Feb 12 (CT) Parliament moved a motion of condolence with respect to late Minister Mangala Samaraweera on Friday, after suspending the Standing Orders for the day. The MPs in both Govt and Opposition recalled fond moments they shared with the outspoken politician. Samaraweera’s family members were in the visitors’ gallery in the Chamber when the condolence messages were read. PM Rajapaksa: more..

Feb 12 (Island) The passing away of national badminton player Oshadee Kuruppu was a big loss for the game even if it didn’t come as a shock for her family members. Oshadee was suffering from leukemia and was diagnosed with the illness in 2020 July. Till then her life was pretty good; having achieved most of her life’s goals. She had played badminton at the highest level and was the proud recipient of a silver medal at the 2009 Asian Junior Under 16 Badminton Championships; more..

Feb 12 (DM) SLFP does not agree with the govt to impose collection of a 25% surcharge on the EPF and ETF, since both funds have been built up with hard earned money of six million private and semi govt sector employees, the party's propaganda secretary Shantha Bandara said. He said as a policy and also as a workers’ political party, SLFP protests vehemently to the action of the govt, and as such the Central Committee of the party would shortly take a decision on how to deal with more..

Feb 12 (CT) Hirusha Hashen Abeysekara shattered the SL junior record and sealed his berth at the World Athletics Junior C'ship when he won the long jump gold medal with a leap of 7.67m. Peterite Hirusha, who trains under Sunil and Badra Gunawardena, missed out from making it to the SL junior team last year by the slightest of margins, and the devastated youngster made sure there was no chance of his getting more..

Feb 12 (DN) Despite having faced down another tumultuous year, the SL apparel industry has shown remarkable resilience in 2021, and we believe the advances we have made over the past year have put the entire sector in a much stronger position to weather the escalating challenges of 2022. A review of the data from 2021 and the measures that firms in the industry have taken indicate how the industry is poised. Following in the wake of unprecedented economic disruptions for Sri Lanka more..

Feb 12 (Island) DAN TV recently marked 21 years in the field, having begun its journey as DAN Tamil Oli in France in 2000, then moving to India in 2005 and, finally, to SL in 2008, where it is currently headquartered. DAN TV, which is an acronym for Dish Asia Network Television, has witnessed its popularity grow day-by-day due to its uniqueness, with its programming deeply rooted in Tamil culture. Since 2008, DAN TV has directly contributed to SL’s new Tamil language programming more..

Feb 12 (FT) Coca-Cola Beverages SL (CCBSL) won the award for the Iconic Rooftop Solar Project of the Year at the Annual Solar Awards 2021 hosted by EQ at the occasion of the PV Invest Tech SL in Colombo recently. The award was presented in recognition of CCBSL’s significant contribution of installing one of the largest single location rooftop solar projects in the country at its facility in Biyagama. The mega installation was a part of the CCBSL’s pledge towards sourcing renewable energy more..

Feb 12 (Island) Referring to allegations levelled against him in Parliament, MP Tissa Kuttiarachchi raising a privilege issue said that he had no links to the Rural Capital Bank. He said that the bank had been in existence before he entered active politics. The bank had 130 branches not 171 branches as MP Chaminda Wijesiri said and had provided jobs to more than 1,000 youth, he said. SJB MP Wijesiri raising a point of order said that it was better if MP Kuttiarahchci was telling the truth, more..

Feb 12 (EN) Sri Lanka’s imports surged to US$ 2.2 billion in Dec 2022 from around US$ 1.6 to 1.7 billion in earlier months, while full year imports rose to 20.6 billion rupees, higher than the US$ 19.9 billion in the pre-pandemic 2019. In December imports rose 46.8% to US$ 2.2 billion, exports rose 19% to US$ 1.15 billion. There were also an estimated 120 million dollars of tourism revenues, which would also boost imports. more..

Feb 12 (DM) TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran who initiated two rounds of closed door meetings with party leaders and chairmen of 3 key parliamentary committees said the govt would be asked to initiate a dialogue with its creditors and reschedule loan repayment to tide over the current crisis. Two rounds of meetings were conducted on Jan 27 and the second on Thursday. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, TNA leader R. Sampanthan, SLMC leader more..

Feb 12 (HT) Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and SL high commissioner Milinda Moragoda on Friday discussed the finalisation of a $1-billion line of credit to be provided by India to the island nation to purchase essential items to tide over an economic crisis. Moragoda met Sitharaman and conveyed SL’s appreciation for the support provided so far by India. He thanked her for the personal interest she has taken in supporting SL at this critical time, according to a statement from the SL high commission. more..

Feb 12 (FT) Despite a worsening foreign reserves crisis, Govt yesterday said it is ready to provide essential items to the public without any shortage during the upcoming festive season with a Presidential Committee tasked with the job holding its first meeting yesterday. Chaired by Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Committee discussed many issues and initiatives to ensure essential items as well as those in demand during more..

