Author: TELO Admin

Referring to the recent judgment given by the Supreme Court where former Presidents Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Mahinda Rajapaksa former Minister Basil Rajapaksa and others were held responsible for the economic crisis, President Ranil Wickremesinghe today said one has to look into whether others are also responsible for the economic debacle and have engaged in a breach of public trust.

“One must note that even the opposition has engaged in a breach of trust. It is the duty of the main opposition to take over the government once those in the existing government resign. However, the current leader of the opposition and the main opposition had engaged in a breach of public trust by failing to form a new government in 2022. We can also probe these matters,” he said.

He also referred to an error in the court case number in the question submitted by Opposition Leader MP Sajith Premadasa. “The number of cases which the Opposition Leader referred to a case in Trinomalee,” he said in a lighter vein.

Mr. Premadasa said error in the case number was not a major issue and accused the President of dodging his question.

SLPP MP Gevindu Kumaratunga who spoke later said the President should not have taken a question with regard to the economic crisis in a lighter vein. ‘ President should not have come up with dirty jokes,” he said.

The International Monetary Fund will present its staff report on Sri Lanka to the Executive Board an official said amidst strong expectations in the island about an early December date for the review of its program.

A date for the staff report to be presented to the Executive Board can be announced once Sri Lanka has implemented “all prior actions that have been agreed” and financing assurance reviews have been completed, Senior Mission Chief Peter Breuer said.

The review “includes confirming whether adequate progress has been made with debt restructuring to give confidence [to the IMF’s Board] that the restructuring will be concluded in a timely manner and in line with the program’s debt targets,” he said.

State Minister for Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya told reporters Tuesday that IMF may consider Sri Lanka’s review on December 06.

The IMF was awaiting a debt restructuring deal from the Paris Club and India, after China gave the first proposal to re-schedule debt.

On November 21, Sri Lanka’s parliament passed a budget, which analysts say was likely to have been a prior action.

Switzerland has raised concerns over the death of a youth in Sri Lankan Police custody.

Ambassador Siri Walt posted a message on X saying Switzerland is deeply concerned about the death of the youth.

She also said that any case of alleged custodial mistreatment should be impartially investigated by the Sri Lankan authorities.

“Switzerland is deeply concerned about the death of a youth after he was in police custody. Any case of alleged custodial mistreatment should be impartially investigated by the Sri Lakan authorities,” Ambassador Siri Walt said.

Siri Walt assumed duties recently as the Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka.

In a stunning display of athleticism and perseverance, 71-year-old Akila Thirunayaki, a resident of Mullaitivu’s Mulliyavalai village, has secured two gold medals and a bronze medal at the Masters Athletics Championships held in the Philippines.

Representing Sri Lanka on the international stage, Thirunayaki dominated the competition, claiming the top spot in both the 1,500 and 5,000 meter races, showcasing her exceptional endurance and speed. Additionally, she secured a well-deserved bronze medal in the 800 meter race, highlighting her versatility in various track events.

Thirunayaki’s journey to success is even more remarkable considering her fourth-place finish in the fiercely competitive 400 meter race. Her outstanding performance across multiple events has earned her accolades not just from her local community but also from the broader athletic community in Sri Lanka.

A retired prison officer, Thirunayaki’s dedication to athletics has not waned with age. Her achievement serves as an inspiration to individuals of all ages, proving that passion and determination can overcome any barriers, including age.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe says that the Presidential Election and the Parliamentary Election will both be held next year and that neither of the elections will be postponed.

He stated this while delivering a special statement in the Parliament today (22) regarding several matters including the existing cricket crisis.

“We have established democracy in this country. So, now how can you say that we are afraid of an election? We will hold the elections. The Presidential Election and the Parliamentary Election will both be held next year. None of them will be postponed.”

“The year after that, we can hold the Provincial Council and Local Government elections all that. There is no problem,” he said.

Meanwhile the State Minister for Plantations, Enterprise Reforms and Finance, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, had announced that a dedicated allocation of Rs. 10 billion has been reserved for potential future elections.

