Nov 24 (ST) SL�s record in South Africa ahead of their ninth Test series against the host nation is far from encouraging. Out of 17 matches, they have won only three, with 13 losses and a draw. All three wins were in the past decade, when TM Dilshan led the team to their first-ever Test victory in SA in 2011 and Dimuth Karunaratne�s squad achieved a rare 2-0 success in 2019. Now, five years later, SL is preparing for a crucial challenge. more..

Nov 24 (AD) It has been reported that nearly 30 former Members of Parliament (MPs) are yet to hand over their official residences. Parliamentary sources have stated that certain former MPs are presently in the process of removing their belonging from the houses. Former MPs had been informed to vacate their official residences, as they need to be handed over to new MPs. Accordingly, it is reported that seven former MPs had vacated their official residences yesterday (22). more..

Nov 24 (SO) Cricket officials who made the greatest escape in the country�s biggest game of hide and seek will face their final match-up as former Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe broke his silence nearly two years after he was shown the door in his fight against corruption and abuse in sports administration. Holding back nothing, the deposed Ranasinghe had the last laugh at the man that blocked the campaign against corruption, Ranil Wickremasinghe who was dethroned from more..

Nov 24 (TM) Sri Lanka Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya says that he is optimistic about Sri Lanka�s chances in the two-match Test series against South Africa starting on Wednesday (27) in Durban. However, he acknowledged that his team would nevertheless face a strong challenge to change the island nation�s overall overseas narrative and thereby improve their chances of qualifying for the 2025 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Test Championship (WTC) final. more..

Nov 24 (SO) Dinusha Perera, a trailblazing SL karateka, has reached a new milestone in her illustrious career with her appointment as the women�s coach at the Sharjah Women�s Sports Club this month. Her new role is proof of her exceptional talent, achievements and potential that marks a significant step forward in her journey as a coach. Dinusha�s coaching journey in Dubai began at JKS Karate Academy, where she honed her skills working with students from diverse backgrounds. more..

Nov 24 (TM) New Govt has committed to advancing the Renewable Energy (RE) plan introduced by former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa, aiming to meet 70% of SL�s electricity demand through renewable resources. However, this commitment comes at a time when the country faces significant challenges in the energy sector. Despite the ambitious target of 70% RE by 2030, there are issues such as a substantial gap in RE capacity, delays more..

Nov 24 (Island) A word first used in 17th century England is gaining new currency in 21st century America. Kakistocracy, a Greek derivative per usual, means govt administered by the worst group of citizens � in qualification, competence, experience and scruples. Kakistocracy is in full display in the US with the election of Donald Trump as prez for a 2nd term. America is returning to chaos not heeding Kamala Harris�s warning against going back. In SL, Rajapaksas epitomized Kakistocracy more..

Nov 24 (Island) The National List (NL), a ticket for unelected entry to Parliament, is a subject of ongoing controversy, especially in the context of the opening of this country�s 10th Parliament last Thursday. Mr. Ravi Karunanayake�s entry into the legislature via the NL continues to make waves. As far as the NPP or NPP/JVP, whatever you may prefer to call it, there was no serious problem if the nomination of two defeated candidates is discounted. This party which won a stunning more..

Nov 24 (ST) My dear Ravi, I am writing to you to congratulate you on having yourself appointed to Parliament in the simplest possible way�getting a secretary loyal to you to send your name to the Election Commission without telling anyone else. You have stretched the saying �politics is the art of the possible� to its maximum. There is a lot of noise about what you did. Many including Uncle Ranil are furious. Some accuse you of being a �thief�. How unfair. Despite all that, no one can change more..

Nov 24 (ST) The established political parties in the N&E provinces appear to be reeling from the aftershocks of the unprecedented grubbing they received at the hands of the all-conquering JVP/NPP alliance at the Nov 14 Parliamentary elections. The embarrassment extends long beyond the shores of this island nation. On the face of it, the JVP/NPP won the majority of seats in all the districts in the two provinces with the exception of Batticaloa, but not necessarily the majority of the votes. more..

