Sep 27 (FT) Professor Mohan Munasinghe, 2021 Blue Planet Prize Laureate and co-winner of the 2007 Nobel Prize for Peace, was recently invited to deliver a keynote speech at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam. He gave advice on sustainable development to Vietnam the President Nguyen Xuan Phuc. President Phuc thanked Prof. Munasinghe for his valuable guidance and for the signed copy of his most recent book: �Sustainability in the 21st Century�, published by Cambridge Uni Press, more..

Sep 27 (AD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe held discussions with Japan�s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi this morning in Tokyo. During the meeting, Foreign Minister Hayashi welcomed SL�s progress with the IMF and expressed his country�s willingness to take a leading role in SL�s creditor talks, the PMD reported. President Wickremesinghe expressed regret over the breakdown of relations between Japan and SL following the cancellation of several more..

Sep 27 (PTI) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday said his govt will back the bids of India and Japan for permanent member status at the UN Security Council. Prez is currently in Japan to attend the state funeral of the former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe. During a meeting with Japanese foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on Tuesday, Wickremesinghe �appreciated the support extended by Japan (to SL) on more..

Sep 27 (AD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe met with the PM of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong in Tokyo today (27). During the discussions, Prez Wickremesinghe informed the Singaporean PM that an international trade office was being established in the President�s office. He also explained that his priority was to bring into effect the Free Trade Agreement with Singapore. PM Lee Hsien Loong welcomed the news and stated that Singapore was looking forward to investing in SL once again. more..

Sep 27 (EN) A report on the violence that rocked Sri Lanka on May 09, already handed over to President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sept 8, will be submitted to the cabinet of ministers and to parliament soon, a government statement said. The official govt online news portal News.lk reported Tuesday (27) morning that State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon had said that steps will be taken to inform the cabinet and the parliament about it in the future. more..

Sep 27 (TM) TMTK Leader C.V. Wigneswaran said that he had requested PM Dinesh Gunawardena to constitute Regional Councils for each province since every province has different issues. He said that since the problems in the North are different to those in the South, he had therefore suggested to Gunawardena to establish regional councils in every province. �Our problems in the North are different to those of the South. more..

Sep 27 (ANI) Local SL fishermen in the northern part of the island nation come forward to oppose the Chinese exploitation of maritime resources in their waters. Led by several Chinese corporations and entities, Beijing has launched a campaign to gain dominance in the sea near SL. Beijing appears to be eyeing the cultivation of sea cucumbers, which is one of the island nation's primary economic activities. Media reports indicate that SL shipped approximately 336 tonnes of sea cucumbers more..

Sep 27 (Reuters) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is ready to provide further financial support to Sri Lanka, a top official of the regional lender said on Tuesday, as the Indian Ocean nation battles its worst economic crisis in more than seven decades. The remarks came after an ADB pact this month for an emergency loan of $200 million to ensure access to food and protect livelihoods after months of shortages of key essential items which sparked protests that forced out the president. more..

Sep 28 (DM) In Nov 2019, our country�s foreign reserves stood at nearly US$ 8 billion. By the end of the following year, that figure had fallen to less than US$4 billion. By Dec 2021, it was down to lesser than US$2 billion, coming out of a series of Covid-19 lockdowns that had paralyzed the economy. Our country entered 2022 with very little foreign reserves to finance its ever-increasing import bills, particularly for fuel, gas, food, medicines and electricity. It also resulted in an inability to repay foreign loans, more..

Sep 28 (GV) After temporarily living in Maldives, Singapore and Thailand, the previous Prez Rajapaksa arrived back in his homeland in early September. Any SL citizen, including a president who abandoned his post, is rightfully entitled to come back to SL and live in peace. This is the way of a nation that is largely built on generosity and hospitality. However, this return has symbolic significance and can be connected to widespread ramifications that impact the Aragalaya, more..

Sep 28 (TM) When it comes to looking into the calls for a system change in the country, it is crucial to understand that the kind of corruption that is being protested against is not simply people breaking the law or finding loopholes to evade the law, but that in SL, the rules themselves have been designed and doctored to allow decision makers to work against public interest and to violate public trust in ways that more..

Sep 28 (CT) Politicians are notorious for hiding facts from the public particularly when those facts threaten their popularity. This is what explains the rationale behind RW�s High Security Zone (HSZ), which more than anything else, symbolizes the increasing economic insecurity for majority of Sri Lankans. He knows very well and does not want to tell the people that economic recovery is going to be disappointingly too tardy and too painful in spite of IMF assistance and reforms. more..

