News Room : Government has taken significant steps to combat gender-based violence and enhance social welfare – State Minister – The Island
By Shamindra Ferdinando The Opposition is agreeable for the abolition of the executive presidency if parliamentary election could be held instead, top Opposition spokesperson Prof. G.L. Pieris said. The former External Affairs Minister mentioned this when The Island asked whether the rebel SLPP group, styled as Nidahas Janatha Sabhawa, would seek a consensus with Opposition parties in that regard. The presidential election...
News Room : Colombo YMBA Buddhist Panel discussion in English
The next Buddhist Panel Discussion in English of the Colombo YMBA will be held on Sunday (15) from 9.30 am to 11.05 am in the Conference Room of the Association at the Third Floor of its Borella Building. Facility available to participate via Zoom. Subject – “LOOKING VS SEEING, THE BUDDHIST: PERSPECTIVE The Panelists are Ven. Dhammakusala Thera and Retired Accountant...
News Room : JVP Leader nails govt. on ETF, EPF balances – The Island
By Shamindra Ferdinando Former Auditor General Gamini Wijesinghe yesterday (06) said that the weakening of the National Audit Bill, before Parliament endorsed the new law in early July 2018, too, had contributed to the collapse of the national economy. Alleging that the then Sirisena-Wickremesinghe coalition and influential public servants sabotaged their efforts to introduce a new law that could have...
News Room : Rains expected to subside from today – The Island
By Shamindra Ferdinando Former Auditor General Gamini Wijesinghe yesterday (06) said that the weakening of the National Audit Bill, before Parliament endorsed the new law in early July 2018, too, had contributed to the collapse of the national economy. Alleging that the then Sirisena-Wickremesinghe coalition and influential public servants sabotaged their efforts to introduce a new law that could have...
News Room : Iranian woman jailed for rights work wins Nobel Peace prize
Imprisoned Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi has won the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize. Announcing the decision, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said Ms Mohammadi, 51, was honoured for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran. Her struggle has come at a “tremendous personal cost”, committee chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen said. Ms Mohammadi is currently serving a 10-year jail term in...
News Room : Trump seeks to dismiss election interference charges
Ex-President Donald Trump has asked a federal court to dismiss the election interference case against him, arguing his role entitled him to “absolute immunity”. Mr Trump’s lawyers say his attempts to cast doubt on the 2020 election fell within his duties as president and are not subject to criminal prosecution. The claims were “at the heart of his official responsibilities”, they...
News Room : CBSL Governor sees good progress in negotiations with China on debt restructuring – The Island
By Saman Indrajith The Budget 2024 process commenced yesterday with the government presenting the Appropriation Bill to Parliament. Pojected expenditure estimate amounts to 3.8 trillion rupees for the next financial year.The bill presented by Leader of the House Education Minister Susil Premajayantha has estimated the total government expenditure for 2024 at Rs 3,860,846,788,000. The bill has allocated Rs 6,601,150,000 for the...
News Room : WB predicts Lanka’s poverty will increase to 28% in 2023 from 25% recorded last year – The Island
The World Bank predicts that Sri Lanka’s poverty will increase to 27.9 percent in 2023 from 25 percent in 2022 as the country continues to suffer from the most extreme deployment of ‘macro-economic policy’ in the history of its central bank. The World Bank in a report titled ‘Sri Lanka Development Update: Mobilizing Tax Revenue for a Brighter Future’ said:...
News Room : US congressman carjacked at gunpoint in Washington DC
US congressman Henry Cuellar was held up at gunpoint while his car was stolen in Washington on Monday evening, according to local media reports. Cuellar, a Republican from Texas, was reportedly parking about a mile (1.6km) from the US Capitol when he was approached by three armed people. He was unharmed and his vehicle was later recovered. US Capitol Police said...
News Room : LPBOA demands bus fare hike – The Island
By Shamindra Ferdinando Top Opposition spokesperson Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday (02) said that the government should take full responsibility for the suspension of USD 2.9 bn IMF bailout over Sri Lanka’s failure to achieve the anticipated revenue mobilisation. The former External Affairs Minister found fault with the government for tax concessions granted to investors and the failure on its part...