Feb 12 (Island) SLPP MP Tissa Kuttiarachchi has got his relatives to run an unauthorised rural bank, SJB Badulla District MP Chaminda Wijesiri told Parliament on Wednesday. “This is an illegal act. There is a network of banks. This should be stopped. These banks have not been recognised by the Central Bank or the Monetary Board,” the MP said. Responding to MP Wijesiri’s question, State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna said that there was no bank by the name of Rural Capital Bank. more..

Feb 12 (CT) Colombo Additional Magistrate Chandima Liyanage on Friday (11), remanded Abdul Shanath, till instructions were received from the Attorney General. Shanath, a cousin of suicide bomber Zaharan Hashim, who blew himself up on Easter Sunday, and a resident of No. 10, Gramodaya Street, New Kaththankudy, was being held in detention by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks. more..

Feb 12 (CT) Several Cabinet Ministers are planning to express their strong opposition, during the next Cabinet meeting on 14 February, against the decision taken by Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa to impose a Surcharge Tax on the EPF and ETF. Although the Finance Minister said the tax would be imposed on companies which earn colossal profits, a situation has been created where a majority of the Rs 100 b revenue more..

Feb 12 (FT) Western democracies have beckoned many of us, both its citizens, and those who looked across the way at their shining, seemingly self-evident example of relatively enlightened governance. Successful Asian powerhouses like Japan and Singapore, and of course Hong Kong (both Asia and Britain in many ways for so long), drew inspiration on how they should be structured, governed and led. Those in developing countries, or countries where authoritarianism held sway, more..

Feb 12 (CT) The formation of a colonial bourgeoisie influenced and shaped the course of SL’s history beyond independence, providing social scientists with much ground for research later on. This bourgeoisie different considerably from its Indian counterpart, mainly owing to its comprador character: unlike in India, SL bourgeoisie found wealth through arrack rents and plantations. The absence of an industrial bourgeoisie thus circumscribed its revolutionary potential, more..

Feb 12 (EAF) Sri Lanka teeters on the edge of a grim economic precipice, entering 2022 with foreign currency reserves sufficient only for a single month of imports. Domestic inflation rose to a decade-high record in 2021 following a surge in food prices triggered by import restrictions, a significant drop in the Sri Lankan rupee value and the government’s decision to print more money. Sri Lanka is saddled with annual foreign debt settlements of US$4.5 billion for the foreseeable future. more..

Feb 12 (Island) Punjab govt has decided to move the trial in the lynching of SL factory manager Priyantha Kumara from Gujranwala to Lahore. Priyantha, who was working as a factory manager at Rajco Industries in Sialkot, was lynched and his body was set on fire by workers over blasphemy allegations on Dec 3, 2021. An anti-terrorism court of Gujranwala was hearing the case. On Thursday, govt issued a notification that the trial will now be conducted inside Kot Lakhpat prison more..

Feb 12 (AD) A special gazette notification has declared the supply of electricity and provision of healthcare as essential services. The communiqué was issued on Friday by Secretary to the Head of State Gamini Senarath, on the directives of Prez Rajapaksa. Thereby, electricity supply and provision of healthcare have been identified as essential services for the conduct of ordinary public life. more..

Feb 12 (NF) SL all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga was sold to Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday for Indian Rs. 10.75 crores after a closely fought bidding war. SL pair of Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera, joined RCB for the second part of IPL 2021. Hasaranga took a hat-trick at last year’s T20 World Cup. He was also the highest wicket-taker with 16 victims in eight matches at 5.20. Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings and RCB were the teams that went for it as they looked to secure more..

Feb 12 (AD) The CID commenced recording statements from the ringleader of Easter Sunday terror attacks Zahran Hashim’s wife today. Presenting submissions to the Kuliyapitiya Magistrate’s Court on Thursday (10), the CID had sought permission to record statements from Abdul Cader Fatima Saadiah until Feb. 25. Accordingly, the court has directed the Welikada Prison’s superintendent to allow CID officials to visit the jail premises to obtain relevant statements more..

Feb 12 (Island) Human Rights Advocate Ambika Satkunanathan has alleged that the culture of impunity is well documented, not only by civil society organisations, human rights defenders and the UN, but most importantly the Supreme Court and the Human Rights Commission of SL. Since 2020 several incidents of violence by state officials have been publicly recorded. Yet, to date, the number of persons held accountable is negligible. more..

Feb 12 (Island) Responding to the news that Hejaaz Hizbullah, a Sri Lankan lawyer has been granted bail after almost two years of pre-trial detention under SL’s draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Yamini Mishra, Amnesty International’s South Asia Director, said: “The court’s decision to grant bail to Hejaaz Hizbullah is a welcome development. Ever since he was arrested in April 2020, prosecutors have only brought baseless accusations against him. Hejaaz is a respected lawyer and more..

