Sep 16 (DM) As the candidates enter the final week of campaigning ahead of the Sept 21 Prez Election, Independent candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe said his government had set a 10 year phase to get the country entirely out of the economic crisis and if it breaks at any time, there will be no recovery. "Look I am coming here to win. But we have a 10-year phase and I will not be there all the time. If it breaks at any time there is no recovery," Wickremesinghe said in an interview with Daily Mirror. more..

Sep 16 (AD) US Dept of State has updated its travel advisory for SL urging citizens to exercise caution in view of the prez election. The advisory highlights that since SL is set to hold prez elections on Sept 21, demonstrations could occur before, during, or after the election. �In some instances, police have used water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters. U.S. citizens are reminded to avoid all gatherings, even peaceful ones, as such gatherings can turn violent with little or no warning�, more..

Sep 16 (DN) Sri Lanka junior athletes excelled at the 4th South Asian Junior Athletic Championship concluded in Chennai last Friday. Sri Lanka bagged 9 golds, 9 silver and 17 bronze (total 35 medals ) and finished second. As expected, India dominated the South Asian Junior Athletics Meet bagging 48 medals including 21 gold, 22 silver and five bronze medals. Sri Lankan sprinter Merone Wijesinghe was the main attraction while he became the fastest junior athlete in South Asia. more..

Sep 16 (ST) The govt has approved two local and foreign joint ventures to establish casinos, out of 10 applications submitted to the Ministry of Finance as part of the country�s efforts to boost the gaming industry, according to the BOI. One of the newly approved ventures is a partnership between SL�s Golden Island Hospitality Ltd and India�s Majestic Group Hotels and Casinos. This joint venture will establish and operate the Majestic Pride Casino at the Colombo Lotus Tower. more..

Sep 16 (Island) Kaushalya Nawaratne, who resigned from his position as the President of the Bar Association of SL (BASL), with immediate effect on Friday, has, in his resignation letter, denied any wrongdoing. BASL last week unanimously called for the resignation of its President Nawaratne following a report by a 5-member committee. The committee, which was appointed to investigate the JAICA fund controversy, more..

Sep 16 (TM) Sri Lanka�s creditors would object to changing the Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) at the current stage as it would change the basic structure of the IMF programme, a global sovereign debt expert said. In a response to an email query, senior fellow at the US-based independent think tank Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), Brad Setser said that DSA are revised as economic conditions change, or if there are changes in key parameters of the programme. more..

Sep 16 (ST) The Election Commission (EC) has disallowed diplomats of European Union (EU) missions in Colombo to be part of its monitoring team during next week�s prez election. Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake said that a request was turned down and the local embassy staff of the EU could not be deployed on election observation activities. A senior election officer explained that diplomats based in Sri Lanka could not engage with any observation mission and more..

Sep 16 (TM) The NPP expressed concern over a potential dissolution of Parliament by the President before the announcement of the Prez Election results. NPP Lawyers' Collective member President's Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma argued that if the Prez dissolves Parliament on 21 Sept, before the election results are announced, it would negatively impact the country. He made these remarks in response to a question posed more..

Sep 17 (DM) Several of the promises thrown by the majority of the 38 candidates who will contest the Saturday�s Presidential election are irrelevant, as some of them are not meant to be kept while the others are not practical on the ground. Some of the plans and promises of some candidates seem to be good while the question remains as to how they are going to be materialised in a country with a bankrupt economy. Despite the chest-thumping of some politicians who boast that the economy that more..

Sep 17 (GV) Wrath is the opening word of The Iliad. Wrath is a key driver of the upcoming prez election. People are angry at political leaders for bankrupting the country. Hopefully, the anger is accompanied by reason, not just pointing fingers outward but also looking inward. Those political leaders did not force themselves into power. They were elected by majorities of Sri Lankans. We too bear some culpability for our tragedy. Unfortunately, wrath is blinding and not enlightening, more..

Sep 17 (DM) URF Leader MP Patali Champika Ranawaka who is backing Prez Candidate and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa shares his views on current political developments ahead of Saturday�s poll. He fears whether this will be the last democratic election that will be conducted in Sri Lanka. Q: You were a harsh critic of Sajith Premadasa. But you sided with him at the last minute to back him at the prez elections. more..

Sep 17 (ST) There is no need to beat about the bush. For the last two years we have marched on our stomachs, and next Saturday we shall arrive at the critical juncture when we all must decide which road to place irreversible step to reach a far better destination than the wasteland we left. One sign states, continue on the same road ahead or you�ll upset the apple cart. The other says, take the road on the right and reach fertile pastures awaiting to be ploughed and harvested. more..

