Nov 12 (DM) Sri Lanka launched this week the long-term residence visa scheme for condominium property holders in SL, an effort towards luring foreign nationals to invest in the island nation. The scheme was launched by SL�s investment promotion agency, the BOI, in collaboration with the Immigration and Emigration Department and Defence Ministry. Under the new visa scheme, the condominium property more..

Nov 12 (ST) There are not enough wildlife officials across Sri Lanka to respond to emergency calls from villages raided by wild elephants day in and day out. Dept of Wildlife Director General Chandana Sooriyabandara, told the Sunday Times there are only about 1,000 wildlife officials. On Monday, in Kebithigollewa, a villager died from a wild elephant attack and angry villagers said wildlife officers had not responded after they had been told by phone about wild elephants in the area. more..

Nov 12 (DM) Former CB Governor, Ajith Nivard Cabraal who has been one of the individuals criticized for SL's worst-ever economic crisis, has released a new book titled Among Economic Killers which is priced at Rs.2500. The book is written in Sinhalese. Cabraal was last week released on bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court over a private plaint filed alleging that he was responsible for the country's crippling economic crisis. Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawala more..

Nov 13 (SO) Formulating a Budget is a challenging task in any given year, but this is especially so for 2023, at a time when its economy has hit the nadir. Soaring inflation, high Cost of Living, depleted foreign reserves, mounting debts, fuel and power crises, loss-making State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and a general contraction of the economy have all made the task of Finance Minister Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and economic planners a rather arduous one. more..

Nov 13 (TM) For years, especially during the three-decade-long war, the word genocide was regularly used by the LTTE � and latterly the Tamil diaspora � to describe the alleged atrocities attributed to the State. This particular term, which was used to great effect by these proponents, ultimately resulted in the Govt of Sri Lanka being thrown into the international doghouse � a spectre it is still struggling to shake off, especially at the UNHRC in Geneva. So profound was its effect that more..

Nov 13 (TM) Independent Opposition MP Prof. G.L. Peiris, who, along with several other MPs, left the Govt led by the SLPP and since declared themselves as a group of independent Opposition MPs, spoke about the current state of the SLPP (of which he is the Chairman), the Parliamentary group he represents, and the country. Q: What is your opinion regarding the Let us rise again programme currently being implemented by SLPP? more..

Nov 13 (ST) Govt�s Budget for next year is to be presented in Parliament tomorrow. The rich, the poor and the in-betweens wait in trepidation for what�s in store. Gone are the days when Budgets indicated what prices would go up, for since the 1970s, Budgets by Gazette have become the norm. But what this Budget has to focus on is how the country plans to get out of this big economic hole its govts have dug for the people. The ordinary people have been sorely battered these past few months more..

Nov 13 (ST) My dear Uncle Ranil, I write to you this week even though you must be very busy today, putting the final touches to the Budget which you will be presenting to Parliament tomorrow. You would be tired too, having to do so soon after returning from the Land of the Pyramids. You must be happy to succeed your uncle JR who was our first Finance Minister, 75 years after he assumed that role. It took you 45 years after entering politics to finally get the job that gets your signature on our currency more..

Nov 13 (SO) State Minister Geetha Kumarasinghe said that at this critical juncture, the entire nation should stand with Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe as he is genuinely attempting to do something to get the country out of the current crisis. She said the people should properly understand the prevailing situation in the country. At present, fuel and gas are available and the prices of some food commodities have also been reduced and more..

Nov 13 (Island) The reality is stark and the price will have to be paid. As a mischievous but amusing text message had it, while Sri Lanka was out the T 20 World Cup before the semifinals, Danushka Gunathilaka for wrong reasons succeeded in putting this country on the world map. While mainstream and social media have already pronounced their judgment, a judicial determination is yet down the road and the cricketer remains held in the meantime in a correctional facility in Australia. more..

Nov 13 (Island) Supreme Court�s determination on the constitutionality of the Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill was met with relief last week. While the determination affirms many fundamental principles and constitutional protections, it provides only a temporary reprieve. Human rights activists and legislators who are concerned about the state�s attempts to restrict human rights through laws and institutions should maintain vigilance with regard to this proposed law. more..

Nov 13 (ST) With Budget 2023 due on Monday, lack of clarity regarding the staff level agreement between SL and IMF was a major cause of friction between the govt and the opposition in Parliament this week. The govt has so far refused to divulge details concerning the outcome of discussions with the IMF and contents of any agreement that was reached. On Wednesday though, SJB MP Dr. Harsha De Silva produced what he claimed with responsibility was a copy of what the govt more..

