Jul 11 (TM) Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has agreed to resume funding for the second terminal of the BIA extension project, facilitated under a concessionary loan scheme, says Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. The construction of the second terminal at the BIA began in 2020 with JICA funding, but has been stalled since 2022 as a result of SL�s default due to the economic crisis. Funded by the JICA, the project was suspended in 2022 until SL�s debt restructuring was finalised. more..

Jul 11 (DM) Claiming that Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe is not a game man or crafty man like former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said all games hatched by Ranil Wickremesinghe so far had been failures and that all his plans to prevent the Prez election too will be a failure. Moving the adjournment debate on holding the Prez election duly in the specified time period, he told Parliament more..

Jul 11 (CI) India will tour SL for 3 men's T20Is and as many ODIs in late July and early August. The series will start off with back-to-back T20Is on July 26 and 27, while the ODIs start on Aug 1 with a two-day gap between each match. Pallekele Int'l Cricket Stadium will play host to the T20Is after which R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo will host the ODIs. This will be the first series for both teams with their new head coaches. While Sanath Jayasuriya has been named the interim head coach for SL, more..

Jul 11 (DM) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe inaugurated the second phase of the flyover connecting Kompannavidiya (Slave Island) and Justice Akbar Mawatha today. This flyover, constructed by the Transport and Highways Ministry at a cost of Rs. 5,278 million, spans Kompannavidiya and Justice Akbar Mawatha over the railway line. The Road Development Authority (RDA), in collaboration with Maga Engineering, undertook this project to alleviate the delays and traffic congestion caused by more..

Jul 11 (TM) Sri Lankan throw down specialist coach of India�s men�s cricket team Nuwan Seneviratne has been in luck�s way, being showered with a whopping cash prize of Sri Lankan Rs. 72.8 million (Indian rupees 2 Crores) by his employer the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). This windfall has come his way as part of the massive cash bonanza that has been provided to the newly-crowned T20 world champions, more..

Jul 11 (DM) The Veterinarians for Humane Management of Animal Population Association has claimed that Minister Mahinda Amaraweera is attempting to weaken the new Animal Welfare Bill with amendments they argue are unconstitutional. According to a social media post by the association, the Attorney General's Dept has stated that these amendments cannot be included. The new Animal Welfare Bill was approved by the Cabinet in Feb 2022, but it took two and a half years to more..

Jul 11 (DM) Legal luminaries have questioned the conduct of the police regarding a video being shared on mainstream media and social media in relation to a confession made by a tattoo shop owner in connection with the murder of Surendra Wasantha Perera, alias Club Wasantha. Former president of the Bar Association of SL (BASL), Saliya Pieris PC, stated on his Facebook page that this kind of live confessions being shared on media will adversely affect the final outcome of the case. more..

Jul 11 (FT) Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to transfer a 52-perch plot of land in Kollupitiya to Expo Property Developers Ltd, under a 99-year lease. The decision comes following complications in transferring a previously allocated 40-perch plot due to unauthorised occupants. The land, owned by the UDA, was initially approved for disposal in 2007 under a 50-year lease with 25% of the land�s value charged. However, due to the presence of unauthorised residents, more..

Jul 11 (EN) National Water Supply and Drainage Board is considering to go with smart water meters to cut down expensive wage paid for 1,100 manual water readers, Minister Jeevan Thondaman said. �They are paid 150,000 rupees a month. It is higher than my salary of 76,000 rupees. They work almost four days in a month,� the Minister told a Foreign Correspondent Association (FCA) Forum in Colombo. �So now we are considering to fix 600,000 smart water meter within the next two years.� more..

Jul 11 (CI) Wanindu Hasaranga has resigned as SL's T20I captain after roughly six months in the role. He did not specify a reason for this decision, but said in a statement put out by the board that his decision was in the best interest of SL cricket. "SL will always have my utmost best efforts as a player, and I will support and stand by my team and leadership as always," Hasaranga said in his resignation letter, according to the board. more..

Jul 11 (FT) Crocodile, a leading lifestyle brand renowned for its international acclaim, has been honoured as one of the top 10 most loved brands in the Retail Lifestyle category by LMD readers. This prestigious recognition comes from LMD�s Brands Annual Ranking 2024, based on a survey conducted among their readership. Today, Crocodile stands as one of the most respected and well-known brands in the global fashion industry, with an extensive product line that spans the entire spectrum of more..

Jul 11 (DM) MPs of both sides in Parliament today questioned the airing of the video clip on the confession made by the tattoo shop owner who is held in connection with the killing of Club Wasantha in Athurugiriya on Tuesday. MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake who raised the issue initially said the video clip was a media show. "It is clear that the police have questioned the suspect earlier and then ran a media show later. We clearly saw the DIG who questioned the suspect reminding him more..

