Aug 9 (DN) The Supreme Court of SL yesterday (8) acquitted former Commissioner of Prisons Emil Ranjan Lamahewa, who had been sentenced to death for the murder of eight inmates during a clash at the Welikada Prison on November 9, 2012. The five-member Supreme Court Bench comprising Justices Vijith Malalgoda, S. Thurairaja, Shiran Gunaratne, Achala Wengappuli and Priyantha Fernando unanimously decided to more..

Aug 9 (DM) Dept of Immigration and Emigration at the airport is facing a critical situation with visa checks for arriving passengers, mainly due to the lack of an active Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system. A senior official from dept said that officials in the arrival lounge are struggling to verify passengers� online visas previously submitted before suspension of online visa processing. Some passengers reported dif�ficulties with visa verification when boarding their flights. more..

Aug 9 (AP) Bangladesh�s next leader Muhammad Yunus arrived home Thursday from an overseas trip and will take office later in the day, as he looks to restore calm and rebuild the country following an uprising that ended the 15-year, increasingly autocratic rule of former PM Sheikh Hasina. Yunus landed at Dhaka�s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Thursday afternoon and was welcomed by the country�s military chief, Gen. Waker-Uz-Zaman, who was flanked by navy and air force heads. more..

Aug 9 (DM) The govt has set up an Internal Customs Unit within Sri Lanka Customs (SLC) to investigate public complaints, following increased public scrutiny, the Finance Ministry announced yesterday. State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya inaugurated the unit, which is operated by SLC�s Internal Affairs Division. The move comes as the private sector has intensified calls for the full digitisation of SLC operations, more..

Aug 9 (FT) The IMF may have their own agendas. But they are in the country because our politicians and officials failed to manage the economy leading it to bankruptcy. Some degree of economic and financial discipline is evident today, thanks to the presence of the IMF. Any proposed renegotiations should be on the basis of even greater discipline, and sustainable discipline, and not pandering to populism. SL needs a new political model to make the best use of the opportunity now more..

Aug 9 (FT) The Asian Development Bank�s outlook, published in April 2024, forecasts SL�s growth rate at 1.9% for 2024 and 2.5% for 2025. Similarly, World Bank�s report from April predicts a growth rate of 2.2% for 2024 and 2.5% for 2025, based on their specific assumptions. In contrast, the IMF�s forecast is lower than these projections, while the Central Bank provides a higher growth estimate. What makes this country heaven by maintaining miracle growth, will it need so-called reforms more..

Aug 9 (AD) Court of Appeal has further deferred the decision regarding the petition filed by Keheliya Rambukwella, seeking an order to invalidate the Maligakanda Magistrate�s Court�s order remanding him until the end of the trial over the alleged import of substandard medicine. The relevant decision was scheduled to be delivered today. However, the Appeals Court judge bench comprising President of the Court of Appeal Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice Shashi Mahendran ordered more..

Aug 9 (EN) Minister Kanchana Wijesekara has spoken favourably of his cabinet colleagues Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara who lost their positions and seats in parliament following a Supreme Court verdict. �Both Fernando and Nanayakkara extended their support to Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe at a very critical time of the country. They both put their political careers on the line knowing this outcome in the hour of need,� Wijesekara tweeted hours after a verdict more..

Aug 9 (AD) Supreme Court has ruled that the decision taken by SJB to suspend the party membership of Ministers Manush Nanayakkara and Harin Fernando was lawful. The court issued this verdict while dismissing a petition filed by the two ministers seeking an order declaring that the SJB�s decision to remove them from the party is unlawful. The decision was announced by the three-member Supreme Court bench consisting of Justices more..

Aug 9 (EN) Manila-based Asian Development Bank is working on a 100 million US dollar tourism sector loan for Sri Lanka, Country Director Takafumi Kadono said. The loan will be made up of a 70 million dollar budget support component, and a 30 million dollar project, he said. The ADB has been supporting sustainable tourism. Earlier this year ADB brought together government officials and also industry representatives and bio-diversity experts in a knowledge sharing event. more..

Aug 9 (SLN) A coordinated operation conducted by SL Navy and Coast Guard led to the seizure of 4 Indian dhows poaching in SL waters and apprehension of 35 Indian fishermen. The special operation was conducted off the Kudiramalei Point in northwestern seas, south of Mannar on 8th Aug. Navy continues to conduct regular patrols and operations in SL waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing boats, taking into account the impact of those practices on more..

Aug 9 (DM) Public Security Minister Tiran Alles requested the people to apply for passports only if they are urgent and advised those who can wait to delay their applications till October, when new e-passports that meet international standards will be available. He stated that the introduction of the new e-passport, which meets International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards, will improve SL's position in the Global Passport Index. more..

