Nov 10 (Island) The CIABOC would respond to the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) request for information pertaining to the withdrawal indictments and/or court proceedings filed by the outfit or filed for/and on behalf of it since the last presidential election in Nov 2019, a senior official said. In terms of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution enacted in Oct 2020, the appointments to the CIABOC are made by the President. more..

Nov 10 (FT) Successive govts have run fiscal deficits. Inadequate revenue collection and unrestrained govt expenditure have worsened the country’s fiscal position. Tax revenue which averaged over 20% of GDP in 1990 has declined to under 10% of GDP in 2020. Ad hoc tax policy changes have significantly eroded the tax base. Weak tax administration has also contributed to the sharp decline in tax collection. While tax revenue has contracted, Govt expenditure more..

Nov 10 (FT) It was very hot news, during the last couple of weeks, which is now gradually diminishing, the blacklisting of People’s Bank, one of the leading State banks, by the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in SL. The reason that has been highlighted for this blacklisting was Not complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit (LC) that has been opened by People’s Bank for its customer State Fertiliser Corporation. more..

Nov 10 (DM) Woman Chief Inspector Kanchana Samarakoon will assume duties as the OIC of Naalla Police Station in Gampaha tomorrow, the Public Security Ministry said. The new police station will be opened by Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera tomorrow. This was the 2nd time in the history of SL Police that a female police officer will hold the OIC post. Chief Inspector Kanchana Samarakoon was born in Hemmatagama in Kegalle and was educated at Kegalle Girls' College. more..

Nov 10 (TM) Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court has issued an order for the arrest of Duminda Nagamuwa, the propaganda secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) and four others. The FSP members are accused of engaging in unruly behaviour in front of the court premises. The Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court yesterday (November 09), filed a complaint with the police against the party members, pointing out that the conduct of the FSP members is defamation of justice. more..

Nov 10 (AD) Prez Rajapaksa has appointed three new members to the Presidential Task Force for One Country, One Law. This was mentioned in a special gazette notification published by the Secretary to the President, P.B. Jayasundera. The newly-appointed members of the task force are Ramalingam Chakrawarthy Karunakaran, Yogeswari Patgunarajah and Iyyampillai Dayanandaraja. A 13-member task force, chaired by more..

Nov 10 (DM) There is a slight increase in the number of children being hospitalised with COVID-19, Health officials said. Dr. Channa de Silva, a paediatric respiratory specialist at the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital told media that it was a serious situation and needed to be addressed soon. “Although the number of COVID cases remained at a moderate level during the last few days, overall infections have slightly increased within the last two days,” he underlined. more..

Nov 10 (EN) Central Bank said it will give sweetners to overseas workers who remit money through formal channels as large volumes went to informal channels with the credibility of a peg at 203 lost due to money printing. Expat workers are remitting money through Undiyal and Hawala traditional net settlement systems. The selling rate of such system are now around 240 to the US dollar. SL’s rupee, produced by a Latin America style central bank set up by a US money doctor, more..

Nov 10 (CT) SL is the only country in the world which has not increased fuel prices during the last five months, despite the fact that prices in the global market have risen by nearly 27% in the same period. Minister Udaya Gammanpila expressed these concerns, adding that the govt did not raise prices since the people are under enormous pressure as a result of the country’s economic situation. He did emphasise, however, that this loss means neither the Prez nor him could shoulder it. more..

Nov 10 (AD) Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa has assured the trade unions of teachers and principals that one-third of their salary anomalies would be paid at once instead of under three stages. According to the teacher-principal trade unions, the decision has been taken at a discussion held between PM Rajapaksa and Minister Basil Rajapaksa. Speaking in this regard, Gen Secretary of Ceylon Teachers’ Union, more..

Nov 10 (CT) Govt has mooted a project to encourage local investors to set up vehicle assembling plants in the country, State Minister Shehan Semasinghe told Parliament yesterday. Responding to a question raised by SLPP MP, Mohamed Mussammil, Minister said several local companies have already started vehicle assembling plants and factories at various locations and the Govt would encourage by offering them tax relief incentives. more..

Nov 10 (TM) Questioning Prez Rajapaksa’s decision to appoint Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero to lead the One Country One Law Task Force, JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka said that he suspects the Prez is attempting to split the country by causing racial differences and unrest. He made this statement while speaking in Parliament today. “Minister of Justice Ali Sabry has openly spoken out against the appointment of Gnanasara Thero, he has also given his resignation. more..

Nov 10 (Island) GMOA urged Prez Rajapaksa to implement a 12-step programme to combat Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Aetiology (CKDu), which continues to take a heavy toll on the country. In a letter to Prez Rajapaksa, GMOA President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya and its Secretary Dr. Senal Fernando have said that although the disease is a major problem in many parts of the country Health authorities have more..

