May 10 (TM) The pre-operative identification of factors that would increase surgical fear would be helpful in planning out interventions that would be, per a local study, helpful in reducing anxiety and alleviating fear prior to surgery, and towards this end, pre-operative comprehensive patient information is important. Further, age, educational level, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grading, duration of more..

May 10 (CT) It is critical for SL to efficiently manage its expenses, considering the repercussions of mismanagement. This involves prioritising spending on essential services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure while cutting back on non-essential expenses. It is also important to have transparency in spending and to ensure that all procurement processes are fair to avoid any wasteful spending or corruption. Against such backdrop, as reported in this paper more..

May 10 (TM) Reports that the eyesight of 10 individuals who underwent eye surgeries at the Nuwara Eliya District General Hospital has been weakened due to the presence of germs in a medicine imported from India are extremely concerning, especially for a country like Sri Lanka with a struggling health sector and medical service seekers. As per the Director of the Hospital, Dr. Mahendra Seneviratne, who confirmed this development in response to local media more..

May 19 (FT) ADB Chief of Gender Equality Samantha Hung last week said financial inclusion and female education in STEM areas are key factors SL should focus on rebuilding an inclusive and resilient economy. �In challenging economic circumstances, it is important that SL looks to boosting financial inclusion to ensure women empowerment via quality education and training, particularly into areas such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM),� more..

May 19 (Island) Sociological explanations frequently serve as a counter point to popular conspiracy theories. Historically, sociology evolved as a subject that tried to prove that social reality cannot be reduced to the separate actions of the individuals who make up that society, such individual motivations or what was understood as the standard way persons think and behave in given situations being the dominant analytical frameworks in other social sciences, like economics, psychology, more..

May 10 (Island) National Junior long jump record holder Madushani Herath shrugged off her early season disappointments with a notable performance in the Under 20 girls� long jump as she came almost close to breaking a 25-year-old meet record on day three of the Junior National Athletics Championships at Diyagama on Tuesday. The Nannapurawa MV, Bibila athlete missed the opportunity of representing Sri Lanka more..

May 19 (Island) The SJB has said it is opposed to the govt�s efforts to privatise strategically important state-owned enterprises (SOEs) such as the CEB and the CPC. SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne revealed his party�s position at a media briefing on Monday. The SJB has struck a responsive chord with those who urge the govt to act with restraint in restructuring the SOEs. But the signs are that the SLPP-UNP regime will go flat out to outdo the proverbial bull in a china shop. more..

May 10 (DN) Our batters wanted to get more boundaries to build up the innings while we were short another 15-20 runs to win the game, said SL skipper Chamari Atapaththu after losing the first T-20 game against Bangladesh yesterday. "We had a good start and one stage we were heading to pass the 160 run mark. However our middle order struggled and managed to get only 145 runs in our 20 overs which was not enough total at this SSC wicket. Actually we wanted to play 2-3 power more..

May 19 (ST) Govt plans to overcome cumbersome official procedures for migrant workers with the introduction of a single digital platform for their safety, welfare, and job security preventing malpractices, corruption and abuses in the industry. The aim is to make the foreign employment from the time of the recruitment process up to completion of their services in West Asia and other countries offering streamlined and hassle free service for migrant workers, more..

May 10 (FT) When SL opened its Free Trade Zones in Katunayaka, Biyagama and Koggala in the mid �70s and �80s, the country�s unique geographic location proved to be the biggest advantage to prospective foreign investors who saw immense potential in the tiny island. Being one of the first countries to establish FTZs in the South Asian region located at the crossroads of the major shipping routes to South Asia, the Far East and the European & American continents, major shipping lines more..

May 10 (TM) Ministry of Health has taken prompt measures to withdraw all imported eye drops from India while the conduct of eye surgeries in hospitals has been temporarily halted. Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that due to the quality failures of Prednisolone, which is an eye drop used after cataract surgery that has been imported from India, prompt measures have been taken to withdraw the same. more..

May 10 (CT) A host of SL players have been rewarded with new career-high ratings on the latest MRF Tyres ICC Women�s ODI Rankings update. SL recently hosted Bangladesh for a 3-game ODI series in Colombo and it was the home side that came away victorious despite some inclement weather marring the series. While there was no result achieved in the opening match and the third game was completely abandoned, SL cruised to a 58-run victory in the second game of the series more..

