In a significant move towards unlocking the potential of its vast maritime resources, Sri Lanka is renewing its focus on marine research and fostering international collaborations, aiming to bolster the nation’s blue economy, a report published by the World University News said yesterday. It said Rear Admiral YN Jayarathna (retired), former chief of staff and […]

* Lankan universities have been running with no more than 60 percent of the cadre of teachers approved for them and now perhaps less. * Upper secondary schools are run with no teachers for mathematics, physics and information technology. * University teachers are emigrating in droves, driven away into uncertain lives in other countries. *In […]

A sum of Rs. 3,000 billion has been allocated by the 2024 budget for the implementation of foreign debt restructuring and settlement of International Sovereign Bonds. Under the debt restructuring supported by the International Monetary Fund, Sri Lanka’s public debt as a percentage of GDP is expected to be reduced from 128 percent in 2022 […]

In the budgetary allocations for the fiscal year of 2024, the Sri Lankan government has earmarked Rs. 3 billion for the implementation of foreign debt restructuring and settlement of international sovereign bonds under foreign debt restructuring.

A financial allocation of Rs. 02 billion will be made for the basic activities of the construction of Hingurakgoda International Airport, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said, while presenting the 2024 budget to the Parliament today (13).

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the latest cricketing icons that are to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame as the Class of 2023.

Sri Lanka is likely to raise taxes and curb spending in its annual budget to meet the International Monetary Fund s conditions and maintain a $3 billion bailout, but elections next year might see the government delay some reforms.

Former Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard has been found guilty of four counts of sexual assault, a court in Toronto has said. Nygard, 82, was on trial in the Ontario Superior Court for five counts of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement, charges linked to incidents between 1988 and 2005. The charges involved […]

Monday 13rd November, 2023 Anyone’s death diminishes us. However, with apologies to Donne, we are diminished beyond measure when the veterans of the fourth estate depart. On Saturday (11), former editor of The Island Gamini Weerakoon crossed the Great Divide. His funeral took place yesterday. Our readers may recall the pivotal role he played in […]

The National Peace Council (NPC) has expressed concerns about certain aspects of the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) Bill. The NPC has in a media statement said that it is concerned about the role given to ONUR to be prescriptive vis a vis civil society by virtue of the power “to guide and facilitate peace […]

The SJB said on Saturday that the International Cricket Council (ICC) would not have suspended Sri Lanka’s membership if the Interim Committee appointed by the Sports Minister had been allowed to function. Addressing the media in Colombo, Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella said the ICC had not suspended the membership of […]

The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka has expressed its profound sorrow at the passing away of one of its founding members, Mr. Gamini Weerakoon, whose funeral took place in Colombo yesterday. Mr. Weerakoon was the former Editor of The Island and the Sunday Island.He joined Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd., as a parliamentary reporter in […]

World Cup-winning former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga, expressing his views regarding the suspension imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), has called for a comprehensive investigation into the matter.

A Maldivian national in possession of a revolver has been taken into custody at the departure lounge of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake last night (11), police said.

ECONOMYNEXT –Chair of Sri Lanka Cricket’s selection committee Pramodya Wickramasinghe has implied the existence of a conspiracy behind Sri Lanka’s less than spectacular performance at the Cricket World Cup. The beleaguered cricket team along with officials returned to the island Friday November 10 morning and, amid tight security, spoke to reporters at the Bandaranaike International […]

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced on Friday the appointment of Ruvendrini Menikdiwela of Sri Lanka as Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Ms. Menikdiwela will succeed Gillian Triggs of Australia, to whom both the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Refugees are grateful for her [̷...

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on Thursday approved $150 million in financing for Sri Lanka to strengthen the resilience of the financial sector. “Sri Lanka’s economic crisis highlights the need for strong safety nets to support the financial sector. Stable and reliable banking sector is essential for the economy, businesses and individuals, small […]

by Rex Clementine The Cricket administration headed by Shammi Silva is getting roasted these days for the mess they have created and the humiliations the national cricket team has suffered. Together with them the national selection committee and Consultant Coach Mahela Jayawardene, who had a free hand to put cricket right, deserve blame for his […]

There are more layers to the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) than are visible. On the surface, the International Cricket Council (ICC) decision, taken after an emergent board meeting, seems beneficial to the body it has suspended. Shammi Silva, the elected president of the SLC, is not exactly a persona non grata after the […]