Oct 12 (Island) The headline of today�s comment is a joke doing the rounds in political circles. Roughly rendered into English, it means that although Ranil is gone, his policies have remained intact under the new dispensation. SL�s economic recovery programme, which Ranil Wickremesinghe courageously implemented, has survived his defeat in the presidential race. In other words, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has chosen to continue with Wickremesinghe�s key economic policies; more..

Oct 12 (DM) Central Bank has cracked down on a total of 19 entities found to have been operating and promoting fraudulent pyramid schemes in the country. CB listed Smart Win Entrepreneur Ltd as the latest company involved in illegal schemes, bringing the total number of pyramid activity promoters to 11 entities this year. Among the listed entities were Enrich Life, Windex Trading, Beecoin App/Sunbird Foundation, Fast Win, Fruugo Online, Genesis Business School/Era Miracle, more..

Oct 12 (CT) The National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) has put in place necessary arrangements to anchor a litterboom across the Kelani River in a suitable location, between Biyagama and Kelaniya, in the near future. This project will mainly focus on collecting floating objects including plastic and other solid waste from the surface of the Kelani River before they mix with the sea and marine biodiversity and river biodiversity, simultaneously. more..

Oct 12 (CT) In a dramatic turn of events, many political heavyweights have decided to abstain from contesting this General Election, with some even forfeiting the opportunity to enter Parliament at the eleventh hour through the National List. This is the first time in 54 years that Mahinda Rajapaksa�s name is not included in a General Election Ballot Paper. Rajapaksa family that produced two Presidents, a two-time PM, a Speaker, and more..

Oct 12 (DN) Sri Lanka will meet West Indies in their three-match T-20 series which is scheduled to be played from tomorrow (13) at the Rangiri Dambulla Int'l Cricket Stadium at 7 pm. The second and third T-20s will be played on October 15 and 17 at the same venue. After the T20 series, both teams will head to Pallekele Int'l Cricket Stadium for a three-match ODI series on Oct 20, 23, and 26, with the day-night matches beginning at 2:30 pm. West Indies team arrived on Wednesday while more..

Oct 12 (FT) The Central Bank of Sri Lanka yesterday released the Financial Stability Review for the Year 2024, providing an assessment of the stability of the financial system, identifies and evaluates the associated risks and vulnerabilities, and outlines the policy measures implemented by the Central Bank and other regulatory authorities. The Central Bank noted that this statutory report was released in terms of Section 70(1) of the Central Bank of SL Act, No. 16 of 2023. more..

Oct 12 (FT) In The Institute for Health Policy (IHP) SL Opinion Tracker Survey (SLOTS) polling through 2024 prior to the Prez Election, AK Dissanayake, Harini Amarasuriya, and Ali Sabry were consistently the most popular politicians tracked. After AK Dissanayake, Harini Amarasuriya was the next most popular, suggesting she will be a popular choice for the PM post. Overall, Sri Lankans still held unfavourable views of, more..

Oct 12 (FT) Cinnamon Air has announced the launch of two new daily scheduled flights connecting Kandy and Sigiriya with the South Coast destinations Koggala and Hambantota. These flights are set to commence on 1 November 2024 and will operate until 30 April 2025, strategically timed to cater to the influx of foreign travellers during the winter holiday season. These cross-country flights are designed to enhance convenience and reduce travel time while ensuring an unparalleled experience for more..

Oct 12 (PMD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake conducted a virtual discussion today (11) with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Ms Samantha Power. During the meeting, the two leaders exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and explored avenues for future cooperation. Notably, Ms. Samantha Power, USAID Administrator, stated that USAID is willing to support the govt aligning with the manifesto presented to the people. more..

Oct 12 (FT) Colombo stock market managed to close the week on a positive note with improved investor sentiment. The active S&P SL20 gained by 1.10% and ASPI by 1.07% on Friday. During the week, the ASPI and the S&P SL 20 gained 2% and 2.7% respectively. Turnover yesterday was Rs. 2.30 billion involving 81.34 million shares. Turnover during the week averaged Rs. 2.04 billion. First Capital said after a few sessions of profit taking Colombo Bourse witnessed sustained buying more..

Oct 12 (ST) The previous govt�s Urumaya programme, under which freehold title is given to people who use state land based on a permit or grant issued by the govt, will continue, the Land Commissioners General�s Department said. The deeds are given upon the voluntary handing over of the permits. Similar programmes have been carried out by different governments in accordance with the Land Development Ordinance (as amended) for political advantages, critics have said. more..

