Nov 9 (CI) Wanindu Hasaranga has regained the top spot among T20I bowlers, replacing Rashid Khan, after a successful T20 World Cup, where he picked up 15 wickets in eight matches. Hasaranga picked up three-wicket hauls three times in the tournament. His 3 for 8 against UAE and 3 for 28 against Netherlands ensured Sri Lanka turned their first-round campaign around after an opening loss to Namibia to enter the Super 12s. He then picked up 3 for 13 against Afghanistan in the Super 12s. more..

Nov 9 (EN) SL is looking to attract European tourists affected by rising gas prices in that region in the coming winter season, Tourism Minister Harin Fernando told CNN�s Richard Quest in an interview. Speaking on CNN�s Quest Means Business programme, Fernando said SL has short and long term plans to revive the island nation�s crisis-hit tourism sector. �The short term is jumping into India and getting all the Indians to come in to SL� because there�s a massive middle class more..

Nov 9 (TM) At the end of the 100-day protest staged by the North-East Co-ordinating Committee (NECC), a people�s declaration urging for a federal solution within a merged Northern and Eastern Province was delivered yesterday in all eight districts of both provinces. North-East District Co-ordinating Committee Prez Lavakusarasa Kandumani said that more than 1,000 people participated on 100th day of protest more..

Nov 9 (EN) Sri Lanka tea industry is expecting a 30% production dip this year due to heavy rains in October the country�s tea production area and the export earnings also are likely to reduce, tea brokers said. The island nation�s tea production is already down in the first nine months of 2022 to 192.37 million kilograms, the lowest in 26 years in the corresponding period, according to the Ceylon Tea Board. The production in the Jan-Sept period is 18% lower than last year. more..

Nov 9 (TM) NFF MP Wimal Weerawansa alleged in Parliament that CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe earns two salaries � one from the CBSL and the other from the IMF � which, he opined, creates a conflict of interest. He stated: �I don�t know about the level of faith each of you has placed in Dr. Weerasinghe, but to my knowledge, he receives two salaries, where the salary from the CBSL amounts to more than Rs. 2.5 million, while other salary is pension he receives from IMF. more..

Nov 9 (FT) Gaia Greenenergy Group has entered into two agreements with the BOI to install rooftop solar systems for 100 MW with an investment of $ 61 million in the Central Province and the North Central Province. In phase 2 of these projects, the capacity and investment would double to 200MW and $ 122 million respectively to be completed within 18 months. The signing of agreements took place recently at the Investor Facilitation Centre (IFC) of the BOI headquarters more..

Nov 9 (CT) Minister Tiran Alles undertook an official visit to Singapore at the invitation of Minister for Home Affairs and Law of Singapore K. Shanmugam from 25-29 Oct 2022. The delegation participated in a briefing session, arranged by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) on Singapore�s legal frameworks in maintaining public order and combating drugs. Minister Shanmugam provided an overview of the legal frameworks and the amendments introduced in recent years more..

Nov 9 (AD) The revenue of Rs. 16 billion that the govt lost after the special commodity levy imposed on sugar was slashed by the previous administration in 2020, Acting Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says. He made this remark in parliament today, presenting a document compiled by the Commissioner-General of the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) based on the report of the Auditor General. more..

Nov 9 (AD) UK Trade Envoy for Sri Lanka, Lord Davies of Abersoch has arrived in Colombo for a three-day visit, the British High Commission in Sri Lanka said. He will meet a range of business and govt stakeholders with a view to expand trade opportunities and support the mutual growth of the UK-SL economic partnership, it said. The British former banker and former Labour govt minister was appointed as the UK PM�s Trade Envoy for Sri Lanka by then PM Boris Johnson in October 2020. more..

Nov 9 (AD) Preparations are underway for the parliamentarians of several political parties to join the UNP and to support the govt in the upcoming budget, according to political sources. Accordingly, the sources further claim that nearly 13 MPs of SLPP and SJB will join the UNP on the date of the Budget Speech. It is also reported that initial discussions have been held in this regard and that further discussions are being carried out regarding the ministerial positions to be given to MPs more..

Nov 9 (EN) Over 300 boat people from Sri Lanka who were fleeing a currency crisis in the country have been brought ashore to Vietnam by rescue authorities after overcoming initial resistance, reports said. Around 200 men along with women with young children were rescued in the waters around the Spratly islands by a Japanese ship, after a fishing boat they were travelling from Myanmar got into trouble. more..

Nov 9 (DM) The construction work of the newly built Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) within the Colombo Port was initiated today. The project was flagged off by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. Indian High Commissioner to SL, Gopal Bagle was also among the participants at this event as a special guest. The entire project will cost US$789 million. 51% of this total investment belongs to India's Adani Group, 34% to John Keells Holdings PLC, and 15% to SLPA. more..

