Jan 23 (EN) CEB has refused to limit power cuts due to high cost, officials said, rejecting the regulator PUCSL request to limit power cuts due to the ongoing advanced level exams. PUCSL informed the CEB to avoid power cuts during the exam times from Jan 23 to Feb 17 and after 7pm as thousands of students across the country are facing A/L exams, which are used as an entrance exam for state universities. more..

Jan 23 (CT) FUTA informed that uni academics will not participate in GCE A/L Exam evaluation process this year, in a bid to convey a clear and unequivocal message to the Govt to stop the destruction of this country through the proposed pernicious taxation. FUTA cited that they were forced to make this decision because the regime is unwilling to negotiate with us or address their demands; this means that the Govt should bear full responsibility for any repercussions that may arise. more..

Jan 23 (Island) Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Executive Director, Manjula Gajanayake, said that he hoped the media reports to the effect that Defence Secretary Kamal Guneratne not heeding summons made by the Election Commission of Sri Lanka were not true. Gajanayake said that there were media reports of the Defence Secretary not attending a meeting summoned by the Commission to discuss security matters, pertaining to the forthcoming local govt elections. more..

Jan 24 (GV) This article explains a framework for analysing SL state formation and understanding the current challenges that the country is facing. My interest in state formation began when trying to make sense of the data on political violence and state repression that I had collected from 1977. I realised that I could easily expand this data base to cover the entire post-colonial period. It was also clear that this violence was not an aberration or exception but a systemic characteristic of more..

Jan 24 (DM) The massive deforestation and arbitrary acquisition of reserve lands in Pottuvil area in Ampara are continuing. Day by day, lands belonging to Wildlife, Forest & Archaeology Depts are being acquired. Authorities are not interested in ending such activities. Law-abiding officers who are and who used to work in the area have informed the authorities about this many times. But when considering the letters that were exchanged these efforts seem like playing music to deaf more..

Jan 24 (DM) On Jan 12, Tamil Nadu State Assembly unanimously adopted a govt resolution urging New Delhi to immediately implement the long-pending Sethusamudram project which envisages a canal cut through the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait to facilitate ship movement between the East and West coasts of India by the shortest route. Proposal to cut a canal in the shallow sea dividing India and Sri Lanka to save more..

Jan 24 (DM) The leaders of the two ruling parties, UNP and SLPP for obvious reasons are arguing that the LG elections which are scheduled to be held on March 9 would not bring solutions to the economic issues that the country is currently faced with. They are not totally wrong in a way, as these elections would not change the govt that is largely responsible for the current mess as well as for the rectification of the situation. At the same time these elections, if held, would definitely be a referendum more..

Jan 24 (CT) While about 350,000 students are prepared and ready to face their GCE A/L exams on one side, politicians and commissions are fighting over raising the power tariff on the other side, oblivious to the true need of the hour. The GCE A/L exam 2022, which was scheduled to take place in August 2022 but was delayed owing to Covid-19 and power outages, was being prepared for by each and every student, teacher and parent. It just touched the surface of the problem. more..

Jan 24 (SO) It is said there is a fine line between love and hate as evidenced by the recent gruesome death of a Colombo Uni student at the hands of her lover. The murder took place on Jan 17, at the Race-Course Grounds. As rumours on the events that led to the brutal killing began to make rounds, it was revealed the young man who allegedly committed the act was suffering from mental health issues and was unable more..

Jan 24 (Island) After much procrastination, Election Commission has finally decided that local govt elections will be held on March 9. The elections to these bodies had already been postponed by a year, as permitted by law. Postponing elections, beyond a year, would take the country into the murky realms of extralegal governance, which would pose a threat to democracy, by eroding the rule of law. The country is being propelled in the direction of elections. It is not the desire of the govt, more..

Jan 24 (Island) The SLPP-UNP govt is sparing no expenses in celebrating what the country does not have�independence. It is doing so while appealing for debt restructuring and aid. The GMOA (Govt Medical Officers� Association) has revealed that the National Hospital, Colombo, is experiencing a severe shortage of medicines. Many are the children who faint in schools, unable to bear the pangs of hunger. People are skipping meals. The colony of leeches (read Cabinet) continues to expand. more..

Jan 24 (ST) What a surprise! There I was last Sunday peacefully turning, as it were, the pages of this newspaper when I found my name unexpectedly popping up and hitting me between the eyes. A Response to Neville de Silva�s Thoughts from London it screamed, What concerned me initially was why Rear Admiral (rtd) Weerasekera wanted to throw Minister Ali Sabry�s words at me as though they were the ultimate words of wisdom that settled whatever disagreement Mr Weerasekera had. more..