Sep 28 (DM) Reporting on the meeting between the SL Foreign Minister Ali Sabry and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, last Friday on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly session in New York, the Chinese embassy in Colombo said that the two sides had agreed to speed up the negotiation process and strive for an early conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), thereby boosting the confidence in and stabilizing the expectations for their economic and trade cooperation. more..

Sep 28 (Roar) If you have ever wired money abroad through a third-party company that is not a licensed bank or a financial institution, chances are that you�ve committed a crime. Sending money abroad itself is not a crime. But using the informal undiyal or hawala system that bypasses legal systems, makes it one. What makes it more problematic is that these transactions can also include the exchange & trade of illegal drugs more..

Sep 28 (Island) Rajapaksa-Wickremesinghe regime has received a stern rebuke from Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) for suppressing people�s democratic rights. But it is doubtful whether HRCSL will be able to knock any sense into a bunch of politicians intoxicated with power and determined to bulldoze their way through. The govt is running around like a headless chicken while the economic crisis is worsening. It is busy appointing ministers, setting up committees! It's all at sea. more..

Sep 28 (CT) Following months of human rights violations, that were reported around the country, with the series of anti-Govt protests, the recent decision to declare High Security Zones (HSZ) has further fuelled more anger amongst human rights activists and the legal fraternity. A Gazette Extraordinary was issued on 23 Friday by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe declaring several areas in Colombo as HSZs. Accordingly, the Parliament Complex, Supreme Court, High Courts, and more..

Sep 28 (TM) At a time when various parts of the world are facing food crises of different degrees, tomorrow has been declared the Int'l Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste Reduction. Adding that the number of people affected by hunger has been slowly on the rise since 2014, the UN noted that this Int'l Day is an opportunity to call to action both the public (national or local authorities) and the private sector (businesses and individuals), to prioritise actions & move ahead with more..

Sep 28 (Island) Norway on Sept 9 announced that its diplomatic mission in Colombo will be closed at the end of July 2023. The Norwegian Embassy in Colombo declared that this would be among five diplomatic missions to be closed as part of the planned structural reforms in its network of diplomatic missions. The Embassy didn�t mention the other diplomatic missions facing closure. Norway established a diplomatic mission here in 1996 during Chandrika Kumaratunga�s presidency. more..

Sep 28 (FT) Excise Department revenue has increased by Rs. 10 billion, as a result of the new fool-proof sticker initiated in July, Acting Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. �Although the consumption of alcohol has decreased by 20% to 30% due to the increase in the cost of living, about 65% of the expected excise revenue for this year has been achieved,� he said during an inspection visit to the Excise Dept, more..

Sep 28 (ST) Crime incidents in the Kochchikade Police area have been on the rise in recent weeks, with one tragically claiming the life of a bank employee. A 28-year-old youth fell victim when he was stabbed after he tried to prevent his wife and her friend being robbed just close to their home. The victim, Rasika Vinoth Fernandopulle was from Udangawa Kochchikade. On that fateful day, around 7 p.m. his wife had been returning home after work with another friend, when suddenly more..

Sep 28 (FT) The opening ceremony of the Ethera Sisu Diriya which was initiated under the Mahajana Mehewara CSR drives of the People�s Bank was held recently at the Grand Navro Hotel in Matara under the auspices of Southern Province Governor Dr. Willie Gamage, People�s Bank Chairman Sujeewa Rajapakse and CEO/General Manager Ranjith Kodituwakku. Ethera Sisu Diriya had been launched by People�s Bank in collaboration with the SL Foreign Employment Bureau, more..

Sep 28 (CT) An all-round performance from skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan helped SL Legends outplay Bangladesh Legends by 70 runs in the 19th match of the Road Safety World Series worked off at Raipur yesterday (27). Sri Lanka legends set a mammoth 214-run target for Bangladesh Legends on the back of a brilliant half century from Tillakaratne Dilshan, and in reply, Bangladesh were restricted to 143-8. Put into bat, Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Udawatte opened the innings more..

Sep 28 (ST) The SL cricket team laid the foundation for the upcoming ICC T20i World Cup, with their morale boosting win at the Asia Cup which concluded a fortnight ago in Dubai. Before the Asia Cup kick-started, SL was, by a majority, considered as an average side, compared to India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. After SL�s initial loss against Afghanistan, this doubt further grew stronger. But as the tournament progressed, the Islanders became the team to beat, as they swept more..

Sep 28 (FT) SL�s merchandise exports have sustained the growth momentum in August increasing by 10.24% to over $ 1.2 billion, driving the first eight months� performance to exceed the $ 8 billion mark. As per provisional data released by the EDB yesterday, in the first eight months of 2022, merchandise exports exceeded $ 8.85 billion, up by 12.04% year-on-year. This was the third consecutive month SL surpassed the $ 1 billion mark. more..