This provision, while not explicitly outlined in the budget proposals, has been included in the estimates, he said during a press briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) on Tuesday (21).

Magzter, the World’s largest digital newsstand (www.magzter.com), is set to revolutionize the airport passenger experience in Sri Lanka, by transforming the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake and the Jaffna International Airport into Smart Reading Airports.

Issuing a statement, the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL) said the Bandaranaike International Airport and Jaffna International Airport are to become the first Smart Reading Airports in South Asia, offering passengers a cutting-edge, fully contactless and paperless digital reading experience of their favourite magazines and newspapers while they are at the airport.

Magzter’s partnership with the AASL enables passengers to access a diverse collection of over 8,000 leading magazines, newspapers, journals and comics for free while they are in the airport. Passengers can download the Magzter app from the Apple Store or Google Play to get free unlimited reading access within these geo-fenced zones, eliminating the need for a subscription. When they are at the airport, they can open the Magzter app, go to “SRZ” tab, grant location permission for the app and get free unlimited reading access.

Since air passengers usually wait for a considerable amount of time at the gate before boarding their flights, they are always on the lookout for interesting ways to spend their wait time productively. This innovative initiative is sure to enhance the passenger experience by providing access to thousands of popular magazines and newspapers spanning over 40 categories, including automotive, business, comics, entertainment, fashion, health, lifestyle, news, politics, science, sports, technology and travel. Passengers can also download their favourite titles while at the airport and access them offline during the flight.

While Magzter’s extensive catalogue features several regional Sri Lankan favourites like Business Today, Lanka Woman, Explore Sri Lanka, Sirikatha, Lankadeepa, Divaina, Daily Mirror and The Island, it also provides an exciting array of content for travellers from key tourist-inflow countries to Sri Lanka, including India, UK, USA, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Some of the best-selling global titles available on Magzter include Time magazine, Newsweek, Car & Driver, India Today, Filmfare, Business Standard, Hello!, T3, The Guardian, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Vogue, GQ, Her World, Forbes and Bangkok Post among 1000s of others.

By encouraging millions of people to read digitally across the globe, Magzter has so far saved tens of thousands of trees and other natural resources, thereby playing an active role in fostering the “Go Green” initiative. This partnership marks a significant step forward in the digital reading revolution, aligning with Magzter’s commitment to providing a touch-free and eco-friendly reading experience. As Magzter continues to expand its global footprint, the Smart Reading Airport concept is set to redefine the travel experience for millions of passengers around the world.

“When the aviation industry is concerned, there are a lot of new advancements taking place in the world. Digitalization of airports to provide an enhanced passenger experience is a key factor that we are concerned about. While we focus our attention aggressively on digitalization processes, enhancing the passenger experience through other possible avenues is always considered by us. I am very much delighted to see that our airports are partnered with global service providers and enable our passengers to experience such smart reading opportunities while they are on the move,” Nimal Siripala De Silva, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation said.

“We as the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited are very much pleased to introduce smart reading zones at our main gateway, Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in collaboration with Magzter Inc. This will enhance the passenger experience at our airport enabling the travellers to access over 8000 magazines and newspapers worldwide of their choice. Further, we are launching this service at Jaffna International Airport as well,” said Major General (Rtd.) G.A. Chandrasiri, Chairman of the AASL.

“We are excited to establish South Asia’s first Smart Reading Airports, setting a new standard for the region. Bandaranaike International Airport and Jaffna International Airport are at the forefront of embracing digital innovation, and we are proud to be their partner in providing an engaging and touch-free reading experience for travellers,” said Girish Ramdas, CEO of Magzter Inc.

“As we continue to expand our Smart Reading Zones® globally, we are thrilled to partner with Bandaranaike International Airport and Jaffna International Airport in Sri Lanka. Our goal is to enhance the travel experience by providing passengers with access to a vast array of digital publications, catering to their diverse interests,” said Vijay Radhakrishnan, President of Magzter Inc.