Aug 23 (TM) A local research report on the gender-related pay gap highlighted that while women are under-represented in high-wage industries, concentrated in low-paid service roles, and a significant proportion of them are engaged in part-time work and unpaid domestic care services, the gender-based pay gap in the SL labour market is primarily and closely linked to unpaid care services. This report was prepared by a group and team of researchers, including Women & Media more..

Aug 23 (Xinhua) China's White Horse Temple donated a Buddha statue to Sri Lanka on Thursday's handover ceremony at Dharmayathanaya Temple in Colombo. The chief incumbent of Dharmayathanaya Temple Ven. Elle Gunawansha Thero, Sri Lankan PM Dinesh Gunawardena, the head of White Horse Temple Ven. Yinle, Chinese Ambassador to SL Qi Zhenhong and his wife, Counselor Jin Qian, and the delegation from the Luoyang Municipal Committee attended the ceremony. more..

Aug 23 (FT) The CIABOC yesterday made the asset declarations of all 39 Presidential candidates publicly available on its official website, exposing significant financial disparities among them. Based on their monthly incomes declared to Election Commission of SL, Prez candidates Dilith Jayaweera and Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe appeared to be in strong financial standing in comparison to other key candidates. more..

Aug 23 (FT) Sri Lanka�s merchandise export earnings exceeded the $ 1 billion mark in July, whilst propelling the total value of exports in first seven months to over $ 9 billion. Merchandise export earnings in July saw a 6.58% year-on-year (YoY) increase reaching $ 1.08 billion, reflecting a 5.5% rise compared to June 2024. This drove the total value of goods shipped in the first seven months of 2024 to over $ 7 billion, the provisional data released by the EDB yesterday. more..

Aug 23 (DN) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said, although postponing the Local Govt Elections has been pointed out as a violation of the fundamental rights of the people, he does not regret it because elections could not be held then as time had to be devoted to securing people�s lives. He stressed that he respects both, people�s right to vote as well as people�s right to live. Pointing out that in the programme to bring the country�s economy to a stable level, every hour had a great value, more..

Aug 23 (TM) Election Commission (EC) stated that it would notify the relevant institutions to implement all sudden salary increases and subsidies after the day of the Prez Election, 21 Sept. Ahead of the Prez Election, Govt has currently announced salary increases, and other forms of subsidies including those for farmers and fishers. When queried as to whether the Govt would be allowed to execute any such decision, more..

Aug 23 (TM) SL�s upcoming Prez Election has triggered immense curiosity in the country and the region. It involves a lot of first-times: it is the first election after the mass popular uprising aragalaya and the economic crisis; it is for the first time that four heavyweights (out of 39 contestants) will be contesting in the election, and it is for the first time that the Tamil parties have come up with their candidate. Given the nature of the upcoming election, there is a lot of unpredictability. more..

Aug 23 (AD) Gazette notification related to the revision of water tariffs has been issued by the Ministry of Water Supply & Estate Infrastructure Development. Accordingly, the new water tariffs are to be implemented effective from Aug 21, 2024. On Aug 13, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) to reduce the water tariffs based on the tariff formula. Accordingly, the water tariff of domestic users has been reduced by 7%, more..

Aug 23 (TM) SL has been planning to become a maritime hub since the beginning of the last decade with the launch of the Hambantota Port, but policy changes with new govts has put the country�s ports behind those of its competitors, threatening its business prospects. The country has four main ports in each part of the island � Colombo, Hambantota, Trincomalee, and Kankesanthurai � out of which the Colombo Port has taken centre stage for many decades, declaring itself a transshipment hub more..

Aug 23 (EN) Cabinet has approved awarding the contract to purchase 3 shipments of Murban type of crude oil from Nov 15, 2024 to April 14, 2025 to Vitol Asia (Singapore) Pte Ltd, a govt statement said. The 2,100,000 barrels +/- 5%, will be obtained on the basis of payment in 30 days through a Letter of Credit issued by the Bank of Ceylon. Bids were called by the State-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation from registered suppliers for the long term contract, and 5 bids were received. more..

Aug 23 (FT) Nominations have closed for the long awaited 2024 Prez election. 39 candidates are in the fray. It is widely acknowledged by the press and public that the chief presidential contenders are incumbent Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, leader of the opposition Sajith Premadasa and NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Two others expected to make a mark are Namal Rajapaksa & Dilith Jayaweera. more..

Aug 23 (AD) Parliament has informed the Election Commission (EC) that a vacancy has been created in the House following the resignation of Thalatha Athukorala as a MP. Accordingly, Secretary General of the Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera has communicated to the Chairman of the EC in writing that the MP representing the Ratnapura Constituency, Thalatha Athukorala has tendered her letter of resignation as a MP with effect from 21 Aug and thus a vacancy has been created more..

