Jul 9 (DM) Sri Lanka Insurance Life (SLICLL) yet again outshines its own record to declare the largest Life Insurance bonus in the industry amounting to a staggering Rs. 11.2 Billion for 2023 to its policyholders. Since 2006 SLIC has triumphed in declaring the highest Life Insurance bonuses year on year in the industry which is now more than a massive Rs. 104 Billion making the SLIC bonus declaration unmatchable. By declaring the highest and largest ever Life Insurance Bonus in SL, more..

Jul 9 (Wisden) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) responded strongly to reports of members of the national team being involved in a drinking party ahead of a crucial T20 World Cup match against South Africa last month. The statement refers to an article (an inaccurate one, in SLC's view), titled Drinking Party Inside Team Hotel Before South Africa Match?, published on July 7. It appears to have been published by The Morning, more..

Jul 9 (EN) Opposition leader has asked the govt to give public sector jobs to 50,000 unemployed graduates, despite the country having a bloated state service sector, and an ongoing strike today by public servants demanding salary increases. �We have around 50,000 unemployed graduates in the country. Is the govt going to give them appointments, I would like to know, or send them to the jobless queue?� Sajith Premadasa said. He said there was a teacher shortage of 40,000 vacancies. more..

Jul 9 (DM) State Minister Kanaka Herath revealed that some two million SIM cards without proper identifications were in use in the country which had posed serious issues in tracing certain incidents of crimes. He said that identity cards were not required when obtaining SIM cards before 2018, before a new law was imposed making it mandatory to produce the identity card to obtain a SIM card. Minister said some two million SIM cards which were obtained before 2018 without proper more..

Jul 9 (EN) SL�s govt salary bill fell to 939 billion rupees in 2023 from 956 billion amid a hiring and wage freeze but provincial council salary costs went up due to teachers and graduates, official data showed. The central govt salary bill fell to 327.29 billion rupees in 2023 down from 367.4 billion rupees in 2022, as retirees were not replaced and wages were frozen. But the transfers for wages of provincial councils went up 10 percent to 300.2 billion rupees, from 268.8 billion rupees. more..

Jul 9 (EN) Shanmugam Kugathasan of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) took oaths as a MP today, filling the vacancy left by the demise of former opposition leader R Sampanthan. The new MP, who represents the Trincomalee district, was sworn in before Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena in parliament Tuesday July 09 morning. Sampanthan, who Kugathasan replaces in the legislature, was the leader of the Tamil National Alliance, of which ITAK is the key constituent party. more..

Jul 9 (NYT) Something odd has been happening to young men in the sultry farming and fishing communities of SL. Since the 1990s, men in their 30s and 40s have been turning up at hospitals with late-stage kidney failure, needing dialysis or even transplants. In some communities, as many as one in five young men is affected. Their condition has no clear cause; in fact, it is called chronic kidney disease of unknown origin. more..

Jul 9 (CI) Sri Lanka's middle order fought back after England had enjoyed a profitable morning on the opening day of the first Youth Men's Test in Wormsley. The tourists finished a rain-shortened day at 177 for 5 after the Young Lions had expertly used bowler-friendly conditions in the opening hour to claim four wickets. New-ball pair Alex French and Naavya Sharma claimed the first three wickets with catches in the slip cordon before Rocky Flintoff ran out Sharujan Shanmuganathan after more..

Jul 9 (Island) Former MP M.M. Zuhair has appreciated SJB leader Sajith Premadasa�s recent condemnation of Israel over the massacre of Palestinians. The following is the full text of his statement: In the context of the serious allegations of genocide made in protest marches worldwide, including in Israel, US and Britain as well as the Int'l Court of Justice (ICJ) and the UN Secretary General repeatedly demanding immediate ceasefire, the refusal of Israel to cease fire, more..

Jul 9 (TM) Federation of Uni Teachers' Associations (FUTA) said that it is committed to safeguarding the country's university system, refuting allegations of creating chaos for personal gain. Recently, State Minister Dr. Suren Raghavan alleged that the FUTA is behind this situation. He claimed that, "Since 2010, they (FUTA) have continuously increased their salaries and are now attempting to raise salaries of non-academic more..

Jul 9 (AD) The Colombo Magistrate�s Court rejected the bail application of the Police Inspector and the Constable attached to the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), who were arrested by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), while accepting a bribe of over Rs. 150,000. Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage also ordered the suspects to be remanded in custody until July 23, when the relevant bail application was taken up today (09). more..

Jul 9 (PMD) Welfare Benefits Board informs that the information census of the second phase of the Aswesuma welfare benefit program implemented as per the instructions of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe will be conducted from July 15 to 30. In addition to the more than 1.8 million people who qualified in the first phase, another 450,924 applications have been received for the second phase and among them the identification of those who are eligible for the payment of welfare benefits more..

