Aug 2 (TM) Govt Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) has refuted reports that there is a trend of medical officers who left the country due to various reasons now returning to Sri Lanka. Following a recent statement made by the Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Health Dr. G. Wijesuriya, there were reports that medical officers who migrated are currently returning to the country. more..

Aug 2 (TM) Supreme Court (SC) has fixed for consideration on 14 October the five Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions filed seeking an order to invalidate the Cabinet approval granted for India�s Adani Green Energy for a wind power project in Wedithalathivu, Mannar. When the petitions were taken up today, the SC ordered the respondents of the petitions to file limited or counter objections related to them before 20 August and 13 September respectively. more..

Aug 2 (DM) Nearly 67% of the country's population is still without sustainable access to safe drinking water in SL, Prof. Wasantha Athukorala of the Dept of Economics & Statistics of the Peradeniya Uni said. He said that the survey had been conducted using samples of 3,210 housing units covering the urban, rural and plantation areas in the 25 districts of the country. Accordingly, the survey was conducted by the Dept of Census and Statistics, the Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure more..

Aug 2 (AD) IMF says the 2025 Budget needs to be underpinned by appropriate revenue measures and continued spending restraint so as to reach the medium-term primary balance objective of 2.3% of GDP�a key requirement for restoring SL�s debt sustainability. �With SL�s knife-edged recovery at a critical juncture, sustaining the reform momentum and ensuring timely implementation of all program commitments are critical to cement the hard-won economic progress to date and more..

Aug 2 (EN) Industry Development Board (IDB) has launched the SL Institute of Industry Professionals (SLIIP) to provide an active platform for solving industry related issues. SLIPP will operate under the Ministry of Industries to develop the sector. It was �established for professionals in the sector with the aim of improving the knowledge, experience and skills required to uplift the industry sector, IDB said. �It is important for industrialists and entrepreneurs to move strongly in economic development� more..

Aug 2 (TM) The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) voiced concerns over the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, asserting that they will not lead to positive change in the country. FSP Propaganda Secretary Duminda Nagamuwa claimed that the said elections would result in an ideological defeat for the citizens, as neither of the main Prez candidates has proposed an agenda capable of addressing more..

Aug 2 (FT) HelpAge SL (HASL), a lifeline for the elderly since it became a registered charity in 1986, last week marked a major milestone in its mission to offer crucial eye care to disadvantaged senior citizens. On 26 July, HASL celebrated the completion of 50,000 free cataract surgeries at the HelpAge Eye Hospital, marking a significant achievement that underscores the organisation�s steadfast dedication to service. The successful completion of over 50,000 cataract surgeries more..

Aug 2 (DM) More than 300,000 'Encarsia Guadeloupe' parasites were introduced by the Agriculture Department this year to control the spread of whitefly in coconut and king coconut plantations, the Coconut Cultivation Board said. The Agriculture Department reported that whitefly damage to coconut plantations is currently being observed in several areas. However, due to rain in the Western Province and some other areas, this damage has decreased somewhat. more..

Aug 2 (TM) SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera made allegations against MPs supporting Prez and independent Prez candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe, claiming that these MPs have been granted firearm licences and over 1,200 bar permits. Jayasekera claimed that the firearm licences issued allow for the purchase of firearms worth over Rs. 300,000. He also mentioned that substantial amounts of money have been more..

Aug 2 (AD) The Sri Lanka Navy has issued a statement clarifying the recent incident involving an Indian fishing boat which caused death to a fisherman in the Sri Lankan waters off the Delft Island, Jaffna. In the statement, Sri Lanka Navy said that having spotted Indian fishing trawlers poaching in Sri Lankan waters off the Delft Island, Jaffna, the Sri Lanka Navy deployed its craft in the dark hours of July 31, 2024 to prevent poaching by the trawlers in question. more..

Aug 2 (AD) Four more candidates have placed their deposits today (Aug 02) in order to contest the 2024 Prez Election, Election Commission said. Accordingly, 14 candidates in total have placed their deposits with the Election Commission thus far. This includes five independent candidates whose names have been nominated by a voter, eight candidates from recognized political parties and one candidate from other political parties. The independent candidates who have placed bonds today are more..

Aug 3 (DM) Surely, the expectations of people on the outcome of the forthcoming Presidential election are a far cry from what is expected by the politicians. And what the people expected through elections before the Aragalaya, the only public uprising that the country saw since the Independence was also a far cry from what they long for now. Politicians, except for a few, do not want to see a drastic socioeconomic change through this election, they simply want to be assured of more..

