Nov 7 (DM) An audit has been initiated by the Inland Revenue Department to find out whether the sugar importers had earned undue profits due to the increase in the Special Commodity Levy on sugar, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. He told Parliament that no unusual increase in sugar imports were observed during the period when the levy was increased from 25 cents to Rs. 50 per kilo. M�nister said according to Customs statistics, a decrease in sugar import is observed during more..

Nov 8 (Island) Prof. Gunapala Nanayakkara, during his research methodology class at the MBA programme conducted by the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), emphasised the importance of asking the question why (or even how) multiple times, possibly up to five times or more, until saturation is achieved. This approach encourages a thorough exploration of the root causes of a problem. There have been extensive analyses and discussions regarding the root causes of more..

Nov 8 (CT) The recent revelation involving the Immunoglobulin IV scam has cast a dark shadow over the health sector of our country. The CID, questioning the Health Ministry Secretary, Janaka Sri Chandragupta, in connection with this controversial incident, has raised concerns about the integrity of our health authorities. It is a clear indication that trust in the health sector is being shattered, and this is far from being a positive sign for our future. In this grim turn of events, more..

Nov 8 (TM) SL cricketing fraternity was taken by storm in the early hours of yesterday (6) when the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs sent a media release appointing an interim committee for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) headed by former World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunge. The move was on the cards after a huge public outcry against the current board, coaching staff, selectors, and players took place after a disappointing more..

Nov 8 (DM) In spite of allegations by the Opposition parties about the govt�s repeated efforts to amend the election laws including the appointment of a ten-member commission by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe last month, indeed there is a genuine need for electoral reforms. What is lacking in the govt�s efforts is consistency which provokes suspicion among the people. The need for electoral reforms arises out of provisions in laws including in the Constitution about elections - national as well as local more..

Nov 8 (ST) Diana Gamage won an outstanding legal battle in the Court of Appeal on Tuesday when two judges of a three-judge bench held there was no legal impediment for her to be a MP. But though she won the Appeal Court battle, she hasn�t still won the war. Minutes after the court had delivered its majority decision granting her victory, the undaunted plaintiff, social activist Osala Herath, vowed on the steps of the Hulftsdorp complex to take the battle to higher ground and seek justice more..

Nov 8 (CT) The presence and significance of the Tamils of Indian Origin living in the upcountry, particularly in the tea and rubber plantation sectors, remains a prominent topic of discussion in SL. Naam 200 event held on 2 Oct, organised by the longstanding trade union, the CWC, emphasised the urgent need for substantial revolutionary changes in terms of rights and the recognition of the Upcountry Indian more..

Nov 8 (TM) While policymakers, the Judiciary, state officials, and a nation of cricket lovers were distracted with the state of affairs of Sri Lanka Cricket over the last few days, the capital of our troubled little island was once again in chaos, with heavy rains causing some streets and city centres to be flooded, creating a quagmire of hazards to commuters and motorists alike, who were navigating to get home. Why the planning and administration of the City of Colombo has failed, more..

Nov 8 (Island) It has become manifestly clear once again that all state institutions are geared to protect the interests of the corrupt and not those of the public. When Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe plucked up the courage to sack the SLC Executive Committee and appoint an interim committee headed by Arjuna Ranatunga, cricket-crazy public exulted, but while welcoming his bold action yesterday we warned that the crooks concerned would strike back with might and main. more..

Nov 8 (GV) During his recent visit to the US, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of the NPP, addressed an interesting question from a SL resident. The person highlighted the significant dominance of the white population in the US but also emphasized their peaceful coexistence with other migrant communities despite their majority status. In drawing a comparison to SL, the person underscored the prevalent presence of the Sinhala people yet pointed out instances of more..

Nov 8 (DM) SL cricket has not reached dizzying heights. Much like our country earlier this year - when declared bankrupt - cricket too has hit its lowest depths. Cricket board has been sacked, and charges of corruption and mismanagement whether true or false abound. Just as our present president was the constitutional appointment, cricket�s new interim committee headed by our World Cup-winning captain - Arjuna Ranatunga - has been appointed to clear the good name of cricket in our country more..

Nov 8 (ST) Hopes among people that the upcoming budget will provide relief remain low, while the need for a respite from the soaring cost of living is rising. The govt is fixated on creating economic stability while providing relief to the people. The people said the govt should take steps to reduce the soaring cost of living and stabilise the economy. They expect relief and anticipate more taxes as the govt intends to abide by the IMF proposals to obtain more..

