Aug 4 (ST) A standoff between the Govt and the Elections Commission is afoot as to whether to go ahead with a ceremony, Suraksha, the insurance scheme for schoolchildren, at the Presidential Secretariat next Tuesday with the attendance of Education Minister Susil Premajayantha. Prez�s Secretary Saman Ekanayake had sought clearance from the EC but was requested to postpone the event till after the prez election. In a letter, EC Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake acknowledged more..

Aug 4 (ST) Supreme Court (SC) this week suspended the Cabinet decision to outsource the processing of online visas to a tripartite joint venture of the Singapore-registered GBS Technology Services, the UAE-registered IVS Global-FZCO and the Dubai-headquartered VFS VF Worldwide Holdings Ltd. Justices P. Padman Surasena (presiding), Kumudini Wickremasinghe and Achala Wengappuli also halted the operation of the 12-year outsourcing more..

Aug 4 (AD) SL Police said it is seeking public assistance in tracking down three suspects in relation to the shooting and killing of two individuals while causing injuries to four others in Athurugiriya on July 08, 2024. Police have also released photographs and details of the three suspects in question. Accordingly, any information regarding the relevant suspects are requested to be provided through the following contact numbers: 1. OIC � Western Province South Crimes Division more..

Aug 4 (ST) Returning officers were invited to the Election Commission office yesterday for a briefing on the preparations for the upcoming presidential election, Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Rathnayake told the Sunday Times. �We mostly discussed how to carry out polling-related activities even during adverse weather conditions. The election could be held during a rainy season, and therefore there could be flash floods, landslides, and other disasters. more..

Aug 4 (ST) Ranil Wickremesinghe�s road to the presidency, after a lengthy journey in politics, is enveloped by some events that have remained a secret so far. The first steps came when he became PM is all too well known though not how. On that fateful day of May 12, 2022, another aspirant, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, had been picked as Premier after he was met by then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. more..

Aug 5 (DM) The presidential elections are on the way, and the much-needed alternatives to the current economic trajectory are nowhere in sight. While Sri Lanka is facing the worst economic crisis since independence, this historic election is yet to put forward an economic program for recovery. Instead, the opposition political candidates in the running to win the elections, are reluctant to take on the IMF programme that suffocates working people with severe austerity measures. more..

Aug 5 (TM) Yesterday (4) began with reports that four individuals, including two police officers attached to the same Police station in the Moneragala area, had died in a series of shootings and suspected suicide which are believed to be connected. Investigations into the incident are underway, and the authorities are yet to find out what led to these deaths and whether they are in fact connected. Regardless, law enforcement officials taking their lives, & similar occurrences more..

Aug 5 (CT) In the run-up to the 2024 Prez election in SL, a transformative shift is taking place in the realm of campaign strategies. Political parties are increasingly turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) to harness the power of data analytics, fundamentally altering the landscape of electoral politics. However, this technological advancement comes with its challenges. While AI-driven strategies promise efficiency and targetted outreach, more..

Aug 5 (DM) This year 2024, has been a year of elections. Elections were held in India, the UK and France. Elections are due in our own country on Sept 21 and in November the US will elect a new president. It originally appeared the US was about to set a new record -fielding the oldest candidates ever- with current president Joe Biden at 81 and his challenger ex-Prez Trump at spritely 78 years. The vagaries of age and ailments however transformed the face of the US election, more..

Aug 5 (ST) If the glittering promise of the Jathika Jana Balavegaya (NPP) is supposed to offer a better, brighter Sri Lanka to put an end to the 76 year old curse of its political rivals, it is time that NPP Prez candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake refrain from justifying his actions during the run-up to the Sept 21st Prez elections on the basis that, others are doing it, why not me? That absurd justification is increasingly being used by the NPP to the extent that this (logically) defeats more..

Aug 5 (TM) Approval of nearly half of the Renewable Energy (RE) projects for which the SL Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) has already issued licences has been delayed for more than five years due to a lack of essential land and financial backing. It is learnt that this shortfall has led to a substantial delay in integrating these projects into the national grid. According to the SLSEA, out of 1,374 RE projects currently pending grid concurrence more..

Aug 5 (CT) On 26 July, the Supreme Court made a pivotal decision, ordering the Election Commission (EC), Justice Minister and other relevant parties to appear in Court in response to a petition advocating for the voting rights of remand prisoners, an often-overlooked segment of the population. The petition, filed by Sudesh Nandimal Silva, Chairman of the Committee for Protecting Prisoners� Rights (CPPR) and a former prisoner, highlights a critical gap in our democratic process. more..

Aug 5 (CT) The forthcoming Prez Election is not going to be like the ones before, because the stakes are high and the wrong choice will condemn this country to long term political instability, economic misery, corruption and communal disharmony. Voting in this election therefore is going to be an epochal exercise where voters would be asked to decide whether the country�s current system of governance and its overarching ideology should continue as it had been for the last 7 decades and more, more..