Aug 23 (DM) A large quantity of the cannabis variety Hashish worth over Rs. 212 million, which had been sent from Italy through a courier service, was seized by the Sri Lanka Customs today. Customs Revenue Task Force (RTF) on suspicion searched a package that had arrived at a courier service in Colombo and found over 30 kilos of Hashish in it. Customs Spokesman Additional Director General Seevali Arukgoda said the narcotics parcel had been consigned to an address in Matugama area. more..

Aug 23 (TM) Ministry of Sports has reportedly taken measures to send the 12-member SL Under-20 team of athletes to the upcoming 2024 World Junior Athletics Championship in South America, following the timely release of a sum of 30 million Rupees from the President�s Fund. A source from the Sports Ministry said that, having been apprised of the situation faced by the junior athletes, Prez Ranil Wickremasinghe in his capacity more..

Aug 23 (DM) Muhammad Illiyas, an independent candidate for the 2024 Presidential election, passed away at the Puttalam Hospital last night at the age of 78, following a sudden heart attack. Illiyas was a Member of Parliament during the Chandrika Kumaratunga government, elected to Parliament from the Jaffna district. Mohammad Illiyas was hospitalized two days ago due to a sudden illness. With his sudden death, the list of Presidential candidates is reduced to thirty-eight. more..

Aug 23 (DM) Claiming that Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe had declared his assets and liabilities in a decietful manner, NPP politburo member Sunil Handunnetti said today that Anura Kumara Dissanayake must investigate into Ranil Wickremesinghe's assets and liabilities as the first task after assuming office as the Prez. He said that people will not believe the assets and liabilities declared by the Prez. Responding to a question that assets and liabilities declared by the Prez more..

Aug 23 (EN) Sri Lanka is in the process of establishing its most attractive logistic hub targeting heavy industries with an aim to attract up to 1.5 billion dollars investment, State Minister of Investment Promotion Dilum Amunugama said. The 600-acre investment zone in Trincomalee�s Kappalthurai will connect sea, air, and railway cargo freights, and it will be the second such hub after the Hambantota investment zone near a Chinese-built port. �Kappalthurai is being developed as more..

Aug 23 (AD) Supreme Court has concluded the hearing of petitions filed challenging the constitutionality of the amended draft bill related to the Online Safety Act which was tabled in the Parliament by the government. Accordingly, the SC announced that the confidential verdict of the court pertaining to the petitions will be communicated to the Speaker of the Parliament. The relevant petitions filed by a group including the former Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of SL more..

Aug 23 (TM) The Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) stated that they have not yet been informed by Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena, on any action to be taken against the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) of the District General Hospital (DGH) in Hambantota, who is alleged to have, during a medical examination, troubled a teenage girl who was subjected to sexual abuse by over 20 students of a school more..

Aug 23 (DM) Hathurusingha recently expressed his readiness to resign if the Bangladesh Cricket Board opts for a different direction. Newly appointed president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Faruque Ahmed has expressed strong reservations about Chandika Hathurusingha continuing as head coach of the national cricket team. In his inaugural press conference, Ahmed made it clear that he intends to thoroughly evaluate Hathurusingha's tenure and will make a final decision on more..

Aug 23 (Island) The final demonstration of the joint Exercise Mitra Shakthi X, took place today (23) at the Maduru Oya Army Training School (ATS) grounds. This exercise, designed to strengthen the bonds of goodwill and cooperation between the SL Army and the Indian Army, showcased the extensive theoretical and practical training focused on counter-terrorism. The Indian Army contingent, led by Colonel Ravinda Ahlawat, participated in the exercise, which also included cultural and more..

Aug 23 (NG) We move as a tight-knit herd. �It�s like a sauna in here,� whispers my guide Kapi, mopping his brow and wafting air up his white polo shirt. A baby�s foot digs into my ribs as we lurch forward, carried by a sea of people trying to get closer to a casket so luminously golden it looks like it�s glowing. Tray after tray of perfumed white jasmine, gardenia and lotus flowers are held aloft & pushed forward by human chains of more..

Aug 23 (EN) A group of lawyers, academics, and civil rights activists have called for the abolition of the executive presidency, saying it has failed to deliver the aims for which it was introduced over four decades ago. The presidency was introduced in 1978 for accelerated and sustained economic growth and development; communal harmony; and political stability, the group of professionals and 8 civil society organizations said. �It has worsened rather than improved peace and stability, more..

Aug 23 (DM) Kotagala wetland, a highly sensitive environmental zone in Nuwara Eliya district, has been endangered with ruin; much to the anxiety of the environmentalists. More than 25 acres in extent, the Kotagala wetland zone- bounded by Hatton Nuwara Eliya main highway- has been left to destruction for want of attention of the relevant authorities and due to several other issues. Environmentalists pointed out that during the time of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, more..

