Jul 4 (DM) On an application made by the Bribery Commission, the Colombo High Court issued an order to freeze 16 fixed deposit accounts and three insurance policies belonging to the family members of former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. The value of the frozen fixed deposit accounts and insurance policies has been estimated at Rs. 93.125 million. Accordingly, 16 fixed deposit accounts and three insurance policies belonging to Keheliya�s spouse, 3 daughters and son-in-law have been frozen more..

Jul 4 (EN) China�s Vice Minister of General Administration of Customs Wang Lingjun has met Sri Lankan officials to discuss cooperation with Sri Lanka Customs and the export of agricultural crops. �We noted China�s readiness to cooperate with the Sri Lanka Customs Department in developing enhanced security and cooperation measures,� State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said on X (twitter) after meeting Lingjun at the Sri Lanka Customs Headquarters in Colombo. more..

Jul 4 (Nikkei) Sri Lanka, strengthened by the recent agreement reached with international creditors for the restructuring of 5,6 billion dollars of debt, urges Japan to make further investments in the country, contributing to the revival of the SL economy and guaranteeing Colombo a further point of diplomatic reference as well as India and China. SL Foreign Minister Ali Sabry declared this in an interview with Nikkei. more..

Jul 4 (CT) Owing to the shortage of specialist doctors and anaesthetists, cardiac surgeries performed in major State hospitals in the country are in jeopardy, putting thousands of lives in danger, doctors say. Major State hospitals such as the National Hospital Colombo, Kandy, Teaching Hospitals Karapitiya and Jaffna are affected. The shortage of cardiac surgeons and anaesthetists, along with limited facilities to perform surgeries, has contributed to this situation. more..

Jun 4 (AD) SL Customs trade unions have decided to call off their trade union action following discussions with the State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya. The trade unions including the Customs Officers� Union had decided to engage in trade union action by reporting �sick leave� today and tomorrow, in protest over the lack of a satisfactory response to their demands from the authorities. A spokesman for the union had said that the union�s members engaged in this trade union action more..

Jul 4 (DM) National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWS&DB) has announced an 18-hour water cut in multiple areas starting at 9 p.m. tonight due to urgent repairs on a transmission pipeline. The affected areas include the Kolonnawa UC, Kaduwela MC, and Kotikawatta-Mulleriyawa PS regions. The water supply will be interrupted from 9 p.m. tonight until 3 p.m. tomorrow, July 5. The temporary suspension is necessary to repair a leak in the transmission pipeline from the Ambatale more..

Jun 4 (CT) Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawela, yesterday (3), issued several orders regarding the investigation into the death of a three-year-old boy, Hamdi Faslim, who passed away after undergoing surgery for a kidney condition at Lady Ridgeway Children�s Hospital in Colombo. The Magistrate instructed the CID to use Zoom to obtain a statement from Dr. Navin Wijekoon, a specialist at Lady Ridgeway Children�s Hospital (LRH) who performed the surgery. more..

Jun 4 (AD) Supreme Court today issued an interim injunction order preventing the implementation of the Gazette notification issued by the Labour Minister increasing the daily wage of the plantation employee to Rs. 1,700. Supreme Court issued this order while allowing the hearing of an appeal petition filed by plantation companies including Agarapathana Plantations Ltd, against the relevant Gazette imposing a minimum wage for more..

Jun 4 (Island) Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development and Housing W.S. Sathyananda signed and exchanged diplomatic letters on July 2 to formalize modalities related to the Low Cost Transit Housing Construction Project at Madhu Shrine, Mannar, consequent to the decision of India to provide an additional grant of around SLR 100 million for the project. Govt of India�s total commitment to the project now stands at over SLR 400 million. more..

Jun 4 (Island) Transparency International SL (TISL) welcomed the Supreme Court declaration that the Clauses 32(3) and 32(4) of the Public Financial Management Bill were unconstitutional, and shall only be passed with a Special Majority of Parliament and be approved by the people at a Referendum. TISL issued the following statement: �TISL challenged the Bill in the SC on the basis that Clause 32 seriously weakens the controls on public procurement, thereby enhancing more..

Jun 4 (EN) Opposition parties SJB and NPP maintained a strong lead in a SL parliamentary election voting-intent poll for May conducted by an independent research institute. SL Opinion Tracker Survey (SLOTS) carried out by the Institute for Health Policy (IHP) found little changes in voting intention amongst all adults surveyed in May 2024. Support for the SJB remained unchanged at 34% while support for the NPP dipped by 1% more..