Jul 11 (Island) SLFP seniors in govt and opposition ranks exchanged tirades in Parliament on Tuesday, accusing each other of having created the current crisis. Participating in the Second Reading debate on SL Telecom (Amendment) Bill, former Prez Maithripala Sirisena said that Mahinda Amaraweera, who joined the govt and received the Agriculture portfolio had recently told a newspaper that Sirisena would end up either in Welikada more..

Jul 11 (DM) Civil society organisations are preparing to lodge a complaint at the CIABOC and CID against alleged attempts of the Health Ministry to purchase a 17-year-old Cardiac Catheterisation Unit for Teaching Hospital Badulla, at a cost of Rs 350 million. A catheterisation laboratory, commonly referred to as a cath lab, is an examination room in a hospital or clinic with diagnostic imaging equipment used to visualise the arteries of the heart and the chambers of the heart and treat any more..

Jul 11 (CT) A recent survey conducted by officers of the Department of Wildlife and Forest Conservation has revealed that the population of the Bandula barb (Pethia Bandula), an endemic cyprinid species in Sri Lanka has dwindled to less than 100. This decline is attributed to construction activities in the stream where they reside. In a 2012 survey, the population of the Bandula barb, which inhabits a stream in a village in the Kegalle district was estimated to be around 1,600. more..

Jul 11 (DM) An application requesting former MP Hirunika Premachandra be enlarged on bail, in a bail pending appeal, was today fixed for inquiry by the Colombo High Court. When this application was called before Colombo High Court Judge Amal Ranaraja, the Attorney General filed written submissions against the bail application. Therefore, the matter was fixed for inquiry to be taken up on July 15. Hirunika Premachandra, who was jailed for 3 years for her involvement in the abduction more..

Jul 11 (EN) SL�s railway employees who are currently on strike have all been sent letters informing that they are considered to have vacated their posts, Minister Bandula Gunawardena said. He said that the General Manger of Railways has sent letters to all station masters who are on strike, on the grounds that they have broken the law. �A young man died during the previous strike. This time, because of the strikes that were suddenly organised as a sabotage campaign, a passenger died. more..

Jul 11 (DM) Despite environmental concerns raised over the Adani green energy project in the north, Power and Energy Ministry is insistent that the project site cannot be compromised but only steps for mitigation of damage can be taken, according to a top source. Adani Green Energy�s wind energy project, coming up in Mannar and Pooneryn districts, has been challenged in the Supreme Court on grounds of more..

Jul 11 (Island) Justice Minister Wijayadasa Rajapakshe told Parliament on Tuesday that the Supreme Court�s suspension of a section of the Constitution was like Adolf Hitler suspending the operation of civil rights under the Weimar Constitution. Raising a privilege issue, the Minister said that Hitler�s move was the only precedent of suspending the operation of a section of a Constitution. He said that on 19 June, in response to questions raised by Opposition MP more..

Jul 11 (Island) MP Ven. Aturaliye Ratana Thera in Parliament said that stopping the import of fertilizer was an ill-advised decision by the Gotabaya Rajapaksa govt, which lacked funds. �Later that decision was attributed to us because we had been promoting Wasa Visa Nethi Ratak (A country free of poisonous substances) and we were made the scapegoats,� Ratana thera said. He said that the reckless decision had been made by the Gotabaya Rajapaksa govt, more..

Jul 11 (AD) The Railway Station Masters� Union states that their strike action, which was launched from Wednesday (10), will continue further. President of the union Sumedha Somaratne, speaking to reporters, said that this decision was reached during the executive council meeting of their trade union this evening (11). Earlier today, Somaratne also stressed that if the govt tries to control the trade unions through oppression, more..

Jul 11 (FT) GoGo.sale, Sri Lanka�s premier online marketplace, has unveiled its latest campaign aimed at revolutionising the vehicle buying and selling experience. Dedicated to simplifying the process for both car buyers and sellers, GoGo.sale offers a free classifieds platform that facilitates direct connections, eliminating the need for intermediaries. As a relatively new entrant in the Sri Lankan market, GoGo.sale brings a fresh perspective to the online vehicle classifieds space. more..

Jul 11 (AD) Minister Bandula Gunawardene says that letters have been sent to all railway employees who participated in the strike notifying that they are considered to have vacated their respective positions. He stated that the General Manager of SL Railways has sent letters informing all Station Masters who have not reported to duties and are engaged in the strike that they are considered to have vacated their positions. General Manager of SL Railways had warned that all Station more..

Jul 12 (DM) Are terrorists and trade unions equal? The more we endure the cruelty of some state-sector trade unions whose objectives, it appears, have little to do with worker rights and more to do with political goals, the more we are convinced that it is a form of terrorism. The tactic they both use is the same: victimising civilians. The difference is that trade unions do not use guns, bombs, RDX, TNT, or other explosives. In terrorism studies, under the subtopic victim-target differentiation, more..

