Apr 22 (FT) Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith yesterday launched a scathing attack against former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the main commemoration event held at St. Anthony�s Shrine in Kochchikade as the Catholic community marked five years since the tragic Easter Sunday terror attacks. Ranjith said in the eyes of the Catholic community, Rajapaksa remains a figure who reneged on his commitments, more..

Apr 22 (SO) CAA called upon the public not to buy goods from retailers who fail to display price lists. The Authority has said that the public should support its efforts to check unfair trade practices and protect consumers from exploitation, a CAA spokesman said. �We urge the public to help our mission to combat unscrupulous businessmen who seek undue profit from consumers. Avoid patronising trade establishments that do not clearly display price tags on their products. more..

Apr 22 (EN) IMF�s First Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath said Sri Lanka�s future with many reforms are challenging, but it is critical to keep up with the reform momentum. Gopinath stated this after meeting the island nation�s State Minister Shehan Semasinghe CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe, and Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena on the sideline of the IMF/WB Spring Meetings in Washington. �I commended them on hard-won economic gains in the past year. more..

Apr 22 (DM) The SJB, finds itself embroiled in controversy as reports emerge that several of its MPs had received Rs. 50 million each from the govt's decentralized budget without nod from the party leadership. In the past, the govts used to allocate funds to MPs in the opposition to carry out development projects of their choice in their constituencies. However, such allocations have not taken place for the past five years, Instead, more..

Apr 22 (MFA) Following the decision by the Cabinet of Ministers to open a SL High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand, an official delegation led by Director General, Overseas Assets Management & Development Division of the Ministry Pradeepa Saram, will visit New Zealand from 22-25 April 2024 to attend to matters related to the opening of the High Commission. During the visit, the delegation will engage in meetings with officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of NZ, more..

Apr 22 (FT) Minister Pavitra Wanniarachchi announced that all arrangements have been finalised for the handover of the Uma Oya multi-purpose development project to the public on Wednesday. Speaking to the media after inspecting the project site, she expressed satisfaction with the progress and highlighted the significance of the project for the country. Under the leadership of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prez of Iran Ibrahim Raisi, the project is set to be inaugurated more..

Apr 22 (EN) Sri Lanka hopes to conclude hopes to conclude price negotiations for the wind power plant by India�s Adani group by May, Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said. A Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee and Technical Evaluation Committee are working on the matter. �There are certain parameters that they are negotiating,� he said. �But I am hopeful that there will be a decision by the Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee and the TEC and with the Adani group. more..

Apr 22 (FT) Brown & Company�s Digital Transformation Solutions Strategic Business Unit recently signed a path-breaking MoU with the Uni of Sri J'pura. The agreement was initiated to enable industrial digitalisation through Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and conduct research and development, along with projects on a partnership basis between the two entities. The collaboration will undoubtedly prove to be a turning point as Browns is focused on offering innovative more..

Apr 22 (Island) The ongoing battle for control of the SLFP took an unexpected turn, on Sunday, with the Executive Committee of the party appointing Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe as the Acting Chairman of the party. Dr. Rajapakshe contested the last general election on the SLPP ticket.The SLFP Executive Committee was convened by the party�s Acting General Secretary of Dushmantha Mithrapala, more..

Apr 22 (TM) The Governor of the Southern Province Dr. Willy Gamage has reportedly handed over his letter of resignation to the President�s Secretary Saman Ekanayake yesterday (21) effective 2 May 2024, it is learnt. Gamage who is a close companion of former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa have held several positions under the Rajapaksa Govts, before being appointed as the Governor of the Southern Province. He served as Secretary to the Ministry of State Resources & Enterprise Development. more..

Apr 22 (Island) Maldivian is set to expand its network with the introduction of direct flights to Colombo, starting on April 25th, 2024. This new route offers travellers a convenient way to experience the cultural richness, history and scenic beauty of both countries. Maldivian Airline, the national carrier of Maldives has appointed Nawaloka Air Services as the General Sales Agent (GSA) to handle its passengers and cargo. As Maldivian enters Sri Lankan market it already finds more..

