Mar 9 (CT) You may not be interested in the world order-but it is interested in you, opines The Economist in its latest lead editorial, entitled Dealing with the Don. It is about America’s new Godfather, aka Don Corleone, aka Donald Trump, and the blitzkrieg beginning of his second presidential term that is causing, the rupture of the post-1945 order. It may be that the post 1945 order has run its course and needs a radical overhaul. But not for the reasons that seem to be motivating more..

Mar 9 (ST) The expenditure head of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs was debated yesterday in the backdrop of International Women’s Day, with MPs pointing to progress already made but also outlining the many challenges that continue. Making a ministerial statement prior to the start of the debate, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya noted that International Women’s Day was a day to mark the struggles of women around the world. She paid tribute and expressed gratitude more..

Mar 9 (ST) The NPP has been quite prolific in Parliament so far in sharing various lists that paint opposition MPs in a bad light. A few more of these lists were shared this week as well during the Committee Stage debate of Budget 2025. Deputy Minister Arun Hemchandra produced what he claimed was a list of politicians and other powerful figures linked to former govts who, using political connections, had obtained filling stations more..

Mar 9 (ST) My dear Deshabandu, I am writing to you because you are the talk of the town these days, setting unprecedented records with your achievements as IGP. This was after you were declared a suspect in relation to an incident at a hotel in Weligama some time ago. You have now given the phrase Hora-Police a new meaning! You are in ‘good’ company. The whole country is on the lookout for two fugitives, you and the alleged accomplice in Hulftsdorp murder, Sewwandi. more..

Mar 9 (Island) Al Jazeera last week released, after some delay, an interview with former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, conducted in London some weeks ago. It is now on You Tube and is bound to go viral especially here in SL. Both friend and foe must admit that the Al Jazeera interviewer, Mehdi Hasan, was most unfair to Wickremesinghe in this Head to Head interrogation duplicating the well known BBC Hard Talk show. Why the former president chose to expose himself to the grilling more..

Mar 9 (GV) Renowned journalist Mehdi Hasan interviewed the former prez Ranil Wickremesinghe on a programme of Head to Head, produced by Al Jazeera. The programme was released to YouTube and first broadcast on March 6. At the time I studied 5,144 comments in response to it, the video had been watched over 218,620 times and liked over 8,000 times. Comments, views and likes are increasing at pace, which means that by the time this is read, the sentiments, trends and more..

Mar 9 (Island) In April 1971, there occurred the JVP insurrection which assumed significant proportions in the Ampara district. Rohana Wijeweera, the leader of the JVP at the time, had been arrested in Ampara, at the bus-stand a few months earlier and was in remand in far-away Jaffna. However, the cells he had initiated in the district schools, specially those with selected teachers and some of the best of the senior students continued to thrive — in Ampara those following science subjects more..

Mar 9 (TM) Doctors are set to get an increment of around Rs. 37,000 to their basic salary over the next two years, as proposed in the 2025 Budget currently being debated in Parliament. The minimum basic salary of Medical Officers (MOs), according to the Govt, which currently stands at around Rs. 54,000, is expected to rise to Rs. 91,000 by 2027. While the Govt highlights these salary hikes as a historic move to improve doctors’ earnings, more..

Mar 9 (TM) The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has introduced mandatory sustainability reporting for the top 100 listed companies in terms of market capitalisation. CSE Chairman Dilshan Wirasekara revealed that the CSE had amended the CSE Listing Rules in order to introduce a mandatory obligation for sustainability reporting. This will be applicable only for the top 100 listed companies in terms of market capitalisation. Accordingly, the top 100 listed companies will henceforth be obligated to more..

Mar 9 (TM) Govt is engaging in discussions with the private transport sector to facilitate the establishment of Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure in tourist areas, SL Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) reveals. SLSEA Director General J.M. Athula stated that it was essential that the Govt intervened in collaboration with the private sector to ensure the development of EV infrastructure in the country. He pointed out that there was a demand for EVs in the tourism industry and more..

Mar 9 (ST) 15 long years after their last major domestic triumph, Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club has roared back into the limelight, clinching the Major League Cricket title in emphatic fashion. While the mighty SSC suffered the humiliation of relegation to Tier ‘B’—a historic fall from grace—Bloomfield’s warriors from Reid Avenue made a compelling statement, reclaiming their status as a force to be reckoned with once again. A first-innings victory over NCC proved decisive, sealing Bloomfield’s first major silverware since their Premier League more..

