Apr 20 (FT) On 4 Jan, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the President to take necessary steps to publish the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill on the Government gazette and submit same to the parliament. Accordingly, the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill was drafted by the legal draftsman to provide the necessary legal provisions for the said Commission. In 2010, the development of Port City was proposed by China Communications Constructions Company (CCCC) to reclaim more..

Apr 20 (FT) The original Colombo Port City project is acknowledged as the germination of an inspiration grown in the heart of former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa, during the early period of his second term of office. Basically the project is to reclaim a part of the sea surrounding the southern part of the Colombo Harbour facing the Galle Face Green area. This concept advanced into an unsolicited proposal by the company that was engaged in the contract for land fill associated with more..

Apr 20 (FT) On the instructions of Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa and PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, State Minister of Finance Ajith Nivard Cabraal yesterday visited the Asgiriya Chapter, the Malwathu Chapter and the Chief Prelates of the Amarapura and Ramanna Maha Nikayas and briefed them on the relevant Draft Commission Bill on the Port City Project. Cabinet Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, Minister of State Lohan Ratwatte, more..

Apr 20 (FT) Total of 309 persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday and the country’s total patient count has increased to 97,105. The patients detected include 282 associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster and nine persons linked to the Prisons cluster. Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, and Prisons clusters have expanded to 91,634. SL’s total COVID-19 patient count also includes 3,272 SL arrivals from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons linked to Kandakadu more..

Apr 20 (DM) PCR test results of most Sri Lankans returning to the country have been found to be faulty. This has resulted in Sri Lankans being allowed to return to the country based on certificates provided by them from tests conducted at their place of origin. Army Commander Shavendra Silva said that a significant number of Sri Lankans who had returned from overseas recently had tested positive for COVID-19. 70 Sri Lankans who had returned from overseas had tested positive on Sunday. more..

Apr 20 (DN) State Minister Susil Premajayantha asserted that the Colombo Port City will not be a separate entity and will fall under the jurisdiction of the Western Province. He said that amendments can be done based on the Supreme Court verdict regarding the petitions on the Port City Commission Bill. “The Supreme Court can guide us through the process. If there should be amendments to the Bill, the SC will point them out,” more..

Apr 20 (DM) SJB MPs Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara will reveal startling revelations in Parliament today against the ongoing probe on the Easter Sunday terror attacks and how Naufer Maluvi, who the govt claimed was the mastermind behind the terror attacks had never been brought in front of the PCoI. The duo will also expose names of certain individuals who were attempting to cover up investigations as well as the names of CID officers who were transferred more..

Apr 20 (FT) Sections of the proposed Port City Bill can create two legal systems within one country, the UNP charged, urging the Govt to reconsider the move for the long-term benefit of the nation. UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardana addressing the press, called on the Govt to seek broad consultation adding that the party stands ready to assist in the matter. Abeywardana stressed that based on the recommendations by the Attorney General (AG), the pervious Cabinet approved a proposal more..

Apr 20 (DM) Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said that all those who come to work from various parts of the country after the New Year holidays should take necessary measures to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus as the next three weeks could be crucial. He urged the public to adopt proper health practices at workplaces and in public including wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing. more..

Apr 20 (CT) Attorney General Dappula de Livera yesterday appealed to the Supreme Court (SC) against the High Court Trial-at-Bar granting bail to eight suspects, including former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, in the CB Treasury Bonds scam case. Former Minister Karunanayake and seven others, who were arrested and remanded over two alleged bond scams in March 2016, were ordered to be released on bail by two Colombo High Court Trials-at-Bar on 1 April. more..

Apr 20 (TM) A number of monks, led by Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobitha Thera have submitted a letter to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs Secretary Prof. Kapila Gunawardana yesterday, alleging that certain clauses in the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill affects the position of Buddhism in the Constitution. The letter had stated that the Bill’s 52nd, 53rd and 73rd clauses challenge Article 09 of the Constitution. Clauses Numbered 52 and 53 relate to more..

Apr 20 (TM) A section of the civil society, responding to a resolution submitted by PM Mahinda Rajapaksa seeking to implement recommendations of the report of the PCoI into alleged acts of political victimisation during the tenure of the UNF-led Govt, stated that this is the latest attempt by the Executive to undermine the work of the Judiciary. Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) released a statement yesterday on more..