Apr 22 (AD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe declared the government�s commitment to ensuring inclusivity in strengthening the country�s economy, prioritizing both economic growth and citizen welfare. He emphasized the need to distribute economic benefits equitably among all citizens, acknowledging the impact of recent economic challenges on everyone. Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the National Rice Distribution for low-income families at Ambagasdowa Stadium, more..

Apr 22 (DM) Sri Lanka will see consumers hold back gold purchases as prices of the precious metal continue to expand globally, Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) said. Amid rising geo-political tensions in the Middle East region and looming fears of an Iran-Israel war, gold prices continued to scale high for the sixth week in a row during the weekend despite rising US dollar rates. Speaking to Mirror Business on the impact of global gold price hike on the island nation, more..

Apr 22 (DM) The Govt is maintaining a deafening silence on the investigations over a number of emblematic cases. Current Prez then PM Ranil Wickremesinghe had in 2015 assured justice over the murders, including that of former Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge and rugger player Wasim Thajudeen. However, Prez Wickremesinghe and his administration have not provided any assurances to the families of the victims more..

Apr 22 (FT) WUSC (World University Service of Canada) held its first entrepreneurial ecosystem convening and knowledge sharing events on 27 February 2024 in Colombo and 14 March in Jaffna, under its newest project GRIT - Growth, Resilience, Investment and Training, a Gender-Responsive Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development Project in the North of SL. The Colombo convening and learning event was attended by women entrepreneurs in the North showcased more..

Apr 22 (ST) Travellers to Sri Lanka will have to pay more to enter the country as the new visa rules come about giving effect to new and increased charges that has taken even the Tourism Minister by surprise. The new system in place under the VFS Global charges a US$18.50 service fee, $7.27 convenience fee and a visa fee of $75 that totals to $100.77. And the previously charged $50 visa fee is also not available on the new website. The tourism industry was woken up to a rude shock more..

Apr 22 (AD) The Fox Hill Super Cross 2024 racing event, held in Diyatalawa today (21), turned tragic as a race car veered off the track, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals including an eight-year-old child and leaving over 20 others hospitalized with injuries. The accident occurred when two race cars lost control and collided with a group of spectators. The deceased are residents of Avissawella, Matara, Akuressa and Seeduwa. more..

Apr 22 (FT) Public Security Minister Tiran Alles yesterday called on the Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith and the Catholic Committee to collaboratively review all investigations conducted thus far on Easter Sunday attacks and collectively identify the perpetrators to ensure justice is served. Addressing a gathering, he assured commitment to facilitating a comprehensive review of the investigations surrounding the tragic events of Easter Sunday 2019. more..

Apr 22 (Island) St. Peter�s College did well to beat Royal College Colombo 10-5 in the final of the all-island Elite Rugby Sevens and clinch the Cup Championship at Royal Sports Complex in Colombo on Sunday. St. Peter�s did well to survive a scary second half where they were down to six men following a yellow card offense. But the Peterites managed to hold a second half charge by Royal, who won the hearts of spectators for playing well after half time and threatening to pull the game more..

Apr 22 (FT) Sri Lanka is projected to fall short of its Budget target on revenue to GDP for the 33rd consecutive year in 2024, according to the recently released State of the Budget Report 2024. The State of the Budget Report is compiled annually by Verit� Research and published on PublicFinance.lk, Sri Lanka�s premier platform for economic insights. The report provides a robust analysis and objective assessment of the fiscal, financial and economic estimates in SL�s annual Budget. more..

Apr 22 (FT) Sri Lanka�s tourism industry is witnessing a remarkable surge, with the country welcoming over 100,000 tourists in the initial 20 days of April, setting an optimistic tone for the sector�s trajectory in 2024. �The provisional figures reveal that over 100,000 tourists were welcomed in the first 20 days of the month, contributing to a year-to-date (YTD) figure of 740,000,� Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said. He said the surge in arrivals signals a promising year for the tourism sector, more..

Apr 22 (FT) The economically critical yet troubled Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have united to launch a new lobby group to champion effective solutions to their plight thereby ensuring stability and prosperity in the country. Named the Ceylon Federation of MSMEs the promoters said it represents 1.1 million formal MSMEs in the country and the grouping is apolitical. The launch coincided with the fifth anniversary of the 2019 Easter more..

