Aug 15 (FT) The cause of the recent blast aboard the container vessel MV MSC CAPETOWN III at the Port of Colombo will be determined following comprehensive investigations. The explosion, which occurred on 11 August at around 0030 hours near the Bay 42 area of the vessel which was berthed at JCT4, led to an immediate evacuation of all operations staff and crew members from the affected area of the vessel. Harbour Master Capt. Nirmal Silva reassured that the fire, more..

Aug 15 (Island) Postal voting for the upcoming Prez Election would take place on 4 and 6 Sept, Saman Sri Rathnayake, Commissioner General of Elections, said. Voters who are unable to cast their votes during this period would have an additional opportunity on 11 and 12 Sept, he said. �The ballot papers will be distributed on Aug 26. Officials directly involved in election duties, such as those in the Postal Service, Police, and Election Department, can cast their votes on 04 Sept. more..

Aug 15 (FT) Bharat Kosh, a repository of Indic-knowledge, was inaugurated by High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha at the Colombo Public Library on Monday. The Bharat Kosh at the centurion old Colombo Public Library showcases a curated selection of books on India and written by Indian authors, comprising artefacts, and cultural treasures that celebrate India�s diverse heritage and reflects the deep historical and cultural ties between India and Sri Lanka. more..

Aug 15 (TM) Sri Lanka�s first cable car project worth $ 62 million is stalled due to a refusal by the Forest Dept to grant permission to release 150 perches on Kikiliyamana Mountain for the construction of a compulsory safety stop and sanitation facilities, a Parliament report said. According to a report by the Select Committee of Parliament to study the practical problems and difficulties in relation to preparation for more..

Aug 15 (DN) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, Podujana Peramuna Presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa and Sarvajana Bala party candidate Dilith Jayaweera and former Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe signed his nomination papers for the upcoming Prez Election yesterday (14). Prez signed the nomination papers at his political office at Flower Road, Colombo amidst chanting of Seth Pirith by members of Maha Sangha. Members of Maha Sangha offered blessings on the Prez, more..

Aug 15 (DM) As the 2024 presidential election approaches, Sri Lanka is once again facing a male-dominated race, with no female candidates stepping forward to contest. Despite legal provisions for gender equality, no women have stepped forward as candidates this year, highlighting the persistent challenges women face in SL politics. Historically, only three women have ever contested a SL presidential election. Srima Dissanayake, widow of the late Gamini Dissanayake, more..

Aug 15 (DM) Despite the presence of a large number of candidates in the Prez Election, only the key contenders will receive enhanced security during their campaigns, based on threat assessments, a top official said. Official said that police officers from Ministerial Security Division (MSD) and STF personnel will be assigned to protect leading candidates. Security measures for each candidate will vary depending on more..

Aug 15 (FT) With only 8% of citizens thinking that the country is going in the right direction and 72% thinking it is on the wrong track, it would be borderline lunacy to assume that Ranil, ably supported by the most detested parliamentarians since 1970-77, could get into double-digits in September. ��Public views towards the country�s direction have worsened since July 2023, driven by a steady decline in uncommitted respondents.� (Ibid) The pull-factor that took Apsari Tillakaratne, more..

Aug 15 (DM) The accepting of nominations for the upcoming Presidential Election concluded at 11.00 a.m. today (15) at the Election Secretariat in Rajagiriya. The Chairman of the Election Commission R.M.A.L. Rathnayake announced that a total of 39 out of 40 candidates who have placed bonds to contest the 2024 Presidential Election have submitted their nominations. The written objections for the nominations can be submitted until 11.30 a.m. today, he said. more..

Aug 15 (FT) Assuming that the 21 Sept Prez election would be held as scheduled, the two most challenging issues facing the winner would be to reform SL�s moribund system of governance and renegotiate with IMF parts of its economic reparation agenda so that the local economy could be put on sound footing to withstand the negative effects from turbulence from outside. Governance and economy are inseparable twins and no economic model or development plan could succeed when govts that are responsible to more..

Aug 15 (EN) Sri Lanka�s state enterprises privatization is slow due to the process that was followed to ensure that the transactions were transparent and there was no risk of being reversed, SOE restructuring unit chief Suresh Shah said. �If it is reversed it would have damaged the investment environment in the country,� he said. �Particularly if the investor was a foreign investor.� Courts reversed the privatization of SL Insurance after a public interest petition alleged a flaw in the process. more..

Aug 15 (EN) Cabinet had discussed the delay in re-starting online visas after courts suspended the controversial VFS Global deal where tourists were charged high fees to go through website which the travel trade said was difficult to navigate. Though courts ordered that the earlier system operated by Mobitel, be restored, until hearing of the case is complete, Dept of Immigration has not yet restored the system. more..

