Dec 30 (TM) In terms of time, Sri Lanka is going forward, but in terms of the economy, it is regressing. This is a sentiment expressed by many Sri Lankans, who, this year (2022), wrestled with a devastating economic crisis, witnessed historic changes in the political and social spheres, and experienced the after-effects of the Covid-19 pandemic-related developments. Instead of optimistic plans and expectations more..

Dec 30 (TM) This year (2022) saw a number of unprecedented developments that had an impact on almost all aspects of Sri Lankans� lives, and it is sure to enter the history books as a year that changed the country�s economic and political directions. The economic crisis, which dealt a heavy blow to the people and businesses, is the most significant development among them. The spate of anti-Govt protests that the economic crisis led to, known as the aragalaya movement, were unlike any more..

Dec 30 (CT) Sri Lanka is the luckiest country in the world because it doesn�t have to face natural catastrophes; this is what we learned in school from generation to generation. However, that statement is questionable now as floods, landslides, droughts, heavy rains and many natural disasters have frequently become a part of our lives. Our cold months are becoming colder, droughts are becoming longer and rains are becoming heavier. This present change in the environment and more..

Dec 30 (Island) The govt seems to have taken the masses for asses. In a way, it cannot be faulted for this kind of attitude. Most people voted for the SLPP, at the last three elections consecutively, believing in its promises Besides, some members of the public acted in such a manner, a few moons ago, that the UNP, which had been relegated to the political dustbin, managed to crawl out of it and savour power again. So, it is only natural that the ruling politicians take a dim view of the public, who, more..

Dec 30 (DM) If there is a one-liner to describe the withdrawing year, it may go like this: With Covid, it entered and with Covid, it departed. As we prepare to welcome 2023, beware that the pandemic is far from over. The complacency with which people take part in yearend parties is like an open-arm welcome for a new variant of Covid-19. This is more so, in the wake of Monday�s decision by China to relax border restrictions and do away with some of its tough Covid regulations and its zero-Covid policy. more..

Dec 30 (FT) SL Tea Board (SLTB) revealed that it expects the export volume for 2022 to be 250 million kgs and total export revenue to touch $ 1.2 billion. This forecast released via a statement by SLTB is based on the performance of the tea industry up to the first 11 months of this year. In its statement, SLTB said year 2022 began with a lot of optimism. Monthly auction average prices continuously increased; sharply from April. more..

Dec 30 (FT) Under the guidance of SL�s Ambassador to the US Mahinda Samarasinghe, the Heart to Heart International (HHI) has now obtained all necessary Govt approvals for the third in-kind donation of urgent medical aid, worth an approximate of $ 7.27 million (Rs. 2.7 billion), to the people of Sri Lanka. The latest donation includes an extensive volume of urgent medicines such as: Propranolol Hydrochloride and Labetalol HCL to treat high blood pressure and other heart more..

Dec 30 (FT) Aitken Spence Travels yesterday welcomed the inaugural charter flight from Red Wings Airlines, a Russian regional leisure airline, arriving at the MIRA. Red Wings Airlines carried 400 holiday makers on board the Boeing 777 which is a long-range wide-body aircraft. The airline will be operating two flights per week for four months from Moscow to SL till end April 2023. For passengers on the inaugural flight, Aitken Spence Travels offered excursions to showcase the splendour of SL. more..

Dec 30 (Island) In a year marred by cancellations of multiple international events due to Covid 19 pandemic, sprinter Yupun Abeykoon�s 9.96 seconds dash in the 100 metres in Switzerland stood out as SL�s most outstanding track and field performance of the year as South Asia witnessed its first sub ten seconds performer in the sport�s most glamorous discipline. In the men�s category the Italy-based sprinter was the top-ranked Sri Lankan in the track and field sports in the centenary year and more..

Dec 30 (FT) United States Agency for Int'l Development (USAID) said it is coordinating with Keells Supermarkets and Hatton National Bank (HNB) on an innovative supply chain financing facility that supports micro, small & medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the food sector to access capital. Through greater access to capital, this facility reduces the supply chain disruptions that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic and were exacerbated by SL's recent economic crisis. more..

Dec 30 (CI) SL have announced a 20-man squad for their limited-overs tour of India next month, where they will square off in three T20Is and three ODIs. Of those players, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Nuwan Thushara will play only in the T20Is, while Jeffrey Vandersay and Nuwanidu Fernando - in line to make his debut - will take part in just the ODI leg of the series. Dasun Shanaka will captain both sides, with Wanindu Hasaranga more..

Dec 30 (DN) Four new relay race records were established at the Ritzbury Sir John Tarbet Junior Athletic Championship at the Diyagama Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium yesterday. At the end of the second day, six records, including two individual records, were set up, while one meet record was equalled in the Under 13 Boys� 200m event by Trinity athlete K.J.D.Y.J Jayasuriya clocking in at 25.6 seconds. In the Boys� Under 12 finals, S.D. Dissanayake of Dharmaraja College, Kandy, more..