Aug 9 (AD) Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry has held discussions with the Egyptian business community on ways of unleashing untapped potential to expand trade and investment between SL and Egypt, particularly in sectors including agriculture, apparel, ICT, renewable energy and tourism. The event which was organised by the Cairo Chamber of Commerce in coordination with the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, on enhancing trade & economic cooperation more..

Aug 9 (AD) Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara have resigned from their respective ministerial portfolios. Accordingly, Fernando has resigned as the Minister of Tourism, Lands, Sports and Youth Affairs while Nanayakkara stepped down the Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment. This decision comes hours after the Supreme Court�s ruling issued this morning declaring that the decision taken by the SJB to suspend the party membership of Manusha Nanayakkara more..

Aug 9 (FT) Foreign Minister Ali Sabry will pay an official visit to Egypt from 7 � 9 Aug 2024 on the invitation of Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. During the visit, he will hold bilateral discussions with his counterpart at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Cairo and also meet with Investment and Foreign Trade Minister of Egypt. Minister Sabry is also expected to have discussions at the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce & meet with several other more..

Aug 9 (AD) MP Sarath Fonseka has tendered his resignation as Chairman of the SJB and as the SJB Organiser for the Kelaniya constituency. Fonseka has communicated this in a letter addressed to party leader and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. On Monday, Fonseka placed deposit to contest in the 2024 Prez Election as an independent candidate. On July 25, Fonseka officially announced his presidential candidacy stating that, �A lot of people have asked me to contest for prez election more..

Aug 9 (Island) Senior DIG in charge of elections can work with the Election Commission to ensure the conduct of a smooth prez poll despite the deliberate dragging of feet by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe in appointing an acting IGP, TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran said. �Clearly he is trying to stall the process. He is not happy with the Supreme Court interim order barring Deshabandu Tennakoon from holding the post of IGP. more..

Aug 9 (DM) The owners of the X-Press Pearl informed SL that the debris had been fully cleared by now, State Minister of Justice Anurada Jayaratne said. He said that removal of the debris took place in two operations such as debris recovery operation and wreck removal operation and that both operations have been completed by now. Minister said SL National Hydrographic Office has been informed to obtain the certificate of clearance to confirm the debris removal. more..

Aug 9 (TM) Despite the Election Commission�s (EC) directive to halt the Rs.3,000 allowance for pensioners during the election period, the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs has issued a circular regarding its distribution. Reportedly, the circular was issued on Wednesday (7) to Ministry Secretaries, Heads of Departments, District Secretaries, and Divisional Secretaries, informing them that the allowance payment would commence effective from September. more..

Aug 9 (DM) The national poverty line, which determines the minimum income threshold to meet basic needs, has nearly tripled over slightly in the span of just over a decade according to a report released by the DCS. In Jan 2024, the national poverty line reached Rs. 17,014, increasing from Rs. 5,223 in 2012/13. A consistent upward trend can be seen when the poverty line rose from Rs. 5,223 in 2012/13 to Rs. 6,117 in 2016 more..

Aug 9 (EN) Ex-tourism Minister Harin Fernando said he was glad to have crossed over and helped Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe stabilize the country, after losing his portfolio due to a court order. �When I joined Ranil Wickremesinghe, the country was in dire straits,� Fernando told reporters hours after the court upheld a decision by SJB to expel him along with Manusha Nanayakkara. �I am glad that I did. Yesterday I realized this was going to happen so I drove to pilawoos on my own & at a koththu.� more..

Aug 9 (DM) Approximately 25% of children less than one year in Sri Lanka are having some form of sleep related problem that can lead to various physical and mental health issues due to not getting good sleep, Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) Consultant Community Physician Dr. Enoka Wickramasinghe said. Although not much research has been done on sleep among SL children, and considering the limited data available, she said there are effects of sleep deprivation in adolescents and adults. more..

Aug 9 (USE) U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce an additional commitment of US $24.5 mil (Rs 7.2 b) from the American people to further our long-standing investment in the people of SL and our partnership. The additional funding was announced during a visit to SL by the USAID Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Asia Michael Schiffer at an event at the Ministry of Finance. USAID SL Mission Director Gabriel Grau also participated in Friday�s ceremony alongside State Minister more..

Aug 9 (AD) The General Secretary of SJB Ranjith Madduma Bandara states that party member Bandulal Bandarigoda will be appointed fill the parliamentary seat which fell vacant following the suspension of the party membership of Manusha Nanayakkara through a Supreme Court ruling. Bandarigoda, who secured 34,897 votes and the third place from the Galle District in 2020 General Election, is next in line on SJB�s preferential vote list. Meanwhile, he also said a qualified individual more..

