Mar 24 (DM) Elections Commission will be summoned for a meeting to discuss the matters with regard to the uncertainty of the commission about holding the LG election, PM Dinesh Gunawardena said today. He told Parliament that the Elections Commission had not been able to come to a conclusion on holding the LG polls where the discussion had ended with looming uncertainty. "I hope to call the Elections Commission for a meeting soon about the uncertainty of Commission more..

Mar 24 (AD) Bar Association of SL (BASL) has responded to the protest staged outside the residence of BASL President Saliya Pieris, PC this morning (24 March). BASL deemed the protest staged against PC Saliya Pieiris�s decision to represent infamous underworld figure Harak Kata a serious hindrance to his right to represent a client, a professional right which has been safeguarded by law. In an attempt to support their argument, the Bar Association cited the Supreme Court verdict more..

Mar 24 (EN) SL is seeing a tourism upturn mostly from last minute bookings and forward bookings are just starting to pick up, industry officials said as the worst currency crisis triggered by the country�s intermediate regime central bank wanes. SL�s rupee collapsed in 2022 after two years of money printing to target an artificially low interest rates, triggering sovereign default, fuel and power shortages, social unrest & political instability, more..

Mar 25 (DM) The war in Ukraine -Europe�s latest war is into its 365th day. Columnists of major US and European news sites have from time to time expressed surprise that there could be an ongoing war in Europe in this day and age. In reality, the war in Ukraine had its origins in the aftermath of the 2014 coup in Ukraine, which overthrew the elected pro-Russian Prez Viktor Yanukovych in Nov 2013 when he (Yanukovych) refused at the last minute to sign an association agreement with the EU more..

Mar 25 (DM) Some of the responses of the ruling parties and some in the Opposition parties on the approval of the bailout package for SL by the IMF on Monday were amusing. The package was agreed upon at the Staff Level discussions between SL and the IMF on Sept 1, last year and was approved by the Executive Board of the IMF after much haggling over the restructuring of SL�s debts. The IMF programme for SL contained so many components, such as a loan from Int'l lender to SL more..

Mar 25 (CT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, addressing the 32nd Interact District Conference, held at Temple Trees on Sunday, expressed that in the event the IMF identifies SL as a non-bankrupt country, Govt would get an additional 10 years to repay the debt that has to be paid this year. Meanwhile, he said new debts would arise and the Govt would then have to borrow money because the annual foreign exchange earnings more..

Mar 25 (CT) If anyone were to ask what exactly has SL�s economic policy been for the past 75 years, there is only one answer that can be given: that is, chaotic. With traces of feudalism and colonialism, which are still deeply rooted in certain sectors and remnants of Sri Lanka�s brief flirtation with socialism clearly discernible in certain other sectors, the country has so far been struggling to fully integrate capitalist practices into its economic policies, despite opening up the economy in 1977. more..

Mar 25 (CT) During the first week of the month, the Sri Lankan rupee movements against the US dollar shocked many. Rupee became the world�s best performing currency as the rupee value of the dollar fell from Rs. 362 to 318 � an appreciation of 12%. While the importers and consumers hailed it, the exporters and those who hoard dollars began to worry. Before it became the world�s best performing currency, it had already become, the worst performing currency last year! more..

Mar 25 (CT) The history of Trincomalee dates back to ancient times in SL. The place had previously gone by many titles and Gokanna serving as the Sanskrit reference mentioned in chronicles. The eastern seaboard that extends over 300 km and has unparalleled beauty and the adjoining seas endowed with beautiful reefs, ship wrecks and marine life is a paradise for diving: many foreigners and diving enthusiasts more..

Mar 25 (GV) One morning in April 2008, Rameshkumar picked up a hire in his tuk tuk in Digana and was driving to the destination when he was suddenly accosted by a group in a white van who assaulted him, blindfolded him and pushed him into the van; his life would never be the same again. He was taken to an abandoned building and beaten for four days before being moved somewhere else for a week. �I can�t remember anything about that place except for my brother�s bag and more..

Mar 25 (Island) There is no such thing as national interest in SL politics, as is public knowledge. What looks like it is only self-interest in disguise. One often has politicians in this country saying they are promoting national interest, but what they are actually doing is pursuing self-interest. It is against this backdrop that former Prez Maithripala Sirisena�s claim that his love for the country has driven him to call for a national govt to tackle the current economic crisis should be viewed. more..

Mar 25 (DM) Friday, March 24 was the 74th birthday of Ranil Sriyan Wickremesinghe. The SL President was born in Colombo on 24 March 1949. This Birthday would have been a delightful one for Ranil for two reasons. This is the first birthday he celebrated as the Executive President of Sri Lanka. The other is the gift received by Sri Lanka from the IMF a few days earlier. As is well-known, the IMF program was made possible largely due to the untiring efforts of the President. more..

