May 28 (AD) The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has published the Extraordinary Gazette notification pertaining to the revision of Maximum Retail Prices (MRP) of rice. The Gazette notification states that the revised prices will come into effect from today (28). The new Maximum Retail Prices for below-mentioned varieties of rice are as follows: Keeri Samba – Rs. 120.00 per kilogram; White/Red Samba (Steamed/Boiled – excluding Suduru Samba) – Rs. 98.00 per kilogram more..

May 28 (DM) The govt plans to import 2,500 milch cows from Australia in a bid to make Sri Lanka self sufficient from milk by 2025 and also restrict importing of milk powder that costs the government Rs. 50 billion annually, Minister Ramesh Pathirana said today. He told the weekly cabinet news briefing that the Sri Lanka’s daily production capacity of milk was 1.2 million liters and with the import of 2,500 milch cows from Australia, the capacity would increase by 100,000 liters per day. more..

May 28 (EN) The govt is dismissing allegations that it has given in to the so-called Rice Mafia by increasing the controlled price of rice from Rs 90 per kilo to 98. Minister Bandula Gunawardena told reporters today May 28, that the higher price was fixed because “there were problems in practically applying it (the lower fixed price) in the market.” He made this statement to a question raised about the increase in rice prices more..

May 28 (DM) he black leopard that was rescued while trapped in a snare was being treated at the Elephant Transit Home at Udawalawe and recovering from wounds, an official of the Wildlife Department said. He said the animal would be released to the Sri Pada forest reserve, its natural habitat after it fully recovers. “A GPS tracker will also be affixed to the leopard before being released,” he said. The black leopard was trapped in a snare at Walamale in Laxapana Estate, Nallathanniya more..

May 28 (NR) Another 13 persons who contracted the coronavirus have recovered and have been discharged from hospitals. The Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health said the number of COVID-19 recoveries in the country has increased to 745. Seven of them were discharged from the Navy Hospital, four from the Homagama Base Hospital, and one each from the IDH and the Colombo East Base Hospital. The number of coronavirus cases in the country currently stands at 1,469. more..

May 28 (EN) COVID 19 Task Force has placed the Navy garrison stationed in the Gaffoor Building in the heart of Colombo Fort under quarantine after a sailor stationed there was found to be infected with the virus. Military Spokesman said that the sailor had tested positive and further PCR tests are being done on the other personnel in the Gafoor building. Army and STF teams are continuing to carry out random temperature checks on more..

May 28 (Island) A large number of Sri Lankans, who are working in Kuwait, illegally, had contracted COVID-19, SL Immigrant Workers Rights organizations said. The SL-Kuwait Unity organization said that a number of Sri Lankans, in the cities of Farwaniya, Ahmadi, Hawalli, Jahra, in Kuwait, had contracted the virus and four had died. The organisation said that among legal immigrants, taxi drivers were the most affected. The Kuwait govt provided no assistance to foreign workers more..

May 28 (Island) The late Arumugan Thondaman, 56, Minister of Community Empowerment and Estate Infrastructure Development, received the new Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay, several hours before his sudden demise, on Tuesday (26). The CWC leader was among the few ministers Baglay met on his first full working day at office, according to the Indian HC. Indian envoy Baglay called on Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Foreign Relations and Minister of Skills Development, more..

May 28 (AD) The total number of COVID-19 infections reported in the country has surpassed the 1,500th mark. This is with 17 persons who had been undergoing quarantine at the Giragama quarantine facility upon return from Dubai testing positive for the COVID-19 virus. A total of 34 cases have been reported in the country within the day so far. Fifteen of them had arrived from Kuwait and been undergoing quarantine at the Trino more..

May 29 (CT) Covid-19, with all its horrendous health and economic disasters, has been a blessing in disguise to a Prez who wants to rule with an iron fist and with or without a parliament. I have already described his militaristic management of Covid-19 as dress rehearsal for what is going to be the single most characteristic feature of his presidency (CT, 11 April). The country is now governed by a power cartel, Immanuel Wallerstein’s domesticated version of State Cartel. more..

May 29 (CT) The COVID-19 experience has sharply exposed the unsustainability of authoritarianism in countries in the Asian region. A proper and sustainable response to the pandemic is possible only in circumstances where there is an overwhelming agreement between the State and the people on the ways to deal with a very dangerous situation. Where there is no such agreement, the States will not be able to carry out various measures necessary to ensure the protection of all more..

May 29 (Island) The local hotel and leisure sectors' current revenue is down at zero and finding money to pay staff and suppliers is not easy, chairman, Jetwing Symphony PLC and The Lighthouse Hotel PLC Hiran Cooray said. Stating that it is difficult to predict at this juncture what fundamental challenges are likely to occur in Sri Lanka's hotel and leisure sectors in the future, Cooray explained that 'it all depends on more..

May 29 (DM) Striking at the enemy’s weakest link is a well-known military strategy. This strategy had been emphasized by Chinese General Sun Tzu (5th-6th Century BC) in his famous work, Art of War. Even ancient India’s political advisor Chanakya had backed this strategy. The strategy is not lost on international terrorist groups such as the ISIS, either. As the Covid-19 pandemic brings the world’s powerful states to their knees, needless to say they are at their weakest. more..

