Mar 7 (DM) 13 chefs who were selected and taken from SL to prepare food for the wedding ceremony of Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Indian billionaire businessman Ambani, returned to SL this morning through BIA. These chefs were selected based on customer feedback, Google reviews and recommendations. These 13 chefs have prepared and served SL food in the latest ways in their restaurants. These chefs were given the opportunity to prepare lunch for the invitees more..

Mar 7 (CT) Despite being assigned the primary responsibility for its formulation, Ministry of Transport has failed in finalising the National Transport Policy, which was approved over three decades ago. The policy was initially approved in November 1991 and revised in Oct 2009. Various entities, including the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), Sri Lanka Railways (SLR), Dept of Motor Traffic, National Transport Medical Institute and Ceylon � German Technical Training Institute more..

Mar 7 (TM) Introducing and promoting sex education is crucial not only to protect children from the unpleasant consequences of sexual abuse and in some cases sexual relationships, but also to empower adults, especially parents, to deal with children in a constructive manner when it comes to matters of sex and reproduction. Noting this, a group of children�s health and wellbeing experts, yesterday, explained to the media why more..

Mar 7 (AD) Three railway employees, who were suspended from service for allegedly assaulting two foreign nationals, have been reinstated pending disciplinary action. A contentious situation had ensued at the Nawalapitiya railway station on Tuesday (5) after two foreigners were found to have been travelling in the first-class compartment of the Badulla-bound Podi Menike express train without tickets. Subsequently, Railway Department suspended services of two Station Masters more..

Mar 7 (CT) The crimes unit of the Gandara Police launched a probe into a complaint of theft of brass locks and hinges from the house of the late Finance Minister Ronnie de Mel in Devinuwara on the night of 5 March. The late Finance Minister of the J.R. Jayawardene Govt died on 27 February and his funeral took place at the Uni of Ruhuna playground on 1 March. However, a complaint was lodged with the Gandara Police that an office at the late minister�s house in Devinuwara had been more..

Mar 7 (EN) Sri Lanka�s govt is considering nuclear power as an option and has secured Cabinet approval, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said. �We are in the process of calling EOIs, so we are evaluating certain things,� Wijesekara said. He said that in order to develop nuclear power, a legal framework must be put in place as well as plans on dealing with an emergency. �We have got the cabinet approval to call for EOIs from suitable investors to establish a nuclear power plant more..

Mar 7 (TM) Executive Committee of the Health Trade Unions� Alliance (HTUA) is to meet today (7) to decide its future course of action regarding their demands including an increase in allowances. HTUA Co-Convenor Chanaka Dharmawickrama said that the meeting is to be held to take decisions on their future union actions due to the possible delay of the receipt of solutions to their demands, including the allowance increase. Dharmawickrama also noted that Cabinet of Ministers is yet to approve more..

Mar 7 (DM) Basil Rajapaksa who spearheads the SLPP, along with former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa will meet Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe this evening to discuss the future political arrangements between the two sides ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections. Basil Rajapaksa, who was in the US, arrived in the country on Tuesday. The meeting takes place at a time when electoral alliances are being more..

Mar 7 (AD) A fundamental rights (FR) petition has been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the SL-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (SLTFTA). The petitioners have requested the SC to deliver an order preventing the implementation of the trade deal. A total of 27 individuals including the Attorney General (on behalf of the Prez), PM, Cabinet Ministers, Secretary to the Finance Ministry and Secretary to the Trade Ministry have been named as respondents of this petition. more..

Mar 7 (DM) SL�s Posts Department said it is hoping to record a revenue of Rs.21 billion for 2024 and operate as a self-sustaining institution that is independent of Treasury funds. Elaborating on the department�s new outlook as a business service provider from a public service provider, Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara said that the department has initiated strategic collaborations with the private sector, in order to bridge the revenue gap and reach breakeven. more..

Mar 7 (FT) Tensions ran high in Parliament yesterday as lawmakers engaged in a heated debate over the Central Bank's autonomy and recent salary hikes. PM Dinesh Gunawardena revealed that the gross salary of the lowest-ranking employee at the CB, an Office Assistant - Grade 1, has spiked by 29.53% to reach Rs. 188,827. PM disclosed in Parliament that the gross salary of the Deputy Governor has also witnessed a substantial more..

Mar 7 (DM) The SL Postal Department is offering citizens the chance to design postal stamps featuring their own photographs or events, with a creation cost of Rs.2000, said Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara. Addressing an event organized in Colombo to unveil a stamp for Hatton National Bank (HNB), he announced that individuals can now acquire a sheet of stamps with 20 stamps tailored for special occasions like weddings, gatherings, and parties or their own photographs. more..

