Jan 28 (CT) PM of Thailand Sretha Thavisin is scheduled to arrive in Colombo to be the Chief Guest at the 76th Independence Day celebrations. He is expected to arrive in the country on 3 Feb. Another feature of his stay here would be the signing of the SL-Thailand Free Trade (SLTFTA). Agreement Trade. The visiting Premier was invited by the President. Meanwhile, sources confirmed that the upcoming Independence Day celebrations will be held devoid of cultural pageants, more..

Jan 28 (TM) The much-debated mega-scale solar development project scheduled to be constructed in Poonakari, Jaffna is likely to face delays as the two parties involved are yet to sign the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). As learnt by The Sunday Morning, the Australian investor, United Solar, is awaiting approval from its legal firm in London, tasked with evaluating the PPA. Simultaneously, CEB is awaiting approval more..

Jan 29 (ST) Does the country�s Online Safety Bill that was passed this week amidst opposition legislators alleging that amendments directed by the Supreme Court had not been reflected in the Bill and new clauses had been slipped into the bill, meet standards of best practices and good governance? A careful scrutiny of those allegations has yet to be made. Even so, and in the light of similar controversies earlier, the fracas raises the question as to why SL does yet not have judicial more..

Jan 29 (ST) My dear remaining 224, I am writing to you at a time when all of you are shocked, no matter what party you belong to, after hearing the sudden demise of the other one among you, Sanath Nishantha. His departure in a tragic accident has brought about mixed reactions which are well worth reflecting upon by all of you. We are yet to be told of the exact details of what happened on Thursday morning but experts have said it is quite obvious that Sanath�s vehicle was travelling more..

Jan 29 (ST) SLPP this week began a programme called Dasa Bala Sena as part of the party�s reorganisation efforts. The programme aims to recruit 10 people from every Grama Niladhari Division to respond to mud that is being slung at the party. Name Dasa Bala Sena for the programme had been initiated by State Minister Sanath Nishantha, who died on Thursday after a fatal vehicle crash. SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa had been more..

Jan 29 (TM) Over the last decade, multiple incidents and crises in the sea�s around our island, points to the logical realisation that Sri Lanka needs a better equipped and resourced Coast Guard, and a Navy. The growing complexity with transnational maritime crime in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), numerous marine emergencies and pollution stemming for the massive volume of shipping that cross SL�s coastal waters and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), increasing climate change-related disasters, more..

Jan 29 (CT) President Ranil Wickremesinghe in addressing the International Customs Day Celebrations had once again thrown the gauntlet at all political parties and challenged them to put forward a better and alternative agenda to the current IMF designed economic revival program. In that address, he obviously omitted to utter even one word about the extent of economic hardship endured by a vast majority of people as a result of implementing IMF recommendations. more..

Jan 29 (TM) �When people think of a healthy meal, they omit our staple diet of rice and curry. However, it is quite the contrary,� said nutritionist and lifestyle medicine practitioner Dr. Raaidah Wahab, in an interview, emphasising that the SL rice and curry plate is one of the most nutritious and balanced meals you can think of. However, the quantities we eat of the different macronutrients need to change, Dr. Wahab noted. more..

Jan 29 (DM) On 18 Sept 2023, govt gazetted a draft bill to establish an Online Safety Act with defined powers and functions. It was tabled in the Parliament on the 3rd of Oct 2023. Act sets out to establish an Online Safety Commission consisting of five members appointed by the Executive Prez of the country, with specific objectives. According to a survey carried out by Verit� Research, 56% of those surveyed said the Online Safety Act would curtail the freedom of those using social media. more..

Jan 29 (Island) Political alliances are mushrooming ahead of the next presidential election, the latest being the one formed by SLPP MP Nimal Lanza together with some of his fellow MPs and launched at Ja-Ela on Saturday. The newly-formed coalition has been named the New Alliance, but there is hardly anything new about it. One saw, at its launch, a bunch of failed SLPP politicians struggling to recover lost ground, on some pretext or another, and their supporters who had been bussed there. more..

Jan 29 (ST) Despite being elected over four months ago, the current football administration led by Jaswar Umar has failed to articulate a clear vision for governing the once defunct sport, according to insiders. The most affected by this 4-month period of inaction are the players, clubs, coaches, and officials, as reported by officials of certain leading clubs. Umar and his present office bearers of FFSL were elected while SL was serving a global ban imposed by FIFA, world governing body more..

Jan 29 (DN) Australia U-19 team successfully chased down 209 runs in their World Cup match against SL yesterday. Openers Harry Dixon (49) and Sam Konstas (23) set the tone, while a vital 49-run partnership between Harjas Singh (17) and Ryan Hicks led to a six-wicket win with seven balls remaining. Tom Campbell (33) also played a significant role, alongside Hicks (77), guiding Australia steadily towards the target in 48.5 overs, reaching 211/4. Ryan Hicks was named more..

