Jun 6 (AD) Court of Appeal has postponed delivering the verdict of the petition filed against State Minister Diana Gamage�s parliamentary membership. The verdict, which was supposed to be announced today, was thus delayed until July 25. The petition was called before Appeals Court President Nissanka Karunaratne, and Justice A. Marikkar this morning. Social activist Oshala Herath had filed the petition seeking a writ order disqualifying the state minister from holding a parliamentary seat. more..

Jun 6 (Island) SL govt was not allocating funds to ensure the availability of essential public goods despite the gradual stabilisation of the economy, Prof. Priyanga Dunusinghe, of Dept of Economics at the Colombo Uni said. �The govt has to maintain roads, provide healthcare and education, security, etc. I don�t see the govt allocating the required funds. On the other hand, the prices of goods and services are high, and more..

Jun 6 (PMD) Addressing the Panel Discussion of the National Law Conference 2023, Presidential Advisor Dr. R.H.S Samaratunga, emphasized the need for a comprehensive review of land laws, labour laws, capital laws, and technology laws in order to meet the requirements of a competitive economy. He noted that Presidential Secretariat is currently examining a series of new legislation drafts that address these four crucial sectors. Labour Ministry has taken into account the concerns more..

Jun 6 (AD) Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles revealed today that a total of 5,400 security officers have been assigned for the protection of individuals who are neither Ministers nor Members of Parliament. Minister Alles said he has already called for a report regarding the issue. Further, the Minister emphasized that necessary revisions will be made based on the particulars included in the relevant report on the security details of non-MP VIP personnel. more..

Jun 6 (DM) SL Customs today displayed a seized container carrying three hybrid cars, a large stock of cosmetics, illicit cigarettes and foreign liquor worth over Rs.350 million, which had been imported by a trader falsely declaring as motor spare parts. Officials of the Customs Revenue Task Force (RTF) opened the seized 40-foot container at the Customs RTF inspection site in Grayline 1 Yard more..

Jun 6 (AD) An overseas travel ban was imposed on MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam today, on the orders of the Kilinochchi Magistrate�s Court. Jaffna District MP, who represents the AITC, is accused of his complicity in obstructing the duties of police officers and verbally abusing them during a recent event in Vadamarachchi. Soon after the incident, MP Ponnambalam was asked to record a statement with Maruthankerny Police on Monday. However, he has failed to appear before the police, more..

Jun 6 (DM) SL�s Women�s team captain Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama have been nominated for the Women's ICC Player of the Month Award for May. Both batters were in excellent form during the recent home series in Bangladesh when Athapaththu scored 103 runs at a strike rate of 132 in the a three-match T20I series after scoring a half-century in one of ODIs. Samarawickrama, meanwhile, made an unbeaten 45 in the final ODI against B'desh with scores of 45, 29*, 51* more..

Jun 6 (AD) Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and to take the necessary steps for legislation to enforce the provisions of the agreement of the treaty�s member states to ban any nuclear weapons test or other nuclear explosion anywhere in the world. Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was adopted by the UNGA on 10.09.1996. By the treaty, member states agreed to ban any nuclear weapons test or other nuclear explosion more..

Jun 6 (TM) In response to a statement by Public Security Minister Tiran Alles that there may be people who are greedy for his ministerial post, the ruling SLPP stated that there are no such individuals in their party. Speaking to the media recently, Alles said that there could be those who are greedy for his ministerial post and that such individuals may attempt to convince President Ranil Wickremesinghe to remove him (Alles) as the Public Security Minister. SLPP General Secy Sagara Kariyawasam more..

Jun 6 (EN) SL�s govt has priortised regional energy integration with grid connectivity between Sri Lanka and India to be implemented by 2030, Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said. World Bank has been assisting CEB in understanding the technical requirements and business models for the project, Wijesekara tweeted Tuesday June 06 morning following a meeting the previous day with World Bank Director of Regional Integration more..

Jun 6 (DM) Denying media reports that patient services at the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital have been hampered due to the malfunction of the PET scan, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena stressed that the PET scan is currently functioning without any interruptions. Participating at the weekly post Cabinet news briefing at the Information Dept, Health DG said, "The use of the PET scan has not been suspended. We are performing services manually. more..

Jun 6 (DM) Court of Appeal issued notices on former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen over a contempt of court application filed for his failure to comply with the orders by the Court of Appeal in connection with the Wilpattu National Park case. In its judgment, Appeal Court on 16 Nov, 2020 had issued an order in the nature of mandamus, ordering the Conservator General of the Dept of Forest Conservation to take action to implement a tree planting programme in accordance with the provisions more..