Nov 8 (Island) Within 24 hours, Kusal Mendis gave us an indication what is in store for us during his captaincy. Virat Kohli had just completed his 49th hundred and when an Indian reporter asked him would you like to congratulate him, he jumped at him and asked, �why should I congratulate him.� Then on the match day after his side was beaten by Bangladesh by three wickets he refused to shake hands with the opposition. That simply is not cricket. Mendis will be Mendis. You can't change him. more..

Nov 8 (CI) At one point, Australia were 91 for 7 chasing 292. Then Glenn Maxwell Glenn Maxwelled his way to a double-century and not only did they win the game, they also sealed their place in the World Cup semi-finals. After Ibrahim Zadran became Afghanistan's first-ever centurion in World Cups, Naveen-ul-Haq and Azmatullah Omarzai shredded Australia's top order as they threatened to script a famous win at the Wankhede. But Maxwell intervened with a sensational 201 not out, more..

Nov 8 (CI) Allan Donald, the Bangladesh fast-bowling coach, has said he doesn't "like that sort of thing", referring to Shakib Al Hasan appealing for a timed-out dismissal against Angelo Mathews in their World Cup match in Delhi on Monday. The appeal was upheld, much to Mathews' displeasure, and while Shakib has since said he did what he did to make sure my team wins, Mathews called it absolutely disgraceful. In an interview, conducted soon after the Bangladesh team more..

Nov 8 (ST) Drivers will have to pay a fine of Rs. 2000 if they are caught flouting the bus priority lane rule, Traffic Police Chief Indika Hapugoda said. The usual school-and office-hour traffic jams are expected to subside with the traffic police re-implementing the bus-priority lane rule from Nov 1. The pilot run ends on Nov 14. The priority lane rule is being implemented from the Savoy Cinema on Galle Road in Wellawatte and leading up to Pettah from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. more..

Nov 8 (Reuters) Angelo Mathews demanded justice from the ICC and branded Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan a cheat on social media after becoming the first player to be timed out in international cricket at the World Cup on Tuesday. Mathews had already made his feelings clear in the press conference after the defeat that ended SL�s hopes of progressing at the World Cup, saying Shakib�s appeal for the controversial more..

Nov 8 (DN) Ministry of Tourism will take over the idling Hambantota Convention Centre and convert it to a major active conference and event hosting venue, disclosed Minister of Lands and Tourism Harin Fernando. A hotel school too would be set up to accommodate around 400 students in this convention centre which will be a major feeder of youth for the growing human resources crisis in the hospitality sector. In an interview after the opening ceremony of Sri Lanka Tourism Stand more..

Nov 8 (FT) Top blue chip John Keells Holdings announced a healthy 48% increase in its Earnings before Interest and Tax (EBIT) to Rs. 2.4 billion in the 2Q of FY24 from the 1Q. This was against a 0.5% gain in revenue to Rs. 64 billion. Year on year, EBIT was down by 16% and revenue by 7%. The latter was mainly on account of the significantly higher revenue recorded in the Group�s Bunkering business in the second quarter of the previous year due to the steep increase in oil prices. more..

Nov 8 (TM) Parliamentary Opposition urged the Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe to submit a resolution in Parliament in order to rescue the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) from its purportedly corrupt administration, adding that they would endorse if such will be tabled. Speaking in Parliament following a 14-day stay order being issued by the Court of Appeal (CA) preventing the operation of the 7-member interim committee appointed for more..

Nov 8 (FT) Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said the industry has managed to rebound with earnings nearing $ 1.6 billion along with the boost in arrivals in 2023. �During the first 10 months of the year, earnings have totalled $ 1.59 billion. It is a 56% year-on-year (YoY) growth compared to the same period in 2022. October earnings stood at $ 136.70 million,� he told the Daily FT. �We are confident that by the end of the year, tourism earnings will reach $ 2.5 billion,� he added. more..

Nov 8 (Island) SL Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA) participated in the 16th Global Textile and Apparel Supply Chain Conference held in Shanghai, China recently with a focus on innovation and the development of national high-end textile advanced manufacturing clusters. Representing Sri Lanka at the annual conference, President of SLAEA Indika Liyanahewage spoke on Green dynamics and intelligent empowerment with special emphasis on sustainable fabric manufacturing. more..

Nov 8 (CT) The appointment of a high-level committee to investigate a fraud related to the rejected shipment of Chinese organic fertiliser has been delayed due to the transfer of the Agriculture Ministry Secretary. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said the Ministry of Justice has identified a person to chair the committee, who is said to be a SC Judge. However, the appointment of the committee has been postponed due to the transfer of the former Ministry of Agriculture Secretary more..