Aug 3 (DM) According to the Office of the Commissioner of Election (EC) to date ten individuals have already paid their deposits to contest the upcoming prez election on 21 Sept. Even today there are doubts as to whether the much-hyped election will take place or will be cancelled at the last minute. Be that as it may, despite the media hype around the upcoming election, in general there seems to be a loss of faith in the electoral process among citizens. more..

Aug 3 (DM) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe was cruelly bamboozled by the Rajapaksas early this week. The incumbent president was given false promises that the Medamulana clan-led pohottuwa party was firmly behind him in his bid to contest the forthcoming prez poll. The note of discord struck by Namal Rajapaksa was lightly dismissed as being of very little consequence. The message conveyed was that more..

Aug 3 (GV) The regime has declared its defiance of a Supreme Court order, increasing tensions over violations of democratic and broader human rights, as SL prepares for elections. Those in charge have repeatedly brushed aside concerns at home and internationally about ongoing abuses of power as well as lack of accountability for past violence. But govt unwillingness to pay even lip service to the rule of law on this matter has stoked tension and raised questions about more..

Aug 3 (CT) When Australia-based SL Vijendran Watson, former Managing Director of Mobitel and Lanka Bell, contacted Ceylon Today regarding his Artificial Intelligence or AI-driven mobile application for learning English, it epitomised how technology and the patriotic, educated SL Diaspora can build the nation�s future. Perfectly targeting SL�s large foreign remittance-bringing migrant workforce, his purpose is to enhance the English skills of the workforce to gain access to global job market. more..

Aug 3 (TM) The Kattankudy beach, once a pristine stretch of sand, has succumbed to severe pollution in the recent past, raising alarms about its impact on both the environment, and the local tourism industry. The beach, renowned for its natural beauty and proximity to unique local attractions, is now marred by an accumulation of litter, including polythene bags, plastic cups, and other waste. Despite ongoing efforts to clean the beach more..

Aug 3 (CT) It is anybody�s guess why the President�s Media Division (PMD) should be putting out press releases on the parliamentary support base for incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe following the vertical split in the ruling SLPP underwriters of his govt through the past two years. Subsequent news releases of the kind over the past few days have shown that the first day�s outage was not the product of overenthusiasm on the part of a personal loyalist assigned to the PMD. more..

Aug 3 (ST) Last week�s column on SL�s hidden poor has generated lots of responses. It was about how the fixed income-earning middle class employees in the formal sector have fallen down to poverty � not officially, but effectively. After hearing the story of Chris in the column, some have raised their eyebrows, posed questions and made comments, as if it was unbelievable. Not surprisingly, some others have appreciated the story of Chris saying that it was their own story which more..

Aug 3 (TM) In a speech read to the Parliament recently, PM and Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Dinesh Gunawardena challenged the validity of the interim order issued by the Supreme Court (SC), stopping the incumbent Inspector General of Police (IGP) (Deshabandu Tennakoon) from functioning in his official capacity till a final decision is made by the SC on several petitions filed against the appointment of the said IGP. more..

Aug 3 (Island) Minister Susil Premajayantha has reportedly claimed that at least 115 MPs, representing different political parties, will support Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe at the upcoming prez election. He said so, the other day, addressing the media at his Ministry after signing an agreement to resume the Suraksha student insurance scheme. He is apparently labouring under the misconception that the prez candidate backed by the highest number of MPs will emerge the winner. more..

Aug 3 (CI) At 101 for 5, Sri Lanka were on the verge of an all-too-familiar collapse against India, but they somehow found a way to stay in the contest both with bat and ball and ended up tying the match. Leading SL for the first time in ODI cricket, it was Charith Asalanka who sealed the dramatic result by dismissing Shivam Dube and No. 11 Arshdeep Singh off successive balls on a slow, dry Khettarama turner, with the crowd jiving more..

Aug 3 (FT) The SL Institute of Packaging has announced the 25th edition of the packaging hall mark event in South Asia comprising Lankapak 2024 Exhibition, Annual Packaging Congress from 25 to 27 Oct together with Lanka Star Awards. Organised by the SL Institute of Packaging and CDC Events, the amplified 25th edition of Lankapak is backed by both state and private sector which aims to reach new heights by setting international standards, making it a mega event in SL. more..

Aug 3 (ST) Powerful was the focus on numerous mind-related issues as local and international Psychiatrists gathered in Colombo this weekend. Quality Mental Health Care in South Asia was the theme as the 21st Annual Academic Sessions of the SL College of Psychiatrists and the 15th SAARC International Psychiatry Conference were inaugurated on Friday (July 26). Friday evening�s highlight was the induction of the new President of SL College of Psychiatrists for 2023-2024, more..

