Sep 17 (EN) Researchers from a leading Sri Lankan university have raised concerns about the practicality of the Beira Lake nano-technology neutralisation project, which received cabinet approval on Monday (11) for a pilot trial of the technology. The cabinet decision said that the move is meant to improve the quality of water in the Beira Lake using micro nano-bubble and carbon fibre biofilm technology, and environmentally friendly enzymes. more..

Sep 17 (DM) Staff Sergeant K.I.S. Keerthirathna, Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of 3 SL Signal Corps (3 SLSC) of the army successfully completed a historic foot expedition to Dondra, covering an astounding distance of 580.16 kilometres in just 12 days. This journey commenced on Sept 5th and saw Staff Sergeant Keerthirathna embarking on an expedition that would eventually place him in the annals of world records. His route took him through some of SL's most challenging terrain, more..

Sep 17 (CI) SL are the team you want to love, and why not? In 16 men's Asia Cups - across ODIs and T20Is - they have made 12 finals and won six. They might not have the big guns of the past like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene or Muttiah Muralidaran, but in Dasun Shanaka, they have a captain whom the fans love, and who has led a turnaround in terms of results. And in Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama and more..

Sep 17 (DM) France has contributed Euros 500,000 through UNICEF to support SL�s efforts to prevent and treat malnutrition among children in the country. Contribution enables UNICEF, working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, to provide children under two years of age with the required nutrition services. Parents and caregivers will also be educated on the correct practices to prevent and treat acute malnutrition and ensure the healthy growth and development of their children. more..

Sep 17 (AD) State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe states that the country�s economy will be driven by the private sector in the future, and that the govt will only act as a regulatory authority. �Basically in the future, the policy of the govt would be, our economy will be driven by the private sector. So, the govt will only act as a regulatory authority.� �The govt has made significant progress in stabilization of the economy, but I must also say we have a long way to go�, he added. more..

Sep 17 (AD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe delivered a compelling address at the Summit of the Heads of State and Govt of the G77 & China in Havana, Cuba yesterday. In his speech, Prez emphasized the crucial role of science, technology and innovation in overcoming the current development challenges faced by developing nations worldwide. Prez Wickremesinghe began by commending Cuban Prez Miguel more..

Sep 17 (SO) Australian High Commissioner to SL, Paul Stephens, opened the industrial culinary training facility at the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) in Anuradhapura. With S4IG�s support, the facility will serve as a hub for nurturing aspiring chefs, providing students with industry recognised skills training, qualifications and job placements in hotels and kitchens. This leads to higher income generation potential in hotel kitchens and restaurants, more..

Sep 17 (CI) For a side that only seriously became a cricketing force in the mid '90s, SL have overachieved in Asia Cups, now having made it to the 11th final, in 14 attempts, while finishing runners-up in the inaugural edition which was decided on in a round-robin format. They have also won the title five times. ESPNcricinfo looks through SL's winning ODI Asia Cup campaigns. South Asian teams refusing to visit their neighbours for cricket tournaments is not a modern phenomenon. more..

Sep 17 (CT) Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, informed Colombo High Court Judge Damith Thotawatta that he will consider the possibility of releasing money contained in the bank account of former SL Envoy to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga, deposited on or before 1 June 2006 and before the emergence of the MiG aircraft scandal. However, Senior State Counsel Udara Karunathilake, appearing for the AG, told Judge Thotawatta that the AG�s Dept is vehemently opposed to more..

Sep 17 (ST) My dear Dasun and the cricket team, I am writing to you to wish you well tonight, as you take on our mighty neighbouring big brother in a game of cricket that will determine who will be the kings of Asian cricket. It is what you have done on the way to that game that has captured the imagination of the nation and given them some hope. Just a few months ago, you were written off as a bunch of poor competitors and not a match for the big boys in the game. more..

Sep 17 (CI) Ahead of the Asia Cup final, the India side is like a Japanese gyuto chef's knife: comprised of layers of high-carbon steel, and forged with precision. Both the raw materials used and the processes that have tempered them are world-class. Perhaps some final honing remains. But India are effective, balanced, and often beautiful to behold. SL, meanwhile, are the beaten up cast iron pot that's been passed down through more..

Sep 17 (ST) During his speech to the G77 summit themed The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation, the Prez followed on the host Cuban Prez�s reference to the Brain Drain from the economically developing Global South to the affluent Global North and went one step further to call for compensation for the loss of educated manpower. He said the poorer countries needed to meet the needs and challenges of the modern world, but are faced with the disconcerting trend of more..

