Apr 2 (SO) Two years ago a frail-looking teenager Umayanga Mihiran caught the eye of the National Boxing Selection Committee chairman and retired Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya during a trial meet for the Asian Youth and Junior Boxing Championship to be held in Dubai, UAE. �The selection committee looked into the potential of boxers who have the technique and physical fitness. There were only two who had some potential and probably could be groomed for the future. more..

Apr 2 (TM) Last week marked the first anniversary of a milestone event in Sri Lanka�s history � the Aragalaya people�s protest movement � that resulted in the ousting of a Prez, PM, and the Cabinet of Ministers. Launched during the height of the country�s unprecedented economic crisis, the Aragalaya movement resulted in the country experiencing many changes, some for the better and some not so. more..

Apr 2 (Island) Last week�s previously announced strike by employees of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) would surely have invoked memories of last year�s queue horrors outside filling stations and gas dealerships; this was not only in the minds of motorists and cooking gas consumers but also within a wider spectrum of the people subject to hours long power cuts. The success, if it may be so described, of the Wickremesinghe presidency up to now predates last month�s deal with IMF. more..

Apr 2 (ST) Yet another official delegation has returned from yet another study tour of South Africa to explore ways and means of re-energising a yet-another Reconciliation exercise at home � 14 years after the armed northern separatist insurgency was quashed and the mopping up was not properly done. Some may say better late than never, while others would argue that that transitional justice train has long left the station. SL has been the victim of what has become an industry in Europe, more..

Apr 2 (ST) My dear IGP Chandana, I thought of writing to you because you were granted a three-month extension as the top cop of the country when thousands of other public servants are forced to retire on their 60th birthday. I suppose I should say congratulations, but your extension is also a reflection of the sad state the Police is in now. In the lead up to your much anticipated retirement, there was a lot of speculation about who would replace you. more..

Apr 2 (CI) Just as Sri Lanka are looking for their first victory of the tour, Wanindu Hasaranga is looking for his first international wicket in New Zealand. He was not especially threatening in the ODIs, but he tends to be much more effective in the shortest format, where he is ranked second among bowlers, internationally. He has a tough challenge first up, as Sunday's match is at Eden Park, one of the smallest grounds in the world, where even mis-hits off legspinners can sail into the stands. more..

Apr 2 (ST) The COPE has expressed strong displeasure over revelations that at Peradeniya Uni, nine academic and non-academic staff members, have gone on foreign training programmes in Germany and Italy at a cost of Rs. 6,690,000 in taxpayer funds, despite clear instructions not to do so. COPE noted that the staff members disregarded multiple circulars issued since last year, instructing university academic and more..

Apr 2 (ST) Kusal Janith Perera will make his first appearance in international cricket following 16 months of recovery from a shoulder injury as SL look for a positive start to the three-match T20 series against the Kiwis starting today in Auckland, NZ. SL is yet to record a win in the current series. They lost the Test series 2-0 and conceded the ODI series 2-0 without a fight. The visitors are now desperate to restore some pride during the T20 series�a format they have been slightly competitive more..

Apr 2 (ST) A 181-run stand for the third wicket between national discard Dinesh Chandimal and Pasindu Sooriyabandara helped Team Galle to record a convincing 79-run win over Team Kandy in their National Super League 50-over fixture played at P. Sara Oval yesterday. Galle lost two quick wickets and were reeling at 2 for 17 when Chandimal and Sooriyabandara stitched the match-winning partnership that propelled their score to 268 for the loss of five wickets. more..

Apr 2 (Island) SL born Executive Chef Chaminda Ambagaspitiya is actively promoting Sri Lanka cuisine in several parts of Canada and due to his efforts Lankan food is gaining popularity in that country. Born and raised in SL, Ambagaspitiya acquired an interest in the culinary arts as a teenager attending the SL Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management. It was here that his talents began to flower, as he was presented with many opportunities to innovate an array of dishes more..

Apr 2 (Island) Following the national cricket team�s shambolic performance in the ODI series in NZ there was confirmation that SL will not qualify automatically for this year�s World Cup. They will have to play a qualifying tournament in June this year involving WI, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Netherlands and other teams in the lower ranks and only two teams go through for the World Cup in India this October. SL having never missed out on an ICC event in the past will be under tremendous more..

Apr 2 (TM) The shortage of instant blood glucose test kits remains persistent in State hospitals despite the stocks of Indian manufactured test kit strips arriving in the country recently, due to equipment compatibility issues. It is learnt that the imported test strips cannot be used for the available glucometers and that the authorities are waiting for the Indian manufactured glucometers to arrive in the country to distribute them to State hospitals more..

