Jul 15 (Island) Former lawmaker Mangala Samaraweera’s presence at a recent event, at the New Town Hall, where the newly formed civil society grouping, Freedom: People’s Collective, vowed to derail Prez Rajapaksa-led govt’s bid to do away with the 19th Amendment, should be examined against the backdrop of Samaraweera quitting the SJB ahead of Aug 5 parliamentary polls. Samaraweera pulled out of the contest after obtaining nomination from the SJB’s Matara District list more..

Jul 15 (TM) As I mention often, Happinez is always on the lookout for people with amazing stories to share. Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with a remarkable young girl, 18-year-old Thimali Bandara. She is currently on a gap year in which she has been travelling with her friends, learning various new things, and is planning to head to Yale-NUS College, Singapore shortly to study economics. “I’ve always been interested in charity and helping people; it sounds very noble when you say it, more..

Jul 15 (FT) Finance Ministry said it has commenced issuing letters to contractors and suppliers owed by the Govt, so they can use the document to obtain loans from commercial banks. Stepping up to implement a Cabinet decision that was taken on 6 June, the Finance Ministry said it will issue letters to Govt suppliers, particularly construction companies that have long outstanding dues from development projects and were subsequently badly hit by more..

Jul 15 (ST) Former Wesley and SL Schools cricket captain Navin de Silva has taken over as Captain of the prestigious Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) and roped in cricket legend Mahela Jayawardene as a committee member. A senior pilot with SriLankan airlines for 35 years, Navin de Silva took over the controls of the RCGC at its annual general meeting held on July 2. The RCGC celebrating its 140th year, experienced a significant challenge when the COVID 19 crisis froze the holding of the AGM more..

Jul 15 (FT) The Finance Ministry said it has released the relevant funds to purchase the Yala Season harvest with the price per kilogram set at Rs.50. Finance Ministry said necessary funds had been released to the Paddy Marketing Board, following a directive of Prez Rajapaksa. In previous years, a kilo of Nadu was bought at Rs. 38 while a kilo of Samba was purchased at Rs. 41. “The change in prices was made to ensure that paddy farmers would receive a fair price for their produce, more..

Jul 15 (CT) Let us pacify ourselves that it has not been the first time in our COVID-19 experience that diagnosis of polymerase chain reaction testing has first tested positive and subsequent testing carried out on the same patient turns out to be negative. These could probably be brushed aside as laboratory misadventures or moments of technical malfunctioning owing to the large number of tests being carried out. more..

Jul 15 (CT) With the country opening up again after successfully controlling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fonterra Brands Sri Lanka, makers of Anchor, hosted a multi-religious blessing ceremony at their head office on Monday (6). Whilst manufacturing and distribution operations were functional during the COVID-19 pandemic, the co-operative’s operations returned to full normalcy only on 6 July. Blessings were invoked as a sign of gratitude to Fonterra’s employees, more..

Jul 15 (Island) Under-19 schools cricket tournament which was halted in the wake of the covid 19 pandemic in March is not likely to be completed as the Ministry of Education has prioritized education during the second and third terms. On this back drop the country’s premier schools tournament will not see a champion crowned for the first time in history and top teams will miss some rare opportunities to create history. Trinity had earned the favourite title even before the tournament had reached more..

Jul 15 (DM) SL’s trade deficit narrowed by US $ 416 million in May 2020 to US $ 407 million, as imports slumped to less than US $ 1 billion for the first time since March 2010, amid the govt-imposed import controls put in place to ease the pressure on the exchange rate and foreign reserves from the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The external sector data for the month of May showed the expenditure on merchandise more..

Jul 15 (CT) Litro Gas stated that overcoming economic adversity through resilience and financial efficiency has been at the heart of its strategy as the Company mitigates a turnaround during challenging times. “External circumstances such as the Easter Sunday attack and the Saudi drone attack in 2019 impacted our businesses, but we have been strong enough to manage a successful turnaround,” said Anil Koswatte Chairman/CEO of Litro Gas Lanka Ltd and Litro Gas Terminal (Pvt) Ltd. more..

Jul 15 (FT) The Mount Lavinia Magistrate yesterday issued summons and a travel ban on Suranee Thumilan and Sivarajah Thumilan of Blue Ocean Breeze condominium property developers. The orders were issued following a private plaint filed by Rasaiah Leon an investor who had paid Rs. 275 million for six apartments in Layards Road. The plaint filed on behalf of the complainant alleged that from the inception the project was a fraud and monies amounting to Rs. 1.5 billion had been more..

Jul 15 (DM) Vehicle registrations in June picked up to pre-pandemic levels as pent-up demand kicked in with the gradual easing of lockdowns from mid May with people accelerating their vehicle purchases, mostly on their savings as bank credit in to vehicle purchases were largely restrained. A total of 32, 123 vehicles were registered, almost double the number in May when the figure was 17, 313 and slightly higher than 31, 402 units in February, more..

