Aug 25 (Island) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stability and National Policies would present the second reading of the Appropriation (Amd) Bill on 30 Aug, Acting Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadheera said. She said the decision to allocate the date had been taken at the Committee on Parliamentary Business chaired by Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse more..

Aug 25 (FT) As the economic crisis in Sri Lanka deepens, UNICEF and Rotary International are partnering to deliver lifesaving medicines, clean drinking water, education materials, and other critical supplies to children and families in the country. The partnership will capitalise on Rotary International�s global network along with the alumni of Sri Lanka�s leading schools to raise funds from the Sri Lankan community living overseas. Well-wishers can also donate through the online platform more..

Aug 25 (CT) Ranil Wickremesinghe is really an enigma to evaluate; he presents some not so nice antecedents. His unicle, Bishop Lakshman Wickremesinghe came to Maruthanamadam Ashram shortly after July 1983 and literally cried saying a close relation of his had had a hand in the carnage. Mr. Wickremesinghe reads a lot unlike many of us � especially in English and has therefore been exposed to many ideas from diverse sources. He believes in the free-market more..

Aug 25 (FT) Commenting on the recent remarks made by SLPP MP Sanath Nishantha on the Judiciary, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said Govt Ministers and MPs are not only toying with the media and Judiciary but are also making comments that are disrespectful to the courts. SLPP MP Sanath Nishantha said: �Some of these judges must be held responsible, these criminals are taken away today and given bail and let out tomorrow,� SLPP MP Sanath Nishantha had said at a press briefing more..

Aug 25 (ST) Crop damage being caused by wild creatures, including some deemed to be national animals, is to be estimated in the wake of complaints by farmers. The secretary to the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Resource Conservation R.M.C.M Herath who is also a member of a committee that has been appointed said Govi Jana Seva officials have been told to gather information. The minister in charge of agriculture and wildlife has named the committee because farmers have complained that more..

Aug 25 (Island) There�s much to like about Essex County Cricket ground. It may not have the aura of Lord�s, history of The Oval or character of Headingley, but Chelmsford has its own beauties. A ten minute walk from the train station, an underground tunnel has been built by the side of river Chelmer to give easy access to the ground. As you approach the tunnel, you see people of all age groups rowing boats with an eye on cricket. more..

Aug 25 (DM) According to the details revealed from the reports of the three-member committee appointed by the Govt Medical Officers' Association (GMOA), the stocks of 91 essential medicines had come to a zero stock level at the Central Medical Store (CMS) by the end of last week. GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge said the report of this committee confirmed that the information that has been disclosed to the country so far is the reality of the earth in a more serious manner. more..

Aug 25 (FT) Sri Lanka has begun the search for international firms engaged in Flight Inspection and Validation services for all three main airports for a three-year period. GFAirport and Aviation Services (SL) Ltd said tenders were floated as per the Govt procurement guidelines of the International Competitive Bidding (ICB) procedure. The prospective companies must be accredited by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) or their respective State regulatory authority to more..

Aug 25 (FT) Sri Lanka has successfully averted the food crisis through its massive cultivation drive, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said. He explained that the initiative to encourage crop planting as part of boosting local produce has been a huge success, whilst expressing that the high food inflation will soon be reduced. �Post next Maha cultivation season, we will definitely stop importing rice, as SL will be more..

Aug 25 (Island) A middle class mother walked into a grocery shop in Mattegoda yesterday with her two school-going children and asked for two chocolate flavoured milk packets, one packet of Tipi Tip, a medium sized canned fish and 500g of dhal and paid Rs. 1,559 for the damage without batting an eyelid. It was evident that she was too aware of the latest World Bank assessment which places SL at No.5 among countries hardest hit by food price inflation. As her kids start drinking the milk, more..

Aug 25 (FT) SLASSCOM, SL�s national chamber for the IT/BPM industry, is set to host their Quality Summit for the 6th year in succession, which is the biggest test automation conference of its kind to be held up to date in SL. As the leading forum in the country to present and discuss the progress and recent evolutions in the fields of Quality Engineering, sharing the latest insights and applications on the industry, this year�s summit will be themed on the topic of Unleash excellence in new normal. more..

Aug 25 (DM) Colombo Fort Magistrate issued an order directing the CID to conduct an investigation into a contemptuous statement alleged to have been made by Puttalam District MP Sanath Nishantha. Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage ordered the CID to examine the video footage of a press conference attended by Sanath Nishantha in order to determine whether remarks made by the MP are detrimental to the judiciary. Prez's Counsel Upul Jayasuriya appearing for the victims of more..