Aug 5 (Island) Sri Lankan elections exemplify the famous Dickensian paradox in the opening line in A tale of two cities. In the present instance, it is the best of times because the govt has become concerned about the public and is going hell for leather to grant them some relief; it is the worst of times because the people are well aware that relief is ephemeral, and the run-up to the upcoming presidential election is only an interval in hell, as it were. more..

Aug 5 (Island) It is with profound sorrow that I pen these words, marking the passing of a remarkable Buddhist leader who has served the Buddha Sasana and numerous communities in Sri Lanka and beyond. I had the fortune of meeting him more than three decades ago. Throughout this journey, he has been a true Kalyana Mitta, nurturing our spiritual paths. The bond between myself and the Venerable Dr. Galboda Gnanissara Thero, Chief Incumbent of Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo, more..

Aug 5 (CI) Sri Lanka won the toss, batted first on a pitch where the spinners got the ball to stop, grip, and turn viciously at times, and recovered brilliantly from being six down for under 150. Dunith Wellalage made a telling contribution down the order, defying the conditions at the R Premadasa Stadium and scoring at over a run a ball. Rohit Sharma defied conditions to an even more remarkable degree at the start of India's more..

Aug 5 (CI) It didn't take much to win them over. It was only five nights ago that SL's batters tanked what seemed to be an untankable T20I, the middle order collapsing with such seismic ferocity even the batting in the Super Over was shaken. Spectators were incensed, and let the team know it. Hundreds in Pallekele gathered on the edge of the grass banks closest to the presentation ceremony and demanded answers from Charith Asalanka, the only player who emerged from the dressing room. more..

Aug 5 (AFP) Kumar Sangakkara has said it would be an exciting prospect to coach England in limited-overs cricket, but stressed he has yet to receive a formal approach regarding the role. The England and Wales Cricket Board are on the lookout for a new white-ball boss after they effectively sacked Matthew Mott on Tuesday, with the Australian having overseen two lacklustre title-defences at both the 2023 50-over World Cup and June's T20 World Cup. Former England batsman Marcus Trescothick more..

Aug 5 (EN) Agriculture Dept is continuing with a program to introduce the parasitic wasp Encarcis Guadeloupae to control widespread whitefly infestation in coconut and king coconut plantations. 300,00 packets of the predator have been distributed this year. Damage to coconut plantations caused by the white fly has been reported from several parts of the island. However, due to the rain there has been a reduction of the damage, officials told a meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture. more..

Aug 5 (TM) The leader of Mawbima Janatha Party (MJP), entrepreneur Dilith Jayaweera called on all citizens to rally around the Sarvajana Balaya alliance to transform Sri Lanka into a happy nation through the concept of an entrepreneurial state where every citizen enjoys a respectful life. Jayaweera was declared the candidate for the Sravajana Balaya alliance following a unanimous decision by its Executive Council. Speaking at a special convention held yesterday at the Sugathadasa Stadium, more..

Aug 5 (FT) With continued focus and strategic planning, Sri Lanka can harness its full potential as a premier destination for high-spending tourists, driving economic growth and enhancing its global tourism profile, a top official opined. �Sri Lanka�s tourism sector is on the brink of significant growth driven by substantial investments and a strategic push to attract high-spending tourists over a long term strategy. more..

Aug 5 (CI) Dropping a match to this Sri Lanka was a surprise, sure. But the conditions also made for fickle cricket. Abhishek Nayar, India's assistant coach, has, like the rest of us, not watched Sri Lanka take many games off India lately. But these were his takeaways from the second ODI, which India lost by 32 runs. He also pointed to opposition spinner Jeffrey Vandersay's excellent lengths, and SL's tenacious lower order batting as reasons for the defeat. For the second match in a row, more..

Aug 5 (FT) Hayleys PLC reported an economic value creation of Rs. 150 billion, parallel to delivering progress on its sustainability targets over the last financial year (FY2023-24). Accounting for a total of 5% of Sri Lanka�s total export income, during the period in review, Hayleys earned $ 591 million foreign exchange income. As a net exporter, 54% of group revenue was generated from exports. The Group distributed Rs. 138.6 billion in cumulative economic value towards all stakeholders, more..

Aug 5 (ST) Long before the Election Commission called for nominations, some Tamil political parties and civil society outfits were holding discussions behind closed doors on the possibility of fielding a common candidate from the community to register their disappointment with the failure of successive govts to resolve the longstanding ethnic problem even 15 years after the end of the war. After several rounds of grassroots-level more..