Sep 17 (TM) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) is struggling to recover nearly Rs. 234 billion in arrears owed as of 1 July of this year, with efforts underway from the Ministry of Power and Energy and the Treasury to expedite collecting the debt owed. It is reliably learnt that the CPC is owed the colossal amount of Rs. 234 billion in arrears for the sale of fuel by nearly 20 State and private institutions. Among them are several Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and large-scale SOEs more..

Sep 17 (TM) The Chinese geophysical and seismic scientific research vessel Shi Yan 6 (IMO: 9904247) has commenced its 80-day expedition into the Indian Ocean and was enroute to the Malacca Strait yesterday (16) evening, despite Colombo not yet having granted diplomatic permission for the vessel to call port or carry out a planned joint survey in the waters surrounding the island, The ministry has not granted the Shi Yan 6 permission as of last evening. Wickramasinghe added that more..

Sep 17 (CT) Eastern Province Governor Senthil Thondaman said Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan expressed his willingness to visit SL in the near future. Thondaman said the Kerala Chief Minister communicated this during their recent meeting in Kerala. The meeting between the Eastern Province Governor and Kerala Chief Minister took place on 11 Sept, at Vijayan�s office in Kerala. They discussed various matters, including collaborative efforts to promote tourism in the Eastern P more..

Sep 17 (ST) Bribery and corruption are now the second most significant unlawful activity that generates criminal proceeds in the country and has shot up three places from fifth position in 2014, reveals the National Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment released this week by the CB�s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). �Although the incidents reported (complaints) were high, the raids and investigations subsequently more..

Sep 17 (ST) The UK and France joined the United States to intervene in a New York court case filed by the mysterious St Kitts Bank (Hamilton Reserve Bank) against Sri Lanka over its ISB (International Sovereign Bond) default. The London Financial Times reported that the two countries filed a joint amicus curiae petition to the New York Southern District judge hearing the case, arguing in favour of SL�s request for a six month freeze on any litigation. According to the intervening petitions, more..

Sep 17 (EN) SL women are kept out of the workforce due to unpaid care work for the children and the elderly, researchers told a public forum in Colombo. �Currently, women bear a disproportionate burden of care work,� Chantal Dissanayaka, a researcher at Advocata Institute, a Colombo-based think tank said. �In comparison to men, women spend three hours and twelve minutes more engaging in domestic work.� Female workers compensation is also low, putting day-care more..

Sep 17 (ST) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe last Sunday decided on a three-member Committee to probe revelations made by Britain�s Channel 4 despite claims hours earlier by the Defence Ministry, on behalf of the Govt of SL, that they categorically refute the false allegations. The Committee will be headed by Syed Ishrat Imam, a retired SC Judge, and include Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody, more..

Sep 18 (CT) In the report submitted recently to Parliament by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on a Just and Law-Abiding Society, titled, �Delaying the Issuing of Govt Analyst�s Dept Reports�, it was revealed, rather shockingly, that numerous reports of the GA�s Dept which were mailed to the relevant Courts via registered post have disappeared. This vanishing of the reports came to light when the mailed reports faced numerous issues of non-receipt, prompting resubmission. more..

Sep 18 (ST) The UNHRC�s annual report on the situation of human rights in Sri Lanka, prepared for the forthcoming 54th session of the Human Rights Council (11th Sept � 6th Oct 2023) has an interesting titbit tucked away in its pages. This is contained in the report�s most significant portions dealing with activities pursuant to Human Rights Council Resolution 46/1. For those of us with short memories, it must be reminded that Resolution 46/1 relates to more..

Sep 18 (ST) After being on the order book of Parliament for more than a month, No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was finally debated and ultimately defeated in Parliament by a majority of 40 votes. When the vote was finally taken at about 5.30 p.m. on Friday after a fiery three-day debate, motion received 73 votes in favour and 113 against, giving Mr Rambukwella and Govt a comfortable victory. Despite speculation that some govt MPs would support the motion, more..

Sep 18 (GV) It was the spring of infatuation. Millions of Sinhala voters saw Gotabaya Rajapaksa the way he saw himself, a colossus among men, a king reborn. He and his acolytes had spent much time and more effort crafting that image. Yet from the beginning, cracks showed, signs that the image was not of iron or even solid clay but of illusions. Almost seven million voters opted not to see the signs. While the voters wallowed in delirious joy dreaming their dream, more..

Sep 18 (TM) The Channel 4 documentary rocked the country on 5 September. The Rajapaksas were pushed back to the corner, but the camp managed the affair, reading the local audience well. The Channel 4 team used Rupert Murdoch�s The Times of UK to build credibility for the story. A senior foreign correspondent, Catherine Philp, broke the news on 3 Sept at 00:01 UK time as a precursor to the Channel 4 release. The initial teaser was a minute clip with Maulana, the whistleblower. more..

