Aug 2 (FT) SriLankan Airlines yesterday announced a special buy one and get one free offer for the Russian holidaymakers to visit Sri Lanka during this summer vacation period. This offer will be valid till 31 Oct. This special offer would enable the Russian leisure travellers to explore numerous attractions available in SL after the country relaxed the travel regulations to the tourists. The discounted air tickets together with special incentives offered by the SL industry partners more..

Aug 2 (Island) When Jose Mourinho arrived in London from Portugal to take over as Chelsea’s Manager, he sat on that press conference chair at Stamford Bridge and told the reporters, I am the Special One. True to form Mourinho turned Chelsea’s fortunes. We too have a Special One. Not that he has turned around our cricketing fortunes. But every time he gets into trouble, he has some big shot waiting to bail him out; more..

Aug 2 (FT) Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 fatalities rose to 4,508 with 67 deaths confirmed on Saturday. A majority of the deaths confirmed on Saturday were over age 60, with 56 deaths in this age category, 10 deaths in the 30 to 59 age category, and one death in the below 30 age category. 74.83% of the total COVID-19 fatalities are above 60 years, 23.94% are between ages 30 and 59, and 1.24% are below 30 years. 2,625 fatalities are male and 1,883 fatalities are female. more..

Aug 2 (SO) Govt of India informed the High Court in Madurai on Friday that India would not grant citizenship to SL Tamil refugees living in India. According to reports from India, 60,000 SL Tamil refugees are living in 107 refugee camps in the State of Tamil Nadu along with 35,000 non-camp refugees in the State. A significant number of SL refugees also live in the State of Odisha (formerly known as Orissa). Indian Central Govt citing its reason for refusing to grant citizenship for more..

Aug 2 (TM) State Ministry of Co-operative Services, Marketing Development, and Consumer Protection plans to hold discussions with private liquid petroleum gas (LPG) distributor Laugfs Gas PLC regarding the gas supply shortage that its customers are currently facing. State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna said that the Govt hopes to have a discussion within the course of this week with Laugfs Gas on whether more..

Aug 2 (Island) Leading developer John Keells Properties has officially begun the handover of the first keys of the The Suites residential apartments at Cinnamon Life, the company anoounced last week. The completion and handover of the apartment tower- which consists of 196 units ranging from two to four-bedroomed apartments, marks an important milestone as Colombo’s premium waterfront mixed-development project begins to take shape, a news release said. more..

Aug 2 (FT) The Govt is to enact new legislation for the establishment of a Petroleum Development Authority and formulation of a National Policy on Upstream Petroleum Industry. The new Bill which will replace the Petroleum Resources Act No. 26 of 2003 also provides for the regulation and management structure capturing the maximum economic value of domestic petroleum resources through modern exploration, development, production, and management practices in SL. more..

Aug 2 (FT) SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier of Sri Lanka and a member of the oneworld alliance, announced the commencement of direct flights between Sri Lanka and Russia yesterday. The inaugural flight was ceremonially greeted with a water salute at Domodedovo Airport (DME) in Moscow. The airline is resuming flights to the Russian capital after a break of six years, between Colombo’s BIA and Moscow's DME. more..

Aug 2 (FT) Led by vibrant growth in its logistics sector, Expolanka Holdings PLC has delivered another record-breaking performance during the quarter ended 30 June (Q121). In a statement, Expolanka said Group revenue recorded a remarkable 165% Year-on-Year (YoY) expansion to reach Rs. 95.7 billion resulting in Gross Profit of Rs. 14.4 billion, up 130% YoY. Together with a strong focus on operational efficiency, Group Profit After Tax (PAT) surged by an outstanding 259% more..

Aug 2 (FT) Administration of the much-awaited second dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine commenced yesterday and vaccination will continue for a week at 20 centres in Western Province. This includes two centres run by SL Army which will operate around the clock. The vaccination centre at Vihara Maha Devi Park’s open-air theatre will be in operation today, while the centre at Diyatha Uyana will be in operation until Wednesday. SL on Saturday received 728,460 vaccine doses through more..

Aug 2 (FT) Sri Lanka Tourism has launched a drive to register informal sector operators with the help of iconic cricketer Kumar Sangakkara. The key objective of the initiative is to absorb the informal sector tourism services and establishments to SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) registration process. A unique video features Sangakkara with a core message Come, together let’s rebuild the industry we all love! more..

Aug 2 (AD) Head of Virology at the University of Hong Kong, Professor Malik Peiris has warned that the worst for Sri Lanka is yet to come, and it will hit the island in the coming months. He also notes that the entire world could have prevented the pandemic, had the health sector been given the same priority as defence. The new strain of SARS-CoV-2, the Delta variant, has caused havoc in India and it is going to have major impact on Sri Lanka in the coming weeks, Prof. Peiris stressed. more..

Aug 2 (DM) UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardena today alleged that the recent star sapphire clusters unearthed in Ratnapura was a fabricated story to divert the people's attention from burning issues. Wijewardene who was speaking to party activists in Haliella said the gem clusters story was nothing but fabricated just to divert the people’s attention. “Dammika peniya (Syrup) was another fabricated gimmick some months ago. Now we see clusters of gems being found in Ratnapura. more..

