Jul 17 (DM) Former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa says that the SLPP will fully support President Ranil Wickremesinghe if he decides to align with their party at the upcoming presidential election. He made these comments in response to questions from journalists today (17). When asked about the party�s candidate for the election, Rajapaksa said, �Now we have the program to win the election. The good news is that we will win. When the candidate is named, you will know how powerful he is.� more..

Jul 18 (TM) Exactly two years passed yesterday (13) since Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country and resigned from office while overseas amid popular unrest. Next Sunday (21) will mark two years since UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was elected as Prez by Parliament for the remainder of Rajapaksa�s term, assumed office. Trend of political events that we have seen in these two years clearly shows that the political class quickly reverted to its old ways without learning any lesson from more..

Jul 18 (Island) The question mark that hangs over the prez election due in October this year is not going away. The answer to it keeps getting put off. The latest is the govt�s proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate ambiguity in the term of the president from six to five years. Supreme Court has thrice affirmed the legitimacy of the 19th Amendment, which reduced the term of the presidency. Academic scholars such as Nihal Jayawickrama have asked why 9 yrs later, more..

Jul 18 (TM) Sri Lanka�s mineral industry has the potential to generate more foreign revenue and to improve its recognition as a minerals exporter. However, the industry is still recovering from the impacts of the economic downturn experienced during the past few years. In addition, there are legal, policy, procedural, and practical obstacles that need to be addressed without delay in order for industry�s growth. more..

Jul 18 (ST) When, some weeks ago, a headline for one of my columns started with the words Games they play�, no reference was intended to SL�s cricket on and off the field. Though there is much to be said about our cricket, particularly when its administrators begin to show their political muscles, had our talent scouts looked farther afield, they would have discovered many more players adapting their own approach to the game that never came out from any coaching book. more..

Jul 18 (DM) Sri Lanka awaits an announcement from the Election Commission on the date of the Presidential Election. Right now, however, there are humanitarian issues that every citizen needs to be concerned about and address. One of these key issues is human trafficking to which Sri Lanka gives little attention. We need a ministry or a state ministry to look into issues connected with the crime of human trafficking. Later this month, the UN marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. more..

Jul 18 (CT) As the Govt disclosed SL�s ongoing dialogue with the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (UNCLCS) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) regarding the exploration of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts, which India also claims, Dr. Ravindranath Dabare, President of the Environmental Lawyers� Association of SL, stated that, after India lodged its objections to SL�s submission of claiming the extended more..

Jul 18 (CT) On Monday (15), Ceylon Today reported recent findings by the National Audit Office (NAO) that cast a troubling light on the Department of Probation and Child Care Services, highlighting severe deficiencies that cannot be overlooked. From 2019 to 2023, the department failed to comply with its mandate under Section 10C of the Adoption of Children Ordinance No. 24 of 1941 (Amendment No. 15 of 1992) to monitor the well-being of 32 children adopted by foreign couples. more..

Jul 18 (FT) �Sri Lanka faces significant vulnerability to climate change, impacting crucial sectors like agriculture, tourism, and industry,� he writes, as if the proposed Adani project in Mannar is going to make the country less vulnerable to climate change. It will do no such thing. He is confusing climate resilience with climate-change mitigation: they are not the same thing, and the public should not be fooled. As �an engineer specialising in renewable energy engineering�, he ought to know better. more..

Jul 18 (ST) Havelocks Sports Club launched a fully-pledged rugby academy in partnership with FlyHiSports, an Australian based business entity, to develop the sport in SL. The launch took place last week at the Havelock Sports Club premises. Named FlyHiSports Rugby Academy, SL�s first internationally collaborated rugby academy will provide opportunities for the youth to develop their potential through sport. The participants at the academy will learn technical, strategic & tactical aspects more..

Jul 18 (ST) Foreign donor aid is gaining momentum for SL on the verge of its sovereign bond restructuring, top officials said. They noted that, now multilateral agencies are returning and are resuming infrastructure projects. News of the OPEC Fund for Development providing US$100 million, in financing for irrigation and water security in SL is a positive development for the country. This funding will support a project linked to the Mahaweli River, which is crucial for agriculture & water management more..

Jul 18 (ST) The National Library and the Documentation Services Board (NLDSB) where a fire was reported this week escaped serious damage to its valuable collections. But, Upali Amarasiri, former chairman and director general of the NLDSB, asserts that the long-delayed refurbishment may endanger the library in a number of ways. These concerns arose in the wake of the fire on Wednesday, while staff were in the building. more..

