Jun 11 (TM) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to visit India next month on his first official tour since assuming office as President, it is learnt. A highly-placed Govt source said that the President was expected to visit India between 20 and 30 July. It is also learnt that 21 July has been tentatively set for the meeting between Wickremesinghe and Indian PM Narendra Modi. Wickremesinghe is also expected to hold discussions with senior ministers of the Indian Govt. more..

Jun 11 (ST) During the first 3 months of this year, country�s total public debt increased by USD 6.853 billion due to domestic borrowing by the govt compared to the end of last year, an analysis report from the Treasury said. According to the Quarterly Debt Bulletin report issued by the Ministry of Finance, on the status of the country�s public debt situation at the end of March, the total debt in USD increased from USD 84.703 billion to USD 91.561 billion. more..

Jun 11 (TM) Two separate investigations by the CID and the Auditor General�s Dept over the controversial organic fertiliser deals with China and India are currently underway. Meanwhile, Ministry of Foreign Affairs is discussing the matter with its counterparts to rectify the matter without damaging the longstanding ties between the two countries, it is learnt. Nevertheless, both of the investigations into the controversy, which more..

Jun 11 (CI) The PCB's proposed hybrid model for the Asia Cup is likely to be approved by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), with SL as the neutral venue where India can play their games. The model sees four - and possibly five - of the tournament's 13 games being played in Pakistan. All the India-Pakistan games will be played in SL, as will the final if India is involved. An official announcement is likely after the weekend. The window set aside for the tournament currently is between Sept 1-17. more..

Jun 11 (AD) The govt has issued a gazette notification relaxing the import restrictions imposed on more than 300 items including electronic equipment, sanitaryware and food items. Relaxation of import restrictions came into effect on June 09, 2023. Communiqu� was issued by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization & National Policies, pursuant to the powers vested in him under the Imports & Exports (control) Act No.1 of 1969. more..

Jun 11 (ST) A multitude of issues, both economic and political, has engaged the Govt of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe in recent weeks. The most significant among them in the country�s economic sector was his meeting with IMF Deputy Managing Director, Kenji Okamura. It went beyond the positive or encouraging news release after the event. Dialogue is ahead of IMF considering the second tranche of the EFF, due in Sept. more..

Jun 12 (CT) We are alarmed by the undemocratic measures pursued by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and his government that continue to undermine the rule of law, fundamental rights and democracy in Sri Lanka. Of particular concern is the alarming trend of enacting and threatening to enact laws and regulations that in effect restrict fundamental rights and freedoms and legitimise the democratic backsliding and shrinking civic space. These laws and regulations, mooted under more..

Jun 12 (DM) Sirimavo Bandaranaike, with little experience in politics, led her party to victory in July 1960 and became the world�s first woman PM. The Govt�s slim majority affected its stability with possible cross-overs by a few. In 1940, 50s and 60s the traditional Marxist parties, LSSP, CP and Philip Gunawardena�s VLSSP held a combined strength of 20-25 parliamentary seats out of a total of 145. The combined left which held 80% of Trade Unions under their belt, was planning more..

Jun 12 (DM) EU�s Ambassador Denis Chaibi responds to questions about SL�s reapplication for the GSP+ under the revised criterion next year, bilateral ties, the Indo-Pacific strategy and others. Excerpts: Q: SL is going to reapply for the GSP+ under the revised category for the next ten-year period in 2024. As the ambassador to SL, what is your assessment of SL�s legality to qualify for it next year? A: It is hard to say beforehand more..

Jun 12 (ST) The need to find solutions to issues faced by Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) owing to the country�s economic crisis was discussed at length in Parliament following an adjournment motion moved by the SJB. The sector first came into crisis during the COVID pandemic but just as it was getting back on its feet, it was further hit by the effects of wrong decisions taken by the former govt, SJB MP Dr. Harsha De Silva said, moving the adjournment motion on Wed. more..

Jun 12 (ST) When a collective of SL�s Cabinet and their servile acolytes in the legal profession or administrative service sat down in sub-committee to prepare the draft Broadcasting Regulatory Commission Bill, was it their intention to deliberately infringe the 1997 Supreme Court ruling on constitutional imperatives in every conceivable shape and form? This question must be asked in deadly seriousness. For I am puzzled otherwise than to attribute a clear and specific intention more..

Jun 12 (TM) For over 120 years, Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of SL (WNPS) has led the charge to protect and preserve the country�s exquisite wildlife. It is the WNPS that established the Wilpattu and Yala National Parks, among others, while also being instrumental in setting up the Dept of Wildlife Conservation. The newest initiative of the WNPS is Preserving Land & Nature (Guarantee) Ltd (PLANT) Trust, which aims to acquire more..

