Nov 1 (EN) SL�s 2023 customs revenue is expected to exceed 925 billion rupees, with October revenues alone hitting a monthly record of 109 billion rupees, as the island struggles to collect revenues in stabilization year after a currency crisis. Dept of Customs has collected 760 billion rupees as by Oct 31. SL customs was given a full year target of 1,226 billion rupees, according to information given to the parliament's COPA in May but said it was unable to reach the number amid an import collapse. more..

Nov 1 (AD) The 15th Population and Housing Census conducted every ten years commenced at the Presidential Secretariat this morning at the Prez Secretariat in Colombo. Accordingly, Prez Secretariat was listed as the first building to be recorded in this decennial census. A remarkable feature of this year�s census is the incorporation of tablet computers, alongside traditional printed documents, for data collection. more..

Nov 1 (FT) Independent think tank Advocata described the electricity tariff revision approved by the PUCSL as discriminatory. Advocata said the PUCSL should review tariffs to prevent the distortions. It also said treating all costs as a pass-through in computing the tariff was a mistake. �The PUCSL needs to set efficiency targets in order to set fair and reasonable tariffs. The CEB should be incentivised to control its costs by specifying and enforcing performance requirements. more..

Nov 1 (EN) SL�s energy minister and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) discussed ongoing reforms in the sector and renewable energy. Minister of power and energy Kanchana Wijesekera met with the chief representative of JICA in Sri Lanka, Senior Vice President Imoto Sachiko Tetsuya Yamada, yesterday at the ministry. �We discussed the ongoing reforms of the electricity sector, renewable energy policy plans and future developments,� Wijesekera said. more..

Nov 1 (AD) Colombo Magistrate�s Court today determined that the death of renowned businessman Dinesh Schaffter was occurred as a result of an external pressure applied on his neck and the facial area. Accordingly, the magistrate who ruled that a crime had been committed through this incident, ordered the Director of the CID to arrest the relevant suspects and produce them before the courts. more..

Nov 1 (DM) Ruling party MP Sarath Weerasekara who was denied a visa to travel to the US, showered praise on China citing it as an indispensable and dependable friend of Asia. Addressing the BOAO summit in China recently, he said the western world will never comprehend the bond among the Asian countries. �It is evolved and nurtured through trade and mainly Buddhism. China has been an indispensable and dependable friend of Asia. We are grateful to China, a permanent member more..

Nov 1 (Island) A Sub Committee of Public Accounts (COPA), dealing with health sector administration, has declared that the Health Ministry is directly responsible for the rapid deterioration of the public health sector. The Committee has found fault with the Health Ministry for failing to take tangible measures against those responsible for corruption, irregularities and mismanagement, as exposed by the Auditor General. MP Pradeep Umdugoda chaired the COPA meeting. more..

Nov 1 (CT) At the BIA, Katunayake yesterday, immigration authorities apprehended a man who tried to board a flight to Italy with a woman while using his wife�s passport. The incident unfolded when the man, accompanied by his five-year-old son and a 29-year-old woman from Kankesanthurai, initially believed to be his wife, arrived at the Airport to board Air Arabia flight G9509 at 1:45 p.m. On reaching the immigration checkpoint to process their documents, suspicions arose about. more..

Nov 1 (AD) A close associate of the notorious underworld figure Ganemulla Sanjeewa, who purportedly worked as a gunman for the ill-famed criminal, has been arrested. The arrested suspect, Roshan Chathushka was reportedly deported from Dubai for allegedly staying there without a visa. The arrest was carried out at the BIA in Katunayake, in a joint operation launched by the Police Special Task Force and the CID. It was revealed that the arrested suspect was involved more..

Nov 1 (AD) GMOA says its members plan to launch a series of 24-hour strikes at provincial level from tomorrow. This was communicated by GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge, during a press briefing held today. The strikes will commence at 8 a.m. and will continue until 8 a.m. the following day. However, functions at maternity, cancer, children�s, and nephrology hospitals as well as at tri-forces hospitals will not be affected by more..

Nov 1 (AD) Court of Appeal decided to take up an appeal filed by Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, seeking the revocation of a prison sentence handed to him in relation to the Meethotamulla land dispute. Accordingly, the relevant appeal is set to be heard before a 5-judge bench of the Appellate Court, comprising Justices Sobhitha Rajakaruna, D.N. Samarakoon, Sampath Abeykoon, Khema Swarnadhipathi and P. Kumaran on 20 Nov. The order was issued by Appeals Court President more..

Nov 1 (CT) Kebethigollawa Police disclosed that a monk, residing in the Kurulugama Temple in Kebethigollawa, who allegedly assaulted Ven. Wanawasi Padaviya Vijitha Buddhi Thera for conducting the Mathaka Bana ritual of a villager has been identified as a person with a criminal record. The suspect has been found to have assumed multiple identities as a monk in various areas of the country, Police added. Initial investigations showed that the suspect monk is involved in 3 cases more..

