Apr 2 (AD) SL’s gross official reserves (GOR) stood at USD 5 billion by the end of March 2024, recording a notable increase compared to USD 4.4 billion at the end of 2023. In its report on the External Sector Performance in the month of March, Central Bank of SL attributed the surge in GOR to its substantial net purchases of foreign exchange from the domestic foreign exchange market. Net intervention in March was USD 715 million (based on trade date) and during first quarter of 2024, more..

Apr 2 (TM) The United Federation of Labour condemned the agreements signed by the SL Govt with Israel to send more than 10,000 SL workers to work in Israel’s agriculture, construction and caregiving sectors. According to them, these deals exploit vulnerable Sri Lankan workers and expose them to unsafe and life-threatening working conditions while propping up the Israeli Govt and its ongoing genocide against Palestinians. A press release issued in this regard read: more..

Apr 2 (TM) While welcoming the Govt’s plans to permit the registration of motorcycles currently known as high engine capacity motorcycles, motorcycle owners expressed concerns about the implementation of these plans and the motives behind the Govt’s enthusiasm. “This should have been done a long time ago,” Ceylon Motorcyclists’ Association (CMA) President Chirantha Amarasinghe said, noting that contrary to more..

Apr 2 (Island) Dissident SLPP MP Prof. Channa Jayasumana said that political parties and individual MPs should be asked to explain how they funded May Day rallies. The academic said that many lawmakers would find it difficult to hire buses, provide two dozen bottles of arrack to each bus, bites and food. MP said that he didn’t get involved in any May Day rally due to current impasse in talks pertaining to a future course of action. “Therefore, I didn’t have to worry about expenses. more..

Apr 2 (CT) Consulate General of SL in Dubai and Northern Emirates hosted a dinner reception on 27 Apri for the SL youth athletic team who participated in the recently concluded Asian U20 Athletics Championship in Dubai. SL team won two Silver and three Bronze medals at 4 x 400 Mixed Relay, 4 x 400 Men, 4 x400 Women, 4 x 100 Men and Triple Jump events. The event was graced by the presence of several sport enthusiasts, including representatives from various sports associations, more..

Apr 2 (AD) Labour Tribunal of Kalutara, Sri Lanka has ruled that the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) decision to prematurely terminate the contract of top journalist Azzam Ameen was unreasonable and unjustifiable. Having delivered the Order on 26th April, 2024, the Labour Tribunal also found that the actions of the BBC, particularly of the BBC’s representative Iain Haddow, were arbitrary and high-handed. more..

May 2 (FT) Jetwing Hotels, a pioneer in the Sri Lankan hospitality industry for over five decades, remains dedicated to fostering positive change for people and the planet. In line with this commitment, Jetwing Hotels has invested over $ 1 million to expand its solar photovoltaic (PV) installations by 1.6 megawatts (MW) by the end of July 2024. Installation work commenced in December 2023 and has made significant progress, currently standing at 65% completion. more..

May 2 (TM) The Joint Committee of Govt Executive Officers launched a two-day token strike today (2) by reporting sick over several demands including the salary issue. The Chairman of the joint committee H. A. L. Udayasiri stated that they also have planned to stage a series of protests in Colombo later today. Against this backdrop, the non-academic staff members of all state universities have also decided to go on an indefinite strike starting at noon today. Secretary of non-academic staffers’ union more..

Apr 2 (EAR) SL finds itself amid a multitude of challenges, from economic woes to corruption scandals. Domestically, the surge in drug consumption, particularly among healthy-age adults and schoolchildren, poses a grave concern. Despite having national and international backing, community-led programs in prevention and rehabilitation fall short of making any impact. This is because they lack root-level eradication strategies. It is also believed that there must be more..

Apr 2 (CT) A courtesy meeting between the ITAK and the British High Commissioner in SL, Andrew Patrick, took place on 29 April during his special tour to the Batticaloa District. Rasamanickam said the British High Commissioner discussed several matters, including problems faced by farmers, particularly issues related to fertiliser subsidies, livestock breeding, and fishing. He said he had brought to the attention of the British HC issues surrounding the initial payments to farmers more..