Jun 6 (TM) SL College of Dermatologists (SLCD) urged the public to use skincare creams that have been approved by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), and not to use Glutathione injections. SLCD Skincare and Cosmetic Consultant Dermatologist Dr. Nayani Madarasingha said that the Glutathione injection has not been approved in any country including SL. �It is a molecule commonly used in treatments for more..

Jun 6 (EN) SL�s Supreme Court has determined that a private member�s bill seeking amendments to the provincial council elections law is not inconsistent with the constitution provided that amendments are made to two of the bill�s clauses. Speaker announcing the court verdict told parliament that, subject to the proposed amendment to clause 3 and deletion of clause 4 of the bill, the court has determined that the bill or any of its provisions is not inconsistent with the constitution. more..

Jun 6 (DM) Opener Nishan Madushka scored an unbeaten century after left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka ripped through the South Africa A top order as Sri Lanka A recorded a comfortable seven-wicket win in the second unofficial ODI in Pallekele. The win means Sri Lanka levelled the three-match series 1-1. Madushka's 107 came off 85 deliveries, including 13 boundaries and two sides, ensuring that the three wickets his team loss didn't trigger a batting collapse. more..

Jun 7 (CT) The saying �Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty� is often attributed to the founders of the US, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, Abraham Lincoln, among many others, though Lord Denning in The Road to Justice (1988) stated that the phrase originated in a statement of Irish orator John Philpot Curran in 1790. The phrase is often used to emphasize the importance of being vigilant in protecting one�s rights and freedoms. Recent controversies involving religion more..

Jun 7 (TM) SL is dealing with a newly emerged health threat driven by the public�s tendency to improve their appearance even at the cost of their health. This issue, which stems from unhealthy skin whitening creams with little to no information about their impacts, attracted widespread attention after news broke about those who experienced health complications as a result of the use of these products. Subsequently, SL College of Dermatologists (SLCD) urged the public more..

Jun 7 (TM) Although the idea of making available a pension scheme for people of all sectors, including those employed in the informal sector, is an attractive plan to ensure some sort of post-retirement financial stability, many in the current economic context are no longer in a position to save money for a rainy day. Surviving each day is the lifestyle that many in the informal sector can afford and are accustomed to, and they value more..

Jun 7 (Island) The easiest task in SL is perhaps to distract the public. In ancient Rome, the patricians used bread and circuses to take the plebeians for a ride, but there is no need for bread to hoodwink the masses in this country, where a mere political circus can make them forget even the pangs of hunger. In fact, not even circuses as such are necessary here to divert public attention from the many burning issues that the government has failed, or not cared, to solve; only a propaganda gimmick will do more..

Jun 7 (CT) Enrolling children in schools can be a daunting task for parents in SL, plagued by a range of difficulties that hinder the process. Recently, a viral Facebook post by a SL immigrant residing in a Scandinavian country shed light on the stark contrast between the enrolment procedures in the two nations, emphasising the simplicity and stress-free nature of the foreign system. Such comparisons have ignited a debate on the challenges faced by SL parents when enrolling their children in more..

Jun 7 (TM) Mega-scale road development projects will face further delays, as ongoing discussions between the Govt and possible investors on resuming construction have proved to be unsuccessful thus far. It is learnt that resuming construction within this year (2023) will be almost impossible given the current difficulties faced in sourcing appropriate foreign investment. A senior official attached to the Ministry of Highways, more..

Jun 7 (DM) In a televised address to the nation, Prez Wickremesinghe reiterated his oft-repeated commitment, not to let the country slide back into its previous debt-ridden state and his determination to transform the country into a developed state by 2048. A major challenge to the Prez�s vision today, is the country�s lack of foreign currency. To face this and other problems, he presented a road map to achieve the targets he envisioned. He also set a time frame for achievement of this goal -2048. more..

Jun 7 (CT) In distressing news, a hospital in the Kahatagasdigiliya area, which can serve thousands of innocent people, if run to its full potential, is in a dilapidated state due to the carelessness and ignorance of the authorities. Primary Medical Care Unit, Konwewa, Kahatagasdigiliya in A'pura District has been allowed to go to rack and ruin. Primary Care Unit is reported to be the source of medical care for about 2,000-3,000 farming families residing in 15 surrounding villages more..

Jun 7 (ST) Diehard SLPP MPs who had once enjoyed the pomp of ministerial power are beginning to feel the heat. The strain, the stress, bereft of office and exiled to a political wasteland, has reached alarming levels, and now threatens to burst in oozing putrefying pus, set to befoul opposition benches. With their once idolised savior now reduced to a shadow of his former self, they restless prowl in the by lanes of memory, hankering for halcyon days, where in royalty�s shade, more..

