Sep 25 (CT) Minister Susil Premajayantha, said arrangements have been made to ensure that school textbooks for next year will be distributed among the students, before the commencement of the 2024 school year. He said this while observing the distribution of textbooks, from the main warehouse of the Educational Publications Dept in Pitipana, Homagama to the regional centres islandwide. Minister also rejected baseless speculations and false propaganda spread by various interested parties who claim more..

Sep 25 (DM) Initial investigations into the killing of Lalith Mendis, a 61-year-old entrepreneur and the father-in-law of State Minister D.V. Chanaka, who owned a textile business in Galle, suspected that a dispute between two underworld gangs may have been the motive behind the fatal shooting. Mendis was killed by unidentified gunmen while travelling in a car along Dickson Road in Galle on Saturday. It is suspected that the notorious underworld criminal Kosgoda Sujee's gang more..

Sep 25 (TM) The vulnerability of the SL State�s critical digital infrastructure, which was laid bare following the recent events where the gov.lk domain (State email domain) was subjected to a ransomware incident, continues to worsen, with two key State institutions, SLCERT and ICTA, saying that the ongoing investigation into the serious breach is being handled by the other. When contacted about the investigation into the massive ransomware attack, more..

Sep 25 (EN) Sri Lanka�s natural rubber output may drop to 60 million kilograms in 2023, hit by a leaf disease, an industry body has warned, calling for urgent measures help the sector. �The ongoing Circular Spot Leaf Disease outbreak has taken a toll on rubber production, causing reductions of up to 30% in affected areas,� Senaka Alawattegama, Chairman of SL�s Planters� Association representing managers of commercial plantations said at the group�s annual meeting. more..

Sep 25 (DM) Sri Lanka and India plan to resume negotiations on the stalled Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) towards the end of October, a top official said. The Chief FTA Negotiators of Sri Lanka and India held a virtual meeting on the19th of this month to discuss the resumption of ETCA negotiations. �The dates are yet to be finalised. We hope to resume the negotiations towards end of next month, most probably after 20th of next month,� more..

Sep 26 (DM) SL has long been celebrated for its commitment to free education, a legacy that has empowered generations to pursue their dreams, regardless of their socio-economic background. However, as we find ourselves at the crossroads of a rapidly evolving global landscape, it becomes necessary to reevaluate our approach to higher education. The time has come to explore the idea of opening up the higher education sector to private universities, particularly in fields like more..

Sep 26 (DM) Tamil women in Sri Lanka�s plantations are a marginalized lot within the marginalized plantation Tamils, who prefer to be called Hill Country or Malaiyaha Tamils. Women do the most critical job in the plantations, plucking tea leaves exactly the way it should be, from the crack of dawn to late in the afternoon in the biting cold of the hills. Women tea pluckers are also the visible symbols of the iconic Ceylon Tea in advertisements across the globe. more..

Sep 26 (CT) For those who travel through mountainous areas, well-grown pine trees are not an uncommon sight. The beauty attached to this particular plant has captured the attention of visitors both local and foreign. Though one may feel that these pine trees are a thing of beauty, the story behind them is not so beautiful and in fact, it is unpleasant. The pine tree was first introduced to the country in 1870 and more..

Sep 26 (CT) Within the last few years, a huge spotlight has been cast on SL�s depleting forest reserves and our lackadaisical efforts in preserving the little that is left of our precious resources. Certain local authorities have been questioned time and again over neglecting cries for help by environmentalists, who have essentially spoon-fed them with vital information, put forward suggestions for conservation and explicitly stated the negative impacts to our biodiversity more..

Sep 26 (ST) It takes a Govt wholly insensible to public opinion to be audacious enough to gazette two Bills grievously impacting on constitutional liberties of citizens literally within a few days apace. Or maybe this was precisely the intent, deadly and clear in its mes-sage. First, the so-called Anti-Terrorism Bill is presented purportedly in revised form but with unacceptably overbroad and vague definitions of what constitutes an act of terrorism left undisturbed. more..

Sep 26 (CT) SL Govt spends nearly Rs 6 million to produce an MBBS-qualified medical doctor and close to Rs 20 million to turn out a medical specialist. All funds are courtesy of the taxpayers of this country � which of course includes the doctors themselves. Therefore, one may query as to whether it is ethical or not for medical practitioners � especially specialists who seem to have been crossing borders in noticeable more..

Sep 26 (TM) The recent brutal assault of a woman, suspected to have been shoplifting at a well-known supermarket in Borella has pushed the spotlight back on the lawlessness and lack of faith in law enforcement by many in SL. It has also laid bare the economic realities facing many, especially vulnerable communities, such as those who encounter drug abuse problems. Assault of persons who are suspected of crime is a common phenomenon in SL & at large in South Asia. more..