Nov 8 (DM) CEO of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Dr. Vijith Gunasekera has been removed from his post, the Daily Mirror learns. According to informed sources, he has been removed based on a collective decision taken by the board members of the NMRA. Accordingly, the CEO is to be absorbed to the Health Ministry. Dr. Gunasekera was embroiled in controversy with regard to the alleged imports of substandard human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) more..

Nov 8 (Hindu) Leaders of SL Tamil parties need to step up their engagement with India for resolving the Tamil issue, according to A. Varatharaja Perumal, former Chief Minister of the once-unified North-Eastern Province of SL. Perumal, who held the CM post nearly for one-and-a-half years during Dec 1988-March 1990 following the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987, said there had to be pressure from the Tamil parties and more..

Nov 8 (DM) While rejecting the media reports, Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd (CPSTL) said they do not unload fuel that does not meet the required standards. While issuing a statement, they said that certain media reports circulating claimed that the CPSTL had unloaded a stock of fuel that did not comply with the required standards. The CPSTL said that a stock of Octane 92 diesel and petrol arrived in the country on Nov 5, as ordered by the Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC). more..

Nov 8 (EN) John Keells Holdings said it has signed up an international gaming operator to run is casino in the Cinnamon Life integrated resort. Waterfront Properties Ltd (WPL), the operating firm had entered into a NOU with a leading international gaming operator, the firm said. �This MOU consists of the framework for investing into and operating of a casino at the Cinnamon Life Integrated Resort as well as the commercial framework between the parties,� Chaiman Krishan Balendra said. more..

Nov 8 (DM) While saying that people must take to the streets against the mismanagement of the economy, TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran said people should be ready to rally together even in defiance of existing legal restrictions. MP asserted that it is imperative for individuals to express their discontent through demonstrations. "It's high time for people to demonstrate their agitation more than ever, as this govt has brought people to their knees," he stressed. "Present state of affairs may even compel more..

Nov 8 (DN) Minister Bandula Gunawardhana said that he agrees with the President�s decision to implement a project at the site of the Nuwara Eliya Post Office. Minister said that by relocating the Post Office to another location and using the area for a viable project would ensure new income avenues to the people in the area and employment opportunities and will also help boost tourism. �Govt has taken a decision not to sell any land to foreigners outright after the sale of the land more..

Nov 8 (Island) National Aquatic Resources Research & Development Agency (NARA) denied accusations that the premier marine research institute continued to cause massive loss of revenue to the govt due to its failure to achieve key responsibility in preparing Electronic Navigation Charts/hydrographic maps to be sold to foreign vessels passing through SL waters. NARA maintains that there is absolutely no basis for more..

Nov 8 (DM) Whilst State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya claimed that a sum of Rs 6,721 million is to be collected from five liquor manufacturing companies which have defaulted taxes, MP Champika Ranawaka claimed that it was the Committee on Ways and Means headed by him that paved the way for the possible collection of the said amount. Siyambalapitiya said the amount which the five companies have to settle is Rs 2,715 million but it had come to Rs 6, 721 million with more..

Nov 8 (TM) JVP-led NPP challenged Minister Tiran Alles to reveal to the country the identity of the person who allegedly attempted to bribe him with a sum of Rs. 700 million, in order to prevent the arrest of organised crime suspect Nadun Chinthaka alias Harak Kata. Speaking at a recent seminar attended by senior Police officers in the Southern Province, Alles claimed that a person had attempted to offer him a bribe of Rs. 700 million to prevent Chinthaka from being extradited to Sri Lanka. more..

Nov 8 (FT) In a startling turn of events, Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe revealed attempts made by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to interfere in the former�s attempts to reform SLC. Speaking in parliament, Ranasinghe claimed that Wickremesinghe had contacted him and pressured him to revoke the appointment of the SLC Interim Committee, which Ranasinghe had established in a bid to revamp SLC more..

Nov 8 (FT) We now live in a BANI (brittle, anxious, nonlinear and incomprehensible) world, according to Jamais Cascio, a futurist. A BANI world means a shift in understanding our new realities. Budgeting and forecasting in a world of disruption and uncertainty requires new thinking that enables finance professionals to effectively empower organisations and drive success. In some cases, however, accounting and finance professionals continue to use traditional budgeting, more..

Nov 8 (FT) While few in Colombo may be aware of it, the city is host to a community of people fitting into the category of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) not arising from any armed conflict but instead victims of development-induced displacement. In a fairly recent report to the General Assembly, the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Cecilia Jimenez-Damary in her report dated 18 July 2022 says: �Recognizing the particular challenges more..