Sep 17 (TM) This week, the IMF publicly said that even though SL has achieved considerable economic recovery, the country is not out of the woods yet. The IMF stressed that therefore, it is important to safeguard those hard-won gains. IMF�s statement comes in a context where the country is getting ready for a crucial Prez Election. It is crucial not only because it seeks to elect the next Head of the State. It is crucial because this is the first Prez Election that is going to be held following more..

Sep 17 (TM) With the Prez Election approaching on Saturday (21) to elect the ninth executive president of SL, We spoke with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions to understand their key expectations from the upcoming president in terms of policies, irrespective of who is elected. These voices reflect the hopes and concerns of people who have participated in multiple elections and experienced various regimes. more..

Sep 17 (Island) The often-quoted discourse of the Buddha, the Kalama Sutta has been described as the Buddha�s Charter of Free Inquiry, and though the discourse certainly does counter the decrees of dogmatism and blind faith with a vigorous call for free investigation, it is problematic whether the sutta can support all the positions that have been ascribed to it. On the basis of a single passage, quoted out of context, the Buddha has been made out to be a pragmatic empiricist who dismisses all more..

Sep 17 (Island) The ongoing contest for the coveted presidency has turned red in tooth and claw, with the contenders desperately doing everything in their power to achieve their most cherished goal. Election campaigns are getting down and dirty with politicians and their supporters hurling mud at one another. What is fast approaching is a contest the political leaders in the fray cannot afford to lose, given the very high stakes they have in it. The 21 Sept, prez election is bound to be followed by more..

Sep 17 (CT) The upcoming prez election on 21 Sept 2024 in SL, among many candidates and under the leadership of Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD), a grassroots champion, and his dedicated team, will be a turning point and holds immense promise. This election will not only signal the end of the people�s longstanding struggles and sufferings in political, economic, and social spheres, rooted in the divisive Walawwa or Class politics since 1948, but also herald the dawn of a New Era. more..

Sep 17 (DM) Prez candidate for 2024 election Sajith Premadasa should be praised for identifying the dire need to tackle child poverty in SL for the first time in the history. He was very concerned about the wellbeing of children especially the poor and their future. Sajith Premadasa said that as severe economic challenges hit the nation, 25% of the child population is suffering from poverty, highlighting the need for the initiation of a national programme to eradicate child poverty. more..

Sep 17 (CI) Top-order batter Oshada Fernando has returned to SL's Test fold following an 18-month absence, but this means there is no room for opening batter Nishan Madushka in SL's 16-man squad for this month's two-Test series against NZ at home. Of those that toured England, fast-bowling allrounder Nisala Tharaka and seamer Kasun Rajitha are the other two to be left out. Oshada's return follows an impressive showing with more..

Sep 17 (GV) Based on my previous study of looking at how SL partisans on Twitter perceived their favoured presidential candidate, and opponents, I wanted to establish how mainstream media (MSM) accounts on the platform presented (and, in a thinly veiled manner, promoted) candidates as well. Undergirding what�s now called information disorders, SL mainstream media is, and has always been, deeply partisan. What�s evident now on social media can be understood through a study of more..

Sep 17 (Island) As the final lap of the prez election campaign comes to its close at midnight on Wednesday, there is no certainty about the outcome. The only certainty is that it will be one of three candidates�incumbent prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa or NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The other 35 candidates including the young scion of the Rajapaksa family and candidate of the SLPP are at best also-rans. But even they are hopeful. more..

Sep 17 (ICC) Dunith Wellalage�s all-round brilliance against India helped him win the ICC Men�s Player of the Month award for August 2024. The 21-year-old overcame competition from South Africa�s Keshav Maharaj and West Indies� Jayden Seales to secure the award. Wellalage, the former Sri Lanka U19 skipper, made big strides in his nascent international career in August 2024. With his help, Sri Lanka overcame India for the first time in a bilateral ODI series since 1997. more..

Sep 17 (ICC) Harshitha Madavi overcame competition from the Irish duo of Orla Prendergast and Gaby Lewis to win the ICC Women's Player of the Month for August 2024. The talented left-handed top-order batter has gone from strength to strength in recent months, and continued her stirring form in August against Ireland. Notably, three of the last four winners have been from SL, including Chamari Athapaththu who secured the award in both May and July. Madavi's win makes it a double for SL more..

