Oct 4 (DM) On 16 Aug 2024, SL launched a National Social Protection Policy (NSPP). This was a first in the country, which had previously not had a policy but only a host of different programmes (such as free universal health coverage, free education at primary and secondary levels, Samurdhi, and more recently, Aswesuma). The National Social Protection Policy details the rationale, scope and principles of the policy, but does not show any actionable steps as to how the policy will be implemented more..

Oct 4 (CT) They thought they buried us, but they didn�t know we were seeds. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake posted this internationally famous quote, widely used by activists fighting against repression, on 8 Jan 2015, the date of the 2015 Prez Election. Nearly 10 years later, as Dissanayake emerged as the front-runner in the 2024 Prez Election and won, this old Facebook post went viral, symbolising the remarkable more..

Oct 4 (DM) People of this country- who can also be referred to as voters-must think like customers shopping in a super market store. They must have the mentality to complain if they must and demand the best. There is the added facility of demanding after-sales service. The customer never loses sight of the supermarket store till he is convinced that he has made a good buy. Can the voter do the same? In this sense the Sri Lankan voter, with a franchise, is a dangerous person. more..

Oct 4 (ST) It was a happy Aldoris, the choon- paan karaya, who came down the lane, with his signature tune louder than the usual volume. �Jayawewa, api dinum (Jayawewa, we won),� he said joyfully, as he came to a halt at the gate where the trio had gathered. �Ithin ada kaema nikan denawada (So, are you giving free food today),� asked Kussi Amma Sera, playfully. �Aiyo, kaema wala mila thama ekama gana (Aiyo, food prices still remain the same),� he replied. �Mama nam chandey dammey more..

Oct 4 (TM) As part of the country�s efforts to empower the young population, SL should implement youth-centred, gender responsive, non-discriminatory, and accessible mental health services equipped with professionals providing youth-friendly health services in order to address mental health issues and reproductive health issues, along with interconnected areas such as substance use. This recommendation was included more..

Oct 4 (TM) The victory of the NPP Prez candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake at last month�s Prez Election, came in the wake of a strong anti-establishment and anti-corruption wave that gripped the public psyche over the last two years. Now that the caretaker NPP govt is finding its feet with the complex role of governance, the public are eager for action on the anti-corruption front. With an election looming in the horizon, and tough choices to be made in governance, more..

Oct 4 (Island) Many good things have been happening; the best is that in all Sri Lankans, barring opposing political parties and politicians, hope has been rekindled after decades of gloom and doom. We trust, admire and have full confidence in the Prez and the PM. Cass does not need to spell these out and give reasons. Open letters have been penned and seen in the public sphere as how things should be done. Personally, Cass believes no pontificating nor even advice is needed. more..

Oct 4 (GV) Elections are often about creating divisions within the electorate and channeling power to the majority opinion. SL�s ninth prez election concluded with an unprecedented result, signaling a new chapter in the country�s political landscape. For the first time in history no candidate secured over 50% of the votes, triggering a second preference vote count under the Prez Election Polling Act. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of the NPP, received 42.31% of the votes followed by more..

Oct 4 (FT) MillenniumIT ESP, leading Enterprise Solutions Provider, said yesterday it has recently marked a significant milestone in its growth journey with the establishment of its Global Service Delivery Centre at Port City Colombo. This new centre, registered under the company�s subsidiary, Millennium IT ESP Singapore, will serve as the primary hub for delivering solutions to its growing global clientele. This strategic move reinforces MillenniumIT ESP�s commitment to more..

Oct 4 (CI) Pakistan secured their first win in four meetings against Asia Cup champions SL and opened their campaign with a win at T20 World Cup 2024. SL had been riding a wave of success since the last T20 World Cup, winning three out of six bilateral T20I series and 22 out of 32 games, but Pakistan, who had lost four out of their last six series and 16 out of 27 games, had the measure of them on a slow, low Sharjah pitch. more..

Oct 4 (Island) Much is being spoken these days about the need to eliminate corruption, which has eaten into the vitals of Sri Lankan society. However, clean governance has been reduced to a mere political slogan in this country, and the corrupt continue to go places. While SL is paying lip service to the task of ridding itself of corruption, former Singapore Minister S. Iswaran has been sentenced to one year in jail for receiving gifts worth USD 300,000, obstructing justice while in office. more..

Oct 4 (TM) The oarswomen of Ladies� College and Musaeus College will take to the waters at the Beira on Saturday (5) 1 p.m. onwards with the Colombo Rowing Club being the epicentre of action as the great rivalry in the only girls� regatta in the island nation will see its 19th edition unfold. Last year Ladies' College clinched the Marie Musaeus Higgins Trophy defeating Musaeus College at the 18th LC-MC Regatta. LC accumulated a record 39 points to 13 against Musaeus. more..

