Jan 27 (FT) Shangri-La Colombo announces the launch of Tiki Bar offering an elevated casual ambience with a tropical twist, inviting patrons to savour island inspired culinary delights and tropical beverages. Overlooking the Indian Ocean, Tiki Bar is set to become the ultimate urban oasis, providing an escape for both local revellers and tourists seeking novel nightlife adventures replete with music and an intriguing line-up of entertainment. With both indoor and alfresco seating Tiki Bar is more..

Jan 27 (DN) A leader of the SLFP said yesterday that it has been decided to give the leadership of the new alliance proposed to be set up by the SLFP to former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and that the former President has expressed willingness to accept the post. It is reported that the preliminary work for the formation of a new alliance led by the SLFP has already commenced and many discussions with other political parties and politicians have been concluded. more..

Jan 27 (DM) CIABOC conducted the first crackdown on bribery in the private sector under the powers conferred by the new Anti-Corruption Act. Commission said that Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023 has empowered the Bribery Commission to address bribery in the private sector, overriding powers that previously applied only to bribery or corruption in the public sector. Accordingly, the first raid on a bribery offense in private sector more..

Jan 27 (DM) 17 social activists have filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking an order directing the authorities to forthwith take steps to recover all arrears of tax due from all the liquor manufacturing companies. Petitioners stated that by June 15, 2023, the amount of back taxes payable by the liquor manufacturing companies had increased to Rs.6,221 million. 17 social activists including Sanjaya Mahawaththa filed this petition naming more..

Jan 27 (FT) SL is aiming to negotiate a debt restructuring with holders of its defaulted US dollar bonds within a couple of months, the bankrupt south Asian nation�s central bank governor said, despite complaints by private creditors that they are being left in the dark. Nandalal Weerasinghe, head of the CB, said that �we need to reach an agreement within a couple of months� on restructuring $13bn of debt as he dismissed worries that negotiations have become bogged down. more..

Jan 27 (FT) The latest estimates from IHP�s revised SLOTS MRP model (revised 01/2024) show that the NPP/JVP maintains a lead in General Election voting intent with 39% of SL adults in Dec 2023. This was significantly ahead of SJB on 27%, SLPP on 10%, UNP on 6%, and ITAK and SLMC on 3% each. December estimates are provisional and are associated with a margin of error of 2.0�3.5% for the 4 leading parties. more..

Jan 28 (SO) The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted every facet of life, but perhaps the biggest impact was felt in the sphere of education. Classes for all grades were not held for nearly two years, with all schools and universities told to conduct online classes. But only a certain segment of the four-million student population benefited from this switch as many students had no access to the devices and 4G signals. When physical classes resumed, the process was undertaken in fits and starts. more..

Jan 28 (TM) The tsunami of discontent that has engulfed social media platforms following the demise of State Minister Sanath Nishantha appears to have taken the regime by surprise. Numbed to complacency by its own propaganda that disgruntlement over the state of the nation was limited to a few Opposition supporters, the tsunami of uncomplimentary comments following the fatal motor accident of the Minister has shown that the regime, having sown the wind, is now reaping more..

Jan 28 (TM) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and his Govt continue to gather flak over the hardships faced by a majority of the country while senior members of Wickremesinghe�s staff have stated that there is no way to reduce prices due to the ongoing economic crisis. The growing frustration among the people can be seen in their call for elections this year in order to clearly express their response to ongoing hardships. more..

Jan 28 (CT) The hopes for constitutional reforms in the election year are being rekindled by the Collective for Democracy and Rule of Law (CDRL). Collective has convened a meeting of civil society activists and organizations, and a well-attended meeting was held in Colombo on Wednesday (24). A discussion document circulated in advance of the meeting, entitled Principles and Proposals for Political and Constitutional Reform, provides a road map for constitutional and political reform more..

Jan 28 (FT) English-Language Theatre (ELT) in SL has great potential as a tool for civil society to engage critically with the political powers that be when our elected representatives get uppity or let us and themselves down. It is a pity then that since 1994, when a humble arts editor (ahem) proposed a consortium of the creative and critical arms of the performing arts to this end, there have been few takers and even fewer serious contenders where ELT has dared to speak truth to power. more..

Jan 28 (CT) Chairman of the SL Atomic Energy Board (SLAEB), Prof. S.R.D. Rosa, provided insights to Ceylon Today regarding the role of SLAEB and the challenges associated with the proposed Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Prof. Rosa stated that several countries with expertise in NPPs have approached Sri Lanka, with Russia being the first. However, the acceptance or execution of any proposals is currently delayed due to more..

Jan 28 (Island) In the global political landscape of 2024, Reuters provides a comprehensive overview of key elections shaping the economic and geopolitical landscape across diverse regions. From Europe, where the rise of Eurosceptic far-right parties poses challenges to the European Union�s integration, to Russia, where Vladimir Putin is set for another term amid heightened tensions with the West, the report navigates through critical elections in Turkey, India, Mexico, South Africa, US, more..

