Oct 15 (FT) In a move that promises to reshape SL�s tourism landscape, John Keells Group will officially launch Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams SL � a landmark $ 1.2 billion development. Billed as the largest private investment in the country�s history, the ambitious project aims to redefine SL�s tourism landscape, catering to a diverse clientele, creating South Asia�s most dynamic destination for business, leisure & more..

Oct 15 (FT) At a conference in the mid �90s, Dr. Harvey Forest, solar visionary and President of Solarex (then one of the largest solar companies), displayed a slide titled Solar Heaven. He predicted that annual solar installations would reach 1 Gigawatt (GW) or 1,000 Megawatt (MW) in a few years, which he called solar heaven. He said that at this capacity, investment into the highly capital-intensive silicon manufacturing becomes viable and this would free solar from its dependence on more..

Oct 15 (FT) Modernising customs, ports and supply chains needs future proofed technology to meet current and anticipated future international standards that fit a domestic framework, including the much talked of �single window�. The national single window of India and Pakistan were developed within the local talent with international expertise at some point coming and contributing at professional consultancy services. Custom designed for Sri Lankan ports (air and sea) border protection agencies more..

Oct 15 (FT) Former SJB MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar has said that the votes cast for Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake in the recent Prez election were more a reflection of public dissent against the existing corrupt political system than an endorsement of the NPP�s ideology and policies. He said that he does not believe voters supported NPP candidate Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake in the recent Prez election because they thought it had the best plan or team to rebuild the country. more..

Oct 15 (DM) The player registration portal opens today at 6 PM, inviting overseas and former SL players to sign up by Oct 23, 2024. Participants can register via srilankacricket.lk, where they can complete their registrations ahead of the deadline. Tournament will showcase six men�s teams, each representing key regional cricket hubs in SL. Each squad will consist of a maximum of 17 players, including seven international athletes, promising an exciting mix of local and international talent. more..

Oct 15 (IPS) Earlier this year, SL introduced major changes to the VAT system. VAT rate increased from 15% to 18%, and tax exemptions were removed for 97 items, including essential goods such as gas and stationery. While these revisions aimed to boost govt revenue, they have also significantly increased the tax burden on low-income households, making life even more challenging for the most vulnerable during this ongoing crisis. more..

Oct 15 (AD) Leader of UNP, former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced that he will make a special statement to the public on Thursday (17). This will be the first time that Wickremesinghe makes a public statement following the Prez Election. It is reported that the former Prez will reveal the political behavior of the country and his future plans in this special statement. Immediately after the General Election was announced, Wickremesinghe declared that he will neither more..

Oct 15 (EN) SL will present a vote-on-account for three months as there would not be enough time to present a full year budget after elections, Minister Vijitha Herath said. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for Nov 14. �We are now expecting to present a vote on account,� Herath told reporters. �After the elections the Parliament is due to meet on Nov 21. There is no time to present a budget for the next year in December itself. So the idea now is to present a vote-on-account. more..

Oct 15 (DM) In a situation where public notion is created against the conduct of MPs, Parliamentary services of seven MPs in the ninth Parliament were suspended due to their misconduct within the year 2023. Two opposition MPs Nalin Bandara Jayamaha and Wasantha Yapa Bandara were suspended from sessions on Aug 23, 2023, after an uproar which flared up in Parliament. The two MPs were suspended for rushing towards the chair more..

Oct 15 (AD) Sri Lanka�s health authorities warn that there is a potential resurgence of dengue fever due to the ongoing rainy weather. With the monsoon season contributing to ideal breeding conditions for dengue-carrying mosquitoes, health officials are urging the public to remain vigilant. A total of 40,657 dengue cases have been reported so far in 2024, with 1,247 new cases recorded in October alone. Additionally, the NDCU has confirmed 20 dengue-related deaths this year. more..

Oct 15 (AFP) SL's new leftist Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with representatives from the IMF in October to discuss the bankrupt nation's controversial foreign debt deal. A picture of a meeting on Oct 2 where Dissanayake was absent, however, has been shared in social media posts that falsely claimed he skipped all the talks. He presided over the two succeeding meetings with the international lender. "The empty chair excellency. Prez has not attended the meeting with IMF" more..

Oct 15 (DM) Sri Lanka, as a country surrounded by the ocean and in the equatorial belt, is always vulnerable to extreme weather events, but the Meteorology Department lacks capacity for observation in localized and regional developments for more accurate weather forecasting, a climatologist said. Senior Climatologist Department -Meteorology Malith Fernando told journalists that Sri Lanka cannot afford to develop technology for numerical weather prediction models. more..