Oct 4 (DN) Veteran boxer Keshani Hansika made a powerful return to the ring on the second day of the 82nd Layton Cup Boxing Championship, organised by the Boxing Association of SL (BASL), at the Royal MAS Arena. Hansika, representing Vidyarathana Sports Club, had been out of action for over a year due to a serious leg injury requiring surgery during the IBA Women�s World Boxing Championship in New Delhi in March 2023. Back in action, the 33-year-old showed her skill and strength more..

Oct 4 (Island) Container Transport Owners Association (CTOA) has announced that freight charges will be reduced by 4%, following the recent decrease in auto diesel prices. Sanath Manjula, President of the CTOA said the freight reduction would come into effect from 1st October. Manjula noted that greater relief could be provided to the public if Customs officers work to reduce significant delays in the import and export clearance processes. �We have reduced fees by four percent now, more..

Oct 4 (Island) Standout performances of young prodigy Dilni Rajapaksha and hurdler Sandun Koshala earned them the best athlete titles as St. Joseph Vaz�s College, Wennappuwa and Lyceum Int'l Wattala clinched the boys� and girls� overall championships respectively of the Sir John Tarbat Senior Championships at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Thursday. The girls� overall title changed hands from Ratnayaka Central, Walala more..

Oct 4 (ST) As the new govt took office last Monday with just three cabinet members, one of the critical policies that a lot of industry chambers kept reiterating the govt, is a corruption-free country. Whether it is importing or exporting of goods and services, or getting a job done at govt institutions, there is plenty of corruption and bribery that is involved from its grass-root level. This was among the issues discussed last Tuesday at the Sunday Times Business Club-organised event more..

Oct 4 (ST) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the two other members of his Cabinet have been allocated more than 100 govt institutions each, according to the subjects and functions gazette issued. In addition to Ministry of Defence, Prez also holds the finance portfolio. He also has the subjects of Economic Development, Policy Formulation, Planning and Tourism, Energy, Agriculture, Land, Livestock, Irrigation, Fisheries, Aquatic Resources Ministries under his purview. more..

Oct 4 (TM) Presidential Secretariat stated that under NPP Govt, the powers to grant Prez pardons will not be abolished, but will be ensured that those powers are exercised in an appropriate and transparent manner. In recent times, Supreme Court has revoked two Prez pardons granted by former Presidents Maithripala Sirisena and Gotabaya Rajapaksa to Jude Shramantha Anthony Jayamaha and Duminda Silva, who have respectively more..

Oct 4 (ST) In a testimony at the Matale High Court this week, Upul Tharanga, the chairman of the cricket selectors, revealed that Akash Patel attempted to offer him an additional Rs. 1 million per match during the Legend Cricket League 2024. Patel has been charged with match-fixing allegations following a complaint from Tharanga, who represented the Kandy Samp Army team. Tharanga alleged that Patel pressured him to participate in match-fixing activities. more..

Oct 4 (FT) Admiral Sirimevan Sarathchandra Ranasinghe (Rtd.) assumed duties yesterday as the Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). He was the Commander of the Navy from Oct 2017 to Dec 2018. Admiral Ranasinghe also served as the Secretary to Ministry of Ports and Shipping and Southern Development in 2019. He is an Anti-Submarine Warfare Specialist trained at INS Vendurutthy, Kochi. He followed his Defence Services Staff Course at Wellington, India, more..

Oct 4 (TM) SL�s defaulted credit card transaction value surpassed Rs. 40 billion in the first half of the year, with increased transaction values indicating a recovery in the economy. According to the payments bulletin for Q2 of 2024, the defaulted credit cards in Q2 amounted to 168,978, a 2.2% reduction year-on-year (y-o-y) and gradual increase from the Q1 figures of 164,752. The defaulted transaction value for Q2 was at Rs. 20.7 billion, a 6.2% increase y-o-y and the highest value recorded since more..

Oct 4 (CT) Ambassador to Lebanon Kapila Jayaweera stated that the security situation in Lebanon remains volatile and is constantly evolving. Around 30 SL workers have sought refuge at the Sri Lankan Mission, where they are currently housed in two Catholic cathedrals and provided with all necessary supplies. �As of now, they are safe,� he added. The SL Embassy in Beirut is maintaining constant contact with SL associations and individuals registered with the embassy. more..

Oct 4 (FT) Court of Appeal this week gave, what it called a varied interim order on the urgent procurement of 750,000 N-Series passports to resolve the severe shortage. Separately the Court extended the interim order on the procurement of five million ePassports till 6 Nov. The decisions were by CA judges Justice Mohammed Lafir and Justice P. Kumararatnam. The move follows Epic Lanka which has been supplying normal machine more..