Jan 28 (TM) Govt is expected to reduce VAT and other indirect taxes over a medium-term period once new tax measures targeting High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs) are introduced. Treasury Deputy Secretary R.M.P. Rathnayake revealed that the Govt planned to give some relief to the public in relation to indirect taxes such as VAT, but that the timeline of such measures would rely on the generation of revenue from direct taxes. �Our target is to focus on direct taxes rather than indirect taxes, more..

Jan 28 (Island) The death of State Minister Sanath Nishantha on the Katunayake expressway when his luxury SUV crashed headlong into the back of a container carrier in the early hours of the morning generated the predictable publicity in the evening news bulletins of the various television stations and Friday�s newspapers. What caused the accident which killed Nishantha and his police security guard and injured his driver has not been definitively revealed as this is being written. more..

Jan 28 (DM) People in the upcountry estates are living in constant fear of any possible danger to their lives from leopards frequenting in estates They pointed out that leopards hiding under the tea bushes posed a serious Colombo danger to the estate workers.they pointed out that in the latest incident, a tea plucker had been attacked by a leopard feeding on the carcass of a dog under a tea bush. In a similar incident a worker in Bridwell Estate in Bogawantalawa on her way to her more..

Jan 28 (TM) The pilot initiative by the SL Police to trace traffic offenders through CCTV cameras, described as a measure to curb traffic violations, has been well received by stakeholders, who are optimistic regarding its potential to improve road safety, although the system is in an elementary stage at present. The pilot project aimed at identifying traffic offenders through the CCTV system in Colombo was launched in Colombo more..

Jan 28 (FT) The first edition of HSBC Ceylon Literary & Arts Festival (CLF) is scheduled to unfold in the picturesque city of Kandy on 8 February, followed by a vibrant continuation in Colombo on 10 Feb. Both cities, renowned for their rich heritage and cultural vibrancy, will serve as the perfect hosts for this literary and artistic celebration. The festival centres around a creative platform highlighting the cultural essence of Sri Lanka, placing a primary emphasis on Literature, complemented by more..

Jan 28 (SO) Board of Investment (BOI) signed both local and foreign investment deals to the tune of US$ 2 billion last year, said Chairman BOI, Dinesh Weerakkody. This is despite internal setbacks in Sri Lanka as well as global economic issues with three wars going on involving Russia, Ukraine and Israel and neighbouring countries over Gaza. As the SL economy is slowly but steadily pulling back from the worst economic situation post-independence era investors prefer to invest in SL while more..

Jan 28 (TM) January is named National Braille Literacy Awareness Month and World Braille Day is marked on 4 Jan, in memory of Louis Braille � the French inventor who developed the tactile system of reading and writing by touch. Today, many people who are visually impaired make use of the Braille alphabet to continue their studies, communicate, and interact with the world, overcoming their impairments. �As stationery prices kept increasing over the past two years, more..

Jan 28 (EN) Nearly 28 varieties of cancer medicines that are already imported are waiting to be distributed due to a delay in related documents from the Finance Ministry, according to Medical Supplies Division (MSD) Deputy Director General Dr. G. Wijesuriya. �There is a shortage of cancer medicines to a certain extent. As of now, 28 varieties of cancer medicines have been imported and are waiting to be accepted by the MSD,� he said. �However, due to a delay in related documents, more..

Jan 28 (TM) CEB is currently paying millions of rupees per month as the capacity charge for the 100 MW of emergency power purchased last year. It is learnt that the emergency power plants only generate an average of 6.29 GWh per month. However, CEB is paying a total of Rs. 206 million as a capacity charge per month on average for the procured power plants. In response to immediate electricity supply gaps, CEB had obtained more..

Jan 28 (EN) Minister of Tourism Harin Fernando has met the heads of the armed forces and the police to discuss tourism projects. The forces will contribute to adding many new experiences to the tourism business. These include the police ensuring the safety of tourists, the air force increasing domestic flights within the island, developing marine tourism with the participation of the navy, and initiating a life-saving programme with the participation of the army. SL is eagerly focused on promoting tourism, more..

Jan 28 (SO) Several farmer organisations including Haritha Derana SME Foundation, private agro companies are once again making a strong plea to the Govt to lift the palm oil plantation ban which will result in reactivation of the plantation sector and help to save billions of rupees spent on palm oil imports. At present, SL consumes 220,000 metric tons of palm oil. Only 12% is produced locally. In 2023, the import bill associated with palm oil was approx US$ 300 m that we could substitute. more..