May 10 (FT) Govt said the impending free trade agreement (FTA) with Thailand will be inked within the first quarter of 2024, to boost exports from the country by three folds to $ 1.5 billion. The move came following the announcement of the final round of discussions scheduled to be held on 27 and 28 June, where a delegation headed by the Thailand Trade Negotiations Dept and SL Department of Commerce. Minister Bandula Gunawardena said both parties have agreed to complete more..

May 19 (FT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has given directions for the initiation of Aswesuma welfare benefit payments worth a staggering Rs. 485 billion ($ 1.5 bil) starting from 1 July. Of the mammoth amount, Rs. 139 billion or $ 421 million will be incurred within the next nine months encompassing 2 million people. A necessary gazette has been published in accordance with the authorities delegated to Wickremesinghe as more..

May 10 (ST) Moose Clothing Company has expanded its global footprint of the brand through their latest partnership with the well-known retail giant � Mustafa Centre in Singapore. Mustafa Centre is an iconic landmark in little India Singapore, and a favourite place for many tourists. The shopping centre offers a 24-hour market style shopping experience. Known for offering high quality, stylish and trendy clothing at affordable prices, Moose Clothing Company through more..

May 10 (ST) First Lady Prof. Maithree Wickramasinghe was a discussant at a fireside chat on the subject of Inspiring change: Together for the elimination of cervical cancer in the Commonwealth at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London on Friday. Event was part of the Commonwealth Spouses and Partners Programme and saw Prof. Wickramasinghe in conversation with Jeanette Kagame, the first Lady of the Commowealth Chair, Rwanda, and the First Ladies of more..

May 10 (Island) The Port City Colombo envisions a united future of prosperity where there are no divisions and everyone could reap the benefits of the PCC equitably. We believe in meritocracy and are committed to providing equal opportunities for all, regardless of background, Deputy Managing Director, CHEC Port City Colombo Thulci Aluwihare said. Aluwihare was speaking on the occasion of the holding of an all-night Maha Pirith Chanting ceremony of the PCC on May 6, more..

May 10 (Island) Two national reports were launched by the Sri Lanka Barometer (SLB) on 08 May in Colombo, providing public opinion survey data on how Sri Lankans across all provinces view reconciliation and social cohesion. SLB is supported by the programme Strengthening Social Cohesion and Peace in SL (SCOPE), co-financed by the European Union and German Federal Foreign Office and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft f�r Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH more..

May 10 (FT) Govt will soon unveil a comprehensive package to boost foreign direct investments (FDIs) and develop key industries, Minister Bandula Gunawardena disclosed. �Prez Wickremesinghe told the Cabinet that steps were being taken to introduce a fully-fledged package to boost FDIs � essentially, creating new business models to thrive,� Minister said. SL is looking at targeted initiatives to reach $ 2 bil this year more..

May 10 (AD) Five scheduled office trains on all railway lines were cancelled this morning due to the 24-hour token strike staged by station masters, SL Railways says. President of Station Masters� Association, Sumedha Somaratne stated that the token strike will continue until midnight today. The railway department says that due to the station masters� strike, the train services have been disrupted. Accordingly, the Tikiri Menike express train which was supposed to run more..

May 10 (TM) �Prez Wickremesinghe will make the necessary decisions regarding the possible change of certain Provincial Governors and the ruling SLPP will not interfere with his decisions,� said SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam. It was recently reported that the Prez had requested four Governors to resign, and that they would be replaced by senior members of the UNP, of which Wickremesinghe is the Leader. When queried as to whether the SLPP would have any concern more..

May 10 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on Monday approved holding discussions with the World Bank for a $ 200 million loan for the social security net program in Sri Lanka. The proposed project will be implemented under the three components. �These include providing financial assistance to identified families, conducting a pilot program to increase opportunities for the poor and vulnerable & strengthening social security system,� Minister Bandula Gunawardena said. more..

May 10 (FT) The newly formed SL Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) alleged that a large number of private and public companies are victims of corruption and the professional body will extend help to those who reach out. Formed with the objective of protecting consumers, businesses and the public from financial fraud and corruption, ACFE President Dr. Udayasiri Kariyawasam said 44% of private companies and 25% of public companies in SL are more..

May 10 (TM) Employees� Provident Fund (EPF) has already been subjected to a haircut of 35-40% in US dollar (USD) terms due to the depreciation of the SL rupee (LKR) and the negative real interest rate paid per annum, Opposition MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said. SJB MP said that EPF the total fund value in US dollar terms has come down to $ 9.5 billion in 2022 from $ 15.8 billion as of the end of 2021. He added that although the value more..

