Jan 8 (Island) Looking back at 2022, Sri Lanka cannot look forward to 2023, with any sense of hope. The economic, social and political crisis deepens without any clear plan by the Govt to emerge from the crisis. Inflation is increasing with the Govt, which is short of money due to its reluctance to tax the rich, resorting to massive printing of currency notes. This rise in the cost of living is fed by the support given to the private traders and big rice mill owners to fleece more..

Jan 8 (ST) Those behind the fake Dalada Maligawa under construction at Pothuhera have not obtained a recommendation letter from the District Secretariat to get it registered under the Buddha Sasana Ministry, Kurunegala District Secretary R M R Ratnayake said. The fake Dalada Maligawa similar to the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy is under construction at Pothuhera in Mahapitiyawatta-Ahungoda by a person who is known as Sri Bosath Janaka. more..

Jan 8 (TM) A new holding company is to be set up this month to hold shares of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) that are to be reformed/privatised. �A holding company will be set up to hold the shares of these institutions. It will be formed in the second week of this month (January),� Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe said. Prez stated that one of the key concerns of those providing financial assistance to SL was that funds provided to the country should not be used to fund losses. more..

Jan 8 (ST) Election Commission has requested the Attorney General to appear for it when the Supreme Court takes up two petitions calling for the conduct of the LG elections scheduled for March. The request came after the EC consulted the AG on Wednesday. The AG will, however, decide on the matter only tomorrow. The elections still hang in the balance with divisions within the EC regarding the decision to call for the nominations. more..

Jan 8 (AD) An 18-year-old who purchased goods worth millions of rupees using stolen credit card data has been arrested in the area of Dummalasuriya in Kurunegala. The arrest was made on Jan 5 based on the intelligence information received by computer crimes investigation division of CID. A complaint on the matter had been filed by an online retail store. The suspect had been in possession of information of at least 500,000 foreign credit card users from various countries. more..

Jan 8 (TM) The existing power cuts will remain unchanged despite the resumption of full capacity operations at the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Norochcholai with the receipt of new coal shipments, according to CEB. CEB Chairman Nalinda Ilangakoon said the CEB was not in a position to revise the existing durations of power cuts given the need to save rainwater accumulated at hydropower reservoirs for future use. �It is very important to save water at hydropower reservoirs. more..

Jan 8 (ST) SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa is strongly in favour of the conduct of local council elections. Yet, there is increasing uncertainty over the polls. Twice Prez and twice PM of SL, Rajapaksa said, �We must learn what the people think about us. If we have made mistakes, it is only then that we can correct them. We should not ignore their feelings and carry on as if nothing has happened. We must learn from our faults. more..

Jan 9 (DM) As this year (2023) dawns, the number of people who will be in need of humanitarian relief has increased by almost a quarter. According to the UN, the worst global food crisis in modern history is pushing millions to the brink. Martin Griffiths, the UN�s Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and its Emergency Relief Coordinator is on record saying 339 million people, an increase of 65 million over last year, will be suffering, as a result of 2022�s extreme events more..

Jan 9 (TM) Seeking the people�s support to curb illegal migration attempts that seem to be on the rise, last week, Navy urged the general public to refrain from attempting to leave the country illegally, and to take the necessary precautions regarding the same. This was after another arrest pertaining to the growing illegal migration racket. The illegal and risky migration of Sri Lankans continues, and the high number of people who migrate through such methods and end up stranded in foreign more..

Jan 9 (TM) Sri Lanka is struggling to deal with what could be described as one of the most controversial food-related issues stemming from the economic crisis. The prevailing lack of availability and the high prices of eggs sent shockwaves through the country, due mainly to the fact that eggs are one of the cheapest and most popular sources of protein. At the same time, the egg shortage affected several industries, especially more..

Jan 9 (CT) Of the 3 constitutions of Ceylon/SL within living memory the most liberal was the Soulbury Constitution, then the Sirima-Colvin enactment; JR crafted the most authoritarian. From this experience people of my parent�s generation draw pleasant conclusions about old British times, but I have to let that discourse pass. However, one question I must ask is; was govt less corrupt then? The period after Independence has brought material prosperity to the people � advances in healthcare & education more..

Jan 9 (ST) SL�s publicity hogging Chair of the Public Utilities Commission is distinguished (not positively) by twin evils of a ghastly sartorial choice in the wildly varied waistcoats that he sports and exhibiting great volubility in speech not accompanied by much precision or clarity of thought. In recent weeks, he has chosen to adopt the improbable role of a knight on a white charger, riding into battle against the Govt�s plan to increase electricity tariffs. This is the second proposed increase more..