Jan 28 (TM) Prisons Dept is yet to calculate the costs for the new prisons to be constructed in the Western and Southern Provinces to solve the current space issues in already-established prison complexes. Prisons Dept Media Spokesman G. Dissanayaka said that discussions were currently underway to open two new prisons. The number of prisoners has doubled during the past two years, from nearly 16,000 in 2021 more..

Jan 28 (DM) In the wake of two fatal accidents including the pre-dawn crash that claimed the life of State Minister Sanath Nishantha, the Road Development Authority (RDA) is planning to expedite illumination of the expressway by laying aluminum transmission cables in place of Rs.250 million worth copper current cables stolen during the pandemic. Darkness is now identified as one of the reasons that can cause accidents on the expressway after nightfall. Asked for a comment on situation, more..

Jan 28 (ANI) Indian High Commissioner to SL, Santosh Jha, attended an event of Indian Oil's subsidiary in SL, Lanka IOC, on Saturday to extend the Group term assurance plan through LIC Lanka. He lauded LIOC's contribution to the economy and its service to society through various CSR activities. Lanka IOC is the only private oil company that operates retail petrol and diesel stations in SL. On Dec 22, 2023, Indian envoy to SL, Santosh Jha, presented credentials to Prez Ranil more..

Jan 28 (CT) SL Atomic Energy Board (SLAEB) currently restricts radiation testing to imported milk powder and does not extend radioactive testing to other items such as fish, mainly due to the absence of regulations governing the testing of imported food items. Last tests on imported items were conducted during the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, due to a tsunami in 2011. When questioned, Prof. S.R.D. Rosa said proposal has been submitted to Atomic Energy Regulatory Council (AERC) more..

Jan 28 (CT) Director � Tertiary Care Services Ministry of Health, Dr. Anver Hamdani resigned from his post in the SL Medical Council (SLMC) when it met on Friday. Dr. Hamdani had handed his resignation during the Councils� monthly meeting. They noted there had been several questions raised regarding the SLMC�s reliability and the legality of its decisions during the past few months, owing to the manner in which former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella had appointed SLMC more..

Jan 28 (TM) National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has raised concerns over the Health Ministry�s recent decision to allow State hospitals to purchase medications that are in short supply, claiming that there is no monitoring of those purchases by the authority. NMRA Chairman Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama emphasised that such unregulated purchases bypassed NMRA oversight, potentially compromising public health. more..

Jan 28 (AD) A SL multi-day fishing trawler, with 6 crew members aboard, has reportedly been abducted by Somali pirates, Dept of Fisheries confirmed. The fishing trawler, along with several SL fishermen, had been kidnapped by the pirates in the Arabian Sea. The Lorenzo Putha - 4 multi-day fishing trawler had set sail from Dikowita fishing harbor in Chilaw on Jan 12. The abduction has happened approximately 1,160 nautical miles away from the SL maritime boundary. more..

Jan 28 (DM) A body which was being cremated had been taken out and referred to JMO Wathupitiwala Hospital for postmortem examination. The deceased woman, Sirisoma Ranasinghe (81) of Veyangoda area was an inmate of a home for the aged in Mirigama. The doctors had declared that she had died of pneumonia and accordingly taken steps to cremate the body. Police said she had taken ill and admitted to Mirigama Base Hospital and died of pneumonia as decided by the doctors. more..

Jan 28 (TM) Contrary to speculation, the Urban Development Authority (UDA) has not taken over the Krrish Square Project, with the lease between the UDA and the investor still in force, according to the UDA. UDA Deputy Director General (Real Estate and Land Management) E.A.C. Piyashantha revealed that the UDA had not taken any steps to expropriate the land leased out for the Krrish Project as reported and that the lease between the UDA and investors remained in force. more..

Jan 28 (SO) President�s Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor Sagala Ratnayaka has been entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing and ensuring the proper implementation of the financial reform process in Sri Lanka. This decision was reached through mutual consensus during the meeting between SL officials and the visiting IMF delegation. The IMF delegation, led by Senior Mission Chief Peter Breuer, has conveyed its satisfaction with Sri Lanka�s ongoing reform process. more..

Jan 28 (SO) SL is aiming to negotiate a debt restructuring deal with holders of its defaulted US Dollar bonds within �a couple of months�, CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said. Governor Dr. Weerasinghe told the Financial Times of London (FT), �We need to reach an agreement within a couple of months� on restructuring the US$ 13 billion of International Sovereign Bonds (ISB) debt as he dismissed concerns that more..

Jan 28 (TM) Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) is on track to complete its electricity tariff revision review process by mid-February, with plans to unveil the new tariffs by the end of the month. It is learnt that the anticipated changes come as a response to favourable hydro storage as well as profits earned by the CEB for the year ending 31 Dec 2023. As part of the process, a public consultation on the proposed tariff revision is scheduled for 15 Feb, providing stakeholders more..