Jan 24 (TM) The Int'l Day of Education, declared by the UN to celebrate the role of education in peace and development, falls today. In its message for this day, the UN stated that education must be prioritised to accelerate progress towards reaching each of the Sustainable Development Goals against the backdrop of a global recession, growing inequalities, and the climate crisis. Additionally, it noted that without inclusive and equitable, high-quality education and lifelong opportunities for all more..

Jan 24 (ST) Sri Lanka�s veterinarians have raised concerns over a plan by the Ministry of Health to use a contraceptive recommended for women to control the stray dog population, rather than through sterilisations. The ministry�s Public Health Veterinary Services has requested 50,000 doses of the Depo-Provera contraceptive from the WHO to carry out dog population control as a project proposal. more..

Jan 24 (FT) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has called on the Govt to halt power cuts during the A/L exams period. While Premadasa called the Govt�s decision to continue power cuts during the critical period for school students arbitrary and unkind, he said it was nevertheless unsurprising as it was true to its form. According to Premadasa, a Govt that is incapable of providing uninterrupted power during an important exam that will decide the future of the country�s children more..

Jan 24 (FT) Govt has opened up an Int'l Competitive Bidding (ICB) to develop the renewable energy sector and to expand transmission facilities. It is the first call for ICB for the year 2023 amidst the ongoing economic crisis. State-run CEB has called for a fresh round of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) from global firms to develop ground-mounted solar PV power plants with a total capacity of 70 MW, alternating-current (AC) on Build-Own-Operate (BOO) basis for 11 grid substations more..

Jan 24 (Island) A key factor that needs to be borne in mind when introducing electric vehicles (EV) to Sri Lanka is the need to allow only manufacturer authorized brand-new vehicles of this kind into the country, it was revealed at a recent forum organized by the Ceylon Motor Traders Association (CMTA) and the Association of International Marketing Graduates in Sri Lanka (AIMG). The event which was titled �Road to Electrification� was held at the Jetwing Colombo. more..

Jan 24 (DN) A 15 member squad has been selected to play for the SL Cricket President�s XI in the three day warm-up game against England Lions team from Jan 27-29 at R. Premadasa Int'l cricket stadium. National selection committee has selected this squad based on the performance at the last Major clubs three day cricket tournament while few of these players have a good chance of playing for the SL A team against England Lions. The openers Lasith Croosepulle Chilaw Marians CC and more..

Jan 24 (TM) Issuing the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI), for the month of Dec 2022, Acting Director General of Census & Statistics said that headline inflation as measured by the Year-on-Year change (Percentage change in the current month NCPI over same month NCPI of last year) based on the NCPI has been compiled as 59.2%. Headline inflation for the month of Nov 2022 was 65.0%. more..

Jan 24 (FT) SJB Deputy National Organiser S.M. Marikkar says 9 March will be a historical day in SL�s history. Noting that the election has now been set for 9 March despite the Govt�s repeated attempts to delay it, Marikkar said the ninth is a significant date for the country. �9 April last year, 9 May, 9 June and 9 July were all historical dates for Sri Lanka. The people ousted the President and others on days that were the ninth of that particular month through a citizen�s struggle. more..

Jan 24 (AD) Senior Advisor to the Prez on Food Security Dr Suren Batagoda has urged all those involved in the production of egg and poultry to unite for the sake of the industry�s advancement. Speaking at a discussion on the issues related to the chicken and egg industry, Dr. Batagoda pointed out that most of the issues related to the industry could be solved by way of coming to a collective agreement among all the stakeholders and by determining prices of egg & poultry products more..

Jan 24 (FT) Diversified conglomerate LOLC Holdings is pursuing an aggressive but well strategised globalisation drive to enhance value creation as the home country grapples with multiple crises. Since COVID-19 pandemic, LOLC global footprint has grown to over 20 countries with eight added in the past two years alone. The value of assets of its overseas operations have nearly tripled from $1 b in 2018 to $2.9 b by Sept 2022 more..

Jan 24 (ST) China Harbour Engineering Corporation (CHEC) has expressed interest in completing work on the new passenger terminal at the BIA after the Japanese pulled out of funding it. The US$ 1bn (Rs 366bn) project, known as the BIA Development Project Phase II Stage 2 (BIADP PII S2), has been suspended since July 2021 after Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) decided not to make further disbursement of funds citing the inability of the SL Govt to repay the loan. more..