Nov 24 (ST) A delegation led by China�s Ambassador Qi Zhenhong was the first diplomatic team to visit the North and East following the general elections, which turned out to be historic when it came to the Jaffna district, with the ruling NPP winning a majority of the seats there. Hailing the NPP win in Jaffna as a change from the Tamil community�s voting pattern of the past, the ambassador said China, which provided more..

Nov 24 (CT) At first look, a list of 15 medical professionals, 16 lawyers and 21 educators, comprising teachers and principals, would read like a page from the Faculty page of the website of an upcoming university. Add to that the names of 20 women in a total of 22 and the ruling JVP-NPP�s roll-call for the unprecedentedly high number of elected MPs read impressive, rather more than impressive. With this Parliamentary Poll, the strategised transformation of the JVP, more..

Nov 24 (CT) Following the general election results, Ranil Wickremesinghe (RW) stopped counting the presidential elections votes and various interpretations thereby, instead not accepting the defeat where Kamala Harris accepted the defeat following day. Conclusion in my article �Political Tsunami Of UNP, SLFP, SJB & SLPP & Their Destiny With General Election on CT on 18 October 2024,� All opposition parties ignored AKD�s victory, stating that 58% were against him. However, more..

Nov 24 (TM) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) last week made two important speeches that will chart the course of the new Govt � the address to his new Cabinet of Ministers on Monday (18) and the Throne Speech delivered at the opening of the 10th Parliament on Thursday (21). Both speeches, while providing a clearer picture on the new Govt�s path in the coming years, have earned the praise of many. more..

Nov 24 (TM) All of 47 years and 10 Parliaments is what it took for SL to undergo a near-complete political reset. Near-complete because some remnants of the previous ninth Parliament who were earmarked for replacement have somehow managed to crawl back by either the flimsiest of margins or through the National List. However, the impact they could potentially have on the newly-elected Parliament that is dominated by the newest political force in the country, the NPP, more..

Nov 24 (SO) Every time a Govt appoints a new Cabinet, a debate ensues about its composition and the allocation of ministries. There is also a debate about the way certain disparate subjects are combined to form one Ministry. This is not surprising, given that at one time a previous Foreign Minister demanded that the two lotteries boards be brought under his Ministry. However, some seemingly distant subjects can be an ideal combination if one looks at it from a fresh perspective. more..

Nov 23 (PMD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake called upon all public officials to unite with a common purpose and work together to transform the motherland into a better nation. He made this statement today (22) during his visit to the Ministry of Defence at the Defence Headquarters premises in Akuregoda, where he assumed duties as the new Defence Minister. Upon his arrival, the President was warmly welcomed by more..

Nov 23 (CT) Discussions on the third review of SL�s IMF programme under the EFF successfully concluded on Friday (22). The meeting, held at the Prez Secretariat, was attended by an IMF delegation led by Senior Mission Chief Peter Breuer and a SL govt team headed by Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando. Talks focused on SL�s progress in meeting the IMF�s economic reform benchmarks, crucial for stabilising SL�s finances & ensuring sustained growth. more..

Nov 23 (Island) About 1,000 permits issued to SL migrant workers to import electric vehicles have been misused, a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) has revealed Auditor General W.P.C. Wickramaratne said that a large number of Sri Lankans entitled to the scheme had not been issued with permits. Labour and Foreign Employment Ministry, during Ranil Wickremesinghe administration, introduced a remittance-based electric vehicle permit scheme, more..

Nov 23 (PMD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that if the current govt fails to meet the expectations set by the people in the recent mandate, it could lead to citizens losing hope in envisioning a prosperous future. He emphasized that govt officials must dedicate themselves to building a govt that fulfils the aspirations of the people. Prez made these remarks while addressing the staff of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic more..

Nov 23 (DN) Malwatte Chapter Chief Prelate Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera stated that the people elected the current Govt with great expectations and everyone should dedicate themselves to fulfilling those public aspirations. He emphasised that all other issues arise from the foundation of economic problems and that everyone should work together to seek solutions to the prevailing economic crisis. These views were expressed when Buddha Sasana, Religious more..

Nov 23 (FT) SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara called on Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to issue an apology for the alleged actions of the JVP in the past, which he claims undermined SL�s rule of law. Madduma Bandara criticised the Prez�s recent policy statement in Parliament, where he pledged to uphold the rule of law. SJB General Secretary argued that the Prez missed an opportunity to acknowledge and apologise for the JVP�s historical role in more..