Aug 15 (DM) The lack of knowledge about rabies and the number of incidents relating to bites from animals other than dogs have led to an increase in deaths, Consultant Community Physician Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana said. He said that the health authorities point out that the current rabies situation has now become a serious health and social issue. Nearly 300 govt hospitals are providing free anti-rabies vaccinations, even if it has been three months since an animal bite. more..

Aug 15 (JS) Jetstar Asia (3K) has announced it will become the only low-cost carrier to fly direct from Singapore to Colombo, when the new service takes off on 21 Nov 2024. Singapore low-cost carrier will operate five return services each week using their fleet of Airbus A320s, offering more than 90,000 low fares between the two destinations each year. The split schedule offers morning and evening departures from Changi Airport providing choice for those starting their journey in Singapore more..

Aug 15 (DM) As in every other Presidential race, the public is expected to browse through a long list of candidates before casting their vote during the upcoming Prez Elections. So far 36 candidates have placed security deposits to contest at the elections. Observers opine that there could be more candidates as the date to accept nominations approaches. But what has been of particular concern is the enthusiasm shown by more..

Aug 15 (USE) On Aug 14, US Ambassador Julie Chung inaugurated the newly renovated American Corner in Matara. Open since 2018, American Corner in Matara serves as a bridge between the people of the US and SL through programs, events, and learning opportunities. Following the renovation, the expanded American Corner in Matara has doubled its original capacity to host innovative, free programs for local SL youth to learn entrepreneurship, leadership, more..

Aug 15 (AD) Election Commission has assigned the Gas Cylinder symbol to Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is contesting this year�s presidential election as an independent candidate. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe signed his nomination papers on Wednesday at his political office in Flower Road, Colombo to contest the upcoming Prez Election. Prez Wickremesinghe, accompanied by PM Dinesh Gunawardena, arrived at the Election Commission in Rajagiriya this morning and more..

Aug 15 (AD) A Gazette notification has been issued bringing Ministry of Tourism and Lands, Ministry of Sports & Youth Affairs and Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment under the purview of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe. This move comes following the recent removal of Manusha Nanayakkara and Harin Fernando from their MP seats, as per a court order. Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the decision taken by the SJB to suspend the party membership of Manush Nanayakkara and more..

Aug 15 (AD) The first Randoli Perahera of the Kandy Esala Festival is scheduled commence tonight (15) with the historic procession, one of the oldest and grandest festivals in Sri Lanka, parading the streets of Kandy. The first Randoli Perahera will parade the streets for five days until August 19. The Sri Dalada Esala Perahera of the Scared Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) in Kandy with the first Kumbal Perahera parading the streets commenced on Saturday (10). more..

Aug 15 (MFA) Following repeated appeals to Govt of Myanmar and neighbouring countries by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, twenty Sri Lankans, who were victims of human trafficking and stranded in Myanmar, have been rescued and safely arrived in Mae Sot, Thailand, on Aug 14, 2024. SL Ambassador in Thailand Wijayanthi Edirisinghe visited Mae Sot today and met with the rescued Sri Lankans and inquired into their welfare. more..

Aug 15 (MFA) The Govt of Sri Lanka welcomes the decision of the Govt of Canada to retain the LTTE along with the World Tamil Movement (WTM) as terrorist entities. According to the recent review, Canada maintains that the remnants of the LTTE have an international fundraising and procurement network that still exists. The review of the WTM notes that the group continues to play a facilitating role in the LTTE�s terrorist activities by fundraising on their behalf. more..

Aug 15 (EN) CEB has reported a profit of 34.5 billion rupees for the three months ended on June 30, a 67% jump compared to 20.7 billion rupees in the same quarter in 2023 despite a fall in the revenue. The state-run utility provider reported profits of 119.2 billion rupees for the first six months of this year, compared to a loss of 13.7 billion rupees last year. CEB�s finance cost in the June quarter fell more than 60% to 7.6 billion rupees compared to 19.3 billion last year. more..

Aug 15 (DM) A new luxury Air Port Terminal Shuttle Service was launched from the BIA to the Colombo Fort Railway Station and Multimodal Transport Centre in Makumbura. New luxury bus service was launched by Transport and Highways Ministry Secretary Ranjith Rubasinghe at the BIA as a solution to one of the biggest issues in the history of SL aviation. Earlier, foreign tourists visiting SL did not have the facilities of more..