Mar 25 (Island) Hope springs eternal in the human breast, it is said, but if the breast is of a national-minded Sri Lankan, hope cannot rise; it is stifled by fear, worry, frustration and stark disappointment. Govt persons are flapping their upper limbs and crowing about improvement in the economy; nothing much for us Ordinaries to experience or savour. The President has announced thuttu deke SL rupee has risen against the dollar as if he had achieved the fall in the price of the dollar himself with more..

Mar 25 (ST) Residents of Gampaha and Colombo districts are being advised to be extra vigilant in the coming weeks as dengue, which claimed about 70 lives last year, is raising its ugly head again. Public health authorities say there is a shortage of chemicals for fogging and that fuel is not available for fogging machines. Public health workers are demotivated and people are not doing their part. more..

Mar 25 (ST) This year, the southern coasts of SL saw a resurgence of turtles coming to nest. Birth of rare leatherback turtles in a protected area of the Matara beach this week was the high point of this phenomenon. From a clutch of about 80 eggs, 45 baby leatherback hatchlings emerged and were released to the sea. This egg clutch was collected from Kamburugamuwa beach by the Wildlife Conservation Dept�s Mirissa regional office about 2 mos ago & protected at one of its hatcheries. more..

Mar 25 (ST) �More than 600,000 have lost their jobs and most in the industry do not earn enough to cover their cost of living,� said Supun Abeysekara, secretary of the Labour Community of the Construction Industry. Rising borrowing rates and price fluctuations make it incredibly difficult for contractors to take on projects, or to follow through, he said. The prices of raw materials have soared. A bag of cement that cost Rs. 850 to Rs. 900 a few years ago has increased by up to 300% more..

Mar 25 (Island) In keeping with the vision of making a difference and empowering local entrepreneurs, Excel World will collaborate with The Island Market on the 25th of March to host its first ever pop-up market. The venue will be provided free of charge to the initiative in keeping with the concept of the power of a business to do good. Founded with the aim of supporting home-grown small-scale businesses, creators and artisans by giving them a platform to showcase & grow their products, more..

Mar 25 (TM) The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), which holds debt of over Rs. 230 billion, is yet to consider a reforms process, despite the Govt�s stated stance of restructuring all loss-making State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). This, despite the CPC gearing up to permit three new international players to enter the domestic energy market, which will see the SOE�s stake in the local market decline once the project gets underway. Both national utilities, CPC and CEB, have incurred massive losses and more..

Mar 25 (FT) Govt can use the entirety of $ 2.9 billion four year EFF from IMF for budgetary support according to Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena. During a Q&A at the forum chaired by Prez with the heads of print and electronic media, Siriwardena said that there is no cap within $ 2.9 billion for such support. Unlike in the past 16 programs with the IMF when funding had been to bolster foreign reserves, it was the first time more..

Mar 25 (FT) Embassy and Permanent Mission together with SL Tourism Promotion Bureau and SL Tea Board organised a destination promotion to commemorate 75th Anniversary of Independence of SL at the high-end Wien Mitte Mall recently. The promotion campaign showcased SL as a tourism destination to the Viennese public. The said event also featured SL Dance by SL�s world-renowned Channa-Upuli Foundation captivating the audience and visitors, who had an opportunity to more..

Mar 25 (CT) JJB Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Friday alleged that three military officials, including retired Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, have been blacklisted for engaging in politics with the JJB. Dissanayake, who raised a question under the Standing Order 27/2, said retired Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha has been blacklisted by the SL Air Force (SLAF) and banned from entering SLAF bases and participating in events organised by the SLAF. more..

Mar 25 (FT) Reflecting lower global demand and rising inflation, earnings from exports declined further for the second consecutive month as February merchandise shipments were down by 8.06% year-on-year to $ 1 billion, Export Development Board said yesterday. Although Sri Lanka�s export sector began 2023 on a negative note, earnings however managed to surpass the $ 1 billion mark. more..

Mar 25 (FT) Scores of lawyers participated in a peaceful demonstration before the Aluthkade court premises yesterday against the recent attempts to allegedly intimidate and threaten the country�s judiciary. The protestors held placards asking the Govt to keep its hands off the judiciary and accused the Ranil-Rajapaksa regime of being the cat�s paw behind fellow lawyer MP Premnath C. Dolawatte, who claimed that the privileges of MPs have been violated through the recent interim order more..

Mar 25 (AF) The Japan-Lanka Friendship Association, with the generous support of the Toji family, handed over a Nissan Ambulance and a consignment of reading spectacles to the SL Air Force today (23) in a ceremonial procession at Air Force Headquarters. The delegation officially handed over the vehicle to the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, during the colourful ceremony. In appreciation of the donation, a special cultural programme more..