Jun 12 (Island) Hardly a day passes without an instance of cruelty to animals being reported in SL, whose political leaders make a public display of their knowledge of Buddhism, and perhaps preach more Dhamma than even the members of the Maha Sangha. Despite their sanctimonious pretences, this predominantly Buddhist country seems to have become a hell on earth for poor animals, especially elephants, which undergo immense suffering at some Buddhist temples themselves and more..

Jun 12 (TM) The news of a five-year-old child�s death in Mulleriyawa has already sparked various discourses on social media and in general society. Many seem to be too quick to determine who is to blame, and in that race, it seems as if Sri Lanka is focused on the parental responsibility aspect of this incident. There is no debate that the abovementioned death is tragic and should not have occurred. Sadly, the outcry and mourning of the loss of this young Sri Lankan�s life, will eventually more..

Jun 12 (CT) Media freedom is one of the most important factors of a democratic society since it ensures citizen rule, fair and free elections and the protection of individual rights � some of the vital pillars of democracy � become a reality in the society. Media freedom doesn�t necessarily mean that the media institutions are always against the powers. True, the free media disseminates information and ideas among citizens affording citizens a means of calling attention to more..

Jun 12 (DM) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe since assumed presidency, has over a period of time been promising us all, that by the year 2048, this country would have become a developed or first world country. Well and good, everyone of us is certain and back the prez in his efforts to take this country out of the bankruptcy which we have been reduced to. Our prez has also mentioned Singapore as a model of development. Unfortunately, corruption, the antithesis of development is rife in SL. more..

Jun 12 (ST) Since he was dumped from the captaincy and team in 2021�when selectors thought the limited over game was only for fitter, more aggressive players�Dimuth Karunaratne was a neglected player in that format. But two years later, the 35-year-old has made into the ODI team and that, too, for the all-important World Cup Qualifiers to be played in Zimbabwe starting June 18. Sri Lanka is among 10 teams vying for more..

Jun 12 (CI) India fought hard for six sessions starting with the third day to give themselves some hope on the final day, but Australia finally broke the resistance to win the World Test Championship for the first time. Twice runners-up now, India have beaten Australia in the last four Test series between them - two in India, two in Australia - but Australia were the superior side in the conditions in England, where they will now play The Ashes against the hosts. more..

Jun 12 (FT) LankaPay has joined the Asian Payment Network whilst SL was also unanimously appointed to the position of Vice Chair of the grouping. As a regional consortium of domestic payment networks, APN constitutes members from 12 countries in the region including Australia, China, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and SL. By joining APN, LankaPay will benefit from the right to access APN�s common cross-border transaction standards more..

Jun 12 (FT) Lankan Angel Network (LAN), the country�s largest network of angel investors, has elected serial investor and entrepreneur Prajeeth Balasubramaniam as the Chairperson of its board for 2023/2024. The founder of LAN, and its inaugural chair Balasubramaniam has taken over the stewardship of LAN from its outgoing chairperson Chandi Dharmaratne, who congratulated him and said: �Prajeeth has been the driving force behind Sri Lanka�s start-up ecosystem since more..

Jun 12 (UNPFA) Sharika Cooray is the National Programme and Policy Analyst for Gender and Women's Rights and Humanitarian focal point with UNFPA Sri Lanka. She has been on the ground throughout the economic crisis that has engulfed the country for more than a year. She's been at the centre of the humanitarian response while coping with fuel shortages, power cuts and multiple expanding disasters that disproportionately affect women, girls and other marginalized groups. more..

Jun 12 (TM) The Govt is awaiting the outcome of several court cases regarding the controversial request to export monkeys to China in order to take a decision, as the importer is keen on proceeding with the request. Ministry of Agriculture Spokesman said that legal cases filed against the Govt�s venture to export monkeys to China were proving to be an obstacle and that the Govt would decide on its next step once the cases ended. more..

Jun 12 (SO) Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said the Govt has reduced fertiliser prices by 78 percent. This will benefit 650,000 farming families engaged in paddy cultivation during the Yala season. A 50 kg bag of urea fertiliser sold at Rs.42,000 will be reduced to Rs 9,000 by next week. Govt has provided fertiliser at concessionary rates to farmers to encourage rice production to avoid rice imports, create a rice surplus and minimise farmers� production costs since the last Yala season. more..