Apr 2 (ST) In a sudden turn of events, the Director General (DG) of Sports, Amal Edirisooriya has been removed with immediate effect by the Minister of Sports after obtaining Cabinet approval. Edirisooriya confirmed that he vacated the post following the order on Friday. A senior Sports Ministry official said that the decision was taken after he had failed to discharge his duties to the satisfaction of the minister. �Minister was not happy with his contribution to resolve some of the issues more..

Apr 2 (TM) After the turmoil of last week�s NZ ODI series, SL�s white ball Captain Dasun Shanaka is likely to be sacked from his position. SLC has last week requested Shanaka to resign from the ODI captaincy, a former Sri Lankan cricketer said on conditions of anonymity. Either Dhananjaya de Silva or Kusal Mendis will get the 50-over captaincy if the selectors go for a youth policy, the same source added. Meanwhile, Wanindu Hasaranga may be conferred the captaincy in the T20 format, more..

Apr 2 (TM) Over 700 doctors including some medical consultants have left SL and migrated overseas last year. At present, there are about 20,000 serving doctors and around 2,800 consultants in SL. GMOA stated that by the end of August last year, around 125 consultants had migrated from SL. Some of these doctors have left the country after they applied for official leave, while some have left by vacating their post more..

Apr 2 (AD) Veteran SL actor Amarasiri Kalansuriya has passed away at the age of 82, according to family sources. Born on Sept 20, 1940, Kalansuriya was an acclaimed actor in SL cinema, theatre and television, fondly known as Kalan. Kalansuriya made his first film appearance in the movie Hanthane Kathawa in 1969, alongside the late actor Vijaya Kumaratunga. During his acting career spanning over 50 years, Kalansuriya has appeared in a number of notable popular movies including more..

Apr 2 (ST) More than a dozen pyramid schemes are on the Central Bank (CB) radar after the regulator got the Attorney General to file criminal cases against three such prohibited schemes recently. As the schemes were contravening Section 83C of the Banking Act cases will be filed against Fast3cycle International (P) Ltd., Sport Chain App, Sport Chain ZS Society SL, and Onmax DT which have collectively defrauded Rs. 8 billion in the country. Additionally, Global Lifestyles Lanka, (P) Ltd, more..

Apr 2 (TM) A delegation of representatives from the IMF is currently in Sri Lanka to hold discussions with local stakeholders. They plan to discuss the implementation of the reforms programmes the Govt has initiated following consultations with the IMF. A highly-placed Government source said that it was understood that the feedback from the planned stakeholder meeting would be used by the IMF to prepare for the feedback sessions, which are expected in the following month. more..

Apr 2 (EN) Join Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) has condemned an attack by a group on a foreign executive of a factory and has called for swift action. A group of individuals had attacked the managing director of an apparel factory in Halpe, Katana, after breaking into his residence. The Omani national is on an observation tour, Joint JAAF said. A security officer as well as the Omani national had been injured. �As the apex body of the apparel industry, we condemn such acts of violence,� more..

Apr 2 (TM) Concerns have been raised over the credibility of the new player in the domestic renewable energy industry who recently won a mega solar project, as the company has informed Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee (CANC) that it will arrange a visit to its previous projects once final approval is received. The Sunday Morning last week reported about the Ministry of Health seeking Cabinet approval for a mega project more..

Apr 2 (AD) A group of petroleum trade unionists met with President Mahinda Rajapaksa to discuss their issues and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation�s move to send several employees and trade union members on compulsory leave for disrupting the fuel distribution process. Following the meeting which lasted for nearly two hours this morning (April 01), the trade unionists said they were hopeful that the former Head of State would intervene to resolve the matter. more..

Apr 2 (EN) State run water supplier has cut off water supply for 87,000 consumers who have failed to pay their monthly bill after a tariff hike last year, an official said. �Up to now, we have disconnected 87,000 connections as consumers are unable to pay their bills�, an official from the state-owned National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said. NWSBD incurred a loss of 3.1 billion rupees in 2021 and the losses continued in 2022 as well due to lower revenue & higher wages of employees. more..

Apr 2 (Island) Police inaction to prevent arson attacks against SLPP politicians in the Western province on May 9 may have been due to orders not to carry weapons to deal with protesters, a new investigation has revealed.A review of the role of the police at the time showed SDIG Deshabandu Tennakoon had ordered all officers under him to ensure that no personnel were issued with arms and ammunition in the run up to the May 9 violence. In his two-page instructions to DIGs, SSPs, more..