Aug 2 (DM) Investigations disclosed that three of the eleven women who had served as domestic workers at MP Rishad Bathiudeen’s residence in Colombo since 2010, have died. Police launched investigations following the death of the 16-year-old girl who recently died of burn injuries while working at the residence last month. Following the investigations, the police said that 11 women including the 16-year –old girl had worked more..

Aug 2 (ST) An Omani Govt investment arm has shown initial interest in the property on which the Air Force Headquarters is situated in Colombo 2 and the UDA-owned Chalmer’s Granary land in Colombo Fort, official sources said. The party has signed a non-binding agreement with the UDA, committing to send a team to do due diligence for the mixed development projects it envisages building on the properties. The contract expires in two weeks. UDA has opened out many of its lands for more..

Aug 2 (CT) Colombo Fort Chief Magistrate yesterday enlarged on bail popular vocalist Umariya Sinhawansa, who was charged by the Welikada Police with reckless driving and causing grievous injury to a person. Sinhawansa was released on surety bail in Rs 500,000. The Magistrate also impounded the vocalist’s driving licence and ordered it to be handed over to Court. Welikada Police, prosecuting, stated the suspect vocalist had driven a motorcar & had knocked onto a 3-wheeler more..

Aug 2 (FT) Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 detections rose to 311,349 with over 4,500 persons testing positive for COVID-19 over the weekend. The weekend detections include 2,510 patients on Sunday and 2,177 patients the previous day. On Sunday, 2,490 persons linked to the New Year cluster tested positive for COVID-19. PCR testing increased on Sunday, with 19,122 tests carried out within the day. more..

Aug 2 (AD) Secretary to the Ministry of Education has requested all provincial, zonal and divisional education authorities, principals, teachers and non-academic staff to follow the circular on recalling public sector employees to work from Aug 2. On Friday (30), Secretary to President, P.B. Jayasundera announced that all state sector employees will be called back to work from Monday (2). Accordingly, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Services, Provincial Councils & Local Govt more..

Aug 2 (DM) As the vaccination rollout of AstraZeneca second doses commenced today, Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi urged people not to create unnecessary congestion at vaccination centers. She said people had ample time to get themselves vaccinated and therefore, asked people to avoid long queues at vaccination centers. “There is a large crowd in the Western Province hoping to get the second dose of AstraZeneca. It is a great relief that we received the required amount of more..

Aug 2 (Island) Former Governor of Uva, Southern and Central Province Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon says the govt is paying a huge price for the continuing failure to streamline the tax collection process, corrupt practices and the utterly unwise decision to change the tax policy immediately after the change of govt in Nov 2019. Civil society activist Tennakoon alleged that the Treasury lost well over Rs. 500 bn due to a controversial decision more..

Aug 2 (ST) Two key institutions that were under the purview of the Public Security Minister have been brought under the Defence Minister who is Prez Rajapaksa, according to a gazette notification issued by the Presidential Secretariat. Civil Security Department and the Multipurpose Development Task Force Department now come under the Ministry of Defence, according to a July 29-dated gazette announcement outlining revision of subjects and functions. Accordingly, SL Police and more..

Aug 2 (CT) Despite Prez Rajapaksa's announcement mandating public servants to return to work, academic staff in schools around the country will not report to work. According to Ceylon Teachers' Union General Secretary, Joseph Stalin they have decided to do so until they receive a proper response to their grievances, which include salary disparities. He also saidthe proposal of the Subodana Committee Report, which was set up to discuss salary disparities, should be more..

Aug 2 (DM) Foreign intelligence agencies from a number of countries are believed to be operating in Sri Lanka to gather information or counterpropaganda from countries of concern, Daily Mirror learns. Sources said that the main focus of these intelligence agencies is to keep a close eye on the activities of some countries, the contacts they establish locally and their military presence, if any. SL has been seen as a strategic location more..

Aug 2 (FT) CB Governor Deshamanya Professor W.D. Lakshman, in an interview on Derana’s Hyde Park last week, reiterated the stand of the present Govt that it will not seek any bailout from IMF. This was one day after SL kept its unblemished record of meeting all foreign debt obligations on time by paying in full the International Sovereign Bonds or ISBs of $ 1,000 million that matured on 27 July 2021. This was done by using the existing foreign reserves of the country and minimising more..

Aug 2 (FT) The Hambantota Int'l Port (HIP) is a deep-water port being developed in phases in Hambantota, southern SL. This port is located 10 nautical miles to the major int'l east-west shipping route - the Suez Canal and the Strait of Malacca and well positioned at a strategic location on the maritime gateway to India. Generally, per day about 300 ships pass this route and creates good business opportunities for providing services such as refuelling, crew change, maintenance, more..

Aug 2 (Island) Women’s groups in Vavuniya held a demonstration on Saturday evening accusing the govt of delaying the investigation into the death of J. Ilashlini, the 16 -year-old girl who died while working at SJB MP Rishad Bathiudeen’s residence in Colombo 7. Representatives of the organisations said that they had been observing the pace of the investigations as well as claims being made by political parties about the death. It was becoming increasingly clear that the political and more..

