Jan 19 (DN) Vishmi Gunaratne, young opener of the women�s national team, will lead the SL women�s under 19 team in the upcoming Tri-Nation series with Bangladesh and Pakistan, scheduled to be held next week in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Vishmi hailing from Ratnawali BMV Gampaha is the most experienced player in the team, having national team exposure. SL U-19 women�s team underwent thorough preparation under new coach Mahesh Weerasinghe while Umal Erandika serving as more..

Jan 19 (FT) Leading tourism providers from UK and Sri Lanka have urged its Govt to reform the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice regarding the safety of Britons abroad. In an open letter published Tuesday, the current advice is labelled overly harsh by campaigners who condemned the Govt for systematically undermining the travel industry in SL & demands for a new approach more..

Jan 19 (FT) CVTE, China Guangzhou-based global leader in Interactive Flat Panels (IFPs) last week announced plans to enter the SL market and offer world class audio-visual solutions to multiple sectors. Guangzhou Shiyuan Electronic Technology Company Ltd, (CVTE) which is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange commands a revenue of $ 3 b & currently exports to nearly 200 countries. �We are keen to serve the SL market and currently in discussion with prospective partners,� more..

Jan 19 (Island) The Presidential Secretariat, SL Tourism Promotion Bureau and the SL Tourism Development Authority together with sponsors announced the launch of Galle Concerto 2024 at the Kingsbury Hotel Colombo on Wednesday. They emphasized that the series of events of the programme would convey to the world that SL is not only recovering but re-emerging as a strategically managed top tourist destination, consistent with its social, environmental, macroeconomic goals. more..

Jan 19 (TM) Despite the post-crisis Christmas and New Year shopping spree, the retail business has witnessed that clients are cautious in spending money. SL Retailers Association (SLRA) Founding President Hussain Sadique said: �There are sales, but it�s not the best season. There is no excitement, only important goods are purchased.� Sales do not necessarily indicate any growth as they are �very much� similar to that of last year as the purchasing power has reduced, Sadique elaborated. more..

Jan 19 (AD) A man was killed in police gunfire reported in the Dampelessa area of Narammala, SSP Nihal Thalduwa said. A group of police officers had chased down a lorry after its driver failed to comply with the signal to stop at a police checkpoint in the Dampelessa area this evening (18). Later, the police officers managed to pull over the lorry and inspect the vehicle. However, during the inspection, one of the officers had accidentally fired his gun, killing the driver, the police said. more..

Jan 19 (EN) SL is in the process of introducing electronic National Identity Card (e-NIC), Public Security Minister said, after delays in India-funded Unique ID card project amid data privacy concerns. The govt has called for tenders and four foreign manufactures with local partners have bided for the project, Minister Tiran Alles said. The move comes after the island nation called for fresh bids last month following govt disqualified more..

Jan 19 (DN) Minister Harin Fernando aligning with the Olympic spirit, has instructed the Director General of Sports Rear Admiral Prof Shemal Fernando to provide equal opportunities for SL youth to attain qualifications for the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France, starting on July 26. As the Cabinet Minister of Sports Harin Fernando will secure special approval from the Cabinet for the innovative programme, Road to Olympics. This initiative ensures that SL athletes receive more..

Jan 19 (FT) State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya provided insights into the Govt�s fiscal strategy regarding the proposed Rs. 10,000 salary increase outlined in the 2024 Budget. The overall expenditure on Government employee salaries is expected to rise to around Rs. 14 billion following the proposed Rs. 10,000 salary hike which was originally slated for April. �At present, around Rs. 95 billion are allocated for Govt employee salaries. With the first phase of the salary increase more..

Jan 19 (DM) Referring to the arrest of the Onco Surgeon at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital after being allegedly accused of having assaulted a female hospital staffer, the specialists have warned of a strike action over the incident. In a formal letter addressed to the director of the Karapitiya Hospital, Karapitiya branch of the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) has urged for an urgent, impartial inquiry into the matter and a swift restoration of normal services. more..

Jan 19 (DM) A list of 163 individuals, including more than 30 police officers, who have been in contact with drug trafficker Nadun Chinthaka Wikramaratne alias Harak Kata, has been identified by the police. Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon said that investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of involvement of these police officers in the drug network associated with Harak Kata. "After analyzing Nadun Chinthaka's mobile details, the investigating officers identified more..

Jan 19 (EN) Public Security Minister Tiran Alles, who is also in charge of the island nation�s police, slammed the UNHRC and its local arm for criticizing the govt�s anti-drug campaign which has nabbed around 39,000 for their involvement with drugs. SL has recognized the drug menace as one of the key threats and Alles has backed drastic measures in a police-led operation titled Yukthiya (justice) to nab the drug distributors across the country. more..