Nov 13 (Island) Sprint coach Sanjeewa Weerakkody appreciated Yupun Abeykoon�s efforts to enhance the knowledge on techniques of up and coming sprinters in Sri Lanka as South Asia�s fastest sprinter conducted a workshop for budding athletes at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Friday. �His presence will be an inspiration to emerging sprinters. We must be thankful for sharing his expertise,� said Weerakkody in an interview with The Sunday Island on the sidelines of Yupun�s workshop. more..

Nov 13 (ST) SL-born British entrepreneur, Allirajah Subaskaran, was in the news in recent years for alleged corruption and tax evasion charges in the UK. But his investments both in India and SL are diverse, ranging from producing multi-billion dollar South Indian films to sports. Hailing from the North and migrating to the UK at a young age during the wartime and considering his attachment to his one-time home, more..

Nov 13 (Island) This cricket is indeed a funny game. If you remember Sri Lanka�s tour of England in 2006, Mahela Jayawardene�s side was mocked and ridiculed at Lord�s after they conceded over 500 runs and were made to follow on in what was a flat deck. Geoff Boycott ran down the tourists saying that they didn�t deserve to play a three match Test series in England. After all, this was the England team that had regained the Ashes only the previous year after being in the doldrums for decades. more..

>Nov 13 (ST) Not many gave Pakistan a chance to reach the finals of the World Cup but I have always believed that they are a dangerous side who peak at the right time. Of course, their path to the final was helped by South Africa who had a shocking game against Netherlands. Once they got a sniff, Pakistan were all over. They have not done too badly actually in this competition. Mind you their two defeats to India and Zimbabwe happened in the last ball of the match. They played an outstanding semi more..

Nov 13 (TM) The cost for the leasing of 11 new aircraft required by the National Carrier will be borne entirely by SriLankan Airlines, according to the airline. An airline spokesperson confirmed to The Sunday Morning Business that SriLankan had presented a Request For Proposal (RFP) seeking to lease 11 new aircraft as some of the existing aircraft would be retiring from the lease programme by 2024. �As a compromise, we have requested new aircraft and the Govt is looking into this. more..

Nov 13 (ST) Apparel industry�s 30-year old Bodyline venture is today looking at increasing capacity in India and diversifying into new brands, having grown with resilience with its partners MAS and Victoria�s Secret. Bodyline CEO Dinesh De Silva speaking on Bodyline�s 30th anniversary scheduled for Nov 16 stated that they will be expanding capacity in India, where they already have two facilities. Bodyline currently has three facilities in SL and is operating as a single division of MAS Holdings. more..

Nov 13 (ST) Danushka Gunathilaka hasn�t wasted time. Little over a year after his infamous night-out in Durham�when he and two others breached Britain�s strict COVID-19 protocols�he has grabbed global headlines again. This time, over charges of sexual intercourse without consent during the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup. The details are now in the public domain and a legal process has kicked off to ascertain what unravelled more..

Nov 13 (SO) More cans of worms are likely to be opened when Sri Lanka Cricket and govt authorities begin to probe the off-field scandals of the T20 World Cup fiasco in Australia with no less a person than former champion captain Arjuna Ranatunga already witnessing the difference between then and now. SLC announced its probe investigation after the media was awash with reports and visuals of sex escapades, casino brawls, soliciting female company and night frolics at parties that more..

Nov 13 (SO) The case of disgraced SL cricketer Dhanushka Gunathilaka did not happen overnight. It was some kind of a time bomb waiting to explode and warnings by the media over the conduct of present day players when compared to the gentlemen of the past was merely brushed off by an administrative system, or no system, that festered over the past 20 years. Ignorance or arrogance on the part of some so-called democratically elected administrators was the name of the game more..

Nov 13 (TM) IMF has revealed that the approval of the Executive Board with regard to the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement sought by SL will depend on assurances from official bilateral creditors to restore debt sustainability and good faith effort on the part of SL to reach a consensus with private creditors in relation to the debt restructure. Senior Mission Chief for SL Peter Breuer and Mission Chief for Sri Lanka more..

Nov 13 (SO) Track Masters netball club in SL performed well to win the Gold medal on Friday by beating Humming Birds at the 12th Pan Pacific Masters Games held in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Team was led by Lakmini Gunasekera and had the likes of former SL captains Sashika Samarasinghe, Kumarine Silva and Tharjini Sivalingam which gave them a big boost to win the title. In fact Asia�s best goal shooter the six foot 11 inch Tharjini was once again main highlight more..