Oct 12 (Island) Total strength of the SL Army, which stood at approximately 230,000 at the end of the war, has now decreased to around 143,000, according to the Chief of Staff of the SL Army, Major General Dinesh Nanayakkara. He explained that during the final phase of the war, the Army recruited several intakes within a short period. �Now, a large number of those personnel are retiring after completing their service. more..

Oct 12 (FT) Air Chief Marshal Harsha Abeywickrema, assumed duties as the Airport and Aviation Services (SL) (AASL) Chairman on Wednesday. AASL is a fully Govt-owned entity responsible for managing and developing civil international airports in SL. As the appointed agent of the Govt of SL, AASL represents the country in discharging the duties in the capacity of a member of Int'l Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Company operates BIA, MRIA, CIAR, JIA, BDA. more..

Oct 12 (DM) Only 11 out of 31 politicians who held ministerial responsibilities in the previous govt and lived in the govt houses have vacated them, according to Public Adm Ministry. A top source said it never takes time to clear the process since a lot of formalities such as inventory taking needs to be completed. The past govts used to assign houses in the Colombo city for the use of ministers. Asked about the policy of the new govt, the source said it will be decided later. more..

Oct 12 (Island) The SJB had not included actress Damitha Abeyratne in its nominations list for the Ratnapura District because the district level leadership was of the opinion that the party needed to groom a female leader from the district itself, former SJB MP and Ratnapura leader, Hesha Vithanage told journalists on Friday. �Abeyratne is a great strength to the party at the national level. However, we felt that we need to promote a female leader from Ratnapura,� he said. more..

Oct 12 (Island) The nomination period for the 2024 general election, which commenced on 4 Oct, officially concluded at noon on Friday. Commissioner General of Elections, Saman Sri Ratnayake, confirmed that nominations were received at the District Secretaries� offices across 22 electoral districts. The upcoming election will see 225 MPs elected, 196 members chosen from the 22 districts and 29 appointed via the National List, based on the votes secured by each party or group. more..

Oct 12 (CT) While noting that acquiring ministerial residences is not political revenge but returning those promptly is an absolute necessity once the Cabinet is dissolved, PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya ordered officials to initiate legal action against those who are failing to do so. During a discussion with senior officials of the Ministry of Public Admin, Home Affairs, PCs and Local Govt, it was revealed that there are about 20 more..

Oct 12 (FT) The Election Commission of Sri Lanka (ECSL) has disclosed that only 13 out of the 38 candidates (or 34%) who contested the 2024 Presidential Election have submitted their Election Expenditure Reports as of yesterday. This comes despite the new campaign finance laws, passed under the Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill in 2023, which mandate that all candidates submit their reports within 21 days of the election results being declared. more..

Oct 12 (EN) Sri Lanka�s remittances coming from its overseas expatriate workers gained 15.2% to $555.6 million in Sept 2024 compared to the same month last year, helped by more expatriates using the official banking channels. The total remittances also crossed $4.8 billion in the first nine months of 2024 through end September, the latest Central Bank data showed. The remittances in the first nine months gained 11.5% to $4.84 billion compared to $4.35 billion in the same period last year. more..

Oct 12 (FT) Election Commission of SL has confirmed that 690 accepted political parties and independent groups will contest in the 22 electoral districts for the upcoming General Election, scheduled for 14 Nov. The announcement followed the conclusion of the nomination submission period, which ended at 12 p.m. yesterday. A total of 764 nomination papers were received, but 74 were rejected due to errors in submissions. more..

Oct 13 (CT) This election season has marked a turning point in SL politics, with several long-serving politicians deciding not to contest. While some have chosen to remain in advisory roles, others have left politics entirely to pursue new careers. Amid these shifts, there is a notable trend of seasoned political figures opting out of the race, some even stepping back from entering Parliament through the National List at the eleventh hour. At first glance, it seems promising that traditional political parties more..

Oct 13 (TM) Exactly a month from today, Sri Lankans will once again be heading to the polling booths to complete project change that they started on 21 Sept with the election of SL�s first Left-leaning Executive Prez. Forced by dire economic circumstances leading to bankruptcy, the latest phase of project change, which the people of this country earnestly undertook back in April 2022 by gathering opposite the Presidential Secretariat at Galle Face, finally manifested more..

Oct 13 (TM) Just weeks after concluding the Prez Election last month, SL is once again in election mode, this time to elect MPs at the Parliamentary Polls next month. Given that many members of the previous Parliament have opted to sit it out at the upcoming polls � which includes three former Presidents (Mahinda, Maithripala and Ranil) and many members of the Rajapaksa family � there is a high likelihood of there being many new more..