Sep 28 (DM) Football Sri Lanka (FSL) President Jaswar Umar today warned that there is a great danger of the world football governing body � the FIFA banning SL in the coming days. According to unconfirmed reports, Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe had instructed authorities to appoint a three-member Interim Committee to manage FSL through a gazette notification. Umar said that SL�s conduct has been under observation by the FIFA for years & with strong disapproval. more..

Sep 28 (FT) The UK yesterday announced a � 3 million humanitarian package for SL, providing vital support to the most in need. British HC Sarah Hulton said: �This new package will provide multipurpose cash, livelihoods and other support to those most in need across the country including; pregnant and nursing mothers, children, low-income fisherman and daily wage labourers. This latest announcement is part of our wider engagement to support SL including through World Bank, IMF and more..

Sep 28 (TM) In a backdrop where the main Parliamentary Opposition, the SJB, is alleging that its members have been denied top posts in the key Parliamentary watchdog committees due to fears that corrupt deals by the Govt would be exposed, SLPP Govt claimed that in order for the Opposition to be given the said positions, the Parliament Standing Orders (SOs) need to be amended in prior. SJB MP Kabir Hashim claimed that the Govt more..

Sep 28 (Island) Young people are not only the present but also the future; developing plans and policies without them is a futile exercise, they need to be the front and centre of the discussions because they are the ones with fresh ideas and the most at stake, in terms of the sustainability of the planet and the tourism sector, Christian Skoog, Representative, UNICEF Sri Lanka said in Colombo yesterday. �Here in Sri Lanka, we have a gift. That gift is the 4.4m young people. more..

Sep 28 (TM) Sri Lankans who have become part of the country�s diaspora community following overseas migration, urged fellow diaspora Sri Lankans to invest in SL, and have also started a company for the purpose of enabling the diaspora to make such investments, while urging the authorities to remove obstacles to the same, such as draconian anti-terror laws, they stated. Vasantha Balan from Jaffna said that they had started this company for investors, that many are willing to come to SL. more..

Sep 28 (DN) We are not underestimating any side in the Asia Cup cricket tournament and want to take match by match said SL women�s team skipper Chamari Atapattu before their departure to Bangladesh yesterday. SL women�s cricket team is scheduled to leave this morning for the Asia T-20 cricket cup which will be played at the Sylhet International cricket stadium in Bangladesh. Asia Cup is a good opportunity for us to win this time and my team is confident to meet this challenge more..

Sep 28 (FT) Lakwin Aviation Ltd. was certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of SL (CAASL) to provide domestic commercial civil passenger and cargo transport services after full filling the necessary requirements. Air Operator Certificate (AOC) was handed over by Civil Aviation CEO P.A. Jayakantha to Lakwin Air CEO on behalf of Lakwin Air Accountable Manager Lakshitha Weerasinghe. The entry of more airlines to the SL air transport industry will be a catalyst to the national economy more..

Sep 28 (HRW) The SL govt should reverse a new regulation that unlawfully restricts protests in large areas of the capital, Colombo, Human Rights Watch said today. On Sept 24, 2022, a day after the measure was issued, police arrested 84 people and used tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters calling for the release of student activists being held under the notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act. more..

Sep 28 (Island) The Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery had produced close to 5,000 metric tonnes of low-quality petrol as a result of restarting operations after an extended stoppage, President of the Petroleum General Employees Union Ashoka Ranwala said yesterday. Ranwala said that a ship carrying Siberian blend crude oil had arrived in Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Power and Energy must pay for the shipment immediately to ensure that the Oil Refinery could carry on without a stoppage. more..

Sep 28 (Nikkei) Every day after 4 p.m., residents in this quiet, leafy village listen for the putt-putting of motorbikes on the sandy road next to their homes. When they hear it, they know to shut their doors and turn off their lights. Their children are instructed to run inside and not let anyone in. A motorbike is the vehicle of choice for local debt collectors, who fan out through places like Chandana Pokuna, some 500 brick-faced, rundown houses in SL's rice-farming north central district of Polonnaruwa. more..

Sep 28 (EN) SL is considering selling tickets to tourists in US dollars in a bid to raise money to import spare parts Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardana said amid the worst currency crisis in the history of the island�s intermediate regime central bank. �I plan to ask permission from the central bank to charge for tickets in US dollars,� he said. �Hotels charge in US dollars, I do not see why we cannot.� SL�s Dept of Railways is finding it difficult to import spare parts for its old engines, he said. more..