Jul 12 (ST) It was a glorious Thursday morning with the wind sweeping across the neighbour�s garden and leaves from nearby trees dropping gently to the ground. This was the same picture in our garden with one exception: it seems the margosa tree refused to shed its leaves despite the strong wind. It looked forlorn with an empty bench, normally filled on a Thursday morning when the trio gathered for their weekly chat. However this week Serapina and Mabel Rasthiyadu had gone to their villages more..

Jul 12 (DM) Following is an interview conducted with the Urban Development Authority (UDA) Director General Prasad Ranaweera, who was recently sacked by the Minister of Urban Development & Housing Prasanna Ranatunga. Q: Secretary of Ministry of Urban Development and Lands issued a notice which states that you were sacked from your position due to alleged misconduct. What is the reason behind this more..

Jul 12 (DM) Weaknesses and shortcomings in our Political and Electoral Systems have over the last several decades allowed power hungry, mediocre and nepotic politicians to rule the roost in our Parliament. They were desperately upstaged by the epic amalgam of People�s uprising through the Peaceful New Generation Aragalaya-2022 and the country�s declared Bankruptcy. The representatives and pervasive injustice due to aversion towards law and order overpoweringly brought home by more..

Jul 12 (TM) Sri Lanka ought to hold its Prez Election this year � before the end of next year. The authorities are yet to officially declare any election. However, the political arena has already heated up with these imminent elections. Many have been calling for the campaign finance laws which were enacted, to come into effect. However, the law may be a bit late to have a major impact on the upcoming elections. All political parties agree that what�s ahead are decisive elections, due to concerns more..

Jul 12 (TM) A recent tragedy involving two young students at an apartment complex in Colombo has left the community reeling and ignited a heated debate about media ethics and the responsibility in reporting such incidents. This heart-wrenching event has brought to light the critical need of sensitivity in reporting, particularly when it involves children. As families grieve and a community seeks answers, the incident has more..

Jul 12 (DM) Monday�s shooting of a nightclub owner at Oruwala, Athurugiriya one begs the question whether Sri Lankans are safe on this island? The prominent nightclub owner and another person received fatal injuries when two gunmen stormed in, opened fire and disrupted the opening ceremony of a tattoo shop. Several others were injured. All this happened when the country boasts of a Yukthiya operation being in full force; where the police are cleansing the society of criminal activities. more..

Jul 12 (CT) A recent ADB study titled, Mainstreaming Climate Risk into Development: Challenges and Recommendations � July 2024 SL, says SL is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Climate change impacts food, water, health, energy, ecosystems, biodiversity, urban planning and human settlements. The country�s key economic drivers, including agriculture, livestock, fisheries, tourism and industry, are vulnerable to climate-induced extreme weather events. more..

Jul 12 (FT) The premier international textile sourcing platform in South Asia returns to Colombo for its 10th edition. This year, Intex Sri Lanka which will be held on 7-8-9 August 2024, is expanding across four halls at BMICH to support the industry to achieve the $ 8 billion garment export target by 2025. This dedicated trade show empowers SL businesses to widen their product range, strengthen exports via networking with international suppliers and consolidating intra-regional partnerships more..

Jul 12 (Island) Local news on most TV channels is almost wholly about on-going strikes and preparations plus controversy on the to-be-held presidential election come October. Political news is centered on this election. Chief protagonist, the present Prez, has said the election will be held at the correct time this year. UNP side-kicks and a maverick have countered this by saying it need not be held since at the present juncture it is best to postpone change by two years. more..

Jul 12 (ST) SLC does not cease to amaze. When Wanindu Hasaranga was caught showing dissent at an umpire�s decision during the Bangladesh series in March, they came up with a genius plan. Instead of letting the man face the music for his on-field antics, they asked him to come out of Test retirement to complete the punishment. This strategic move meant he could serve out his ban during the Bangladesh Test series and more..

Jul 12 (ST) In the face of competition with a new Chinese player, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has been compelled to reduce fuel imports to US$648.71 million in the first four months of 2024 compared to $828.4 million in the same period of 2023, Finance Ministry�s latest fiscal position report revealed. Another reason to reduce the quantity of fuel was the increase in average import price of crude oil in the global market to $89 per barrel by end Apr2024 from $77 per barrel in Dec2023. more..

Jul 12 (ST) Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya hailed the Law College as an institution that had continued to play a major role in the people�s judicial power. �The silent service this institution has rendered over the past 150 years deserves rejoicing and celebration,� said the Chief Justice while addressing �a Back-to-Law College� event coinciding with the celebrations to mark the anniversary. �All of us, having gone through comparatively a short span of three years, remaining physically within more..