Mar 9 (ST) Jaffna College, Vaddukkodai, turned tables to pull off a well deserving outright win by 59 runs over traditional rivals St. Patrick’s College in the 108th Battle of the Golds big match concluded at St. Patrick’s ground in Jaffna yesterday. It was left-arm spinner Sithamparalingam Mathusan who was the hero of the Jaffna College side as his six-wicket haul in St. Patrick’s run chase of 146 runs helped them bundle out their rivals for a paltry score of 59 runs. Win saw Jaffna College chalking up more..

Mar 9 (ST) Known for their indomitable grit, S. Thomas’ College pulled off the unthinkable, clinching a famous five-wicket victory in the 146th Battle of the Blues against Royal College at the SSC ground in Colombo yesterday. After a bold and sporting declaration by Royal at 215-8 in their second innings, the Thomians were handed an uphill task—chasing 233 runs in just 42 overs. What followed was a rollercoaster of agony and more..

Mar 9 (TM) Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne has rejected claims that millions of rupees have been spent on materials for the proposed animal survey, terming such allegations speculative. “These allegations are based on estimations. They are merely guesses, where you take the cost of one paper as say Rs. 10 and calculate according to that,” he said. In the preparation of this survey, Karunaratne said that a certain form had been distributed to each house through postal more..

Mar 9 (AD) Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has announced that steps will be taken to swiftly pass a bill prohibiting the corporal punishment of children. He made this statement in Parliament during the Committee Stage Debate on expenditure head of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, in response to a statement made by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. Premadasa emphasized the importance of incorporating children’s and women’s rights into the country’s fundamental rights chapter. more..

Mar 9 (TM) CID has intensified its search for IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, SSP Buddhika Manatunga revealed. He said that anyone found harbouring or aiding Tennakoon, who was currently wanted by law enforcement, would also be guilty of an offence under Section 209 of the Penal Code. “Under Section 209 of the Penal Code, aiding and abetting a person who is known to have committed a crime is also a crime,” more..

Mar 9 (AD) At least two persons have been injured and hospitalized following a shooting incident at Akarawita in Gampaha. Police said that two unidentified assailants on a motorcycle had opened fire on them before fleeing the scene. The incident occurred at around 6:45 p.m. today (8). The attack targeted two individuals at a motorcycle spare parts shop, police said. The injured victims, aged 30 and 34, have been identified as Chamara Nadi Sadaruwan, the owner of the shop, and more..

Mar 9 (NW) A senior lecturer of the Uni of Colombo, Dr. Janaki Jayawardena, tragically lost her life in a motor accident in Kohuwala yesterday (7), police confirmed. 59-year-old was with her son and his wife along Sumanaarama Road when an incident occurred while her son attempted to restart his car. In an effort to do so, he placed a stone under the front wheel. While he was trying to start the car, Dr. Jayawardena attempted to remove the stone. However, as the vehicle was parked on more..

Mar 9 (DM) A Parliamentary Committee revealed that the production of liquor in the country has increased by 22% within the last two months while revenue has grown by 23%. This was revealed during the meeting of the CoPF recently chaired by MP Harsha de Silva. Officials of the Ministry of Finance said that plans are underway to introduce a new category of liquor with the aim of minimising the consumption of illicit liquor. The proposal to increase the excise duty on liquor under more..

Mar 9 (AD) CPI(M) MLA Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami has questioned the allotment of land to SL cricket legend Muttiah Muralitharan in Kathua, during the ongoing budget session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Saturday. He expressed concerns regarding the legal basis of the decision, although he did not specify the cricketer’s name, Indian media reporter. The cricketer in question is former SL ace spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who has been allotted more..

Mar 9 (TM) Ministry of Labour is set to conduct a detailed analysis of how the significant losses incurred by the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) occurred, following recent findings by a private research institute. While the ministry is yet to receive detailed information, Ministry of Labour Secretary S.M. Piyatissa stressed the need to first obtain data from the private institution that had released the report on more..

Mar 9 (PMD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake held a highly productive virtual meeting with the Managing Director of the IMF, Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, yesterday (7). The discussion focused on further strengthening the partnership between SL and the IMF as the country successfully reaches the halfway mark of its 48-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement, which commenced in March 2023. During the meeting, Prez expressed his profound appreciation for more..

Mar 9 (NW) Minister of Power, Kumara Jayakody, stated that the wind power project that was to be carried out with the Adani company has not yet been canceled. He made this statement during the first meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Energy of the First Session of the Tenth Parliament, which was held recently (06) at the Parliament under his Chairmanship. During the meeting held, MPs inquired about the said project, Minister Kumara Jayakody further stated that, more..

Mar 9 (DM) Former Chief of Staff of the SL Army, (Rtd) Major General Nanda Mallawaarachchi, has been released on bail by the Colombo Fort Magistrate following an application to effect that there was a possibility of his arrest by the CID in connection with the procurement of sports equipment for the Ministry of Sports in 2014. The defence counsel appearing for Major General Mallawaarachchi informed the court that the CID was attempting to arrest him over more..

