Apr 16 (Island) The uncertainty over the impending elections in Sri Lanka will cause a possible downward trend in the country�s economic outlook, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has said. SL is set to face a prez election in the last quarter of this year, while the parliamentary election is due mid-next year. However, political uncertainty prevails in the country as opposition parties have pledged to reverse the current IMF-linked reforms, more..

Apr 16 (FT) We just witnessed Avurudu this year. Having been plagued by a planetary pandemic, the multi-faceted economic crisis intensified in creating chaos. At least a ray of hope for an economic recovery comes with a cautious optimism. In such a context, Avurudu can be seen as an invitation for awakening, individually as well as interactively. Let us discuss it further. Avurudu invites us to awaken ourselves. Typically, it is the time to rejoice, relax, reflect, and reinforce. more..

Apr 16 (FT) A reader of the Part I of this article has brought to my notice that banks should make profits, in addition to the reasons mentioned earlier, to support them when they are financially insolvent. This argument has validity in the current legal context in Sri Lanka. It is the accepted policy of the Parliamentarians in SL, as revealed in the new Central Bank Act and the Banking (Special Provisions) Act that when banks get into insolvency, they should not be rescued through more..

Apr 16 (FT) AIRPORT and Aviation Services (SL) Ltd., announced that Indigo, one of India�s leading airlines, has broadened its connectivity to SL by introducing direct flights from Mumbai to Colombo, effective from 12 April 2024. The new route will see Indigo operating flights three times a week, on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Indigo currently operates flights to three destinations in India from Colombo: Chennai twice daily, Bengaluru once daily, and Hyderabad six days per week. more..

Apr 16 (EN) Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe will decide whether or not to contest upcoming prez election, over the next few weeks, Rajapakshe said. Minister said several groups have requested that he consider running for president. �Many groups have made such requests from me. A majority of the central committee of the SLFP, members of the clergy [Buddhist and from other faiths] have made the same request,� he said. �I plan to think it over and take a decision over the next few weeks,� he added. more..

Apr 16 (AD) The govt of SL has concluded the initial restricted discussions with nine members of the Steering Committee of the Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders regarding its international sovereign bonds (ISBs). During the discussions, which spanned over the past three weeks (Restricted Period), SL was joined by its legal and financial advisors Clifford Chance and Lazard, respectively, while the restricted members of the Steering Committee were joined by more..

Apr 16 (AD) The Meteorology Department has issued a Heat Index Advisory for Northern, North-central, Eastern and North-Western provinces and Gampaha, Colombo districts for tomorrow (17). Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is expected to increase up to Caution level at some places in Northern, North-central, Eastern and North-Western provinces and Gampaha, Colombo districts, it warned. As per the advisory, under this level of temperature, fatigue is possible with more..

Apr 16 (SLN) In another successful intelligence operation of the SL Navy, a local multi-day fishing trawler carrying a large haul of narcotics, with 06 suspects aboard, were intercepted about 133 nautical miles (about 246 km) off Dondra, south of SL. The operation also resulted in the seizure of another local one-day fishing trawler with 04 suspects, believed to have been there to fetch the consignment of narcotics mid-sea. The operation was mounted by deploying SL Coast Guard Ship (SLCG) more..

Apr 16 (EN) Tensions within the crisis-riddled SLFP continue with the party�s acting general secretary now accusing party stalwarts of attempting to betray the party to its traditional rival the UNP. MP Dushmantha Mithrapala said that the SLFP, as one of the country�s leading centre-left parties, must continue to exist. He vowed to never allow the destruction of the party. �Some groups are trying to pin the SLFP on the UNP elephant�s tail, but the party members aren�t there. more..

Apr 16 (DM) Court of Appeal has ordered the suspension of the previous allocation of quotas for Haj pilgrims for 2024 and to include an aggrieved travel agent for proper allocation. Each year the Saudi Arabian govt allocates quotas to each country in order to manage the influx of pilgrims. SL had been allocated 3,500 pilgrims this year which had been allocated to different travel agents. The Court of Appeal made the interim order following a petition filed by a travel agent. more..

Apr 16 (Island) We are in the midst of an existentially threatening economic crisis. With an ever-increasing debt burden and low economic prospects, we continue to grapple with uncertain economic futures and related social and political distresses. As university teachers, we are concerned about the multiplicity of recent proposals seeking reforms in education that threaten to bring about a sea change in the way education is conceived of in this country: as a social good. more..

Apr 16 (Island) A 62-year-old woman who was receiving treatment at the Jaffna Hospital had died of Covid-19. The woman, a resident of Arali, Jaffna, had arrived from France last week and was admitted to the Jaffna Hospital due to fever. She died last Friday (12) and the post-mortem report has revealed that her death was due to Covid-19. Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) have taken steps to trace her close contacts. Recent PCR tests conducted on two female patients who had passed away during more..