May 2 (AD) CoPF has approved, subject to conditions, the Recovery of Loans by Banks (Special Provisions) (Amd) Bill which was amended to facilitate legal provisions for the suspension of Parate Law until Dec 15. Accordingly, the banks’ practice of acquiring properties of whose loans are yet to be paid off will be suspended until Dec 15 and the Recovery of Loans by Banks (Special Provisions) Act No. 4 of 1990 more..

May 2 (EN) Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring talks with sovereign bond holders are awaiting clarity on how the IMF assesses securities linked to economic performance under its debt sustainability analysis, sources with knowledge of the talks said. IMF had decided that a March proposal made by private investors with macro-linked bonds was not in line with its debt sustainable framework, according to a SL govt statement issued after the first round of direct talks with bondholders. more..

May 2 (DM) A stock of drugs including 13 kgs of heroin suspected to belong to an underworld figure known as Dubai Kapila has been recovered by the STF. Police said the stock was recovered during a raid carried out near the Sri J'pura University in Nugegoda. Accordingly, they siezed 13 kgs of heroin, 06 kgs of hash and 0.5 kg of cocaine. Also, Rs. 1.5 million in cash was also taken into custody during the raid. Investigations revealed that Isuru, also known as Kapila, more..

May 2 (TM) Despite the Govt’s decision to increase the daily wage of plantation sector workers to Rs. 1,700, sectoral trade unions remain determined to continue the ongoing protests seeking a wage hike to Rs. 2,000. Even if the Govt’s decision materialised without facing any objections, they note, this amount is not sufficient given the rate at which inflation has increased during the past few years and because it is also unlikely that more..

May 2 (DM) Norwegian Ambassador in New Delhi May-Elin Stener met NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the JVP head office this afternoon. Second Secretary of the Norwegian Embassy John Bjerkem and NPP MP Vijitha Herath and Harini Amarasuriya attended the meeting. The current political situation in the country and the economic crisis that Sri Lanka is facing were discussed at length, party sources said. The two parties also discussed the elections to be held this year. more..

May 2 (AD) Chairman of the National Transport Commission (NTC) Shashi Welgama says that there will be no revision of bus fares despite the recent reduction of fuel prices. National Transport Commission had previously declared that the decision on whether bus fares will be revised would be taken today (2). Fuel prices were reduced with effect from midnight on April 30, with the price of diesel reduced by Rs. 30 per litre. However, the private bus associations had said that since more..

May 2 (AD) Leader of the NPP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, while addressing a May Day rally, urged the SJB to confirm a date before May 20 for the proposed debate on the policies of both parties on economic issues. MP affirmed that this would mark the NPP’s final May Day rally under what he described as the governance of corrupt individuals. “Today, the NPP is holding the last May Day rally held while under the hands of the criminals who destroyed this country”, MP expressed. more..

May 2 (CT) The passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai in Sri Lanka, which resumed in October 2023 after almost 40 years only to be stopped days later, is set to recommence on 13 May. Online ticket sale for the service, which will be handled by a new operator, will go live on Monday. On 14 Oct last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually flagged off the service between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai. The HSC Cheriyapani operated by more..

May 2 (Island) In spite of determined UNP’s efforts, it couldn’t convince SJB MPs to switch their allegiance to Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe in time for yesterday’s May Day rally, presided over by the green leader at Maligawatte, Colombo, main Opposition party said. SJB lawmaker Kavinda Jayawardena said that regardless of the UNP’s repeated appeals, the party was sure none in its parliamentary group would join Prez more..

May 2 (TM) Chaos ensued at BIA following the handover of the country's on-arrival visa issuance to an Indian private company, sparking outrage among travelers and citizens alike. The contentious move involved transferring the electronic travel authorization system to IVS-GBS and VFS Global, a private entity, from Immigration and Emigration Dept, the longstanding Govt authority. Previously, visitors from neighboring South Asian countries under the SAARC umbrella were charged $20 for more..

May 2 (DM) Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka did not play any role in organizing SJB May Day rally and therefore, he did not deserve any prominence, its Vice Chairman Sujeewa Senasinghe said. “Fonseka has been critical of SJB and that was another reason for not giving him a speech at the May Day Rally,” Senasinghe told. He said speeches were given to only those who helped in organizing the rally. “I asked Fonseka what his issue was with the SJB and he informed me that he does not approve of more..

