Dec 15 (CT) A joint operation has been initiated by the Police and Tourist Police at BIA, to arrest a Chinese national suspected of stealing cash amounting to USD 14,000 from a bag carried by a Lebanese national travelling in Business Class, on an Air Oman flight, on Wednesday. The 47-year-old Lebanese national, a businessman by profession, arrived in Colombo at around 7.20 a.m. from Muscat on the mentioned flight, accompanied by his mother for medical treatment. more..

Dec 15 (DM) The Seethawaka University Post Graduate Institute for Research will be named after late Minister Lalith Athulathmudali as a gratitude for his contribution to education through the initiation of the Mahapola Scholarship Fund, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said. The President made these remarks during his address at the Mahapola 2023 Exhibition, organized by the Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Food Safety, at the Municipal Council Grounds, Ja-Ela. more..

Dec 15 (Island) Dissident SLPP MP Charitha Herath said that the ruling party would hold its second convention today against the developing crisis that threatened its very existence just eight years after its formation. The general consensus was that the SLPP was under the thumb of UNP leader and Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, Herath said, adding that it was the truth the party did not want to admit, Prof. Peiris said. more..

Dec 15 (CT) German Embassy in Colombo marked a milestone in bilateral relations between Germany and SL by organising a vibrant public festival with about 3,000 visitors on Saturday, 2 Dec at Galle Face Green. Commemorating 70 years of diplomatic ties and friendship, the event was open to the public and offered engaging activities for attendees of all ages. The festival served as a platform for the broad public to explore German culture, cuisine, education opportunities and innovation, more..

Dec 15 (PMD) After a decade-long break, the Mahapola Education Exhibition and Trade Fair have reopened its doors, providing a significant opportunity for higher education to a large number of individuals. These remarks were made by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe during his address at the Mahapola 2023 Exhibition, organized by the Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Food Safety, yesterday, at the Municipal Council Grounds, Ja-Ela. Prez emphasized the transformative impact of more..

Dec 15 (AD) Court of Appeal has ordered that the retirement age of specialist doctors in public service be extended to 63 years. This decision was delivered this morning, when a writ application filed by 176 specialist doctors challenging the Cabinet decision to lower their age of retirement to 60 years. Appeals Court President, Justice Nissanka Karunaratne and Justice A. Marikkar sat for the petition hearing today. more..

Dec 15 (CT) Dept of Agriculture announced nearly 22,000 hectares of paddy cultivation, in several districts, have been adversely affected by three species of insects: White Back Planthopper, Gray Plant Hopper, and Leaf Curl worm. Currently, these diseases have been reported in the Northern, Eastern and North Central Provinces. If farmers observe the presence of these insects in their fields, Director General emphasises the importance of immediately informing the Agriculture Dept more..

Dec 15 (DM) SL-born Nikith Perera, represented New Zealand XI in their one-day encounter against the visiting Bangladesh outfit under Liton Das. Nikith from Auckland saw his teammates, Samrath Singh and Quinn Sunde too, represent the same outfit. The talented player is set to make a mark in the upcoming fixture, highlighting the diverse talent contributing to New Zealand�s cricket scene. Nikith is the son of former Antonian cricket and rugby player, Nimalke Perera who lives in New Zealand. more..

Dec 15 (AD) Peliyagoda Crimes Division has arrested a female suspect believed to have been involved in a drug-trafficking racket. The suspect had reportedly been running the racket from within the Methsanda Sevana housing scheme in Thotalanga. Police said that the 56-year-old suspect, identified as Kanthi, was in possession of over 100 grams of methamphetamine (Ice), worth nearly Rs. 1.5 million at the time of her arrest. The woman is also reportedly a close associate of Shiva, more..

Dec 15 (DM) The govt should positively intervene on behalf of the issues pertaining to a workforce that brings an annual income of Rs.5 billion and saves the migrant workers from contracting HIV, pressure groups urged. Community Development Services (CDS), an organisation committed to the well-being of migrant workers and other vulnerable groups from contracting HIV AIDS said that many migrant workers lack adequate knowledge on how to prevent one from becoming infected with the disease. more..

Dec 15 (HT) After Chinese Research Survey Vessel Shi Yan 6 completed its survey off the coast of SL and reached Singapore on Dec 2, Beijing has asked permission from Colombo and Male to allow another Research Survey Vessel to dock at their ports and conduct a deep water exploration of South Indian Ocean from Jan 5 till late May, 2024. While India has already raised objections with both SL and Maldives and asked them not to more..

Dec 15 (TM) Claiming that it is not possible to change Govts by carrying out struggles, Opposition SJB MP, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said that he is definitely ready to accept an invitation from the people to run for the upcoming Prez Election. He said that a change in the Govt could be made only through an Election, and that the people should make right decisions during such a time. "We cannot topple Govts again by carrying out struggles. No new Govts can be appointed by doing so. more..