Aug 23 (AD) Australia�s United Petroleum, the latest foreign firm to enter the fuel retail market, was officially launched in Sri Lanka on Thursday (22). Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekara said that accordingly, they will commence retail fuel operations in September 2024 with 150 dealer-owned and operated fuel stations. Accordingly, United Petroleum of Australia has become the fourth retail operator to enter the SL fuel market after Lanka IOC, Sinopec and RM Parks-Shell. more..

Aug 23 (Island) 50% of ITAK will support the Tamil common presidential candidate, Gurusuwamy Surenthiran, Media Spokesman, Tamil National Common Structure and TELO said during a televised interview recently. Surenthiran said that they understand their candidate, P. Ariyanethran, will not be the winning presidential candidate but this is a great opportunity to demonstrate the electoral power of the Tamil people. He said C.V. Vigneswaran�s Tamil People�s Alliance, more..

Aug 23 (PMD) Secretary to the Ministry of Transport & Highways, Ranjith Rubasinghe, clarified that reports claiming a decision has been made to cancel all un-updated driving licenses are entirely false and that no such decision has been taken. He also revealed that a new system will be introduced to update the information of nearly 2 million driving license holders who have not yet updated their licenses. more..

Aug 23 (EN) SL�s state sugar firms are stuck with a large stock of unsold ethanol as legal alcohol demand plunged, following an economic crisis and tax hikes, State Minister Dilum Amunugama said. State-run Lanka Sugar operates Sevenagala and Pelwatte companies. Ethanol is made as a by product of sugar from molasses. The two firm now had 1.3 million litres of unsold alcohol, he said. Discussions with legal alcohol companies showed that some have suffered sales falls more..

Aug 23 (NW) The Parliament has informed the National Election Commission that a vacancy has been created following the resignation of Thalatha Atukorale. On Wednesday (21), Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Thalatha Atukorale addressing Parliament said that she will be resigning as a MP today, citing various differences of opinion within the party. Following her resignation, SJB MP Karunarathna Paranawithana is next in line to enter the Parliament to fill the vacancy. more..

Aug 23 (Island) The govt continues to enter into secretive agreements with India, compromising the nation�s economic and political sovereignty, says Pubudu Jayagoda, Education Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP). Jayagoda said that the MOU signed on Tuesday between LTL Holdings Ltd, SL, and Petronet LNG Ltd, India, for developing infrastructure related to the storage, regasification, and supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to more..

Aug 23 (CT) Cabinet yesterday said they have granted approval to extend the project implementation of the Port City by another two years. At the Cabinet meeting held on 5 Aug, 2024, it was decided to extend the project implementation period from 7 Sept 2024 to 30 June 2027 with exemptions applicable under the Strategic Development Act for CHEC Port City Colombo Private Ltd. Accordingly, as per the provisions of the Strategic Development Project Act No. 14 of more..

Aug 23 (DM) NPP Prez candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake has sent a letter of demand claiming Rs. 2 billion as damages from SLMC leader MP Rauff Hakeem for allegedly making a defamatory statement in Kattankudi on Aug 19. This letter of demand has been sent through Attorney-at-Law Manjula Balasooriya alleging that Rauff Hakeem had made a defamatory, fabricated and malicious statement in Tamil at a meeting held at the Marine Mahal Banquet Hall, Kattankudi against more..

Aug 24 (DM) Election Commission (EC) announced the maximum amount of money that could be spent by candidates who contest the Prez election for their campaigns, by an extraordinary gazette. Accordingly, Chairman of EC, R.M.A.L Rathnayake has stated that the maximum amount a prez candidate can spend per voter is Rs.109, while the total budget of a candidate�s election campaign should not exceed Rs. 1.87 bil as the number of registered voters is around 17.1 million. more..

Aug 24 (DM) The process leading up to the prez election has commenced. With the death of one contestant on Thursday and the withdrawal of another thirty-eight out of forty candidates who placed their deposits will be contesting the elections.The ballot paper is expected to be 27 inches long if the paper is printed single column and between 11 - 12 inches if the paper is printed double column! Thirty-five candidates contested the last presidential election of Nov 2019. more..

Aug 24 (TM) In SL, mainstream discourse on job security, salary hikes, and skilled labour is considerably limited to the private and public sectors, or the formal sector. Employment related policies, plans, and laws also prioritise the formal sector. However, the majority of SL�s labour force does not belong to the formal sector. Informal sector workers, who do not receive protection and recognition as the formal sector, drive most more..

Aug 24 (FT) Over the long weekend a few days ago, an immersive editorialist � like a few other ordinary folks in Sri Lanka lucky enough to be able to savour it � was pleased to be tasked to enjoy some down time on an out-of-town getaway. Bet you a thousand bucks 10-to-1 that amidst all the beers and BBQs from Negombo to Bentota to Arugam Bay, the hot topic of convo when the party broke from downing a cool one to embracing the burning coals of pressing issues was the prez poll ahead. more..