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Govt. ramps-up visa process to boost tourist arrivals

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Govt. ramps-up visa process to boost tourist arrivals SLTPB to kick off 3 road shows in India next month By Charumini de Silva Ahead of the much-awaited tourism roadshows in India, the Government has ramped-up the visa processes to boost arrivals thereby enable a faster recovery of the triple-hit leisure industry. The Tourism Ministry yesterday announced that the Cabinet of Ministers has approved a host of measures to extend longer visa visas.  As per the Tourism Ministry, it has been decided to permit tourist visas for up to 180 days…

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Tamil Parties Must Urge Full Implementation of 13A

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Tamil Parties Must Urge Full Implementation of 13A D. B. S. Jeyaraj Last week’s article was about the guerilla war fought by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) against the Indian Army in the Trincomalee district. The JVP campaign in Trinco was then led by Kumar Gunaratnam alias “Gemunu”. Gunaratnam later split from the JVP and co-founded the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP). Kumar Gunaratnam alias Kumar/Kumara is currently the leader and general secretary of the FSP.  This week’s article focuses on the Indo-Lanka accord. It was in the aftermath of the…

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Occupy Galle Face ‘aragalaya’ no more

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Occupy Galle Face ‘aragalaya’ no more RanilGoGama’ activists vacate site; pledge to continue fight against Ranil, emergency law/PTA, Executive Presidency  Alleges theft of most tents put up at the location, ‘GotaGoGama’ library taken to Panadura temple   Protestors withdraw writs filed in Court of Appeal seeking prevention of removal of site  BY Dinitha Rathnayake  Protestors of the “aragalaya” (struggle) attached to the “RanilGoGama”, formerly “GotaGoGama”, at the Galle Face – whose protest site at the Galle Face Green was vandalised on multiple occasions, and whose activism led to the resignation of…

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Constitutional amendment: No one can oppose 22A now: Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe

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Constitutional amendment: No one can oppose 22A now: Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe 22nd Amendment will be 19th Amendment Plus and more Ministry of Defence cannot be alienated from President Elections possible only when environment is right SOE was declared unwillingly and will not be kept for long New COPE, COPA members can continue work they were doing Differentiating peaceful protesters from violent elements a struggle Disagree with allegations of double standards in application of law By Asiri Fernando The Government is confident that it can muster adequate support to pass the…

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President puts onus on IMF deal to all parties, MPs

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President puts onus on IMF deal to all parties, MPs Opines program with IMF is the only solution whether people like it or not Recalls when negotiating with IMF, one of the biggest issues is “Government changes and the policies change” Says issue is not the substance but are we prepared to standby and to support IMF agreement Says Parliament could discuss any alternatives and make final decision Warns if MPs not prepared collectively then Parliament must take responsibility for consequences Insists MPs cannot say we are for half and…

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Net cast at Sri Lankans coming home to lift tourist numbers

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Net cast at Sri Lankans coming home to lift tourist numbers By Nadia Fazlulhaq   Tamil Hindu devotees take part in the Ther Festival (Chariot Festival) at the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil (Nallur Temple) in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, on August 21, 2017. Hundreds of thousands of Tamil Hindu devotees from across the globe attended this festival. (Photo by Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images)[/caption] Indian visitors and the Sri Lankan diaspora will be the target segments next month to help revive tourism. Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Chalaka Gajabahu said…

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President calls for new economic model

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President calls for new economic model  (Financil Times 6th Aug) President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday declared that there can be no reliance on old economic models any longer and there should be innovative thinking, while paying prompt attention to the global changes.  The President made these remarks delivering the keynote address at the inauguration of the two-day “Let’s reset Sri Lanka” forum organised by the Advocata Institute.  President Wickremesinghe pointed out that whether the International Monetary Fund (IMF) proposal is good or bad, whether anyone likes it or not, it should…

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CWG 2022: Sri Lanka’s Nethmi Poruthotage wins bronze in wrestling

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CWG 2022: Sri Lanka’s Nethmi Poruthotage wins bronze in wrestling Sri Lankan wrestler Nethmi Poruthotage today (Aug 05) won a bronze medal in the women’s 57kg freestyle wrestling event at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. Earlier today, she was defeated by India’s Anshu Malik in the semi-final stage via technical superiority (without any point scored by the opponent). However, in the bronze medal match, the 18-year-old successfully secured victory over Australia’s Irene Symeonidis by technical superiority. This is the fourth medal bagged by Sri Lanka’s contingent at Commonweal Games.…

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Pro-’Aragalaya’ Scottish woman being probed, passport confiscated

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Pro-’Aragalaya’ Scottish woman being probed, passport confiscated Accused of defaming SL internationally Aragalaya priest Fr. Jeewantha files FR YouTuber Ratta granted bail IUSF alleges ‘white van’ abduction First man to storm Secretariat remanded (BY Ruwani Fonseka and Dinitha Rathnayake – The Morning) The Sri Lanka Police has launched an investigation into a Scottish woman who was residing in Sri Lanka, named Kayleigh Fraser and better known by her social media name Kayz Fraser, for being actively involved in the “aragalaya” movement centred around Galle Face, through which she has allegedly brought disrepute…

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Constitutional reform and economic downturn

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Constitutional reform and economic downturn Media reports say that the draft 22nd Amendment (21st Amendment if enacted) is to be debated in the Cabinet today. They also claim that the current draft is different from the 22nd Amendment prepared under the instructions of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Interestingly, both drafts were prepared by the same Justice Minister and he who justified the earlier draft will also explain the basis for the new draft as well. It is ironic that the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government that enacted the 20th Amendment in October…

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