Dec 15 (EN) SL�s gross domestic product has expanded by 1.6% in the third quarter, as the economy recovered from the worst crisis triggered by aggressive macro-economic policy. The economy grew amid rising taxes, but exchange rate stability provided by largely deflationary policy and interest rates also eased as confidence returned. �The input costs were declined parallel to the favorable change in exchange rate and the demand for debts which were at a lower level, showed a positive more..

Dec 15 (DM) SL�s public security minister, Tiran Alles, is the first sitting SL minister to be identified in the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists� Pandora Papers data trove as having offshore holdings. An ICIJ analysis of the leaked records and U.K.�s public property register shows that Alles, a media tycoon and politician, owns two British Virgin Islands companies that hold properties in London. more..

Dec 15 (DM) About 10% of males in the country have become victims of domestic violence, health authorities said. This includes physical violence, sexual violence and psychological violence. This was revealed by the National Programme Manager of the Women�s Health Unit at the Family Health Bureau, Dr. Nethanjalie Mapitigama. "While the majority of domestic violence victims are women, a significant portion comprises men," she said. This revelation has prompted the Family Health more..

Dec 15 (DM) Supreme Court has held that the former IGP had violated the Fundamental Rights of the former OIC of Thelikada Police station in the Galle District by unreasonably transferring him to the Tangalle Police Division at the behest of persons involved in alleged illegal activities in Gin Ganga and forests in Thelikada. SC 3-judge-bench comprising Justices Vijith Malalgoda, Mahinda Samayawardena and Arjuna Obeysekera observed that former IGP Chandana Wickremaratne violated more..

Dec 16 (ST) Tourism: One of Sri Lanka�s crucial foreign exchange earning sectors which has seen wild swings in recent years after the Easter Sunday terror attacks in 2019, followed by the closure of the airport during the COVID-19 pandemic and then the economic crisis in 2022. As a sector, tourism is also the first to recover after a crisis and that resurgence is currently seen with a sharp increase in tourist arrivals this year compared to 2022 which mid-year saw massive queues at more..

Dec 16 (CT) SL Police last week introduced a special information system, covering all police stations across the island, with the specific purpose of providing a means of identifying individuals arrested for activities related to drugs. This was part of an extensive programme launched by the Police Dept in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Security to eradicate the drug menace from SL. The drug menace is a multifaceted problem. It penetrates deeply into all aspects of life, including more..

Dec 16 (TM) Sasensky School of Piano stands as a beacon of excellence, dedicated to nurturing the artistry of budding pianists. At its helm is Shashikala De Silva, a seasoned musician whose journey is as inspiring as the institution itself. From initiating piano education at the tender age of four to earning accolades such as Associate of Trinity College London and CIMA passed finalist, her musical odyssey spans over 16 years more..

Dec 16 (CT) This article is intended as a follow-up to my earlier article entitled Was There a Conspiracy Behind the Easter Sunday Attacks? published in the Colombo Telegraph of Sept 19. The principal content of that article consists of eight serious objections against the most popular conspiracy theory relating to the Easter Sunday attack of April 2019, viz., Rajapaksas orchestrated this attack to create concerns about national security among the masses with a view to influencing more..

Dec 16 (GV) On Dec 8, 2023, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) determined that the Navy had violated my right to freedom of movement by blocking me from traveling to the remote Iranaitheevu island in Kilinochchi district on March 5, 2021. The HRCSL had recommended the Navy not to impose any restriction on Sri Lankan citizens to enter Iranaitheevu, including requesting prior authorization or notice, unless the restrictions are by law. more..

Dec 16 (CT) The 27-day long budget debate which took place in Parliament, eventually ended sans any real protest from the Opposition. Though in the past the Opposition had raised a much bigger voice over the budget this time they concentrated mostly on the ongoing cricket crisis and this paved the way for the Govt to conclude the budget debate without a hassle. Both budget and 18% VAT hike were ratified via comfortable majority votes for govt. more..

Dec 16 (ST) After sitting for an Interview Board in the morning hours at the Sabaragamuwa University, it was tiring and boring to drive back to Colombo the same day. I had already spent about five hours in the early morning to go there. Road was good, but curvy with lots of bends along the upward slope. Apart from that the signs of landslides due to heavy rains during the past few weeks were clearly visible all the way by the roadside. I thought that such frequent landslides in Sri Lanka � more..

Dec 16 (Island) It has been reported that with India extending its ban on onion exports until March next year to increase the availability of onions in the domestic market and to keep their prices in check, SL importers are in a quandary to meet the local requirements. SL reportedly imports around 20,000 tonnes of onions a month. The coconut Industry faces a similar challenge. A report published by The Sunday Times of 10 Dec, 2023 under the title, Imports weigh on producers says: � more..

