Feb 19 (Island) Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda on Wednesday (17) claimed that the Northern Province had been granted land powers in terms of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. The NP consists of administrative districts of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya. Devananda said that in spite of the absence of consensus among SLPP constituents as regards devolution of power, more..

Feb 19 (Island) DIG Ajith Rohana has alerted the public to an alarming increase in killer road accidents recently. During the past seven days, as many as 23 people have died in road mishaps, he says. Prangs, near misses and the attendant chaos on roads have become the order of the day, again. This may be taken as an indication that the country has returned to normal earlier than expected. During pandemic-related lockdowns & travel restrictions, there was a sharp drop in road fatalities, more..

Feb 19 (DM) The public in high-risk areas are to be vaccinated on a priority basis to control the spread of the coronavirus. Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said that infected people are being detected on a regular basis in some areas. He said, for example, Covid infected individuals have been detected in Narahenpita regularly. As a result, Prez has given instructions to target Covid hotspots in the vaccination process, General Shavendra Silva said. He said that cities, villages or more..

Feb 19 (DM) The World Health Organization (WHO) has agreed to increase the percentage of vaccines and most likely would provide at least 27% to us, Army Commander Gen. Shavendra Silva said today. The WHO earlier assured Sri Lanka that it would provide vaccines for 20% of the local population free of charge. In addition to it, China and Russia also agreed to donate vaccines to the local population. more..

Feb 19 (EN) An association representing manager of commercial tea and rubber plantations have asked of PM Mahinda Rajapaksa to intervene after violence erupted amid allegations of politically connected union bosses being involved but no action being taken. In the latest attack two employees of a regional plantation company (RPC) were hospitalized in a critical condition, the Planters’ Association said. “This is now the third instance this year alone where the lives of RPC employees more..

Feb 19 (FT) National Development Bank PLC said it posted solid financial results for the financial year ended 31 Dec 2020, demonstrating its strength, sustainability in generating operational revenue and resilience in withstanding unprecedented challenges. As per results released the after tax profit for 2020 was up 8% to Rs. 5.5 billion. NDB also announced a first interim dividend of Rs. 1.50 per share for FY2020 The Bank and the Group’s performance as reflected in the financial more..

Feb 19 (FT) Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs), trade unions and Labour Ministry officials will meet today to iron out objections filed against the granting of Rs. 1,000 as daily wage by the Wages Board earlier this month and clear the way for a gazette to be issued. Labour Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva announced on 8 Feb that the Wages Board had backed union appeals for the Rs. 1,000 daily wage. more..

Feb 20 (DM) Social justice is a vital dimension of our social lives and also our spiritual lives. Many independent analysts are hopeful that the US’ new Prez Joe Biden and Vice Prez Kamala Harris will work fast and effectively not only to end white racist supremacist extremism or terrorism as we saw on January 6 but also to bring about racial equality and social justice first in the US and then hopefully in most countries of the free world. Most world religious leaders led by the prophetic Pope Francis more..

Feb 20 (DM) The govt seems to have given up hopes of adopting a consensual resolution with the Core Group which has been preparing a resolution on SL at the next session of the UNHRC which is to begin on Monday. In fact agreeing upon a consensual resolution which seems to be not different from a co-sponsored resolution is a difficult task as what the Core Group wants and what the SL govt wants is diametrically opposite. The Core group is firm in making SL authorities accountable more..

Feb 20 (DM) The flower bud is the accredited electoral symbol of the SLPP which is ruling Sri Lanka. However, the image of that flower bud resembles the lotus flower bud. In fact, a lot of lotus buds are used to decorate platforms of the SLPP known in popular parlance as the pohottuwa party. Lotus flower is the symbol of India’s ruling party the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The SLPP in English means Sri Lanka people’s front. more..

Feb 20 (CT) In a country which gave its women the voting right as far back as in 1931 by becoming the first country in Asia to do so and became the first to elect a woman Head of Govt worldwide, 33 men have come forward to challenge a promotion given to a woman who was celebrated as the first DIG of SL Police on mere grounds that the word women is not mentioned in the regulations pertaining to relevant cadre position. The second reason acting DIG Bimshani Jasin Arachchi does not more..

Feb 20 (CT) Govt of SL is set to reject almost out of hand the early draft of the 2021 UNHRC resolution on SL, which activists are condemning as a bitter disappointment that does not take into account the scathing report by High Commissioner for Human Rights. Draft resolution does not even come close to the text of the resolution adopted by the UNHRC in Geneva in 2014, disappointed rights activists said as calls mounted internationally for the Council to take decisive action against SL govt. more..

Feb 20 (CT) Minister of Foreign Relations Dinesh Gunawardena on the UNHRC’s startling statement and the resolution the Core Group is preparing to bring against SL when the Council meets virtually, with no room for debate, negotiation and compromise. He said in entirety, it’s the same treatment other countries would face in the future if not addressed. Q: Is Pakistan PM Imran Khan going to address Parliament? more..