Nov 13 (ST) SL�s Budget 2023 will be unveiled by Prez and Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament tomorrow with measures to increase taxes on fuel, tobacco and alcohol to boost revenue while reviving an old cost of living allowance for public and private sector workers to cushion rising living costs. Increasing tobacco and alcohol taxation will raise govt revenue without affecting economic growth. Budget 2023 is likely to introduce a model of indexation which automatically links more..

Nov 13 (ST) Bowling all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne has been axed from the ODI team that will face Afghanistan in a three-match series starting Nov 25 in Pallekele. Also missing from the side is Danushka Gunathilaka, who is embroiled in a court case in Sydney over allegations of sexual intercourse without consent with a woman he found on Tinder, a dating app. Karunaratne has had a poor outing during the ICC T20 World Cup. He is also reported to have involved in a fisticuff more..

Nov 13 (TM) The export growth observed by Sri Lanka in 2022 is expected to slow down over the coming months as the intensifying global recession impacts consumer demand in the West. Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, Export Development Board (EDB) Chairman Suresh de Mel stated that during the first 10 months of 2022, SL exporters had performed beyond the expectations of the EDB and they were hopeful that the positive performance would continue in coming months. more..

Nov 13 (TM) The counsels for Sri Lanka have filed a new motion to dismiss the amended complaint filed by Hamilton Reserve Bank (HRB) on the grounds that HRB is not the registered owner of the SL�s International Sovereign Bonds (ISBs) and, being merely the beneficial owner, HRB has no standing to institute the action. On 4 Nov 2022, the legal counsels representing Sri Lanka from Clifford Chance filed a motion to dismiss more..

Nov 13 (ST) A request from the Foreign Ministry to grant permission for four ambassadors and one high commissioner to complete a 3-year tenure beyond the retirement age of 60 has been turned down by Prez�s Office. Permission had been sought for these heads of missions � one of them who has already completed the date of retirement and four others who will be reaching retirement age by next year � to complete the three-year term. However, a decision has been taken not to grant more..

Nov 13 (ST) The cash-strapped govt has reduced the school-going students� Suraksha insurance coverage for the death of a parent or legal guardian to Rs 75,000 from Rs 200,000, with a mandatory clause that the students should be from low-income families to be eligible for the insurance claim. A revised circular to this effect was issued by the Secretary to Ministry of Education. Maximum amount allocated for the death of a parent is also reduced to Rs 225,000 from Rs 600,000 more..

Nov 13 (ANI) SL's High Commissioner to India, Milind Moragoda on Saturday met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and reviewed the bilateral ties between India and south Asian neighbour. A post in the official Twitter handle of the SL High Commission in India aread, "SL's High Commissioner to India @MilindaMoragoda met with the National Security Advisor of India Shri Ajit Kumar Doval today (12) in New Delhi and reviewed the current status of the relations between SL and India." more..

Nov 13 (DM) The CID recorded a statement from Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera for nearly three hours, over the investigations into alleged mega financial fraud committed by Thilini Priyamali, police sources said. So far the CID has recorded statements from several prominent personalities such as film artistes over alleged involvement in this massive fraud. It was reported that as per the complaints received so far, the suspect has defrauded over a staggering Rs. 2,510 m. more..

Nov 13 (AD) More than 300 Sri Lankans, who were rescued at sea off the Spratly Islands after their fishing vessel was damaged and found adrift, have refused to return to the island nation. They are appealing to the UNHCR to help them settle in a foreign country. Upon receiving information about a vessel carrying approximately 303 people believed to be Sri Lankans which was in distress in the waters between Philippines more..

Nov 13 (Island) Human resource management expert CIPM Sri Lanka signed a pioneering MoU recently with the Management Faculty of the Wayamba University to advance knowledge and practice Human Resources among the students of the University. A press release said. It said that the collaboration was a ground-breaking event for the Wayamba University�s Management Faculty. It is the first ever MoU signed by the faculty with a professional organization. more..

Nov 13 (ST) Attorney General has filed indictments in the Colombo High Court against eight accused over environmental damage caused to Sri Lanka�s coastline due to the X-Press Pearl disaster. The accused include the vessel�s captain and local agent. AG has filed eight indictments against the accused under the Marine Pollution Prevention (MPP) Act. If found guilty, the High Court can impose a fine up to Rs. 16 million each on the accused. The cases against the ship�s captain, more..

Nov 13 (ST) One morning in August, an official from the Presidential Secretariat telephoned me. It was to inquire about a reference in these columns to the then impending visit to Colombo of a delegation from the UNHRC. The conversation went something like this: The official: You have reported that a UNHRC team is coming to Sri Lanka. Is this correct? Prez wants me to find out. Me: I know it is an accurate account. If you are in doubt, more..