Feb 26 (CT) India yesterday, at the ongoing UNHRC session, reiterated that its consistent position on Sri Lanka was to support SL’s unity and territorial integrity while abiding by the commitment to help fulfil the aspirations of the Tamils of SL for equality, justice & dignity. India’s Permanent Representative in Geneva, Indra Mani Pandey, said the Council has adopted seven resolutions on the question of human rights in SL since May 2009 when the 3-decade conflict in the country ended. more..

Feb 26 (Island) AG’s Dept said that a section of the PCoI report had been received by AG Dappula de Livera, PC. “The AG received the Volume 1, which contains the final report,” a spokesperson for the Dept said. According to the official the remaining volumes (2 to 5) containing proceedings, materials and other documentary evidence hadn’t been handed over, the official said. The official was responding to a query regarding the govt announcement that the final report of PCoI more..

Feb 26 (CT) The report on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in SL, prepared by the Office of the Human Rights High Commissioner (OHCHR), was taken up for discussion, during the 46th session of the UNHRC, once again yesterday. Of the 38 countries that spoke during yesterday’s session, a majority of countries spoke in favour of supporting SL’s national processes to achieve reconciliation and more..

Feb 26 (FT) The US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken seems to give an indication as to what the real agenda behind his and his country’s support for this resolution. He speaks of lack of accountability for past atrocities. This statement implies that atrocities were committed if there is to be accountability for them. This leads to the question, who committed such alleged atrocities? There were two players in the battle against the LTTE. The SL Armed Forces and the LTTE. more..

Feb 26 (FT) Professor Sirima Kiribamuna, making a lengthy review of the Mahavamsa, the great chronicle of Sri Lanka has extolled it as the culmination of the historical thinking of the ancient Sinhalese. Contrary to what Professor Kiribamuna has said, Mahavamsa cannot be considered as a book of history written for the purpose of recording the history of the Sinhalese race. It is more an account of the history of the Theravada Buddhism of Sri Lanka. more..

Feb 26 (Island) Senior officers of the Dept of Wildlife Conservation and Forest Dept expressed concern over a directive that they should seek the State Ministry Secretary’s approval prior to taking legal actions against those who harm protected areas. Representatives of the two depts are attempting to meet Prez and PM to seek redress. An official said: “Some of our colleagues have been charge-sheeted for taking action against culprits who harmed the riverine forest habitats in Polonnaruwa more..

Feb 26 (DM) The people of the country did not expect such a report from the PCoI appointed to probe the Easter Sunday attack, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said. Minister is seen as a close confidante of former Prez. The commission, in its report, recommended legal action against Mr. Sirisena for neglect of duty. The Minister expressed these views at a media conference when journalists inquired regarding the allegations made against Mr. Sirisena. more..

Feb 26 (DM) The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is to implement recommendations in a report tabled at the UNHRC, despite objections raised by Sri Lanka. UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-nashif said that the report by the High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, which was formally tabled at the Council on Wednesday, was amended to more..

Feb 26 (CT) Minister of Justice, Ali Sabry, said the decision to institute criminal proceedings against former President Maithripala Sirisena, according to recommendations of the PCoI into the Easter Sunday attacks, was up to the Supreme Court. It could decide if Presidential immunity continued after the tenure of the Presidency adding that the Courts were in the best position to interpret the Constitution. The PCoI in its final report recommended that criminal proceedings be instituted against more..

Feb 26 (FT) A new face mask that destroys viruses including COVID-19 was unveiled in Parliament yesterday under the patronage of PM by a team of specialists from the Uni of Peradeniya following a long period of research. Introducing this new face mask, Senior Professor of Chemistry Gamini Rajapaksa who conducted the research presenting the mask to the PM said that this mask was made of three layers and was the most technologically advanced face mask in the world. more..

Feb 26 (DM) Attorney-at-law Charitha Gunaratne, son of former Central Province Governor Maithri Gunaratne said his brother Migara Gunaratne was allegedly came under assault by a group of policemen at the Peliyagoda Police Station. Charitha said his brother was brutally beaten by at least ten cops when he went to give some food for his client who is detained at the Police Station. He alleged that the policemen more..

Feb 26 (Island) SL exporters are getting crucial support from key institutions in Europe to successfully meet with the standards the European importers require when importing goods and services from SL. These sustainability standards are partially politically driven, but they are also more and more consumer and industry driven. Besides, in line with the existing official legally binding standards, European importers require more and more consumer and industry driven standards more..

Feb 26 (AD) 7 suspects who are in connection with a gold jewellery robbery at Trincomalee have been taken into custody yesterday. On the 8th of Feb, a group of robbers had broken into a shop located in Trincomalee town and ran off with gold jewellery worth Rs 3.8 million. Investigations revealed that the robbers had arrived in a boat via sea area near Koneswaram and fled through the same route after the heist. The main suspect who orchestrated the heist has been identified as a 35-year-old more..

Feb 26 (AD) US has urged SL to make public a strategy and timetable for the implementation of recommendations in the report compiled by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet. Daniel Kronenfeld of the US mission in Geneva informed the UNHRC that the United States shares the concerns of Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Sri Lanka. more..