Aug 3 (DM) SL Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) has been awarded the prestigious Best International Tourism Board accolade at the Global Tourism Awards 2024, held in New Delhi, India today. SL Tourism Promotion Bureau said that this annual event, organized by Travel World Online (TWO), honors organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the tourism industry, shaping its landscape and driving positive change. The award was presented to Chalaka Gajabahu, more..

Aug 3 (FT) In a testament to Sri Lanka�s cultural and sartorial finesse, Sports Illustrated (SI) has ranked the country�s Olympics opening ceremony outfits among the top three globally, whilst Elle Canada has featured it among �All of the Most Stylish Olympic Team Outfits from Paris 2024 so far�. LOVI Ceylon, a prominent modern Sri Lankan fashion brand, took pride in dressing the SL Olympians for this prestigious occasion. According to an article by Josh Sanchez of SI, more..

Aug 3 (ST) A renowned veterinarian, and professor in veterinary clinical science at the Uni of Peradeniya Prof Asoka Dangolla is to fly to Thailand to defend the use of elephants in perahera. This comes as international pressure is mounting against the use of elephants in processions, following the repatriation of the ailing, wounded tusker Muthu Raja (Sak Surin) that had been gifted to SL. A few groups in Thailand are trying to raise more..

Aug 3 (FT) The Colombo stock market ended another week of losses despite gains in the last two days amidst low turnover. During the week, the benchmark ASPI lost 1.6% and the active S&P SL20 more sharply by 2.8%. Last week the two indices declined by 0.8% and 1.3% respectively. Turnover this week averaged Rs. 1.29 billion higher in comparison to Rs. 577 million due to the Rs. 4 billion figure on Wednesday due to crossings on Overseas Realty. Yesterday�s turnover was Rs. 776.6 m more..

Aug 3 (Island) Fresh off their Asia Cup triumph, the SL women�s side will be heading to Ireland for two T20Is and three ODIs from August 11-20, Sri Lanka Cricket has announced. The team will depart for Ireland on August 6.This will be SL�s first bilateral tour of Ireland, while it will be Ireland�s third bilateral assignment this year � their first at home, having played both Zimbabwe and Thailand in Zimbabwe and the UAE respectively. Ireland are yet to lose a bilateral game this year, more..

Aug 3 (Island) SJB MP Mujibur Rahuman said acceptance of a large section of an utterly corrupt ruling SLPP to his camp was nothing but an act of desperation on the part of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, as well as the ruling party. The former UNPer said that Prez Wickremesinghe had quite conveniently forgotten that the unprecedented public protest campaign that ousted his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022 was prompted more..

Aug 3 (Island) There had been no decrease in election-related propaganda carried out by the govt by misusing State resources, Manjula Gajanayake, Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) said on Friday. Gajanayake said that election laws are in effect following the announcement by the Elections Commission that the presidential election will be held on 21 September. Thus, the govt should no longer use State resources to promote Ranil more..

Aug 3 (Hindu) Announcing an indefinite strike with immediate effect on Friday (2), the members of all fishermen associations in Rameswaram said they would resume work only when their grievances were redressed by the TN and Union govts. An urgent meeting of various fishermen associations was held at Rameswaram under the leadership of Sagayam. The meeting resolved to boycott fishing from today (2) until all the arrested fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who languished in SL prisons, more..

Aug 3 (FT) HSBC Sri Lanka introduced HSBC Live+ Credit Card, designed to enhance the lifestyle experiences of globally minded customers. The Live+ Credit Card provides rewards tailored to lifestyle spending and reflects HSBC�s focus on providing innovative solutions that help customers earn more rewards while enjoying quality experiences. Launched in partnership with Visa, HSBC Live+ cardholders are entitled to dining perks across Asia, through Live+ Dining Program. more..

Aug 3 (FT) PM Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday urged South Asian entrepreneurs to focus on innovative new products and services to enhance regional economic cooperation. Addressing the first South Asian Trade Fair 2024 at Excel World Colombo Convention Centre, he said the stronger connectivity with neighbouring regional markets such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other South Asian countries would boost trading and investment cooperation. more..

Aug 3 (ST) Lahiru Walpita, an avid birdwatcher based in Mannar, spends his days combing the beaches in search of seabirds. On the morning of July 22, at around 5.45 am, something caught his attention; a large seabird appeared on the horizon. The bird was following a boat. Eagerly peering through his spotting scope, Mr. Walpita hurriedly noted the bird�s features and was thrilled to identify unmistakable beak pattern more..