Jun 7 (TM) In a groundbreaking development, the Sherisha Technologies and Supreme Global Consortium has fortified its bid to acquire Sri Lankan Airlines with the inclusion of several high-profile strategic partners. This move comes as the consortium provides clarifications to the State-owned Enterprises Restructuring Unit (SOERU) and notifies the SL Govt of this significant advancement. Leading the charge in this ambitious endeavour is Terminal Holdings LLC from Abu Dhabi. more..

Jun 7 (FT) India�s Adani issued a statement setting the record straight over multiple concerns raised by various stakeholders regarding its wind power project in SL. Yesterday the Daily FT published a report revealing Transparency International SL (TISL) seeking transparency and filing 11 RIT applications. In its statement Adani said the proposed wind power project in SL has adhered to all requisite due processes and regulatory standards, ensuring that it meets more..

Jun 7 (CT) The intensifying Southwest monsoon has brought incessant rain, affecting 63,413 families totalling 239,006 individuals across 13 districts. Tragically, the extreme weather conditions have resulted in the loss of 30 lives by yesterday evening. The highest number of families (15,418), comprising 56,281 members and 14,654 families, comprising 56,047 members had been reported from Colombo & Ratnapura Districts. more..

Jun 7 (TM) In their latest annual report, Jetwing Symphony Chairperson Hiran Cooray expressed dismay over the unforeseen introduction of visa processing by a foreign private entity, labeling it as a potential impediment to the industry's progress. "As we were flying smoothly towards our cruising altitude, we were recently met with clear-air turbulence," stated Cooray, referencing a quote from a recent board meeting. He further emphasised the potential adverse effects of this decision, more..

Jun 7 (FT) State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya yesterday revealed that 44,430 vehicles have been released to the market despite the import restrictions in place. �This includes 38,144 motorcycles and 6,286 cars,� he said during a discussion held at the Finance Ministry with a group of local vehicle assembly representatives. He pointed out that despite the restrictions on vehicle imports, the assembly and sale of vehicle parts have continued unabated. more..

Jun 7 (FT) SL Human Capital Summit 2024, scheduled for 18 July at the ITC Ratnadipa Hotel is expected to bring together a host of experts from the region. Former Australian PM Scott Morrison will be among a host of high profile speakers who will address the Summit. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe will inaugurate the summit and speak on SL as a Talent Capital. Morrison will deliver a talk on Human Capital Development as a key driver for inclusive and sustainable development: The Australian. more..

Jun 7 (FT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday inaugurated his new political office in Colombo at an auspicious moment. The office, located on Sir Ernest de Silva Mawatha, will serve as the centre for future political operations. The ceremony included religious rites and blessings performed by prominent religious leaders, including the Chief Sanghanayake of the Western Province, Venerable Dr. Murutthettuwe Ananda Nayaka Thero, the Chancellor of the University of Colombo, more..

Jun 7 (FT) Following multiple delays caused by repeated absences of key officials from the Public Security Ministry and Dept of Immigration and Emigration, CoPF Chairman and MP Dr. Harsha de Silva announced that the officials finally attended the meeting held on Tuesday (4) at the Parliament premises. The meeting, which addressed the ongoing issues related to the visa issuance process managed by VFS Global, concluded with more..

Jun 7 (CT) CEB Engineers� Union (CEBEU) has expressed great dismay over the decision made by Minister Kanchana Wijesekara, to proceed with the Second Reading of the SL Electricity Bill. Controversial Bill was debated in Parliament yesterday and passed on the same day, with amendments. Union claimed there are numerous errors, contradictions, confusion and vagueness within the Bill, as well as several detrimental policies that were present in the original copy. more..

Jun 7 (FT) State Minister Premitha Bandara Tennakoon and SJB MP S.M. Marikkar engaged in a contentious debate yesterday concerning the provision of compensation to those affected by recent floods. MP S.M. Marikkar urged the Govt to deploy Grama Seva Officers and DMC officials to conduct damage assessments instead of utilising university students for this purpose. In his response, Minister indicated that the calculation of damage estimates would require several weeks. more..

Jun 7 (TM) In response to the concerning decline in birth rates of the country, Family Health Bureau (FHB) stated that it has a limited space to intervene in the matter since it is a natural occurrence in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the current economic crisis. FHB Director Dr. Chitramalee de Silva, emphasised that while the decrease in birth rates is indeed a social issue, it is not an abnormal situation and more..

June 7 (DM) The prevailing rainy conditions in the south-western part of SL are expected to intensify over the next few days, beginning tomorrow, June 8. According to the latest weather report, showers are expected at various times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern Provinces, as well as in the Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts. Certain areas in the Western & Sabaragamuwa Provinces, along with the Nuwara Eliya, Galle and Matara districts may experience fairly heavy showers more..