Feb 26 (AD) Four police officers – 03 Constables and one Inspector – have been interdicted for allegedly assaulting a law student at the Peliyagoda police station. Several offices attached to Peliyagoda Police had reportedly assaulted a law student named Migara Gunaratne yesterday. The victimized student was identified as the son of former Central Province Governor, President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne and the brother of Attorney-at-Law Charitha Gunaratne. more..

Feb 26 (AD) Former Senior DIG Anura Senanayake has passed away this afternoon. Anura Senanayake had joined SL Police in 1973 as a Sub Inspector. He was then promoted to the rank of Inspector 8 years later. In 1985, he received a promotion to the post of Chief Inspector. He has served as the OIC of Weerangula, Veyangoda, Kilinochchi, Ragama, Welikada and mirihana police stations. Senayayake also held the post of State Information Officer in Colombo, Mount Lavinia, Batticaloa, more..

Feb 26 (FT) An air travel bubble between SL and India aimed at boosting tourism is in its final stage, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said. He said another round of discussion to resume flights and to launch a travel bubble between SL and India was discussed with Indian HC Dr. Gopal Bagle, Aviation State Minister D.V. Chanaka, Tourism Ministry Secretary S. Hettiarachchi, Aviation State Ministry Secretary Madhava Devasurendra and more..

Feb 26 (FT) After a jubilant January, Colombo stock market has recorded a feeble February, suffering a 13% dip, whilst turnover was half of what was experienced in the previous month. The market saw second consecutive day of positive close with ASPI up 104 points or 1.4% and the S&PSL20 index up by over 2% or 67 points. Turnover was relatively better at Rs. 3 billion. NDB Securities said the ASPI and the S&P SL20 lost 13.75% and 15.58% respectively in February, whilst more..

Feb 26 (EN) Property in Colombo district had risen 4.6% in the second half of 2020 from a year earlier according to a Land Valuation Indicator tracked by the central bank. Residential values had grown 4.7%, commercial 4.5% and industrial 4.6%. In the second half of 2019 land values had grown 10.3%. Compared to the first half of 2020, land values in the Colombo district had grown 2.5%. The residential LV I had grown 2.6%, Commercial 2.5% and industrial 2.5%. more..

Feb 26 (FT) In a bid to improve policy clarity, the Treasury yesterday said it is putting the finishing touches on a slew of taxes announced in Dec 2019 and Budget 2021 to be placed before Cabinet and finalised ahead of April to give businesses a clear start for the next tax year. Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle said that the Finance Ministry was working to legislate tax changes announced shortly after Prez Rajapaksa was elected, as well as more..

Feb 26 (Island) SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament that an astrologer had helped former Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara become the Speaker by predicting the auspicious time for the vote to be taken. Participating in the Condolence vote on the former Speaker Kiriella said: “When the day came to elect the new Speaker from the Opposition we fielded WJM. We did not have enough votes; nor did the govt. The previous day, we took WJM to a famous astrologer to see whether he would more..

Feb 26 (AI) Responding to the Sri Lankan authorities’ decision to end the practice of forced cremations for victims of COVID-19, Yamini Mishra, Amnesty International’s South Asia Director, said: “This is a long overdue but welcome move by the Sri Lankan authorities. Forced cremations, which should never have been carried out in the first place, have denied the Muslim community the right to say goodbye to loved ones in accordance with their religious beliefs. more..

Feb 26 (DM) From the multiple Tsunami Appeal Matches in 2005, to the Big Appeal for the Bush fires in Australia last year and the annual Breast Cancer Awareness internationals in Australia and South Africa, cricket has rarely shied away from rallying some of the sport’s biggest names, of the past and present, for charitable causes. In an attempt to address a pressing problem in India, the Road Safety World Series was launched last year, more..

Feb 26 (CT) Leader of the National Congress MP M.L.M. Ataullah said he had held talks with both Prez Rajapaksa and PM Rajapaksa on numerous occasions over the burial issue of COVID-19 victims. He said both leaders were in favour of burials but the health officials continued to remain with the strict stance of mandatory cremation for all. The MP also said during the Govt Parliamentary Group meeting held on 9 Jan chaired by the PM, he had insisted on the importance of taking a concrete decision more..

Feb 26 (AD) Sri Lanka has confirmed 05 more COVID-19 related deaths, Director-General of Health Services confirmed today. This brings the country’s death toll from the virus to 464. Details of the recently-reported COVID victims are as follows: 01. A 69-year-old man from Nawadagala area – He had been under medical at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital. After testing positive for the virus, he was transferred to Homagama Base Hospital where he passed away yesterday (25). more..

Feb 26 (ANI) Sri Lanka has put Chinese Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine on hold and will use India-manufactured Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine to inoculate 14 million people, a govt spokesperson Dr Ramesh Pathirana has said. According to him the Chinese vaccine Sinopharm has not yet completed phase 3 clinical trials, reported Daily Mirror. Dr Pathirana further said that the complete dossier pertaining to more..