May 29 (DM) National Transport Commission’s (NTC) proposal to make public buses carry passenger in keeping with seating capacity must be lauded for several reasons. This would not only curtail the spread of COVID-19, but also help commuters enjoy the journey till they reach their destinations. This news, conveyed to the public by Power Energy and Transport Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, provides music to the ears of commuters who have experienced some form more..

May 29 (DM) Thondaman was the name that had impacted the Sri Lankan politics for the longest period of time after the Independence until Tuesday. It is not clear it will have any influence or at least any significance any longer, following the untimely death of Arumugan Thondaman on May 26 at the age of 56. Arumugan, apart from his concern towards the wellbeing of his community, the plantation sector workers, more..

May 29 (CT) SL winning the coronavirus war would help build confidence in the economy. The authorities have recently said that the spread of coronavirus is confined to clusters and not to the community. Meanwhile, Presidential Secretariat yesterday announced that islandwide curfew will be re-imposed on Sunday and again next Thursday and the following Friday, where in the interim and after, curfew will be imposed from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. the following day until further notice, more..

May 29 (Island) UNP stands divided, and its Working Committee (WC) has sacked the party rebels who are contesting the next general election from the SJB. On Wednesday, UNP officially conveyed its decision to the SJB, which pooh-poohed it. The SJB members claim they have not left the UNP and the formation of their electoral alliance was in keeping with a UNP WC decision. Their rivals maintain the SJB has been registered as a separate political party, and, therefore, a UNP member cannot more..

May 29 (ST) Mahattaya padinchiya mahanuwara neda? Ehenam bayak sakak nethiwa inna puluwani. Dalada saminduge balma thiyenawa ne… ane waasanaawai. This was told to me by a fellow passenger, clad in white national garb, sharing a seat in public transport. My home is in Aniwatta, Kandy. I am safe. No visitors. House bound for over a month due to COVID-19. It is six weeks since the lockdown. The govt took a series of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. more..

May 29 (Island) According to Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Director General of Health, all the new Covid-19 cases in recent times have not been among the general public, but confined to the Navy centre, to quarantine centres, or to returnees to the Island who are isolated from the public. This presents a relatively optimistic picture of the progress of the epidemic. Here we take another look at the epidemiological data available from the govt epidemiological unit, more..

May 29 (ST) Attorney General’s (AG) Department on Friday informed the apex court that the March 2 dated Presidential proclamation of dissolving Parliament continues to be valid and urged the eight fundamental rights petitions which challenged its legality to be dismissed. Representing the AG, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Indika Demuni de Silva told court that even though elections could not be held within 3 months more..

May 29 (Island) With Sri Lanka being commended for its highly successful measures in containing the novel coronavirus which led to a global pandemic whilst many developed nations failed to do so, it is an ideal moment for the country to be positive and turn this crisis into an opportunity especially when it comes to higher education. Sri Lanka has been trying to achieve the knowledge hub status for a decade now; it’s about time to start acting upon it and make a real transformation in both more..

May 29 (DN) Selected sports Weight Lifting, Athletic, Kabbadi and Wushu national pools training will recommence from June 1 onwards according to the director of sports, Department of Sports Development I.P. Wijeyaratne. Ministry of Sports decided to re-start the national pool trainings for the respective sports with Health Ministry guidelines. All the guidelines were sent to the respective national federations three weeks before by the Ministry of Sports. more..

May 29 (Island) Sports Ministry secretary K.D. Ruwanchandra said that three committees will be appointed to further probe the issues raised by the committee to review Sri Lanka’s participation at the last South Asian Games. "Steps had been taken to implement the recommendations made by the review committee. Steps had also been taken to appoint committees to investigate the issues raised by review committee, he said more..

May 29 (DN) ICRA Lanka expects the outlook for Sri Lanka Non-banking Financial Institutes (NBFIs) to be more challenging than for Licensed Commercial Banks (LCBs) in the period following the confinement. Traditionally, the finance companies in Sri Lanka cater to the informal and relatively vulnerable segments of the economy such as self-employed individuals, micro businesses, SMEs. The income levels of these segments are volatile and the COVID-19 disruption has amplified volatility. more..

May 29 (Island) There is an election supposed to happen over here in Aotearoa as well. It is supposed to happen in four months’ time but if it will happen or not is still under debate. The outcome looks pretty obvious as the incumbent has hardly put a foot wrong and the opposition is reduced to bleating about the number of people allowed at a funeral under Covid 19 stage two alert rules! As for the press all they have to question is what is a confirmed case and what is a probable case more..

May 29 (CT) The Mawbima and Ceylon Today has printed sensationalist headlines that I have changed my name, quoting the SL Police and Interpol. This story is a blatant falsehood. In fact it is a metaphor for how low sections of the media in Sri Lanka have fallen because of unprincipled politics and the constant striving of some media barons to trample on the reputations of others to please their political masters. more..