Sep 18 (CT) The macro statistics are supposed to be good, that is after the IMF rescue; if not good, at least no worse that it was in April 2020. But the ailment is far from being cured; its stagnant nature, poisoned by actual cost of living is still beyond management levels for the middle class and the lower middle class. For the poor, there doesn�t seem to be any light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. It�s exorbitant character has been domineering the economic paradigm. more..

Sep 18 (TM) Ranil Wickremesinghe Govt is currently facing the first review of the IMF financial aid package for Sri Lanka while accelerating the country�s debt restructuring programme. The IMF commenced the review of SL�s EFF on Thursday (14) through a meeting with officials from the Prez Secretariat, with the Prez out of the country attending the G77 confab in Havana, Cuba and then travelling onwards to the US to attend the UNGA in New York. more..

Sep 18 (Island) Channel 4 has resurrected Easter and divided the political waters. Like Moses leading the Israelis through the divided waters of the Red Sea, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith is leading his faithful through the divided political waters of the country. Without taking a position on the Channe 4 documentary, the Cardinal has hit the nail on the head by calling for a free, impartial, just, transparent and broad based investigation into Channel 4 revelations by more..

Sep 18 (ST) On Aug 28, FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura informed the Football Federation of SL (FFSL) that the suspension had been lifted on condition that the elections are held on Sept 29, 2023, as per the newly adopted statutes of Sept 22, 2022 and the gazette notification of July 24, 2023, issued by the Ministry of Sports. Adhering to the strict conditions issued by FIFA was paramount. With that unequivocal declaration, FIFA rapped the local football administration more..

Sep 18 (CI) Mohammed Siraj ran the SL team ragged in the Asia Cup final. He produced a devastating spell of swing and seam bowling returning figures of 6 for 21 in seven overs as SL were skittled out for 50. India, in return, completed the chase in just 6.1 overs to become Asia Cup champions for the eighth time. Here are some key numbers from the game. 50 - SL's total in Colombo is the lowest by any team against India in men's ODIs. Previous lowest was Bangladesh's 58 all out in 2014 in Mirpur. more..

Sep 18 (CI) Fifth ball of his second over, Mohammed Siraj is flying down the field. He is racing away from the pitch, in white hot pursuit of one of the handful of shots a Sri Lanka batter middled. Dhananjaya de Silva has only check-driven a fullish ball on the stumps, without much of a backlift, so there's limited power in the shot. In normal circumstances, this would be stopped by the fielder at mid-on, and this would have yielded one run at most. more..

Sep 18 (DM) Provincial Department of Health Services, Northern Province has implemented a ban on the use of social media for health workers including doctors during duty hours. Provincial Director of Health Services Northern Province, Dr T. Sathyamoorthy said, "The decision comes after numerous complaints were received, alleging that some health workers were using their mobile phones to browse social media platforms instead of attending to patients seeking treatment," more..

Sep 18 (FT) Monetary Board which has now been disbanded, as the legal custodian of EPF, has issued a statement explaining to its members why it chose to participate in the proposed domestic debt optimisation or DDO by exchanging Treasury bonds to a value of Rs. 2,668 billion for new bonds. The bonds so exchanged had a maturity structure ranging from 2024 to 2045 at coupon interest rates ranging between 6% and 20%. In terms of the exchange, EPF will get 12 new bonds to a value of about Rs. 222 billion more..

Sep 18 (ST) With strict restrictions on money printing now in place owing to new Central Bank of SL (CBSL) Act, Govt has tasked agencies such as the Departments of Inland Revenue, Excise and SL Customs with raising between Rs. 400 billion and 450 billion in revenue to overcome the shortfall. With the new CBSL Act being effective from Friday, CBSL�s ability to print money will be severely limited and will only be allowed under exceptional circumstances, such as a global health emergency. more..

Sep 18 (AD) A child and her father have been injured after two unidentified men on a motorcycle opened fire at a three-wheeler near the Maligakanda Magistrate�s Court this evening (17). The assailants, who had arrived on a motorcycle, had shot at the three-wheeler before fleeing the scene, police said. The two including the child, who were injured in the incident, have been admitted to Colombo National Hospital for treatment, while Maradana Police are conducting further investigations more..

Sep 18 (SO) Licensed foreign employment sector distanced itself from the human trafficking scam carried out with visit visas saying that those recruited by them were documented in SL and in the recipient country. Prez of the Association for Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies (ALFEA) Farouk Marrikar said, �Licensed foreign employment agencies, numbering over 1,000 throughout the country, always remain alert on those who are recruited by them leaving little or no chance for human trafficking. more..