Nov 28 (DN) A total of 230,743 persons from 66,947 families in 141 DS Divisions across 18 districts have been severely affected due to the prevailing turbulent weather conditions in the country. Four deaths and nine injuries have been reported so far, while six persons are reported missing. A total of 15,586 persons have been shifted to 165 temporary shelters. So far, eight houses have been completely destroyed & 620 houses more..

Nov 28 (Island) South Korea has handed over SL�s first-ever floating solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants located at the Chandrika Wewa and Kiriibban Wewa reservoirs. Ambassador Miyon Lee attended the handing over ceremony of the $5 million project, funded by the Korean govt. South Korea launched the project at the height of political turmoil in 2022 and was developed in collaboration with the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) and implemented by Yooshin Engineering and more..

Nov 28 (DN) Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath said that all foreign service officials serving in Sri Lankan missions abroad have been notified to return to the country by December 1. He also said that no one will be referred to diplomatic service based on family ties or political affiliations from now on. Minister Herath told the media during his visit to Kandy that letters have been issued to all those foreign service officials serving in SL missions abroad to return to the country. more..

Nov 28 (TM) The Health Ministry�s National Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) / Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Control Programme is holding discussions with the Education Ministry to expand education on contraception use and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention in schools. �The programme and its clinics will be visiting schools to educate students to talk about HIV prevention,� more..

Nov 28 (Reuters) Moody's may raise Sri Lanka's 'Ca' long-term foreign currency rating, the credit ratings agency said on Wednesday, following the govt's bond-exchange offer aimed at completing the restructuring of international bonds. The bond swap, launched on Tuesday, is an important part of the island nation's ongoing $12.55 billion debt restructuring and efforts to stabilize the economy. Moody's provisionally rated the new U.S. dollar-denominated debt offerings 'Caa1', more..

Nov 28 (TM) The Govt is yet to decide on whether or not to go ahead with the labour law reform process which commenced during the previous Govt led by then-Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe. During Wickremesinghe�s Govt, proposed labour law reforms focused on consolidating existing legislation into a unified labour code, and certain parties alleged that the implementation of such reforms would weaken worker rights. The Daily Morning inquired Deputy Minister of Labour more..

Nov 28 (DM) The Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court yesterday (27) issued an arrest warrant on Dan Priyasad and Mahinda Kahandagama in relation to a case filed against the attack carried out by SLPP supporters on the GotaGoGama protest site in Galle Face which demanded the resignation of then-Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Colombo in 2022. When the relevant case was taken up before Colombo Fort Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali yesterday, all suspects who have been released on bail more..

Nov 28 (PMD) Australia�s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Paul Stephens, stated that the new govt�s corruption-free approach to governance is attracting investors. He also expressed Australia�s willingness to provide support at any time for the govt�s efforts to establish a corruption-free system across the country. High Commissioner Stephens made these remarks during a meeting with the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat today (27). more..

Nov 28 (DN) Fishermen�s Rights Association (FRA) requested the new Govt to carry out a fresh investigation regarding the payment of balance compensation amount to fisher families who lost their livelihood activities due to the MV X-press pearl ship that caught fire in the SL ocean waters off Colombo outer harbor four years ago. The FRA says this matter was also discussed at a meeting conducted by Minister Vijitha Herath more..

Nov 28 (PMD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed two new Secretaries to key ministries. The relevant appointment letters were handed over today (27) by Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat. As per the appointments, Mr. K.R. Uduwawala will serve as the Secretary to the Ministry of Environment, and Mr. Y.L. Mohamed Nawawi will take on the role of Secretary to the Ministry of Science and Technology. more..

Nov 28 (DN) Tourist arrivals from Nov 1 to 24, 2024 stood at 145,669 and the total number of arrivals for the year so far was 1,766,384. With average arrivals per day increasing to over 6,000 Sri Lanka will pass the 2 million arrival target for next year. However due to adverse travel advisories, visa issues Sri Lanka will not be able to better the best event achieved in the history of tourism which was recorded in 2018 which was 2,333,796. Once again India maintained its supremacy becoming the best market more..

