police stations are violating laws pertaining to the possession of narcotics, Dr. Rajapakshe said last week that reports by the Govt Analyst's Department have proven that certain drug related cases are being falsely reported to courts by certain Police stations. more..

Mar 24 (Island) Trade Minister Nalin Fernando said that eggs had not been supplied to Parliament canteen for the past two weeks. Responding to a question raised by Anuradhapura District SJB MP Rohana Bandara in parliament yesterday, the minister said that eight out of ten boutiques that used to sell eggs had now stopped selling eggs as there were no stocks in the market. Minister Fernando said the first batch of eggs imported from India had arrived at the Colombo Port. more..

Mar 24 (TM) Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Security, Dr. Sarath Weerasekera MP said that special attention should be paid to a number of matters in the context of national security including the proposed Central Bank of SL (CBSL) Bill and religious extremism including in the latter case unregistered madrasa schools and foreign preachers and lecturers. He stated thus when more..

Mar 24 (FT) The Colombo stock market persisted with its negative run yesterday dipping sharply despite the IMF boost for Sri Lanka. The active S&P SL20 declined by 1.6% and the benchmark ASPI was down by 1.4%. Since Friday�s closing, the ASPI has lost 275 points of nearly 3% and S&P SL20 by 118 points or 4%. Boosted crossings, turnover, however, rose to a 12-day high of Rs. 3.4 billion involving 164.3 million shares. Market also saw net foreign outflow yesterday. more..

Mar 24 (ENS) After a long battle, fisherman Christober Singam from Thangachimadam recovered his mechanised boat from SL with the support of both the state and central govts. District Collector Johny Tom Varghese said that on Nov 5, 2022, fisherman Christober Singam was arrested by the SL Navy besides seizing his mechanised boat with the number IND TN10MM445. After inquiry, he was released by the SL court on Dec 13, 2022. However, his mechanised boat was still under more..

Mar 24 (CT) There will be an acute shortage of nurses in State hospitals soon, as around 200 nursing graduates and those who were interviewed for nursing training in 2019 are still idling at home, while the Health Ministry had done nothing about recruiting them, All Ceylon Nurses Union (ACNU) Secretary, S.B. Mediwatte warned. Mediwatte said 3,500 persons, who had completed their GCE A/L examination, had been interviewed in 2019 to be recruited for training in nursing in 2020. more..

Mar 24 (DM) Fertilizer companies today agreed to reduce the price of a 50kg bag of urea fertilizer by Rs. 7,000 in the market. Decision was taken following a discussion with Minister Mahinda Amaraweera and the representatives of several companies that import fertilizers to SL. During the meeting, minister requested the representatives to reduce the price of fertilizers sold by these private companies, especially since the govt is supplying urea to farmers at Rs. 10,000 following more..

Mar 24 (FT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe sought support from the media to ensure SL gets its 17th support program worth $ 2.9 billion from the IMF right. Addressing editors of print and electronic media, Wickremesinghe said that lack of support and misinformation by media was among reasons why previous 16 programs with the IMF didn�t succeed. �Why have we not completed it? Because it came under political influence. more..

Mar 24 (FT) Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa together with other leaders of the opposition met with foreign diplomats representing 12 countries for a special meeting in Colombo on Wednesday. The meeting was held with the aim of briefing the diplomats on the current situation in SL. The need to protect the country�s democracy and constitution as well as the conduct of LG elections were discussed at length during the meeting. Premadasa during the meeting requested int'l community to support more..

Mar 24 (TM) Sri Lanka is looking for a debt reduction of approximately $ 17 billion between the 2023-2027 period as the country is looking to close an external financing gap of $ 25.1 billion, IMF said. According to the IMF staff�s baseline scenario, $ 16.9 billion in debt reduction is required during the 2023-27 period, including the arrears accumulated amounting to $ 2.8 billion in 2022, for SL to close the external financing gap of $ 25.1 billion. SL has been in arrears to external private creditors since more..