Oct 13 (CT) As SL embarks on a transformative journey under the inspiring leadership of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the NPP, a powerful wave of optimism sweeps across the nation. Prez Dissanayake�s inaugural address painted a compelling vision for a cleaner political landscape, robust democratic rights, and a strategic response to the country�s most pressing challenges. Acknowledging the complexities ahead, he called for collaboration with the business community more..

Oct 13 (ST) Nominations for parliamentary elections next month concluded on Friday with a distinctly lower degree of public enthusiasm considering the clamour there was for a new set of legislators to replace the older lot. Some 160 MPs from the former Parliament are in the fray again. The mandate of the people was the battle cry of the then opposition, comprising the SJB and the JVP/NPP. Both kept demanding an election. Now, pitted against each other for parliamentary supremacy, more..

Oct 13 (ST) Hardly had the nominations for the parliamentary elections been handed over, political parties began planning on how they would be part of a future govt. Some of the smaller parties, contesting with the major parties, have approached the NPP led by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and told him that they were ready to extend support to a future govt. The parties that approached the NPP hierarchy have been more..

Oct 13 (ST) My dear Sajith, I wrote to you last about two months ago but I thought I should write to you again now even though you must be busy, preparing for your second national election within a few weeks. This must be that time when you must keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you. Some say you have improved from five years ago to the extent that you are not hiding away in Yala, counting the spots of leopards. Others argue that the more you change, more..

Oct 13 (ST) With the closure of nominations for the General Election (GE) on Friday, all parties (and more than 200 Independent Groups) will be gearing up for a short but gruelling campaign, ahead of the Nov 14 election. This comes hot on the heels of the Prez Election (PE), which was won by NPP candidate Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Even though there is a perception that SL�s Executive Presidency is all-powerful, the Legislature still has many aspects of governance such as more..

Oct 13 (Island) The fact that many politicians who have overstayed their welcome on the national scene will not be running for parliament at the November election was reported even before nominations closed at noon on Friday as this comment is being written. Obviously that was certainly not due to any altruism on their part. The results of the Sept. 21 prez election made that crystal clear. For example, if Namal Rajapaksa�s pathetic tally island-wide at the presidential contest is duplicated by more..

Oct 13 (SO) Just like when he batted for his team, Sanath Jayasuriya checkmated his employer Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and forced the think-tanks living on borrowed time to have him as their official head coach after showing them results on the board bringing to an end the hunt for a foreign expert to motivate the current crop of players. Unable to enlist a foreign coach for multiple reasons, SLC was forced to give in to the stop-gap incumbent coach Jayasuriya and more..

Oct 13 (TM) It has been five years since the harrowing events of 21 April 2019, when a coordinated series of bombings struck churches and hotels across SL on Easter Sunday. The tragedy, orchestrated by the Islamist extremist group NTJ, claimed 269 lives and left over 500 injured, shaking the country to its core. For the families of those who perished and for survivors who carry both physical and emotional scars, more..

Oct 13 (Island) The wrath of a nation can be a fearful thing. In 2022 we saw its evolution and culmination in our own Aragalaya, which sent the then president, a so called battle hardened war veteran and warrior-statesman, first in to exile and then to precipitate retirement. We saw it again, just a couple of weeks ago, in the election of Sri Lanka�s ninth executive president, a villager from deeply rural Tambuttegama, the son of a surveyor�s assistant. That he was the first student more..

Oct 13 (SO) Sri Lanka defeated the Maldives 3-0 to claim the fifth place in the six-nation CAVA Under-20 Men�s Volleyball Championship, organised by the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation and concluded yesterday at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo. SL team dominated all three sets, winning 25-12, 25-20, and 25-20 in the match for fifth and sixth place. The tournament, which lasted seven days, featured a round-robin stage where each of the six teams played five matches. more..

Oct 13 (TM) Sri Lanka�s former cricket Captain Arjuna Ranatunga, who reportedly backed the presidential aspirations of former Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa ahead of the 21 September Presidential Poll, has opted to stay clear of party politics for the foreseeable future, informed sources have said. It is learnt that due to this reason, the country�s 1996 World Cup-winning skipper had decided against contesting next month�s Parliamentary Elections from the SJB ticket, more..

Oct 13 (Island) Dambulla has become more than just a town in SL; it�s now an icon in the nation�s cricketing landscape. As the T20 International series against the West Indies unfolds with two of its three matches set on holidays, cricket enthusiasts have every reason to journey to this historic town. Known for its ancient cave temples and the nearby marvel of Sigiriya, Dambulla is a blend of cultural richness and sporting passion�a setting that makes it the perfect cricketing destination. more..