Apr 20 (DN) Colombo Port City project will bring in far reaching economic benefits to entire Sri Lanka and especially to the Colombo business community. Chairman Colombo Business Association Ariyaseela Wickramanayake said that it was wrong to say that Sri Lankans have been left out of the development of the Port City. Several local companies have already invested in it. “Browns Investments PLC, the strategic investment arm of the LOLC Group, has entered into a landmark agreement to partner more..

Apr 20 (FT) The second dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine will be administered from the first week of May, following recommendations made by an advisory committee to the Health Ministry. According to Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, committee recommendations included administering the same vaccine to persons who received the first dose of Covishield as part of the immunisation program that commenced on 29 Jan. more..

Apr 20 (Island) It was beyond the powers of Parliament to add new parts to the territory of Sri Lanka, Kanaganayagam Kanag-Isvaran, President’s Counsel yesterday told the Supreme Court. Kanag-Isvaran, PC appearing for petitioners the Centre for Policy Alternatives and Transparency International, told the Court that Sri Lanka could not claim sovereignty over the artificially created Colombo Port City. more..

Apr 20 (FT) Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa will attend the opening ceremony of the annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) 2021 via video link today. The four-day annual conference, which is themed A World in Change: Join Hands to Strengthen Global Governance and Advance Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Cooperation, will see the official opening ceremony today. Topics including carbon neutrality, climate change & digital economy will top the agenda in the following days. more..

Apr 20 (FT) The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) in a statement yesterday called upon all Sri Lankans to support and join the call of the Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith in observing a minute’s silence on 21 April at 8.45 a.m. to commemorate those who lost their lives in the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. “We also call upon Muslims to make supplications for these victims in this holy month of Ramadan,” the MCSL statement issued by Vice President Hilmy Ahamed said. more..

Apr 20 (TM) As New Delhi declared a six day lockdown due to the surge in Covid-19 cases in the country, Sri Lanka has postponed its travel bubble with India that was set to be operative from 26 April. Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga said that a decision was taken yesterday to postpone the travel bubble given the surge of Covid-19 cases in India and that the programme is expected to be resumed as soon as possible more..

Apr 20 (DN) All roads will lead to Colombo's picturesque BMICH as it hosts the 42nd Observer SLT Mobitel Schools Cricketers of the Year 2020 award ceremony starting at 5.30 pm today. SL’s leading English Newspaper with the largest circulation the Sunday Observer will host the Mega Show for the 43rd consecutive year since 1979. SL’s national mobile service provider SLT Mobitel will sponsor the show for the 15th consecutive year. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit more..

Apr 20 (CT) Thilaka Jinadasa has been heralded with the rare honour of being nominated for SL’s IOC Women and Sport award for the year 2021. Thilaka was the very first female Olympian to represent SL at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, and is also a double International who represented SL in both Athletics and Netball. She is the only SL athlete to have represented the country at five consecutive South Asian Games and won medals in all of them (one Gold, four Silver and four Bronze). more..

Apr 20 (CI) Wanindu Hasaranga, Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando and Lasith Embuldeniya - among others - could form the core of SL's team as they attempt to lift themselves out of poor rankings positions in all three formats in the coming years. This is according to coach Mickey Arthur, who feels he has now identified the best players in the country for various SL squads. Arthur revealed that although Kusal Mendis more..

Apr 20 (FT) Embassy of SL in Germany initiated and facilitated the signing of a MOU between the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of SL and ENPACT e.V. in Berlin, Germany, which represents the Berlin Senate’s startup initiative AsiaBerlin. The move was with a view to fostering a strong bridge between Berlin, the startup capital of Europe and SL's startup ecosystem. ICTA CEO Mahinda Herath and ENPACT Managing Director Jan Lachenmayer placed more..

Apr 20 (Island) Trying to place Prez’s Gama Samaga Pilisandarak (PGSP) in a scientific perspective of public policy making is timely. One of the stated objectives of the Presidents election manifesto, Vistas of Prosperity is to create a village-centered development of our predominantly agriculture-based rural economy. Prez has pledged to achieve a four-fold objective: a productive citizen, a happy family, a virtuous, disciplined and just society and ultimately a prosperous country. more..