Aug 25 (CT) CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe will visit Parliament on 30 Aug to conduct a workshop for MPs with regard to the present economic situation of the country. The programme will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Furthermore, Leader of the House Susil Premajayantha said by making an amendment to the Standing Orders, they will promptly appoint the Sectoral Oversight Committees. He also said according to President�s suggestion, more..

Aug 25 (FT) The SJB yesterday claimed that price controls were not the answer to combat soaring inflation and questioned President Ranil Wickremesinghe-led Govt�s strategy to ensure quicker recovery from the worsening crisis. Govt�s attempt to control inflation with price controls lead to supply issues that will further impact consumers, said the SJB�s Eran Wickramaratne during a briefing by the party�s economic team comprising more..

Aug 25 (DN) We are ready to take on Asia Cup T-20 Cricket tournament and my team is in good shape to take this challenge, said Sri Lanka cricket team head coach Chris Silverwood at the interview before the Sri Lankan cricket team's departure from the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) headquarters yesterday. "We have a good team which led by experienced Dasun Shanaka and all players worked hard to prepare for this Asia Cup, said former England coach Silverwood. more..

Aug 25 (AD) Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies has issued the circular to facilitate employees of public institutions to take no-pay leave to work abroad for a maximum period of five years. The circular, signed by Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana, was published on Aug 22. It has further mentioned that the provisions of the circular are pertinent to state corporations, statutory bodies and state-owned companies. This opportunity is given only to permanent more..

Aug 25 (DM) Bribery Commission has filed indictments in Colombo High Court against Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and two others for allegedly causing an unlawful lose to the government after purchasing GI pipes using SL Rupavahini Corporation�s (SLRC) funds during the 2015-Prez Election. The CIABOC had filed indictments against Minister Rambukwella, former SLRC Director General Chandrapala Liyanage and former SLRC Chairman Wimal Rubasinghe more..

Aug 25 (CT) Top officials of the Central Bank have decided to crack down on dubious dollar fund arrangement requests which are heightened over the prevailing exchange rate crisis of SL, officials said. �Every day we have receiving a considerable number of requests from various informal parties showing their interest in funding the SL development process. Some of requests are even received through well-known businessmen, politicians and other highly respected people in the society", more..

Aug 25 (CT) On the arrest of Wasantha Mudalige, Hashan Gunathilaka and Galwewa Siridamma Thera in terms of the Prevention of Terrorism Act No. 48 of 1979, the Police explain the following: On 18.08.2022, Mudalige Wasantha Kumara of Ulpatha Niwasa, Dambana, Mahiyanganaya and Hashan JGunathilaka of Mathupola, Pallama were arrested at New Chetty Street, Colombo by more..

Aug 25 (DN) It has been revealed that money given by the devotees for the maintenance and improvements of the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya is forcibly taken away by the custodians (kapuralas). Accordingly, Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya has not received Rs. 120 mn given by the devotees. According to the Vihara Devalagam Act, under the supervision of the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs, some allowance or salary should be given to the custodians, however, more..

Aug 25 (TM) Consumer and civil rights activist Asela Sampath said that a political party for consumers and their rights will be formed soon. He said that they would participate in the next election under the national consumer front in order to fight for consumer rights. �The party would represent mainly the consumers who are going through a crisis at the moment,� he said. Further, he urged the Govt to control the price of wheat flour as the selling price of a kilo of flour is around Rs. 350. more..

Aug 25 (TM) Following Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as Minister of Finance, issuing regulations temporarily suspending the importation of over 300 items with effect from Tuesday under the Imports & Exports (Control) Act, many sectors in the country are facing issues and are in dire straits. The import of over 300 items has been temporarily suspended with effect from Tuesday under Imports&Exports (Control) Act more..

Aug 25 (FT) During periods of great upheaval, dividing lines between allies and enemies are redrawn. The reaction to the 9 July uprising in Sri Lanka is an example. The polarisation between progressive and reactionary forces has become clearer. But to develop its implications, it helps to insert it into the narrative of universal history, to identify its deeper potential. In this sense, the cunning of reason, to use Hegel�s famous phrase, continues. The spirit of the uprising lives. more..

