Feb 7 (ST) Central Environmental Authority (CEA) must direct the RDA to avoid the Thalangama wetland when building the proposed elevated highway from Rajagiriya to Athurugiriya, Attorney General strongly advised this week. The 10.4km stretch of highway is the second phase of a 17.3km project from the New Kelani Bridge in Orugodawatte to Athurugiriya. More than 3km will across the Averihena Tank and surrounding more..

Feb 7 (TM) Election for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will be held on Thursday, 20 May 2021, it was announced today (4). The latest date for submitting nominations will be Wednesday, 24 February 2021. The Morning reported on 25 January that there could be three camps, under current President Shammi Silva, former Vice President Kangadaran Mathivanan, and former Captain Sanath Jayasuriya, that are to contest the SLC elections this time. But Jayasuriya later denied he is contesting. more..

Feb 7 (SO) The long awaited 2020-2021 Under-19 inter-school cricket season will begin on March 20, after the completion of the postponed GCE O/L 2020 exam. However, there will be no two-day tournament this year due to limited time left after the Covid-19 pandemic. Hence, the official 2020-2021 Under-19 tournament will only be confined to a limited-over affair. President of SL Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA) Thilak Waththuhewa said they plan to commence new inter-school U-19 season more..

Feb 7 (Island) The implementation of the recommendations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into political victimization (PCOI) would have a huge effect on the independence of the judiciary and its function in search of justice, says the Lawyers’ Forum for the People. “This is a real danger to democracy and the country’s democratic institutions and processes”, Co-Convener of the Forum, more..

Feb 7 (SO) No one could take ownership or take away a harbour and the Govt will not dispose of any of such assets other than finding viable ways to finance the development of the State assets, State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal said in response to claims that the govt has given the green light to hand over the West Terminal of the Colombo Port to India. “How could an outside party or country take ownership of a port without the consent of the govt that runs it? The claims by bankrupt elements more..

Feb 7 (Island) Prez Gotabhaya Rajapaksa turned down a plea by villagers to allocate 3 kilometres of forest cover to build a new road in Deraniyagala, officials said. “I cannot agree to it without consulting environmental experts”, he said during an interaction with villagers in the area on Saturday. Environmentalists believe that some local politicians had coaxed villagers to urge the Prez to release the forest land ostensibly for a road for which hundreds of valuable trees will have to be felled. more..

Feb 7 (ST) Yet another CEB tender–this time for the design, manufacture and supply of three 35 megawatt gas turbines–is in limbo, with the Power and Energy Ministry wanting the award cancelled even after the process was completed and a Chinese company selected. The decision has led China National Technical Imports and Exports Corporation (CNTIC) to complain that it was seriously aggrieved as it had spent more..

Feb 7 (AD) Eight more Covid-19 related deaths have been reported increasing the death toll due to the virus in SL to 351. Victims include a 77-year-old woman from Kochchikade, who was identified as Covid-19 positive while being treated at the Negombo District Hospital and was later transferred to the IDH. She had passed away today (6) due to shock caused by blood poisoning, Covid-19 pneumonia and kidney disease. 73-year-old woman from Kadawatha, who was transferred more..

Feb 7 (ST) Two months into the completion of the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), SLC is yet to recover the rights fee from the event organiser — Innovative Production Group (IPG). This is despite SLC having given them a grace period up until the completion of the 5-team tournament to settle an outstanding sum of US$ 775,000. Even though the agreement entered by the IPG and SLC requires the right holder to settle rights fee immediately after entering into 5-yr deal, more..

Feb 7 (Island) The unilateral scrapping by Sri Lanka of the trilateral agreement on developing the strategic East Container Terminal (ECT) has upset both India and Japan. Last week, Sri Lanka unilaterally pulled out of the 2019 agreement with India and Japan after as many as 223 Sri Lankan trade unions and civil societies groups backed the Sri Lanka port trade unions demand to cancel the ECT agreement. more..

Feb 7 (ST) The Right to Information Commission (RTIC) has directed the Secretary General of Parliament to release the names of MPs who have submitted Declarations of Assets and Liabilities during 2010-2018. This followed a journalist, Chamara Sampath filing a request for that information under the RTI law and the refusal by the Secretary General on the basis that Declarations of Assets are filed by MPs to the Speaker of Parliament and that he does not have access more..

Feb 7 (ST) India has lodged a strong protest with SL on the award of a tender to a Chinese company to set up three renewable energy projects in outlying islands off the Jaffna peninsula. The protest, the Sunday Times learnt, came even before the Cabinet of Ministers decided not to give India and Japan the East Container Terminal in the Colombo Port. This also provoked a strong protest from India. The protest was triggered by the Dept of Information releasing the decisions of the Cabinet. more..

Feb 7 (ST) The Govt this week walked back on its move to hand over the Colombo Port’s East Container Terminal (ETC) to India and Japan, drawing strong protests from both New Delhi and Tokyo. The decision by the Cabinet on Monday came after growing protests by trade unions and influential sections of the Buddhist clergy. Prominent govt leaders lent support. At the helm was PM Rajapaksa, who declared publicly that more..