Aug 5 (ST) The cremation of the Chief incumbent of the Gangaramaya Temple Colombo Galboda Gnanissara Thera will take place with state patronage tomorrow at 3 p.m. in the grounds located opposite the temple. Ven Gnanissara Thera, popularly known as Podi Hamuduruwo passed away at a private hospital on Friday at the age of 81. The remains of the Threa were brought to the Gangaramaya temple last morning, and large crowds were seen paying their last respects. more..

Aug 5 (ST) Colombo Rowing Club (CRC) triumphed over the Madras Boat Club in the 83rd Madras-Colombo Regatta held at Beira Lake in Colombo yesterday. CRC�s impressive performance was evident as they won both the Men�s Deepam Trophy and the Women�s Adyar Trophy. This victory highlights CRC�s continued dominance in the world�s longest int'l regatta between the two countries. Men�s �B� Scull saw CRC finishing at 3.34, a commendable performance compared to more..

Aug 5 (DN) Tarushi Karunaratne, who participated in the preliminary round of 800 meters at the Paris Olympic Games, finished the race with a time of 2:07.76 minutes and did not qualify directly for the semi-finals. Due to this situation, Asian gold medalist Tarushi Karunaratne�s Paris Olympic run came to an end. The 19-year-old Tarushi had a personal best of 2:00.66 minutes, but was unable to surpass it, so she sadly withdrew from the competition. After the race, Tarushi with tears in her eyes said more..

Aug 5 (CT) Aruna Darshana has made history by becoming the first Sri Lankan 400m runner to qualify for the Olympics. In his Olympic debut, he clocked a personal best of 44.99 seconds, finishing third in the Paris Olympics on Sunday night. This achievement is even more remarkable considering that it�s only the second time a Sri Lankan runner has broken the 45-second barrier. The first was Sugath Thilakarathne, although he didn�t manage to qualify for an Olympic semifinal. more..

Aug 5 (TM) SJB yesterday called upon international creditors to reach a sustainable debt restructuring agreement that is mutually beneficial. SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva emphasised the importance of having such an agreement signed by a govt with a fresh mandate from the people following the upcoming Election. "It is much better if the agreement is signed by a govt with a people's mandate after the upcoming election," more..

Aug 5 (DN) Colombo Rowing Club (CRC) achieved a striking victory in the 83rd Madras-Colombo Regatta, clinching both the prestigious Adyar Trophy for the Ladies� Overall Championship and Deepam Trophy for the Men�s Overall Championship. Held on the Beira Lake in Colombo. Regatta featured intense competition, particularly in the �A� Doubles Scull and �A� Four events, where CRC faced strong challenges from the Madras Boat Club (MBC). These two events proved to be pivotal, more..

Aug 5 (FT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe�s political campaign has emerged as the highest spender on political advertisements across Meta platforms during the past month. Political campaigns in support of Wickremesinghe have collectively spent over Rs. 5.1 million or $ 17,000 in Meta advertisements alone from 30 June to 29 July. Join Ranil Facebook page topped the list by taking out 44 advertisements at a cost of $ 13,093 while the UNP Volunteers page has spent $ 3,559 more..

Aug 5 (AD) SLMC has decided to offer its conditional support to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in the 2024 Prez Election, SLMC leader MP Rauff Hakeem said. This decision has been reached during the party�s Supreme Council meeting which was held today (04). Speaking to the media following the discussion, Hakeem stated that the Supreme Council of the SLMC decided to support opposition leader Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming prez election subject to conditions. more..

Aug 5 (AD) National Convenor of the SLPP, MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena says that he will extend his support to Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe at the upcoming Prez Election, bowing to the wishes of the people in his constituency. Abeygunawardena also stated that there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies in politics. �The true political rival we have, or the political enemy in your language, is the JVP and the SJB. So, we cannot stand for them or with them�, more..

Aug 5 (AD) Four individuals including two police officers attached to the same police station in the Moneragala area as well as a mother and her daughter have reportedly been killed in separate shooting incidents this morning (4), which are believed to be interconnected. The shooting incidents have reportedly taken place in the Moneragala, Namal Oya and Inginiyagala areas. The deceased police officers were attached to more..

Aug 5 (FT) Election Commission of SL (ECSL) has ordered the immediate and temporary suspension of the Urumaya freehold land distribution program conducted by the Prez�s Office, despite official claims that it is a non-political initiative. The ECSL has issued the directive as Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared his candidacy for the upcoming Prez Election. ECSL has said the program can resume after the election. Holding a press conference last week at Prez�s Media Centre, more..

Aug 5 (PTI) India is seeking Customs duty concession on a number of goods including cars, commercial vehicles and machinery from Sri Lanka under a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA), talks for which are underway, an official said. India has also sought easier visa norms to further facilitate entry of professionals from here, the official said. The 14th round of talks between senior officials of India and Sri Lanka was concluded recently in Colombo. more..