May 29 (FT) The SLPP said the Election Commission (EC) should have adapted to challenges posed by COVID-19 and continued its operations to prepare to hold the General Election as soon as patient numbers were brought under control. Speaking to media, former MP D.V Chanaka said in their view the commission has shown a lack of preparedness to hold the election amidst COVID-19 mitigation measures, insisting that was the responsibility of the commission. more..

May 29 (TM) LAUGFS Holdings announced the appointment of Mr. Piyadasa Kudabalage as their Group Managing Director/CEO with effect from 21st May 2020. Kudabalage will oversee the operations of LAUGFS Holdings Limited and all its subsidiaries and associates involved with multiple sectors of the economy. Kudabalage has had a career spanning well over 35 years in reputable public and private sector organizations in a diverse landscape of businesses across plantation management, more..

May 29 (Island) Former UNP National List MP Saman Ratnapriya warned of dire consequences unless the govt strictly followed health guidelines in place to curb the marauding coronavirus, at the funeral of the late CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman. Ratnapriya, who is also the President of GNOU, urged the govt to make appropriate arrangements in consultation with health authorities to prevent a catastrophe. more..

May 29 (FT) Automotive Component Manufacturing Association welcomed govt’s decision to increase the Loan to Value (LTV) ratio on locally assembled vehicles as major boost to domestic industry as well as tap export markets. CB a fortnight ago allowed licenced commercial banks and specialised provide loans upto 70% of the value for locally assembled motor cars, SUVs and vans and if they are electric vehicles it will be 90%. For non-electric imported vehicles the LTV is a lower 50%. more..

May 29 (CT) The impacts of COVID-19 may see the industrial sector laying off a considerable portion of its workforce, with a few companies registered under the Board of Investment preparing Voluntary Retirement Schemes (VRSs) for their staff. Minister of Industrial Exports, Investment Promotion, Tourism and Aviation, Prassana Ranatunga told Ceylon FT that several BoI factories are currently facing severe financial difficulties due to the impact of COVID-19 and are ready to introduce VRSs. more..

May 29 (Island) Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s decision to dissolve Parliament was a political decision made in his capacity as the Head of State and govt under the provisions of the Constitution, and, therefore, the judiciary had no powers to intervene in and order that the executive decision be reversed, Supreme Court was told. Gamini Marapana, PC said so when further consideration of fundamental rights petitions, more..

May 29 (EN) With SL easing lockdown measures in all districts even as the country’s number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to rise, a confused public is attempting to make sense of a plethora of new regulations. Having partially lifted on Tuesday (26) the curfew that continued to be imposed in the Colombo and Gampaha districts (it’s still in effect from 10pm to 4am every day), the govt issued a vast array of guidelines yesterday on how to conduct daily life while keeping more..

May 29 (FT) As the Southwest Monsoon gets into swing, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) assured it has included COVID-19 mitigation and social distancing measures into its disaster response measures. DMC Director General Major Gen Sudantha Ranasinghe said that DMC had decided to take extra precautions due to the risk of COVID-19 and measures would be taken to maintain social distancing at relief centres. “DMC, Meteorology Dept, NBRO and Irrigation Dept will more..

May 29 (AD) After one of the navy personnel engaged in duties at the Gaffoor Building had tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, the first group of persons who had close contact with him were subjected to PCR tests today. Dr. Anil Jasinghe stated that around 200 from the navy including drivers and others personnel are stationed at the building and that the entire building has been quarantined since yesterday (27). more..

May 29 (SLN) Local multi-day fishing vessels that were washed-away to Indonesian sea area as a result of the recent cyclonic storm Amphan, were escorted back to SL waters with the help of SL Navy Ship Samudura. With the cyclonic disturbances that traversed around Andaman Islands, it turned into a low-pressure area in southeast of the Bay of Bengal, about 1,000 km from SL by 13th May. As of 16th May the situation turned out to be a storm and it showed signs to be more worsening. more..

May 29 (CT) The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) yesterday recorded for over 3 hours a statement from former MP Harin Fernando in connection with the controversial video linked to former MP Kavinda Jayawardena, that has been released on social media platforms recently. CCD sources said they had questioned Fernando following a complaint Jayawardena had lodged with Police relating to a damaging video targeting him, that had been posted on social media sites. more..

May 29 (CT) The order to print ballot papers for the next General Election had been placed by the Election Commission (EC) on 27 May after a lapse of two months and six days, Department of Govt Printing sources said. Usually, ahead of an election and within two days after the date of the acceptance of nomination papers, the order for printing of ballot papers is placed with the Dept by the EC. However, these sources claimed more..

May 29 (FT) Cabinet approved maintaining Assessment Tax without change for the next two years, an official said. Cabinet approved a Cabinet paper presented by Minister Janaka Bandara Tennekoon delaying issuing Assessment Tax based on new estimates to provide relief to the public already hit by the COVID-19 outbreak. “Due to assessment tax not being changed in the past 5 years and increase in property values if Assessment Taxes are updated then they will increase by more..