Oct 15 (CB) Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has suspended Chandika Hathurusinghe as the head coach of the men's national team with immediate effect. The development comes after Bangladesh's disappointing tour of India where they were whitewashed in the Tests and T20Is by massive margins. Former WI cricketer Phil Simmons, who has had coaching stints with Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and WI, has been named as the interim head coach with the contract set to run till the 2025 more..

Oct 15 (DM) NPP candidate Nilanthi Kottahachchi who made allegations about stolen assets stashed in Uganda by the previous regime said she made such remarks in a broader context on the need to recover ill-gotten wealth concealed in Uganda and elsewhere in the country. Making her remarks to the press, she said she takes full responsibility for what she said. �Some of the remarks I made in recent times triggered more..

Oct 15 (DM) A Fundamental Rights (FR) petition has been filed with the Supreme Court seeking an order preventing the release of 2024 Grade 05 Scholarship Exam results and the cut-off marks. The petitions were filed by the parents of several students who appeared for the 2024 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination which was held on Sept 15, 2024. The petitioners have requested the SC through their FR petition that an order be issued invalidating the question paper 1 of Grade 5 more..

Oct 15 (EN) The cabinet has approved diesel and kerosene subsidies for the fisheries sector ahead of the general election in a month. The proposal to provide 25 rupees per litre of diesel upto a 300,000 litres a month, and 25 rupees per litre of kerosene upto 15 litres a day and 25 days a month, Minister Vijitha Herath said. The fuel subsidy was first proposed by the previous govt, but halted by the election commission due to the presidential election, as it would unfairly sway voters. more..

Oct 15 (NW) The govt has assured to investigate all past crimes and initiate legal action against those found responsible, apart from the seven high-profile cases ordered to be expedited. Cabinet Spokesman Vijitha Herath said the govt will not refrain from launching investigations into any past crimes. His comments came in clarification of the Ministry of Public Security�s instruction to the Acting IGP to expedite investigations into more..

Oct 15 (NW) Several SL players have been signed to compete in the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), with their participation spread across various franchises. Each team has brought in experienced international cricketers, adding depth and versatility to their squads. All-rounder Thisara Perera will represent Dhaka Capitals. Perera, known for his powerful hitting and bowling abilities, is expected to play a key role in the team�s performance. Chittagong Kings have secured more..

Oct 15 (NW) The govt is considering the possibility of allowing vehicle imports in a systematic manner, without negative impacts on the foreign exchange and avoiding another Dollar crisis, Minister Vijitha Herath said. Minister revealed there was a great demand for vehicle imports and also a previous Cabinet decision related to the matter. He further said that, however, the new govt has not allowed any urgent vehicle imports or concessionary imports after being elected to power. more..

Oct 15 (MFA) As a measure of support and solidarity with the people affected by Typhoon Yagi in Myanmar, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath handed over to the Ambassador of Myanmar in Colombo Marlar Than Htaik a token of a consignment of 227 kgs of Ceylon Tea at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday. Ambassador Htaik expressed sincere appreciation of the Govt of Myanmar for the gesture of goodwill of the tea donation by the Govt and People of SL more..

Oct 15 (ASPI) The new president of SL, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, will have to walk a fine line to return the country to its traditional foreign policy of non-alignment. The country remains caught in a situation dangerously close to a zero-sum game of relationships with China and India, both of which are essential for its economic recovery. To help him stay out of that situation, Western countries should go beyond economic help and engage SL in a larger and more comprehensive agenda. more..

Oct 15 (AD) Addressing the progress review meeting of Ministry of Energy this morning, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake advised that the projects aimed at achieving the energy sector�s goals over the next three years must be structured and expedited. Prez pointed out that, similar to other countries where the energy sector holds a prominent position, SL too has given the energy sector a leading role, and he also mentioned that more..

Oct 15 (AD) The govt will take action to recover the defaulted tax money by Director of W.M. Mendis and Company Ltd. Arjun Aloysius, who was sentenced to a six-month jail term for defaulting a VAT payment amounting to Rs. 3.5 billion, Cabinet Spokesman Vijitha Herath said today. He said that the suspect was imprisoned as a punishment for non-payment of taxes and that even though he was imprisoned for six months, the govt would not receive the Rs. 3.5 billion tax money. more..

