Sep 13 (CT) Minister Jeevan Thondaman has written to the director of the Murali biopic �800� which features the life of SL cricketing hero, Muttiah Muralitharan, expressing deep concern about the use of a derogatory term directed at the Upcountry Tamils of Indian origin in the movie. According to the film director, he has taken prompt action to remove the offensive term. The biopic�s official trailer was launched on 5 Sept. The derogatory remark in the film sparked a significant reaction more..

Sep 13 (CT) Colombo Additional Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya, yesterday notified a group of persons, including former Controller General of the Dept of Immigration and Emigration, Chulananda Perera to testify on behalf of the prosecution, in the case filed against Sashi Weerawansa, (wife of MP Wimal Weerawansa), on 31 Oct. Sashi Weerawansa is charged with the use of a forged NIC. The case in question was previously heard before Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis. more..

Sep 13 (TM) SLPP has requested Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to allocate funds for MPs to conduct development projects in their districts, which have not been allocated for two years, through the upcoming Budget for 2024. It was reported early this week that Wickremesinghe and SLPP National Organiser and former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa had discussed the importance of the provision of certain more..

Sep 13 (AD) Colombo High Court has announced that the decision relating to a request made by the attorneys of MP Namal Rajapakse, seeking his acquittal without calling any evidence for the defence over the charges pertaining to the case involving Gowers Corporate Services (Pvt) Ltd, will be delivered on Nov 2, 2023. In 2022, Attorney General had filed indictments against six accused including SLPP MP Namal Rajapakse over alleged involvement in the misappropriation of funds more..

Sep 13 (EN) Sri Lanka's capital market regulator has approved the creation of a separate listing board and listing rules at the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) for state-owned enterprises� (SOEs) expected entry into the bourse. The salient features of the rules applicable to the new Board include a stated capital of not less that 250 million rupees revenue, net asset and market capitalization tests, minimum 3 years operating history, time�bound requirements for financial reporting, more..

Sep 13 (PS) More than a year after the mass protest movement known as the Aragalaya ousted SL�s Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother, PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lankans have once again taken to the streets. The impetus for the resurgence of public discontent is the recent bailout agreement between the IMF and Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe�s govt. The deal, which aims to address the country�s ongoing balance-of-payments crisis, more..

Sep 13 (TM) Aragalaya (public movement to overthrow the previous Govt led by then-Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa) breakaway group, the Save the Motherland Unity organisation has demanded an immediate investigation into controversial Channel 4 documentary whistleblower Hanzeer Azad Maulana who has claimed alleged links of pro-Rajapaksa officials with the Easter Sunday attacks that took place in 2019. The organisation said that strict actions must be taken against Rajapaksa and more..

Sep 13 (DM)ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 Trophy Tour's SL Leg will commence tomorrow and will be made available for public display as below. The trophy will be on display at the World Trade Center, one of SL's key business centers in Colombo, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., while the public will also get an opportunity to view the trophy at the One Galle Face Mall from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. On Sept 15, the trophy will be displayed to the media with the participation of Dasun Shanaka, more..

Sep 13 (AD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday (13) exchanged greetings with the Chief Minister of India�s West Bengal Mamata Banerjee at the Dubai International Airport. The Sri Lankan leader, who was on his way to Havana, Cuba to attend the G77+China Leaders� Summit, ran into the Indian political party Trinamool Congress� chairwoman, who is on a 12-day trip to Dubai and Spain, at the airport and the duo engaged in a brief yet cordial conversation. more..

Sep 13 (DM) Sectoral Oversight Committee on Alleviating the Impact of the Economic Crisis has assured to intervene in taking necessary measures to present amendments to Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax in the upcoming budget. The assurance was given by MP Gamini Waleboda as committee chairman during a discussion with several trade unions representing the professionals affected by the tax revision process. The trade union representatives expressed their opinions more..

Sep 13 (AJ) Kalana Weerasinghe�s love affair with Pakistan�s cricket team began 27 years ago, when SL beat Australia to win its maiden Cricket World Cup in Pakistan�s eastern metropolis of Lahore. The image of former Pakistan PM Benazir Bhutto handing over the glistening gold and silver winner�s trophy to then SL captain Arjuna Ranatunga is etched in his mind. He also fondly remembers how Lahore�s packed Gaddafi Stadium more..

Sep 13 (AD) Govt has announced that SL Development Bonds (SLDBs) have been completed under the Domestic Debt Optimisation (DDO) Programme, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe stated. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he further stated that the acceptance of offers to the invitation to exchange Treasury bonds for new bonds as per the Treasury Bond Exchange Memorandum, dated 04 July, which are in line with the DDO, was also approved by the parliament. more..