Jul 15 (FT) Rear Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne is expected to be appointed as the 24th Commander of the SL Navy by Prez Rajapaksa while being promoted to the rank Vice Admiral. Ulugetenne joined the Navy as an Officer Cadet in 1985 and underwent training at the Naval and Maritime Academy, Trinco and was commissioned in 1987. He was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in 2015. He has specialised in the field of Gunnery and Missiles and has commanded more..

Jul 15 (FT) SLPP referred to the Parliamentary Election as the second innings in their effort to form a stable Govt capable of constitutional amendments as well as delivering on development and defended the national list of the party as being well-rounded to achieve these goals. SLPP member Dr. Charitha Herath, who is also part of the national list, rejected criticism that its members included questionable and politically partisan professionals and insisted that competent people from more..

Jul 15 (Island) Some MPs and Ministers had asked their security officers not to reveal that they had been warned of an attack on Easter Sunday by Zahran Hashim and his associates, Retired DIG Lucien Priyalal told the PCoI investigating the Easter Sunday attacks. DIG Priyalal headed the Special Protection Range (SPR) at the time of the Easter Sunday attacks. On Apr 10, he received a warning in a letter from more..

Jul 15 (DN) “We kindly urge the Ambassador of Pakistan help us to include rugby at the next South Asian Games(SAG) to be held in Pakistan next year” was the request made by Lasitha Guneratne, President of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) to Muhammad Saad Khattak, Ambassador of Pakistan to SL at a ceremony held at their headquarters yesterday. This request was made by the Local rugby chief at a SLR hosted ceremony to accept some rugby gear from the Pakistan-SL Friendship society more..

Jul 15 (CT) SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara lodged a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) regarding the use of the Party’s official colour Blue by other political Parties that were formed recently to contest the upcoming General Election. The complaint was made in writing addressing the Chairman of the EC and stated that the SLFP used the colour blue from the beginning and that it is being used by others as of recent times and that these Parties have announced about more..

Jul 15 (Island) The suspension of Examination for Registration to Practice Medicine (ERPM) in Nov 2019 has deprived over 1,000 foreign medical graduates the opportunity to sit the examination previously referred to as Act 16, several affected students said. Foreign graduates are not allowed to practice medicine in SL until they get through ERPM consisting of four parts. Exam is usually conducted in May & Nov. more..

Jul 15 (FT) The SJB raised concerns about a journalist being questioned by the CID regarding an article written about the murder of former Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunge. SJB member and lawyer Ajith P. Perera questioned why journalist and editor of the Eethalaya Magazine, Shrilal Priyantha, was summoned to the CID for questioning about an article he wrote regarding the murder. “We as the SJB condemn this media oppression directed at journalist Shrilal more..

Jul 15 (DN) The Canned Fish Manufacturers Association of SL (CFMASL), thanked the govt for assisting local producers and industries during the Covid lockdown period, its President Shiran Fernando said. Fernando said during the Covid lockdown period the country faced difficulties in importing goods into the country. At that time Prez Rajapaksa requested the CFMASL to produce canned fish for Sathosa and pledged whatever support they needed during the curfew time. more..

Jul 15 (CT) NPP National List Candidate, Attorney Lal Wijenayake said that at the coming Poll, the Rajapaksa faction is seeking a two-thirds majority. “This does not augur well for this country politically. They are shouting from the rooftops of introducing a new Constitution. However, they are not keen to seek the views of the public towards this exercise. Their aim is to dispense with the 19th Amendment to the Constitution and more..

Jul 15 (DM) It will take ten years for Sri Lanka's economy to bounce back to the position it was before the initial COVID-19 outbreak given the current situation, former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today at Sirikotha. In a special statement he said Sri Lanka's future was uncertain because of the second outbreak. “Sri Lanka cannot bounce back from the current economic crisis if it fails to control COVID-19. You need to control it to keep the domestic economies going. more..

Jul 15 (EN) Health Authorities are trying the douse the flames of anxiety being spread by reports of the detections of dozens of new COVID 19 patients in various parts of the country. Director-General of Health Services Dr Anil Jasinghe said there were rumours being spread that COVID 19 patients have been detected in various places. “These rumours may have been based on people observing that teams of military or Health Dept personnel taking certain persons away from their homes,” more..

Jul 15 (CT) Deputy Director of Teaching Hospital, Jaffna, Dr. C. Jamunanantha, expressed concern that the possibility of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic was high in the North owing to fishermen, drug smugglers and other persons coming from the other areas in the island. He added that people in the Delft Island and other areas were unaware of the pandemic. After a soldier, a resident of Agbopura in Kantale, serving at more..

Jul 15 (Island) UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said, in Kandy, on Sunday (12) that testing for Covid-19 had to be increased to at least 5,000 a day in view of the current situation in the country. Speaking at a UNP meeting at the Kandy Municipal Council children’s library, the UNP. leader said that the govt should have a discussion with the Election Commission on the August 05 general election, taking into consideration the present COVID 19 situation. more..

Jul 15 (FT) In a short piece titled Modernising Madrasas for New Paideia (Colombo Telegraph, 6 Feb 2019), this author brought home the need for reforms in this historic institution of theological learning in order to make that learning relevant to modern context, and pointed out the obstruction from orthodoxy to bring any changes to a fossilised curricula and teaching. Once again, on the eve of a General Election and as part of a wave of anti-Muslim hysteria, populist demagogues more..

