Dec 3 (DM) The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) from next year plans to open up its Multi-Currency Board to local companies, for both equity listings and debenture issuances, to raise funds in foreign currencies to facilitate their expansion plans outside SL. “When SL-based companies are planning to go abroad, they need foreign capital. We are trying to give these firms an opportunity to raising equity on the CSE by allowing to list on the Multi-Currency Board” CSE Chair, Dumith Fernando said. more..

Dec 3 (CT) The Meteorology Department, yesterday (2), warned that the cyclonic storm Burevi formed over the South-West of Bay of Bengal is located near the island of Sri Lanka and entered the country from Trincomalee and Point Pedro close to Mullaitivu. This cyclonic storm with a wind force from 80 to 90 kilometres per hour (kmph) moved nearly westwards and thereafter will emerge into the Gulf of Mannar today (3) morning, more..

Dec 3 (CT) Prisons Dept will take legal action against 25 inmates who initiated the riot at the Mahara Prison and another 150 who aided and abetted. Prisons Commissioner (Admin), Chandana Ekanayake claimed that the group of inmates who initiated and supported the riot have already been identified. Meanwhile, Prisons Commissioner General Thushara Upuldeniya added that more than 25 persons have been identified in this connection. However, Police Spokesman more..

Dec 3 (FT) Health authorities yesterday confirmed two deaths that occurred on Monday as COVID-19-related, bringing the total COVID-19 death toll to 124. A 67-year-old individual from Colombo-13 died at home on Monday. The cause of death is cited as a stroke with COVID pneumonia. An individual from Chilaw also passed away on Monday. She was 66-years-old and died while being admitted to the Chilaw District Hospital. She died of a heart attack caused by COVID-19. more..

Dec 3 (Island) The SJB, yesterday, accused the govt of trying to issue a new liquor manufacturing licence to one of its cronies notorious for tax frauds. SJB MP Buddhika Pathirana told Parliament that he had information of an attempt to issue a new liquor licence through the Excise Commissioner General without following the proper process of spot inspection, etc., in a transparent manner. “This licence is to be issued on Friday (4). more..

Dec 3 (DN) Irrigation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa assured that all preparations have been made to face any disaster situation caused by the Burevi cyclone. Making a special speech in Parliament yesterday, he said according to an announcement issued by the Meteorological Department on Nov 27, the Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Mannar and Puttalam districts could be affected by the cyclone. He noted that warnings had been issued for the above mentioned districts and more..

Dec 3 (DM) Health authorities said that following a downward trend recorded in COVID-19 cases reported from isolated areas in the Western Province, the peak of the second wave may be over but PCR tests were being conducted across the country to detect any further clusters. Director General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena said that a majority of new COVID-19 cases were now being reported from the prison cluster while new patients being detected from isolated more..

Dec 3 (Island) Consumer rights groups and opposition lawmakers yesterday alleged that the CEB and some power producers had engineered the disbanding of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), and the govt’s decision to close down the PUCSL would pave the way for backdoor power project deals, which would send electricity prices through the roof. They vowed to take legal action if the govt went ahead more..

Dec 3 (DN) Ministry of Wildlife and conservation along with the Forest Dept have taken a decision to collectively mitigate the environmental damage and deforestation that has been rampant over the years, Minister Chamal Rajapaksa said. He was speaking at the Ministerial Consultative Committee Meeting on National Security at Parliament yesterday. He said that the Security Forces will help in these efforts to ensure that there is no deforestation and damage caused to the environment. more..

Dec 3 (FT) When written in Chinese Shanghai means Upon the Sea. According to historians the area was under the sea level and appeared to be on the sea, thus earning the name. Sandwiched between the Yangtze and Huangpu rivers it is believed to be the most populated area in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) with an estimated population of approx 24 million and considered to be the second most populated city in the world. Shanghai’s story will explain China’s more..

Dec 3 (EN) Chairman of SL’s Export Development Board Prabash Subasinghe, who gave leadership to the agency amid a Coronavirus pandemic, said he is stepping down after completing one year to focus on his own businesses. “My one year is finished and I am stepping down to focus on my own business and I think EDB had a great year,” Subasinghe told EconomyNext. Subasinghe is himself an exporter and runs Global Rubber Industrries, a material handling tyre maker and a seafood firm. more..

Dec 3 (DM) Govt awaits the submission of the experts’ committee report to decide on the modalities of using any vaccine approved by the WHO in Sri Lanka, an official said yesterday. Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardane said any decision on the use of any vaccine would be taken only in conformity with the national immunisation policy and the laws and regulations governing it. He said an experts’ committee had been appointed to look into it. more..

Dec 3 (AD) The centre of the cyclonic storm Burevi has crossed north-eastern coast of Sri Lanka between Kuchchaveli and Thiriyayi between 10.30 pm and 11.30 pm yesterday, says the Department of Meteorology. This cyclonic storm, with a wind speed of 70-80 kmph gusting up to 90 kmph, is very likely to move west-northwestward, emerge into Gulf of Mannar by noon today. Therefore, the influence of the cyclonic storm more..