Nov 10 (Island) State Minister Dr. Nalaka Godahewa said that covid-19 caused a debilitating blow at a time the govt was struggling to settle foreign loans amounting to a staggering USD 11 bn. Dr. Godahewa said that the GDP contracted by 3.6 % percent in 2020. The State Minister explained that at a time they were struggling to bridge the huge trade deficit of about USD 10 bn, the country lost entire earnings from the tourism industry. The loss of about USD 4.5 bn had a significant negative impact more..

Nov 10 (DM) The writ petition filed by parents of the youths who went missing in 2008 seeking an order quashing the decision of the Attorney General to withdraw the indictment filed against Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda was today dismissed by Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justice Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Justice Dhammika Ganepola observed that court would not interfere with the Attorney General's Prosecutorial Power. more..

Nov 10 (EN) PM Rajapaksa confirmed to parliament on Wednesday that a draft new constitution, currently in the final stages of drafting by a committee headed by Romesh de Silva PC, will be ready by the end of the year. Minister Prof G L Peiris had previously said at a ruling party press conference that the draft constitution will be ready for parliamentary perusal in January 2022. PM Rajapaksa was speaking in response to more..

Nov 10 (Island) The Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of Int'l Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS) has strongly denied Amnesty International’s latest report on SL titled From Burning Houses to Burning Bodies: Anti-Muslim Violence, Discrimination and Harassment in SL (Oct 2021). Waruni Kumarasinghe and Dinithi Dharmapala of the Strategic Communications Unit, LKIIRSS, issued the following statement: “The AI’s overall argument is that Muslims in SL are an oppressed minority, more..

Nov 10 (FT) Association of Int'l Marketing Graduates in SL (AIMG) was formulated by veterans of the SL marketing fraternity. AIMG is a resource rich in prospects for those with int'l marketing qualifications. This marketing body offers mentoring, counselling, training, workshops and networking opportunities to its fraternity. Many marketing professionals will have the opportunity to reap the benefits of being a part of AIMG. The platform while hosting a common ground for marketers across SL more..

Nov 10 (Island) Supreme Court will hear on 01 Dec. fundamental rights violation petitions filed in respect of the sinking of the X-Press Pearl Ship off the West Coast of SL. The petitioners include the Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, environmental scientist Ajantha Perera, and several other public interest litigants. The petitions state the disaster polluted the sea water and deprived the fishers of their livelihood. Hence the compensation received from the owners of the ship more..

Nov 10 (Island) The Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) will launch the Youth Leadership Academy to equip aspiring young Sri Lankans with leadership skills to enable them to become successful leaders of Change. This course is offered to Advanced Level qualified youth and graduates who are employed or awaiting employment between 19 – 35 years of age. Students will have an opportunity to expand their critical thinking and analytical abilities. more..

Nov 10 (CI) Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews, and Dhananjaya de Silva are among the high profile names to miss out on selection in the Lanka Premier League draft, with several other players who were in the extended Sri Lanka World Cup squad also not picked. Perera had been a late addition to the draft thanks to a miscommunication between Sri Lanka Cricket and his club, which was supposed to have nominated him, but more..

Nov 10 (TM) Chairman of the Tea Exporters Association of SL Sanjaya Herath expressed the wishes of the tea export industry for the 2022 budget, requesting the govt for assistance so that more foreign exchange can be brought into the country. “We want some sort of allocation from the Govt in 3 main areas. We want the Govt to use the facilities which are available at SLINTECH or ITI and upgrade the facility in order to do the required testing for the guarantee of the quality more..

Nov 10 (Island) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday that the country was heading for a grave food shortage owing to the govt’s move to shift from chemical fertiliser to organic fertiliser. Making a special statement, the Opposition Leader said the govt policy should not be a threat to the country’s food security. “The govt’s decisions should have ensured at least one percent growth in food production in parallel to the population increase. more..

Nov 10 (EN) The death toll of prevailing adverse weather conditions in SL has increased to 22, with over 62,000 people affected in various ways, DMC said as at least one official blamed drastic changes in weather patterns on man-made climate change. 13 had drowned and six were struck by lightning. A majority of the drowning incidents were the result of carelessness on the part of the victims. more..

Nov 10 (TM) IGP Chandana D. Wickramaratne has given necessary instructions to all police officials to prevent incidents such as attacks on police officers by members of the public, according to the Public Security Ministry. There have been a number of incidents of attacks on police officers who have gone to certain areas for raids and to arrest suspects, by the public, in the recent past. Accordingly, when contacted by The Morning to query as to whether the Public Security Ministry or Police Dept more..