Nov 9 (NR) Committee on Public Accounts has disclosed that there is no proper regulatory system to control the price of vegetable seeds. This was disclosed when the Committee on Public Accounts met in Parliament yesterday under the chairmanship of MP Kabir Hashim. A discussion was held on the performance of the process of producing vegetable seeds locally and several parties including the Ministry of Agriculture was therefore present. It was also discussed that although the more..

Nov 10 (DM) SL is still in one hell of a mess burning in its worst ever socio-economic and political crisis since independence in 1948. Five months after taking office, Prez Wickremesinghe and his SLPP govt are taking practical steps to pull the country out of its crisis of crisis. In the meantime, the opposition or another public uprising is building up demanding that the economic calamity be solved, the cost of living brought down and millions of people or more than 25% of our population be pulled out more..

Nov 10 (GV) Innocent until proven guilty is a popular legal maxim seems to be flowing out of the mouth of many men and perhaps even an equal number of women who have suddenly developed an acute desire for the law in the wake of the sexual assault allegations against cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka. Why do many feel that he should be afforded this benefit of doubt? And why is that this is one of the strongest reactions many are having? When we find ourselves rushing to the comment section more..

Nov 10 (TM) Public is divided over how the Govt should reduce its expenses as far as reducing the public sector workforce and welfare programmes are concerned. According to a recent survey, even though many people support the shrinking of the public sector and believe that it is primarily the people�s responsibility to find jobs, when it comes to welfare programmes, an equally substantial number believe that such programmes should more..

Nov 10 (TM) In a context where there is considerable tension amidst society about what transpired at the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre, The Morning yesterday reported on the importance of stopping the entry of drugs into the country. This was explained by a top Rehabilitation Bureau official, who said that it has been difficult to achieve the full benefits of the rehabilitation of drug users, because, as long as the entry of drugs into the country is not curtailed, more..

Nov 10 (DM) Your article on November 1 Daily Mirror triggered my memory regarding an intervention we tried in the early 1990s to correct this problem. I am writing this hoping that it will give some food for thought. I was Chairman of the Employees� Trust Fund Board (ETF) and was summoned one day by President Premadasa. There were a couple of officials also present. The President had been briefed about the problem of low birth-weight babies of SL�s working women. more..

Nov 10 (SO) Two more accomplices of Thilini Priyamali, who was arrested for financial fraud were taken into custody by the CID this week. Among them is Ven. Borella Siri Sumana Thera, a bhikkhu who has claimed he attained arahath hood and Janaki Siriwardena a powerful businesswoman in SL. Ven. Siri Sumana Thera resides in the Samadhi Aranya in Kadawatha located on a one acre plot of land. more..

Nov 10 (ST) Just as Aldoris drove into the lane with his food-filled tuk�tuk accompanied by the usual music, the trio walked towards the gate and warmly greeted him. The trio�s regular conversations, sometimes �hot� sometimes �cold�, with Aldoris was a welcome feature on an otherwise quiet morning in the household. �Ah��.Aldoris, wessata ahuwuna-neda (Ah� Aldoris got caught to the rain, eh),� asked Kussi Amma Sera. �Ow, mae davas wala godak wahinawa ne, ekai mata eeiyae more..

Nov 10 (CT) Delivering the country statement at the UN Climate Change Conference 2022, COP27, presently being held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, on Tuesday asserted that developing countries need to be compensated for loss and damage caused by industrialisation of developing countries. He also put the onus of climate compensation on the First World countries and even urged the developed nations to adhere to their pledge at Glasgow Climate Pact to more..

Nov 10 (TM) The news of cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka�s arrest in Sydney, Australia, on four counts of sexual assault (sexual intercourse without consent) against an Australian woman, is shaping up to be one of the most polarising stories of 2022. Online and offline conversations about the alleged incident diverge in predictable ways. Innocent until proven guilty is making its usual cameo, supported by the bizarre claim that the anti-Gunathilaka sentiment is a feminist conspiracy. more..

Nov 10 (SO) There are a large number of unresolved disputes in the Sri Lankan construction industry. As the SME sector cannot afford to undertake lengthy and costly legal processes the Ceylon Institute of Builders (CIOB) has ventured to set up a mediation centre to provide services to the SME sector and supply chain stakeholders, said CIOB President Dr. Rohan Karunaratne. He was speaking at a meeting between the CIOB and USAID officials recently. more..