Dec 30 (SLN) SL Navy took hold of a smuggled consignment of Kendu leaves weighing about 150 kg (wet weight), during a patrol carried out in Lunuwila sea area of Kalpitiya on 28th Dec 2022. The consignment was adrift in the sea area when it was spotted by the Navy. The recovery of the stock was made by SLNS Suranimila, attached to the Western Naval Command, patrolling in the sea area of Lunuwila on the morning of 28th Dec. Accordingly, the Navy retrieved 03 suspicious packages more..

Dec 30 (TM) A number of SLPP MPs have expressed, within the party, their opposition to the proposed increase in electricity tariffs, but are reluctant to express it openly or leave the Govt. According to sources within the SLPP, the tariff hike, championed by Minister Kanchana Wijesekera and backed by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, has proven controversial due to certain MPs� concerns about how it would more..

Dec 30 (ST) There is no doubt that our sports firmament needs to be overhauled by the bootlaces given the travails in most of the premier sports organisations in the country. Some regulations are therefore worthwhile and may be well meaning, but as this government wants to do, there appears to be a tendency to impose a political will over the people, come what may. We cannot forget how a fertiliser ban on hapless farmers boomeranged, eventually bringing down a President. more..

Dec 30 (Island) Hayleys Fentons recently marked a milestone achievement in the company�s history by winning the Bronze Award in the B2B Brand of the Year Category at the recently-concluded SLIM Brand Excellence Awards. One of the most trusted engineering companies in SL, Hayleys Fentons counts over 100 years of experience in delivering world-class engineering solutions and is a member of the Hayleys Group which is one of the largest and most respected conglomerates in SL. more..

Dec 30 (CT) The CEB had to pay its staff nearly Rs 11 billion in salaries and allowances for the months of Sept, Oct and Nov 2022. Accordingly, CEB had paid sums of Rs 3,535.62 million, Rs 3,589.21 million and Rs 3,662.28 million for the months of Sept, Oct and Nov, respectively. Minister Kanchana Wijesekara yesterday, publicised the CEB staff�s total salaries and allowances for months of Sept, Oct and Nov. Salaries and the allowances ranges from Rs 3.5 billion to Rs 3.7 Billion monthly. more..

Dec 30 (FT) Colombo stock market managed to produce a better performance on the penultimate trading day of 2022 with improved turnover and ASPI closing marginally on the up. Turnover was Rs. 1.7 billion up from the recent low of Rs. 856 million on Wednesday. Volume of shares traded too was high at 124.5 million shares as against 48 million shares. The ASPI gained by 0.24% whilst the active S&P SL20 dipped by 0.19%. S&P SL20 index edged down due to price losses in LOLC (-0.4%), more..

Dec 30 (TM) While the main Parliamentary Opposition, SJB, and SLFP which is also of the Opposition have announced that it will initiate legal action against the proposed electricity tariff hikes, Opposition�s JVP-led NPP and the SLPP independent group of MPs in the Opposition, including former Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila, have, however, not reached a final decision in that regard. more..

Dec 30 (AD) Amidst one of the worst phases SL has seen in terms of its economic stability, SL Red Cross Society has closely monitored the situation, providing a 6-month operation update report. The operation is scheduled to last for a period of one year, from 07 June 2022, till 06 June 2023, assisting a total of 500,000 persons. It is to be noted, however, that to date, this Emergency Appeal, which seeks CHF 28,000,000, is 17% funded including soft pledges with a gap of CHF 23.5 M. more..

Dec 30 (FT) Workers� remittances had peaked to a new high of $ 384 million in November but given losses earlier, the year-to-date figure remains down by 36%. The Nov 2022 figure is the highest since August last year when $ 447 million was achieved. It also reflects a rebound in inflows whereas October saw a marginal dip in comparison to September. Workers� remittances in the first 11 months of 2022 were down by 36% to $ 3.3 billion. Thanks to a rebound in inflow, the year-on-year deficit more..

Dec 30 (CT) Dept of Immigration and Emigration has made it possible for inbound foreigners and outbound Sri Lankans to submit their arrival and departure cards online. As a result, all foreign visitors arriving in Sri Lanka and locals leaving the country can complete the cards online via the department�s official website or by visiting https://eservices.immigration.gov.lk/emb/eEmbarkation/ This facility is available with effect from 1 Jan 2023, according to the Govt Information Department. more..

Dec 30 (AD) Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) Janaka Ratnayake has claimed that he is yet to be called on by the President. Ratnayake said that he is, in fact, waiting for such a call from President Ranil Wickremesinghe, so as to discuss the ongoing concerns. Prez Wickremesinghe made several allegations against Ratnayake, accusing him of leading society astray with his claims that he would not allow an increase in electricity tariffs. more..