Apr 20 (FT) The confectionery industry worth Rs. 150 billion is still in the dark over the immediate ban on palm oil imports, with no proper directions given on the procedures to obtain licences, whilst many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are running short of stocks amidst increased demand. “We are still not aware of the procedure to obtain the special licence to import palm oil for our manufacturing purposes. more..

Apr 20 (ST) When the Norwegian police clamped a 20,000 kroner fine on their PM for breaking the law, the country’s citizenry did not light fire crackers and beat raban. They went about their business as best as they could under numerous restrictions to contain a spreading pandemic. PM Erna Solberg’s prime crime was that she decided to celebrate her birthday at a public restaurant with her family. Knowing full well that pandemic rules and regulations were in force –after all she introduced them more..

Apr 20 (CT) As the Central Bank prepares to consolidate SL finance companies, Finance Houses Association of SL (FHA) says it will take steps to further strengthen its self-regulation code for the betterment of the industry. FHA the apex body of all Registered Finance companies announced the introduction of its revised Self-Regulation Code which has been voluntarily practiced by member companies over a long period of time, but has to be adapted to changing times. more..

Apr 20 (TM) Another sex-related, behaviour-concerned, disciplinary scandal involving a current prominent SL dashing batsman has emerged, this time from a New Year festival season party down south. The allegation again is concerning over sexual harassment. This is the umpteenth time that the same white-ball dasher has got caught in similar disciplinary incident. And on all those occasions, for the utter amusement of more..

Apr 20 (Island) April is the cruellest month, one may say with apologies to T. S. Eliot, on seeing the increase in fatal road accidents during the festive season in this country. During the last five days alone, 52 lives have been lost in road mishaps, and about 670 persons have suffered injuries, according to the police. In fact, the number of deaths due to road accidents averages eight a day, and road fatalities receive media attention only when there happens to be an uptick therein. more..

Apr 20 (GV) Resilient is a word frequently used by human rights activists and the development sector, to describe persons affected by war and violence. In SL, the mothers of the disappeared are praised for their resilience when they continue their struggle for justice despite intimidation and harassment. Women headed households labouring to eke out a living are spoken of admiringly for their resilience. The people of Kepapilavu in Mullaitivu are called resilient for refusing to abandon their demands for more..

Apr 20 (CT) The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has urged PM Mahinda Rajapaksa not to pursue the Resolution of Parliament that will seek to end trials and judicial proceedings in relation to Rajapaksa family members and cronies. Colombo Telegraph last week published JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s explosive revelations about the Resolution of Parliament tabled by the PM which will be taken up for voting on April 21. Issuing a statement, BASL said passing the resolution more..

Apr 20 (TM) Criminal Justice Commissions (CJC) Act, No. 14 of 1972, marked the beginning of the collapse of SL’s criminal justice system. The process that started then, gradually expanded further and further, and today, the criminal justice system in SL is virtually dysfunctional. What the CJC Act in fact did was challenge all the fundamental aspects of the criminal justice system as it existed till then. These fundamentals were the presumption of innocence which places the burden of proof more..

Apr 20 (CT) The discovery of substandard coconut oil containers at SL Customs in late March became a major topic of discussion in SL for weeks. This was not the first time the quality of imported food products came into question. In 2008, there was similar controversy regarding Melamine in imported milk powder. In 2013 & 2014, it was reported that imported milk powder and ice cream contained DCD. more..

Apr 20 (CT) Colombo Port City (CPC), on the lines of Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong, will be a gold mine for Sri Lanka. The total land area of CPC is 269 hectares and the total investment is US$ 15 billion. The project is expected to create 83,000 employment opportunities and contribute 11.5% to GDP. However, SLPP MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has alleged that the Colombo Port City will not be a part of SL once the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill comes into effect and more..

Apr 20 (DM) The gazetting of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission bill and its placement on the Order Paper of the Parliament 15 days after being gazetted came in as a surprise to many. The Bill seeks to establish a Port City Economic Zone within the boundaries set out in Schedule I to the Bill. “In terms of the Constitution a citizen intending to challenge the Constitutionality of a Bill has to do so within one week from the Bill being placed in the Order Paper of the Parliament,” more..