Nov 10 (ST) While social activists demand a ban on corporal punishment in schools and at home, some students have begun to use social media to hold teachers to account. In a recent incident in a northern school, a teacher who used a cane to punish a student for not doing his homework has been accused of child cruelty. A Facebook post featuring the scar on his hand has gone viral, prompting an investigation by more..

Nov 10 (Island) Some teachers and policemen are in schtook over an incident where three Grade Five schoolboys were allegedly beaten up and tortured on suspicion that they had stolen a teacher�s purse at a school in Horana. NCPA got cracking. It launched a probe. Victims insist that the police subjected them to electric shocks while being interrogated. The unfortunate incident, which must be condemned unreservedly, could have been avoided if the teachers of the school more..

Nov 10 (FT) Hemas Holdings has delivered a robust performance for the first six months through what the Company described as value creating relationships and execution of prudent strategies. Group revenue was increased by 43.4% to Rs. 52 billion and operating profits by 79.1% to Rs. 4.7 billion whilst the Group earnings grew by 41.1% to Rs. 2.2 billion. In the 2Q of FY23 the Group posted a revenue of Rs. 27.1 billion up 36.8% year on year driven by defensive core sectors and more..

Nov 10 (DM) SL needs to do more for it to fulfil the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda by 2030, as efforts taken thus far are not sufficient to complete the targets within the given time frame, the Colombo-based think tank Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) pointed out. The country must be meticulously watchful on its assessment and efforts in development planning for the future, for which it is imperative to use the SDGs as a platform to rebuild the island nation�s development legacy. more..

Nov 10 (FT) Sandya Ekneligoda, wife of slain journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda claims she was barred from entering the Supreme Court complex on two occasions this year when attempting to attend hearings in relation to her husband�s disappearance. Writing to Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya she said while she had attended courts for proceedings on many previous occasions from 2010 - 2020, she has not been allowed to enter the court premises since 2020 following the COVID-19 outbreak. more..

Nov 10 (FT) Central Bank declared that the crisis-hit economy has shown signs of stability but warned that expected near term recovery is fraught with many challenges. CBSL assessment via the release of Recent Economic Developments: Highlights of 2022 and Prospects for 2023 yesterday comes days ahead of the 2023 Budget presentation in Parliament next Monday (14). The publication lists a host of initiatives taken to ensure stability more..

Nov 10 (FT) Dr. Palitha Abeykoon has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board, co-convened by the WHO and WB. The Board is mandated to provide comprehensive analysis and recommendations on global readiness to meet any health emergencies such as COVID-19. A Senior Advisor to the WHO and the Ministry of Health in SL, Dr. Abeykoon is the only member on the Board serving in the South Asian region and more..

Nov 10 (FT) Saudi Arabia has agreed in principle to recruit more Sri Lankans for the construction and health sectors and to increase the minimum wage of domestic workers, Labour and Foreign Employment Ministry said. As per the Ministry, the assurance was extended during an official bilateral discussion held between Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara and Saudi Arabia Human Resources and Social Development Minister Ahmad bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi. more..

Nov 10 (TM) Amidst speculation that the MPs of several political parties are in discussions to join the UNP and support the new Govt in the upcoming Budget, Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa claimed that none of the SJB MPs will succumb to the privileges offered to them and join the Govt. He stated that no amount of incentives could be used to lure MPs from the SJB to the side of the Govt, and that no MP from his party more..

Nov 10 (FT) Cargills (Ceylon) announced the Group was able to deliver a steady performance in the first half of FY23 amidst a challenging environment, particularly considering rising interest and raw material cost as well as increasing cost of operations. Group recorded a cumulative revenue of Rs. 97,181 mil (66% YoY) for the 1st half of the year while revenue increased to Rs. 49,206 mil (70% YoY) during the quarter under review. Group EBITDA for the 1st half of the year was more..

Nov 10 (Island) CFA Society SL launched a financial literacy publication authored by Ravi Abeysuriya, CFA, Advocacy Chair of CFA Society SL, at the CSE yesterday. The chief guest Ms. K M A N Daulagala, Deputy Governor of Central Bank of SL (CBSL), rang the market opening bell during the event marking another milestone of Sri Lanka�s ongoing endeavors, aiming at minimizing the risk of the public being deceived by investment schemes offered by untrustworthy and fake more..

Nov 10 (SO) A sports university will be a reality soon and Sri Lanka�s youth will then be able to excel in sports as well as in studies when this institute is started at the Diyagama Sports Complex. This ambitious remark was made by Roshan Ranasinghe the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs when he addressed the gathering at the media briefing to announce the countdown to the Middle East Crown, the professional boxing tournament that will be held for the first time in Sri Lanka. more..