Sep 17 (FT) SL�s economy grew by 4.7% year-on-year (YoY) in the second quarter of 2024, continuing the upward momentum seen since Sept 2023. However quarter-on-quarter 2Q performance was lower than 5.3% growth achieved in 1Q. 2Q positive growth was driven by the industry sector accounting for 25.5% of the GDP, growing by a high 10.9% from a low base, whilst the service sector with a share of 55.4% of GDP more..

Sep 17 (DN) The Chairman of the SL Anti Doping Agency (SLADA) Professor Arjuna de Silva is going to step down from his post after completing an excellent service of nearly eleven years. Durung his period of SLADA he was also appointed as South Asian Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (SARADO) Chairman with a vote of confidence of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). He was also a key person in organising Asia / Oceania Regional conference and Asia Pacific Sport Ministers more..

Sep 17 (FT) Dairy Industries Ltd., a leading name in Sri Lanka�s dairy industry, hosted a successful press conference to outline its strengthened commitment to promoting a culture of safety and environmental sustainability. The press event emphasised the company�s dedication to fostering a safe workplace while ensuring that its operations align with both local and international standards for health, safety, and environmental protection. As part of its overarching safety strategy, more..

Sep 17 (FT) The Commercial Bank of Ceylon recently brought together a coalition of some of the biggest names in SL�s agriculture sector to conduct an Agri Modernisation Fair for farmers in the Vavuniya area and introduce the latest technologies available to them and promote smart agriculture. Industry leaders of the calibre of Hayleys, AgStar, John Deere, DIMO, CIC and Browns participated in the day-long fair, alongside representatives of the Drone Unit of the Agrarian Production Centre. more..

Sep 17 (ST) Postal Dept has asked the public to visit their area post offices to obtain their poll cards as delivering to houses has ended. Postmaster General aid that they were able to distribute 14.5 million (85%) of poll cards by Friday morning, and had a remainder of 2.5 million poll cards (16%) to be distributed by Saturday. He added that even though distribution of poll cards ended last evening, people can still visit post offices during work hours and collect their poll cards from Sept 18 to 21. more..

Sep 17 (TM) The military will be discussing a contingency plan with regard to military deployment during the Prez Election at the National Security Council. �So far, the Tri-forces are ready and able to assist the Police forces with any help that they may require if a contingency arises,� Ministry of Defence Media Spokesperson, Colonel Nalin Herath said in response to a query on military deployment during the upcoming Election. more..

Sep 17 (DM) Highlighting the utmost importance of media houses sticking to the guidelines issued to them by the Election Commission of SL, Commission�s Chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake warned that they will not issue official results of the Presidential Polls to such defying media houses. The commissioner said although by law, the commission could not take action against any media house for disobeying or not following the media guidelines issued by them when reporting an election, more..

Sep 17 (AD) SL has issued a clarification on the island nation�s diplomatic representation in Israel, in response to recent public discussions surrounding the country�s diplomatic presence in Israel, in order to prevent any misunderstandings. Accordingly, SL�s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry stated that SL continues to maintain its official embassy in Tel Aviv, which has been the sole diplomatic mission in Israel since 2000. �The embassy remains fully operational, serving as primary diplomatic channel more..

Sep 17 (AD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has stated that his primary objective is to ease the burden on the lives of the people. He emphasized the importance of upholding the agreements made with the IMF and moving forward with them. Prez noted that it is not feasible to alter these agreements, contrary to the claims made by Sajith and Anura. Additionally, Prez pointed out that Sajith and Anura�s proposals lack the approval of the IMF, noting that the IMF�s support is firmly behind the govt�s more..

Sep 17 (AD) Sajith Premadasa, the prez candidate of the SJB, emphasized the importance of electing a leader who treats everyone equally, regardless of caste or religion. He made this statement during a rally in the Kaththankudy area. Drawing a parallel with Malaysia�s thriving tourism industry, Premadasa highlighted the potential for Sri Lanka to strengthen its own tourism sector. �By taking cues from Malaysia, we can elevate our tourism industry to new heights,� he remarked. more..

Sep 17 (NW) NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake shed light on the resurgence of his party after a significant setback in the 2019 elections, stating that people have eventually turned to his party upon realizing the truth. The NPP, which garnered just 3% of the vote in 2019, has since mounted a well-organized political movement that Dissanayake believes will lead to a landmark victory on September 21st. more..

Sep 17 (DM) All Ceylon Health Service Union has accused Dr. Saranga Alahapperuma, Chairman of Sri J'pura General Hospital of making arbitrary recruitments and promotions in violation of election laws. According to the union's General Secretary Mahinda Guruge, chairman has been making numerous appointments since the Prez election was announced without an immediate need to do so. �Despite numerous requests to suspend the recruitments and promotions, more..