Feb 8 (TM) If you ask young Sri Lankans when they leave the country about their reason for leaving, on top of the usual better education, better job prospects, and better salaries, you also hear a resounding number of people sharing that they are leaving because they wish to get away from their family and social pressures imposed by Sri Lankan culture. If they are honest, perhaps even those travelling to greener pastures may even have this as one of their underlying reasons. more..

Feb 8 (CT) Woman clad in saffron green supplicates Lord Ganesha for success in her endeavours. Accompanied by her colleagues she repairs home and attires an RDX belt laden with explosives. Male colleague assists her in her explosive wardrobe. Rapid Detonating Explosive (RDX) is a nitramine explosive compound that is utilised as a propellant. After completion of her wardrobe the woman sports a belt laden with 700 g of RDX, more than adequate to achieve her goal. more..

Feb 8 (ST) While Sri Lanka’s foreign missions are still struggling to repatriate Sri Lankans who are stuck in foreign capitals after the COVID-19 pandemic, in Cyprus the Consulate General had to make a strange request to Lankans in that country. The Consulate Office urged Lankans to stay away from calling up official hotlines to verify whether their girlfriends had already booked flights to return home or reached home in return flights. more..

Feb 8 (ST) As the Union Jack that had flown majestic over the entire isle of Ceylon for 138 years was ceremoniously lowered on Feb 4, 1948, marking the end of Britain’s regal sway; the pride and hope that would have swelled and soared in the newly independent nation’s collective breast, would, no doubt, have known no bounds. But beneath the euphoric joy freedom’s long awaited advent naturally evokes, beneath the patriotic ecstasy freedom’s hour provokes when a long suppressed race more..

Feb 8 (GV) In a tribal region of Afghanistan, a sad 10 year old girl, heavily made up and veiled, sits silently at her wedding ceremony to a 70 year old man. In a rural village in China, old women hobble along on tiny feet with toes fused from decades of binding. In India, a woman aborts a female foetus after a scan reveals the sex of her baby. These are just three examples of traditional cultural practices that harm women and serve as a means to subjugate & control them; in many instances, more..

Feb 8 (TM) Sri Lanka saw its first female deputy inspector general (DIG) of police being nominated for appointment last year, after a seven-decade gap. Yet even that was contested by the male officers in the police force, raising questions as to why the position was afforded to Bimshani Jasin Arachchi while there were arguably more deserving male officers who could have been promoted to the vacant DIG seat. more..

Feb 8 (Island) So we are all set to celebrate National Day tomorrow (as I write this). All week long I heard jets screaming overhead in formation and the distant sound of marching feet and commands barked out. So another parade tomorrow, now commemorating Nationalism and not Independence per se as this parade and day of celebration started off on February 4, 1948. It has continued each year for 73 years, with as mentioned, a change of name, stance and significance. more..

Feb 8 (CT) US is presently encouraging the Core Group on SL to proceed against the island Nation on war crimes accountability issue at the forthcoming session of UNHRC. But the US has itself had nasty brushes with the Council both in the recent and distant past. US quit the UNHRC in 2018 alleging bias against its ally Israel. It accused the Council of turning a blind eye to some other countries which violate human rights brazenly while passing resolution after resolution against Israel. more..

Feb 8 (SO) Prez has appointed a new Commission to look into the report on Commission to Investigate Political Victimisation (PCOI) and find ways of implementing the recommendations of the latter. This move has led to the cry of blue murder in some quarters. A coterie of men in black — not representing the Bar Association certainly — but on behalf of themselves and a group they claim to represent, immediately went on attack mode. These attacks were also echoed by some of the more..

Feb 8 (ST) To mercilessly mangle Bob Dylan’s timeless words, a hard rain will fall on Sri Lanka if hammer blows continue to be aimed at judicial, prosecutorial and legal institutions by the country’s political leadership. In the end, this will not spare judges and the judiciary itself, in the manner of recent history as we have already seen. There is no immunity for this devastation; it will visit each and every one of us. Cabinet’s approval, in Jan 2021, of recommendations and findings of the PCoI more..

Feb 8 (TM) It is unlikely that Sri Lanka will revoke the already-signed tripartite agreement between India, Japan, and itself on jointly developing the East Container Terminal (ECT) of Colombo Port in 2019, as the SL Govt is attempting to renegotiate it for the development of the West Container Terminal (WCT) instead. Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Shipping U.D.C. Jayalal said Govt would soon appoint a new negotiating more..

Feb 8 (CT) Following long hours of battling in the frontline to save an incalculable number of lives during the Pandemic, while putting his own life at stake, Dr. Gayan Danthanarayana, most commonly known for his impeccable personality, breathed his last, losing his personal battle against COVID-19. This devastating news came in days after the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines were brought to the country and administered to frontline workers and days after Dr. Danthanarayana's loved ones more..

