Oct 4 (AD) SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) states that SL has seen a significant increase in the number of Sri Lankans departing for overseas employments in Sept 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. SLBFE highlighted that accordingly, there has been a 10% increase in Sri Lankans departing for foreign employments as 28,344 individuals have been expatriated in the in the month of September alone in 2024. more..

Oct 4 (AD) An elderly couple has been found murdered with a sharp weapon inside their house in Welhengoda, in the Ahangama police division, early this morning. The victims, identified as a 67-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman, were discovered lying in pools of their own blood with throats slit after police received an emergency alert reporting an individual was found on the ground of the house with severe injuries. Authorities have yet to determine the motive behind the double homicide, more..

Oct 4 (AD) The case filed against the former State Minister Diana Gamage over allegedly obtaining a passport by producing formed documents was taken up for hearing before the Colombo High Court today. During the proceedings, the state counsel informed the court that it has been decided to add an additional witness to the case and therefore, requested permission to amend the relevant witness list. High Court judge, who accepted the request, allowed relevant witness list to be amended. more..

Oct 4 (EN) SL�s premier spy agency, the State Intelligence Service (SIS), is set for a shake-up under the new govt of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, according to a source involved in the process. The agency is to appoint a new head, a serving DIG, to replace Suresh Sallay, a controversial retired major general. Sallay was appointed to the top post by Gotabaya Rajapaksa when he became the president in Nov 2019. more..

Oct 4 (CT) Ceylon Teachers� Union (CTU) has called for a complete overhaul of the Dept of Examinations following revelations of widespread exam-related fraud. CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said a list issued by the dept in 2024 identified 473 individuals involved in various fraudulent activities related to national exams. �The list includes 473 persons who have been engaged in exam-related fraud. These individuals have been prohibited from participating in any future exam processes.� more..

Oct 4 (DM) Former Minister Bandula Gunawardene has decided not to contest at the upcoming General elections. He said that he had been in politics for more than 20 years representing the Homagama electorate and that he functioned as a Deputy Minister and as a Cabinet Minister. He said he rendered the maximum possible service to the people in his capacity. He said he was pleased that he represented the people in Homagama electorate who had been left without representation more..

Oct 4 (EN) Visiting India external affairs minister S Jaishankar has met PM Harini Amarasuriya and Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, the latter with whom he said he held wide-ranaging and detailed talks. �Concluded wide ranging and detailed talks with FM Vijitha Herath today in Colombo. Congratulated him once again on his new responsibilities. Reviewed various dimensions of India-SL partnership. Assured him of India�s continued support to Sri Lanka�s economic rebuilding. more..

Oct 4 (DM) A family of four was reported living in a treehouse in the Mahawilachchiya Divisional Secretariat area of the Anuradhapura district, as they do not have a permanent home. They said they were struggling against various odds to survive and that the threat of wild elephants was a serious danger to them. The breadwinner of the family S.H. Susantha Kumara said his family did not have a fixed abode or a permanent income and that they were compelled to build a hut on a tree. more..

Oct 4 (CT) A group of Police officers yesterday sought an unconditional apology before the Supreme Court after handcuffing and interrogating a lawyer�s driver on a main road. The officers had mistaken the driver for a suspect wanted in connection with Operation Yukthiya. The petition was heard before a 3-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices Prithi Padman Surasena, Achala Wengappuli and Mahinda more..

Oct 4 (PMD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake engaged in a discussion with the IMF at the Presidential Secretariat today, marking the second day of talks with the Prez. Director of the IMF�s Asia Pacific Dept Krishna Srinivasan, Senior Mission Chief Dr. Peter Breuer, along with other senior IMF representatives and the SL delegation attended the discussions. Prez Dissanayake aims to achieve the objectives of the program in partnership with the IMF, seeking alternative approaches more..

Oct 4 (DM) The IMF said that the dates for the third review under the EFF will be announced in due course. Director of the IMF Communications Department Julie Kozack said a high-level team led by IMF Director of the Asia Pacific Department, Krishna Srinivasan, is currently visiting Colombo to meet with Prez Dissanayake and his new economic team and that the delegation is discussing with the authorities the latest economic developments and their economic reform objective. more..

Oct 4 (TM) India�s External Affairs Minister (EAM), S. Jaishankar, visited Colombo today, where he held discussions with top SL leaders, reaffirming India�s commitment to deepening bilateral relations. During his visit, Jaishankar called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, PM Harini Amarasuriya, and Minister of Foreign affairs Vijitha Herath. He also met former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe & Leader of the Opposition more..

