Aug 3 (CT) Zimbabwe had no problem in sweeping past Sri Lanka in a Group E match at the Netball World Cup 2023, scoring a runaway 71-36 victory. Zimbabwe got off to a flying start scoring four unanswered goals, prompting an immediate switch around of positions in the Sri Lankan team that took to court. Goal attack Semini Alwis was first moved to wing attack and then to wing defence before being taken off. Felistus Kwangwa, who reached the 100th mark on Sunday against Tonga, more..

Aug 3 (Island) US-based and Sri Lankan owned AJ Events & Productions and Ceylon Creative Studios have taken the initiative to promote Sri Lanka as a wedding destination venue for US and Canadian citizens, which would bring a considerable amount of foreign reserves into the country, their Founding Director, Global Operations Keith Bates said. �SL is an ideal summer wedding destination for Americans and Canadians, especially for Sri Lankan expatriates in the USA and Canada. more..

Aug 3 (TM) In the wake of reports that the Women Parliamentarians� Caucus (WPC) has requested immediate action against male officers who had allegedly harassed female staff members of the Parliament�s Housekeeping Dept, Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana has denied receiving any complaint in this regard. There were recent media reports to the effect that WPC Chairperson Opposition MP Dr. Sudarshini more..

Aug 3 (FT) Colombo Dockyard PLC announced yesterday it has been selected as an afloat repair service provider to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Forces (JMSDF) at the Colombo Port. This is the first time for JMSDF to repair one of their vessels at a foreign shipyard, and Colombo Dockyard is selected as the first shipyard in a foreign country to offer the repair facilities. The afloat repair was successfully carried out from 21 to 25 July 2023 at the port of Colombo. more..

Aug 3 (TM) Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera is to inform the Cabinet of Ministers of a request made by private and State-owned dairy companies to suspend the import of milk powder. A meeting was held between the Minister and officials of Milco Private Ltd, National Livestock Development Board (NLDB), and Pelwatte Dairy Industries Ltd. to discuss the current situation with regard to local milk production. During the meeting, Milco and NLDB officials said that they had produced more..

Aug 3 (Island) High inflation has steadily cooled from last year�s flash-point although price pressures continue to feel like an uphill battle for consumers, State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said speaking to journalists. �People will scold me for saying this. But the truth is, there isn�t that frustration about persistent price hikes overnight like in last year. That trend has been contained through policy tools. Yes, you may see that increased prices still remain on certain items, more..

Aug 3 (FT) Chamber of Mineral Exporters was officially inaugurated yesterday calling on Govt and regulators to formulate relevant policies to transform the industry to a vital thrust sector. Chairman of the new chamber, Amila Jayasingha of Bogola Graphite, said the new trade body hopes to enhance foreign exchange earnings through export, encourage investment from local and foreign agencies through the adoption of more conducive regulations that would also enable the industry to more..

Aug 3 (DN) �We have to need a Team Work to uplift sports and Sports Ministry always draw guidelines according to Sports Law while my duty is very clear to act according to rules and regulations,� said Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe at the Sports Body officials meeting. Minister further said recently a new Sports Director General Dr Shemal Fernando was appointed after the Cabinet Approval and he is the best more..

Aug 3 (Island) The problem with most political dregs in SL is that they are elected to Parliament, where horizontally-gifted and intellectually-challenged members far outnumber decent, educated, intelligent, capable ones. Worse, they become ministers and indulge in corrupt practices and enrich themselves with impunity. Doomed is a nation ruled by a bunch of semi-literate ministers who are living the high life, having started out as chain snatchers, cattle rustlers, pickpockets, etc. more..

Aug 3 (DN) Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana said yesterday that his endeavour as a Media Minister is to create a win-win situation concerning responsible journalism and countering misinformation, disinformation and hate speech through a process of consultation, compromise and co-regulation. �We need to safeguard freedom of expression while upholding the age-old journalistic dictum �news is sacred; comment is free�. more..

Aug 3 (DM) As a response to the persistent drought, Wildlife Conservation Dept has decided to provide water for animals at national parks, Wildlife Conservation Dept Director General Chandana Sooriyabandara said. However, the action is a part of the govt's strategy for tourism management, and not an animal welfare initiative, he said. Sooriyabandara said that although wild animals are naturally able to survive droughts, the provision of water in tourist zones will likely attract more..

Aug 3 (DM) While commenting on the mispronunciation of a key lyric while singing the National Anthem at the opening ceremony of the 2023 LPL, Vedda Chief Uruwarige Wannilaththo said the distortion of the national anthem was done a long time ago. He said if there is an identity for a country or any nationality, then it should be protected. "But there is no authority for anyone to change its melody or sound. Higher authorities in the country should take care of these changes. more..