Feb 8 (FT) Kashmir Solidarity Day was observed by the High Commission of Pakistan in Colombo on Friday, to express solidarity and reaffirm Pakistan’s unconditional support to the Kashmiris in their struggle for right of self-determination. The ceremony was attended by a good number of the Pakistani community, friends of Kashmir, local journalists and diplomats based in Colombo. The event was addressed by keynote speakers, Muhammad Shiraz Yoonus and more..

Feb 8 (SLN) The official launching of Colombo Naval Exercise -2021 (CONEX-21), conducted by SL Navy for the third consecutive year, was marked onboard Sri Lanka Naval Ship (SLNS) Sayurala at the port of Colombo today (7). The exercise is scheduled to be held in seas off Colombo from 08th to 10th of this month. Naval Fleet Command is entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the exercise & smooth execution more..

Feb 8 (Island) Why keep a dog and bark yourself? This is what one may have asked oneself when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa embarked on his Gama Samaga Pilisandarak (GSP) programme to help the rural folk; one may have thought the task could have been left to the state officials and people’s representatives—the members of Parliament provincial councillors and local govt members. But what if the dog is deaf and mute? Prez Rajapaksa, speaking at a GSP event more..

Feb 8 (FT) More youth from the Northern Province are turning to innovative startups under the initiative of Yarl IT Hub (YIT), originally set up in 2013. They are made competitive via the Yarl Geek Challenge Accelerator which runs for six months for a selected cohort of early-stage startups twice a year. During these six months, the startups will be offered training, mentoring, seed funding, and networking opportunities. In doing so, the accelerator aims to help its entrepreneurs generate revenue, more..

Feb 8 (Island) Reigning men’s doubles national champions Thehan Wijemanne and Chathurya Nilaweera are set to meet in the last eight-round as the quarter-finalists were found in the men’s singles of the 105th Colombo Championships at the SL Tennis Association clay courts on Sunday. Nilaweera recovered from a first set defeat to oust Dhilvan Herath 3-6, 6-4, 10-4 in the last 16 round yesterday. Wijemanne who joined Nilaweera to share two doubles titles at the recently concluded more..

Feb 8 (FT) The Supreme Court has given notice of the new rules for electronic filing and urgent digital virtual hearings which will come into operation with effect from 15 Feb. These rules cited as the Supreme Court (Electronic Filing and Urgent Digital Virtual Hearings) (Special Provisions) Rules, 2021 have been made under Article 136 of the Constitution by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya and three other judges nominated by him, namely Justices B.P. Aluvihare,Padman Surasena more..

Feb 8 (FT) The manufacturers and importers of sanitaryware have, in a welcome sign of unity, reached a compromise to ensure free availability of their products in tandem with increased demand. The two sides met on Friday to discuss a resolution to the issue relating to import duty and CESS applicable on imports, as well as the support to promote domestic manufacturing. Following deliberations, both parties reached more..

Feb 8 (AD) National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Head Army Commander General Shavendra Silva has issued an updated announcement on the isolation status of several areas. The isolation orders on several areas have been lifted from 5 am tomorrow (8). Accordingly, the following areas will no longer be isolated from tomorrow: - Borella Police Division: Gothamipura Housing Scheme, Gothamipura 24 Watta, Gothamipura 78 Watta areas, and more..

Feb 8 (FT) OREL, one of the most innovative companies in the country who has pioneered and then dominated the lighting industry, recently announced a new partnership with NSBM, one of the country’s leading higher education institutions. Partnership was entered into by the Electronic and Robotic division of the OREL Education division that provides engineering equipment software and solutions as the sole authorised distributor of ni (national instruments) Quanser & lucas nulle more..

Feb 8 (ST) The overall cost of resettlement from building three lines under the Western Region Light Rail Transit Project (WRLRTP) is estimated at US$ 74.6mn or Rs 14.4 billion at the current exchange rate, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report released this week shows. However, this cost is only for private land and property-related land acquisitions, rehabilitation, resettlement and project management, more..

Feb 8 (TM) Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana is scheduled to announce his standpoint about the parliamentary seat of SJB MP Ranjan Ramanayake tomorrow (9), SJB MP Tissa Attanayake said. “The Speaker, in response to a request made by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in Parliament that Ramanayake should be allowed to attend parliamentary sessions since Ramanayake’s parliamentary seat will be valid for six more months, said that he would announce his opinion in more..

Feb 8 (DN) Pakistan’s PM Imran Khan is scheduled to visit SL on Feb 22 on a two day official visit and he will be the first Head of State to visit the country this year. He will call on Prez Rajapaksa, PM Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena during his stay in Colombo. Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a telephone conversation with the Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena had exchanged views on bilateral matters more..

Feb 8 (FT) The total COVID-19 patient count rose to 69,348 with the detection of 1,498 patients over the weekend, including 772 COVID-19 positive persons detected yesterday. The 772 persons were associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster. This expands the Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, and Prisons COVID-19 clusters to 65,347 patients. A total of 726 COVID-19 patients were detected on Saturday, all of whom more..