Oct 4 (CT) The Election Commission announced that in accordance with the Order given by the Supreme Court on 22 Aug 2024, immediately after the completion of the Parliamentary Elections, they will set the date for the Local Govt Polls. After discussing with the District Deputy/Assistant Election Commissioners and other govt agencies including the Govt Press, it was observed that at least 30-35 days are required to organise Local Govt Polls. It has also been stated in announcement more..

Oct 4 (NF) In an official statement issued this evening, the Ministry explained that this measure is intended to allow for a review process, and subsequent return of the items. All license holders have been instructed to surrender their firearms and ammunition to the Sri Lanka Navy Base in Welisara by November 7. Upon surrender, a copy of the receipt must be submitted to the reception of the Civil Security Department, near the main gate of the Ministry of Defense. more..

Oct 4 (AD) Indian Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Subramaniam Jaishankar, who arrived in SL on an official visit this morning, has met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and former Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in separate meetings today. Earlier today, Jaishankar had called on SL�s new Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo and also met with his SL counterpart, Vijitha Herath at Foreign Ministry. more..

Oct 4 (Island) There are between 15,000 and 30,000 street children in the country, according to the last study on the subject, Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, Chairman of the Professional Forum of Physicians on Medical and Civil Rights, has said. The majority of those children tended to gather near places of worship and large business areas. Dr. Sanjeewa expressed concern over the vulnerability of the street children, noting that they were often subjected to abuse and easily drawn into more..

Oct 4 (TM) Electricity Consumers' Association (ECA) charged that the CEB adds an extra financial burden of approximately Rs. 50 billion onto electricity consumers by purchasing fuel for electricity generation at retail prices. ECA General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika said that fuel was supplied to the CEB at wholesale prices based on cost before 2022, but that a system where the CEB purchases fuel at retail prices was more..

Oct 4 (AD) The IMF team visiting the island says it will continue its close engagement with SL�s economic team to set a date for the third review of the IMF-supported program. �We are encouraged by the authorities� commitment to continue the reform efforts,� the global lender�s Director for the Asia Pacific Department, said in a statement at the end of the visit to SL. He further stated that the IMF remains a steadfast partner in supporting Sri Lanka and its people and more..

Oct 4 (EN) Sri Lanka will go ahead with a restructure of international sovereign bonds, with final confirmation having come from both the International Monetary Fund and the Official Creditor Committee. Sri Lanka said the IMF had earlier gave informal confirmation that the sovereign bond agreement in principle (AIP) with the local option was in line with the debt sustainability parameters. �Following the Prez Elections held in SL on 21st Sept and the appointment of the new govt more..

Oct 4 (DM) A special meeting was held at the Police Headquarters to review the progress of several high-profile investigations concerning crimes, fraud and other controversial cases in Sri Lanka. The meeting, chaired by newly appointed Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, Ravi Seneviratne focused on examining ongoing and stalled investigations. Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya, senior police officials and officers from CID attended the meeting. more..

Oct 4 (TM) Ministry of Transport and Highways has announced that the construction of the port access elevated highway is scheduled to be completed by December. Approximately 90% of the construction work has already been completed. This project, which began in Sept 2019 with financial assistance from the ADB, has an estimated total cost of $300 million. The 5.3 km long, four-lane elevated highway will connect the Ingurukade Junction to the New Kelani Bridge and extend more..

Oct 4 (PMD) The Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in SL Azusa Kubota, met with the Secretary to the Prez, Dr. Nandika Kumanayake, for discussions on UNDP�s ongoing projects in the country and future collaboration between the UNDP and the SL govt, yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat. During the meeting, Kubota expressed the organization�s eagerness to continue the UNDP projects in SL and supporting SL�s development initiatives. more..

Oct 5 (DM) The UNP leaders alleged that what they called the unfair conditions laid down by the SJB resulted in the breakdown of the talks between the two parties. SJB has demanded that Ranil Wickremesinghe resigns as the leader of the UNP, the general secretary post of the proposed alliance be awarded to the SJB, the coalition contest under SJB�s symbol, the telephone and those politicians of the SLPP who joined the UNP prior to the Prez election be excluded from the alliance more..

Oct 5 (DM) Our country is struggling to get out of a situation of bankruptcy. President Dissanayake is even today in discussion with a high-level delegation of the IMF. According to media reports Dissanayake has doubled down on his acceptance of the agreement. He has however informed the delegation of the need to help the poorer sections of the community by lowering particular taxes. The IMF too, earlier spoke of the need to set up a safety net to protect the poor. more..