Jan 29 (ST) The ITAK, predominant among Tamil political parties and heading the almost defunct TNA, saw a leadership change last week. And that change poses challenges for the polity in the South. It has also raised concerns in the international community over the direction the ITAK is now headed under a new leader. The reason�a complete turnaround in policy. The outgoing ITAK leader, accomplished lawyer R. Sampanthan, more..

Jan 29 (SO) You are being closely watched is what the police are probably trying to say to motorists as the authorities recently launched an ambitious high-tech camera program to grab errant motorists in the Metropolis and the surrounding areas. The bulk of the most undisciplined motorists travel on the roads of the Metropolis many of them giving a damn for traffic and road regulations and other road users while the traffic police officers on the streets have been pushed to the wall more..

Jan 29 (Island) Attorney-General had indicted 13 persons on 17 counts including murder following the death of one Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra in 2012. In Sept 2016, in the High Court of Colombo, at the conclusion of a Trial-at-Bar before three Judges, in a majority judgment, 5 accused were convicted of several offences including murder, and were sentenced to death on the charge of murder, and to life imprisonment and varying periods of imprisonment and fines on the other charges. more..

Jan 29 (FT) In a landmark event to highlight the importance of Cost Accounting, Institute of Certified Management Accountants of SL (CMASL) and the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI) hosted a joint International Cost Conference on 20 Jan, 2024, titled Cost and Effect on Industry and Services to Drive Business Performance. The conference brought together delegates from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Maldives, and SL, fostering cross-regional dialogue and knowledge exchange more..

Jan 29 (DN) SL test squad comprising 16 players have been picked by the National Selection Committee headed by Upul Tharanga and this squad is subject to approval by the Sports Minister. Squad is led by new captain Dhananjaya de Silva while experienced players Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal the three former skippers are also included in the squad. Both Karunaratne and, Mathews hit centuries at last NSL game while skipper Dhananjaya de Silva more..

Jan 29 (CI) The ICC Board has lifted the provisional suspension on Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) with immediate effect, a statement from the body said. SLC was suspended on Nov 10 for being in serious breach of its obligations as an ICC Member. Specifically, this had to do with the requirement to manage its affairs autonomously and ensure that there is no government interference in the governance, regulation & administration of cricket in SL. more..

Jan 29 (ST) A new era of SL cricket begins in Colombo this week when Dhananjaya de Silva leads is team in a one-off Test against Afghanistan. The match�the first between the two nations�will begin on Friday at the SSC where the 32-year-old all-rounder will lead his charges for the first time in a Test. He replaced Dimuth Karunaratne who was more than happy to pass on the baton to his deputy, giving him enough time to marshall his troops in the new World Test Championships cycle. more..

Jan 29 (AD) Sri Lankan film director Jagath Manuwarna has won the prestigious award of Best Director in the Asian Competition Section of the 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF). Manuwarna won the title for his feature film directorial debut, Whispering Mountains (Rahas Kiyana Kandu), which premiered at the Bright Future programme of the 2023 International Film Festival Rotterdam, where it won the NETPAC Awards for the best Asian feature film. more..

Jan 29 (FT) State controlled Sri Lanka Telecom-Mobitel has suffered a fresh blow with its Board up for reconstitution after the latter�s refusal to withdraw the case against proposed merger between industry leader Dialog Axiata and Airtel. Mid-last year, Mobitel initiated legal action against Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) and Dialog, Airtel among others stating that proposed merger and action to combine more..

Jan 29 (TM) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has yesterday contacted Somali authorities to seek the release of six SL fishermen and a fishing vessel which is suspected to have been hijacked by Somali pirates 840 nautical miles off the Somali coast, last Saturday (27). SL heads of mission in Africa are working tirelessly to collect information regarding the incident, and have got in touch with the Somali authorities regarding the hijacking which had occurred in the high seas. more..

Jan 29 (DM) The issuing of the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) has not been interrupted or stopped, but necessary steps are being taken to prevent the obstacles and provide necessary facilities to the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), Finance State Minister Ranjith Siambalapitiya said. He made this comment while speaking to the media after a programme in the Ruwanwella area this morning, in response to questions regarding reports that the issuing of TIN had been disrupted. more..

Jan 29 (PMD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has decided to establish a special commission to expedite the development of Galle. During an inspectional tour yesterday (27), the Prez visited Galle City and the Galle Fort area, inspecting ongoing development activities. He expressed concern about the slow progress in relocating govt institutions and offices from Galle Fort and emphasized the need to accelerate development efforts. Prez highlighted the importance of more..