Aug 25 (FT) Of the six times that Ranil Wickremesinghe was PM, he had saved the best for the last. Bereft of any company from his party the UNP, he was a non-party PM, stepping into the breach to bring his considerable experience to bear on the task of managing the economic crisis. He struck the right note. He seemed to have changed for the better�into a mature pragmatist. Sadly, both for him and the country, that was episodic and ephemeral. He has snapped-back to more..

Aug 25 (AD) The cause of the death of the leopard that was caught in a trap attached to a tree in the Summer Hill tea estate in Hatton has been revealed. The final report of the 3-member committee appointed to probe the incident concludes that the leopard has died as its internal organs were damaged due to being caught in the trap which was made of wire and due to hanging from a tall tree for hours. In addition, the committee report mentions it was revealed in the investigations that more..

Aug 25 (EN) Stocks slipped over 2% on Thursday for the third session on selling in index heavy shares and margin calls, dealers said. ASPI fell 2.03% or 183.16 points to 8,828.04, on Aug 25. �We are seeing a lot of selling in all counters including the heavyweights and there�s also margin calls,� a top market analyst said. �The market is trying to stablise it�s debt to around 65% from 80% in the previous month.� The analyst said they expect see continued selling in the market ahead of the interim more..

Aug 25 (EN) With public movement increasing in SL as schools and universities reopen, the country is again seeing extended queues outside fuel stations, after an initial easing of queues following the implementation of the National Fuel Pass from Aug 1. For several months, long queues that stretched for kilometres outside filing stations were seen around the country as SL failed to secure adequate fuel supplies due to a severe more..

Aug 25 (DM) Former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa is to return to SL during the first week of next month. An informed source said he is likely to return either on Sept 2 or 3. Earlier, SLPP requested Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to make arrangements for the former Prez to return. Subsequently, the president is reported to have contacted Mr. Rajapaksa to discuss arrangements for his return to the country. He fled the country in the face of public protests on July 9 asking for his resignation from office. more..

Aug 25 (AD) Another leopard has died today after being caught in a trap, according to Nuwara Eliya wildlife officers. The leopard cub had been caught in a snare set up by certain individuals with the aim of hunting animals roaming in the tea estate in the Nidlands section belonging to the West Hall estate of Nawalapitiya police are. The abdominal section of the leopard cub was reportedly caught in the wire trap. The wildlife officers had reached the location after being notified by more..

Aug 25 (DM) Deshabandu Tennakoon is the main person responsible for the May 9th mayhem, who let the goons of the former Rajapaksa regime to unleash an inhumane attack on peaceful protesters of the Galle Face Aragalaya, ex-BASL Chief Upul Jayasuriya said. The former Bar Association of SL President addressing a conference themed In a society where death warrant reigns; Let's stand against repression, more..

Aug 25 (EN) SL�s exporters of including software and hotels who provide services to companies in Germany as well as food exporters and manufacturing companies will face human rights rules under a supply chain law which will come into effect in Jan 2023, officials said. �The law does not distinguish between types of companies,� Torsten Safarik, President of the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) which will enforce the German Supply Chain Due more..

Aug 25 (DM) The govt is to appoint 30 state ministers before the formation of the next Cabinet, a political source said. It will happen as per a request by SLPP which is the main party that backs President Ranil Wickremesinghe. SLPP MPs who served as state ministers in the previous govt met the president recently to discuss the appointment of state ministers of the new govt. The SLPP has asked for the appointment of 40 of them. However, the president is keen to appoint only 30. more..

Aug 25 (Island) MEPA Chairperson Dharshani Lahandapura said that Rs. 93.8 million had been spent so far on cleaning the beach from Mannar to Kirinda in Hambantota by removing the plastic and waste released from the ill-fated MV X-Press Pearl, which caught fire and sank in Sri Lankan waters. Lahandapura said it would take several more years to remove the plastic and chemicals released from the burnt ship�s containers and completely clean the coastline. more..

Aug 25 (EN) The World Health Organisation (WHO) has promised crisis-hit Sri Lanka four million US dollars worth of essential medical supplies and other support to meet the immediate health needs of the country. WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has directed the WHO Health Emergencies Programme to take immediate action to meet the most urgent health needs of the people of Sri Lanka, a statement from the president�s office said on Thursday August 25. more..

Aug 25 (TM) Claiming that it is not possible to regain the amount of $ 6.9 million paid for the stock of organic fertiliser manufactured by the Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group in China when Mahindananda Aluthgamage was Minister of Agriculture, current Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera said that it should be acknowledged that the country has suffered a loss in this regard. Stock of fertiliser was rejected in Dec 2021 more..