Aug 2 (AD) Army Commander General Shavendra Silva says that over 19,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered so far at the 24-hour vaccination center established at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. He said that a total of 19,075 doses of the vaccine donated by Japan have been administered between 8.30 a.m. yesterday and 5 a.m. this morning. SL Army yesterday launched a 24-hour vaccination drive for the first time to administer more..

Aug 2 (EN) SL’s long term generation plan has set practical target for 53% of electricity coming from renewable and 70% from clean including liquefied natural gas, engineers of state-run CEB has said. The 53% target balances affordability, reliability of supply and network upgrading costs and foreign debt and is around the level of present engineers say. To take it to levels like 70% only from renewable by 2030 more..

Aug 2 (Island) Eight chief inspectors had submitted forged educational certificates to obtain promotions to the ASP rank. Around 480 chief inspectors faced interviews and tests to secure 280 vacant slots in the ASP rank in the department four months back. Investigations conducted by the Public Security Ministry and Public Service Commission found that eight chief inspectors had submitted forged educational certificates. Thereafter the PSC has called for the certificates submitted by more..

Aug 2 (TM) In response to several requests from Sri Lankan citizens with regard to visa and consular services, the Indian High Commission in Colombo stated that it will remain committed to service these requests in the best possible way. The High Commission notes that according to official sources, the number of COVID related cases and fatalities have unfortunately seen an increase and the presence of globally prevalent Delta variant of the Corona Virus is also established. more..

Aug 2 (EN) SL’s 213 billion rupees printing of money on July 26 (US$ 1005 million at 203 rupees) had flowed out of the country in a back-to-back transaction that depleted foreign reserves but did not cause domestic price inflation, Treasury Secretary Sajith Attygalle said. The billion US dollar sovereign bond (which also had a coupon) was paid with central bank dollar (monetary) reserves. He said a Treasury bill was issued to the CB more..

Aug 2 (Island) The Sri Lanka Magic Circle has rendered a great service over the years by nurturing magicians and improving their skills by conducting training workshops and magic contests, PM Rajapaksa said in a congratulatory message to mark its centenary celebrations on Feb 18, 2022. “Magic, as a performing art, provides young kids with entertaining and interactive ways to learn a range of skills such as public speaking, multi-tasking, precision and adaptability”, PM said. more..

Aug 2 (CT) A total of 85 persons have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and over 40 families were quarantined, after a big girl party in a village in the Kalutara District was halted by area health officials. Sources of the Beruwala Medical Officer of Health (MOH) office said that arrangements had been underway at a house in Gorakadeniya, Payagala, in the Kalutara District to celebrate a ‘coming of age’ party in violation of quarantine laws. The party, which was scheduled to be held on 24 July, more..

Aug 2 (Island) The failure of the govt to solve problems facing the people was not solely due to the inabilities of the incumbent president, but also because of the failures of those surrounding him, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissnayake said yesterday. He said SLPP’s mammoth victory at the last prez election and two-third majority at the general election subsequently were due to the people’s trust in Prez, more..

Aug 2 (MFA) Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) received eight BeachTech Hydro Sweepy beach cleaning machinery worth about US$180,000, donated by Singapore-based global non-profit, the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (Alliance). The donation was formally handed over by Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage to State Minister Mohan Priyadarshana De Silva, and Chairperson of Marine Environment Protection Authority Dharshani Lahandapura more..

Aug 2 (TM) US Ambassador to SL Ms. Alaina B. Teplitz conveyed that the United States will continue to support SL’s fight against Covid-19 by providing ongoing support to the COVAX facility – an international mechanism distributing life saving vaccines to countries throughout the world, including Sri Lanka. She made this statement when she made a courtesy call on the Hon. Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana today. Mr. Marcus Carpenter, Deputy Chief of Political Division more..

Aug 2 (CT) SJB MP Manusha Nanayakkara, pointing out the Govt has now begun to play a live-or-die game, said mandating all workers to return to work could endanger expectant mothers because vaccinations for pregnant mothers have yet to be completed. He said the Circular prohibiting pregnant women from coming to work would be repealed because all public servants are required to work, while more..

Aug 2 (DM) Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has decided not to administer the first dose of Sinopharm vaccine to city dwellers till the completion of administering second doses of AstraZeneca and Sinopharm, Mayor Rosy Senanayake said today. Ms. Senanayake said second doses of Sinopharm and AstraZeneca will be administered at Sugathadasa outdoor stadium, P. D. Sirisena grounds and BMICH. “CMC vaccination sites for the second dose of Sinopharm will include more..

Aug 2 (AD) Former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has filed a writ application before the Court of Appeal requesting the quashing of the recommendations against him by the PCoI to Investigate into Political Victimization. In his petition, the UNP leader and parliamentarian requests the court to issue a writ order quashing the panel’s recommendations against him and also seeks interim order preventing the implementation of the recommendations until the hearing of the petition is concluded. more..