Dec 4 (ST) The Cabinet-Appointed Committee on Power Sector Reform has recommended the division of the debt-ridden CEB into 14 companies, with a fifteenth entity to take over any residual functions and activities. The nine-member group has also said that to attract serious investors into the power and energy sector, the Govt must move away from practices such as accepting unsolicited proposals towards a procurement framework more..

Dec 4 (AD) In view of Int'l Day of Disabled Persons (celebrated on 03 Dec), Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has assured that a special programme will be formulated for the benefit of differently-abled persons. Speaking at a ceremony themed Transformative solutions for inclusive development; the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world, held at Temple Trees this morning to commemorate the event, Wickremesinghe noted that PM Dinesh Gunawardena has already more..

Dec 4 (Island) The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) has informed the Colombo Additional Magistrate Ranjindra Jayasuriya that an investigation has been launched to arrest the suspects involved in the organized racket of obtaining kidneys from poor people promising big money and selling them to local and foreign people. The CCD told the court on Thursday that four men and one woman have parted with their kidneys, and despite promising to pay Rs.15 million per kidney nothing was paid. more..

Dec 4 (ST) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe will focus on at least two priority areas after the final vote on the Budget 2023 in Parliament on Thursday. One is the long overdue formulation of proposals for ethnic reconciliation. The other is an expansion of the Cabinet, a task which is being put on hold until the budget debate is over. For reconciliation, although Parliament is to meet, the modalities are still not clear. more..

Dec 5 (CT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as finance minister presented the Budget 2023 in the parliament on Nov 14. His budget address presenting a roadmap for economic recovery was aptly titled Towards a new beginning. It showed the govt�s ambitious target of increasing govt revenue, record economic growth rate of 7-8% and increase FDIs to more than $ 3 billion. The splintered voting by major political parties on the Budget in parliament showed that more..

Dec 5 (DM) National budgets reveal the economic policies for the following year, and at historic moments the shift in the economic policy trajectory for a number of years. The recently announced Budget 2023 comes amidst the worst economic crisis in the country since Independence, and its commissions and omissions require careful analysis. In this context, as with the mini-budget for Sept to Dec of 2022 unveiled in Aug 2022, the budget for 2023 has the singular focus of addressing more..

Dec 5 (TM) The ongoing severe drug shortage has had a drastic impact on low-income earners as they struggle to secure low-cost substitutes for medicines that are in short supply in the local pharmaceutical market. There is a trend of prescribing high-cost substitutes by some medical practitioners as certain medicines are unavailable in the local market, especially for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). more..

Dec 5 (DM) The current literacy rate in our country is estimated to stand at 92.3% - one of the highest in the Asian region. Yet, at the time we received independence from Britain in 1946, the literacy rate in the country stood at a mere 57.8%, with female literacy being 43.8% while male literacy stood at 70.1%. As Lankans, we can justly take pride in this fact. The credit for this remarkable turnaround, goes to the system of free education the country adopted as far back as in 1943, which through more..

Dec 5 (CT) The series of ill-advised and short-sighted economic decisions taken by the previous regime led to the ultimate downfall of that govt. People gradually started to lose faith in the govt�s as well the Head of State�s capability of crisis aversion and saw no other immediate solution than him resigning, which was the ultimate result of people�s protests. However, these bad economic decisions aren�t the only decisions the previous regime has taken that raised a few eyebrows and more..

Dec 5 (TM) Student unions have cried foul over the Govt�s proposed plans to revise existing legislation to overhaul the uni education system. State Minister Dr. Suren Raghavan said that the uni system required a major overhaul. �Universities Act No. 16 of 1978, under which the UGC was established, has seen 44 years, which means at least two generations have come and gone through universities under this act.� more..

Dec 5 (TM) A decision has been made to set up an independent National Policies Commission, and steps are underway to look into the formation of this commission and its tasks. As per the media reports, this commission will be established through an Act, and will be tasked with forming and implementing national policies and overseeing their implementation. Sub-committee has been appointed to take the necessary steps to set up this commission. This is a commendable more..

Dec 5 (ST) The New Year that beckons in less than a month will not be happy for Sri Lankans. As the unprecedented migration of skilled professionals from medical, legal, information technology and accounting fields gathers strength with financial privations becoming steadily worse for the middle class, a perfect storm of repression also quickens apace. The more naive among us may be inclined to dismiss President Ranil Wickremesinghe�s recent gun-happy quips on the floor of the House more..

Dec 5 (ST) Startling revelations regarding Rajapaksas� foreign travel expenses for 2021 have now been made public by the President�s Office and the PM�s Office which had earlier refused to disclose to a Right to Information inquiry when the two were under Gotabaya and Mahinda Rajapaksa respectively. He had spent an austere Rs. 5.4m in September to attend the 76th opening session of the UN�s General Assembly along with other Heads of State in New York, scrupulously paying for more..