Aug 3 (FT) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa cautioned about the potential for corruption in the near future as authorities may have to resort to emergency power purchases due to an anticipated electricity generation crisis. Premadasa expressed concerns that the authorities might deviate from the tender system, permitted for emergency power purchases, which could result in the misappropriation of public funds. more..

Aug 3 (Island) Eight suspects have been arrested by the Pottuvil police, on Monday, in connection with the reported attack on a Buddhist monk of the historic Muhudu Maha Viharaya in Pottuvil. Police said a group of people had attacked the monk with an oar while he was meditating inside a rock cave and robbed 57,000 rupees and a mobile phone. A senior police officer said all eight suspects, aged between 34 and 56, are residents of Pottuvil and engaged in fishing. more..

Aug 3 (FT) PHU leader Udaya Gammanpila accused the Govt of misleading the public by claiming that French Prez Emmanuel Macron visited SL, thereby becoming the first French Prez to do so. He also criticised the Govt�s assertions that Macron had pledged support to SL in resolving the ongoing economic crisis. �This is yet another farce. The French Prez did not visit SL; he merely had a transit stop at the airport. Transit passengers are not considered as visitors to the country,� more..

Aug 3 (AD) The Extraordinary Gazette notification pertaining to the revision of water tariffs has been published, thereby increasing the water tariffs with effect from Aug 1. The notice was issued by the Minister Jeevan Thondaman, under Section 84 of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board Law No. 02 of 1974. Water tariffs have been increased by this revision based on the number of units used. more..

Aug 3 (FT) Ranil�s father Esmond Wickremesinghe won the Golden PEN award for the defence of press freedom. On Esmond�s son�s watch, award-winning journalists are brutalised in broad daylight. When Tharindu Uduwaragedera was being hauled by his hair out of a tuk-tuk by a gang of cops, he shouted (in Sinhala): �I am a journalist! I won an award in 2020!� So he did. The award was named after my father. �The Mervyn De Silva Journalist of the Year 2020 Award was won by Tharindu more..

Aug 3 (FT) Despite sitting on the periphery of the global supply chain nexus, Sri Lanka was not spared by the disruptions caused by COVID-19 restrictions and the Russian war in Ukraine. Ongoing rivalry between the US and China are going to change the phase of globalisation with the formation of new alignments. Despite being an advocate of fair practices in production and trading, industrial policies of the US are changing in favour of domestic producers and domestic production. more..

Aug 3 (AD) The FUTA stresses that there is a severe brain drain within the country�s universities. Chairman of the association Prof. Barana Jayawardena pointed out that in the last 06 months alone, around 600 university lecturers have left their respective universities. He also expressed that as a result, problems have arisen in continuing the activities of some faculties. Meanwhile, a group of university lecturers and professors met Minister of Education Susil Premjayantha and more..

Aug 3 (DM) No govet funds were used for the study tour of the Women Parliamentarians' Caucus to New Zealand, Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera said. She said this study tour was organized with the support of development partners without using govt funds for about two and a half years. Ms. Rohanadeera said that the Women Parliamentarians' Caucus plays a major role in addressing the socio-economic and political issues of women in the country, and more..

Aug 3 (DM) Colombo Additional Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya ordered the Borella Police to conduct an investigation based on all medical records available as there are contradictions and obscurities in the JMO�s report. Magistrate made this order following the submissions made by Attorney-at-Law and Medical practitioner Dr. Y.L.M. Yoosuf before the Court during the inquiry into the death of a 3-year-old child at Lady Ridgeway more..

Aug 3 (DM) Electricity supply to Mihintale sacred city has been disconnected last morning due to non payment of due arrears. Chief Incumbent of Mihintale Rajamaha Vihara Walawahengunawewe Dhammarathana Thera said it was being politically victimized for his steadiness in speech. �CEB has taken this step at a time when a massive development project is in progress at the Minintale sacred city. The shrine rooms, the police post, and the archaeological sites in the area more..

Aug 3 (MFA) Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry is scheduled to undertake an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran from 04 - 07 August, on an invitation from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran Dr. Hossein Amir Abdollahian. During the visit, the Minister is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on the Iranian Prez Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi and to hold meetings with the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and other senior govt officials, with a view to further strengthening more..

Aug 3 (DM) SL ranks 104th out of 125 developing and least developed countries (LDCs) in its implementation of trade facilitation measures over the last six years, a new study by Verit� Research has found. Alarmingly, 21 out of 35 LDCs have a higher rate of implementation than SL, which has progressed only marginally from a rate of 29% in 2017 to 31.5% in June 2023. SL has also claimed to have less capacity than LDCs more..