Nov 23 (AD) A group of civil society activists today lodged a complaint with the CID against newly elected Jaffna District Independent MP Dr. Archchuna Ramanathan. The complaint was filed by the civil society activists requesting the CID to investigate certain controversial comments made by the MP in a video posted on the social media platform Facebook. A video of the independent MP went viral on social media yesterday (21) which showed him seated in the seat reserved for more..

Nov 23 (CT) The NPP has called on the highest echelons of the Govt to abolish the Executive Presidency as promised and the discussions in this regard have already been initiated, highly-placed Party sources revealed. The NPP has always criticised the current Executive Presidency, introduced by the 1978 Constitution, which consolidates significant power in the hands of the President, often bypassing legislative checks and undermining democratic governance. more..

Nov 23 (DM) Excavations were carried out amid torrential rain on court order in a location in Expressway road reservation near Wandurawa Rajamaha Vihara in Veyangoda on information that a treasure had been buried there, but it was postponed for today (22) after no evidence of a treasure was found. The Attanagalla Magistrate had ordered the excavations in the wake of the arrest of 9 suspects including a man in robes, more..

Nov 23 (TM) Welfare Benefits Board announced that the senior citizens allowance for individuals over 70 years of age in Aswesuma beneficiary families will now be credited directly to their Aswesuma bank accounts. Accordingly, eligible adults can access their Rs. 3,000 allowance for this month starting today (22) through the designated accounts. If eligible senior citizens are not Aswesuma beneficiaries, their allowances will be distributed via post offices, as per the existing system. more..

Nov 23 (AD) Sarvajana Balaya MP, Dilith Jayaweera, has emphasized the need to change the prevailing parliamentary system of the opposition opposing all initiatives of the government and to establish a knowledgeable tradition within the legislative framework. He made these observations during a meeting with the Chief Prelate of the Malwatta Chapter of the Siam Nikaya, Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thero. Jayaweera worshipped at Sri Dalada more..

Nov 23 (DN) A public-private partnership project carried out in the Sabaragamuwa Province (SP) will add 300 MW generated by solar power to the national grid. Under the project the first solar power generation in Sabaragamuwa Province was connected to the national grid by Sabaragamuwa Province Governor Champa Rajaratne at the Ratnapura Kumara Vidyalaya premises on Tuesday. This solar power generation project is currently being implemented in all the seven provinces more..

Nov 23 (PMD) A meeting took place this afternoon (22) at the Presidential Secretariat between the secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Kumanayake and the Japanese Ambassador to SL Akio Isomata. The Japanese Ambassador extended his best wishes to the new govt led by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and expressed Japan�s commitment to continuing the bilateral relations between the two nations in a productive and sustainable manner. Ambassador Isomata commended more..

Nov 23 (FT) Sri Lanka Port Authority's Harbour Master Capt. Nirmal Silva this week underscored the strategic importance of leveraging SL�s geographical proximity to Indian economic powerhouse to drive growth in the port and marine industries. Speaking at the media briefing on Voyage Sri Lanka: Sailing to the Blue Economy held at EDB, he emphasised that the National Ports Master Plan (NPMP) more..

Nov 23 (FT) Colombo stock market this week ended with losses though managing to close yesterday marginally on the up amidst low investor activity. ASPI gained yesterday by 0.56% and the S&P SL20 by 0.27%. For the week, ASPI and S&P SL20 lost 1.1% and 2.7% respectively. Turnover yesterday was below average at Rs. 1.9 billion involving 86 million shares. During the week, turnover averaged Rs. 4.65 billion. First Capital said the Colombo Bourse experienced a recovery from profit-taking as more..

Nov 23 (ST) It was on a fine April morning in 1820 that the founding missionaries of Uduvil Girls� College, stepped into the abandoned premises of a Franciscan monk in Uduvil. The mission house on the premises had no windows or doors. Undeterred, the missionaries, Rev. Miron, Harriet Winslow, Rev. Levi and Mary Spaulding, set to work to weave palmyrah leaves into windows and doors. To Harriet Winslow and Mary Spaulding, education of women of Jaffna peninsula became a passion. more..