Jul 4 (DM) Attorney General today raised objections to former MP Hirunika Premachandra being enlarged on bail, in a bail pending appeal. When this application was called before Colombo High Court Judge Amal Ranaraja, the Attorney General sought a further date to file written submissions against the bail application. Accordingly, the bail application filed on behalf of former Colombo district MP Hirunika Premachandra was re-fixed for July 11 by the Colombo High Court. more..

Jul 4 (AD) Police stated that the gunman involved in the killing of a Public Health Inspector (PHI) in Elpitiya in February this year was arrested by police along with the weapon he had allegedly used to commit the murder. The suspect was arrested with two firearms in the Mount Lavinia area. Roshan Vithanage, who had been serving as the Public Health Inspector for the Karandeniya area, had been shot dead by a gunman who had arrived at his residence in Pathiraja Mawatha, Elpitiya more..

Jun 4 (Island) The National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) issued over 7,500 gem mining licenses in 2023, Chairman and CEO of the Authority Viraj de Silva has said. These include licences for traditional mining, conventional mining and backhoe mining, he said. The NGJA also issued about 6,500 dealer licences in 2023 as well, he said. During the past decade Sri Lanka has earned between 200 and 300 million dollars a year by importing gems, jewellery and diamonds, he said. more..

Jun 4 (FT) In a landmark move to enhance artificial intelligence (AI) literacy among young students, Technology Ministry announced the successful launch of AI Clubs in schools. This initiative, part of the National AI Strategy 2024-2028, aims to equip students with essential AI knowledge and skills, preparing them for a future where AI competencies will be crucial. The initiative is a collaborative effort involving the Technology Ministry, Education Ministry, AIClub, SLASSCOM and IronOne. more..

Jul 4 (EN) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that neither he nor his lawyers were consulted when a businessman on Wednesday filed a fundamental rights (FR) petition in the Supreme Court asking for an interpretation on the tenure of the presidency as per the island nation�s constitution. Though the FR case is advantageous for Prez Wickremesinghe to extend his tenure by another year, he quickly dissociated more..

Jul 4 (DM) Kusal Janith Perera, who was shockingly axed from the Sri Lankan T20 World Cup Squad last month made a mockery of the omission when he hammered a stunning century for Dambulla Sixers in their LPL game against Jaffna Kings on Wednesday. The left-handed opening batsman also went unsold during the LPL Auction, only to be given a chance under the new ownership of Dambulla Sixers. The dashing opening batsman has been one of SL's senior players in the current group, more..

Jul 4 (IDN) Many people now speak and write about the late R. Sampanthan, the leader of TNA in Sri Lanka, following his passing recently. Much of it is a glowing tribute�sorrowful and deeply touching. But the irony is that not all who express themselves now have said positive things about him when he was alive. So, some of the expressions are mostly ex post facto�perverse, yet poignant. At one level, all this speaks to the decency that the civilised world is known for. more..

Jul 4 (TM) National Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) / Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Control Programme (NSACP) has intensified its efforts to enhance awareness and testing on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), particularly targeting young people aged 15-24 years, besides testing. This is in response to the rising prevalence of HIV cases in this demographic, with a notable more..

Jul 4 (AFP) Dramatic footage of plumes of smoke billowing from a cargo ship shows an incident in 2017, contrary to social media posts that falsely linked it to a Huthi attack in the Arabian Sea, as the rebels targeted commercial shipping following the outbreak of the Gaza war. The video shows a fire that engulfed a massive container ship off the coast of SL. "Israeli cargo ship MSC Sarah V after a missile attack by Huthi fighters," reads a Sinhala-language Facebook post that shared more..

Jul 4 (DM) Chief Justice has nominated a fuller bench comprising five judges of the Supreme Court to hear the Fundamental Rights petition seeking an order restraining the Election Commission from taking any further steps to conduct the Prez election in 2024. A 5-judge-bench headed by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya will hear this petition on Monday (08). Businessman Chamindra Lenawa, a resident of Panadura is seeking an order preventing the Election Commission from holding more..

Jul 5 (ST) Walk on the streets, drive on the roads or be a bus passenger, an everyday event in Colombo is that trade unions have taken over the streets. Not a day passes without one or two trade unions protesting and demanding their rights. Bankers, garment workers, pensioners, university academics or non-academics, unemployed graduates, teachers, principals, doctors and health-related workers, engineers, postal workers, senior public servants ��you name it and they are on the street, more..

Jul 5 (DM) Sri Lankans are known for their hospitality that�s extended to foreign tourists, but it was just a few days ago that the islanders received global attention regarding how they treat foreigners who visit the place. It all happened when a Chinese blogger made a video about a Sri Lanka flower boy who was distributing flowers to tourists with no intention of making money out of the whole exercise. Thanks to Sri Lanka, that video went viral. This type of publicity is needed because more..