Sep 26 (Island) It was reported yesterday that gun violence had snuffed out about 50 lives in SL so far this year. A cold shiver runs down one�s spine when one reads local crime stories or watches television news bulletins that dish out graphic details about violent crimes. One fears whether at this rate Colombo and some other urban centres will soon be bracketed with Tijuana (in Mexico), which has come to be dubbed the �murder capital� of the world, the main cause of death there being more..

Sep 26 (GV) The draft of SL�s Online Safety Act, published last week, is draconian, dangerous, and it should come as no surprise, also dumb. I�ve not studied any vocal support of the draft, but this could also be because I don�t follow Sinhala language media to the degree I used when in the country. The draft�s provisions are overbroad by design, and in some parts, indecipherable, which is even more dangerous than sections which are draconian by design. What makes no sense in the draft, more..

Sep 26 (Island) It appears that Prez Ranil Wickremasinghe, all along his political career, has acted in the belief that he can bring about national unity, true national reconciliation among different communities and find a lasting solution to the ethnic problem only by granting more and more concessions to the racist political parties with separatist agendas in the North and the East and complying with their demands. In 2002, as the PM, Wickremesinghe signed, without the approval more..

Sep 26 (FT) Central Bank former Governor Nivard Cabraal yesterday in a statement corrected and criticised SJB MP Harsha de Silva over the latter�s remarks on the testimony he made on causes for SL declaring bankruptcy before the Parliamentary Select Committee last week. Following is the full statement by Cabraal regarding allegations that certain persons are facing threats due to his evidence before the PSC. more..

Sep 26 (FT) Pee Bee Management Services, the undisputed market leader in soft disposable tissue paper products made in Sri Lanka and marketed under the popular household brand Flora Tissues, held an event recently to celebrate the 40th anniversary. It also unveiled ambitious plans to launch new products, with the support of its renewed commitment by employees and distributors, amidst the rapidly evolving landscape and challenges in market conditions. more..

Sep 26 (FT) Amidst an aura of anticipation and palpable excitement, the illustrious Sri Lanka Print 2023 and the eagerly awaited National Print Awards 2023 organised by the SL Association of Printers were launched with resplendent grandeur at Water�s Edge Hotel, Battaramulla, marking an auspicious juncture in the annals of SL�s esteemed printing industry. The National Print Awards will be held on 27 Oct 2023 from 7 p.m. onwards in the ballroom of the Marino Beach Hotel, Colombo 03. more..

Sep 26 (DN) St. Peter�s College and Visakha Vidyalaya emerged victorious at the AllIsland National School Games Swimming Championships, conluded at the Sugathadasa Stadium Swimming Pool yesterday. St Peter�s College secured the title for the third consecutive year, displaying remarkable resilience under the leadership of Chris Pavithra. Despite facing uncertainty after finishing as second runners-up at the Western Province meet, Peterites clinched the c'ship with 84 points, more..

Sep 26 (DN) Despite globe economic issues, Chinese investments to Sri Lanka will continue and sizable investments running to over USD one billion are on the cards for the next six months, says former Ambassador to China Dr Palitha Kohona. Former Foreign Secretary and Permanent Representative to the UN, Dr. Kohona said that unlike the pre COVID era today our investment climate is not the same. �The financial crisis, the social unrest of last year, the perceived instability, more..

Sep 26 (ST) Sri Lanka Cricket�s (SLC) entourage at last year�s T20 World Cup in Australia had enjoyed free entrance tickets to matches that were allocated to its national players, a Special Audit regarding the ICC Men�s T20 World Cup 2022 reveals. The final report which was handed over to the Speaker this week by the National Audit Office exposed glaring financial and procedural irregularities as SLC took a busload of its more..

Sep 26 (DN) Viren Nettasinghe, SL�s promising shuttler gets a chance to play badminton at the 19th Asian Games, will embark on his quest for continental honours in Hangzhou, China from Oct 2. Nettasinghe the 20 year old shuttler from St Peters College Bambalapitiya is the only local shuttler to take part at this Asian Games which brings the world�s top stars together at the Binjiang Gymnasium in Hangzhou, will run until Oct 7. Nettasinghe, currently ranked 83rd in the global badminton more..

Sep 26 (DN) Milk Powder Importers Association (MIA) assured that the current price of imported milk powder will not be increased under any circumstances although the port and air freight taxes have been increased by 10%. According to the new tax policy the port and air freight taxes were increased by 10% from Saturday. MIA member Lakshman Weerasuriya said that MIA will not take any undue advantage to increase the price of imported milk powder at this crucial juncture more..