Apr 22 (SO) SL�s fragile economic recovery faces a new threat � the potential fallout from an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran and spillovers to the wider Middle East. While geographically distant, SL is certainly vulnerable to disruptions in the Middle East, a region crucial for global oil supplies and int'l trade. Let�s explore the key channels through which an intensified Israel-Iran conflict could cause substantial external headwinds to SL � headwinds that country can ill afford to face right now. more..

Apr 22 (Island) A woman has recently been arrested in Brazil for taking a 68-year-old man, who had been dead for hours, to a bank in Rio de Janeiro to obtain a loan. She pretended that the dead man, whom she kept calling uncle, was seriously ill, but wanted a loan, according to media reports. Thankfully, she could not dupe the bank employees, who alerted the police. Perhaps, what the Brazilian woman is reported to have done in a bid to draw a loan pales into insignificance in comparison to how more..

Apr 22 (CT) In his speech marking two years in office, the Secretary to the Treasury and Ministry of Finance (MoF), Economic Stabilisation and National Policies, K.M. Mahinda Siriwardana, reminded us of the beginnings of SL�s ongoing economic recovery journey, under his strict fiscal management leadership with significant responsibilities. On the theme �Two Years at the Ministry of Finance: Looking Back at Confronting Sri Lanka�s Deepest Economic Crisis in Post more..

Apr 22 (CT) Debt negotiations between govt�s hired experts and private sovereign bond holders are reported to be progressing undern closed doors and to the satisfaction of the principal supervisor IMF. This has convinced the former SLBC Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy to feel confident that the third tranche of IMF�s $3billion EFF would be released soon. If settlement arrangements are to be finalized and signed by both parties the terms and conditions so agreed must be honoured by more..

Apr 22 (GV) The churches have been restored for congregations to worship and the luxury hotels have been repaired for the elite to dine in but the families of victims are still seeking justice for the carnage of April 21, 2019. They also need medical, emotional and financial support to rebuild their shattered lives. April 21 marks five years since 269 people died and 500 more were injured in the Easter Sunday bombings in 3 churches more..

Apr 22 (ST) That a State Minister has called upon Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to pardon Gnanasara Thero now serving his most recent sentence of four years handed down by the Colombo High Court last month for outraging religious feelings of adherents of the Islamic faith in 2016, should surprise no one. No doubt, the State Minister in question is largely insignificant in the larger scheme of political realities. Even so, there is little doubt that his sentiments will be applauded by more..

Apr 22 (TM) Twenty-first April of this year (2024) will mark five years since the deadly 2019 Easter Sunday bombings in SL. The targets included two Catholic Churches in the Archdiocese of Colombo, the Zion Church in the Eastern Province, and three high-end hotels in Colombo. Around 269 people, including about 45 foreigners and 45 children, were reported to have been killed, making it the biggest post-civil war massacre in Sri Lanka. The damaged Churches and Hotels were quickly rebuilt. more..

Apr 22 (CT) Port City Colombo (PCC), a multi-billion dollar FDI-funded PPP (Public-Private Partnership) project located in the metropolis of Colombo, Sri Lanka is positioned as the gateway to South Asia, offering a combination of global investment opportunities, international business environments, world-class infrastructure and sustainable yet cosmopolitan living, say the Port City developers. more..

Apr 22 (TM) Local media outlets report that Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe have jointly presented a draft law that provides for the forfeiture of the proceeds of crime, marking a significant step in the govt�s efforts aimed at combating crimes, especially corruption. This step comes in a context where the country has accepted serious anti-corruption obligations as part of the IMF Extended Fund Facility programme for Sri Lanka. more..

Apr 22 (DM) Israel�s misguided (as the US Prez chooses to call it) attack on the Iranian Consulate in Syria, the retaliatory strikes by Iran on Israel and counter-strikes by Israel on Iran have set West Asia (referred to as the Middle East by the US and the West) in flames. By these actions, the taboo against direct attacks on each other has now disappeared. If there is another round-a conflict over Iran�s nuclear advances or another strike by Israel on Iranian military officers more..