May 25 (DM) Sri Lanka has been ranked as the 11th most miserable country in the Hanke's Annual Misery Index (HAMI) 2022. Economist Steve Hanke's index provided rankings for a total of 157 countries. The index is the sum of the year-end unemployment, inflation, and bank-lending rates, minus the annual percentage change in real GDP per capita. Zimbabwe has been ranked as the �most miserable country� in the Index. Among the countries ranked, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Syria, more..

May 25 (EN) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has agreed to the appointment of SJB MP Harsha de Silva as chair of the COPF but disagreement within the committee has led to a deadlock, MPs said. SJB leader Sajith Premdasa told parliament that the prez has conveyed to SJB legislators de Silva and Kabir Hashim at a meeting attended by PM Dinesh Gunawardena and Leader of the House Susil Premajayantha that he is agreeable to more..

May 25 (CT) Under the plan to restructure loss-making State institutions, SLBC has decided to jointly run all regional radio services that are losing heavily in the respective frequencies with the National Radio Channels after 31 May. Accordingly, Director General of the SLBC has informed the Director of all radio regional services in a circular to merge all regional radio services with the National Radio Channels on the relevant frequencies from the 31 May. more..

May 25 (CT) Ministry of Finance has not taken any measures to reduce the price of alcohol, Acting Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya told Parliament. He said, �The rumour which has been circulating on social media for the past few days, saying the prices of alcohol will be reduced is fabricated.� Siyambalapitiya disclosed further that last year�s excise tax revenue saw a downfall by 7.4% due to tax increases in Jan 2023, and predicted the loss will go up to 30% this year. more..

May 25 (DM) 2022 (2023) GCE O/L exam admission cards should not be withheld by the principals without giving them to the candidates for any reason,Education Ministry announced to all principals today. Ministry said the announcement was made due to information received that admission cards of school candidates were being withheld by principals till the candidates settle their facility, service or other fees. Therefore, Ministry today advised all principals to issue more..

May 25 (AD) A group of MPs has handed over a letter to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene, requesting to take suitable action against MP Ali Sabri Raheem. Puttalam District MP Ali Sabri Raheem was arrested at the BIA in Katunayake along with a stock of undeclared gold and mobile phones on Tuesday. Customs officials on duty at the airport had impounded a total of 3.5kg of undeclared gold and 91 mobile phones from the possession of the MP who was returning to the island more..

May 25 (TM) Denying the claim by Govt medical lab technologists and doctors on a shortage of dengue antigen tests in certain State hospitals, Ministry of Health responded stating that currently there is no such shortage in any hospital. CMLS President Ravi Kumudesh claimed that the lack of facilities for testing, especially the lack of dengue antigen tests (NS1) and rapid antigen test kits, has created a situation where more..

May 25 (DM) MP Ali Sabry Raheem has engaged in a political game by voting against the resolution to remove the chairman of the PUCSL, SJB MP Field Marshal Sarath Fokseka charged today. �Ali Sabry Raheem who was charged with smuggling gold was made to vote against the govt to show that he was not being safeguarded by the govt. MP was made to vote against the resolution as a political game. We vehemently oppose the presence of MP Ali Sabry Raheem in this House after smuggling gold,� more..

May 25 (TM) Following the Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana informing the Parliament on Tuesday of the Prez's order to call the armed forces to maintain law and order in the country, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) yesterday said that the decision had been made with the idea of continuing the essential services and not based on any other reason. When queried in this regard, sources within the Ministry also said that the same order by the Prez and the Ministry of Defence more..

May 25 (PMD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe took the stage at the Nikkei Forum: Future of Asia held in Tokyo, Japan today. During his address, Prez emphasized the Govt�s approach to the Indian Ocean and Asia-Pacific regions. In the presence of esteemed world dignitaries, including the Deputy PMs of Singapore and Vietnam, Prez Wickremesinghe highlighted the importance of Asian states having a voice more..

May 25 (SLN) In a decisive move to combat illegal fishing activities, Navy apprehended 6 persons who were found engaging in light-coarse fishing off Chundikulam and Chalai, Jaffna in the wee hours of today (24). The search operations also led to the seizure of 6 dinghies and unauthorized fishing gear used by the suspects. Navy carries out regular operations in the coastal and sea areas around the island, with a view to prevent illegal fishing practices which threaten the sustainability more..

May 25 (AD) Sinopec Fuel Oil Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. today refuted the unfounded claims suggesting that the company has hired agencies to manage certain aspects of their operations in carrying out the fuel station business in Sri Lanka. Issuing a clarification, Sinopec categorically denied those claims, emphasizing that the company has not engaged any external agencies or third parties to handle any part of the fuel station operation or related business activities. more..