June 7 (AD) Locomotive Operating Engineers� Union of SL Railways says that the strike action launched from midnight yesterday will continue further. Trade union action is being carried out over delays in second-class promotions of locomotive drivers and several other issues, according to the Locomotive Operating Engineers� Union. However, only locomotive drivers from two out of the 5 running sheds have joined the strike. As a result, the power set trains will not be in operation, more..

Jun 7 (FT) The age-old adage Once Bitten, Twice Shy is a well-known and frequently used phrase of admonition that many Sri Lankans, especially those from the middle and upper strata of society, have grown up hearing during their school years. This often-repeated saying typically forms the lower rungs of a disciplinary ladder that, for many of us, ended with corporal punishment in the principal�s or headmaster�s office, depending on the title of the chief admin officer at our respective schools. more..

Jun 7 (FT) Several people on social media now comment negatively about how the current President handled the 2022 political and economic crisis. None of them can deny that we were in a dire economic and political crisis, and we desperately looked to the world for relief to meet even our basic needs. Without India�s and others help, Sri Lanka would have certainly become another Lebanon. Several countries around the world are still struggling to come out of their crisis. more..

June 7 (DM) In the wake of the announcement of the judgement, the family of victim Yvonne Jonsson, said this ruling is not only a victory for our family but also for all who believe in the rule of law. Her sister Caroline Jonsson who issued the statement on behalf of the family said it is also a significant step for all female victims in SL, affirming that their lives and dignity cannot be compromised by arbitrary decisions. more..

June 7 (DM) Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Dr. Harsha de Silva today alleged that there is a sinister move to remove him from his post. �I have been told that signatures are being collected from COPF members to remove me from the chairmanship. I am willing to resign if I am not wanted,� he said. �I had to face challenges when carrying out my duties as the Chairman of COPFF. I was to be removed following the stand which COPF held on the VAT� he added. more..

June 7 (CI) It is still hard to understand why this is a rivalry but given the nature of this game in the T20 World Cup, there will certainly be plenty riding on it. With three Full Members in Group D alongside Netherlands and Nepal, the winner on Friday might just be better placed to make the Super Eights. From sledging and baiting on the field, to mocking each other during trophy celebrations, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have done everything possible to create an edge to this contest. more..

June 7 (DM) The issue pertaining to obtaining the services of VFS Global for the process of granting SL visas to foreigners has taken a new turn with Minister Harin Fernando and MP Harsha de Silva complaining that some MPs have told them not to oppose the project and not to probe the scam. �An MP has said that I have become silent on the VFS Global issue after accepting a bribe. This is not true. I have not become silent. I am opposing more..

June 7 (AD) A total of 5,587 houses have been damaged due to the prevailing adverse weather conditions in parts of the island. Among them, 56 houses have suffered serious damages while 5,531 houses have been partially damaged. Meanwhile, the number of fatalities reported due to the prevailing weather conditions has also increased to 32, while 01 person is still reported missing. The number of individuals who sustained injuries during the inclement weather is 16, more..

June 7 (EN) Vietnam ambassador to SL Thi Thanh Truc paid a farewell call on PM Dinesh Gunawardena at Temple Trees on Thursday. PM thanked her for the contribution made to strengthen bilateral relations during her tenure and wished her well in her future endeavours. SL and Vietnam have the potential for closer engagement, Truc has said earlier. Co-operation between the two countries have grown steadily over the years in bilateral trade, investment, high level visits and more..

Jun 7 (AD) Director of National Dengue Control Unit Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, emphasized that dengue disease extends beyond mere health implications, presenting significant economic and social challenges. He underscored that the Ministry of Health alone cannot effectively control the spread of dengue and requires full public support. Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, disclosed that within the last five months of this year, over 25,000 dengue cases & 9 dengue-related deaths have been reported. more..

Jun 7 (TM) During a telephone conversation, Indian PM Narendra Modi invited President Ranil Wickremesinghe to his swearing-in due to be held this weekend, which the latter has accepted, the Presidential Media Division said in a statement. Modi and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won the highest number of seats in the recent Lok Sabha Election. President Ranil Wickremesinghe also congratulated Modi on NDA�s victory and re-Election for the third term. more..

Jun 7 (DM) Supreme Court today ordered former Prez Maithripala Sirisena to pay Rs. 1 million to the petitioner in the Fundamental Rights petition filed challenging former Prez Sirisena's decision to grant a Prez pardon to Royal Park murder convict Shamantha Jude Anthony Jayamaha. The Court held that the petitioner, Women & Media Collective organization should hold such money in trust and spend it for more..

