Author: Buzzer Editorial

The Excise Department’s recent request for liquor companies to lower their prices has sparked significant backlash, with health professionals condemning the move as an encouragement of alcohol consumption.Speaking on the move, Dr. Sampath De Seram, Executive Director of the Alcohol & Drug Information Center (ADIC) in Sri Lanka, stated “The role of the Excise Commissioner should focus on recovering the arrears owed to the government, not on increasing alcohol consumption by asking companies to lower prices.”Further, Dr. De Seram revealed that the Excise department has not collected billions of rupees in arrears from alcohol companies.”As of June 30, 2024, the…

The 94th Battle of the Maroons between Ananda College and NalandaCollege was held at the SSC ground in Colombo on March 2nd and 3rd, ending in a draw.Subsequently, the “Maroons Salutation” event was organized on August 6th at the Eagles Ballroom of Waters Edge Hotel, Battaramulla. This event aimed to fund the Sports Development Funds of both schools and to felicitate and appreciate all the sponsors of the 94th Battle of the Maroons. During this program, organized by the Joint Organizing Committee of Battle of the Maroons, 30 million rupees were donated for the development of sports at Ananda & Nalanda College. This historic donation marks the first time such a significant amount has been given…

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.A. Sumanthiran believes the common candidate idea is a very bad one as it will make the Tamil cause weak.Taking to ‘X’, MP Sumanthiran said this was not an election one could use to send a message on Tamil issues.“This is not a referendum on the right of self-determination,” he further said.Meanwhile, in a recent televised interview, MP Sumanthiran revealed that the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) believed that a common Tamil presidential candidate was destined to fail.Stating that the common Tamil candidate will fare very badly in the upcoming elections, MP Sumanthiran said “This…

Former Member of Parliament P. Ariyanethran has been nominated as the Tamil Common Candidate for the upcoming presidential election in Sri Lanka.Ariyanethran was nominated by the ‘Tamil National Common Structure’, an alliance of Tamil political parties. The nomination comes after several Tamil political parties and civil organizations in Jaffna reached an agreement to field a common Tamil candidate for the upcoming Presidential Election. In July, an agreement in this regard was reached between Tamil People’s Alliance led by MP C.V. Wigneswaran, Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) led by MP Selvam Adaikkalanathan, People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) led by MP Dharmalingam…

Minister of Irrigation and Wildlife Conservation Pavithra Wanniarachchi has pledged her support for President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the upcoming Presidential Election.Issuing a statement today, Minister Wanniarachchi said she will extend her support for President Wickremesinghe while remaining in the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).Minister Wanniarachchi further said she had taken the decision on the demand of a majority of SLPP members from the Ratnapura District.

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has confirmed the death sentences imposed on former DIG Vass Gunawardena and five other accused over the abduction and murder of businessman Mohamed Siyam in 2013.The death sentences issued to former DIG Vass Gunawardena, his son, and four other accused by the three-judge bench of the Colombo High Court were confirmed by the Supreme Court today. The five-judge bench of the Supreme Court confirmed the death sentences after dismissing the appeals made by the accused requesting to be released from the case. The accused include former DIG Vass Gunawardena, his son, a Senior Police Inspector, and…

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has charged Sri Lanka player Praveen Jayawickrama with three counts of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.Jayawickrama has been charged with the following offences under the Code:Article 2.4.4 – Failing to report to the Anti-Corruption Unit, without unnecessary delay, details of an approach he received to carry out fixing in future International Matches.Article 2.4.4 –Failing to report to the Anti-Corruption Unit, without unnecessary delay, details of an approach he received in which he was asked to approach another player, on a corrupter’s behalf, to carry out fixing in the 2021 Lanka Premier League.Article 2.4.7 – Obstructing…

A routine police check escalated into a fatal confrontation on the Kotugoda – Seeduwa Main Road. A police officer’s duty firearm was discharged during a scuffle with individuals in a vehicle, leading to the death of a civilian.The incident occurred near the temporary police checkpoint at Kotugoda Maskade junction, where officers were inspecting vehicles. As they approached a car traveling from Seeduwa towards Kotugoda, the situation rapidly deteriorated. The occupants of the car reportedly attemped to seize control of the officer’s firearm, which subsequently went off.News 1st correspondent reports that one of the car’s passengers sustained critical injuries from the gunshot and…

The Sri Lanka cricket team will start their one-month-long tour when they meet New Zealand in their first Test of the two-match series which will commence today at Hagley Oval grounds at Christchurch.Sri Lanka have won only two of their 19 Tests in New Zealand. Since their last win in 2006, they have lost five of their six Tests in the country. If Sri Lanka win the series 2-0, they give themselves a chance of making it into the World Test Championship final. But even then, India would have won or drawn their last Test against Australia for Sri Lanka…

President Ranil Wickremesinghe participated in International Women’s Day, where he presented awards to women for their achievements. The President said it was women who had played a vital role in securing assistance, as some institutions such as the IMF are headed by women today. Rashmi Nimesha Gunawardena was given a presidential award after getting three ’A’ passes in the 2021 A-level examination.Source – https://www.dailymirror.lk/Pix – Pradeep Pathirana