Author: Buzzer Editorial

Sri Lanka’s economy has stabilized, with growth expected to reach 4.4 percent in 2024, surpassing earlier forecasts. This positive outlook follows four consecutive quarters of growth driven by the industrial and tourism sectors and supported by critical structural and policy reforms, says the World Bank.Released today, the World Bank’s bi-annual Sri Lanka Development Update, titled Opening Up to the Future, cautions that the recovery remains fragile and hinges on maintaining macroeconomic stability, successfully restructuring debt, and continuing structural reforms to increase medium-term growth and reduce poverty. Key reforms aimed at boosting exports, attracting foreign investment, enhancing female labor force participation,…

Ratan Tata, the former Tata Group chairman who put a staid and sprawling Indian conglomerate on the global stage with a string of high-profile acquisitions, has died, the Tata Group said in a statement late on Wednesday. He was 86.Tata, who ran the conglomerate for more than 20 years as chairman, had been undergoing intensive care in a Mumbai hospital, two sources with direct knowledge of his medical situation told Reuters earlier on Wednesday.After graduating with a degree in architecture at Cornell University, he returned to India and in 1962 began working for the group his great-grandfather had founded nearly…

Hon President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces on the recommendation of the Ministry of Defence and Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Army, has promoted a total of 139 Officers of the Sri Lanka Army (Regular Force and Volunteer Force) and 1273 Other Ranks of the Army (Regular Force and Volunteer Force) to their respective next rank attaching symbolic significance to the 75th Army Anniversary Day (October 10).Accordingly, Lieutenants to the rank of Captain (Including Quarter Masters) 131 and Second Lieutenants to the rank of Lieutenant (Regular Force & Volunteer Force) 08 have been thus promoted…

His Excellency, Most Reverend Dr. Brian Udaigwe, the Vatican Ambassador to Sri Lanka, met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (09).During the meeting, the Vatican Ambassador congratulated President Dissanayake on his recent election victory, conveying heartfelt greetings from His Holiness Pope Francis, the Head of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of the Vatican City State. Ambassador Udaigwe also extended best wishes for the continued success and prosperity of Sri Lanka under the new President’s leadership.In his remarks, Dr. Udaigwe expressed optimism about Sri Lanka’s future, stating that positive developments were forthcoming in line with the…

The United Democratic Voice, the political party of actor-turned-politician Ranjan Ramanayake was officially launched in Colombo today.The party was launched with the unveiling of its manifesto for the upcoming Parliamentary Election, which it will contest under the mic symbol.At the launch, it was also announced that former Sri Lankan cricketer Tilakratne Dilshan and former MP Vadivel Suresh will contest the General Election from the United Democratic Voice.Tilakratne Dilshan has also been appointed as the United Democratic Voice’s national organiser.

In line with the forthcoming 75th Army Anniversary (10 October) a solemn ceremony was held on 7th October 2024 at the Battaramulla War Heroes’ Monument (Ranaviru Smarakaya) to pay tribute to the heroic sacrifices of the nation’s fallen War Heroes.The Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, presided over the ceremony as the Chief Guest, lending a significant sense of respect and prominence to the occasion. The event commenced with singing the National Anthem, followed by a two-minute silence observed in honour of the nation’s fallen patriots.Thereafter, the Chief Guest, accompanied by several Senior Officers, proceeded…

Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Response Team (SL CERT) has reported a significant rise in complaints related to online financial fraud in 2024. According to SL CERT’s Senior Information Engineer Charuka Damunupola, over 340 complaints involving financial scams have been received so far this year.“Up to September, we’ve received 7,210 complaints regarding online scams, with the majority of these linked to social media platforms. When we focus specifically on online-based fraud, around 20% of the complaints involve financial scams. This highlights a growing trend of internet fraud targeting online banking users,” Damunupola stated. He further explained that many victims fall prey to scams…

Police have arrested 20 Chinese nationals who were staying at a hotel in the Gorakana area of Panadura without valid visas. The arrest has been made following a tip-off received from the officers of the Western Province Intelligence Division.The officers of Panadura Special Crimes Unit who carried out a raid in the hotel have discovered the group of Chinese nationals staying at the hotel on a monthly rent of Rs. 2 million.During the raid, the police have also seized a significant number of electronic devices, including 5 laptops, 437 mobile phones, 332 USB cables, 133 mobile phone chargers, 21 USB…

The Meteorology Department say showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.Showers or thundershowers will occur elsewhere at several places in the island during the afternoon or night.Fairly heavy showers above 75mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, Uva and Eastern provinces and in Galle and Matara districts, it said. The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

The deadline for accepting applications for postal voting in the 2024 General Election has been extended till October 10 midnight.The Elections Commissioner General said that this decision was made in consideration of the possible postal delays and several requests made by the public to the commission.