May 16 (FT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed the prompt commencement of construction of the Ashraf Memorial Museum in Kalmunai, honoring the late M.H.M. Ashraf, founder of the SLMC and former Minister. A distinguished politician known for his dedicated service to the Muslim community, the late M.H.M. Ashraf is to be memorialized through this museum. In recognition of his contributions, Prez has directed the establishment of an Ashraf Memorial more..

May 16 (AD) Owner and the manager of a licensed foreign employment agency have been arrested for allegedly sending Sri Lankans for employment in the Russian army. SLBFE stated that the two suspects were arrested yesterday by officials of the bureau�s Special Investigations Unit (SIU). It said that the agency had obtained a sum of Rs. 1.5 million from each individual after promising that they would be sent to Russia on tourist visas more..

May 16 (DM) The hotel Soul Beach, which was located in Dehiwala and later demolished, is suspected to have belonged to Shiran Basik, an alleged major drug smuggler currently operating from abroad, was alleged to have been built on government land, it was revealed. The hotel�s structures were removed in January this year by the Coast Guard and Police after it was found to be an illegal construction. However, a group of individuals who were carrying out construction work more..

May 16 (PMD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, has confirmed his participation in the 10th World Water Forum High-Level Meeting, to be held from May 18th to 20th, in Bali, Indonesia. This significant gathering, themed Water for Shared Prosperity, will convene global leaders to address pressing issues related to water management and sustainability. Prez Wickremesinghe will leave for Indonesia on the 18th, following an invitation from Indonesian Prez Joko Widodo, underscoring more..

May 16 (TM) Former SL Ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga, stated that he is ready to repatriate the retired SL armed forces personnel sent to Russia and Ukraine as mercenaries if the Govt of SL (GoSL) invites him to get involved in the matter. He noted that the GoSL can repatriate those soldiers after having diplomatic discussions with the Russian Govt, even though certain individuals in the Govt claim that it has no way to intervene more..

May 16 (EN) NZ�s Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd said it was planning to fully or partially sell down its SL assets as part of a strategy to exit its retail businesses worldwide. �We have conducted a strategic review which has reinforced the role of our core business,� Chairman Peter McBride said. �This is working alongside farmers to collect a sustainable supply of milk and efficiently manufacture products valued by customers, to deliver strong returns to farmer shareholders and unit holders.� more..

May 16 (TM) SJB unions attached to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation�s (CPC), denounced the Govt's decision to divest the jet fuel supply in light of national security concerns and its impact on the country�s foreign reserves. Recently, several MPs alleged that the CPC has granted permits to two Companies � Cannel Private Limited and Fits Aviation Pvt. Ltd. � to supply jet fuel for aircraft, which will have a negative impact on the CPC�s monopoly on the same and the country�s more..

May 16 (DM) The two girls who went missing from Nawalapitiya on Tuesday (14), as soon as they had completed their GCE (O/L) exam have been found at one of their relatives' home in Kaduwela, police said. According to the police, the girls have gone to Colombo in the hope of finding jobs. The two students had stayed in the relative's house in Kaduwela on the night of 15. A complaint was lodged by the guardians of the two girls, who had come to the examination centre at Ambagamuwa more..

May 16 (FT) FPC member MP Prof. Charitha Herath emphasised the importance of prioritising the Prez Election over Parliamentary Polls, urging the Election Commission to focus on this goal. Herath highlighted the constitutional mandate to hold the Prez Election in a timely manner. He noted that while dissolving parliament and conducting a general election are separate processes, there have been instances of delays in convening parliament after dissolution, leading to delayed gen. elections. more..

May 16 (AD) State Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Prasanna Ranaweera has reportedly assaulted a Porter at the BIA in Katunayake. Meanwhile, the State Minister has also threatened several security officers at the airport. Ranaweera had visited the airport with his wife accompanied by his ministerial security personnel in the early hours of Tuesday (May 14) as his spouse was to travel overseas. more..

May 16 (TM) Opposition MP Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle has presented two Private Member Bills including a 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill to increase female representation in political parties and the Parliament. With regard to better female representation in politics, one Bill, titled Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) which seeks to amend the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 01 of 1981 as amended, has sought to ensure that every recognised political party should include more..

May 16 (Island) Mawathamagama police have arrested a private fashion design teacher for raping a teenage student of his class. The teacher, a 40-year-old father of two, and the 19-year-old victim, were both tested positive for alcohol consumption at the time of the arrest, according to the police. The suspect had been running a fashion design class in a building in the Mawathagama town. On the day of the incident the victim and several others attended his class. It had been raining at the time more..