Feb 20 (GV) Today, I am going to explain about the Commission on Political Victimisation established by President Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The Commission was set up to investigate acts of political victimisation faced by Govt officers, public servants, officers in state institutions including corporations, armed forces personnel and police officers during the period from 8 Jan 2015 to 19 Nov 2019, and to mete out justice. This is what appears to be the aim of this commission. more..

Feb 20 (CT) The third member of JR’s Cabinet I look at is still alive. I refer to Ronnie de Mel, who was older than Ranjith Atapattu, who died just three years ago, in his eighties. Once or twice in recent years there has been mention of Ronnie, but he too now is largely forgotten. This should not be the case, for he was responsible for implementation of the economic policies that still hold sway in this country. He was JR’s Finance Minister, almost to the end of JR’s Presidency, and he thus presided over more..

Feb 20 (Island) Cassandra often disparages Sri Lankans’ apparently inherent traits which are not so good, sometimes even derogatory. One such is closing the door once the horse has fled and then flapping around merely screeching. Another is belated reaction and too late action which Cass’ belly aches about today. After that intrepid fauna and flora saver Devanee Jayathilake brought to the notice of highway constructors the fact they were about to destroy a fast disappearing species more..

Feb 20 (DN) Most Sri Lankans in Colombo city would have caught a glimpse of robust women, of African descent dancing to pulsating drumbeats. We have applauded the performances of the African Manja group. But have we truly understood their origins, displacement and hardships hidden behind their smiles. I firmly believe that after their generations have lived here for 500 years, they too are very much Sri Lankan. For centuries Ceylon had been a maritime domain for foreign traders, more..

Feb 20 (Island) Somawathiya National Park has hit the headlines. It is not for the spread of nature or the sanctuary for nature within it, but the illegal land grab of 1,000 acres that has now moved on to 3,000 acres. Will this be the limit? Somawathiya is not alone. There is Sinharaja, Sigiriya and many more reserves threatened by the land grab forces of today. Just keep thinking of what the Defence Secretary Kamal Guneratne has said about more..

Feb 20 (FT) Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed Jayampathi Molligoda to the Board of Bank of Ceylon (BOC). Molligoda is also the current Chairman of SL Tea Board. Prior to his current assignment, he served as CEO at Bogawantalawa Tea Estates till 10 Dec 2019, having joined BTE as Director - Finance in 1992. In addition, he served as Chairman of the Independent Audit Committee of Finlay Teas, Colombo, during the period 2004-2015, and Senior Finance Manager at ANCL more..

Feb 20 (CT) Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews excelled with centuries at the Sri Lanka intra-squad practice 50-over encounter played at CCC yesterday. Chandimal representing Team Shanaka smashed an unbeaten 149 in 123 deliveries which saw 14 fours and 5 sixes. Skipper Shanaka scored 51 off 58, while Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva made unbeaten 80 off just 40 deliveries with seven fours and two sixes. In reply, Team Dimuth had made 258 for 8 in 45 overs more..

Feb 20 (FT) Exporters yesterday raised concerns over a new Central Bank order to immediately convert 25% of forex earnings through licenced banks, insisting such a policy could increase costs and place more pressure on an already struggling sector. The Central Bank yesterday released details of a Gazette notification published on Thursday that called for exporters to immediately convert into rupees 25% of more..

Feb 20 (CT) Ashini Fernando stunned defending Women’s Singles National Champion Dilmi Dias yesterday to make it to the quarter-finals of the 68th National Badminton Championships continued at the Mercantile Badminton Association Courts in Colombo yesterday. Dias who was aiming for back-to-back National titles, lost in straight sets with a score line of (21-15, 21-19). Fernando will meet seventh seed Thiyana Vidanaarachchi in today’s quarter-final at the same venue. more..

Feb 20 (ST) As the sport of shooting makes a gradual comeback following the Covid-19 pandemic, the National Shooting Sport Federation (NSSF) has initiated the commencement of its Trap and Skeet (Shotgun events) competitions. The Clay Target Shooting Club of Colombo’s Shotgun Range in Payagala, being the only current facility in the country, will serve as the venue for these competitions. Mohan Gilbert, the Vice President of the NSSF responsible for the development of more..

Feb 20 (PTI) SL batting great Kumar Sangakkara is opposed to players choosing franchise leagues such as the IPL over international cricket but wants the ICC and member nations to strike a balance as both benefit the game. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) recently indicated that it may not stop its players from participating in the upcoming IPL even if the lucrative T20 event's last matches clash with the Kiwis' Test series more..

Feb 20 (ST) Gone are the days where employees were confined to offices and work for 8-12 hours interacting with colleagues while spending much time in staff gossip. All of a sudden this change has taken place in the wake of COVID-19 with many employees now working from home participating in discussions in video conferencing, online and mobile phone deliberations. Enterprises are now applying different digital tools to manage their operations and these tools worked as a catalyst for more..

Feb 20 (ST) Muthurajawela wetland on the western outskirts of Colombo, parts of which have been reclaimed, has nothing to do with cheese. However it is ideal grazing land for dairy farming and cheese is a major component made out of cow’s milk. Sunil Rodrigo, Chairman, Lili Cheese Ltd, born and bred in Muthurajawela in Mahawatte, Pamunugama, started dairy farming as far back as in the 1960s as a schoolboy maintaining six cows and he recalls in the early days there were 300-400 dairy more..