Jun 7 (Island) The domain of the humanities and social sciences is under attack more than ever before. The relevance, as well as usefulness of the degrees earned in those fields, is being questioned left, right, and centre. The question of whether it is meaningful at all to be spending, if not wasting, the limited financial resources available in the coffers to produce graduates in those fields is raised constantly, at multiple levels. Attempts are being made to introduce a little bit of soft skills more..

Jun 7 (DM) SL�s construction industry, a vital sector for economic growth, has been grappling with significant challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic crisis. The industry, which used to contribute 8-10% to the country�s GDP and provide employment for over 1.2 million individuals, has experienced a sharp decline. The implementation of import restrictions on tiles and sanitaryware more..

Jun 7 (AD) Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) signed a MoU, with the Eastern University, SL, to formalize collaborative efforts to improve financial literacy among undergraduates in Sri Lanka. The collaboration proposes to promote capital market education among undergraduates, by working together on a number of mutually beneficial strategic initiatives. Accordingly, the initiative would offer practical educational training and internship opportunities for students of the Eastern Uni, more..

Jun 7 (Island) Having failed to qualify automatically for the World Cup later this year, SL will be flying shortly to Zimbabwe to secure one of the two remaining slots for the sport�s showpiece event. But before that they have got to finish off the ODI series against Afghanistan and the former champions will be hoping that they will be able to clinch the series prior to flying off to Harare. After losing the first ODI by six wickets, SL bounced back to square the series with a 132-run win on Sunday. more..

Jun 7 (DN) �Our aim is to enter the final of the Asian Junior Netball Championship which will commence on June 11 in South Korea" said Sri Lanka junior National Netball team coach Amalka Gunatilleka in an exclusive interview before their departure yesterday. We had good training sessions for nearly two months at Gateway International courts and those practice matches is a big boost to the Junior team led by Sajini Ratnayake who is an experienced player from HNB. more..

Jun 7 (FT) SL Ansell, a global leader in personal protective equipment, announced the successful implementation of Microsoft D365, an enterprise resource planning solution that provides superior operational management, at its manufacturing plant in the Biyagama EPZ in SL on 1 June. This deployment at the largest manufacturing facility in the Ansell network is a significant achievement and part of the company�s strategy to achieve a digital transformation in its 15 manufacturing more..

Jun 7 (TM) Ministry of Finance has planned to make it mandatory for all those entering politics and the staff of Ministers to open tax files, said State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya. He said that the Govt would take steps to make it mandatory for those entering politics, including Local Govt representatives, to open tax files. In addition to politicians, he said that the staff of Ministers would also be required to open tax files in the future. more..

Jun 7 (FT) In a bid to address the growing concern over wage disparities and the rising cost of living, estate-based trade unions are now demanding an increase in the daily wage of plantation workers. Accordingly, unions are demanding the workers be paid a minimum wage of Rs. 2500. The call comes after a three-year struggle to enforce the previous Gazette notification, which set the daily minimum wage at Rs 1000. However, certain plantation companies have continued to flout the order, more..

Jun 7 (FT) Axiata Digital Labs, the technology hub of Axiata Group Berhad, the leading telecommunications conglomerate, announced the official visit of Group Chief People Officer, Norlida Azmi, to the Colombo offices of Axiata Digital Labs. The visit, scheduled for today, signifies Axiata�s commitment to fostering collaboration and advancing its strategic management practices across its subsidiaries. During her visit, Norlida Azmi will engage with employees & senior leadership more..

Jun 7 (TM) While Prez Wickremesinghe has instructed the Dept of Archeology to stop new acquisitions of lands in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, and the construction of Buddhist shrines in those areas, Dept is yet to take a final decision on the matter while other parties allegedly continue with such activities together with the Army and Buddhist monks. TMTK Leader C.V. Wigneswaran said that the Prez, more..

Jun 7 (DM) A Harrogate barrister has been announced as the youngest ever black and minority ethnic crown court judge in the UK. SL origin Ayesha Smart, 34, can now sit as a Recorder in crown courts across the north east of England. As well as being the youngest non-white person to take up the role, she will be the third youngest person from any background to be selected. The process of becoming a judge is complex, involving two sets of exams, a role play exercise and more..

Jun 7 (FT) SJB MP S.M. Marikkar made shocking revelations about a sale of land in Hanthana by the Govt. MP alleged that a 25 acre plot of land has been sold off for merely Rs. 33 per perch to a private company. Marikkar said the actual commercial value of the land is in fact Rs. 1760 million. He revealed he has all the necessary documentation to prove his allegations. Marikkar also claimed the Govt is attempting to sell off yet another 10 Acres in Hanthana with a prominent politician more..