Sep 13 (DN) Urban Development Authority has so far received project proposals worth of Rs.45 billion from investors within this year. Currently, constructions are carried out in 14 projects among them. According to the UDA, the value of the development projects implemented in Colombo, Nuwara Eliya and Ekala areas is about Rs.35 billion. Accordingly, development projects such as the development of the Charmers Granaries land in Colombo Fort, construction of luxurious more..

Sep 13 (TM) Following local and international media reports claiming that investors, such as Emirates, Tata Sons, and Adani Group, are interested in the SriLankan Airlines, SL Nidahas Sewaka Sangamaya (SLNSS) has said that they will only endorse the proposal if the Govt does not privatise profit-making sections of the airline under the guise of bankruptcy. SLNSS President Janaka Wijayapathirathna said that no investor more..

Sep 13 (Wisden) With just two more Super Fours matches to go in the Asia Cup, here is how the qualification scenarios stand for Pakistan and SL, the only two teams left in contention for a Finals berth alongside India. India�s 41-run victory over SL in a low-scoring thriller at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sept 12 has taken them to the final of the 2023 Asia Cup. The result also means that Bangladesh now stand eliminated from the qualification race having lost their first two matches. more..

Sep 13 (AD) Russian Federation has handed over a consignment of sunflower oil to Sri Lanka, in an emergency operation to support those affected by the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, Russian Embassy in SL announced. Accordingly, the cargo addressed to the people of SL containing the consignment of 352 Metric Tonnes of sunflower oil fortified with vitamins A and D has been ceremoniously handed over to SL, with the participation of the Russian Ambassador to SL Levan S. Dzhagaryan. more..

Sep 14 (DM) In the wake of the railway strike, which tragically claimed two lives and inconvenienced thousands of passengers and the public, it is time to reflect on the role of trade unions in our country. The ongoing strike, orchestrated by railway trade unions, has brought to the forefront an issue that has plagued SL for years � the contentious relationship between trade unions, the govt and the public. This situation raises a crucial question: Are trade unions, with their high-handed actions more..

Sep 14 (ST) Aldoris, the choon-paan karaya, came down the lane but without his loudly-sounding-but-delightful melody. Stopping at the gate where the trio had gathered, he said with a morose look, �Aiyo, apahu indana mila wedi wela ne (Aiyo, fuel prices have gone up once again)�. So, that was the reason for his bleak and moody arrival this Thursday morning. �Eka balapai-da oyage pestri saha anikuth bekeri ahara wala milata (Will it affect prices of your pastries & other products),� asked Serapina. more..

Sep 14 (DM) Sures Shah, who heads State Owned Enterprises Restructuring Unit, spoke about the progress of the programme to restructure the govt entities. Q: As far as the reforms in the state sector are concerned, how far have you progressed in your work? A: There are a couple of areas that we are looking at. We are looking only at the commercial entities- the State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) which are commercial. more..

Sep 14 (GV) Sri Lanka�s health system continues to face extreme challenges in the aftermath of the economic crisis and continued lack of health system strengthening. While some of the urgent threats such as power supply interruptions have been allayed, many challenges remain. Even though health system challenges may phase out of the headline grabbing sensationalized news cycles, it is vital that we keep a focus on what is killing our health system slowly. more..

Sep 14 (TM) The rainforests of SL, predominantly situated in the South Western and Central areas of the nation, have been widely acknowledged as significant hubs of global biodiversity. Nevertheless, the processes of urbanisation, the expansion of agriculture, and forestry operations have resulted in substantial deforestation, posing a severe danger to the fragile equilibrium of these ecosystems. Deforestation in the rainforests of Sri Lanka is influenced by a multitude of factors. more..

Sep 14 (TM) Despite national policy plans to achieve 70% of the total electricity requirement through Renewable Energy (RE) sources by 2030, a senior official of the CEB close to the matter said that the CEB was yet to conduct a proper evaluation to predict the cost of transition to RE, as well as the possible end-user tariffs for end-2030. The official explained that in order to achieve 70% of the total electricity requirement through RE, more..

Sep 14 (CT) Although the national sport of SL is considered to be Volleyball, citizens have always been more passionate about cricket. Hence, it is no wonder that cricketers have become highly influential persons in the country. Even if one is not a big fan of cricket, chances are they have watched at least one cricket on television. Given this, it is near impossible for someone to not know about the much-celebrated SL Cricketer, Muttiah Muralitharan, bowler to take the most number of wickets more..

Sep 14 (CT) July 2023 stands out as a historic milestone, registering as the hottest month ever recorded. Yet, the surging temperatures and intense heat are not only a source of discomfort but also wield a significant impact on global agriculture, with SL bearing its share of the consequences. According to Weed Scientist, Prof. Buddhika Marambe, �The scientific predictions clearly state that in SL, the wet seasons will become wetter and dry seasons become drier, thus affecting agriculture sector more..

