Mar 17 (AD) Former Minister Ravi Karunanayake has been remanded over the Central Bank Bond Scam issue in 2016. Another 07 suspects have also been remanded along with the former UNP Minister. They have been placed under remand custody until March 23. Attorney General, this morning, filed indictments against the suspects before the two Trials-at-Bar hearing the legal matters on CB Treasury Bond auctions held more..

Mar 18 (DM) EU. That’s the European Union. EA stands for East Asia. It’s a crude categorization in terms of what’s happening right now in Geneva with regard to Sri Lanka. Russia, after all, is East according to some, West according to others. Pakistan is not East enough so to speak. Both countries are backing Sri Lanka with respect to the resolution tabled by the original Mother of all things Evil, Britain. The geography has to be discussed in detail but that’s for later. more..

Mar 18 (DM) Opposition led by SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa sees an opportunity to put pressure on the Govt. The much talked about Sugar Scam is one good reason. The loss that the Govt incurred by reducing import tax on sugar is said to be in the tune of Rs 15.9 billion. Like the predator moving swiftly on to the prey that’s injured SJB’s Premadasa has called for as many as 200 protests to be staged around the country. SJB marked one year in existence with a rally at Hyde Park on Mar15 more..

Mar 18 (CT) The incidents of several Buddha statues being vandalised in Mawanella in Dec 2018 and the discovery of a stock of explosives in the Wanathawilluwa area in Puttalam in Jan 2019 caused a great deal of controversy. In particular, the Security Forces had revealed that Mohamed Qasim Zaharan alias Zaharan Hashim, the late leader of the National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ), was behind all these incidents. more..

Mar 18 (DM) It was not too long ago that the SL govt was to some extent, able to resolve the cremation or burial dilemma by permitting the burial of Muslims, who die of Covid-related ailments. The approval for such a move came after months of protests especially by Muslims locally and abroad. Burials are currently being carried out with the assistance of the army at a burial site at Ottamavadi in the Batticaloa district. In the wake of the foregoing comes the news of govt moves to ban more..

Mar 18 (CT) A journalist who alleged he was intimidated by an armed group was detained by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) and held overnight on Wednesday (17) when he was summoned to provide a statement on his complaint. Sujeewa Gamage a web journalist attached to Siyarata.lk had originally lodged a complaint with the Dematagoda police about the incident. The CCD has since taken over inquiries. Gamage was admitted to the National Hospital Colombo for treatment of his injuries more..

Mar 18 (TM) It was reported recently that a cabinet paper on the effective management of captive elephants with private elephant owners was to be issued soon with the objective of increasing the number of elephants that can be used for religious processions (peraheras). This decision came after Prez Rajapaksa’s recent statement that govt will look into taking steps to address the issue of scarcity of tamed elephants for peraheras. more..

Mar 18 (CT) Friends, Member States, Countrymen lend us your ears, we are here today to resurrect SL not bury the UNHRC. After all the UNHRC is an honourable body and not in the least ambitious. Though one might ask why their schedule refers only to problems in countries, located in the Asia-Pacific, Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America forgetting all about North America and Western European States. A trifle discriminatory one might say. In the past few weeks more..

Mar 18 (Island) I have written several articles in The Island about the COVID vaccine in the very recent past, where I discussed some important bits of information. This present effort is undertaken to provide some additional details regarding the current state-of-play in this vitally important endeavour, geared towards winning the war against this tiny, but unbelievably powerful blight of a coronavirus. The vaccine is here now, in our land, albeit in rather limited quantities and, up to the present time, more..

Mar 18 (Island) Anyone who has perused the final report of the PCoI on the Easter Sunday terror attacks will agree with Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith that the document is incomplete. The Commission’s hard work should not go unappreciated, as the prelate has rightly pointed out, but it needs to be added that the report hardly provides fresh insights or any individuated reading that can help clear doubts in one’s mind about the real masterminds of more..

Mar 18 (Island) The education system in Sri Lanka is often vilified as being outdated. But the demand for free public education has not relented. Primary and secondary schools have consistently seen high enrollments. Contrary to expectation, student numbers are increasing even in disciplines deemed less employable, such as the liberal arts. The Government, too, has responded to this increasing demand by pledging to accommodate more students at public universities. more..

Mar 18 (ST) It was a rainy evening, the previous day. However, on Thursday morning the weather had cleared with bright sunshine streaming through the branches of the margosa tree which looked forlorn as if it waited with anticipation for the weekly under-the-tree chat by the trio. This morning, however, they were chatting at the gate with Aldoris, the choon- paan karaya, who had come down the lane with his cheerful more..

Mar 18 (DN) SL faces a challenging task at the UNHRC next week as it takes on Western nations which are proposing to pass a Resolution censuring the country for alleged human rights abuses, mostly during the final phase of the Eelam war 12 years ago. The 47-member Council will vote on a Resolution, the text of which has been weighted heavily against SL. The Resolution is now being led mainly by the UK, Canada and Germany. North Macedonia, Malawi and Montenegro are more..