Mar 25 (AD) Supreme Court is due to deliver the verdict on the petitions filed against the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill confidentially to the Speaker of the Parliament. The second hearing of the Bill took place today (24), before a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, during which the presentation of the petitioner�s arguments concluded. Presenting his argument in court, Additional Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne highlighted that through the Bill in question, the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) more..

Mar 25 (AD) Several persons who were at the Kurunegala Office of the Dept of Immigration and Emigration today (24) were inconvenienced after the electricity supply to the building was disconnected owing to the non-payment of bills. Officers of CEB had reportedly arrived at the premises earlier today, and had disconnected the building�s electricity supply despite there having been several applicants present at the time. Thus, those present at the premises claimed that the situation more..

Mar 25 (FT) The UNHRC yesterday issued its findings on SL after a thorough examination in its latest session. Apart from SL, UHRC also released its findings on five other countries Egypt, Panama, Peru, Turkmenistan and Zambia. The 12-page findings report contain the Committee�s main concerns and recommendations on the implementation of the Int'l Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as positive aspects. more..

Mar 25 (FT) SL�s most awarded plantations company, Hayleys Plantations, recently hosted US Ambassador to SL Julie Chung, on an exclusive tour of its Pedro Estate in Nuwara Eliya. Ambassador Chung said: �Tea production is key to SL�s economy and the region�s success. I met with the Managing Director and Regional Manager of Hayleys Plantation to explore a business owner�s perspective on challenges from the economic crisis and how to meet the needs of plantation workers.� more..

Mar 25 (Island) SL�s HC to India Milinda Moragoda met with President of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe in New Delhi to follow up on the earlier discussions the two have had on ways and means to further strengthen cultural cooperation between SL and India. Founded in 1950, the ICCR, is an autonomous organization of Govt of India, involved in India�s external cultural relations, through cultural exchange with other countries & their peoples. more..

Mar 25 (Island) TPA leader Mano Ganesan, MP, has thanked the Colombo-based diplomatic community for their respective roles as friends and development partners of SL during this crisis period in obtaining IMF assistance. Ganesan was among the Opposition delegation that met diplomats at the meeting arranged by the office of Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa. Sajith led the opposition MPs group that included Mano Ganesan, Rauf Hakeem, M.A. Sumanthiran, G.L. more..

Mar 25 (FT) The Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies will hold a virtual presentation to commercial creditors and investors on the $ 2.9 billion four year Extended Fund Facility approved by the IMF Executive Board to SL on Thursday 30 March. The timings are 8.30 a.m. (New York)/12.30 p.m. (London)/1.30 p.m. (Paris)/6.00 p.m. (Colombo)/8.30 p.m. (Beijing). The presentation will be chaired by the CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe and Secretary to the Treasury more..

Mar 25 (EN) SL is in talks with India for a billion US dollar equivalent Indian rupee central bank swap, to facilitate trade, Indrajit Coomaraswamy, advisor to the govt said. �The amount is still uncertain it could be up to the equivalent of a billion US dollars,� he said. The money will be used to facilate India SL trade, he said. India has been trying to popularize the use of Indian rupees for external trade and more..

Mar 25 (DM) State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says that US$ 121 million out of US$ 333 million, the first tranche that was extended to SL by the IMF, was used to pay the installment of the Indian credit line. He said the relevant installment of US$ 121 million was paid yesterday. "Usually the loans given by the IMF are credited to CB account. But this time, the relevant loan amount has been credited to the account by Treasury Dy Secretary. Therefore it can be used for debt stabilization," more..

Mar 25 (Island) Director General on Trade Unions to the President Saman Ratnapriya said yesterday released full time for union work by respective trade unions and federations could continue to do so until their retirement. The former President of the Govt Nurses Union said so when The Island sought his response to recent disclosure by General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers� Service Union Mahinda Jayasinghe that he received a salary in spite of not teaching since 2000. more..

Mar 25 (Island) 24 Sri Lankan youths who had gone to work in the computer field in Laos, were trapped in a special area of the country for not committing computer financial frauds assigned to them. They were rescued yesterday and brought to Katunayake Airport. These are a group of young people who had received further education in computers representing the Southern province including Hambantota and Galle. more..

Mar 26 (CT) There is a new dichotomy in the SL political formation. The JVP appears to be outrunning others in the political race by quite a stretch. At the same time, Ranil Wickremesinghe is consolidating his position as the country�s only competent economic manager. His clever-by-half political forays have backfired spectacularly. Every one of them. Yet, he has established himself as a veritable one-man show, and not without some justification he is flaunting the IMF deal more..