Sep 14 (Island) While the progressive empowerment of people and their steady liberation from the forces of state repression could be regarded as being at the heart of democratic governance, it is imperative that the defenders of democracy everywhere ensure that these basic aims are achieved and protected by govts claiming loyalty to the fundamental ideals of democracy. This requires consistent scrutiny and assessment by the advocates of democracy of the functioning of democratic institutions more..

Sep 14 (Island) Everyting is weaponised in politics and war, and not even corpses are spared. A long time before the advent of biological warfare in its present form, Mongolian warrior-ruler, Genghis Khan, used infectious agents as a military weapon. Historical records reveal that he had rotting corpses catapulted into the fortresses his army laid siege to, spreading diseases among his enemies. Some historians inform us that his modus operandi was effective. more..

Sep 14 (SO) A directive by the Director General, Technical of the Ministry of Transport to the General Manager of Railways to terminate an agreement on the local renovation of train compartments is likely to lead to a loss of Rs.5,200 million to the Govt. Before this directive was issued, the local company Tantri had saved foreign exchange amounting to Rs. 42,500 million by renovating and rebuilding train compartments more..

Sep 14 (CI) It is, once more, that time of the Asia Cup again. One match away from the match that never happens. For years, decades, even, the prospect of an India-Pakistan final has teased and tantalised, but remained just out of grasp, leaving the two giants of the subcontinent sportingly and commercially unsatiated. And for most of that time, it is the side Pakistan face tomorrow - SL - that has proudly played spoilsport, planting their flag firmly between India and Pakistan, more..

Sep 14 (DN) Golfer Anura Rohana and athlete Gayantika Abeyratne have been appointed as the captains of the SL team for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Anura Rohana, a professional golfer, won a silver medal for SL at the 14th Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea in 2002. This is Gayantika�s third Asian Games in the 800m and 1500m events, and she has previously represented the 2014 Incheon and 2018 Jakarta Asian Games. Last July, she joined tAsian Athletics more..

Sep 14 (FT) Members of the SL India Society comprising Indian CEOs assured PM Dinesh Gunawardena to promote further Indian investments as the time is ripe for expanding collaboration in several sectors. This was conveyed when a delegation from the SL India Society paid a courtesy call on the Premier to discuss ways and means of expanding bilateral economic ties including trade and investment. PM, pointing out the growth in Govt-to-Govt development cooperation, thanked more..

Sep 14 (CT) Lasith Malinga showered accolades on rising star Dunith Wellalage after the young all-rounder dazzled with an outstanding bowling performance against India in the Asia Cup. Wellalage secured his first 5-wicket haul at the senior international level, registering impressive figures of 5/40. Malinga took to social media immediately after SL�s clash to commend Wellalage�s remarkable efforts and expressed his belief in the bright future that lies ahead more..

Sep 14 (DN) I have learned to trust my instincts and have confidence in my abilities which led to one of the important moments of my career, said SL leg-spin all-rounder 20-year-old Dunith Wellalage after the Super Four India game which India won by 41 runs at the R. Premadasa Int'l Stadium last Tuesday. I use my basics and a simple theory when deciding what shot to play or bowling the right length, added former National U-19 more..

Sep 14 (FT) Civil Society Governance Diagnostic Report on the Anti-Corruption Landscape of SL was launched yesterday via a high level forum. The report introduces a comprehensive set of governance reform recommendations designed to address the root causes to the current crisis in SL. This report, the result of an in-depth study, identifies and prioritises key aspects in governance that require systematic attention from both a public opinion & economic governance perspective. more..

Sep 14 (TM) Police Constable (PC), who is alleged to have helped organised crime suspect Nadun Chinthaka alias Harak Kataa to grab a firearm that was in the possession of a Sub Inspector of Police (SI), will have to face both criminal charges and relevant disciplinary proceedings, if the charges against him are proved, according to the Police. It was reported on Monday that several Police teams were on the hunt to arrest a PC who allegedly helped Chinthaka to grab a firearm more..

Sep 14 (TM) In the wake of 13 scheduled trains being cancelled yesterday due to the ongoing strike action launched by the Locomotive Operating Engineers� Union, Railways Department blamed the trade unions for striking despite having had discussions regarding the matter. The locomotive operating engineers have been on strike since midnight of Monday (11) over several key demands including the amendments to more..

Sep 14 (CT) Sri Lanka�s apparel exports have witnessed a significant decline, falling by 23% during the first seven months of 2023 when compared to the corresponding period in 2022, the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) said on Tuesday. �As SL navigates through these challenging times, collaboration between the Govt, industry players, and buyers is crucial. Govt must support the industry in retaining its position as the country�s leading foreign exchange earner. more..