Jun 7 (DM) SL Association for the Advancement of Quality and Productivity (SLAAQP) recently announced the upcoming National Convention on Quality and Productivity (NCQP) 2024, which will take place on June 25, at the Mount Lavinia Hotel, under the theme "A Quest for Quality, Productivity, and Innovation." As the leading organization dedicated to the advancement of quality and productivity concepts in Sri Lanka, SLAAQP has consistently played a pivotal role in more..

Jun 7 (DM) Following the Supreme Court's ruling declaring former Prez Maithripala Sirisena's pardon of Jude Anthony Jayamaha as arbitrary and invalid, SL authorities have intensified efforts to bring the convicted murderer back to the country, suspected to be in Singapore. However, SL�s efforts are likely to hit a snag in this regard because no extradition treaty has been signed yet with Singapore. Such an agreement can be signed only with the concurrence of the two countries. more..

Jun 7 (FT) Continuity of reforms is key to SL to break away from IMF support cycles and getting back to standing on its own two feet, World Bank SL Lead Economist Dr. Gregory Smith opined last week. Speaking to a group of foreign and local investors at the CT CLSA South Asia Forum, Smith said as of now SL is a partial reformer with a slew of recent initiatives undertaken (around 40 new key legislations passed and 60 more pending) more..

Jun 7 (FT) Nawaloka Hospitals Group announced it has posted a profit after tax of Rs. 347.8 million for the FY24 reflecting a 114.26% increase from the previous year. The result reaffirms its resilience and commitment to operational excellence. �The positive swing in profitability is a testament to the company�s steadfast dedication to enhancing efficiency and patient care,� company added. Revenue for the year increased to Rs. 10,648 million, representing a 14.43% year-over-year growth, more..

Jun 7 (CT) Targeting cities with a population of over one million, the Health Ministry, in partnership with the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), initiated the project for Healthy Canteens in Colombo Municipality Area, Additional Secretary, Dr Lakshmi Somatunga said. Dr. Somatunga noted that the main criteria was for the city to have a population of at least a million during day time, inclusive of those who came into the city for work, business and education purposes. more..

Jun 7 (CT) The Konichchankulama Tank, in Kakupadiyawa Village in Anamaduwa, was rehabilitated and ceremoniously opened recently in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Bank, with the contribution of the NSB Pensioners� Society and under the direct supervision of the Department of Agrarian Development. With the restoration of the tank, approximately 100 families became direct beneficiaries and more than 2,000 villagers living in the area can fulfil their daily water and more..

Jun 7 (EN) Ceylon Chamber of Commerce considers the new Electricity Bill a step towards modernizing the country�s electricity sector and fostering a more competitive market environment, a statement by the trade body said. �This move is expected to enhance efficiency, promote competition, and attract much-needed investment into the electricity sector, ultimately benefiting consumers with improved services and more competitive pricing.� While the overall reception of the bill is overwhelmingly more..

Jun 7 (DM) Catholic Bishops' Conference of SL (CBCSL) announced that Catholic Church in SL had no involvement in the extension of the Attorney General's term. CBCSL issued the following statement: Our attention has been drawn to news articles published in several newspapers and other social and electronic media during the first week of June 2024 regarding a purported statement by Prez concerning more..

Jun 7 (CT) MP Wasantha Yapa Bandara claimed that Opposition parties have found a way to rescue Sri Lankans, currently held hostage by armed groups in Myanmar. He said this during parliamentary sittings, claiming that the Opposition parties had made progress towards finding a solution for rescuing Sri Lankans held captive by rebel factions in Myanmar. He urged the Speaker of Parliament to relay this development to the govt. Bandara explained that after extensive more..

Jun 7 (EN) Lankem Ceylon said it is building a fertilizer plant in Oyamaduwa in Anuradhapura at an estimated cost of 2.5 billion rupees. �The primary objective of this operation is to cater to the agricultural requirement of the non-perennial crops,� the company said in a stock exchange filing. A new company, Lankem Minerals Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Lankem Ceylon, has been set up to carry out the project. The sales and distribution of the fertilizer will be carried out by Lankem more..

Jun 7 (DM) Admitting the fact that the SL cricket team touring the USA for the T20 World Cup has faced inconveniences, Sports Minister Harin Fernando said Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has already lodged a complaint with the ICC over the matter. Responding to a question by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, he said the ICC has treated Cricket Boards in various countries differently. "Not only had SL team wait for about 7 hours to take a flight as reported, more..