May 10 (DM) Sri Lanka will reply for the GSP+ trade facility for the European Union market under the revised criterion for the period between 2024 and 2034, a Minister said yesterday. The European Commission, on Sept 22, 2021, adopted a legislative proposal for the next ten-year period. The current GSP Regulation is set to expire by the end of this year. The Commission says it is proposing to continue the scheme while improving some of its key features. more..

May 10 (DM) The depression over the south-east Bay of Bengal is likely to move north-westward and intensify into a cyclonic storm over the south-east Bay of Bengal and then into a severe storm over the south-east and adjoining central Bay of Bengal in the next few days, the Meteorology Department said. Resulting from the cyclonic storm, thundershowers would occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-Western, and Southern Provinces, the department said. more..

May 10 (AD) The main suspect, who was arrested in connection with the suspicious death of a 16-year-old schoolgirl in Kalutara on May 06, has told the police that the teen jumped off the window of the hotel room they were staying at. Based on a tip-off received by the Kalutara Police, the suspect was arrested early this morning (9) in the area of Hikkaduwa. He was identified as a 29-year-old named Danushka Gayan Sahabandu from more..

May 10 (FT) The focus of this two-part article is former LTTE deputy military chief Kandiah Balasegaran alias Brigadier Balraj regarded as the finest commander the tigers ever had. Balraj was a much admired military tactician reputed for leading from the front. He died of a heart attack 15 years ago on 20 May 2008. The first part of this article published last week provided an outline of Balraj�s early life and the course of events that led to his joining the LTTE. more..

May 10 (FT) There are three things that matter when it comes to air travel. Punctuality, baggage not being lost and inflight comfort. There�s been a lot of chatter recently on the national carrier SriLankan and I want to add my own experience in the interest of the silent majority. Too often the opinion of a single traveller, when voiced aloud on the internet, is taken to be the general perception of all. This is far from the truth. There�s something I learnt when I spoke about my personal experience with more..

May 10 (AD) The 14 individuals arrested for assaulting a 27-year-old person to death and seriously injuring another at an air conditioning repair centre in Dehiwala, have been ordered to be remanded until May 23 after being produced before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate�s Court. A total of 14 individuals were arrested over the relevant incident which had taken place last night (9), while the police had also taken custody of a lorry, a van and a three-wheeler in relation to the incident. more..

May 10 (EN) SL exports are likely to see reduced demand this year and in 2024, to a top Central Bank official said, as a looming global recession could force the island nation exporters to reduce merchandise exports. Though Sri Lanka witnessed a 4.9% increase in exports to USD 13.1 billion compared to the previous year, the trend has reversed in the first quarter of the year. The merchandise exports, led by garments, fell 7.9% compared to the same period last year. more..

May 10 (BBC) Violent clashes have broken out in Pakistan between security forces and supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan after he was arrested on Tuesday. Protests are erupting nationwide, and at least one person has been killed in the city of Quetta. The United States and UK have called for adherence to the rule of law. Mr Khan was arrested by security forces at the High Court in the capital, Islamabad. more..

May 10 (CT) Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva maintained he is unaware of the rumour that SriLankan Airlines would be acquired by India�s Tata Sons. He claimed that although it was in the news, he was unaware of it and so declined to go into more detail about SriLankan Airlines� sale or public-private partnership (PPP) the Govt is planning for the national carrier. Meanwhile, he said his Ministry is only evaluating the Hingurakgoda Airport before looking for a PPP. more..

May 10 (DM) Former Colombo Municipal Councillor Mahinda Kahandagama, who was among those who was beaten by protestors on May 9 last year said he was performing an act when he was being beaten up in the pursuit of survival and gaining sympathy. Expressing his sentiments on the remembrance of May 9 last year, when peaceful protestors were attacked, he said he was thankful to the Aragalaya for making him a political leader. "Now, I don't need any publicity as I have become so famous more..

May 10 (EN) SL�s public bank deposits and stability of the banking system will be safeguarded in any reorganization of domestic debt, CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said. �There is speculation about the stability of public deposits and banking system stability,� Governor told a public forum. �In any kind of debt optimization, we will ensure and safeguard banking system stability as well as the protection of public deposits.� more..