Apr 2 (DM) In the face of criticism against the new Anti-Terrorism Bill, Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said the govt would not bring about any fundamental changes to the current version. The bill, already announced in the gazette notification, is to be presented in Parliament for debate and enactment. This is to be enacted by repealing the PTA, which was invoked mainly in dealing with LTTE terrorism. After the war was over, the govt came under pressure from sections of the int'l community, more..

Apr 2 (AD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe says, during his tenure as the Head of State, he will not tolerate any breach of law and order in the country. He emphasized that he would prioritize doing what is right over doing what is popular, and that presenting popular ideas can lead to the destruction of the country. He made these remarks this evening (1) during his address to the Tri-Forces and the Police officers and more..

Apr 2 (ST) The much-delayed installation of electronic gate facilities at the BIA after awarding the procurement tender of the project to the highest bidder causing massive loss to the country more than five years after its initiation in 2017 has now been suspended. Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Aviation has sought a clarification, on the procedure of the awarding the tender, from the Chairman of the AASL following the exposure of tender irregularities in the Business Times on March 12. more..

Apr 2 (AD) Police have arrested 28 Chinese nationals who were involved in online financial fraud. Among the suspects were five Chinese women. The police found five laptops, and several smartphones on the suspects at the time of the arrest. After being informed by the INTERPOL about the group of scammers, local law enforcement authorities swung into action and apprehended the suspects who were staying at a tourist resort in Aluthgama. The suspects, while in China, had defrauded more..

Apr 2 (ST) At least five prominent members of the SJB may join the SLPP Govt led by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe. �Talks are now underway, and it will take some time before we reach finality,� a key interlocutor said. Seeking anonymity on grounds that it would otherwise jeopardize talks, he said, the names of those concerned too should remain a secret. �Otherwise, the talks could collapse,� he cautioned. more..

Apr 3 (DM) The economic crisis and ethnic problem the have for long been fermenting in our country. The issues date back to the time of independence where we received and expected subsidized food (at that time via rations). From the richest in our land, to the poorest, we all received low-cost subsidized food and we were proud of it. In addition, we had policies of free education and free medical treatment. Even the UN put the country on a pedestal for what was termed its more..

Apr 3 (DM) SL for the first time in its history defaulted on its external debt a year ago on 12 April 2022. As with the large debt overhang of many developing countries � including in particular the few countries that have already defaulted � SL�s economic growth and even the structure of its economy will be greatly affected. What are the lessons of debt restructuring from around the world and how will it play out in SL going forward? The default on external debt in SL could have more..

Apr 3 (TM) In many countries, media institutions are joining hands with fact-checkers to debunk misinformation, especially during elections, war and similar periods of tension when society is likely to be divided on opinions or there is a high chance of misinformation spreading. However, sadly, in many Asian nations, fact-checking is yet to become a mainstream practice & too often is perceived as a fringe operation. more..

Apr 3 (TM) The news of school students� lives being lost to the dangerous and illegal practice termed a Big Match vehicle parade in Badulla has once again shone a spotlight on the culture of impunity and risks that follow key events of the local cricketing calendar. One has to ask if these are the traditions we want our younger generations to carry forward? While some view this incident as a tragic accident, some opine that it is a lesson learnt the hard way. Video footage of the incident shows more..

Apr 3 (DM) Sri Lanka�s history of ethnic conflict and insurgencies since gaining independence in 1948 has left a long-lasting impact on the nation, particularly with the Sinhala and Tamil ethnic groups. After a brutal insurgency lasting from 1983 to 2009, the Sri Lankan govt has been under immense pressure from the United Nations and western countries to pursue criminal accountability against the military and former govt officials to achieve justice and reconciliation. more..

Apr 3 (CT) It never ceases to be amazing how the Government can stir up trouble, not for themselves but the public with its various policy decisions. This is not to mention the current issue concerning the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax that was introduced or the sale of many of the country�s assets. This is about the most recent move as announced by the President�s media to utilise State hospitals for the training of students from more..

Apr 3 (CT) What started as a protest by ordinary citizens in the vicinity of former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa�s residence a year ago, culminated in the movement that came to be known as Aragalaya, which first saw the resignation of Mahinda Rajapaksa from the post of PM and later, on 9 July, the fleeing of Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa from the country in the midst of public outcry and anger. Every citizen in this country is well-versed in the events that unfolded following the Mirihana more..

Apr 3 (ST) Will the booing of Ministers by disgruntled voters run the risk of being classified as an act of terrorism under the Anti-Terrorism Bill recently gazetted by the SL Govt? Can that be construed within the Bill�s prohibition of wrongfully or unlawfully compelling the Govt to do or abstain from doing any act, ie; for example, restraining Ministers from performing lawful acts? Or could that come within the ambit of unlawfully preventing the Govt from functioning? more..