Sep 26 (ST) In a landmark judgment, Supreme Court has imposed a fine of Rs. 3 million on a private citizen who lodged a false complaint with the CID against another private citizen, resulting in him being remanded. �Police officers cannot mechanically make an arrest upon a mere complaint received without forming the opinion that the allegation is credible,� Justice B.P. Aluwihare said in his judgement. more..

Sep 26 (EN) Sri Lanka, which is struggling to get rid of an unprecedented economic crisis is trying to initiate a Climate Justice Forum at an upcoming Asia Pacific regional forum to bargain with developed nations to cut off some debts due to climate vulnerabilities, a cabinet minister said. Leaders from poor countries at the last Climate Change Conference or COP27 held in Egypt in Nov 2022 criticized wealthy nations and oil companies for driving global warming and more..

Sep 26 (EN) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and the secretary general of the Commonwealth Baroness Patricia Scotland discussed initiatives to engage the diaspora, in New York recently. �This dialogue seeks to foster connections and collaborations with SL�s global diaspora for mutual benefit,� a statement published by PMD said. Discussions between Prez Wickremesinghe and Secretary General Scotland revolved around further strengthening ties and cooperation between SL & Commonwealth. more..

Sep 26 (TM) In the wake of the COPA and COPE preparing to summon it to inquire about alleged financial irregularities, Milco Pvt Ltd (Milco) stated that it had rectified all forms of shortcomings and irregularities within the organisation, and that all relevant financial reports had been prepared as of now. During a recent meeting with trade unions within the Milco, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that although many State institutions had been summoned before Parliamentary Committees more..

Sep 26 (Island) Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has called on the govt to ensure a credible, transparent investigation into the Easter Sunday terror attacks. He has said the need for an international probe could be avoided if the inquiry is carried out with integrity and devoid of political influence. Cardinal expressed skepticism about the credibility of an investigation conducted by the same officers who had failed to prevent the devastating Easter Sunday attacks. more..

Sep 26 (TM) Federation of University Teachers� Associations (FUTA) has urged the public to come forward to save the freedom of education and the country�s university system for generations to come. The FUTA, staged a protest opposite the UGC against the Govt�s alleged efforts to destroy the free education system and the repressive tax policy imposed on professionals. It was attended by academics from 17 universities and more..

Sep 26 (FT) The visiting IMF delegation called on Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa at his office yesterday. The purpose of the meeting was to engage in a discussion concerning the ongoing progress of the agreement reached between the IMF and the Govt. The high-level gathering saw an extensive exchange of views on a wide array of economic, social, and political matters. A pivotal focus of the discussion centred on the existing agreement between the Govt and the IMF. more..

Sep 26 (FT) Govt has decided to abandon plans for egg and chicken meat imports in light of the local production surge. Agriculture Ministry has declared its decision to forgo the import of eggs next year and concurrently has dropped plans for importing chicken meat. This shift in approach marks a sign towards achieving greater self-sufficiency in the poultry industry. The move comes in the wake of an agreement reached by domestic producers to lower chicken prices, coupled with more..

Sep 26 (DM) Sri Lanka remains engaged with the UAE to nab the fair number of organized criminals living there and bringing them here for legal action, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles said. There are reports about SL organized criminals living in the UAE, especially in cities like Dubai and operating criminal activities here through their accomplices. Asked about the current status of engagements with the UAE through the diplomatic channel to trace them, Minister said more..

Sep 26 (NST) Three Sri Lankans found dead at a premises in Sentul were believed to have been suffocated to death using plastic bags. Sentul police chief Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Sukarno Mohd Zahari said police have yet to ascertain the motive behind the killings. "The cause of death is (the victims) were suffocated in plastic bags," he said. Sukarno said police have informed the SL embassy on the matter. When contacted, however, the embassy kept mum on updates of the case. more..

Sep 26 (FT) SL is set to welcome its one millionth tourist today, marking a significant milestone after enduring multiple challenges over the past three years. �We are planning to receive one million tourists on Tuesday. Our earlier estimation was that it would happen on the 27th, coinciding with World Tourism Day,� SLTDA Chairman Priantha Fernando said. As the one millionth tourist steps onto SL soil, he said the entire country not only celebrates more..

Sep 26 (CT) To alleviate the challenges faced by children involved in legal matters, especially when obtaining affidavits, a Gazette Notification has been released to address the appointment of probation officers as Justices of the Peace. In accordance with the Judicature Act No. 02 of 1978, Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has issued Gazette Notification No. 2347/10-2023 to enact this change. The notification stipulates that every Probation Officer, from the Dept of Probation more..