News

SL women’s rugby captain goes missing in S.Korea

Published

1 year ago

November 15, 2022

editor

The South Korean Police has launched an investigation into an incident where the captain of the Sri Lanka women’s rugby team, Dulani Palliyakondage has gone missing following the Asia Rugby Sevens Series.

She is said to have gone missing after the prize-giving ceremony of the tournament yesterday (14). The management of the team has taken steps to make a complaint to the police through the South Korea Rugby Union and it is said that no information has been received until last evening.

The Sri Lankan women’s and men’s rugby teams were scheduled to return to Sri Lanka last night. The South Korean police had informed the Sri Lankan officials that they will continue their efforts to locate her.

Dulani, who played in the women’s final of the Women’s Championship with the Hong Kong team on the last day of the tournament in Namdong, South Korea, joined her team to watch the men’s team between Sri Lanka and the Philippines for the third place. It is also reported that she had talked to the media later on about the team’s defeat and the team’s weaknesses.

The manager had gathered the players to go back to the hotel and she had learned that the team leader was not present at the moment. She had broadcast two messages in Sinhala through the loudspeakers of the stadium asking her to come back to the place where the team was staying.

The manager, who sent the athletes back to the hotel by the team bus about an hour later, has been trying hard to find the missing captain along with the manager of the men’s team, officials of the South Korean Rugby Union and police officers.

The 30-year-old Dulani Palliyakondage, who is an excellent player born in Matara, has represented the national team for almost a decade and has shown outstanding performance in the Asian rugby field.

She has also participated in the rugby tournament of the Commonwealth Games held in England recently.

She has played a great role towards the success of her team in the inter-club rugby field representing the Sri Lanka Army Sports Club.

News

Sri Lanka slips down Press Freedom Index

Published

7 hours ago

May 3, 2024

editor

Reporters Without Borders released the 2024 World Press Freedom Index on Friday (03).

According to RFS, Sri Lanka has slipped to the 150th position in the index, from 135th position last year.

Click here to read the RSF Sri Lanka Fact File

News

Companies should be ashamed of not giving workers a raise – Vadivel Suresh

Published

7 hours ago

May 3, 2024

editor

Mr. Vadivel Suresh, General Secretary of the Lanka Jathika Estate Workers’ Union, emphasized that both the Government and the Plantation Employers’ Association bear the responsibility of providing wage increases to plantation workers. These workers, who play a pivotal role in sustaining the esteemed reputation of ‘Ceylon Tea’, contribute significantly to the national economy of Sri Lanka.

MP Vadivel Suresh, made this statement during his participation in today’s (03) news conference at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC), under the theme ‘Collective path to a Stable Country’.

The Member of Parliament noted that plantation companies, benefiting significantly from the fluctuating dollar value, ought to feel ashamed for not providing their workers with a salary raise. He emphasized that the salary increase outlined in the gazette notice issued by the Labour Commissioner General for plantation workers should be implemented.

MP Vadivel Suresh further commented:

“We express gratitude to the President and the government for raising the salary of plantation workers to LKR. 1700. However, the Plantation Employers’ Association is contesting this decision.

The estate companies that profited greatly from the dollar’s value should be ashamed of themselves for not giving their workers a raise. Expressing opposition to the decision to increase wages for their workers, who contribute significantly to strengthening the national economy by upholding the reputation of Ceylon Tea, is regrettable. The decision to raise estate workers’ wages was not made hastily; rather, it followed extensive negotiations over the course of a year involving the Department of Labour, trade unions, and relevant stakeholders.

Employers’ unions persistently refrained from engaging in wage-fixing negotiations. Similarly, they remained silent when a salary increase of LKR 1000 was requested. However, the Labour Commissioner General, utilizing his authority, lawfully issued a gazette notice for a salary hike of LKR 1700. It is unjust for estate companies to procrastinate without providing relief to the workforce amidst fluctuations in the dollar’s value.

Both the government and the plantation Employers’ Association bear responsibility in this matter. Consequently, companies cannot contravene government decisions. Estate companies claim they are in dialogue with the high-level committee for the ultimate verdict. However, all 22 estate companies are owned by five individuals. These owners are involved not only in tea plantations but also in sectors such as tourism, small-scale manufacturing, agriculture, and gems. Additionally, plantation workers and trade unions must unite in support of this wage increase.

(President’s Media Division)

Gazette issued to up estate workers’ daily wage

Unable to increase daily wage – Plantation owners

News

CID records another statement from Maithri

Published

8 hours ago

May 3, 2024

editor

Former President Maithripala Sirisena has appeared before the Criminal Investigations Department today (May 03) to record another statement regarding the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

The CID had previously obtained a five-hour-long statement from the former President on March 25 over a statement he had made a few days earlier.