May 16 (Reuters) Sri Lanka will dispatch a high-level delegation to Russia to investigate the fate of hundreds of nationals reportedly fighting in the war in Ukraine, a top official said. Social media campaigns via WhatsApp have targeted ex-military personnel with promises of lucrative salaries and promises of citizenship, Defence Ministry has said, warning its nationals not to be duped. more..

May 16 (DM) SJB leader Sajith Premadasa vowed to scrap liquor permits issued recently as inducements under the current govt when he gets into power in the future. Making his remarks at a public meeting, he stressed the need to form a national movement to rid the country of the menace of alcoholism. He asserted that such a programme should be implemented targeting school children and parents should unite hands with him. However, he said he would take certain steps for promotion more..

May 16 (DM) School attendance has increased after the implementation of the meal programme, a Parliamentary Committee revealed. It was also disclosed that the criteria have been prepared regarding the quality of the meal and the follow-up regarding the meal programme will be done by the Provincial Dept of Education, Regional Educational Services officers and Public Health Inspectors. Committee on Ways and Means has revealed that 600,000 school students come to school more..

May 17 (DM) SL is divided politically at present. Many years ago this country was divided in terms of race. Politics seems to be the cause of all this evil. Now we are told to prepare for a prez election which is expected this year. Exactly eight days ago (9) people of this country were reminded that two years had passed after the Aragalaya (Protest) took place. Largely these protests were held in and around Colombo; some protests took place in other places outside Western province, more..

May 17 (DM) The killing of civilians and other atrocities were widespread during the 3-decade war mostly in the North and the East. The SL armed forces, police and the LTTE are alleged to be responsible for many such massacres according to eye witnesses and circumstantial evidence. It�s rare that the Sri Lankan armed forces and police have been held accountable through domestic courts for such killings. Below are some observations and reflections on such a rare case, based on more..

May 17 (TM) The recent removal of former State Minister Diana Gamage from her Parliamentary seat due to her UK citizenship has reignited debates surrounding MPs holding dual citizenship or being devoid of SL citizenship. The latest incident, which was preceded by the removal of then-MP and incumbent State Minister Geetha Kumarasinghe's removal over her Switzerland citizenship several years ago, has shed light on the challenges more..

May 17 (CT) Leprosy, often referred to as Hansen�s disease, stands as one of humanity�s oldest and most stigmatised afflictions, evoking fear and misconception over many decades. This ancient malady, if left untreated, can exact a heavy toll, leading to debilitating deformities and disabilities that profoundly impact individuals� lives. In Sri Lanka, despite significant strides in healthcare, the spectre of leprosy persists, with an average of 1,500 new cases detected annually. more..

May 17 (CT) In this beautiful island nation of SL, a shadow looms large, shaping much of the turmoil and instability that grips its society. This shadow is corruption, a pervasive issue that seeps through the layers of governance, eroding the trust between the people and their leaders, and undermining the foundations of social and economic development. The claim that corruption is the root cause of the social instability in SL is not an exaggeration; rather, it is a reflection of a harsh reality. more..

May 17 (TM) Analysing critical issues and proposing practical solutions are crucial for safeguarding community wellbeing and fostering sustainable progress. The recent insights from the Parliamentary Committee on Ways and Means shed light on various environmental challenges affecting communities across SL. From tackling persistent leaks in the Samanalawewa Dam to addressing the intricate human-elephant conflict (HEC) more..

May 17 (TM) As SL scrambles to address the issue of former armed forces personnel joining combat in foreign conflicts, the lack of regulations and legislative safeguards to prevent such issues from victimising vulnerable Sri Lankans, and potentially dragging the island nation into a foreign policy crisis. Yesterday, the Prez moved to dispatch a team of senior officials including the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, and a yet-unnamed former Ambassador to Russia, to look into the Sri Lankans more..

May 17 (Island) A govt move to set up ad hoc community level advisory committees to handle election-oriented development work, etc., has run into stiff resistance. Its plan to appoint former SLPP and UNP local councillors to the outfits to be established has gone awry due to a legal snag. There is hardly anything that a sinking regime does not do to retain its hold on power and avoid disastrous electoral defeats. The incumbent SLPP-UNP dispensation may have thought that more..

May 17 (EN) Former President and leader of the ruling SLPP Mahinda Rajapaksa has seemingly upped the ante on his anti-privatisation rhetoric, claiming that a majority of his party are opposed to the �sale of national assets�, even as ministers representing the party continue to defend ongoing reforms. Rajapaksa told reporters on Thursday (16) that 99% of the party share his views on the matter. �It�s not just me, the majority of our party, 99%, are of this view,� he said more..