Nov 10 (CT) Govt doctors urged Prez Rajapaksa to reconsider his decision to appoint the Chief of the Public Service United Nurses Union (PSUNU) Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera as the Chancellor of the University of Colombo. In a letter to President Rajapaksa, President and Secretary of the GMOA, Drs. Anuruddha Padeniya and Senal Fernando observed that being a national figure and a trade union leader did not entail an academic background to be appointed a Chancellor. more..

Nov 10 (EN) SL has slashed a 25 rupee a kilo protectionist tax which is allowing a so-called maize mafia of rent-seeking collectors to keep domestic price of the protein-rich grain above world prices and push up the cost of poultry and other foods. The tax has been slashed to 1 rupee a kilogram to allow imports for a govt-sponsored Triposha nutritional supplement used especially by children of poor parents to reduce malnutrition. SL has a so-called maize mafia of collectors more..

Nov 10 (AD) The vice-chairman of Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha, K.G. Jayatissa and two other councilors, who were arrested for allegedly threatening a group of protestors, have been granted bail. They were produced before Mawanella Magistrate’s Court earlier today (10). However, it is reported that they were barred from entering any school. Releasing them on personal bails each valued at Rs. 100,000 the magistrate ordered them to appear before the court again on Feb 3. more..

Nov 11 (GV) The new fertilizer policy introduced by the govt has attracted heavy criticism from all sections of society; it has also received attention from the intellectual community. There is a good response from local subject experts who have sparked a public debate on the pros and cons of the chemical fertilizer ban. However, their opinions are deeply rooted in one of two camps – pro or con, which does not help the govt that is trying to see a good outcome with a bad plan or the farmers more..

Nov 11 (DM) In the last match that SL played in the ongoing T-20 World cup, against the West Indies, Roston Chase was caught by Bhanuka Rajapaksa off the bowling of Chamika Karunaratne. A beauty, the commentators said. A blinder was how cricinfo described it. It was extraordinary, certainly, and helped SL sign off on a relatively high note. Blinder has another meaning. Sometimes called blinkers, blinders refer to the two flaps on a horse’s bridle to keep it from seeing objects at its sides. more..

Nov 11 (DM) The appointment of the Task Force on One Country, One Law has thrown the spotlight on the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) once again. There has been huge criticism on appointing the BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagodathe Gnanasara Thera as the head of the Task Force. In that context the Daily Mirror spoke to the former CEO of the BBS Dilantha Withanage to get some insight into BBS & Ven. Gnanasara Thera. more..

Nov 11 (DM) Climate Change Conference being held in Glasgow in Scotland will end tomorrow with world leaders committing themselves to save Planet Earth, the only home we have, by reducing global temperatures to at least 1.5 degrees Celsius. Really we’re at the last-chance saloon, Climate Crisis Advisory Board (CCAG) head Sir David King, the British Chemist, who led the British delegation to the 2015 COP21 in Paris told Forbes News Agency. “And what this means is we must stop more..

Nov 11 (CT) Inclement weather affecting 17 districts killed 20; made one to go missing; injured five; destroyed 18 houses; damaged 960 others; impacted 17,481 families comprising 62,247 people and displaced another 384 families comprising 1,498 people in the 13 days ended as at 7 a.m. yesterday, DMC’s data showed. The distribution of deaths were Kurunegala (six), Kegalle and Badulla (four each), Puttalam (three) and Matale, Galle and Mullaitivu (one each), respectively. more..

Nov 11 (Roar) 17-year-old Nirushi* lives in a single-income household in Veyangoda, a small town in the Western Province. Her father is the family’s sole provider and his daily commute to work takes 90 minutes. Although a single source of income means fewer luxuries, Nirushi’s mother decided to stay at home in order to support the education of her two daughters. Nirushi’s parents are firm believers that giving their children more..

Nov 11 (TM) The controversial agreement the Govt signed in secrecy with the US-based energy infrastructure company, New Fortress Energy Inc., will soon be presented to the Parliament, bringing some discussions about the little-known agreement to an end, while also sparking new discussions about the same. This was revealed by Leader of the House and Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in Parliament on 8 Nov, while responding to a question raised by Ranil Wickremesinghe. more..

Nov 11 (ST) During the Yahapalanaya governance, at a meeting of an NGO, a question was raised as to whether it was proper for trustees of that organisation (who were critical of the previous govt) to serve on committees of the new regime and whether they would be independent in their thoughts and actions. These trustees shot back saying that if that is the case, there won’t be any professionals, scientists and experienced people to serve on committees. Both views are valid. more..