Apr 16 (EN) SL is recovering fast but the country could get hit from an unravelling of advanced economies, particularly the US, which is skating on very thin ice, after exceptionally bad monetary policy, which has destroyed fiscal metrics as well. US was running bad to atrocious monetary policy since 2001, when Ben Bernanke misled Alan Greenspan into printing money to run an 8-year cycle, firing a commodity and housing bubble which collapsed after rates were kept at around 5% for about a year. more..

Apr 16 (PMD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe visited the Court Lodge Estate, owned by the Udupusellawa Plantation Company in Nuwara Eliya this morning to explore opportunities for the revival of the tourism industry around the picturesque hills of Nuwara Eliya. Notably, Prez embarked on this journey by traversing the Pekoe Trail. The Pekoe Trail spans 300+ km through the Central Highlands of SL, regarded as one of Asia�s best-kept secret routes. more..

Apr 16 (FT) In a remarkable demonstration of innovation and sustainability, Sri Lanka�s largest textile manufacturer Hayleys Fabric PLC proudly announced its achievement at the prestigious ISPO Textrends Spring/Summer 2026, where three pioneering innovations were recognised. Serving as a key global benchmark for innovation in the textile industry, the German platform showcases breakthrough advancements of the world�s most innovative and high-performance fabrics. more..

Apr 16 (DM) Marking a landmark initiative aimed at fostering cross-party cooperation, NextGenSL, a platform dedicated to empowering young leaders from the main political camps, convened representatives from 15 political parties for a two-day consultation session. The gathering culminated in the development of an initial draft for a cross-party governance and economic development framework, signaling a new step forward in Sri Lanka's political landscape. more..

Apr 16 (AD) Deputy Managing Director of the IMF, Kenji Okamura has commended the SL authorities on the implementation of a strong program and excellent reform progress, says State Minister Shehan Semasinghe. SL delegation led by Semasinghe met with Mr. Okamura during the IMF-World Bank Group (WBG) Spring Meetings 2024 that kicked off in Washington, D.C. on Monday (15). The event will go on until 19 April with the participation of policymakers, civil society, researchers and more..

Apr 16 (TM) Dept of Agriculture is set to provide urgent recommendations for cultivating one of the world's most popular pineapple varieties, (Ananas comosus) in SL. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera stated that the most delicious pineapple species in the world are reported from SL. Therefore, there is a great demand in the world market for pineapples grown in SL. Accordingly, there is a huge demand for the MD 2 pineapple variety in the world market, and no steps have been taken to cultivate more..

Apr 16 (EN) Sri Lanka and the Kyrgyz Republic signed a memorandum of understanding on bilateral cooperation at the Foreign Office consultations that took place in Bishkek, on 15 April. During the consultations, �the two sides prioritized expanding economic cooperation, focusing on apparel, gems and jewelry, tea, food and beverages, wellness and ayurvedic products, education services and ICT sectors,� SL�s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. more..

Apr 16 (AD) Former Deputy Minister and former UNP parliamentarian Palitha Thewarapperuma has passed away at the age of 64 years, sources told Ada Derana. According to unconfirmed reports, the former Kalutara District MP had died from electrocution while his body has been placed at the Kalutara Hospital. A prominent figure of the UNP, Thewarapperuam had served as Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs in the UNP-led national govt in 2015. more..

Apr 16 (DM) SL Foreign Employement Agency (SLFEA) has announced 200 vacancies in the Singapore auxilary police for Sri Lankans. According to a notice issued by the SLFEA, walk-in interviews for these vacancies will be held at the SLFEA office in Nawala today and tomorrow. Applicants are requested to complete application forms, accessible online at https://forms.gle/8DzuH5LUooxg4czE6, and bring their Certificate of A/L or IELTS along with their passport for the interview. more..

Apr 16 (Island) The Bar Association of SL (BASL) condemned the Police Dept for extra judicial actions, including deaths, following a recent police assault that necessitated the surgical removal of one of the victim�s testicles. In a statement issued by its President Kaushalya Nawaratne, PC, and its Secretary Chathura Galhena, the BASL said that the incident was particularly alarming and raised the chilling spectre of a descent into a police state. more..

Apr 16 (EN) The leftist NPP is avoiding the SJB�s call for a debate ahead of upcoming prez election, the SJB claimed. SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna said that when the SJB invited the JVP-led NPP for a debate between the economic councils of the two parties, the NPP proposed a debate between the two party leaders instead. �We�re ready for both. JVP is avoiding the issue,� said Rajakaruna, accusing the Marxist-Leninist party of obfuscating through various statements. more..

Apr 16 (FT) Pearon�s recently launched its PTE core suit of English exams helping to facilitate young people as they seek to achieve their dreams on foreign shores. In fact, during 2023, over 3200 applications were made by Sri Lankans seeking Permant Residency status in Canada, with 84% receiving approval, highlighting the promising prospects for aspiring Sri Lankans. Accordingly, Pearson, the global giant in educational services, recently hosted a special event to mark the launch of more..

