Fitch downgrades Sri Lanka’s long-term local-currency IDR to ’CC’

Fitch Ratings - Hong Kong: Fitch Ratings has downgraded Sri Lanka’s Long-Term Local-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ’CC’, from ’CCC’, and has affirmed the Long-Term Foreign-Currency IDR at ’RD’ (Restricted Default). Fitch typically does not assign Outlooks to ratings of ’CCC+’ or below.

Germany knocked out Fifa World Cup; Japan and Spain move to round of 16

Germany crashed out of the Fifa World Cup on a remarkable night of drama despite victory over Costa Rica at Al Bayt Stadium.

Staggering staff expenditure disclosed during Mahinda-Maithri periods

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had used 43 percent of the total expenditure of the Presidential allocation for his personal staff while former President Maithipala Sirisena has used 57 percent, according to accounts released by the office.

Deadline for filing income tax returns extended for another week

The deadline for filing income tax returns has been extended for another week starting from November 30, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe announced in Parliament yesterday.

Hasaranga receives his first demerit point in a 24-month period

Sri Lanka star Wanindu Hasaranga has been reprimanded for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct in the final ODI against Afghanistan.

Fresh inquiry against Chamika Karunaratne?

Sri Lanka all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne could face a fresh inquiry, this time from the Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, after a letter written about the player’s behaviour while on tour with the national team at the T20 World Cup in Australia last month, was leaked publicly.

Will not allow to increase electricity tariffs: PUCSL chairman

The Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Janaka Ratnayake today vowed not to allow an increase in electricity tariffs as cabinet approval is not sufficient to go ahead with that proposal to cover the loss of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB)

23 SL players register for IPL 2023 mini-auction

The IPL Player Registration was closed yesterday (Nov 30) and a total of 991 players including 23 players from Sri Lanka have signed up to be part of the TATA IPL 2023 Player Auction set to take place on 23rd December 2022 in Kochi.

Defence top brass visit KDU hospital

The State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon together with the Defence Secretary and Chairperson of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Board of Management General Kamal Gunaratne made an inspection visit to the University Hospital of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (UH-KDU) situated in Werahera today (Dec 01).

Tuition teacher remanded over sexual abuse of 15 year old girl

A 24-year old science tuitor was remanded for sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl from Pannala.

UNP conducts interviews to select organizers

Interviews are held to select organizers for the UNP at Party headquarters, ’Sirikotha’ today. UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene, General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara, Chairman Vajira Abeywardena, Navin Dissanayake and Lakshman Wijemanne are seen in the picture conducting interviews. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

List system to ensure sufficient women, youth representation in Parliament: President

While stressing that neither the preferential voting system nor a mixed system can ensure sufficient women and youth representation in Parliament, President Ranil Wickremesinghe today proposed a list system to fulfil the need.

Two incl. Russian woman die in train-three wheeler crash

Two persons including a Russian woman died after a three-wheeler crashed against an express train at Dalawella in Habaraduwa this morning.

Mechanism to support teachers with economic constraints to wear sarees: Minister

A mechanism is being prepared to provide some relief to teachers who have financial constrains to spend on sarees to wear for school, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said today.

Women MPs clad in orange sarees to campaign on violence against women

All women MPs were seen clad in orange sarees today to mark the 18 day campaign which is carried out all over the globe on violence against women.

Sri Lankans falling prey to Pyramid racket called Onmaxdt

Many Sri Lankans have fallen prey to a surreptitiously carried out Ponzi Scam run by a purportedly Australian Company Onmaxdt, it is learned.

Edu. Minister assures A/L exam free from power cuts, tariff hikes

Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said today he would look into the possibility of halting proposed eletricity tariff hike and halting power cuts until the Advanced Level Examination is over.

343 SL migrant workers died in Qatar since 2014

A total of 343 Sri Lankan migrant workers have lost their lives in Qatar where they were employed since 2014, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) sources said.

Tourism industry earnings surpass US$ 1bn mark

Sri Lanka crossed the billion dollar milestone in earnings from tourism in October when the country earned US$ 75.6 million from the trade, which is providing a glimmer of hope for the country’s economy beset by acute shortages of foreign currency since the middle of last year.

SL Copper Ceylon Bromley wins best restaurant at Curry Awards in UK

Sri Lankan restaurant Copper Ceylon in Bromley won the Best Restaurant award in the London Suburb category at Monday’s British Curry Awards.

Power cut schedule until tomorrow announced

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) today approved a two hour and 20-minute power cut until tomorrow (2).

15 percent of teacher’s pay spent on saree, study finds

15 per cent of a teacher’s salary is spent on purchasing sarees and related garments to conform with the Education Ministry’s dress code, a study found.

Colombo inflation decelerates to 61% in November amid easing of food prices

The annual headline inflation in Colombo district for November fell for the second consecutive month to 61.0 percent from 66.0 percent in October as food prices eased off, though the prices of services remained rather sticky.

Central Bank to soon begin diagnostic study on banks to identify cracks in asset quality, capital

The Central Bank will soon launch a study to identify the undue cracks in the banking sector asset quality and thereby its spillover effects into banks’ regulatory capital coming from the pandemic, which became more pronounced with the economic crisis.

Mein Schiff 5 becomes first cruise ship to dock at HIP this year

This year’s first cruise ship to dock at HIP was TUI’s Mein Schiff 5, which berthed at 8 a.m. yesterday and left for Pulau Penang Island, Malaysia at 8 p.m.

Listen to people, not just to technocrats to resolve issues in economy

Sri Lanka needs to listen more to what its people are saying, instead of paying heed to only technocrats, said senior economist Prof. Shantha Devarajan. By not paying attention to the call of citizens, the real problems of the national economy will not be solved, he cautioned.

Asalanka, Wellalage help Sri Lanka clinch thriller to level series

Sri Lanka won by 4 wickets against Afghanistan in the third and final ODI at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium to level the series.

200mn from Indian credit line for emergency health sector needs: Keheliya

The US dollars 200 million from the Indian credit line is to be used to fulfill emergency needs of the health sector, Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella told the ministry consultative committee today.

Kelani Valley railway time table to be amended from Dec. 5

There will be an amendment to the train timetable of the Kelani Valley railway line as of December 5, Railways Deputy General Manager (DGM) Gamini Seneviratne said.

No decision to increase electricity tariffs: PUCSL chairman

No decision has been taken for an electricity tariff hike, as news articles circulating regarding cabinet approval are insufficient to cover the loss of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said.