Nov 1 (Island) The people would hardly benefit from the aid and assistance SL received as long as corruption persisted, Transparency International SL (TISL) Executive Director, Nadishani Perera said. Perera said so speaking at a discussion last week, focusing on the recommendations detailed in The Civil Society Governance Diagnostic Report on SL. The event was attended by a diverse group of civil society representatives more..

Nov 1 (CT) In a display of international goodwill, Govt of the Republic of Korea has donated crucial medical equipment valued at approximately LKR 8.83 million to the Teaching Hospital Kalutara. This donation is part of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme aimed at enhancing the healthcare infrastructure in SL. The donation, coordinated by the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), includes two state-of-the-art Orthopaedic Power Drill Systems, more..

Nov 1 (AD) Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) has welcomed the appointment of Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama as the new chairman of the NMRA, commending the move as a timely decision. In a letter directed to Minister of Health Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, AMS said there is palpable relief in the medical profession and among the general public that the unfortunate past of this institution has been done away with with the appointment of Dr. Wijewickrama as the new NMRA chairman. more..

Nov 1 (DM) The Airport and Aviation Services (SL) Private Limited (AASL) today welcomed AzurAir as the first direct charter flight between Russia and Sri Lanka. The first flight arrived at BIA this morning with 332 passengers. The flight was welcomed by a celebratory water cannon salute upon arrival at the airport, and the passengers were warmly welcomed with Sri Lanka Tea Board-sponsored Ceylon Tea gift packs, followed by a traditional Kandyan dance performance. more..

Nov 1 (DM) It is suspicious that responsible persons have been involved with the decision to increase the diesel price by Rs. 15 on two occasions without conducting any analyses, LPBOA Chairman Gemunu Wijerathne said. He said diesel price was increased by Rs. 10 in September and by Rs. 5 on Oct 31. "If the diesel price is reduced, the transport costs will drop. Accordingly, there is no legal provision to go for a bus fare revision according to the annual bus fare revision formula. more..

Nov 1 (DM) With the rapid increase in demand for SL King Coconuts in the international market, their export from SL has increased by 117% in 2023, the Agriculture Ministry said. According to the SL Coconut Development Authority, the export of king coconuts from SL has increased by 117% in 2023. A discussion was held in this regard with the officers of Coconut Development Board of SL, Coconut Research Institute, and more..

Nov 1 (DN) Embassy of SL in Jordan in collaboration with the Public Security Directorate of Jordan, facilitated the deportation of thirty one Sri Lankans who have been granted deportation order by the Jordanian authorities. The said Sri Lankans returned to SL on 27 Oct, stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These Sri Lankans entered Jordan on 22 July 2023 on visit/tourist visas with the anticipation of finding job opportunities. Subsequently, they were arrested by the North Amman police station more..

Nov 1 (FT) Solidifying its position as the leading umbrellas and mosquito nets manufacturer in Sri Lanka and commitment to quality, Rainco Ltd., has received the ISO 9001:2015 certification from the SL Standards Institution (SLSI). Rainco Ltd holds the unique distinction of being the sole umbrella manufacturing company and the mosquito net manufacturing company certified with ISO 9001-2015 standards. The company has set the gold standard in the industry, more..

Nov 1 (DN) Addressing the Safe Roads � Safe Children International Road Safety Conference-2023, Prof. Samath Dharmaratne, Chairman of the Expert Committee to Prevent Road Accidents said that a troubling global statistic, revealing that a road accident leads to a fatality every 42 seconds worldwide. In 2023, 115 children have tragically lost their lives as a result of road accidents in SL. He noted that young individuals between more..

Nov 1 (NR) Dept of Meteorology has issued an advisory for severe lightning for residents of several areas in the country. Met Dept said thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur in several places in the Western, North-western, Sabaragamuwa, and Central provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts. It added heavy showers about 100mm can be expected at some places. Met Department said there may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. more..

Nov 1 (EE) Shamans at a SL temple known for helping pilgrims place curses on their enemies went on strike last Thursday (26) after appeals to the lord of destruction failed to resolve a pay dispute. Seenigama Devale, a shrine on a small islet off SL�s southern coast, hosts daily ceremonies in which celebrants guide the grinding of fiery peppers over a millstone. The ritual offering is made to Devol, a deity whose duties involve comforting the faithful and unleashing suffering on their enemies. more..

Nov 2 (ST) Vietnam is now richer than Sri Lanka. In terms of per capita GDP, this Southeast Asian country which was poorer than Sri Lanka has now surpassed it. As of 2022, Vietnam�s per capita GDP is US$ 4,164, compared to $3,354 of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka�s current per capita GDP is no different from what it was 10 years ago; in 2012, Sri Lanka�s per capita GDP was $3,352. Particularly, over the past five years (2017-2022), about one-fourth of SL�s per capita GDP got wiped out. more..