Mar 24 (DM) Cabinet of Ministers in principle has green lighted the divestiture of seven state-owned enterprises (SOEs). They are SriLanka Airlines including Sri Lanka Catering, Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), Sri Lanka Insurances Corporation (SLIC), Canwill Holdings Ltd. (Grand Hyatt Colombo), Hotel Developers Lanka Ltd. (Hilton Colombo), Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. Including Litro Gas Terminal Ltd & Lanka Hospitals Corp. more..

Mar 24 (FT) Soon after the UN Independent Expert on Foreign Debt, Other Int'l Financial Obligations and Human Rights, Attiya Waris, Professor of Fiscal Law and Policy, took over her duties in Aug 2021, she wrote to the IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva seeking information on the IMF�s operations relevant to her mandate. She felt that in order to resolve the �existential challenges� faced by the int'l community, it needed coordination of the UN specialised agencies for effective global more..

Mar 24 (FT) The IMF agreement is much more than the $ 3 billion that accompanies it. In the overall scheme of the country�s foreign debt (now estimated at around $ 48 billion) and overall debt at 115% of GDP, with no funds for foreign debt repayments and no foreign exchange to purchase essentials, the $ 3 billion is relatively miniscule in the face of the mammoth task before the country. In this context, it is the four-year plan that accompanies this agreement that matters. more..

Mar 24 (EN) Sri Lanka will hike taxes on alcohol and tobacco taxes again in June 2023, and will slap drinkers and smokers with taxes linked to inflation from January 2024, according to intentions declared in an IMF program. Sri Lanka has a large public sector workforce and ministers requiring people to pay higher taxes. �The first increase was implemented on Jan 1 for tobacco and on January 3 for alcohol; the second increase to be implemented before end of June 2023,� IMF program said. more..

Mar 24 (AD) Minster Kanchana Wijesekera has stated that certain reforms pertaining to both, CPC and CEB have begun. Speaking in Parliament, Minister assured that the restructuring of both institutions will be expedited, and that the relevant trade unions were also informed of this. �We are not going back on our word in this regard�, he said. Commenting specifically on SL�s fuel market, he noted that measures are underway to introduce three new global fuel suppliers to more..

Mar 24 (Wisden) Sri Lanka are about to start a must-win 3-match ODI series against NZ tomorrow which will help to decide their fate regarding automatic World Cup qualification. At a time when they should ideally be ironing out their flaws and making strategies on how to defeat the hosts, the controversial report that has emerged regarding De Silva. In a recently posted tweet, SL commentator Roshan Abeysinghe said, more..

Mar 24 (NR) The National Water Supply and Drainage Board says the water supply to several areas in Colombo will be disrupted for 10 hours tomorrow. The Water Board said the water supply will be disrupted from 11am tomorrow within the Colombo, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte and Kaduwela Municipal Council areas, Maharagama, Boralesgamuwa and Kolonnawa Urban Council areas, Kotikawatta-Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha area, more..

Mar 24 (DM) Former captain Lasith Malinga tweeted his support for Dhananjaya de Silva after reports emerged that the all-rounder had refused to bat at number seven in tomorrow's first ODI against NZ. "Dhananjaya De Silva is such a valuable asset to any int'l cricket team. He is a proper top order batsman who must play in the top 4 on any condition with any team combination. His bowling adds a lot of value as well," Malinga tweeted. Reports suggested that de Silva had been dropped for more..

Mar 24 (AD) A group of persons staged a protest before the residence of President�s Counsel (PC) Saliya Pieris�s residence this morning, against his decision to represent underworld kingpin Harak Kata. The protesters claimed that notorious crime lord Nadun Chinthaka, alias Harak Kata, had murdered their relatives, and they, the families of the victims, are yet to receive justice from both the police and the courts. more..