Mar 7 (AD) Two Sri Lankans are among the 21 crew members rescued by the Indian warship INS Kolkata from the cargo ship True Confidence which was attacked by a missile by Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden, according to the SL Navy. The navy spokesman further confirmed that one of the rescued SL nationals had sustained injuries in the attack. India�s navy evacuated all 20 crew from a stricken vessel in the Red Sea on March 7, after a Houthi attack killed three seafarers in the first more..

Mar 8 (DM) The world celebrates Int'l Women�s Day, today. March 8 is a day set apart to recognise the cultural, political, social and economic achievements made by women. It also serves as an opportunity to inspire efforts to end gender biases and discrimination, and achieve gender equality. Int'l Women�s Day is linked to the women�s movements during the Russian Revolution. On March 8, 1917, thousands of women in Russia heralded the start of the Russian revolution by going on strike more..

Mar 8 (GV) �Sustainable peace and reconciliation will not be achieved in SL with regressive laws and authoritarian approaches, which will only serve to perpetuate the human rights concerns of the past,� said Volker T�rk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on March 1, 2024. He was updating the UNHRC on the regime�s failure, yet again, to bring an end to abuses and address past violations. �It is only through addressing the root causes of the country�s conflict and economic crisis, more..

Mar 8 (CT) The economic crisis in the country rages on, despite the Govt�s claims that the country is on the road to recovery. The increase in VAT has hit small and medium-sized enterprises hard. The vendors at Asian Market, opposite the Fort Railway Station, too are facing untold hardships in their daily business operations. Ceylon Today spoke to a section of randomly selected shopkeepers engaging in various medium and more..

Mar 8 (CT) National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) recently organised a conference on electoral reforms. Alongside the popular political party leaders, numerous religious leaders also participated. One of the religious leaders spoke during the discussion, stating: �All these issues in SL have stemmed from the electoral system. If we truly aim to develop the nation, this system has to be changed immediately. Recently, we faced a significant environmental crisis. more..

Mar 8 (TM) Inching closer to economic reforms through austerity measures, and enacting long felt reforms in transparency and accountability, is part of SL�s journey back to a functional nation which can move forward under its own steam. While multinational agencies like the IMF and diplomats of key partnering nations may recognise SL�s perceived progress, going by balance sheets and exchange rates, one area of progress which most parties forget to inquire about is rebuilding eroded moral more..

Mar 8 (TM) The imposition of taxes on menstrual hygiene products, needed by women and girls due to a biological process naturally occurring in their body, has been subjected to fair criticism from many parties. While there have been great demands for the Govt to remove the taxes imposed on menstrual products and the raw materials needed to manufacture such, such items are currently subjected to a tax rate of 51.1% more..

Mar 8 (ST) Sri Lanka entered a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Thailand on Feb 3 which is scheduled to be effective from January 1, 2025. This is the second most comprehensive FTA that SL signed after its FTA with Singapore (2018). However, the Sri Lanka � Singapore FTA was on hold for five years without implementation. As far as the potential trade benefits that Sri Lanka would have reaped from the FTAs are concerned, the period of five years was a loss to the country. more..

Mar 8 (Island) Parliament of SL is never united when it has to tackle vital national issues. The govt and the Opposition go for each other�s jugular at the drop of a hat, but they unitedly take moral high ground and censure others. Parliament is in the news for the wrong reasons, again. No sooner had the Opposition handed over a motion of no confidence against Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena than SLPP MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena was appointed Chairman of the COPE. more..

Mar 8 (TM) Impactful design and strong branding can leave a lasting impression on a consumer�s mind, even though consumers are often ignorant about the engineering behind such strategies and tactics. Companies cannot claim similar ignorance, and must at least recognise the value and power of branding. Citing data from Forbes, Studio Nice One Creative Director Amy Quickfall shared that a company with strong branding can increase their revenue by 23% as customers are four times more..

Mar 8 (DN) The name Maha Shivarathiri means the great night that belongs to Shiva. Lord Shiva is referred to as the Supreme God in the Hindu pantheon. The word Shiva means auspicious in Sanskrit. Shiva in the Hindu concept is the creator, preserver, and destroyer. In an unending cyclical process of creation and re-creation, he symbolises creation and destruction. Among the Trimurti or Trinity (Three main Gods), Lord Shiva is considered Supreme God who acts in accordance more..

Mar 8 (FT) Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday renewed his call for the Govt to direct the Central Bank to issue a circular to enforce the suspension of the parate law and prevent property auction. Speaking in Parliament he claimed that despite the Govt�s decision to abolish the parate law, the banking system seems reluctant to comply with directives, leaving micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) in dire straits more..