Jan 24 (DN) SL will lose Rupees one Billion per year in revenue with the suspension of Football Sri Lantha (FSL) with effect from Jan 21 after the Sports Ministry allegedly conducted the Election of office bearers for FSL in an undemocratic manner. This was revealed by immediate past President Jaswar Umar who was not allowed to contest the top post at the eleventh hour due to reasons known only to the Sports Ministry officials who conducted the elections, said Jaswar Umar at the media briefing more..

Jan 24 (TM) Many categories of professionals, including doctors, engineers, university teachers, and bankers, reported for duty in black attire, wearing black armbands yesterday (23), while black flags and banners were hoisted at several State institution premises, commencing the Black Week declared by trade unions (TUs) against the proposed tax policies and what the trade unions claimed is the Govt�s failure to address the prevailing issues in the country. more..

Jan 24 (TM) Claiming that the allowance currently being paid to teachers and principals engaged in duties pertaining to the GCE A/L exam is insufficient, Ceylon Teachers� Union (CTU) has requested the Ministry of Education for an increase of the same. CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said: �Minister Susil Premajayantha said on many occasions that the allowances paid to teachers and principals for exam-related duties will be increased, but there has been no increase to date. more..

Jan 24 (TM) Lawyers' Union of the Colombo Magistrate's Court held a protest at the Hulftsdorp Courts complex yesterday, protesting against the Keselwatta Police reporting facts to the Court through a B report regarding the protest held by a group of lawyers near the Court complex and the AG's Dept on 18 January, urging the latter not to exert undue pressure on the Judiciary. More than 100 lawyers joined the protest more..

Jan 24 (PMD) The SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) contributed a sum of Rs. 03 billion to the Treasury. Minister Manusha Nanayakkara officially handed over the cheque to Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat today (23). Considering the current economic situation of the country, SL Foreign Employment Bureau has provided this amount from the operational surplus received last year, to use for essential services more..

Jan 24 (CT) The right to equality of the students, who began sitting for GCE A/L exam yesterday, has been violated by the hours-long power cuts during the exam period, Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) noted. In a statement, the commission said it has written to the Secretary of Ministry of Power and Energy and the Chairman of Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL), to instruct CEB to refrain from implementing power cuts at any time during the exam period. more..

Jan 24 (DM) Asserting that the work on the Trincomalee oil tank farm is well in progress, Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) said ten tanks would be ready for development after the area is cleared of woods very soon. The strategic project is part of India�s plan to develop Trincomalee jointly with SL as a petroleum hub. State-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) signed an agreement with LIOC, a subsidiary of state-owned LIOC on Jan 6, 2022 to jointly develop the Trinco oil tank farm. more..

Jan 24 (DM) The Kollupitiya Police has arrested Secretary of Electricity Users Association Sanjeeva Dhammika and Convener of Samagi United Trade Union Alliance Ananda Palitha on charges of threatening two members of the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL). Kollupitiya Police had begun an investigation following a complaint lodged by the Vice Chairman of the PUCSL Udeni Wickramasinghe & member Mohan Samaranayake alleging that they were threatened more..

Jan 24 (TM) SVB National Organiser and former MP Hirunika Premachandra, who launched a protest yesterday (23) at the location where arrangements are being made to celebrate the 75th Independence Day at the Galle Face Green in Colombo on 4 Feb, is to file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) against the group of Police officers who obstructed her during the said protest. more..

Jan 24 (DM) The Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court informed that the cause of death into the death of businessman Dinesh Schaffter has not yet been determined by the court. Explaining the circumstances that led to hold the magisterial inquest in-camera, Colombo Additional Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya said court decided to hold the inquiry in-camera, upon a request made by the relatives of the deceased. Magistrate further said since various information relating to the death more..

Jan 24 (EN) SL�s tea output fell to a 26 year low of 251.5 million kilograms as the urban intelligentsia tried to create an interventionist state and banned chemical fertilizer. Chemical fertilizer was banned on the advice of the GMOA, whose boss said ancient Sri Lankans lived for over a century before chemical fertilizers were invented. Tea output fell 16% or 48 million kilograms in 2022 due to a lagged effect of fertilizer ban. �This was the lowest in 26 years when 246 million kilos was produced in 1995,� more..

Jan 24 (TM) The 3 members of the 4-member Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) who had written to the Commission�s Chairman Janaka Ratnayake last week conveying their approval for an interim increase in electricity tariffs with retrospective effect from 1 January, as had been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers earlier this month, have since reneged on their decision and have written to PUCSL again more..