Dec 3 (AD) Parliamentary Council has approved the nominations presented by the President for five independent commissions. Chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, the Parliamentary Council was convened at the Parliament this evening. Prez’s nominees for the Election Commission, Public Services Commission, National Police Commission, Finance Commission and CIABOC were thereby approved by the Parliamentary Council. more..

Dec 3 (FT) The substantive foreign policy debate during this Budget was between the SLPP and the Tamil Opposition. More specifically it was between Ministers Dinesh Gunawardena and Prof. G.L. Peiris on the one hand, and MPs M.A. Sumanthiran and Gajan Ponnambalam on the other. That debate, though superficially Sinhala/Tamil, south/north, was not simply that. It was an important and civilised clash of perspectives. Each side said much that was correct but was partial, one-sided. more..

Dec 3 (FT) In an effort to reduce prison overcrowding, the Police headquarters yesterday directed all senior officers in charge of Police territorial divisions and crime units to expedite legal processes and file charges regarding drug abuse suspects by Monday to grant bail to low level offenders. The move comes as the Govt scrambles to address a long-standing issue of overcrowded prisons in the aftermath of the Mahara more..

Dec 3 (TM) Keels Supermarket, Kalubowila has been closed after two of its employees tested positive for COVID-19 today, management said. In a statement, it said all operations at the store has been temporarily halted and the store closed for sanitization purposes. “The store will reopen following the recommended sanitization procedures by the epidemiology unit of the Ministry of Health and approval by the public health inspectors. All team members that have come into contact more..

Dec 3 (AD) Contributing towards the wellbeing of children who has lost parental care in Sri Lanka, leading private sector bank HNB PLC, announced the launch of the Season of Giving fundraiser via its digital payment app, SOLO, in support of SOS Children’s Villages. The bank stepped up efforts to raise funds for the organization in response to difficulties faced by SOS Children’s Villages in funding its operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. more..

Dec 3 (AD) DMC says a total of 12,252 individuals have been affected by Cyclone Burevi which crossed SL’s north-eastern coast last night (02). In the meantime, one person from Jaffna, who went out for fishing activities is reported missing, the DMC said further. Fifteen houses have been completely destroyed by the cyclonic storm while 192 other houses were partly damaged. Dept of Meteorology, issuing an advisory, said the cyclonic storm was located closer to the coastal area between more..

Dec 3 (EN) Kushani Rohanadheera has been appointed as the Deputy Secretary-General and Chief of Staff of Parliament, the House announced today. Rohanadheera is the second woman to hold the post after the redoubtable Priyani Wijesekara, who went on to become Secretary-General and SL’s Ambassador to Vienna. She was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the elevation of the former Deputy Secretary-General and Chief of Staff of Parliament Neil Iddawala as a Judge of CA. more..

Dec 3 (Island) Civil society activist Oshala Herath said that the UK Govt had responded to his query regarding SJB Naltional List MP Diana Gamage being a British passport holder. Herath said that he had received a response from the UK Visas and Emigration Section on Dec 1 as regards his Nov 25 query although Election Commission (EC) and other relevant authorities were yet to take up the matter. more..

Dec 3 (CI) Shoaib Malik has given the Lanka Premier League his seal of approval, a week into the tournament. Malik is the most experienced T20 player in the league, having now played 405 T20s, and is among the high-profile overseas players in the tournament. He has played in various T20 leagues around the world, including the Big Bash League, Bangladesh Premier League and Pakistan Super League. "Overall the tournament is going very nicely and I'm really enjoying it," Malik said. more..

Dec 3 (CT) Foreign Ministry, today (2), stated that Sri Lanka condemns the assassination of Dr. Mohsen Fakhrizadeh and any other form of acts of terrorism against humanity. A statement issued by the Ministry noted: "SL calls for the stability and security of the Middle East and the Persian Gulf region, and believes strongly in dialogue and engagement as the most successful means for finding a solution to problems". Fakhrizadeh was Iran’s top nuclear scientist, who American more..

Dec 3 (DM) Following last week’s announcement by Education Minister G.L. Peiris in Parliament on the Govt’s decision to acquire the controversial Batticaloa Campus, Auditor General (AG) had informed and issued certain directives to the AG’s Department regarding the campus. The special audit report submitted last week, by the AG W.P.C. Wickremaratne to the AG's Department, recommended that appropriate legal action more..

Dec 3 (AD) The Mahara Prison inmate who had escaped while receiving treatment at the Ragama Hospital has been recaptured by prison authorities. An inmate, who was under medical care at the Colombo North Teaching Hospital in Ragama after sustaining injuries in the Mahara Prison riot escaped last night. The escaped inmate has been taken into custody by prison intelligence officers at the Orugodawatta area. The detainee in question has been detained separately at Welikada Prison, more..