Nov 28 (DM) SLPP Politbureau Member and District Organizer of Jaffna, Geethanath Cassilingham has accused newly elected MPs from the Northern Province representing the NPP of failing to assist people affected by the devastation caused by Cyclone Fengal. �The newly elected MPs from the North from the NPP have failed to assist the affected people,� he said, highlighting that over 250,000 individuals across the country, including thousands in Jaffna, are reeling from severe floods. more..

Nov 28 (FT) A businessman, identified as N.M. Paaris, has been sentenced to six months of imprisonment, suspended for 5 years, after being found guilty of spreading a misleading voice clip about former Minister Cader Mastan on social media platforms. In addition to the suspended sentence, Paaris was fined Rs. 5,000 for the offence by Colombo Chief Magistrate. Court also directed him to remove all defamatory content he had posted against Mastan from all social media platforms. more..

Nov 28 (EN) Sri Lanka is expected to grow 4.5 to 5% in 2024, Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said, while 2025 will see an expansion well above 3%. Sri Lanka is recovering from a currency crisis and default, but since 2022 the central bank has provided monetary stability, appreciated the currency, and helped bring down prices with deflationary policy. It was still too early to make a firm projection for 2025, more..

Nov 28 (DN) Dialog Axiata announced the launch of its AI-powered assistant through the IdeaBiz platform, providing support for developers, IT teams and IdeaBiz partners. As the first of its kind in the country, the IdeaBiz AI Assistant is set to transform how users interact with technical information, access onboarding assistance, and receive real-time support. Powered by Generative AI (Gen AI) technology, the IdeaBiz AI Assistant delivers highly accurate and context-aware responses. more..

Nov 28 (FT) Supreme Court has dismissed three Fundamental Rights Applications Nos. 198/2024, 254/2024, and 263/2024, which challenged the opening of the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of LTL Holdings Ltd., on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). Upon hearing the submissions of all the Petitioners and the Respondents, the Supreme Court before Chief Justice Murdu Fernando and Justice E.A.G.R. Amarasekara refused to grant leave to proceed and dismissed all 3 cases. more..

Nov 28 (FT) The IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva yesterday said Sri Lanka achieved a significant step forward in terms of External Debt Restructuring following the setting up of the Exchange of International Sovereign Bonds and wide acceptance from creditors. In a statement, Georgieva said: �The Sri Lankan authorities have been implementing an ambitious economic reform program supported by the IMF, more..

Nov 28 (ST) Trade Union leaders have vowed to resume pushing for their demands to the newly appointed govt from where discussions ended with the previous govt. Many trade union leaders are planning to meet with authorities in the coming weeks to present their proposals. Considering the govt�s budget is scheduled for February 2025, some union leaders said it is important to consider finalising these discussions before the govt budget is presented in February 2025. more..

Nov 28 (DN) Sri Lanka has been named in Pool �C� with three teams Jamaica, Tonga and Wales by the World Netball Federation for the forthcoming Netball World Youth Cup which is scheduled to be held from September 19 to 25 in Gibraltar. Dept of Sports Development of the Ministry of Sports has decided to set up a 60-member national youth netball pool targeting two key international championships in 2025 Netball World Youth Cup and Asian Youth Netball Championship more..

Nov 28 (FT) Moving Walls, a global leader in outdoor advertising technology, has formed a landmark partnership with Richardson Outdoor, SL�s largest out-of-home (OOH) advertising specialist, to bring cutting-edge AdTech solutions to the country. This collaboration represents the most extensive integration of OOH inventory in Sri Lanka, now available through Moving Walls� patented platform, Location Media Xchange (LMX). This partnership builds on Richardson Outdoor�s two-decade more..

Nov 28 (FT) Gautam Adani, nephew Sagar Adani, and Senior Executive Vneet Jaain are clear of any bribery charges as per the US Dept of Justice (DoJ), according to the latest filing with stock exchanges by a Group company � Adani Green Energy Ltd. (AGEL). In its filing, AGEL has cited news reports by various media houses on the bribery and corruption charges against Adani officials Incorrect. �Media articles which state that certain of our directors, namely Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and more..