Feb 12 (Island) The ongoing health sector strike by 31 unions has made the poorest of the poor absolutely helpless, the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) says. AMS has said it feels that the health sector trade unions’ move to declare a continuous strike is ill-timed and somewhat selfish at this critical juncture from the patients’ point of view. AMS President, Lakkumar Fernando has, in a media statement, said that his association strongly believes that industrial action should generally more..

Feb 12 (NR) Another 23 coronavirus related fatalities have been confirmed in SL, raising the death toll to 15,777. All 23 deaths occurred yesterday, the 12th of Feb. 12 males and 11 females were among the victims. 18 persons, 10 males and eight females among the group that succumbed to the virus, were 60 years of age or above. Meanwhile, two males and two females between 30 and 59 years of age and a female who was below the age of 30 years also passed away yesterday after contracting more..

Feb 12 (AD) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has once again requested the govt to give the go-ahead to increase fuel prices. However, the govt is yet to inform the CPC of a price hike, its chairman Sumith Wijesinghe said. The CPC chairman stressed on the dire need to increase fuel prices against the backdrop of rising crude oil prices in the world market. Thereby, CPC has briefed Minister Udaya Gammanpila again about the matter while submitting the price revisions its seeking. more..

Feb 12 (EN) Sri Lanka has expressed its willingness to amend the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), a move that analysts and diplomats are calling a bid to evade criticism at the upcoming UNHRC session and to prevent the loss of a lucrative European Union trade concession. The island nation is under pressure to prove its sincerity in addressing alleged past human rights violations and to change the PTA, more..

Feb 12 (AD) Twelve people were injured at Saudi Arabia’s Abha airport by shrapnel from an explosive-laden drone intercepted by air defences on Thursday, Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group said. The coalition later warned people in the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital Sanaa to avoid civilian locations used for military purposes during the next 72 hours while it strikes drone launch sites, Houthi military spokesperson said the group hit a military target at more..

Feb 12 (ST) The dollar crunch has placed Sri Lanka’s packaging industries in a crisis that also affects the forex-earning export sector. Industry sources said the country could face a shortage of flexible wrapping materials and corrugated cartons used in the packaging of merchandise for export market. The 29-member Association of Laminated Flexible Packaging Manufacturers said several of its companies had scaled down their productions because of a shortage of raw material. more..

Feb 12 (CT) In an unexpected move, Chairmen of Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) Anura Walpola and Chairman of Lanka Sathosa Venura Gunawardena had been removed from their positions. Dr. Manjula Prasad had been appointed as the new head of GSMB on 10 Feb, as per the directives issued by the Presidential Secretariat. Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera reiterated the decision to more..

Feb 12 (FT) Museum of Modern & Contemporary Art SL (MMCA Sri Lanka) yesterday kicked off its second exhibition titled Encounters which will go on till 28 August at the museum’s new venue at Crescat Boulevard. Encounters is structured as a sequence of changing displays bringing together six encounters between works of art created between the 1950s and the present by various artists such as George Keyt, Pradeep Thalawatta, Nelun Harasgama, Senaka Senanayake, more..

Feb 12 (DN) Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that a group of dengue prevention assistants have not met the relevant educational qualifications for them to be made permanent. He said that the dengue prevention assistants have been recruited on a contract basis in 2017 and 847 of them have not met the relevant qualification criteria. A health assistant should have six passes with minimum two credits at the O/L exam to be recruited to the health service as a health assistant. more..

Feb 12 (ST) Zeroing on vaccination trends, Dr. Asela Gunawardena said that the best trend for the booster is being seen in the Central Province, with the Colombo district in the Western Province, the Eastern Province and the Northern Province lagging behind as also Kegalle district. When asked why, he said they can’t really say why Colombo has low numbers. However, with a strong mobile vaccination initiative in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) area, there is some improvement more..

Feb 12 (ST) Investigations into the Rs. 7.4 million Sathosa garlic scam appear to be going nowhere amid attempts to close the case, a company which made the complaint has said. Enriched investment Lanka (Pvt) Ltd said that concerned parties had shown interest in the petitioner withdrawing the complaint made against Lanka Sathosa over illegally clearing two container loads of garlic imported by the company. Claiming that the CID had made little progress in the case so far, more..

Feb 12 (EN) Senior SL opposition figures and an ex-speaker have called for orderly re-negotiation of sovereign debt and correct policies for sustainable growth as the country heads for currency depreciation and possible default due to money printing. SL’s govt external debt has reached nearly 120%, interest payments were also excessively high as a share of state revenues and there were forex shortages, the legislators & ex-speaker said. more..