Dec 10 (DM) Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay spoke to Daily Mirror outlining the direction of bilateral ties and the status of bilateral projects. He also touched upon contentious issues. Q: After the new govt was formed in Sri Lanka, there had been top-level engagements between the leaders of the two sides. What tangible steps have been taken ever since by the two countries to realise what was agreed upon? more..

Dec 10 (CT) The USD 210 million Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l Airport (MRIA), opened in March 2013 with $190 million provided by China, completing construction ahead of schedule. Initially beset with teething problems commercial flights stopped operations grinding it to a halt by 2015. Regarded as a costly and worthless endeavour by the Yahapalana�s in 2015 they termed MRIA a ghost city, stored paddy in cargo terminals damaging high sensitivity equipment costing over LKR 500 m more..

Dec 10 (ST) For UK customers, Japanese motorcars are cheaper than similar German models because of the differences in cost of production. I am using this example to get my point across. For instance, imagine that a Japanese car costs �10,000, while a German car costs �11,000. The UK also produces its own motorcar which has a higher production cost � �12,000. If all three motorcars are similar models, then obviously the Japanese car becomes the most demanded by the UK customers. more..

Dec 10 (Island) TNA Leader R. Sampanthan is reported to have lashed out at his critics, saying that nobody could intimidate or ban his party, which, he has insisted, had no affiliations to the LTTE. This has been his response to Minister Sarath Weerasekera�s recent speech in Parliament. While Weerasekera was inveighing against the TNA for promoting events to commemorate dead LTTE cadres, a TNA MP said the JVP was free to remember its dead leaders and, therefore, the Tamils should not be denied more..

Dec 10 (CT) Schoolboy Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, 19-year-old right arm leg spinner of Jaffna Central College, played his debut LPL match for Jaffna Stallions against Colombo Kings one day before his 19th birthday on 4 December. Vijayakanth started his cricket at Under-13 level in 2014 as a right arm medium paceman and right-hand batsman under the junior coach R. Vinod Kumar. In his first season he scored more than 200 runs. Viyaskanth turned into a leg-spinner under the guidance of more..

Dec 10 (TM) Govt aims to provide clean drinking water supply to over 75% of the population by the end of its term, including the establishment of desalination plants and new efforts to conserve water sources. Minister of Water Supply Vasudeva Nanayakkara emphasised the importance of clean drinking water to the socioeconomic status of a nation and the need to locate and protect sources of clean drinking water. more..

Dec 10 (SO) �If he was a gift from SL to Pakistan, we had the authority to reclaim him after getting to know that he is not well taken care of� said the Director of Species Conservation and Project Manager of Tree Society of SL, Pubudu Weerarathna, speaking to Sunday Observer concerning Kaavan, the elephant who left SL as a baby elephant for a Pakistani zoo. Kaavan spent more than three decades there, including eight lonely years and was transferred to Cambodia from Pakistan on Nov 30. more..

Dec 10 (Island) On a windy day, way back in 2002, an engineer from the CEB, approached the Mannar island, searching for a location to set up a wind measuring system. Those were difficult times, with the ceasefire taking hold, but a flareup between the two warring sides was imminent. He precariously crossed makeshift bridge, on Mannar causeway, previously blown-up in the war. Moving toward Thalaimannar, road was deserted & full of potholes, result of years of neglect during the war. more..

Dec 10 (CI) In a departure from the run-fests that have populated the LPL 2020 so far, the Jaffna Stallions and Kandy Tuskers played out a rare low-scoring affair that eventually saw the Tuskers sneak a six-wicket win. It was fittingly Asela Gunaratne, unbeaten on a 37-ball 52, who scored the winning runs - coming down the pitch to swat Duanne Olivier for a straight six off the first ball of the final over. That it was just the 4th six of the entire game more..