Mar 8 (CT) Interest rates plummet to significant lows providing comfort to market players, First Capital Research (FCR) in a recent report, said. The report titled Construction Sector Flash note � Mar 2024, further said that interest rates moved on an accelerated downward trajectory during the first two months of this year (2024) amidst lower borrowing requirements of the Govt. Accordingly, as of 22 Feb-24 AWPLR registered at 11.5%, a significant plunge of 1,271bps, compared to 24.2% in Feb-23. more..

Mar 8 (DN) �Kamindu�s unfortunate run out caused damage for SL innings while we were short of 20-30 runs at the second T-20 match against Bangladesh�, said stand in skipper Charith Asalanka. �Actually 165 runs was not enough and Bangladesh dominated all 3 departments to win and they deserve the win. We wanted to win the deciding third and final T-20 game on Saturday. We knew our skipper Wanindu Hasaranga is also back to the side and we have new plans and rectified our mistakes,� more..

Mar 8 (DN) S. Thomas� opener Sadev Soyza made a superb knock of 83 in 134 balls while Royal skipper Sineth Jayawardena and deputy skipper Ramiru Perera took 4 wickets each, which were the highlights on day one of the 145th Battle of the Blues played at SSC grounds yesterday. Royal won the toss and chose to field first. Thomians made 297 all out in their first innings and two umpires Chamara Zoysa and Chandrika Amarasinghe called off play with 1.4 overs to spare. more..

Mar 8 (ST) There is a common healing thread, giving new life and hope, bonding Chathura Hewawasm (8) from Uswetakeiyawa, Dilitha Hettiarachchi (13) from Baddegama & Arkam Mohamed (10) from Weligama. These are just three of more than 1,000 children from humble families across the country who have undergone complex brain and spinal surgery in 2022-2023, testament that the state health sector works seamlessly for the poorest of the poor even amidst numerous challenges. more..

Mar 8 (Island) Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka insists he�ll remain with the SJB regardless of the continuing dispute with an influential section of the party. The bone of contention is SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa�s decision to grant membership to General Daya Ratnayake who served as Commander of the Army (2013-2015) during Mahinda Rajapaksa�s turbulent second tenure as the President. more..

Mar 8 (DM) In the never ending search for prosperous economies and a thriving planet, achieving gender equality and women�s wellbeing in every sphere of life are paramount. Yet, a major challenge looms: a projected US $ 360 billion annual deficit in gender equality efforts by 2030. Shedding light on this issue is the International Women�s Day (IWD), with the 2024 campaign theme being Inspire Inclusion. The overarching theme is Invest in women: Accelerate progress. more..

Mar 8 (DN) The recent IMF package offered to Sri Lanka is the 17th in Sri Lanka�s history and must be the last and if Sri Lanka can stay true to the principles of transparency and competitiveness in the years to come, it will enhance global standings and also create an environment conducive to flourishing innovation, investment, and economic growth. This was opined by US Ambassador in Sri Lanka Julie Chung at the National Chamber of Exporters hosted event. more..

Mar 8 (CBC) Six people including a mother, her four young children and a family acquaintance were killed inside a townhouse in the south Ottawa suburb of Barrhaven late Wednesday night. During a media briefing Thursday afternoon, Ottawa police Chief Eric Stubbs said there were initially two calls to 911 around 10:52 p.m. Wednesday. He said first responders arrived within minutes to the home on Berrigan Drive near Palmadeo Drive, more..

Mar 8 (DN) Peter Dooley Naval Institute in Germany has expressed their willingness to provide technical training to SL seafarers. The training manager of the German institution, Rainer Sterk, who met the Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva at the minister�s office said that they are keen to assist the skill development of local aspiring seafarers.Stark said at present, the Peter Doehle Naval Institute provides its technical training to seafarers in many countries including the Philippines. more..

Mar 8 (FT) The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) yesterday said it is paying close attention to High Wealth Individuals in a bid to increase taxes due. IRD said the move is to ensure tax compliance of highly wealthy individuals in the country as part of efforts to restore fairness and confidence in Sri Lanka�s tax administration. For this purpose, a High Wealth Individuals Unit (HWIU) has been established at the IRD, which is located in the Large Taxpayer Office. more..

Mar 8 (PMD) Nelum Pokuna Theater in Colombo hosted the launching ceremony of the Press Vs. Prez book today (7), with Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe presiding over the event. Prez, in his address, hailed such publications as integral to the democratic fabric of the nation, affirming that they underscore the freedom entrenched within the country. He juxtaposed this with the absence of such creations in totalitarian regimes, emphasizing the significance of the established freedom of more..