Jan 19 (TM) The non-academic staff members of State universities launched a one-day token strike yesterday morning in protest of the Govt�s decision to increase the allowances of lecturers. Earlier this month, the Cabinet of Ministers green-lit Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe�s resolution seeking to increase the study allowance granted to university lecturers by 25%. It was decided that this allowance would be included in their January salary. However, University Trade Union Joint Committee more..

Jan 19 (CT) A new programme, aimed at identifying drivers who violate traffic rules, will commence on 22 Jan, Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon said. The culprits will be identified through the CCTV system installed in Colombo city. He highlighted that while traffic Police officers may spot a limited number of violations during their road duty, the scrutiny of CCTV footage has uncovered a significant surge of more than 300% in offences taking place at specific locations when compared to manual more..

Jan 19 (FT) Immigration and Emigration Department has initiated a comprehensive overhaul of its visa system to boost foreign investment, attract digital nomads and simplify travel. �The move aims to make the visa process more seamless and welcoming,� Immigration and Emigration Department Controller General Harsha Illukpitiya said. To facilitate these changes, Immigration & Emigration Dept has partnered with VFS Global, more..

Jan 19 (FT) Fifty years ago in January 1974, the International Association of Tamil Research (IATR) held the fourth World Tamil Research Conference in Jaffna. Violence was unleashed against Tamil civilians attending a cultural event linked to the conference by a Police contingent led by the then ASP Chandrasekera. The background to the Jaffna conference and an outline of the Police attack was related in the first part of this article published last week. more..

Jan 19 (TM) With prices of some vegetables skyrocketing, concerns about short-term food insecurity and long-term nutrition of children continues despite accolades about SL�s progress which multinational financial institutes have trumpeted earlier this month. Basic food items that were once considered staples, are now scarcely affordable. Vegetables such as big onions and carrots which have long been staples, are today out of reach of many. Dairy and meat products have become luxury goods, more..

Jan 19 (AD) The police officer, who was arrested over the alleged accidental firearm discharge in Narammala in which a lorry driver was killed, has been remanded. Accordingly, he has been remanded until January 23 on the orders of Narammala Magistrate�s Court. The lorry driver, 40, was killed on Thursday night (Jan.18) after a police officer �accidentally� discharged his firearm during a vehicle inspection. He was identified as a resident of Alawita area. more..

Jan 19 (DM) CID will accompany NMRA and CEB officials on a second visit to the infamous factory involved in the human immunoglobulin scam on Monday with its owner, as the latter had refused to cooperate with the authorities during the first visit. Officials from the National Medicines Regulatory Authority and CEB will assist the CID investigation into the case on an order made by Maligakanda Magistrate Lochana Abeywickrema to perform a second factory visit before Jan 24, more..

Jan 19 (DM) The IMF says it is critical for SL to swiftly complete the final agreements with the official creditors and reach a resolution with the external private creditors. IMF mission team, led by Senior Mission Chief Peter Breuer, was in SL from Jan 11-19 to discuss recent macroeconomic developments and progress in implementing economic and financial policies under the EFF arrangement. Issuing a statement to convey its preliminary findings observed during the visit, more..

Jan 19 (AD) An appeal filed challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal to dismiss the petition, filed seeking the disqualification of State Minister Diana Gamage�s parliamentary seat, has been allowed to be taken up for hearing. The relevant order was issued by the Supreme Court when the appeal was called before a three-member judge bench led by Justice Preethi Padman Surasena today. Social activist Oshala Herath had filed the relevant appeal two weeks after the petition he had filed over more..

Jan 19 (CT) Committee on Public Accounts (COPA), during a recent Parliamentary meeting, chaired by State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, expressed strong dissatisfaction over the lack of appropriate punishment for Samurdhi Development officials involved in misconduct, corruption and irregularities. Officials from the Samurdhi Development Department, under the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment, were summoned before the committee. The committee specifically inquired about more..

Jan 19 (DM) In anticipation of the upcoming Prez Elections scheduled towards the end of the year, the political arena is witnessing a flurry of activities as various parties and groups strategically position themselves for the impending electoral contest. The NPP, led by JVP, has taken an early plunge into the electoral fray by announcing Anura Kumara Dissanayake as its prez candidate and conducting countrywide rallies. Sajith Premadasa, Opposition Leader, more..