Jul 18 (Island) Astrology and politics are conjoined twins in most Asian countries. SL is no exception, and its politicians would give their eyeteeth for consultations with famous astrologers either here or overseas. It has now been revealed that star divination also influences the process of conducting elections in this country. Chairman of the Election Commission (EC) R.M.A.L. Rathnayake assured that the EC would call the next prez election before the end of this month. more..

Jul 18 (DN) The top two teams in the LPL, Galle Marvels and Jaffna Kings, will battle it out in Qualifier 1 today at R. Premadasa Stadium, starting at 3 PM. Both teams have strong all-rounders. Galle Marvels, captained by Niroshan Dickwella, are looking to challenge Jaffna Kings, led by Charith Asalanka. Both sides are expected to rely heavily on their spinners to exploit the pitch conditions. After the league stage, both teams finished with 10 points from five victories each. more..

Jul 18 (DM) The youth of today want freedom and that too in loads. The generations before them were happy with freedom in small doses, but they wanted govt welfare more than anything else. Present day youth would feel insulted if someone has to take care of their welfare. This is, of course, a thought they�ll be forced to revalue if their earnings, after completing their higher education, wouldn�t suffice to pay bills. Generally, youth on this island are so enterprising. more..

Jul 18 (Island) Dambulla Sixers were eliminated from the Lanka Premier League in the most dramatic fashion as Kandy Falcons edged them over by the barest of margins to qualify for the playoffs. Dambulla won their last league game against Colombo Strikers big by recording a 28-run win but that wasn�t a big enough victory to go through to the knockout stage of the competition. After the league stage, both Kandy and Dambulla were tied on points with six points each and Kandy went more..

Jul 18 (TM) Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) has recommended not to implement the recent revision of tariff rates for new rooftop solar and renewable energy projects until they gather and analyse the relevant data. In a letter addressed to Secretary to Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardana, PUCSL's Director General Damitha Kumarasinghe said that CEB, had requested the PUCSL's approval for more..

Jul 18 (TM) Police stated that while red notices have already been issued for the arrest of suspected organised crime mastermind Najim Mohamed Imran alias Kanjipani Imran, the emphasis is on the cooperation of the country where he is currently residing in as such is crucial to facilitate his extradition. The recent shooting in Athurugiriya, which resulted in the deaths of two individuals, including businessman Wasantha Perera, also known as Club Wasantha, is suspected to more..

Jul 18 (FT) Eight quality improvement projects implemented at CEAT Kelani Holdings have won Gold awards for being SL�s leading tyre manufacturer at the National Convention on Quality and Productivity (NCQP) 2024, organised by the SL Association for the Advancement of Quality and Productivity (SLAAQP). Noteworthy about this achievement was that every Quality improvement project presented by CEAT Kelani at the convention received a Gold award, and more..

Jul 18 (FT) SJB charged that despite Govt claims the worst of the economic crisis is over and external debt restructuring measures have made significant progress, no such good news seems to have come. SJB MP, Dr. Harsha De Silva, said despite claims that bilateral restructuring deals have been reached, no such agreement has been tabled before Parliament. If debt restructuring deals are further delayed this could impact IMF more..

Jul 18 (DN) Sri Lanka took home a haul of 9 medals at the 7th Western Asian Youth Chess Championships including 3 gold medals as the tournament drew to a conclusion at the Citrus Hotel Waskaduwa, recently. Three gold medalists for SL came in J Vaneesha Gomes (U10 Girls) who scored 8 out of a possible 9 points to dominate her age category, AP Chenitha Karunasena (U10 Open) who scored 7.5/9 points and Sethumlee Palliyage (U12 Girls) who scored 7/9 points. more..

Jul 18 (FT) Hirdaramani Group, a leader in apparel manufacturing and sustainability, yesterday announced its latest milestone in advancing sustainable apparel production with a significant Rs. 10 billion investment in a cutting-edge new textile mill, Mihila Tex in Pannala. This state-of-the-art facility will play a pivotal role in reshaping the future of the apparel industry and bolstering Sri Lanka�s position as a sustainable manufacturing hub. The Group will collaborate with Chinese owned more..

Jul 18 (FT) One of Adani Power�s renewable energy projects � 234 MW in Pooneryn � has likely to have hit a fresh legal hurdle after the Court of Appeal last week issued notices to several Ministries and others in a case filed by a private firm that had planned a 50MW wind power plant prior to the Indian giant�s proposed project on the same site in Pooneryn. The latest development follows the Court of Appeal�s consideration of an application preferred by the Petitioners, inter alia H.J.A.W. International more..