Dec 16 (FT) It would have been in the mid-1970s that I, as a young reader, first learnt of the 1951 Peace Conference in San Francisco and J.R. Jayewardene�s role thereat. In the 1970-77 Parliament J.R. Jayewardene was leader of opposition, Govt was led by PM Mrs. Sirima Bandaranaike. Her Govt was extremely unpopular, various ill-advised social/economic experimentation had led to a stalled economy, with wide-spread disenchantment. The poverty was palpable, more..

Dec 16 (DM) The season of Christmas with all its attendant festivities is with us. Yet our country is broke. Some among us like to think that we have recovered from our national bankruptcy, pointing out that we now have reserves and that international financial agencies are willing to offer us credit. But the fact of the matter is, we have not even started to repay our outstanding debts. We are raking up more debts while negotiating a rescheduled repayment of past debts and awaiting the second tranche more..

Dec 16 (Island) Veteran lawyer Kalyananda Thiranagama said that the ruling SLPP should be held responsible for backing Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe�s economic strategy meant to privatise the remaining state enterprises. The liberal civil society activist emphasised that the SLPP couldn�t absolve itself of the crime perpetrated by the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa govt in the form of an economic strategy that would deprive more..

Dec 16 (FT) Embassy of SL in Vietnam in collaboration with Export Development Board (EDB) arranged the participation of SL businesses at the 21st edition of Viet Nam Expo, which was held from 7 to 9 December at Sai Gon Exhibition & Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Representing Sri Lankan businesses, Micro Power Engineering Ltd, Eco Paints Ltd, Kelani Valley Plantations, and two SME companies viz. Dehemi Cinnamon Ltd, Rathna Batik participated in the Expo. more..

Dec 16 (FT) A meeting between PM Dinesh Gunawardena and Cuban Ambassador Andres Marcelo Gonzales Garrido took place at the Temple Trees in Colombo. PM thanked Cuba for the consistent support extended to SL at the UN and other int'l forums. He also referred to the assistance given to SL to combat the dengue pandemic and stressed the need for continuous cooperation in the field of medicine. Ambassador agreed to share Cuban expertise in mosquito eradication more..

Dec 16 (FT) Air Astana last week began operating four flights per week to bring tourists during the on-going winter season. Air Astana is the latest addition to the international aviation family, and resumed flights to Sri Lanka recently. This was a plus point for Sri Lanka for its recognition as a world class travel destination. Air Astana is the national carrier of Kazakhstan and has four flights per week, which are scheduled on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. more..

Dec 16 (Island) The SLPP held its second national convention yesterday in Colombo. It spared no expense in putting on a grand show by bussing people from all parts of the country to the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, the way all political parties do. Speakers thundered, spewing out streams of rhetoric, and held out hope for the party�s rank and file, whose morale is extremely low, but it is doubtful whether anyone took them or their claims seriously. more..

Dec 16 (CT) It appears that Electricity Mafia is no longer a public secret in SL. Over the past year, the electricity crisis has cast a shadow over the general well-being of the public outweighing even the economic challenges associated with settling electricity Bills. A noteworthy incident occurred on 9 Dec when a widespread power outage persisted for more than 5 hours across the entire nation. CEB, in response to the outage, cited a breakdown more..

Dec 16 (DM) All the 14 spill gates in Iranamadu reservoir in Kilinochchi opened in the early hours of today when it overflowed. Provincial Director of Irrigation N. Sudakaran said the reservoir overflowed today due to the incessant rain experienced in the area at present. He warned people living in the low lying areas of the canals transmitting spill water to be cautious of imminent flood threats if the prevailing inclement weather persisted. It was for the first time this year that the reservoir spilt over. more..

Dec 16 (DM) Last week saw two important events in respect of reconciliation among various communities in SL. In one of them, several members of the Global Tamil Forum (GTF), a group from the Tamil diaspora and a group of leading Buddhist monks, met Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Mahanayake Theras of the Malwatta and Asgiriya Chapters on Dec 8, and handed over a document called Himalaya Declaration. The document with highly generalised six points promoting reconciliation had more..

Dec 16 (Island) A group of authorized mobile phone importers in Sri Lanka express deep concern over the SL govt�s decision to remove mobile phones from the VAT exemptions list, coupled with a simultaneous increase in VAT from 15% to 18%, effective Jan 1st, 2024. This dual impact, wherein devices now not only face a sudden VAT imposition, but also at a significant rate of 18%, pose substantial challenges for the industry and the country. more..

Dec 16 (FT) In IHP SLOTS polling in November, all major party leaders continued to have negative favourability ratings. SJB leader Sajith Premadasa�s favourability rating did improve to -46 from -64, but continued to remain worse than that of NPP/JVP leader A.K. Dissanayake at -14. Favourability estimates for each month are based on 100�500 interviews conducted during that month and during a few weeks before and afterward to ensure a minimum set of responses. more..