Mar 18 (ST) For us – the retirees, the deposit interest rates have been cut down by half so that we have to go begging in our old age to live a life beyond parippu and pol sambol. I didn’t exaggerate, but it was exactly the harsh statement of an angered retiree whom I came across recently. And it was the result of cruel policies of the CB, according to his interpretation. And it is not the view of a random individual either; it is the common voice of many elderly people who maintained bank savings. more..

Mar 18 (HRW) SL’s govt should immediately withdraw an order that allows two-years of detention without trial for causing religious, racial, or communal disharmony, Human Rights Watch said. The Prevention of Terrorism (De-radicalization from holding violent extremist religious ideology) Regulations No. 01 of 2021, issued on March 9, 2021, expands the draconian and abusive Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). more..

Mar 18 (Island) Today is a special day for every Sri Lankan who knows his/her cricket. It was on this day 25-years-ago we won the Cricket World Cup at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore beating the fancied Australia in the final. Mark Taylor’s side were favourites to win or so everyone thought. This day brings back a lot of good memories and pride when I think about the final and how the boys played the whole tournament in 1996. I will not be overstating if I say SL changed the way one-day cricket more..

Mar 18 (Island) During one of my visits to South Africa, I came across an interesting saying — If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together. This sentence is so true. As we celebrate the Silver Jubilee of us winning the World Cup, we owe the success to our wonderful team spirit. I treat each of the other 13 members of the World Cup-winning squad not as teammates, but as brothers. They mean so much to me. And I know they will do anything for me. more..

Mar 18 (CT) Sprinter Amasha de Silva excelled in the 60m clocking 7.44 seconds, as the first Fitness Test for Elite and National Pool Athletes for 2021 began yesterday at Sugathadasa Stadium Colombo. Several athletes showed glimpses of what is to come in next month’s National trials. The 21-year-old who clocked 11.55 seconds in the 100m last December - had an easy win beating teammate Safiya Yamic (7.63), more..

Mar 18 (FT) EY start-up incubator, EY Foundry, welcomes its fourth cohort of start-ups across Asia-Pacific this February. EY announced 12 winning start-up participants selected as part of the fourth cohort of EY Foundry (EY Foundry cohort 4) with SL’s start-up Forestpin amongst the 12 winners to join the program. Forestpin was founded with an ambition to empower and inspire businesses through insightful data. As a data analytics company, today its core business is highlighting more..

Mar 18 (ST) Last Friday’s symbolic vaccination rollout is the harbinger of the elderly vaccination programme under the COVAX initiative in the high-risk Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) areas and the Colombo and Gampaha districts. Silver-haired elderly in wheelchairs in a line, all awaiting the COVID-19 vaccine – the symbolic vaccination using the first tranche of doses sent under the global vaccine initiative, COVAX, taking place at the Victoria Elders’ Home, Rajagiriya, on Friday. more..

Mar 18 (FT) SL’s total COVID-19 patient count yesterday rose to 88,862 with the detection of 338 patients. The patients detected yesterday include 309 associates of the Peliyagoda cluster and 13 persons linked to the prisons cluster. Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons clusters have thus risen to 84,342. The total COVID-19 patient count also includes 2,398 returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, more..

Mar 18 (DM) SL’s ambassador in Myanmar Prof. Nalin de Silva said he decided to quit his post just two weeks after taking over. He said he chose to be the ambassador in Myanmar with the hope of fostering ties with the countries having Theravada Buddhism. But he said it dawned on him that it could not be realised. The ambassador said he opted to render his service in another way. “The ambassador’s post is nothing but confined to paper work. It won’t be something unusual for more..

Mar 18 (CT) Yesterday’s weekly risk free Treasury (T) Bill primary auction, for the sale of Rs 45 billion Treasuries was a two-in-a-row failure. Led by the long term 364 day maturity which was allowed a subscription rate of a mere 2.63% (Rs 657 million) from the Central Bank compared to its original offer of Rs 25,000 million due to higher yields asked for by the market. The maximum average yield (MAY), fixed for this offer was 5.12% in The maximum average yield, fixed for this offer was 5.12% more..

Mar 18 (DN) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that if cricketers can build up excellent teamwork and play with more commitment like those days, then SL could win the cricket world cup once again. He made these observations at a ceremony held to mark the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the 1996 Cricket World Cup triumph and to felicitate the players at Temple Trees. “We have to look at our past and build up from those lessons, more..

Mar 18 (FT) Women entrepreneurs play a critical role in contributing to SL’s economy and in uplifting the livelihoods of women in their communities, particularly amidst the COVID-19 crisis. In commemorating women’s month, UN Women in SL and the Embassy of Japan in SL joined the official celebrations organised by State Ministry of Women and Child Development, Pre-Schools and Primary Education, School Infrastructure and Education Services; and Women’s Bureau to recognise more..

Mar 18 (SLA) Sri Lankan Combat Convoy Company (LKACCC) serving the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) has so far effectively performed 21 Combat Convoy Escort Operations by 15 March 2021 and recovered 15 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in the past few months. All those operations to the best satisfaction of the Commanding Officers of the MINUSMA caused no harm to own troops, MINUSMA equipment or more..