Dec 30 (Island) Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has revealed that in respect of funds that had been made available by the ADB to procure urgently needed medicine, the entire procurement process was handled by that organisation. The disclosure was made at a hastily arranged media briefing on Wednesday to answer queries raised on allegations pertaining to procurement of medicines & surgical items more..

Dec 30 (AD) Former president of the students� union of Peradeniya University has been arrested over the assault on Prof. Athula Senaratne. The arrest was made by the CID today. On Dec 22, Peradeniya Magistrate�s Court recently an order calling for the immediate arrest of Withanage. Meanwhile, the studentship of the current president of Peradeniya Uni students� union Chamod Sathsara and the former president of the students� union Anuradha Withanage was temporarily cancelled on Tue. more..

Dec 30 (ENS) In an unusual incident, four fishermen from the State landed illegally in Sri Lanka in a motorised boat on Thursday morning, allegedly searching for a group from the island nation which had cut their nets at sea. Sri Lankan authorities arrested the four and seized their fishing vessel. Three of the arrested fishermen -- boat owner G Pandiyan (46), B Sakthivel (20) and A Sakthivel (40) � are from Mayiladuthurai district while Thiruselvam is a native of Cuddalore district. more..

Dec 30 (TM) Officials at the Ministry of Health�s Quarantine Unit and Epidemiology Unit are currently reviewing the Covid-19 situation in the country, particularly in the wake of China experiencing a fresh wave of the pandemic, but as of yesterday (29), there was no specific circular issued with regard to guidelines or any related action, noted Health Ministry Comm. Director Dr. Hemantha Herath. more..

Dec31 (DM) Sri Lankans are leaving one of the most tumultuous years in the history behind today �Dec 31, 2022. The country saw two Presidents, three PMs, three Finance Ministers and two Central Bank Governors in this year, not due to anyone having voluntarily retired according to the law, but as a result of economy and politics facing unprecedented turbulences. More importantly, it was in this year an executive Prez who had earned a name for him before for his tough and highhanded actions more..

Dec 31 (ST) Who would have ever thought that a simple application (however to some it�s still complicated), would end the recent queues at fuel stations! I was gently reminded of the QR (Quick Response) code having overheard a conversation among the trio on Thursday morning. And as it had been on many occasions that conversation led to a column piece, the one I am writing today. �Mama eeye Lankadeepa paththare rasawath warthavak dekka ara QR kethaya gena. more..

Dec31 (DM) As SL regulatory authorities are not involved in the regulation of social media-based marketing, the situation with regard to cosmetic products has turned harmful in certain aspects due to the absence of a marketing surveillance programme for these unregistered products. These observations were made in a research on the �Analysis of knowledge, usage and the practice of total body care cosmetic more..

Dec31 (DM) Last week, a visiting South Korean official gave an earful to the state minister of social empowerment, Anupa Pasqual, for being late for a meeting. SKDRF Prez Cho Sung Lea was seen in a widely circulated video on social media giving a finger-wagging lecture to Pasqual on the virtues of punctuality. �Getting late to start a scheduled meeting by 30 minutes is not a good sign. Ministers should be responsible for keeping their promises and being punctual,� more..

Dec 31 (CT) Today, a handful of SL students who can afford to do so, migrate to other countries, not realising a future in Sri Lanka. In that respect, Dr Paneetha Hettiarachchi is a unique person who was recently graduated from Sir John Kotelawala Academy of SL, as a medical doctor. Nowadays, we very rarely come across an overseas born and bred, realising a future in SL. With the globalisation of new avenues, the number of students who are leaving SL for better opportunities has been increased. more..

Dec 31 (TM) �Will SL�s education sector get back on its feet in 2023?� is a question many have raised in the same way the people are looking towards the revival of all sectors that have been affected by the economic decline. However, this is a question that concerns not only one sector or a segment of the population, but pertains to a plethora of the country�s affairs, including the very economic situation that weakened the education sector. more..

Dec 31 (CT) If one were to write the customary Year That Was as circa 2022 draws to a close, it should be titled, as it is: The Year That Should Not Have Been. Yes, this is one year that the nation would not forget, the nation would like to forget that it never happened. Yes, 2022 commenced as any other for most Sri Lankans but those in the know knew it was not to be a normal year, as any other, filled with utopian fun and frolic, and the usual quota of political gimmicks and trade/student union protests. more..

Dec 31 (ST) If you carry your money to a desert, it is not strange that you may not find anything worth there to spend your money; you may return with your money. As far as tourist arrivals are concerned, there are similar places on earth, not only deserts. People who have money, wish to travel and spend, but the problem is whether they may find anything worth to spend their money on. A couple of years ago, one of my foreign friends � a female academic, who visited Colombo with her husband more..