Jul 5 (TM) When it comes to issues affecting the Sri Lankans� ability to enjoy various rights and freedoms pertaining to a quality life, safety from the State, and empowerment, although available to varying degrees, the available information suggests that people in general have become one of the key at risk groups. In addition, various marginalised groups and social activists are at severe risk of facing rights related more..

Jul 5 (CT) The debt-ridden, cash-strapped SL Govt reached another significant milestone in its complex debt restructuring process this week, by successfully concluding the second round of restricted discussions with the Ad Hoc Group of its International Sovereign Bondholders (ISBs), the group controlling approximately 50% of the aggregate outstanding amount of ISBs. It indicates that the island nation is in the process of finalising its entire debt restructuring process more..

Jul 5 (DM) None is willing to part with what one possesses unless the receivable in return is better or equivalent. The receivables could be tangible or intangible. There is no exception to this norm. Payment of tax to the govt is not an exception to this norm. What a taxpayer receives in return for the tax he/she pays is a million-dollar question in the SL context. Whatever efforts taken by the govt to market the tax system as a social responsibility and duty, they are derailed by tax policy blunders. more..

Jul 5 (DM) For any nature lover, a path off the beaten track is an adventure on its own. An occasional call of a Malabar hornbill, a leopard�s footprint and elephant excreta add more depth to the lush terrain along this scenic route via the Wilpattu National Park. Hence, environmental groups have been fighting to protect this route, known as the Puttalam-Marichchikadai route or B379 from being vulnerable to further destruction and chaos. more..

Jul 5 (Island) A person described as an entrepreneur from Moratuwa has filed a fundamental rights (FR) petition, seeking a Supreme Court (SC) determination on the duration of the prez�s term, and an interim order preventing the official announcement of the next presidential election until the apex court decision. The members of Election Commission (EC) including its Chairman & Attorney General have been named as respondents. This petition has not come as a surprise. more..

Jul 5 (TM) Citizens in the Western Province will once again face a prolonged water supply disruption today (5), mere weeks following a 15 hour termination in supply. NWSDB announced that an 18-hour water cut will be imposed from 9 p.m. last night (4) in several areas due to �urgent repairs on a transmission pipeline�. As such, residents of Kolonnawa UC and Kaduwela MC areas and the Kotikawatta-Mulleriyawa PS area are to face an 18 hour interruption to water supply, more..

Jul 5 (Island) Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka has switched sides again. Fonseka, MP, threw his weight behind UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe�s Presidential Polls campaign as the latter strengthened his position, politically, with the finalisation of debt restructuring pacts with the Official Creditor Committee (OCC) and the Exim Bank of China for USD 5.8 bn and USD 4.2 bn, respectively. Japan-led OCC includes France, India, US, Canada & several European nations. more..

Jul 5 (ST) Despite a notable reduction in formal cigarette consumption, the use of informal cigarettes such as beedi cigars remains a significant concern in SL. Continued beedi consumption, especially among the poor, demands sustained efforts and innovative approaches to control tobacco use. A new publication by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) titled �Strategies to Curb Beedi and Smokeless Tobacco Consumption in SL,� by IPS researchers Priyanka Jayawardena, Dr Erandathie more..

Jul 5 (ST) Ten Indian fishermen detained by the Sri Lanka Navy for poaching will be charged with the death of a sailor belonging to the Special Boat Squadron. He sustained critical injuries to his spine resulting from the aggressive manoeuvres of the Indian trawler that was resisting arrest. He died at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital last week. This operation was the latest in a spate of arrests for trespassing this year, more..

Jul 5 (DN) The unbeaten Galle Marvels will take on Jaffna Kings in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) for the second time in this tournament and this is going to be a good battle at Dambulla Int'l Stadium today, commencing at 7.30pm. All teams are highly satisfied with t Pallekele wickets and Kandy Falcons is the only team bundled out for 147 against Colombo Strikers while in all other matches both teams were able to make over 175 runs and most of the time games continued until the last over. more..

Jul 5 (Island) One of the finest attacking batsmen to come through from Sri Lanka Under-19 side is Avishka Fernando. When SL Under-19 won a series in England in 2016 under Roy Dias, Avishka played a pivotal role in the series win and British press commented that the shots he plays and the time he has to play them reminded them of a certain Aravinda de Silva. Soon, Avishka was drafted into the senior side, but he didn�t make an impact and was shown the door. more..

Jul 5 (GV) SL�s women are literate and well educated with a 92.3% literacy rate and 1.4 female students for every one male student enrolled in tertiary education. However these high numbers are not translated to workplace participation that stands at a low 31.8%. Neither is it reflected in women who hold positions of power, especially in the political sphere. While there has been a gradual increase in women�s participation in politics from only 1.8% of parliamentary seats more..