Nov 2 (DM) In the immediate aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct 7, I wrote in these pages why many who feel outrage at the Hamas barbarism may still hesitate for an unqualified condemnation of the attack. The apartheid practices of the Israeli state in the occupied territories of Palestine lead many fair-minded people to empathise with the suffering of the oppressed than the oppressor. Not to mention the maximalist nature of some Palestinian demands, such as more..

Nov 2 (CT) There are only two possible outcomes: either Israel respects the agreed-upon two-State solution, or it results in the eradication of Palestinians. But Palestinians will continue the struggle for freedom and refuse to accept oppression; this is a steadfast reality, says Deputy Ambassador of the State of Palestine in SL, Hisham Abu Taha. With the Israel-Palestine conflict intensifying, Ceylon Today interviewed more..

Nov 2 (CT) No matter how large the resources of a country are as it will be of no use unless it is used for the betterment of the country. This is the truth regarding physical as well as human resources. Unfortunately, SL, despite being a country blessed with an abundance of physical resources and the best brains in the region, it still lacks the skills in managing these resources. This has caused severe economic loss in the country while compelling the nation to depend highly on other nations more..

Nov 2 (DM) With armed conflicts raging in the Middle East and in the war between Russia and Ukraine, we need to ponder deeply on the reflections of the UN on the Int'l Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict. Even SL was severely affected by this during the 30-year war against the LTTE and other terror groups. The war left hundreds of thousands of people dead or injured while the economic or environmental damage was incalculable. more..

Nov 2 (TM) Being of the male sex, the excessive use of social media, the lack of engagement in outdoor sports, having an unemployed mother, excessive engagement in Internet gaming, excessive Internet usage time per day for non-academic activities, and a higher duration of Internet use in terms of years were identified as statistically significant associated factors concerning Internet addiction disorder among more..

Nov 2 (TM) The cry for a Rs. 20,000 pay raise for the public sector has been on the lips of many during the last week. Most Sri Lankans have been struggling to get by over the last two years due to the soaring cost of living and unadjusted salaries. Yes, we could all do with a pay raise since the cost of living hasn�t reduced to a tangible level. The president has hinted at a possible pay hike for the bloated public sector in the coming budget for 2024. But how will the Govt meet the challenge of a pay increase, more..

Nov 2 (TM) Unpaid care work is an invisible but essential element of a well-functioning society, which has traditionally been performed by females. This includes, among other work, caring for family members with disabilities. However, despite their critical contribution to the economy, females who exclusively perform unpaid care work are not counted among the labour force in many countries including in Sri Lanka. This is in a context where policymakers, economic analysts, more..

Nov 2 (Island) The term, system, has different meanings, but with respect to the subject discussed here, a system is a defined way to accomplish something so that a desired result can be obtained consistently. This applies to anything from baking a loaf of bread to governing a country. For example, to bake a loaf of bread one must follow a recipe that specifies the amounts of ingredients, how to mix them, and for how long to bake at what temperature. When the recipe is followed accurately, more..

Nov 2 (DN) The heart of SL cricket feels heavy as it bids farewell to a dear friend and supporter, Percy Abeysekera, affectionately known as Uncle Percy. His funeral, a time to honor his legacy, will take place today at 4 PM at the General Cemetery Kanatta in Borella. For more than seven decades, Uncle Percy stood as the one-man cheer squad for Sri Lankan cricket, his Lion Flag waving proudly at matches. He had a unique talent for crafting fantastic English rhymes, creating a special bond with more..

Nov 2 (FT) The SJB yesterday blasted what it described as hopeless and hapless Govt continues to heap burdens on its citizens through excessive taxation without effectively dealing with mounting wastage in the public sector. It also said little effort is being put to better target taxes and net those evading the system. Discussing the increase of Value Added Tax from 15% to 18% come January 2024, SJB MP, Eran Wickramaratne told more..

Nov 2 (CI) One of the advantages of a long-drawn league phase is that teams have an opportunity to make up for indifferent starts. But New Zealand are finding out the converse can be true as well. A third straight loss amid a series of injuries in the camp threatens to throw their World Cup campaign off the rails. If the loss to Australia in Dharamsala was heartbreaking, this one to South Africa in Pune was outright demoralising. The bowlers were sent on a leather hunt as more..

Nov 2 (DN) Sri Lanka faces an uphill task today as they take on the undefeated India team at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai commencing at 2 p.m. The India team led by Rohit Sharma, aims to continue their winning streak, while the SL team, led by wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis is determined to bounce back strongly after an unexpected defeat in their last match against Afghanistan in Pune last Monday. SL made several mistakes while Afghanistan outplayed them, recording more..