Apr 16 (AD) The founder of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement of SL, Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne has passed away at the age of 93. The former Constitutional Council (CC) member had passed away on Tuesday (16) at a private hospital in Colombo, according to family sources. Sri Lankabhimanya Ahangamage Tudor Ariyaratne is the Founder and the President Emeritus of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement of SL, a grass-roots humanitarian organization based on the concept of more..

Apr 17 (TM) Colombo-based policy think tank, IPS in a recent communique highlighted that there is evidence to support that the economic burden imposed by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), was such that some households in SL spend 10% of their monthly budget on alcohol. This, while World Bank data suggests that a shocking 83% of deaths in the island can be attributed to a contribution of NCDs. The relation is a stark reminder of how alcohol use & abuse creates challenges more..

Apr 17 (CT) The Sinhala and Tamil New Year has come and gone and let�s just say, the lead-up to it wasn�t as smooth sailing for everyone as it should have been. Although there were many promises made by the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) to deploy what they said were 200 additional buses to ease passenger congestion during these couple of days, they failed to execute it as planned. In conjunction, Dept of Sri Lanka Railways also promised to operate 12 special trains for more..

Apr 17 (TM) Although the transport sector authorities stated that bus and train services have been expanded for the people who are working in the suburbs including Colombo to travel to their hometowns to celebrate the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, the people were seen accusing the authorities, alleging that the number of buses deployed was not sufficient. It is somewhat difficult to prevent these situations based on more..

Apr 17 (CT) Several months ago, I forecast that the most likely election scenario in 2024 was a Presidential stand-off between Anura Kumara Dissanayake of JVP/NPP, and Ranil Wickremesinghe leading a UNP consensus group. The latter view was based on the assumption that Sajith Premadasa, the SJB and sundry pro-UNP factions would in the end all rally round a consensus group mobilised around RW. They would have to promise Sajith the position of PM and more..

Apr 17 (TM) SL�s fisheries community is concerned about the concerns expressed by India regarding the ownership of the Katchatheevu Island, as the Island has a direct connection to fishing activities in the Northern part of SL, according to local fisheries organisations. National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) Convenor Herman Kumara, explained that the fisheries community is concerned about how their livelihood would be affected in the event of a change in the ownership of more..

Apr 17 (CT) Govt of SL said, so far Rs 3,068 million in compensation has been received from the London P&I Club � a London-based insurance company, for the X-Press Pearl Disaster. Ministry of Fisheries said in response to a Right to Information (RTI) request that this sum was received in four instalments, following seven claims made to the insurance company. However, SL Govt said this amount is not sufficient to provide more..

Apr 17 (TM) As the Sinhala and Tamil New Year unfolds, it brings more than just festive tidings; it heralds a crucial juncture for Sri Lanka � a time to decide if we will unite and thrive or splinter and falter. This New Year isn�t merely a cultural celebration; it is a stark reminder of the formidable challenges and boundless opportunities that lie before us. In the stories of great leaders like Nelson Mandela and Lee Kuan Yew, we find a compelling narrative of transformation through unity. more..

Apr 17 (Island) SJB and JVP-led NPP have been challenging each other to a debate on the economy, for the past several weeks. They are like two boisterous tipplers engaged in a shebeen brawl. NPP is said to be trying to drag Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe also into the debate, which is not likely to take place before the next prez election. Prez Wickremesinghe has already unveiled his economic recovery plan for all practical purposes. In fact, he is implementing it and has shown more..

Apr 17 (FT) Sri Lanka�s leading pneumatic tyre manufacturer CEAT-Kelani has introduced three new variants of high-performance radial tyres into the market, widening choice for a significant segment of vehicle owners. Joining CEAT�s Orion Brawo range, the new radials are in the sizes 155/65 R14, 165/70 R14 and 165 R13, with the first two sizes designated for popular models of compact and small cars, and the third for mid-sized vans, the company said. The CEAT Orion Brawo 155/65 R14 & 165/70 R14 more..

Apr 17 (FT) Hayleys Solar, the renewable energy arm of Hayleys Fentons, has opened doors to two new Experience Centres in Negombo (669, Puttalam - Colombo Rd) and Kandy (No 465/A, William Gopallawa Mawatha) respectively, bringing their total to four across SL. These new centres offer residents a one-stop shop to explore solar energy solutions. Hayleys Solar Experience Centres provide a comprehensive range of world-class solar products, including rooftop PV systems, batteries, more..

Apr 17 (EN) IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon has vowed to increase resources and cadres in the fight against drug menace and crimes even by closing some unproductive divisions if required. The island nation�s police under Tennakoon have focused on eradicating drug menace through a special operation despite local and international criticism over human rights abuses. SL has recognized the drug menace as one of the more..