Jan 9 (TM) CEB is at the final stage of calling for 100 MW of supplementary power to meet the expected shortage towards the end of March this year. Accordingly, it is understood that the CEB has already prepared the tender documents and they will be sent to Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) for approval. Further, members have already been nominated to Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) from the board more..

Jan 9 (DM) The Chairman of the National Elections Commission (EC) has stated that arrangements are already in place to conduct the LG Election by end of March 2023� that�s his job. He has also mentioned that Election would cost the tax-payer Rs. 12 billion� not his concern. While the Prez, who absolved himself of election propaganda, spoke of the indecision of EC members on holding the LG Election and he requested a divided Commission to come to a unanimous decision. more..

Jan 9 (Island) The govt is trying every trick in the book to postpone LG elections. It would have the public believe that it will not bring in new laws to put them off, but it certainly knows more than one way to shoe a horse. Election Commission (EC) is said to be divided on whether to conduct the LG elections amidst the present crisis. The govt has said it does not interfere in the affairs of the EC, but it will have its work cut out to make the public believe that it has nothing to do with divided opinion within EC. more..

Jan 9 (ST) With the intoxicating whiff of LG elections in the air, a mad scramble has begun by political parties to jump into bed with even their political foes in a last-ditch attempt to stave off certain defeat at the forthcoming hustings. No matter how jarring the clash of conflicting dogmas may sound, two major parties have drawn ranks and seem intent on striking an unholy alliance of strange bedfellows in the belief that such a union, bonded together by no other tie than the common craving to hold more..

Jan 9 (FT) SJB MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar has written to the speaker requesting a second debate over the private member�s bills tabled by him seeking to make it mandatory for youth to be given a 25% quota for candidacy to run for office in any upcoming election in SL. In the letter, Markar noted that out of the three private member bills presented, only the proposal on increasing youth representation in local Govt institutions has been returned with the Ministry recommendation. more..

Jan 9 (TM) Polls monitors pointed out that the Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill, which is set to introduce election campaign financing laws to SL, has multiple loopholes, as important matters have not been clearly laid down or excluded altogether in the provisions of the new Bill. PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said last Saturday that the Bill had not specified the requirement of a separate bank account for more..

Jan 9 (Island) At a time the entire society is confused about who does what in determining electricity costs and prices, it would be useful for the learned and intelligent Sri Lankans to examine the correct procedure. What is written here is practiced across the civilized world, in countries where electricity generation is not a monopoly but electricity supply is still a monopoly. That includes India. Electricity industry comprises five businesses: electricity production, transmission, more..

Jan 9 (FT) NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the SJB has gone into an absolute state of panic ahead of the upcoming local Govt elections. He said it is evident through the recent statements being made by the SJB leaders. �The Leader, General Secretary and the National Organiser keep making various statements,� he said referring to the statements issued against the NPP at public meetings by the SJB leadership. Responding to a question posed by the media on more..

Jan 9 (FT) Leading Consumer Electronics Retailer, Singhagiri Ltd, together with SL�s first-ever original device/equipment manufacturer, EWIS Colombo Ltd. (ECL), last week launched SGL android smart TV. The breakthrough marks the fruition of an agreement signed in March 2022 authorising ECL to produce TVs under the Singhagiri banner. EWIS factory in Sooriyawewa completed the manufacture of the first batch of android smart TVs recently. The TV bearing Singhagiri�s flagship brand SGL, more..

Jan 9 (ST) Sri Lanka will commence their campaign against USA at the inaugural edition of the ICC U-19 Women�s T20 World Cup that will be held in South Africa from Jan 14 to 29. SL have been grouped alongside Australia, Bangladesh and USA in Group �A�. Vishmi Gunarathne, 17-year-old opening batter from Rathnavali Girls School, Gampaha, will lead SL in the 16-team tournament. They will be under the watchful eyes of former national women�s all-rounder Shashikala Siriwardena, more..

Jan 9 (TM) While addressing the media in Chennai, TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran made an appeal to the Govt of India to exercise its authority to achieve the objectives of the Indo-Lanka Accord and to support the legitimate political objectives of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. �We are appealing to India, because India is a country that stepped in on our behalf when the Indo-Lanka Accord was signed in 1987. more..