Oct 5 (DM) SL�s newly elected ninth Executive Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) continues to be the focus of this column. In the first part of this article published last week, the early years of Anura�s eventful life were delved into in some detail. In this week�s second part, AKD�s steady rise as a political leader within the JVP will be related to some extent. As stated in this column last week, JVP�s second insurgency was more..

Oct 5 (DM) Water is one of man�s primary needs of humans. Water is a key factor in agriculture as well as for consumption. Throughout history, from the times of ancient kings to future leaders, reservoirs and dams were built to meet the need for water. At present, the Irrigation Department of Sri Lanka and the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka ensure the supply of essential water. Accordingly, water is provided for agriculture, which is one of the country�s basic needs. more..

Oct 5 (CT) Anura Kumara Dissanayake, candidate of the JVP and NPP front, has been elected as Prez of SL in the election held on Sept 24. His election is a proof that the Aragalaya, the spontaneous mass protests in May 2022 was no flash in the pan. Anura�s campaign focused on the youth, who had rallied together during Aragalaya protests and successfully converted them into votes. However, Anura does not seem to have understood the younger generations� discontent against more..

Oct 5 (CT) When she joined her colleagues and took to the streets carrying placards with the slogan �6 per cent of GDP for education� a little over a decade ago, Dr. Harini Nireka Amarasuriya would probably not have thought that journey would take her to the heights of becoming the second citizen of SL. Yet, her activism and conscious decision to join active politics, a field many women dread due to its vindictive nature, more..

Oct 5 (CT) Guess what! Including the immediate predecessor Ranil Wickremesinghe, there are five former Presidents in the country. Of them, Chandrika Kumaratunga and Wickremesinghe have officially retired from electoral politics. Mahinda Rajapaksa may decide to stay away owing to health and the poor performance of son Namal in the Parliamentary Elections � even the latter is said to be toying with the idea of a National List seat for self (like Wikcremesinghe five years back?), more..

Oct 5 (Island) The police top brass is reported to have held a meeting recently to discuss the progress of high-profile criminal investigations. Among the other issues taken up at the discussion attended by Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Ravi Seneviratne, Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya and other high-ranking officers from the CID, etc, were the probes that had been either delayed or derailed, we are told. Such discussions usually take place when govets change; more..

Oct 5 (TM) Johann Peries made history as the second Sri Lankan to summit Mt. Everest, but his quest for greatness didn�t end there. Where most climbers might consider Everest the pinnacle of their careers, Johann decided to take on an even more ambitious challenge � the Seven Summits. This extraordinary undertaking involves climbing the highest peaks on each continent, a feat achieved by only a select few around the world. In this candid interview, Johann opened up about his more..

Oct 5 (Island) One of the subjects Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake is responsible for is agriculture. On the other hand, subjects such as food security and health that are related and dependent on agriculture come under the purview of PM Harini Amarasuriya. Consequently, the production and distribution of agricultural products have a bearing on access to food at affordable prices to ensure not only food security but also on poverty and malnutrition. more..

Oct 5 (ST) Road to presidency by Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the country�s ninth executive prez, has not been a bed of roses, unlike his predecessors. Humble beginnings and the hardships were many. �Once the custodian of a Buddhist temple asked me to release him to be ordained. He was then 12 years old. I did not agree,� recalls his mother, D.M. Seelawathi. Years later, her son Anura could not attend his father�s funeral. more..

Oct 5 (DN) SL�s Men�s Sevens Rugby team powered into the quarterfinals of the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Tournament in Nepal with an unbeaten streak, securing dominant victories over Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kazakhstan in three thrilling matches yesterday. SL crushed Saudi Arabia with a 52-0 win. Janindu Dilshan kickstarted the scoring with an early try, while conversions from Srinath Sooriyabandara and Tharinda Ratwatte added to the lead. Shahid Zumri, Heshan Jansen, more..

Oct 5 (FT) The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has been ranked second in the prestigious LMD 100 for 2023-24, moving up five places in the ranking the magazine calls Sri Lanka�s Roll of Corporate Honour. With this latest LMD ranking, Commercial Bank has not only retained its status as the highest-ranked bank in the LMD 100, but has also overtaken some of the country�s biggest diversified business groups in terms of turnover, on which LMD�s primary ranking is based. more..