Dec 10 (NIA) Sri Lanka-born actress Thusitha Jayasundera has been included to the cast of the Amazon Original series based on the iconic The Lord of the Rings novels by J.R.R. Tolkien. Jayasundera is part of the twenty additional cast members who will be joining the ensemble cast as announced by Amazon Studios recently. According to media reports, the newly revealed cast members will join the previously announced global cast and crew, currently filming in New Zealand. more..

Dec 10 (DN) ICC�s Chief Match Referee and former SL captain Ranjan Madugalle is the prime cricketer that comes to everyone�s mind when the Observer-Mobitel School Cricketer series history is talked about. We cannot forget this great cricketer who has been a part of it, be it as a batsman or captain. His gentleman qualities have been proved beyond doubt in every stage of his half a century contribution to the gentleman�s game, both as a player and a match referee. As a player & captain at school Royal more..

Dec 10 (DM) Authorities have decided to permit only a limited number of devotees to visit Sri Padasthanaya this season under strict health guidelines, officials confirmed today. Sri Pada pilgrim Season 2020/2021 will commence on the Unduwap full moon Poya Day on Dec 29. A meeting to decide on preliminary arrangements in this regard was held under the chairmanship of Sabaragamuwa Province Governor more..

Dec 10 (DN) The COVID-19 pandemic has not had a major negative impact to the apparel exports revenue and Sri Lanka will secure around USS 3.7 billion revenue for 2021, the Sri Lanka Apparel Associated opined. Sri Lanka had an apparel export revenue of US$ 5.6 billion in 2019. The exports in 2020 were also boosted by around US$ 750 million coming from Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). However this segment is drying up since Chinese products are now available in global market. more..

Dec 10 (CT) Deputy High Commissioner of India to SL, Vinod K Jacob undertook a two-day visit to Mannar and Jaffna from 7 to 8 Dec. He inspected the progress at the ongoing Indian project to construct 144 transit houses for pilgrims at the Mannar Madhu Church and the upgrading of the Thirukeeteshwaram Temple. The former project is scheduled to be completed by Sept 2021 with an estimated cost of Rs 290 million while in the latter project, Govt of India has completed more..

Dec 10 (Island) Chief Opposition Whip Kandy and MP Lakshman Kiriella, speaking in Parliament, challenged the govt MPs and Ministers to reveal details of their bank accounts. Chief Opposition Whip Kiriella said: �Can any of the MPs and Ministers in the govt ranks tell this House how much money he or she has in his or her bank account? Is there at least a single MP who can do that? At the time of our govt during a budget debate more..

Dec 10 (AN) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday inaugurated SL�s first wind power station. The Thambapavani Power Plant in Mannar has a capacity of 100 megawatts with 30 turbines along a 12.5 km stretch of SL�s coast. Built by Denmark�s Vesta Asia Pacific, the wind farm costs US$ 200 million, partly financed with a loan from the ADB. According to Minister of Power Dullas Alahapperuma, electricity produced by this plant will save 20 billion litres of diesel in 20 years. more..

Dec 10 (Island) SL�s youth athletes who are eager to win medals at the forthcoming Asian Youth Championship are in a dilemma after the Ministry of Education rescheduled the postponed O/L exam 2020 to coincide with the dates of the Asian Youth Championship. Ministry of Education has rescheduled the O/L exam from March 1-11. Asian Youth Athletics Championship organized by Asian Athletics Association is set to take place in Kuwait from March 1 to 4. If both events take place more..

Dec 10 (CI) Galle Gladiators had their moments in this one. In fact, perhaps they will wonder how they managed to lose it from such positions of strength. Thanks to a rollicking 31 off 18 from Bhanuka Rajapaksa and the by-now habitual excellence from Danushka Gunathilaka, the Gladiators were 73 for 1 at the end of their Powerplay. But then the game slipped. At one stage, the Gladiators seemed headed for 190, more..