Dec 3 (Island) The yahapalana govt had dealt a body blow to the national economy by importing large quantities of food and thereby discouraging local producers, Trade Minister Dr Bandula Gunawardena told Parliament. It threatened SL’s food security greatly, he said. Answering a question raised by SLPP MP Mohamed Muzammil, minister said that the yahapalana govt had not cared about the local farmers. “Whenever they wanted to control prices in the local market, more..

Dec 3 (FT) Industry leaders yesterday welcomed Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s keenness to reopen borders and resume tourism as early as possible. Speaking at the Ceylon Chamber’s Virtual Economic Summit yesterday several tourism industry leaders described the Prez’s confidence to reopen the country to welcome international travellers as sweet music to ears. Tourism veterans were of the view that the readiness of the country to reopen more..

Dec 3 (TM) Five Public Health Inspectors have withdrawn from duties in the Atalugama Grama Niladhari Division in the Bandaragama MOH Division due to non-cooperation of the public, stated Secretary of the PHI Union, M. Balasooriya. “Over 300 COVID patients have been identified from the Atalugama area so far, but because of it being declared an isolated area, most patients have been subjected to home quarantine and random PCR testing. However, there were many more..

Dec 3 (DM) Central Province Governor Lalith U Gamage has removed Mayor of the Municipal Council Matale Daljith Aluvihare, from the office with effect from yesterday following an inquiry into the Mayor. Three months ago the Governor suspended Mr. Aluvihare from holding the office and appointed a committee headed by Mrs. Sarojini Kusala Weerawardena to inquire into the irregularities committed by the Matale Mayor. In an extraordinary gazette notification, CP Governor announced more..

Dec 3 (DM) As Prez Rajapaksa completes his first year in office, CAA has issued five gazettes on the sale of rice. However, rice is not yet sold at the gazetted prices. Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena has said that people must wait for the next harvest to buy rice at the gazetted price, and for now they must settle for the existing prices. Meanwhile people are inquiring as to why the Govt cannot control rice prices. more..

Dec 3 (AD) Imprisonment is not the solution for drug-addicted convicts, said Minister of Justice Ali Sabry at the parliament today. Stating that nearly 52% of current inmates in prison are addicted to drugs, the Minister said that imprisonment is not a long-term solution for this. He said that studies are currently underway to determine whether such detainees could be rehabilitated instead. Out of the 28,541 inmates in SL prisons, nearly 11,500 have undergone PCR tests for COVID-19 more..

Dec 3 (TM) Plans have been made to reopen the airport in line with COVID guidelines enabling foreign tourists to enter the country, and it can be done as soon as it is approved by the health authorities, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said. The Minister said this in response to requests made by a number of MPs including Chandima Weerakkody, Premitha Bandara Tennakoon and Diana Gamage at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Tourism held yesterday more..

Dec 3 (AD) Minister of Education Prof. G.L. Peiris says the govt is making arrangements to hold the 2020 G.C.E. O/L Exam in March next year. The minister said the results of the exam are thereby expected to be released by June. He added that A/L classes for the examinees will commence in July. He stressed that the govt’s effort is to look into the possibility of holding the O/L Exam as soon as possible while ensuring more..

Dec 3 (DM) A Covid-19 infected person from Atulugama, Bandaragama has spat on the face of a PHI who attempted to transfer the patient for medical treatment, police said. DIG Ajith Rohana said when the area PHI had visited the inmate in order to transfer him to a treatment centre , he had refused to cooperate. "At that time, the man had spat on the face of the PHI. The police has initiated an investigation into this incident. The charges against the person would be obstructing more..

Dec 3 (CT) A motion was filed before the Wattala/Welisara Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with the deaths of 11 prisoners at the Mahara Prison on 29 November, requesting Court to ensure criminal justice by preserving the physical evidence from being destroyed, especially the bodies of the dead including those of the nine who were found COVID-19 positive. The motion was filed by Chairman of the Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners Senaka Perera, more..

Dec 3 (EN) Human Rights activists are demanding a full and impartial investigation into the death of eleven prisoners at the Mahara jail where the inmates were killed allegedly by jail guards firing at them as they reportedly fought each other. Attorney Senaka Perera, Chairman of the Committee to Protect the Rights of Prisoners said that “justice has to be done whether these people are offenders or not.” All the dead are described as more..

Dec 4 (DM) The cultural divide in the country gets highlighted when there is a natural disaster. Just hours ago Cyclone Burevi swept across the Eastern and Northern Provinces of Sri Lanka; thanks to Gods we worship the damage to lives and property wasn’t serious. But what’s serious is when people say that the cyclone blew through predominantly Muslim and Tamil areas. We’ve also heard people saying a patient died of Corona, but the remains of the deceased were not accepted by more..

Dec 4 (DM) When Muslims were a minority in the city state of Mecca in the early 7th century AD, they faced persecution, including torture, economic boycott and social ostracism. When they could bear no more hardship, Quranic verses were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, urging the Muslims to exercise beautiful patience (Sabran Jameelan). The prophet also received revelation that informed him of earlier people who went through crises worse than what Meccan Muslims were going through. more..