Feb 20 (FT) 517 persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 patients detected in the island to 78,937. Of the 517 persons, 506 were associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster and the triple clusters that emerged from Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons currently stand at 74,877 patients. Total patient count also includes 1,985 SL returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel & their contacts, more..

Feb 20 (Island) During a training session of the national cricket team 20 years ago, the captain in waiting Marvan Atapattu was troubled by a 19-year-old fast bowler. Marvan was convinced that he saw something special in the quickie and at the end of the session, had a chat to the player and inquired what club he was representing. The bowler was Dhammika Prasad. When he informed Marvan that he had no affiliations so far, the opening batsman urged Prasad to join Singhalese Sports Club. more..

Feb 20 (FT) The District Court of Colombo yesterday, upon considering an application preferred by the Plaintiff-Petitioner Lanka Realty Leisure Ltd. (LRL), issued summons and charge sheets on several Respondent-Accused, including SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairperson Kimarli Fernando. Other Respondent-Accused are SLTDA Director General Dhammika Wijesinghe and Addl Director General Anoma Nandani for violating an Interim Injunction issued by District Court. more..

Feb 20 (ST) Project consultants for the Japan Int'l Cooperation Agency-funded Light Rail Transit (LRT) — which was cancelled by the Govt last year — have lodged a claim of around Rs 5bn for work already done, other expenses and loss of profit. The consultants are a joint venture between Oriental Consultants Global of Japan and SL’s Consulting Engineers & Architects Associated. Unless the UDA has other sources, more..

Feb 20 (CT) State Minister of Money & Capital Market and State Enterprise Reforms Ajith Nivard Cabraal claimed that countries emitting higher quantities of green house gasses should do more in terms of financing to tackle climate change and global environmental issues. Speaking at a conference on sustainable green financing, organised by the International Chamber of Commerce and UN ESCAP, the Minister said, “Sri Lanka has not damaged the environment as more..

Feb 20 (TM) Govt has given the green light to commence the construction of textile manufacturing plants in 2021 with a view to cut down the expenditure on apparel raw material imports. “Discussions are underway with the Govt to construct 10 to 12 textile manufacturing plants in Eravur, with an investment from the private sector. It would entail infrastructure cost of around Rs. 5 billion. We can project an increase in procurement from Sri Lanka to approximately $ 1 billion,” more..

Feb 20 (AD) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has assured his intervention as the country’s leader to preserve harmony among political parties, while guiding the country forward. This was revealed by Minister Wimal Weerawansa, following a meeting with the Head of State this evening (19). Prez Rajapaksa had granted an audience for 10 political parties representing the govt in Parliament to discuss the matter. more..

Feb 20 (DM) Following complaints that several people who were not under the vulnerable groups had received the Astra Zeneca vaccinations against COVID-19 in recent days, health officials at a meeting yesterday decided to get tough and strictly implement the programme according to the groups officially allocated. Since the vaccination programme had opened out, especially to the vulnerable groups in Western Province this week, several individuals who were not under the vulnerable group more..

Feb 20 (MoD) In a bid to support the national drive mooted to curb the spread of dengue fever within the Western Province, Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) received two drone cameras from the Western Province Governor, the Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonetileke yesterday (18). Drones would be deployed to trace the dengue breeding grounds and also to observe the aerial spraying of liquids in breeding prone areas, the SLAF Spokesperson Group Capt. Dushan Wijesinghe said. more..

Feb 20 (FT) One of the members of the 3-member Special PCoI appointed by Prez Rajapaksa to deal with charges of political victimisation by those in the previous administration has resigned. Judge of the Court of Appeal Rathnapriya Gurusinghe has tendered his resignation to the Prez, and in his place, CA Judge Sobhitha Rajakaruna has been appointed. Its other two members are Judges of SC Justice more..

Feb 20 (FT) SSP Shani Abeysekera was transferred back to the Welikada prison hospital from the Colombo National Hospital yesterday. Abeysekera was transferred to the Welikada Prison around 7 p.m. last evening. The former CID Director underwent emergency heart surgery for the insertion of a cardiac stent on the evening of 18 Feb. Abeysekera was not granted access to his family despite his illness. Former CID director contracted COVID-19 while he was remanded more..

Feb 20 (DM) Cabinet has sought more details about the renewable energy project to be executed in three islands off Jaffna - Nagadeepa, Delft and Analativu - with financial assistance from Asian Development Bank (ADB). The project is now mired in controversy after Indian registered protest over the selection of a Chinese company to execute the project. However, spokesman for the CEB Sulakshana Jayawardane said that the contract was awarded to the Chinese company for the implementation of more..

Feb 20 (DM) Core Group on Sri Lanka said a new resolution to be tabled at the UNHRC in Geneva will promote reconciliation, accountability and human rights in the country. The UNHRC will begin to meet on Monday for its 46th Session, during which a report on SL will also be formally tabled by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet. Core Group on SL said that it has been in talks with Govt of SL more..