Mar 9 (EN) SL women have increasingly faced sexual harassment in public spaces, with Police recording 2,785 cases in 2024, DIG Renuka Jayasundara said. “However, we know that these are not all the incidents [of sexual harassment] that happened in the country because reporting on these kind of cases are low.” The most number of sexual violence was recorded within households. Household related violence was recorded at 1,852 last year, followed by cyber harassment at more..

Mar 9 (ST) Entitlements to current and former politicians including the laws under which they are granted are to undergo a comprehensive assessment under a new Goverrnance Action Plan (GAP) Govt has pledged in its new GAP to conduct a comprehensive assessment of entitlements provided to current and former politicians, including the laws under which they are granted. It has also vowed to adopt regulations requiring these benefits more..

Mar 9 (TM) Tenders for the construction of the second terminal at BIA will close and bids will be opened by the end of March, according to Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Kodithuwakku. The technical bid process is scheduled to open at the end of March, while the commercial bid will follow in May. However, Kodithuwakku informed that the budget for the project was yet to be finalised, as it would be allocated based on a balanced work model. more..

Mar 9 (ST) Attorney General’s Dept is to provide reasons for its decisions recommending the release of suspects arrested over various crimes. Up until now, whenever it has recommended the release of arrested suspects, the Dept has only been issuing letters stating, “Suspect can be released.” No reasons are being given on why the suspects are being released, since the AG’s Dept is not bound to give reasons for its decision. Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, however, more..

Mar 9 (TM) After 25 years since its compilation, the Govt led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is set to discuss the controversial Batalanda Commission Report, a long-contested document detailing human rights abuses and alleged political involvement in torture and extrajudicial killings during the late 1980s and early 1990s, at this week’s Cabinet meeting, according to Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. more..

Mar 10 (DM) Sri Lanka is a country that is in search of the truth. This is because the majority of the islanders are Buddhists. And Buddhists are known to associate themselves with the truth and move away from myth and superstition. But are the majority of the people in this country, who are in search of the truth, wearing their thinking caps all the time? Many who live in America are enduring hard times under the policies and attitude of Prez Donald Trump. America, dubbed as the land of opportunity, more..

Mar 10 (CT) The disappearance of IGP Deshabandu Tennekoon and Sewwandi the woman alleged to have supplied the gun in the murder of an underworld kingpin inside the court premise in Colombo, and similar disappearances previously of high officers in govt service are proof of one indisputable fact in the recent history of SL. They demonstrate how deeply interpenetrated are the crime world and officialdom in the country’s post-JR open economy or so-called Dharmista more..

Mar 10 (CT) Uda Walawa Farmers’ Organisations have lodged a complaint with the SL Human Rights Commission over livelihood concerns and the destruction caused to two lakes, Chandrika Wewa and Kiriibban Wewa, in the Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces last year in the month of June after holding a protest about polluting the tanks. The dispute stems from two pilot floating solar projects launched on March 4, more..

Mar 10 (DM) P. Dayaratne, the former District and Cabinet Minister who represented Ampara (Digamadulla) in Parliament for an uninterrupted 38 years, belonged to a rare and vanishing generation of honourable politicians. His integrity and dedication set him apart in an era where such qualities are increasingly scarce. Among his many recollections, one vivid memory of Damana Vidyalaya stood out. While translating the autobiography of this gentle and dignified politician into English, more..

Mar 10 (ST) The first review of the nearly-new JVP/NPP Govt’s progress on human rights at an int'l forum—the UNHRC in Geneva—took place this week. Having benefitted from a one-year lifeline or roll-over negotiated at the last session of the Council under the previous administration, all SL did was state its familiar lineup of arguments and listen to the UN High Commissioner’s oral update and the SL Core Group (Canada, UK, Malawi, Montenegro, and North Macedonia) make their statement more..

Mar 10 (SO) As SL joined the world in celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8, the woman leading the charge for women’s empowerment in the country, Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj took time to sit with the Sunday Observer and give her views. A former educator with a deep commitment to improving the lives of women and girls, Minister shared her insights into the Govt’s ongoing efforts to more..

Mar 10 (CT) Another International Women’s Day has come and gone in SL, marked by empty speeches, hollow promises, and patronising pats on the back. This year, 22 female MPs occupy a space that has long been male-dominated—a slight step forward, yes, but does it mean we are closer to gender equality? Hardly. Misogyny and sexism continue to plague every aspect of life. Women are still reduced to objects of decoration, their worth defined by appearance, their voices dismissed, more..