Nov 28 (CI) If it wasn't obvious from the squad list, or from the victory on a green track at The Oval from earlier in the year, Sri Lanka actually have a seam attack now. They've made a bright start to the series against South Africa, their quicks taking four wickets in the 20.4 overs possible on day one. The three frontline quicks posed varying challenges to South Africa's batters. Left-armer Vishwa Fernando swung the ball in the air into more..

Nov 28 (DM) A coalition that previously held only three seats in Parliament has achieved a sweeping victory in Sri Lanka�s recent parliamentary elections. The JVP led NPP coalition now controls over two-thirds of the legislature; a historic outcome unprecedented in the history of the Sri Lankan parliament. This political shift positions the leftist alliance to implement widespread policy changes, potentially offering the stability that many Sri Lankans have long been yearning for. more..

Nov 28 (Island) The JVP-led NPP govt has disappointed its detractors, who expected it to act like a bull in a china shop, after capturing state power. It has chosen to act with restraint, and cross the river by feeling the stones, as legendary Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping said. So, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa�s assurance, on Tuesday, that the incumbent govt would not ban private tuition came as no surprise. However, in saying so, he placed shadow education in the spotlight. more..

Nov 28 (TM) With the onset of the rainy season, our tropical island is back in limbo with the public and authorities scrambling to find higher ground, no pun intended. According to reports, given the onslaught triggered by cyclonic weather changes in the Bay of Bengal and a low pressure system forming off the East coast of the island, four citizens have lost their lives in the ensuing floods and landslides, six more (including children) are missing as of this paper going to print, and more..

Nov 28 (ST) At a polling booth, just outside Colombo, during last week�s parliamentary poll, a middle-aged voter remarked, as an official dabbed indelible ink on her finger, that election officials were doing a praiseworthy service to the nation which is often not duly acknowledged. �Thank you Madam, very rarely do we get thanks for working during an election,� the female official said in a response. It is indeed a thankless job that govt officials perform during an election. more..

Nov 28 (CT) Following the feedback received on its previous article highlighting the lack of mobilisation among the LGBTQ+ community in Hambantota, Ceylon Today discovered that this issue extends beyond a single district and affects the entire Southern Province. To delve deeper into the matter, Ceylon Today reached out to members of the queer community as well as representatives from organisations working in the region. more..

Nov 28 (CT) A few days ago, I received a call from an acquaintance, whom I�ll refer to as Shabeer. He expressed his frustration, saying, �Even someone as divisive as Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed Ali Sabry, a Muslim, to the powerful Ministry of Justice. Yet, the current govt led by Anura does not have a single Muslim cabinet minister.� I listened patiently and then explained to Shabeer that Ali Sabry�s appointment was not a recognition of his skills, experience, or expertise. more..

Nov 28 (CT) Adverse weather conditions have once again impacted the daily lives of Sri Lankans across seven districts, affecting 4,300 families according to statistics from the Disaster Management Centre. The reason being, that a low-pressure system developing in the Southwest Bay of Bengal, intensifying into a depression at the start of the week, which is expected to continue to impact most of the island, with the East Coast being most affected. Being a small island located near the equator, more..

Nov 28 (TM) Land is an important component in any SL household. Apart from its economic significance, land has an important connection to a person�s identity and idea of rootedness. Ancestral land of a household is also a symbol of the continuation of kinship ties and citizenship. Despite its significance, it is estimated that only 16% of all land owned in SL belongs to women. Discussing women�s ownership and control of land, more..

Nov 28 (DM) The recently concluded Prez and Parliamentary elections in SL have resulted in a remarkable change in the composition of the political class that controls the State. In addition, the party system has undergone a major change. My interest here is to focus on the immediate context that led to these outcomes, and to make a few remarks on the importance of focusing on social policy for the new regime. New ideas on social policy have to be developed within a context of the politics of more..

Nov 28 (DM) With about 200,000 people across 17 districts being affected by the Deep Depression in the Bay of Bengal, the govt is moving fast to provide relief to them but in the aftermath, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the National People�s Power(NPP) govt need to also look at the root causes of such a catastrophe. Clearly, one of the main reasons is the failure to effectively control climate change and we hope the govt will give highest priority to measures to prevent this. more..