Jul 10 (DM) Unethical social media usage has become an unhealthy trend in light of recent events that took place in SL. Experts have scrutinised social media page admins for revealing sensitive information. Mainstream media channels compete with one another when releasing CCTV footage while investigations are underway. Certain statements by individuals named as suspects are released to media even before law enforcement authorities come to any conclusions. more..

Jul 10 (TM) Nearly a month has passed by since, aggressive manoeuvring by an Indian mechanised trawler, poaching in SL waters, claimed the life of a SL sailor and damaged a navy patrol boat. While the Govt has addressed the issue with India, at its usual snail-pace diplomacy, more Indian trawlers continue to violate SL sovereignty. Had the diplomatic dialog between Colombo and New Delhi been about an issue about an Indian strategic investment, such as an Adani project, an oil tank farm acquisition more..

Jul 10 (CT) It�s a dog�s world when one is a patient, because of medical and health service personnel or the many pharmaceutical companies that ensure that they extract every penny earned during one�s lifetime. Many stories have been published as to how the private sector healthcare service and the pharmaceutical industry exploit other�s pain and suffering. more..

Jul 10 (CT) Ahilan Kadirgamar (hereinafter referred as AK), whose colourful academic credentials i.e., bachelor�s degree in electrical engineering, master�s in economics and a doctorate in anthropology would impress anyone, has written an article titled Kenya to Sri Lanka: Protests, IMF and High Ambition to the Daily Mirror published on July 1, 2024. I have written this reply to Daily Mirror but I thought of sharing this with Colombo Telegraph readers as well. more..

Jul 10 (CT) A football match cannot be played with just six players. It needs all 11 players including the captain and the goalie to work as a team with their utmost contribution to win the game, Lionel Fernando, an outspoken civil servant with over 50 years of experience, once said. He has held 38 posts in the public sector including SL�s Ambassador to France and the Netherlands, Secretary to Media, Tourism and Aviation, Foreign and Civil Defence Ministries, Chairman of SL Rupavahini Corp, more..

Jul 10 (TM) �There is no hard and fast rule that a creditor will not agree to a haircut of the principal loan. It all depends on the prevailing circumstances mostly ruled by the status of the borrower and the willingness of the creditor,� said former Deputy Governor of Central Bank, Economist Dr. W.A. Wijewardena, responding to a question on Prez�s statement that official bilateral creditors never reduce the principal amount of a loan. more..

Jul 10 (DM) After the far-right and anti-immigrant National Rally won the first round, with projected votes of 260-280 seats, a tad shy of the absolute majority of 579 members of the National Assembly, the usually bickering political parties of the left, right, and centre joined ranks to stop the formation of the first far- right since the World War II. In order to prevent the split of the Republican vote in a three-way race, hundreds of candidates who came third in the first round withdrew from more..

Jul 10 (ST) In the run up to the presidential elections, there are repeated questions being asked as to whether the elections will be held on time this year as required by the Constitution. The ball was set rolling by remarks made by the chairman of the UNP, Vajira Abeywardene and the party�s general secretary Palitha Range Bandara. Social media contributed to the uncertainty linking such doubts to reports of the lack of popularity of the Govt among the people. more..

Jul 10 (DM) In the backdrop where SL has been negotiating the debts with various creditors, two international economists from Germany who were visiting SL recently analysed that SL isn�t an isolated case with regard to debt crisis, but there are many more other countries from all income categories which have been affected since the outbreak of COVID and the associated economic recession. Representing Jubilee Germany, a movement initiated to fight for the cancelation of debts more..

Jul 10 (FT) In a compelling narrative, Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry announced on Monday that the country�s economy, emerging from a severe crisis, is demonstrating remarkable resilience and improvement. Speaking on CNA�s Asia First program in Singapore, Sabry highlighted key indicators of economic recovery, including a surge in tourism and a strengthening of the rupee. Sabry elaborated that the completion of significant restructuring efforts, both locally & with international bondholders, more..

Jul 10 (FT) The prolonged delay in implementing a traceability system for Ceylon Cinnamon has emerged as a major obstacle, preventing the export of the spice with its Geographical Indication (GI) certification and costing the industry and the economy millions of dollars. Despite obtaining GI status from EU Commission in February 2022, which was intended to distinguish Ceylon Cinnamon in the EU market from lower-quality substitutes, more..

Jul 10 (FT) Employers� Federation of Ceylon (EFC) recently concluded its 95th AGM at the BMICH. At this general meeting, the Board of Trustees and Council Members representing different Employer Groups were appointed for the financial year 2024/25. The outgoing Chairman Krishan Balendra commended the EFC for extending its services and supporting member organisations during challenging times. He emphasised the vital role played by the Federation in engaging with authorities more..