Dec 5 (FT) Foreign Affairs Ministe Ali Sabry paid an official visit to Washington DC from 30 Nov to 2 Dec. He was in the US capital to meet with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken. They held productive discussions at the Dept of State on Friday (2), focused on further elevating SL-US relations in diverse spheres, including the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations which will be marked in 2023. In addition to the meeting with Secretary Blinken, Embassy of SL to the US facilitated more..

Dec 5 (ST) After a disastrous tour to Australia in 2019, the selectors made some wholesale changes to the test team with several seniors including skipper Dinesh Chandimal, facing the axe. Among the axed were off-spinner Dilruwan Perera and middle-order batsman Roshen Silva, dropped following SL�s innings and 40-run defeat at the Gabba. Apart from Niroshan Dickwella, none of the SL batters scored more than 35 runs more..

Dec 5 (Island) The holier-than-thou frontbenchers of both sides of Parliament have been displaying their knowledge of Buddhism, of late, by quoting extensively from the Sutta Pitaka, the way drunkards use lamp-posts�for support rather than illumination. A discussion on Dhamma in Parliament is like a conference on animal rights at an abattoir, or a talk on chastity in a bordello. Our honourable representatives who are overflowing with religiosity, and moralising, ought to heed more..

Dec 5 (AD) Minister Harin Fernando said that a new mobile App will be introduced for the safety of tourists coming to Sri Lanka while promoting the tourism industry. Minister stated the above at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Tourism and Lands held recently. Minister said this while explaining the steps taken and which are expected to be taken regarding the promotion of the tourism industry in this country and added that he hopes to use this mobile application in January. more..

Dec 5 (TM) The Ceylon Institute of Builders President Dr. Rohan Karunaratne yesterday called for priority SME settlement citing that the Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe has said Rs. 25 billion out of Rs. 200 billion due to contractors will be released by end of the year. �As the dues for large-scale contractors are very high, we strongly recommend that these funds are utilised to settle SME sector dues first, as this would provide relief for a larger number of SME contractors,� more..

Dec 5 (Island) SL�s Head Coach Chris Silverwood and his predecessor Mickey Arthur heaped high praise on middle order batsman Charith Asalanka, whose stunning 83 not out helped SL to complete the highest successful run chase ever at home on Wednesday. Set an improbable target of 314, Asalanka played a blinder smashing five fours and four sixes during his 72-ball knock with the last six sealing SL�s victory with two balls to spare. Asalanka made his SL debut in England during more..

Dec 5 (AD) The ethnic, religious issues and other genuine concerns of the people could be put behind the past to prevent a break up of unity and integrity of the state by the 75th Independence Anniversary of the country. As discussed by the MPs, if the Attorneys-at-law in the country would assist in this process, this task could be achieved, said Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe. He made this observation addressing the ceremony more..

Dec 5 (DM) Outstanding credit card balance has dipped by a little in October in a dual sign that banks may be tightening their credit card standards while consumers are also pulling back on their spending without taking on any more debt as they are fighting the worst cost of living crisis in their lifetime. The data for the month showed that the outstanding credit card balance had slipped by Rs.64 million in October to Rs.136.7 billion after slowing down in September. more..

Dec 5 (TA) CCTV footage has captured the terrifying moment a teenage daughter rushed to her neighbour�s door to beg for help after her mother was allegedly stabbed to death. Dinush Kurera, 45, has been charged with murder after his wife Nelomie Perera was found dead in a Melbourne suburb about midnight on Saturday. Chilling surveillance video has emerged of the moment the woman�s 16-year-old daughter escaped to a neighbour�s front yard and banged on the door until it opened. more..

Dec 5 (FT) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa claims the SJB led by him is the only political force able to rebuild the country. �Only we can provide solutions to the country now in a state of collapse,� he said. According to him, only the SJB can provide sustainable solutions instead of dragging the country down further. Highlighting the work done by the SJB while in the Opposition, Premadasa said in SL�s 72-year history more..

Dec 5 (FT) NPP party Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake has accused the Election Commission of SL and its Chairman Nimal Punchihewa of being behind a conspiracy to delay local Govt polls. He said despite being empowered to call for elections, the Election Commission appears to be waiting for a signal from the Govt. �By 20 March new local Govt institutions must be set up. In other words, by then elections must be held, councillors gazetted and the institutions set up. If this is to be, then more..