Jan 29 (ST) IMF is said to be currently reconsidering conditions set on the imposition of the 18% VAT on the tourism industry. Concerns were raised by SL Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) with Tourism Ministry and Finance Ministry on the sudden imposition of the 18% VAT on Destination Management Companies (DMCs) for which a decision is being awaited from the IMF. Unlike for many other sectors where the VAT is an increase from 15-18%, for the DMCs it is a charge more..

Jan 29 (Island) Dept of Import and Export Control has said that it cannot confirm whether 98 container loads of rotten fish brought into the Colombo Port a couple of years ago had been used for producing fertiliser, as claimed by a local fertiliser manufacturer, who also runs a canned fish factory. This transpired recently when the COPE questioned the Dept of Import and Export Control over its failure to keep track of massive stock of rotten fish more..

Jan 29 (DM) The passenger ferry service between India�s Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai (KKS) in Jaffna will be initiated on Feb 15, the Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister said. Indian govt has reportedly granted permission to resume services on 15 Feb, and hence the initial programmes to initiate the service have been completed. However, the official launch of the ferry service was held on Oct 20, 2023, with the Cheriyapani passenger ferry arriving at the Kankesanthurai port, more..

Jan 29 (ST) Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has launched raids on businesses which are charging VAT from customers without being a VAT-registered entity, a senior official said. �It is mandatory for VAT-registered business entities to visibly display their VAT registration number when they engage in business transactions. If anyone is affected by such unlawful practices, they can complain to the IRD Commissioner General directly. Many have complained, and we have acted on them,� more..

Jan 29 (ST) A new political front, including cabinet ministers and govt MPs, was formed yesterday with the aim of working for future presidential and parliamentary elections. The front was launched at a meeting in Ja-Ela, and it was attended by Ministers Susil Premajayantha and Nalin Fernando, along with MPs Nimal Lanza and Anura Priyadharshana Yapa. Mr. Yapa said that the front would include more SLPP members, and they had already expressed their desire to join the group. more..

Jan 29 (DM) Police have been tasked with completely eradicating the underworld and narcotic drugs in the country by June 30, 2024, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles said. He said the Yukthiya operation to crack down on the underworld and narcotic drugs will not be stopped whoever attempts to disrupt it. "We launched the Yukthiya operation to rescue the country from drugs and underworld activities. We planned this after studying the situation for a long time. more..

Jan 29 (DM) The second term of the IMF review began with 110 commitments pending on Sri Lanka�s IMF programme, with SL and the IMF adding 75 new commitments to the programme, independent think-tank and research institution Verit� Research said. IMF has published its evaluation of Sri Lanka�s performance in the first phase or first term of the ongoing EFF programme, which commenced in March 2023, more..

Jan 29 (TM) The executive officers of the public sector today (29) withdrew from all their services in protest of the Govt�s inability to address their demands, including the issue of salary anomalies. Joint Committee of Govt Executive Officers (JCGEO) yesterday announced that they would not report to work today, and file for sick leave in protest of the Govt�s inefficiency in providing solutions to their demands. JCGEO stated that the actions were taken following several decisions taken by more..

Jan 29 (DN) Sri Lanka has become the first Asian country to publish its Growth Diagnostic Framework (GDF), a significant step towards addressing economic challenges and fostering sustainable development. The framework, developed in collaboration with the IMF, is a comprehensive tool that enables a systematic analysis of economic constraints. It is designed to assist the government in prioritizing policies that can most effectively remove these barriers and stimulate growth. more..

Jan 29 (ST) NMRA has complained to the CID and halted the production of an anti-epileptic drug by a local manufacturer after a forged registration for sodium valproate 100mg tablets was found among documents sent to the regulator by the Health Ministry. But the origin of the fake document remains unclear, with the company�NewGen Lanka Healthcare (Pvt) Ltd.�also complaining to the CID that it was a set-up. more..

Jan 29 (FT) In the last five decades, it was the access to oil or the possession of oil fields that generated prosperity and wealth for a nation. In the next five decades, it will be smart microchips that will do the job. That is because everything from buying a loaf of bread to settling on Mars, all equipment, and weapons that we use will be driven by microchips. Chips are needed by all industries for production, distribution, and consumption, the three main economic activities that we undertake. more..

Jan 29 (FT) In the intricate case of SL's economic rejuvenation, the recent surge in the VAT to 18%, coupled with the removal of certain industries from the exemptions list, has emerged as a focal point for concern among foreign investors assessing the country�s economic climate. This shift, occurring within the context of an already sophisticated taxation structure, presents multifaceted challenges that, if left unaddressed, could potentially impede SL�s growth trajectory, more..