Aug 15 (DM) A 19-year-old youth was arrested on Wednesday evening by the Kataragama police on suspicion of having sexually abused a Grade 11 schoolgirl of the Kataragama National School. The suspect is a resident of Raja Mawatha in Kataragama. Police arrested the suspect during an investigation into a complaint from the principal of the school. Investigations revealed that the incident had occurred about six months ago. Under interrogation the 16-yr-old girl had revealed more..

Aug 15 (AD) Leader of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) MP Rishad Bathiudeen has pledged his party�s support to the opposition leader and SJB candidate Sajith Premadasa at the upcoming Prez Election. On Aug 7, Rishad Bathiudeen�s ACMC had said it would announce the candidate the party will support in the upcoming prez election on August 14. The leader of the ACMC stated that this decision was taken during the party�s Supreme Council meeting on Aug 6. more..

Aug 15 (AFR) An Australian Federal Court judge has slammed the Home Affairs Department for failing to properly scrutinise a Sri Lankan diplomat who confiscated a staffer�s passport and gave her just two days leave in three years. SL�s former deputy high commissioner to Australia has been ordered to pay $543,000 in unpaid wages and interest to a domestic worker and now faces a large fine for breaches of employment laws. Himalee Arunatilaka, who served in Canberra from 2015 to 2018, more..

Aug 15 (EN) Australian Border Force has gifted SL Coast Guard (SLCG) three all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to boost SLCG�s existing land coastal patrol activities. �Like Australia, we bear similar civil maritime security threats and are committed to working together to combat maritime crime,� Director-General of SLCG, Rear Admiral Pujitha Vithana said. The small, motorised, off-highway vehicles are generally used on rough ground. The ATVs will be deployed in various places more..

Aug 15 (TM) Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) has issued a formal letter to the Minister of Justice Ali Sabry, urging the Govt to support the decriminalisation of same-sex relations. This follows the recent enactment of the Women Empowerment Act, which includes provisions that explicitly recognize the right to non-discrimination based on sexual orientation. In the letter, dated Aug 13, HRCSL highlights the ongoing more..

Aug 15 (NW) Three persons were reported dead and one person was injured in an accident in the Dunugaha Junction area along the Divulapitiya-Negombo Road today. According to the Police, the accident had occurred when a speeding three-wheeler had lost control and collided with a tipper truck. The Police further said that all the persons travelling in the three-wheeler had died in the accident. The Police added that the deceased were men aged 30, 38, and 45 years old. more..

Aug 15 (TM) Ruling SLPP stated that MPs representing the SLPP, who are supporting Prez and independent Prez candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe will not be allowed to contest in the upcoming Parliamentary Election under the Party�s banner. While the SLPP has fielded the Party's National Organiser MP Namal Rajapaksa as their Prez candidate, the majority of SLPP MPs, including Cabinet and State Ministers, have extended their support to Wickremesinghe, who was earlier more..

Aug 15 (DM) Sri Lanka, once again, protested with the Canadian authorities over the plan to construct a Tamil genocide monument in the area called Brampton in Canada. SL Consul General in Toronto Thushara Rodrigo has written to Brampton mayor Patrick Brown registering SL�s protest. Sri Lanka has locked horns with Canada on multiple occasions over purported genocide allegations. Lankan govt, in May, hit out at more..

Aug 15 (AFP) SL's Election Commission has filed a police complaint about a hoax website that falsely advertised roles with the island nation's poll authority before the upcoming prez election. The bogus site circulated in posts on Facebook and WhatsApp in August 2024. SL staff recruitment Election Commission 2024 read a Sinhala-language Facebook post on Aug 13. "Election Commission of SL has opened an application portal to recruit new staff members to fill existing vacancies more..

Aug 15 (TM) Govt Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) has planned to present a series of proposals concerning the health and health-related education sectors to the Prez candidates after nominations for the forthcoming Prez Election have been granted. Nominations for the Prez Election to be held on 21 Sept are to be granted today. GMOA Spokesperson Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said that while they have already met with several Prez candidates to discuss matters pertaining to health sector more..

Aug 16 (DM) The worst feeling one can get, if not trained for it, is to wait for something that�s in the pipeline to happen. We�re all awaiting September 21 for the presidential elections. But that wait is terrible given that we know what some of our lawmakers, backing the candidates of their choice, are capable of pulling off disgusting tricks to gain mileage. All we need is a free and fair election. By the way, have you heard of the phrase playing the waiting game? This is often quoted by intellectuals. more..

Aug 16 (DM) According to the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, there are three field job titles within the Dept of Wildlife and Conservation which are Wildlife Guard, Range Assistant and Wildlife Rangers. In addition to these positions, there are administrative roles such as Assistant Director, Deputy Director and Director General. The Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (Chapter 469) was enacted in 1973. This Ordinance, which was amended in 1964, 1970, 1993, and 2009, more..