Jun 12 (ST) The Govt has absorbed billions of dollars of borrowed money denominated in foreign currency by state enterprises following the standstill of external public debt servicing for an interim period pending an orderly and consensual restructuring process, a Finance Ministry report revealed. State-owned utilities and public sector services including energy, petroleum, water, transportation, etc have been provided to the public at below cost recovery prices for a long time. more..

Jun 12 (AD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that the standards of SL universities were high on the list of Asian universities. The standard and reputation of the universities should be restored and improved once again in the country�s uni system to attract students overseas, he said, adding that this would also help to improve the development of the country�s economy. Prez stressed that he is satisfied with more..

Jun 12 (FT) Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) is stepping up efforts to boost capacity and services in ports around the island to reinforce its status as a key maritime hub in Asia. �Despite challenges faced, we see improved business and progress in development activities in all the port activities countrywide. The development of the port infrastructure and service remains a key priority,� SLPA Chairman Keith Bernard said. He also said that during the first four months, more..

Jun 12 (FT) SL continues to bask in the global limelight for its unique tourism offerings in 2023 and this time it has made it to the cover page of the Traveller magazine of the popular Sydney Morning Herald (SMH). Cover page published on 9 June by Senior Lee Tulloch, who is also the founding editor of Harper�s Bazaar Australia has described, Why you should visit this undersold, teardrop-shaped island right now. She gives a detailed explanation from geographical location, more..

Jun 12 (EN) Sri Lanka�s foreign remittances coming through official channels grew 57.7% from a year ago to US$ 479 million in May 2023, official data show. SL�s official remittances started to rise after the central bank hiked rates and halted money printing, reducing the demand for outflows. SL�s official remittances fell to as low as US$ 204 million in Feb 2023 as more money came through unofficial channels to feed import and outflows driven by newly created money. more..

Jun 12 (SO) Airport and Aviation Services SL Ltd (AASL) signed an agreement to set up an Automated Border Control system (ABC) to provide a smooth passenger journey at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). At the initial stage, two eGates will be installed at the departure terminal, and two eGates at the arrival terminal within eight months. This is to meet future border control needs of the airport resulting from the rapid growth in the number of passengers. more..

Jun 12 (TM) Treasury of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has initiated a programme to recover Rs. 6.2 billion in arrears owed to the council for 2022. The massive sum of arrears that the CMC had failed to recover was recently revealed at a meeting of the COPA. A CMC Treasury spokesperson said that the programme was being implemented by the CMC Treasury officials under the supervision of the Chief Treasurer of more..

Jun 12 (FT) Hayleys Chairman Mohan Pandithage says Sri Lanka is facing its pivotal time offering a unique opportunity to reset socio-economic model and called for collective sacrifices by all to be more resilient and achieve long term prosperity. The call for strong action from Pandithage is contained in the Chairman�s review in the Hayleys PLC Annual Report for FY2023, in which year the most diversified blue chip reached a major milestone of highest ever pre-tax profit of more..

Jun 12 (FT) Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC) has recently sent a letter to IGP C.D. Wickramaratne, requesting his support to implement a plan to prevent the presence of beggars at traffic lights in the Colombo city area. AAC said it has been brought to the notice of its Executive Committee that the beggar menace at the traffic lights in the Colombo City Limits has gone from bad to worse. �It was reported that these beggars are a nuisance at the traffic lights where they irritate motorists more..

Jun 12 (OL) SL athlete Shreshan Dananjaya has reportedly gone missing in Switzerland, according to the AASL. Shreshan Dhananjaya is the SL record holder in the Triple Jump (men) and national champion in the Long Jump. Athlete went missing during an invitational athletics tournament being held in Geneva, Switzerland. It is reported that all three attempts made by Dhananjaya had failed during the event, and that he went missing after participating in his event at the competition. more..

Jun 12 (ST) The Supreme Court has directed universities and the IGP to submit separate reports on incidents of ragging and investigations into reported cases in the past three years. The directive was given during the hearing of a petition filed by a Sri Jayawardenepura University (Management Faculty) student who suffered near-fatal injuries during a party organised for first-year students on March 5, 2020, after a large backhoe tyre was rolled down a flight of stairs. more..

Jun 12 (ST) President�s House, Secretariat, and PM�s official residence Temple Trees have been earmarked to be moved out of Colombo city to Sri J'pura Kotte and may be kept open only as a tourist attraction. UDA Director General said that on the instructions of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, they were looking for alternative land in the Sri J'pura-Kotte area to have the administrative complex in one location. more..