Jul 15 (FT) With the General Election campaign warming up, reference is made to the 19th Amendment (19A) in positive and negative forms. The positive form was highlighted recently by the civil society actors, supporting the 19A. The negativity of the 19A is highlighted mostly by Govt politicians led by the PM. The demand made by the former is to refrain from giving a two-thirds lead to the Govt to nastily meddle with the 19A. The latter demands a two-thirds lead to abolish 19A. more..

Jul 15 (DM) SJB candidate Hirunika Premachandra said she has no confrontation whatsoever with Janani Premadasa, the wife of SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa. Ms. Premachandra said she has not been sidelined by Ms. Premadasa but was given a prominent place in SJB women’s wing. “ It was Ms. Premadasa who proposed that I should lead the Colombo branch SJB women’s wing,” Ms. Premachadra said. “I was never chased by her, though some claimed it was the case after more..

Jul 15 (AD) Rear Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, upon being promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral, has been appointed as the 24th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy. The appointment was made by Prez Rajapaksa today to fill the position vacated by the outgoing Navy Chief Admiral Piyal de Silva. Vice Admiral Ulugetenne, who is a proud product of the Royal College in Colombo, enlisted in the SL Navy in 1985, as an Officer Cadet more..

Jul 15 (DM) The SJB today rejected allegations made by UNP candidate Oshala Herath that the Election Commission Chairman had mentioned that documents were manipulated when registering the SJB. Mr. Herath had released audio clips to the social media to back up his claim. SJB candidate and former MP Ajith P. Perera said that the audio clips are fake and there was no point in talking about them now. “Mr. Herath filed a petition in the Supreme Court which were dismissed by the SC. more..

Jul 15 (AD) The total count of COVID-19 cases who returned to health from the disease surpassed 2,000 mark today (15). The Ministry of Health confirmed that 13 more patients infected with the virus have recovered completely. Four of these recoveries are reported from the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), 05 from Iranawila Hospital, 01 from Minuwangoda Base Hospital and 03 from the Army Hospital in Panagoda, according to the situation report issued by the Epidemiology Unit. more..

Jul 15 (EN) Sri Lanka’s military is planning to get into the business of producing driving licenses from next year amid a controversy over the costs and extension of the current contract with a private party, the ministry of transport. Minister of Transport and Energy Mahinda Amaraweera has had a discussion with Defence Secretary Major General Kamal Guneratne, Army Chief Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva and more..

Jul 15 (AD) Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy has decided to match electricity bills of the months March, April, and May to that of the February. Further, consumers will also be granted a grace period of 2 months for the payment of the relevant bills. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera stated that the govt has decided to provide relief to the public by considering the allegations and complaints made in the past regarding the electricity bill in March, April and May 2020. more..

Jul 15 (CT) Wildlife shelters and rehabilitation centres should be set up by the Department of Wildlife Conservation to easily treat sick or injured wild animals, said retired Senior Professor of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the University of Peradeniya, Indira Nanayakkara Silva. Speaking at a Media briefing yesterday (14) in Colombo, she noted that veterinary doctors need to be specialised or trained to treat different animal groups such as reptiles, birds, mammals and fish. more..

Jul 15 (AD) Former Director of the CID SSP Shani Abeysekara has filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition with the Supreme Court challenging the decision taken by the National Police Commission (NPC) to suspend and transfer him. The Defence Secretary, Acting Inspector General of Police, Chairman and the members of the Election Commission, Chairman and the members of the NPC and Attorney General have been cited more..

Jul 15 (DN) The number of COVID-19 cases relating to the Kandakadu cluster increased further with the report of several new cases from across the country by last evening. Several individuals including several soldiers who had close contacts with the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre were found infected yesterday while many of their close associates were sent to quarantine centers, health authorities confirmed. Eleven individuals from Pitabeddara, Buluwana including the children and the wife more..

Jul 15 (DM) Producing prison inmates in courts has been temporarily suspended and their legal proceedings would be carried out through video technology, Prisons Department said. Granting of bail or postponing of court dates of inmates would be done through video technology while the accused remains in prison. Attorney-at-law will also appear in this process. “The prisons officials will produce an inmate in a court if a Judge informed that the accused needed to be produced in the court” more..

Jul 15 (Island) LSSP leader Prof. Tissa Vitharana, who is on the SLPP National List strongly opposed SOFA, MCC and ACSA agreements with the US. "If these agreements become a reality, the USA can make Sri Lanka a military base and the whole country a colony. If we agree to these terms we shall loose our independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity," Prof Vitharana warned in a statement issued to media. more..

Jul 15 (EN) President says heads of govt and private bodies will be held accountable for employees adhering to health guidelines in their organizations in the wake of the current spike in COVID-19 cases as officials say the guidelines will be made law this week. Prez Rajapaksa says the spread of the virus in the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre is “an unfortunate example”. At a meeting with the Presidential Task Force to curb COVID-19 at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday, July 14, more..