Oct 4 (DM) SL Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) has renewed its call for urgent reforms as the domestic industry faces a downturn, driven by surging gold prices and policy challenges that have hindered growth. Local jewellery sales have taken a sharp hit, while exporters are struggling with a tangled regulatory framework that has weakened their global competitiveness. The impact of these challenges is evident in the sector�s export performance, with positive year-on-year more..

Oct 4 (FT) SJB leader Sajith Premadasa has emphasised the need for national unity and collaborative efforts to tackle SL�s pressing issues during a recent meeting with party workers in the Dehiwala area. He urged all political factions to set aside narrow political arguments and prioritise the welfare of the country. In his address, Premadasa acknowledged the difficult circumstances faced by the populace, stating, �Today, the people of the country have fallen into a difficult situation. more..

Oct 4 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake will likely undertake his first official overseas visit to New Delhi for discussions with PM Narendra Modi after he accepts an invitation which will be extended today by visiting Indian External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar. Jaishankar is the first high ranking foreign dignitary to visit Dissanayake after he won the Prez Election on Sept 21. Indian High Commission in a statement said that in keeping with India�s neighbourhood first policy and more..

Oct 4 (Island) Discussions between the SJB and the UNP on forming a united front for the upcoming general election had collapsed due to the actions of a senior UNP member, SJB Chairman Imthiaz Bakeer Markar. said. Markar said that initial talks between the two parties had been progressing smoothly until the intervention of a prominent UNP figure. The early negotiations were headed by SJB General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabandara and UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene. more..

Oct 4 (EN) A delegation led by the Director of the IMF�s Asia Pacific Department, Krishna Srinivasan is visiting Sri Lanka and discussing the new administration�s reform objectives, an official said. �Program performance is strong, and reform efforts are bearing fruit in terms of reviving economic growth, lowering inflation, boosting reserves and improving revenue mobilization,� Julie Kozack, Director of the Communications Dept said. more..

Oct 4 (EN) Sri Lanka govt is planning to provide income and VAT relief to the people who are struggling, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has told the IMF officials. Prez Dissanayake discussed the progress of SL�s on-going IMF programme with the global lender�s delegation including Director of the Asia Pacific Dept, Krishna Srinivasan and Senior Mission Chief Peter Breuer. �Prez Dissanayake reaffirmed the govt�s broad agreement in principle with the objectives of the IMF programme more..

Oct 4 (CT) The Govt Information Department announced that a programme to provide birth certificates for children without birth certificates will be implemented countrywide. The programme, set to run throughout October, is a joint effort between the Dept of Probation and Child Care Services and the Registrar General�s Department. This programme aims to identify children without birth certificates and provide them with such certificates. Dept of Probation and Child Care Services added more..

Oct 4 (TM) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay an official visit to SrL Friday and meet with the country�s new leadership led by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. This will be the first visit by a Foreign Minister since the Prez polls. �In keeping with India�s Neighbourhood First Policy and SAGAR outlook, the visit underlines the shared commitment of the two countries to further deepen longstanding partnership for mutual benefit� more..

Oct 4 (FT) I was dining in a Colombo restaurant when the person waiting on me asked who I thought was going to win the Sri Lankan Presidential election. I said I had no vote and so would reserve my opinion but asked him who he thought would win. He said 100% sure AKD. I said oh. The person continued as if he felt he needed to allay fears � he said this is like Narendra Modi coming to power in India. A common man taking away power from the family (entrenched political establishment). more..

Oct 4 (FT) Sri Lanka has elected its 9th Executive President. How the election was won and finding reasons for the defeat of other parties may be politically important. However, more focus should be placed on the country�s development, at a time when we are struggling to transform from an apparent stable economy to a growing economy. It is not easy to make miracle changes, but there is no ifs or buts that Sri Lanka should move forward along sustainable development paths. more..

Oct 4 (AD) Colombo High Court has further extended the order issued suspending the fixed deposits and insurance policies to the tune of Rs. 97 million belonging to former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and fiver of his close relatives, in connection with an investigation by the Bribery Commission. This order was issued by the Colombo HC after considering a request made by the Bribery Commission. On July 5, the Colombo High Court suspended the fixed deposits and more..

Oct 4 (DM) The int'l community should support SL in building a peaceful, multi ethnic, green and prosperous SL, Norwegian diplomat and former politician Erik Solheim said. He said that it is only two weeks since SL elected Anura Kumara Dissanayaka as Prez but he has used the time well. "He got the diplomacy exactly right. First meeting with the Indian High Commissioner, then the Chinese ambassador, signalling that India is most important for SL, then comes China next. more..