Jul 10 (Island) Workers representing about 200 public sector trade unions held a 2-day sick-note campaign on Tuesday and Wednesday, demanding a 25,000-rupee allowance. They have threatened to intensify their trade union action unless the govt grants their demand. The protesting workers are demanding that they be paid the same allowance (Rs 25,000) as the Executive Grade officials in the state sector. All state employees received a 10,000-rupee cost of living allowance increase from more..

Jul 10 (DM) A new Emergency Waiting Area at the Mirihana Women and Children�s Bureau was officially inaugurated today, July 9, 2024, marking a crucial step in bolstering support for vulnerable populations affected by gender-based violence (GBV). The ceremony, graced by MIZUKOSHI Hideaki, Ambassador of Japan, and Kunle Adeniyi, UNFPA SL Representative, underscored the facility's role in providing safe refuge and essential services to women and children in distress. more..

Jul 10 (FT) The 23rd AGM of the SL-China Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce was held on 2 July 2024 at Hilton Colombo Residencies, Col 2. The event was graced by Ambassador of China to SL Qi Zhenhong, who graciously participated as the Chief Guest. Kusum Wijethilleke was the keynote speaker of the event. Embassy of China Economic and Commercial Counsellor Tang Yandi, Embassy Officials, and Government Officials also participated in the event. more..

Jul 10 (TM) The polls monitor, People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), raised concerns over alleged violations of election laws by certain Provincial Governors, and hence officially addressed PM Dinesh Gunawardena, urging immediate action to curb these illegal political interventions, in his capacity as the Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Govt (LG). Writing a letter to PM, more..

Jul 10 (DM) Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA) warned that if the Prez decides to raise the current VAT to meet the public servants' salary increase demands, they will resort to trade union action with the participation of all private associations. LPBOA President Gemunu Wijerathne said that they will not allow the Prez to increase VAT to meet salary increase demands. He urged the Prez to act with integrity and fairness to protect the education of the schoolchildren. more..

Jul 10 (TM) Olympics Chef de Mission, Air Force Wing Commander Chandana Liyanage says that the National Olympic Committee of SL (NOCSL) is currently in the process of drafting the requisite law to be incorporated into a bond agreement to be signed with the Sri Lankan contingent which is set to leave for the Paris Olympics 2024, shortly. He said the bond which would be to the effect of Rs. 10 million will be in place for Lankan contingents for all future Olympic Games. more..

Jul 10 (FT) President�s Secretary Saman Ekanayake has responded to the Bar Association of SL (BASL), regarding the appointment of a new Attorney General following the retirement of Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC. Ekanayake outlined the Constitutional provisions and historical precedents surrounding the appointment process. Ekanayake emphasised that under Article 41C of the Constitution, Prez is empowered to appoint more..

Jul 10 (DM) Concerns have arisen among pensioners regarding the timely disbursement of pensions for July amidst the ongoing strike by public sector employees. According to the President�s Media Division, despite the strike affecting some public sector operations, pensions for 708,231 registered pensioners, scheduled for July 10th, were disbursed to banks today (09). A total of LKR 28.5 billion has been allocated to 24 public and private banks, as well as the Postal Department. more..

Jun 10 (DN) Opener Pathum Nissanka scored the highest ever in the LPL series with 119 runs, anchoring Jaffna Kings� innings. However, it was in vain as Kandy Falcons secured a superb 7-wicket win with 10 balls to spare in their high-scoring LPL match at the Dambulla Int'l Cricket Stadium yesterday. Both teams displayed fine batting. Kandy Falcons, chasing a target of 225, reached 230 for 3 wickets with 10 balls remaining. This was the highest team total so far in the tournament. more..

Jul 10 (DN) SL�s construction industry, crippled by poor policies and crisis events, is bouncing back with renewed vigor, industry leaders said, as they see a surge in interest surpassing even the boom times of economic growth. While this signals a hopeful turnaround, improvements are already being seen on the ground, they noted. �The private sector is investing in big projects. The bigger players have taken this crisis as an opportunity to enter this market with fewer obstacles,� more..

Jul 10 (DN) Rushalee Dissanayake, a 13-year-old student from Musaeus College, made history on the first day of the 49th MILO All Island Schools Age Group Aquatic Championship at Sugathadasa Stadium Swimming Pool Complex yesterday. She broke a long-standing record in the Girls Under-14 Freestyle event that had stood for 44 years. In the final, Dissanayake swam the event in 4 minutes and 49.52 seconds, slashing 11 seconds off the previous record of 5 minutes and 10.06 seconds set by more..