Jan 19 (DM) The initial stage of the govt employees' salary increase, as outlined in the Budget 2024 with a proposed Rs. 10,000 increment, has commenced by disbursing funds for the first Rs. 5,000 raise, effective from January, State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. The first part, the money for teachers' salaries, has already been released by the Treasury. Prez had paid special attention to the financial crisis faced by them and decided to increase the salaries of 1.4 million govt employees. more..

Jan 19 (AD) The medical officers and nurses of the oncology unit of the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, together with the patients and residents of the area staged a demonstration on Friday (19), seeking justice for the senior oncologist arrested over an alleged assault. Dr. S.C.R. Perera, 61, was arrested for purportedly assaulting a female junior staff member during a contentious situation that had ensued on Wednesday morning. He was accused of assaulting the said staff member during a heated argument more..

Jan 19 (AD) Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa has met with a group of representatives of the IMF who are on an official visit to SL. IMF delegation was led by Senior Mission Chief for SL Peter Breuer. The meeting reportedly took place at the Opposition Leader�s Office. During the discussion, Premadasa has accused the current govt of excessively increasing a number of taxes, including the VAT and placing a heavy tax burden on the general public, under the false front of achieving the targets more..

Jan 19 (FT) Gourmet Galle, the partner festival to the esteemed Galle Literary Festival, is set to launch an exceptional 12-week culinary celebration on the picturesque shores of the south of SL. Conceived by Geoffrey Dobbs, the festival director, and founder, Gourmet Galle aims to bring people out of the wintry cold and dark countries, offering an extended food festival experience amidst the palm-fringed coastal landscape. Started on 12 Jan and held every weekend until 31 March, more..

Jan 19 (CT) An alarming number of over 100,000 child pornography materials, created in SL, have been released to the internet in 2023 alone, Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon said. This concerning information was unveiled through a special project conducted by the Police Children and Women Bureau, he said. Tennakoon emphasised the importance of children and women feeling empowered to report such incidents without hesitation, so that special investigations could be initiated. more..

Jan 19 (DM) Fifteen CEB employees, who were in charge of the payment counters have been interdicted for engaging in the recent protest by closing down payment counters and inconveniencing the consumers, CEB spokesman Engineer Noel Priyantha said. He said these employees had attended the protest by closing down payment counters despite the Gazette notification declaing electricy supply as an essential service and a circular being issued cancelling the leave of all employees. more..

Jan 19 (DM) A narcotics team uncovered Rs.2.2 million cash hidden in an underground bunker at a house in Udugampola, suspected to belong to an accomplice of underworld criminal Ganemulla Sanjeewa. Sanjeewa is currently detained by the police at the Weeragula Police Station, and the house is also linked to organized criminal 'Patta Manju,' who is involved in drug trafficking and crimes while being overseas. During the house check, officers found a woman and a man present. more..

Jan 19 (AD) The Senior Oncologist of the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital Dr. Krishantha Perera, who was disappointed by the recent incident at the hospital, has decided to retire voluntarily. His letter of retirement has already been handed over to the Ministry of Health, the GMOA said. Convening a press conference in relation to the arrest and remand of the Senior Oncologist of the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, the GMOA and Specialist Doctors alleged that the police have not taken any action more..

Jan 19 (AD) A final decision regarding the future trade union actions of the university non-academic staff will be taken following a discussion with the representatives of all the trade unions, the Inter-University Trade Union Federation said. The non-academic staff members of state universities engaged in a one-day token strike yesterday (Jan.18) in protest of the government�s decision to increase only the allowances for lecturers. Earlier this month, Cabinet of Ministers green-lighted more..

Jan 19 (EN) Prez urged member states of the Non Aligned Movement to make it the largest bloc representing the Global South by redefining their objectives in line with the evolving multipolar world in his address at its 19th Summit in Kampala, Uganda on Friday. �This transformation involves opposing big power rivalry and coercion of uncommitted states,� he was quoted as saying in a statement by his media division. more..

Jan 20 (DM) Supreme Court of our country keeps making history for all the right reasons. Lay persons sometimes � based on he-said, she-said knowledge � accuse the Courts of this country of bowing to the will of the political leadership, and failing to protect the Constitution and the implementation of justice. The reality � nothing could be further from the truth. Since the inception of the Executive Presidential system, various Executive Presidents have � at one time or the other more..

Jan 20 (DM) The statement made by former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa on January 15 on the Presidential election that is constitutionally scheduled to be held in Sept or Oct this year might be the most important one for those who are interested in that election. The leader of the SLPP told journalists, after a meeting at the Grand Monarch Hote, that his party had neither decided on a candidate for the Prez election nor even whether to contest that election. more..