Oct 15 (DM) Mahanayake of the Malwatu Chapter, Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera, said that the opposition should join hands with the govt and cooperate in implementing plans to overcome the prevailing crisis, rather than waiting for an opportunity to come into power at this crucial juncture. During a meeting with a delegation of the SJB, led by Party Chairman Imitiaz Bakeer Markar, Ven. Thera emphasized the need for a concerted effort to address the country�s crises, more..

Oct 15 (AD) Minister Vijitha Herath announced that SL will receive a new shipment of passports next Saturday, which will be distributed starting on Monday (21). Minister also addressed the ongoing legal issues surrounding the e-passport system, stating that there is currently an injunction imposed by the court is in place, preventing any tenders from being called for the e-passport project. �We will revisit the matter once the court proceedings more..

Oct 15 (AD) Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to enter into buy back agreements for the procurement of locally produced medicines and medical supplies from identified institutions for a period of one year. During the Cabinet meeting held on 29 Nov 2013, approval had been given for the purchase of locally produced drugs under the Buy Back Agreement procedure in order to encourage local drug manufacturers by providing priority to the activities of State Pharmaceutical Corporation more..

Oct 15 (TM) Prisons are facing a lack of separate transport facilities to transport children in prisons to schools, in turn leading to them being transported using prison buses meant for prisoners. �We only have three buses in the Western Province to transport these children to schools,� Prisons Dept Commissioner said. �The other Provinces don�t have any buses so as a temporary measure; we use the buses that we use to transport prisoners to transport children to medical checkups & schools.� more..

Oct 16 (DM) One can hardly believe that our country is scarcely a month away from the date set apart for the general elections. Believe it or not, not a single cutout or bigger-than life-size picture of our really ugly, thieving politicians is smiling down on us from every nook and cranny in the city. Again, we the public will happily miss the faces of many of our aging politicians who earlier never seemed ready to retire. A breath of fresh air seems to be blowing over our country. more..

Oct 16 (CT) Health authorities reported that SL recorded 33,000 new cancer diagnoses last year, as well as 19,000 deaths: an alarming rise in statistics. They added that global records from 2022 show nearly 20 million new cases. The numbers are projected to increase by 77% in the next 25 years, particularly in developing economies. It must be remembered that behind every number is a person and a family. Each number represents a person who suffered years of pain before losing the battle more..

Oct 16 (SO) Former State Minister Shehan Semasinghe shared his views on the new govt�s ability to deliver on its promises and the challenges of balancing political decisions with economic stability. Semasinghe also emphasised the need for the current administration to build on the solid foundation laid by the previous Govt. He also spoke of the importance of sticking to IMF guidelines and warns against undoing critical reform. more..

Oct 16 (ST) Oh, what a national tragedy. What a fall was there, my countrymen, if one might temporarily dip into the words of Mark Antony. After all, they too were uttered at an unexpected moment of chaos at the assassination of Caesar. But this was not such a historical moment that brought the citizens of Rome onto the streets, calling for the deaths of Caesar�s assassins. This was a quiet time, perhaps in that evil hour of midnight when political hara-kiri was considered a far more supreme sacrifice than more..

Oct 16 (DM) Even those who did not vote for Anura Kumara Dissanayake in the presidential race would find it refreshing to see that the old rot that had infested Sri Lankan politics is being cleared out. But, look closer; while some of the old guard may have left politics for good, a good number of others have their names on the national list, which gives, at least the folks in the top quarter of the list, a sure shot at getting into Parliament, without the travails of going before the voters. more..

Oct 16 (CT) As Sri Lanka positions itself as a hub for international business, with the Port City launching its first offshore banking facilities and more global enterprises establishing operations, a growing threat looms over Sri Lankans. Int'l fraudsters, particularly Chinese nationals involved in cybercrime, are increasingly operating within the country. With China being the world�s largest social media market, more..

Oct 16 (CT) Kumar David is no more. Readers of Colombo Telegraph will no more receive his incisive comments on Sri Lankan and global politics and his occasional contributions on science and technology. A sad loss for Colombo Telegraph and for intellectual dialogue on Sri Lanka. I have known Professor Kumar David for around sixty years from when we were finishing our undergraduate careers, him in Engineering and I in Science. We were both heavily involved in Sasamaja politics but more..

Oct 16 (TM) The Maldives, SL�s archipelagic neighbour, which weathered some political and geopolitical turbulence over the last two years, seems to be settling down and mending fences with the regional giant, India. Like many in the South Asian region and in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives, has a complex history with India, and over the last few years saw a surge in anti-Indian sentiments. The big state�small state relationship India has had with the smaller island nations more..