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...
News Room : Vehicle revenue permits could be obtained from home commencing October 7th – The Island
The tribute ceremony for senior journalist Edmund Ranasinghe, the founding editor and editorial director of the ‘Divaina’ newspaper and one of Sri Lanka’s most esteemed journalists, is scheduled for tomorrow (03rd October) at 3:00 pm at the Presidential Secretariat. President Ranil Wickremesinghe will preside over this event, which marks the initiation of a program conceptualized by the President to...
News Room : It’s the economy, again – The Island
by SALIYA WEERAKOONand Prof. ALEX LIN CHEE LOK In 1914, Cambridge-educated D. R Wijewardena, arguably one of the most recognised entrepreneurs in the country, bought the Sinhala daily Dinamina. History also records that he purchased the English daily, Ceylon Daily News, in 1917. Consequently, Wijewardena is known as the press baron of the pre-independence of Ceylon. He fought for Independence from the colonial...
News Room : Landslide Early Warnings issued to Galle, Hambantota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Matale, Matara and Ratnapura Districts
The Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation has extended the land slide early warnings issued to the Districts of Galle, Hambantota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Matara and Ratnapura and issued a new warning to the District of Matale. Accordingly, Level II land slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of...
News Room : China pledges steadfast support to Sri Lanka – The Island
China will continue to firmly support Sri Lanka in pursuing a development path that suits its own national conditions, getting rid of the “poverty trap” and the “trap of non-development”, and safeguarding its independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and national dignity, Ambassador Qi Zhenhong said at the 74th National Day Reception of the People’s Republic of China on Thursday. Given below...
News Room : Harry Potter actor Sir Michael Gambon dies aged 82
The actor Sir Michael Gambon has died aged 82, his family has said. He was best known for playing Professor Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight Harry Potter films. The Dublin-born star worked in TV, film, theatre and radio over his six-decade career. He won four Baftas. His widow Lady Gambon and son Fergus said their “beloved husband and father” died...
News Room : Rain wrecks game after Ben Duckett’s maiden ODI ton – The Island
England claimed a 1-0 ODI series win against Ireland in farcical circumstances after the third ODI at Bristol was abandoned 31 overs into the first innings due to rain, with water also getting onto the pitch. England had reached 280 for 4, with Ben Duckett striking a maiden ODI ton to build on a fast start by Phil Salt, who...