Dec 5 (TM) The Trade Union Co-ordinating Centre (TUCC) has organised a series of protests today (5) and tomorrow (6) against Budget 2023, based on several issues including proposed privatisation of Govt institutions, revision of labour laws, increase in taxes, and preparations to curtain salaries and other benefits of public and private sector employees. According to the TUCC, protests will be held in the Colombo Fort, Nawala, Padukka Meepe, Kottawa, Homagama, and Pannipitiya areas today. more..

Dec 5 (FT) Computer Society of SL (CSSL) has announced the launch of the country�s first-ever National CIO List, a pioneering initiative to identify the best of the best. CSSL anticipates the CIO list will add a new dimension and shape the ICT Professional landscape of Sri Lanka. CSSL President Damith Hettihewa said: �In today�s context, digital transformation is a compulsion and regarded as an essential ingredient for success and competitive advantage for any business. more..

Dec 5 (TM) Minister Manusha Nanayakkara stated that 400 agencies found sending individuals overseas for employment purposes on visit visas were banned by the Ministry, and further claimed that the representative agencies bringing their commission into SL through the undiyal (unlicenced money transfer) system have also been banned. �We are regulating all agencies. 400 agencies were caught sending people abroad for employment on visit visas, and they have been banned. more..

Dec 5 (TM) ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam stated that the TNA, of which the ITAK is a part, and which has been critical of China over the nature of its economic engagement with SL, was not influenced in this regard by the party�s relationship with China�s primary Asian competitor, India. Responding to a query about the criticism levelled against the TNA for its stance on China, and whether this stance was due to the TNA more..

Dec 5 (HT) Putting equal onus on rich global north and developing global south, the Paris Club creditor nations are proposing a 10-year moratorium on SL debt and another 15 years of debt restructuring as a formula to resolve the current financial crisis in the Island nation. While the Paris Club is still to formally reach out to India and China, two of SL�s biggest creditors with Beijing holding near 50% of external debt, Colombo on its part is still to initiate a formal dialogue with the Xi Jinping regime more..

Dec 5 (DN) All services connected to the supply of electricity and fuel have been once again proclaimed as essential services by the Prez. Gazette Extraordinary, published on Saturday under the Essential Public Services Act of 1979, stated that the services provided by any Public Corporation or Govt Dept or Local Authority or Co-operative Society, connected to supply of electricity and the supply or distribution of petroleum products and fuel, are essential to the life of the community. more..

Dec 5 (ST) Arts stream candidates comprised more than 25% of students who gained university admission according to the cut-off marks for the 2021 GCE A/L exams released on Friday. The uni admission cut-off points were given four months after the exam results were released. The 2021 A/L exams were postponed repeatedly, and were finally held in February and March this year. The exam results were released in August, after almost six months. more..

Dec 5 (DM) An armed gang came in motorcycles and a white van ransacked a residence of an OIC of the Kalutara North Police this afternoon. Police said the armed gang which broke into the house of the OIC, inspector Nishan Kumara of the minor complaints unit of Kalutara North at Welipenna reportedly stole two mobile phones and gold jewelry and fled. The IP was not at home at the time of the robbery, but his wife who was at home was attacked by the robbers. She was injured in the attack. more..

Dec 5 (FT) Nepali entrepreneur, politician, and philanthropist Dr. Binod K. Choudhary said that his CG Corp Global�s acquisition of controlling stake in Union Bank of Colombo (UBC) reaffirms its commitment to SL despite most challenging times. UBC said that CG Capital Partners Global Ltd, based in Singapore has entered into a share sale and purchase agreement with TPG Asia VI SF Ltd, to buy the latter�s Culture Financial Holdings more..

Dec 5 (AP) The family of an Austin, Texas, man is seeking answers after he was fatally shot by police last month on his front porch following a late-night emergency call by a neighbor. Video and audio released Thursday show Austin police officers arrived Nov. 15, yelled �drop your gun,� then fired at Rajan Moonesinghe, who was holding an AR-15-style weapon. Officers were responding to a 911 call requesting police and mental health support because a man was holding a long gun more..

Dec 5 (AD) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) announces that speculation that expatriate Sri Lankans� remittances to SL have been taxed and forcibly converted into SL rupees is completely unfounded. �There are no taxes on remittances and expatriated Sri Lankans are free to hold such remittances in foreign currency form in their bank accounts or convert such remittances into SL rupees at their discretion,� the CB tweeted. Expatriate Sri Lankans continue to enjoy the current incentives more..

Dec 5 (TM) Claiming that he does not consider the recent incident of two junior female police officers being manhandled by a senior police officer during a protest in the Panadura area as harassment, National Police Commission (NPC) Chairman Chandra Fernando said that the senior police officer in question had only positioned the two female officers. The police officer in question, Panadura South Police Station Hq Inspector more..