May 25 (Island) Chairman of the COPE, Professor Ranjith Bandara took exception at the outdated Vision statement and Key Performance Indicators of the Mahaweli Authority following consistent failure to deliver its services with integrity and quality. The Chairman began proceedings with a stern look at the inability of the authority to raise the living standards of the citizens � a mantra clearly highlighted in the Mahaweli Athority�s vision statement. He directed the Director-General of more..

May 25 (IN) VAdm Priyantha Perera, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy is on a five day official visit to India from 23 - 27 May 2023. During the visit, VAdm Priyantha Perera will be presiding over the Passing Out Parade of the Spring Term 23 at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala. VAdm Priyantha Perera called on Adm R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff on 24 May 2023 at New Delhi and held discussions on collaborative mechanisms towards ensuring peace and security in the region. more..

May 25 (EN) Sri Lanka plans to lift import controls on 100 items which were banned during forex shortages in the past two years, which was hurting small and medium industries, State Minister for Finance Shehan Semasinghe said. Sri Lanka had controlled imports of 3,000 denoted by HS codes out of a total of 8,000 during the past two years. The controls were then brought down to 1,000 as they hurt a small and medium more..

May 25 (DM) Two teenage boys walking along the rail track near Wadurawa railway station early this morning were run over by the Colombo-bound night mail train from Badulla. The deceased Kavishka Lakmal (18) and S.A. Thiwanka (19) were residents of Waduruwa in Veyangoda. They were walking along the railway line to Wadurawa railway station to catch the train to go on a picnic. Investigations revealed that they were talking over the phone without being aware of the approaching train. more..

May 25 (TG) Some of the world�s leading tea manufacturers, including Tetley and Lipton, are examining working conditions on the plantations of its SL suppliers, following a Guardian investigation. Two global trade-certification schemes, Fairtrade and the Rainforest Alliance, are also conducting inquiries after it was revealed that some workers on 10 certified estates could not afford to eat and were living in squalid conditions. Tea pickers claim that estate owners failed to support them more..

May 25 (AD) Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe says that collective policy measures are painful for businesses and households and that such measures are imperative to prevent devastative impacts of the soaring inflation and economic instability, and to restore economic conditions that are essential for economic stakeholders. Speaking at the National Policy Symposium for promoting investments more..

May 25 (JT) Japanese and Sri Lankan leaders on Thursday confirmed the importance of transparent and fair debt restructuring, apparently warning against China�s alleged debt-trap diplomacy, which uses loans as leverage to gain concessions from borrower nations. The agreement came during a meeting in Tokyo between PM Fumio Kishida and SL President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who expressed appreciation for Japan�s�s role in restructuring his nation�s debt. more..

May 25 (DM) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Executive Committee has appointed Lasantha Wickremesinghe to the vacant Assistant Treasurer position, which was unfilled at the SLC AGM last Saturday. Wickremesinghe is understood to have withdrawn his name for the post of Treasurer at the AGM, with Sujeewa Godaliyadda taking over that position, but has now been appointed as the Assistant Treasurer. Pramodya Wickramasinghe will continue to represent the national selection more..

May 26 (DM) The official visit of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to Japan amidst SL�s ongoing economic crisis holds profound significance. It not only rekindles close ties between the two nations but also highlights Japan�s crucial role in supporting Sri Lanka�s economic recovery. The revival of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, previously cancelled but now given the green light again, and Japan�s assistance in debt restructuring exemplify the long-standing partnership between the 2 countries. more..

May 26 (GV) The latest polling in April by the SLOTS on likely voting patterns at a general election shows that the NPP/JVP maintains a lead but loses support to UNP and other parties while the SJB flatlines. Support among likely voters for the NPP/JVP fell 8 points to 32% but it maintained an edge over the SJB whose support remained unchanged at 30%. Support seems to have gone to the UNP, which gained 3 points to 9% and other smaller parties who increased their share by 3 points to 14%. more..

May 26 (DM) Russian Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan takes questions from Daily Mirror in an interview on bilateral ties and the current position of his country on the war with Ukraine. He spells out the importance of nuclear energy cooperation with SL. Q: There are reports about the energy sector cooperation between Russia and Sri Lanka, particularly in the development of nuclear energy. What is the current status? more..

May 26 (CT) These days Lankans have found a new topic to continue their religious mythology to create more national crises. Plot of certain religious is quite successful since Jerome the so-called prophet has become a victim nowadays. Jerome Fernando got stuck with the concept of enlightenment since he overstressed Jesus the light of the world. Jerome has entirely forgotten or willingly has ignored that Jesus is appeared to be a light not only Christians but for the whole humanity. more..