Feb 26 (EN) SL’s economic growth would recover to 3.6% in 2021, from a contraction in 2020, while the budget deficit may hit 10.8%, from 11.1% in 2020, ICRA, a rating agency has said. Revenues may recover to 9.6% of GDP in 2021 from 9.2% in 2020 but expenditure would remain around 20.4% from 20.3%, agency said. SL has projected revenues of 2 trillion rupees for 2021 but it may not be able to reach the target. Capital expenditure may be curtailed from projected 1 trillion levels, more..

Feb 26 (DM) An attempt to lure underworld suspect Athurugiriye Navy Ruwan to a trap by the STF personnel was failed when the suspect had fled after abandoning his vehicle in Wattala last evening. Ganemulla Police arrested three suspects including two women for possessing minor quantities of heroin and learned that they were getting them from Athurugiriye Navy Ruwan. The police with the assistance of STF then used the arrested suspects as decoys and telephoned the main suspect more..

Feb 26 (EN) There is yet no official statement confirming that the regulations stipulating the mandatory cremation of the remains of all Covid 19 victims have been amended to include burial although an amended gazette was circulated on social media. The decision by the Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi confirming the decision comes in the wake of a strong statement from the Organisation of more..

Feb 26 (FT) Started in 1929 by Ayurveda Chakravarti Pandith G.P. Wickramarachchi, as a centre of learning Siddayurveda tradition of medicine with 20 students, Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute, currently affiliated to the Uni of Kelaniya, serves as one of the leading university institutes of Ayurveda education in SL. With the mission of becoming a global centre of excellence in indigenous medicine, the institute will be launched as the Gampaha Wickramarachchi Uni of more..

Feb 26 (DM) China has commended the govt of SL for its efforts to actively promote and protect human rights, advance sustainable economic and social development, improve people's living standard, protect the rights of the vulnerable groups, advance national reconciliation and combat terrorism. Chinese Permanent Representative in Geneva Ambassador CHEN Xu extended China's strong support to SL in his official statement in the Interactive Dialogue on the OHCHR Report more..

Feb 26 (AD) SLFP stressed that the final report compiled by the PCoI which investigated the Easter Sunday terror attacks has presented its conclusions and recommendations beyond its given mandate. A statement issued by the Executive Committee of SLFP today said the PCoI was appointed to uncover local and foreign involvement in the attacks and identifying the objectives of those involved and more..

Feb 27 (DM) When the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) was appointed in 2010 by Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa, the New York based HRW said in a statement “SL has a long history of establishing ad hoc commissions to deflect international criticism over its poor human rights record and widespread impunity. Since independence in 1948, SL has established at least 10 such commissions, none of which have produced any significant results.” more..

Feb 27 (DM) SL is a preferred destination for foreign tourists because of the greeneries and the lushes environment visible in most locations. They know little of about the wanton destruction of forests that is taking place; much to the dismay of environmentalists and wildlife enthusiasts. There were much protests and loads of newspaper articles written on deforestation that’s happening, but the govt remains unconcerned. There are allegations made against state officers who are more..

Feb 27 (TM) In early Feb 2021, it was reported that a person who had gone on an excursion to Mini World’s End in Madulsima had gone missing. Unfortunately, the gentleman’s body was later discovered by military officers after a 3-day search, after inspecting nearly 200 feet of the precipice. Prior to the pandemic, Mini World’s End in Madulsima was known as an extremely popular camping spot for many travel enthusiasts and more..

Feb 27 (CI) Candauda Arachchige Chandraprema better known in para-military circles as Thadi Priyantha (Large Priyantha) and current Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva has aligned SL with some of the worst human rights violators in the world. We can confirm that on Ambassador Chandraprema’s recommendation the Foreign Ministry has granted approval for the SL delegation in Geneva to intervene at the UNHRC in support of Syria, Eretria, Belarus and several other more..

Feb 27 (DM) UNHRC is in session and SL is among the countries that have come before its scanner. It is a slur on SL’s reputation when it is being lumped together with big time human rights violators such as Israel, Syria and North Korea, with member-state after member-state taking the floor to act like prosecutor, the jury and the judge. They do so as though they have not done any sins. There is no motto to adore the UNHRC’s dove and olive branch logo, which, together with the colors used, more..

Feb 27 (ST) A Sinhala scholar, author and lyricist, known for his literary bent, the veteran Haputale politician, W.J.M. Lokubandara, former Speaker, had wanted his last rites to be an example to others, his family says. He died from the coronavirus disease at the age of 80 at the IDH last week & was cremated at Kotikawatte crematorium. Son Udith said that his father had asked that roads not be closed for his funeral cortege. more..

Feb 27 (Island) A global pandemic shutting down most economies and resulting in over half a million deaths, would have been dismissed as science fiction and not even science fiction written by the likes of Arthur Clark or Isaac Asimov. It would have been categorised as bad, cheap, and even rubbish fiction. However, the unthinkable has happened and we are in the middle of it, and it seems the great dominant human race is only just barely even stevens with the Virus. more..