Mar 24 (AD) The suspect who was recently caught on CCTV footage as he mutilated a man has surrendered before the court. On 21 March, the suspect was seen severing the hands of a man with a sword, and subsequently walking away with the victim�s limbs in his, the perpetrator�s, hands in the Korelawella area in Moratuwa. The attack is believed to have happened over a personal dispute. Accordingly, the suspect had surrendered before the Moratuwa MC today through a lawyer. more..

Mar 24 (EN) SL has used US$ 121 million from the proceeds of an IMF loan to repay an Indian credit line, State Minister for Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. Sri Lanka got 331 million dollars from the IMF in the first tranche. Unlike in the past where the IMF funds went to the central bank, this time the money came to a Treasury account, Siyambalapitiya said. Sri Lanka has been given permission to use IMF funds for budgetary purposes. India gave some credit lines to SL more..

Mar 24 (DM) The IMF had deviated from its original stance where they claimed earlier that the Govt should obtain the people's mandate to implement the economic reforms of the IMF, SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella said today. Speaking during the adjournment debate on IMF report, he told Parliament that the IMF stressed in September last year that the Govt should obtain the people's mandate to carry out the reforms of the IMF and questioned the IMF as to why it had changed its stance. more..

Mar 24 (DM) Royal College Colombo completed a double on rival S. Thomas' College, beating them by seven wickets to retain the Mustangs Trophy at the SSC Grounds today. Chasing 166 to win, Royal were guided by opener Rehan Peiris, who scored an unbeaten 69 in 107 balls, with Royal captain Dasis Manchanayake scoring the winning runs on the way to remaining 26 not out. Royal won the 144th Battle of the Blues encounter last week. Having found themselves in a trouble early in run chase, more..

Mar 24 (EN) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe confirmed that he rejected the nomination of controversial SDIG Deshabandu Tennakoon and extended the tenure of incumbent police chief Chandana Wickramaratna who was due to retire on Sunday. Public Security minister Tiran Alles had lobbied hard to get the top job in the police for his nominee despite Tennakoon facing internal disciplinary action, several court cases more..

Mar 24 (CT) Health Ministry bigwigs failed to appear before the Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) for a third time, yesterday, to participate in the HRCSL�s inquiry into medicinal drug shortage in the country, following two petitions. Secretary of the Health Ministry, the Director General of Health Services and Chairman of National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA) were summoned by the HRCSL to inquire into petitions filed by Medical & Civil Rights Professional Association more..

Mar 24 (DM) The Supreme Court today issued a rule suspending a lawyer from practicing as an Attorney-at-law for a period of six months over a complaint made by a Second Secretary (Migration) of the British High Commission in Sri Lanka. Edward Megarry, Second Secretary (Migration) of the British High Commission in Sri Lanka had made a written complaint to the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) alleging deceit and malpractice on the part of the Respondent Alwapillai Gangatharan. more..

Mar 24 (DM) The IMF has extended its support to SL to restore the economy and the Airport and Aviation Services (SL) Limited (AASL) can resume the Terminal 02 project of the BIA with the assistance of JICA and the Govt of Japan, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said. Minister said that due to the economic crisis of the country, JICA suspended its loan extended to build the Terminal 02 project of the BIA which is more..

Mar 24 (ST) A school student has done an amazing job of transforming a mountain bicycle into an electric bicycle. Two years ago, Ayesha Mangala Dissanayake, who studies at Anamaduwa Middle School, modified the mountain bike that was gifted by his parents eight years ago to run on electricity in a creative way that others had not imagined. Ayesha, who had not taken any electrical or technical courses, said he was able to learn how to do the modifications through the Internet, and more..

Mar 24 (CT) Legal action in connection with the MV X-Press Pearl fire should lawfully be instituted within the next 58 days, officials of the MEPA said. This was during a discussion held at the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development in Parliament. MP Ajith Mannapperuma chaired the committee while representatives from MEPA, Central Environment Authority, Attorney General�s Dept, Environmental Damage more..