Dec 10 (FT) State-of-the-art cement manufacturing facility Lanwa Sanstha Cement Corporation Ltd., which is slated to be one of the largest in the region, is scheduled for commissioning in June 2021. The facility, spread across 63 acres, is in the Mirijjawila Export Processing Zone, Hambantota. A Board of Investment (BOI) approved venture, the investment for Phase 1 of project was $ 70 million and the production capacity of same is estimated to be 2.4 million Metric Tons per annum. more..

Dec 10 (DN) In a bid to position Bhutan as a digital hub in the South Asian region, SL tech investor and entrepreneur, Sesiri Pathirane is set to open the country�s first private sector-funded tech park, Bhutan Education & Technology Academy Park (BETA Park), in Jan 2021. BETA Park which is dubbed Bhutan�s Silicon Valley has been designed featuring a host of amenities including inspiring co-working spaces and a fully-fledged academic institution, London Institute of Business more..

Dec 10 (CT) The Senior DIG Roshan Silva ordered several Police teams to launch an immediate probe into the mysterious death of a Dutch Buddhist Monk who passed away under suspicious circumstances while engaging in meditation at the Polgasduwa Temple in Rathgama. He said, two Special Police Teams have been deployed and noted that a CID Team had also been brought from Colombo. more..

Dec 10 (FT) Former CID Director Shani Abeysekara (59), who is incarcerated in Mahara Remand Prison, yesterday filed a Fundamental Rights violation petition, seeking his safety and compensation of Rs. 3 million. Attorney-at-Law Gowry Shangary Thavarasha filed the petition on his behalf in the Supreme Court. She cited IGP C.D. Wickramarathne, ASP Neville Silva, and IP S.P.D.J. Nishantha, as well as Senior DIG Deshanbandu Tennakoone and the AG as Respondents. more..

Dec 10 (Island) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday told parliament that there were serious issues pertaining to the allocation of stalls in the new Manning Market at Peliyagoda. There had been instances of a single shop being given to two traders. Taking special permission from the Chair, the Opposition Leader said: �When it was planned to construct the new Manning Market at a cost of Rs 6.9 billion we provided a list of all the rightful owners of the old Manning Market. more..

Dec 10 (FT) COVID-19 clusters that emerged from Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, and prisons exceeded 26,000 cases yesterday with the detection of 694 patients. 651 of yesterday�s patients are associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster, while 43 are linked to the prisons cluster. The triple clusters have now reached 26,516 patients. In addition to the above clusters, 1,524 SL returnees from overseas, 950 Navy personnel and more..

Dec 10 (FT) The remains of COVID-19 patients that have not been claimed can be cremated under quarantine regulations, Attorney General (AG) Dappula de Livera yesterday stated. According to the AG�s Coordinating Officer State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena has been informed of this. The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has thus been advised to cremate the unclaimed bodies of persons who died of COVID-19. more..

Dec 10 (DM) Several special COVID-19 Treatment Centres would be set up in Jaffna, Kandakadu and Gallella areas to treat the Covid19 positive cases detected from the prisons, Army Commander Shavendra Silva said. The decision had been made as per directives given by the President. �It is also expected to deploy Army personnel for the security of those centres, he added. A total of 2,612 inmates have so far tested positive for COVID-19. In addition, 4 inmates have died due to virus. more..

Dec 10 (TM) Power Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said a regulator is required for the electricity sector and the letter sent by Prez�s Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundara has been sent without his knowledge. Minister told the media that Public Utilities Commission Act and CEB Act will be amended in line with the proposals submitted to Parliament by the PM. In the budget speech, he clearly stated that only the acts would be amended. more..

Dec 10 (Island) Sanjaya Mohottala was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Investment yesterday. He previously served as DG BOI from March 2020 during which time the BOI developed a new road map defining the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) strategy for SL, Prior to joining BOI, Mohottala was Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group with experience in Indo � Pacific, the EU and US. A Fulbright Scholar, he received his MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, more..