Jul 18 (TM) Election Commission (EC) stated that all appointments made by certain Provincial Governors during this period of the indefinite postponement of the LG elections have been suspended. This move followed complaints from Opposition parties and election monitors, who accused Southern Province Governor Lakshaman Yapa Abeywardana and Central Province Governor Lalith U. Gamage of violating election lawitha of Northern Province came to the highlight when she set up a new meet record in the women�s pole vault event yesterday at the National Sports Festival�s Athletics Meet commenced at Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday. Dhaksitha, an undergraduate from Jaffna Uni last month set up a new National record with 3.72m performance this time not at her best, but had a leap of 3.51m to create a new National Sports Festival meet record. more..

Jul 18 (EN) SL�s non-financial public sector enter which lost 910 billion rupees in 2022, as macro-economists printed money to boost growth and bungled a float with a surrender rule has made profits of 282 billion rupees in 2023. In 2022 the same state owned enterprises made 910 billion rupees of losses. A major turnaround was seen in CPC which lost 617 billion rupees in 2022 as the currency collapsed and the country was hit by more..

Jul 18 (FT) SJB has denied allegations that their leader Sajith Premadasa refused the Premiership when it was offered by former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa. de Silva disclosed that on the evening of 10 May 2022, four SJB members met with Rajapaksa to discuss the transition of power. �Four MPs � I, Eran Wickramaratne, Kabir Hashim, and Ranjith Madduma Bandara � met with Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and the discussion lasted until 10:20 p.m.,� de Silva said at the briefing more..

Jul 18 (TM) Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) has filed a writ of mandamus application in the Court of Appeal (CA), seeking the provision and facilitation of a voting process for prison inmates (convicts and suspects in remand custody) in order for the latter group to exercise their sovereign franchise and universal suffrage. The petition notes the absence of a proper voting mechanism within the prison system. The respondents named in the petition filed more..

Jul 18 (Island) Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) welcomed the recent decision by the PUCSL to implement a 25.3% reduction in industrial electricity tariffs, parallel to a 27% reduction for domestic customers and a 22.5% overall reduction effective from July 16, 2024. A press release said: �In addition to easing the burden on retail customers, JAAF commended the PUCSL decision for providing much-needed relief to SL�s apparel and export industries, enhancing competitiveness more..

Jul 18 (TM) Electricity Consumers' Association (ECA) claimed that the CEB continues to fail to implement the conditions imposed by the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL). ECA General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika said that the PUCSL imposed seven conditions on the CEB when the electricity tariff revision was being approved on Monday. Although such conditions were imposed even when previous tariff revisions were being made, he charged that the CEB did not fulfill more..

Jul 18 (DM) As Sri Lanka awaits the removal from restrictive default, a status discouraging the potential investors, experts are optimistic about the nation�s ability to move beyond this ranking. The country has implemented crucial and painful measures to restructure its debt. It is now awaiting the final approval from the IMF to confirm the negotiated terms with the creditors. Once this approval is received, SL will gain more..

Jul 18 (DM) Four women including the mother were arrested today in Aranayake following a video circulated on social media, which showed a six year-old child being beaten by some women. Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said the four women were arrested at Ehelagasthenna in Aranayake. He said the incident had occurred on July 12 noon and the video had been released on social media today. Aranayake police acted swiftly on the video and arrested four women. more..

Jul 18 (Island) Election monitors threatened to take state officials, who are mandated to act according to election laws, to court if they continued to ignore blatant election-related violations. Executive Director of the PAFFREL Rohana Hettiarachchi said that politicians would not be able to violate election laws without the support of state officials.�We have to put an end to this. We have to move courts. The Governors of the Uva, Northern, Wayamba, Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provinces more..

Jul 18 (TM) Election Commission (EC) stated that all appointments made by certain Provincial Governors during this period of the indefinite postponement of the LG elections have been suspended. This move followed complaints from Opposition parties and election monitors, who accused Southern Province Governor Lakshaman Yapa Abeywardana and Central Province Governor Lalith U. Gamage of violating election laws by more..

Jul 18 (FT) Early in his presidency or rather, the balance of Gotabaya Rajapaksa�s presidential term, to complete which he was selected by the Rajapaksas and elected by the vote of the discredited ruling SLPP, Ranil Wickremesinghe chaired a conference at the Presidential Secretariat. He said �we can talk about holding elections after fulfilling the agreement with the IMF, completing the debt restructuring efforts and placing the economy firmly on a high-growth path�. more..

Jul 18 (FT) Doing things differently and doing different things are two primary mechanisms we must embrace to come out of this economic mess that we are in. Well, the answer to why change is because repeating the past that led us to this present predicament is not at all a sound idea. I am not yet sure that we have understood this. Even with our backs against all the walls in and around us we still plan, and discuss doing more of the same that we were doing before. more..