Mar 18 (FT) Over 10,000 depositors of The Finance Company (TFC) appealed to the Govt to carry out the additional payment of Rs. 500,000 from the SL Deposit Insurance and Liquidity Support Scheme (SLDILSS) under the Central Bank as pledged earlier and pave the way for the company to be resuscitated. Independent Organisation to Protect TFC Depositors (Guarantee) Organiser Sarath Athukorala said that following more..

Mar 18 (DM) The COVID-19 vaccines don't prevent asymptomatic infection, so those who have been vaccinated can still develop infection and spread it, Head of the Dept of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Uni of Sri J'pura, Prof. Neelika Malavige said. She said that the vaccine might prevent asymptomatic infection in some individuals, but not in all. “Although a person who is vaccinated could still get infected with the virus, his/her viral strain could be less and also the volume of virus more..

Mar 18 (MFA) Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena met with Pakistan High Commissioner Major General (Retd.) Muhammad Saad Khattak on 16 March at the Foreign Ministry to further discuss the avenues to expand the bilateral relationship pursuant to the recent visit to Sri Lanka by PM Imran Khan. Both sides agreed to expeditiously implement the projects which were announced during the visit of PM Imran Khan, including the setting up of mobile libraries more..

Mar 18 (FT) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa will make a State visit to Bangladesh tomorrow on an invitation extended by the PM of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina. The visit will coincide with the celebration of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh. SL’s Ministry of Health has granted approval to undertake the State visit to Bangladesh within more..

Mar 18 (Island) World Cup winning former SL captain Arjuna Ranatunga warned authorities that unless they acted now and take steps to address burning issues in the sport, cricket will suffer further. Ranatunga’s team was felicitated yesterday at Temple Trees as the nation celebrated 25 years of SL’s World Cup triumph. The function was attended by Ministers, Ministry officials, former cricketers’ cricket administrators and other dignitaries. Ranatunga urged PM Mahinda Rajapaksa to more..

Mar 18 (MoD) This year’s Eastern Province Poson festival will be held at the sacred Deegawapiya temple premises while giving prominence to the Poson Poya rituals on full moon Poya Day on June 24, the Defence Secretary and the Chairperson of Archaeological Heritage Management Presidential Task Force (PTF) for Eastern Province, Gen. Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) revealed today (17). Plans are afoot for sacred relic exposition for public veneration at the Deegawapiya premises on more..

Mar 18 (DN) The Telecom Regulatory commission (TRC) will commence the 5G spectrum auction by the end of the year, TRC Director General, Oshada Senanayake said at an event where HUTCH for the first time demonstrated their 5G capabilities at One Galle Face Mall yesterday. HUTCH teamed up with ZTE, a global leader in telecommunications and information technology for this groundbreaking 5G trial more..

Mar 18 (FT) Three COVID-19 deaths were confirmed by health authorities yesterday and SL’s COVID-19 death toll has risen to 537. A 72-year-old individual from Polgasowita tested positive for COVID-19 while receiving treatment at the Sri J'pura Hospital. She was then transferred to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, where she died of liver failure and COVID pneumonia yesterday. A 70-year-old individual from Aadigama was identified as COVID-19 positive while receiving treatment more..

Mar 18 (DN) Foreign Secretary Admiral Jayanath Colombage yesterday confirmed that India has assured Sri Lanka of its support to protect the country’s sovereignty during the UNHRC sessions. “Being the superpower they are, Sri Lanka greatly appreciates their position,” he said speaking at the Third Digital Dialogue hosted by the Media Centre for National Development. Speaking further, he said that when the UNHRC report on Sri Lanka was tabled, 21 countries spoke on SL’s behalf. more..

Mar 18 (FT) SriLankan Airlines has sued Airbus for $ 1 billion as damages, loss of reputation, reimbursement of costs and interests. The action follows the information revealed in the judgment of the Crown Court of the UK approving the Deferred Prosecution Agreement between the Serious Fraud Office and Airbus SE. The national carrier has also demanded from Airbus for cancellation of A350-900 Purchase more..

Mar 18 (Island) The vaccine war is intensifying in Europe. The European Union (EU) is apparently determined to make the UK regret Brexit. It is doing everything in its power to hurt Britain. British exports to the EU fell by nearly 41% in January as opposed to a 28.8% drop in its imports, due to the post-Brexit new trading rules. Britain’s trade with non-EU states has remained stable, indicating that Brexit, and not the pandemic, is the reason for the drop in British exports to the EU. more..

Mar 18 (FT) The last time the world saw so many school closures was during World War II. The long-term impact of COVID and education reveal harsh and sustained inequalities in the labour market and education outcomes for youth under the age of 25. This is likely to affect SL’s future as higher income disparities and education inequalities are the key drivers of low social mobility. To avoid a decline in social mobility these inequalities in the education system need to be combatted through new more..