Dec 10 (CT) A total of 18 foreign military personnel from Sudan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Rwanda, the Maldives, Indonesia, Nepal and Saudi Arabia are among a total of 149 military officers currently following the Military Course Number 14, being conducted at the Defence Services Command and Staff College at Sapugaskanda, the Army said on 8 December. Successfully passed out military undergraduates are qualified to use the Pass Staff College tag behind their name. more..

Dec 10 (FT) Govt appears to have changed track on scrapping the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) with moves being made to appoint new commissioners, a top official said. Following the present commissioners decision to step down after a call from Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle on Tuesday, Govt is said to appoint a new set of commissioners shortly with the commission�s Chairman already earmarked. more..

Dec 10 (FT) Agree or disagree? Ratings appear to come in thick and fast. Our own ratings have placed an alcoholic beverage at triple A (lka). Cheers! The country and the banks however appear to go in a reverse direction. Believe in general that we are not at a crisis state, having passed a tipping point of no return. However, also believe that one should take serious note of the issues and address root causes rather than being happy with patchwork solutions. One area of significant deficiency more..

Dec 10 (FT) There is a contradiction between the needs of recovery and progress on all fronts, and the regime�s restrictive framework and retrogressive ideas. COVID-19 proliferation and the Mahara massacre are but manifestations of the ideology of denial and the failure of the organisational doctrine-cum-model introduced by the GR regime. There is a contradiction between the propaganda of the regime and the basic requirements of public credibility. The rebuttal by the College of Psychiatrists of more..

Dec 10 (AD) The newly elected members of the Police and Election commissions are to assume duties at 10 am this morning. The nominations of the President for the positions were recently recommended by the Parliament. Accordingly, the Elections Commission will be chaired by Nimal Punchihewa and will consist of M.M. Mohamed, S.B. Diwaratne, K.P.P. Pathirana, and Jeevan Thyagarajah. Meanwhile, former IGP Chandara Fernando has been appointed as more..

Dec 10 (FT) The instability and fear that the COVID-19 pandemic brings about is exacerbating human rights concerns around the world. While businesses face an unprecedented level of challenges amidst the ongoing pandemic, expectations are rising quickly for greater respect for human rights in business operations. How businesses respond to the crisis now will shape public attitudes for years to come. To build forward better, it�s important now more than ever for businesses to ensure that more..

Dec 10 (EN) In Parliament today the Opposition demanded Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene reveal who is responsible for tweeting from the official Parliament account as the findings of the COPE committee had been misrepresented. A heated argument arose about reported findings by COPE about the Google Loon Project when they looked into the ICTA, which has not yet been confirmed as an exact fact. more..

Dec 10 (AD) Travel restrictions have been imposed in 5 Grama Niladhari divisions in Weligama, Matara. Galbokka East, Galbokka West, Aluthweediya, Kohunugamuwa and Hettiweediya GN divisions are thereby under isolation for the time being. The decision comes after random PCR tests carried out in Weligama town confirmed a total of 18 Covid-19 infections yesterday. An employee of a private hospital has also been tested positive for Covid-19 and his contacts have been subsequently more..

Dec 10 (AD) The Ministry of Health says 461 more individuals, who were previously diagnosed with Covid-19, have made complete recoveries. The new development brings the total number of novel coronavirus recoveries reported in the country to 22,261. Sri Lanka�s confirmed infections count meanwhile stands at 30,075. The Epidemiology Unit says 7,670 active cases are still under medical care. According to the situation report, the following hospitals have reported the latest recoveries: more..

Dec 10 (AD) Minister of Foreign Affairs Dinesh Gunawardena met with the British High Commissioner Sarah Hulton and Canadian High Commissioner David McKinnon, this week to discuss matters of bilateral importance. The Minister addressed the mutual concern of security of countries, particularly in the context of the increasingly visible activities in the past few weeks by non-state actors engaged in glorification more..