Aug 3 (DM) The remains of SL businessman Onesh Subasinghe, who was murdered in a serviced apartment in Jakarta earlier this year, were brought to Sri Lanka on Tuesday after six months and handed over to his family members, police said. Subasinghe, 45, was on vacation in Jakarta with his Brazilian wife Rosa, her assistant (also a Brazilian woman), and their 4-year-old daughter. On Feb 2, 2023, Subasinghe was found dead under mysterious circumstances in an apartment in Jakarta. more..

Aug 3 (AD) Police have arrested the alleged main suspect wanted in connection with the recent arson attack on a house in Thonikkal, Vavuniya during a birthday party, which left two persons dead and several others injured. Police said that the suspect was arrested last evening, in accordance with the further investigations carried out by the CID together with the Vavuniya police. The 36-year-old suspect, who is a resident of the Kumankulama area of Vavuniya, has been produced before more..

Aug 3 (EN) Shares close up on an 18th month high on Thursday after buying interest was stimulated through senses of economic stabilization, while the market generated a net foreign inflow of 1.5 billion rupees, the highest net foreign inflow has been since 20 Dec 2022. �The economy has channeled some stability and some recovery, resulting in buying power for the banking sector, capital, food and tourism sector,� an analyst said. ASPI was up 1.18% or 135.51 points to 11,582.34, more..

Aug 3 (CI) Just before the Asia Cup, Afghanistan will host Pakistan for a series of three ODIs across five days in SL. The first two games will be played in Hambantota on Aug 22 and 24, with the third taking place in Colombo on Aug 26. Both sides will travel to Pakistan after the series, with the Asia Cup opener in Multan between Pakistan and Nepal taking place on Aug 30. "Our previous ODI assignment was a 2-1 series victory in our away tour to Bangladesh, which has boosted the team's morale more..

Aug 3 (CT) Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) and several civil organisations, lodging a complaint with CIABOC and IGP, called for legal action against the Health Secretary and several of its officials over the alleged procurement of lenses and incurring a loss of billions of rupees to the Govt. MCPA President, Chamal Sanjeeva accused several officials, including the Health Ministry Secy, more..

Aug 3 (CT) The 12-day padayatra, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the arrival of Upcountry Tamils of Indian Origin, reached Madhu Church and observed 2 August as a rest day. The padayatra commenced on 28 July from St. Lawrence Church in Talaimannar and the people walked 26km to reach Murunkan. On 1 August, they continued their journey towards Madhu Church. At Murunkan, the participants gathered to demand equal treatment and land rights for the Upcountry Tamils. more..

Aug 3 (TOI) SriLankan Airlines, the govt carrier of Sri Lanka, has plans to resume direct connectivity between Kolkata and Colombo after more than three years as part of its global restructuring plan to tap the tourism potential in Bengal and Eastern India. But it is yet to finalise a touchdown date. Beginning operations in 2017, the airlines used to operate three direct flights between Kolkata and Colombo prior to March 2020, since it suspended services owing to Covid-19. more..

Aug 3 (EN) Parliament must discuss the implications of devolving police powers to nine provinces controlled by nine chief ministers, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said. He said the question of having a separate police force in each of the provinces controlled by a different chief minister while a subject minister exists at the central govt must be considered. �We have no issues with the Tamil people on police powers. more..

Aug 3 (DM) A person consumes five grams of microplastic a week, which is the size of a credit card, a Nutritionist said. Nutritionist Roshan Dela Bandara said that research conducted by Newcastle University in Australia found that microplastics are mixing with our food, drinking water and the air we breathe. "The research results revealed that a person consumes five grams of microplastics a week, which is the size of a credit card. 20 grams of microplastics are consumed in a month more..

Aug 3 (TM) Three persons have been arrested in connection with the discovery of the body of a murdered youth from Lake Road in Kaduwela. The suspects, aged 36, 46 and 47 years, were arrested in the Wellampitiya and Angoda areas, police said, while a motorcycle and a three-wheeler believed to have been used by the suspects have also been taken into police custody. Meanwhile, the deceased has been identified as a 29-year-old resident of Gothatuwa, according to police. more..

Aug 3 (DM) The Fundamental Rights petition filed by Senior DIG Ajith Rohana challenging his transfer to Easter Province from Southern Province was today re-fixed for support on Sept 4 by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court decided to postpone the petition for Sept 4 due to hearing into several other petitions. The petitioner DIG Ajith Rohana states that the said transfer order had been made without reasonable grounds. The petitioner is of the view that the said order had been made at the behest of more..