News Room : Capacity-building in hotel sector, a crying need – tourism expert – The Island
By Ifham Nizam Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery industry, once a jewel of the nation’s economy, is now at a critical juncture. Against this backdrop, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chaturanga Abeysinghe calls for urgent reforms and collective efforts to restore the industry’s global standing and unlock its untapped potential. Highlighting the challenges, Abeysinghe remarked, “Sri Lanka has lost...
News Room : Moratuwa Sesu SC in six-wicket win
79 Moratuwa Sesu Sports Club (MSSC), led by Minidu Yehen from Thurstan College, scored a comprehensive 6 wickets win over Kingfisher Cricket Academy in the Final of the MCA all-island, Under-15 Inter-Academy 30-Over League Tournament concluded recently at the MCA Grounds. In the play off for the 03rd place, played prior to the Final in one morning, Anoj Fernando Cricket Academy...
News Room : I’m not involved in SJB-UNP power politics: Karu
128 Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has firmly denied any involvement in efforts to unite the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the United National Party (UNP). Jayasuriya has stated that he will not get involved in power politics, reiterating his exclusive commitment to the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) and its mission to foster a fair and progressive Sri Lankan society. In...
News Room : No internal conflicts: SJB – DailyNews
118 Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Secretary and Member of Parliament Ranjith Madduma Bandara stated that there are no internal conflicts within the SJB, despite attempts by certain groups to create the appearance of such disputes. He also said that there have been proposals from party members regarding a potential alliance between the SJB and the United National Party (UNP), and such...
News Room : Motorbike-sized tuna sold to Tokyo sushi restaurateurs for $1.3m
Sushi restaurateurs in Tokyo say they have paid 207m yen ($1.3m; £1m) for a bluefin tuna which is about the size and weight of a motorbike. The sale is the second highest price ever paid at the annual new year auction at Toyosu Fish Market in the Japanese capital. Onodera Group, which had the winning bid, said the tuna – which...
News Room : Babar, Masood fight for Pakistan after South Africa enforce follow-on
Pakistan posted their highest opening stand against South Africa as Shan Masood and Babar Azam put up solid resistance against the hosts on a flat track. Masood went past 30 for the first time in nine innings and went on to score his sixth Test hundred, and the first by a Pakistan captain in South Africa, while Babar, opening...
News Room : Govt. carrying forward same economic transformation agenda – UNP Chairman
131 Former MP and United National Party (UNP) Chairman Vajira Abeywardana said the current Government is implementing the economic transformation laws initiated by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe to the letter. He made these remarks at a media briefing held at the new Democratic Front office in Colombo 7, on Thursday (2). UNP, under the leadership of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, commenced...
News Room : Australia regain Border-Gavaskar Trophy, set up WTC final date against South Africa
Australia regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a silverware that had previously eluded them for a decade, and confirmed their spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final alongside South Africa, after finishing off India inside three days at the SCG. India’s hopes of staying in contention for the WTC final rested on Jasprit Bumrah but without him those faded away. For...
News Room : Austria’s chancellor to quit as coalition talks collapse
Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer says he will resign in the coming days, both as chancellor and party leader, after talks about forming a coalition government collapsed. The chancellor said his party – the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) – and the Social Democrats had failed to agree on key issues. The liberal Neos, another party involved in the talks, also pulled out...
News Room : Sri Lanka invited to bat first in 1st ODI – The Island
Afghanistan dragged themselves to a position of advantage on an attritional third day, with Rahmat Shah’s gritty century, his third in Test cricket, headlining their much improved batting display from their first innings. On the second day where 13 wickets fell, Afghanistan conceded an 86-run first-innings lead to Zimbabwe and lost three wickets before wiping out even half the deficit. But...