May 2 (DM) Chaos broke out at the BIA last night following the controversial takeover of the on-arrival visa issuance process at the BIA by an Indian company. This company has been charging an extra $25, whereas the Immigration and Emigration Dept had been managing the process smoothly for several years. The Indian company assumed control of the on-arrival visa issuance process yesterday without obtaining more..

May 2 (EN) SL’s privatized plantations would be taken back by the state if a wage hike order is not carried out, State Minister of Plantations Industries Lohan Ratwatte said. SL suddenly gazetted a hike in plantations worker wages to 1,700 rupees this week, ahead of May Day rallies following the path of ousted Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa who suddenly hiked wages to 1,000 rupees a day in March 2021. Before unions exited collective agreements and the coercive power of the state came through more..

May 2 (AD) Meteorology Dept has issued heat index advisories for Northern, North-central, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern, Southern and North-Western provinces and Monaragala district. The advisory is effective for tomorrow (3). Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is expected to increase up to Extreme Caution level at some places in Northern, North-central provinces and Batticaloa and Trincomalee district and that values, is expected to increase up to Caution level more..

Apr 2 (FT) With exactly the same figures of indebtedness, we could still have been facing this crisis in far better shape than we are now. Even those who didn’t derive it from Prof Joseph Nye’s theory of soft power, would know from the final episode of Game of Thrones, the importance of stories; of narratives and their power to persuade, or the absence of such persuasive power. In 2022 SL was seen throughout much of the world as a heroic island in which there was a mostly peaceful more..

Apr 2 (FT) As SL gets closer to the elections that are supposed to be held at the end of this year, a fierce contest seems to have occurred between the two main opposition parties, SJB and NPP. Representatives of the SJB Economic Policy Committee, such as Eran Wickramaratne and Harsha de Silva, seem to have launched a strong attack on the NPP questioning the latter on economic policy matters. One of the significant themes recurring in this attack is frequent more..

May 2 (Island) JVP/NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday said that victory was assured for his party in any forthcoming election as they had won support, trust and confidence of more than 51% of the electors throughout the country. Dissanayake addressed two May Day rallies of the JVP/NPP in Matara and Colombo. He said: “Our enemies mocked us saying that converting 3% of popularity into 51% would be a miracle. more..

May 2 (CT) Addressing the rally to celebrate International Labour Day, former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa said the true popular opinion of the country was still with the SLPP and the candidate who will win the next Presidential Election will be from the SLPP. The former Prez was speaking at the May Day rally at Campbell Park in Colombo. “First of all, I pay my respects to the working-class people gathered today at Campbell Park. Today, you have shown strength of SLPP to the country. more..

May 2 (AD) Former SL cricket captain and former minister Arjuna Ranatunga joined the May Day rally of the SJB which was held in the Thalawakele area this morning (May 01). Speaking during the event, the 1996 World Cup-winning captain said he was invited to attend the May Day rally by former Minister Palani Thigambaram and that he gladly accepted the invitation. Ranatunga had recently joined the Anti-Corruption Coalition led by former Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe. more..

May 2 (CT) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa asserted that the SJB’s work, even while not in power, has positioned them as the foremost advocates for the people, contrasting with those presently in power, who he claims have only worked while holding office. “I want to address the events of 26 Oct 2022. They urged me to take the PM position 61 times, but I remained steadfast in my commitment to prioritise the greater good more..

May 2 (FT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday urged political parties, including the SJB and JVP, to collaborate with the govt in safeguarding the country›s economic stability by ensuring the success of the agreement with the IMF. Speaking at the UNP May Day rally in Colombo, Prez Wickremesinghe emphasized the importance of not disrupting the IMF program and preventing the country from regressing to the economic situation of 2022, engaging in traditional political stances. more..

May 2 (FT) Former Prez Maithripala Sirisena announced Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe as the SLFP Prez candidate. Sirisena denied he would contest at the polls himself and said instead the party would field Rajapakshe at the upcoming election. “Majority in the party are in favour of Rajapakshe’s candidacy,” Sirisena said. When questioned about the party’s stance on Sirisena’s candidacy, the former Prez reiterated that he had fulfilled an electoral promise to serve only more..