May 26 (TM) A continuous commitment is needed in order to prevent male suicide through incorporating policy and regulatory approaches and strategies to mitigate this public health issue in SL. This recommendation was made in a review article on How Australia prevents male suicides: Lessons learnt and implications for SL which was authored by B.H. Denuwara and N.J. Reavley (both attached to the Melbourne Uni's School of Population and Global Health's Centre for Mental Health) more..

May 26 (TM) SL no longer dominates int'l headlines probably because there seems to be some return to normalcy. But, what is normal? The country still battles high inflation in the 30% range, even amid a rapid decline from the impossible 80% it had risen to towards the latter part of last year (2022). Fuel is still distributed on a quota system while the cost of living, though reduced considerably, remains significantly high for a developing more..

May 26 (ST) Aldoris, the choon-paan karaya came merrily down the lane in his music-blaring tuk-tuk and stopped as the trio had gathered outside the gate. Dishing out hot-hot buns, he had nothing to say except listen to the conversation which on this Thursday morning surrounded the controversial Christian preacher Jerome Fernando. �Godak denek den katha wenne ara jerome pranando kiyana deshakaya gena. Mona wada eya kiyala thiyenne (There is a lot of discussion about more..

May 26 (TM) The news that MNA MP, Ali Sabri Raheem, who was detained by the Customs at the BIA for the possession of undeclared gold and smartphones, and was released after a fine, attracted mixed responses from the public. While the fact that the MP was arrested and fined regardless of his MP status was welcomed by many, how a person that tried to smuggle such a large amount of undeclared taxable goods was released with a fine almost immediately has caused controversy. more..

May 26 (Island) Our honourable MPs would have us believe that they are as innocent as unborn babies and butter wouldn�t melt in their mouths. Ali Sabry Raheem, who was nabbed by the Customs, on Tuesday, for trying to smuggle in more than 3.5 kilos of gold and 91 mobile phones, and fined Rs. 7.4 million, has sought to protest his innocence! Blaming one of his assistants for the botched smuggling attempt, he has claimed that he did not know what was inside his bags. more..

May 26 (Island) Greatly saddened and given to discussion were Cass and her batch of friends on reading about the death of a 42-year-old Tamil domestic servant come to slave in a rich home in Colombo to support her very poor family in far-away Badulla. She worked at the home of teledrama producer cum businesswoman Sudharma Nethicumara. We have seen and read about this near socialite who was often featured in newspapers, and who, some time ago, more..

May 26 (TM) In a rather predictable manner, Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe and his appointed 7-member panel headed by Justice Chandra Jayatillaka, has cleared the path for President Dian Gomes and his subordinates of the SL Amateur Boxing Association to freely go ahead and conduct their scheduled Annual General Meeting on 28 May 2023, as a petition containing a plethora of allegations more..

May 26 (FT) Thaala Bentota, formerly known as Avani Bentota, proudly unveils its rebranding, marking a new era of excellence in Sri Lankan hospitality. This momentous occasion celebrates the transformation of a cherished destination into a haven where rhythm, nature, and luxury intertwine to create an unforgettable experience. This exciting transformation brings forth a fresh creative philosophy while preserving the world-class service and warm hospitality. more..

May 26 (FT) The National Chamber of Commerce of SL successfully concluded the session on Bilateral Trade and Investment between SL and Maldives on 18 May 2023 at the National Chamber Auditorium. The High Commissioner of Maldives Ali Faiz graced the event as the keynote speaker and he was assisted by Deputy High Commissioner Fathimath Ghina and High Commission Colombo First Secretary Hussain Mazin. The event was virtually attended by Ministry of Economic more..

May 26 (TM) Asgiri Chapter of the Siam Sect stated that all Buddhist sects will provide full support to enforce law against Buddhist monks accused of molesting children, while there is no possibility of taking disciplinary action against such Buddhist monks until they are found guilty following court proceedings. Recently, Chief Prelate of the Ramanna Sect - Southern Province, Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera urged the Chief Prelates of more..

May 26 (FT) The leading blue-chip conglomerate, Aitken Spence PLC has reported an impressive EBITDA (earnings inclusive of equity accounted investees, before interest expenses, tax, depreciation, and amortisation) of Rs. 30.1 billion with a growth of 30.3%, showcasing the contribution from all sectors for the year ended 2022/2023. It is noteworthy that excluding foreign exchange gains, The Group�s EBITDA recorded a growth of 77.0%. Group�s Profit from Operations for the year more..

May 26 (FT) Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and a group of opposition MPs met with a group of entrepreneurs in Parliament yesterday to discuss several grievances raised by them. According to reports, problems faced by various industries in the country were discussed at length during the meeting. The group of entrepreneurs included those from the tea, tourism and garments sector in the country. The topics of discussion included the many difficulties faced by vehicle importers and more..