May 17 (FT) Trillium Group, a leading real estate developer in SL, yesterday began the construction for its highly anticipated project, Trillium Duplex � Colombo 5 located in the residential side of Colombo 5 on a private road called Lionel Edirisinghe Mawatha. This marks the third real estate development Trillium has engaged in, in the Colombo 5 locality, with the other two being the Trillium Tower Colombo 5, and Trillium Havelock Residencies. With total project value of $15m more..

May 17 (FT) SL�s manufacturing sector in April failed to sustain the strong upturn recorded in the first quarter of 2024, whilst the services sector showed a sluggish expansion, as per the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI). Following the seasonal pattern, the Manufacturing PMI recorded an index value of 42.0 in April 2024, indicating a contraction in manufacturing activities. In the first three months the Manufacturing PMI turned more..

May 17 (CT) The current heated arguments about the privatisation process of State-owned enterprises (SOEs) demonstrate that the ongoing economic reform processes should continue and not be side-tracked by conflicting political interests and agendas. Former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa, this week, officially demanded the Govt to suspend all activities related to the privatisation programme until the upcoming Prez Election. This demand can be seen as an effort by his party to depart from more..

May 17 (ST) Further galvanising the tourism boom, the govt is aiming to develop more than 15 Forts around the country, top officials said. Amongst these Galle Fort, Jaffna Fort, Trincomalee Fort/ Fort Fredrick, Batticaloa Fort, Mannar Fort, Matara Star Fort, Kalpitiya Dutch Fort, Ratnapura Malwala Palace Fort will be initially looked at, they added. �Blessed with Forts and fortresses this is a glorious past and an amazing history that will fascinate the tourists. more..

May 17 (DN) Leadership does not put pressure on me and I always play my normal game said Pasindu Sooriyabandara who led the Sri Lanka �A� side to an innings win over Afghanistan �A� in their four day game at P.Sara Oval Stadium. The 23 year old 2018 Royal skipper Sooriyabandara in an exclusive interview with Daily News said I am very pleased to get leadership and lucky to win first Sri Lanka �A� match under my leadership and it is a very happy and memorable moment. more..

May 17 (BBC) ICC officials have no fears over the pitches being used at a temporary stadium in New York for the men's T20 World Cup. The finishing touches are being applied to the 34,000-seat stadium in Eisenhower Park in Nassau County, east of Manhattan, with the tournament just over a fortnight away. Four drop-in pitches are now in place at the venue which is set to host eight World Cup matches, including a highly-anticipated meeting between India and Pakistan. more..

May 17 (FT) Advocata Institute Chairman Murtaza Jafferjee last week raised concerns regarding the Govt�s procurement of renewable energy from Adani Group without a tender process, especially when the going rate for such projects is significantly lower. He highlighted the Cabinet decision on 29 April 2024 to allocate 484 MW of wind power to Adani Group in Mannar at a rate of $ 0.0826 per unit. more..

May 17 (Island) The question cited above was the title of an article published in Ceylon Today by Sathya Moorthy (SM), who identifies himself as a Chennai based Policy Analyst/Political Commentator (Friday 10).The answer to his question is � NOT YET. For the present, stealing is limited to marine assets and the destruction of its habitat in the process by Indian fishermen. These practices have been going on for decades. By resorting to bottom trawling not only is the habitat destroyed more..

May 17 (EN) A patient rights charter will be introduced to ensure the safety of patients admitted to hospitals, amid complaints that patients are not heard, Health and Industry Minister Dr Ramesh Pathirana has said. �The fact that the medical and health staff sometimes do not listen to the patient is an opinion shared by patients all over the world, and in this regard, the Ministry of Health received nearly 700 complaints last year,� Pathirana was quoted in a statement. more..

May 17 (DM) Amidst the prevailing inclement weather worsened by gusty winds, the CMC has identified about 200 old and huge trees in the city to be removed as soon as possible owing to the grave risk they pose to the public. Following the incident where a large tree fell on a bus on Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha near the Kollupitiya Junction in October last year that claimed five lives and many casualties, CMC has identified more..

May 17 (TM) SriLankan Cargo, the cargo arm of SriLankan Airlines, has partnered with CargoAi, a leader in digital freight solutions, to simplify and enhance its airfreight booking and payment processes to bring more transparency and velocity for users than ever. SriLankan Airlines Head of Cargo Chaminda Perera commenting on the joint venture said:�Our partnership with CargoAi marks another significant stride in our digitalisation journey, aimed at expanding our horizons. more..

May 17 (FT) SLT-Mobitel has reported a flat growth in Q1 2024 ending 31 March, amidst a challenging business environment. However, company�s proactive cost management initiatives have resulted in significant operational cost savings, enabling it to maintain profitability, SLT said in a statement. For the quarter, SLT Group has recorded consolidated revenue of Rs. 26.93 billion, reflecting a marginal 1.4% year-on-year increase. However, compared to the fourth quarter of more..