Aug 9 (DM) Supreme Court today issued an order quashing the findings and recommendations made by the Commission of Inquiry appointed by former President Gotabaya Rajapakse in respect of nine petitioners including former High Court Judge Padmini Ranawaka and President's Counsel Upul Jayasuriya. The Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justices Vijith Malalgoda, Achala Wengappuli and more..

Aug 9 (AD) A discussion has been held at the Election Commission regarding the security measures to be implemented on the day of the accepting of nominations for the 2024 Presidential Election. The meeting was attended by senior police officers from the Colombo District and officials from the Election Commission. Meanwhile, a workshop on the enforcement of election laws and media guidelines took place at the Department of Government Information this morning (09). more..

Aug 9 (EN) SL�s balance of payments is still strongly in surplus in 2024 under the current interest rate structure, but is running slightly behind 2023, official data show. SL had recorded a BOP surplus (as defined) of US$ 1,761 million by June 2024, down from US$ 1,957.6 million a year earlier. Broadly, BOP surplus is an improvement in net international reserves, and is a reliable figure unlike numbers like current account balances which can be subject to large errors. more..

Aug 9 (EN) SLPP MPs who left the govt and have now joined an alliance with SJB first approached the NPP, its leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said. He said the NPP said no to this group of legislators. �SLPP is now split to three factions: one is with Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, another with MP Namal Rajapaksa and the other with opposition leader Sajith Premadasa. A lot of them knocked on our door before going to the SJB. more..

Aug 9 (AD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that he chose to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming Prez Election, free from any party affiliation, to address the nation�s hunger crisis. He emphasized that the people�s suffering transcends party lines and political colours. The Prez made these remarks during the Kantha Ape Balaya women�s conference held in Colombo today. During the conference, Prez further vowed to uphold and protect women�s rights, ensuring more..

Aug 9 (DM) SLMC leader MP Rauff Hakeem referred to Daily Mirror lead news story headlined SL immigration handicapped in on-arrival processing, criticised the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration and the Secretary to the Public Security Ministry for alleged sabotaging of visa processing. Making his remarks during a debate in the House, he chastised the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, holding him responsible and the Ministry of Law and Order officials more..

Aug 10 (DM) It cannot be denied that the poster culture of the yesteryears is largely bygone. The people of this nation no longer have to shield their eyes from the reds, blues, greens and maroons wedged in every nook and cranny of the streets, or yank bundles of cards and leaflets stuffed through gates and mailboxes to dump them in the nearest bin. So, how has this culture of posters, cutouts, and handbills gradually fizzled out? Would this also be a cause for concern in terms of voter edu? more..

Aug 10 (ST) It has been reported recently, over the past 75 years Sri Lanka has achieved a primary account surplus only in six years � 1954, 1955, 1992, 2017, 2018 and 2023. Out of the six years, it was twice in two consecutive years: 1954-55 and 2017-18. In all previous occasions � 1955, 1992 and 2018 � interestingly, voters defeated that govt at the next elections. Last year, 2023 too, the govt has been able to achieve a primary account surplus of Rs. 173 billion (0.6% of GDP). more..

Aug 10 (TM) The National Digital Economy Strategy 2030 has been introduced in line with SL�s vision of creating a high-revenue economy by 2048 and enabling the country to become an emerging business destination in the South Asian region. Prepared by the Ministry of Technology in consultation with the World Bank; departments in public, private, and professional institutions; and vocational boards, this strategy is expected more..

Aug 10 (CT) The indomitable spirit shown by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna commonly known as JVP since its inception, even after the total eclipse of its initial political leadership is remarkable. Unlike many of the leftist political parties swayed and assimilated into the mainstream spectrum of party politics in SL, JVP survived and flourished. After a half-century of its survival before two insurrections, JVP stands as a catalyst factor in the coming presidential election of Sri Lanka. more..

Aug 10 (CT) A recent media field visit, courtesy the Asian Development Bank (ADB), to Kandy, unravelled the transformational potential of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with support of the ADB�s financial and technical assistance. ADB assistance aims to make SMEs more financially resilient against prevailing socio-economic shocks and ad hoc policy changes. During the field tour, the critical importance of SMEs, as a prime component of national growth and development, more..

Aug 10 (CT) As SL navigates its path to economic recovery, Real Sector�s Performance in 2023 offers critical insights into the nation�s resilience and challenges. This year marked a significant turnaround with a moderate contraction of 2.3%, a stark improvement from the 7.3% decline in 2022. This gradual yet steady rebound, particularly evident in the latter half of the year, underscores a renewed macroeconomic stability bolstered by more..