Jan 9 (ST) Sri Lanka�s China-backed Hambantota International Port Group said it looking to expand yard space as its vehicle transshipment volumes from roll-on-roll-off car carriers continue to climb. In the year 2022, HIP handled a total volume of 558,188 units through 249 vessel calls, which is expected to increase in 2023. Hambantota Port said it had been �aggressively marketing its services and regular overseas visits to the shipping line principles to promote the port.� more..

Jan 9 (ST) On the instructions of Prez Wickremesinghe, SL has begun discussions with India and China on entering into separate FTA. Prez has instructed that talks on the proposed FTAs be concluded by June, with the aim of signing the agreements by September. In addition, talks on entering into FTAs will also be held with Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. SL Govt has already reached out to Indian Govt through the Indian HC, requesting for dates to begin talks on the new more..

Jan 9 (TM) IMF has not made an immediate reduction in the defence expenditure of Govt of SL a precondition for the provision of the eagerly awaited Board-level approval for the $ 2.9 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF), according to Prez Wickremesinghe. �IMF is looking for the reduction of military expenditure, but only in stages. Bulk of the military expenditure is for salaries. We can�t just ask those in military to go home� more..

Jan 9 (TM) Minister Ramesh Pathirana stated that the Govt has already established that the gem industry will aim to achieve $ 1 billion in exports in 2023. �We will facilitate the value-addition of our gems by enabling all technology and equipment related to value-addition to be duty-free. A committee will also be appointed to facilitate a pension plan for gem miners and other related occupations,� he said, inaugurating the international gem and jewellery show, FACETS SL more..

Jan 9 (FT) Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has requesting the Govt and the Ministry of Finance to provide the necessary funds for paddy purchasing before spending precious funds on elections scheduled to be held in March. The Minister said elections can be held at a later date after the purchase of the Maha season paddy harvest from hard-hit farmers in the country who can be given a fair price and protected if the harvest is purchased by the Govt. more..

Jan 9 (TM) The two groups of the SLFP, representing former SLFP Chairperson Chandrika Kumaratunga, and incumbent Chairman Maithripala Sirisena, respectively, had organised two separate events to mark the 104th birth anniversary of SLFP founder S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike yesterday, with the event organised by the Kumaratunga-led group seeing the participation of several notable politicians including PM Dinesh Gunawardena and SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris. more..

Jan 9 (AD) Demolishing the Pattirippuwa of the fake Dalada Maligawa in Kurunegala, which sparked controversy recently, began this morning (8), the police say. Multiple parties including the chief prelates of Malwatta and Asgiriya chapters had called for an investigation into the said establishment, stressing that this has displayed contempt for the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy. They also accused the man behind constructing this fake Dalada Maligawa, more..

Jan 9 (FT) Talks of free trade are returning with SL and Thailand today kicking off the third round of negotiations on the proposed FTA between the two friendly countries. A 26-member official delegation headed by Thailand Director General of Dept of Trade Negotiations Auramon Supthawe-ethum arrived from Bangkok. Two-day talks will focus on seven themes: trade in goods, trade in services, investments, rules of origin, more..

Jan 9 (Island) JVP flayed Prez for having summoned the members of the Elections Commission (EC) to his office. Such action amounted to exerting undue influence on the EC, which is supposed to act independently after an election is announced, according to JVP. He said: �Ranil Wickremesinghe and the SLPP gang are trying all sorts of tricks to put off the elections to the local councils. Prez recently summoned the officers and members of Election Commission to his office. more..

Jan 9 (TM) Renovations to the Maho-Omanthai stretch of the Northern Railway line commenced yesterday under the leadership of Minister Bandula Gunawardana and High Commissioner of India Gopal Baglay. The project is carried out by India�s State-run IRCON International under an Indian credit line of Rs. 33 billion. IRCON International has contributed to several railway reconstruction projects in SL. �The largest development project in SL in 2023 was able to start today (8). more..

Jan 9 (DM) As South Asian economies have been focusing on digitalisation efforts to uplift the overall govt and financial sector infrastructure, the Central Bank of SL asserted that improving focus in this arena will be a game changer for the island nation. CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe noted that SL can no longer afford any slowdown in its digitalisation efforts as the success of the financial sector & direction of the national economy toward prosperity largely relies upon this area. more..

Jan 9 (CT) President of Jathika Sangha Sabawa, Ven. Liyanwala Sasana Rathana Thera said a group of Buddhist monks who supported politicians should also be held accountable for SL�s current unfortunate state, along with politicians and State sector employees. Noting that no one can escape that responsibility, he said these politicians beg for the Maha Sangha�s and public support but once they get the opportunity to enter Parliament what they only do is get at least ten liquor licences. more..