Dec 11 (DM) The two Non-Executive Directors, Lalith Withana and Hasitha Premaratne, have resigned from the director board of Bank of Ceylon (BOC), with effect from Dec 8. Both Withana and Premaratne were appointed to the BOC board on Jan 14, 2020. Withana, who has held management positions in the corporate sector for over 25 years, is currently CEO of SriLankan Catering Ltd. Premaratne is Group Finance Director of the Brandix group. He is also Managing Director of more..

Dec 11 (AD) Prez Rajapaksa instructed relevant authorities to look humanely at grievances of the prisoners and address them immediately by providing necessary assistance to them. More than 12,000 people are incarcerated due to drug addiction. Prez emphasized the need to pay special attention to them and formulate a rehabilitation programme. Prez made these remarks at a discussion held at the Prez Secretariat more..

Dec 11 (FT) Hambantota Int'l Port (HIP) has built a new police station with the capacity to house over 40 police personnel within the port premises. The new fully-equipped station would replace the small police post that functioned previously in the port; allowing officers at the new facility to widen their reach in policing, especially when port activities are on the rise. Hambantota Int'l Port Services (HIPS) CEO Capt. Ravi Jayawickreme says harbour engineers handled the construction more..

Dec 11 (Island) Peralanda Recreational Park project conceptualized by State Minister Nalaka Godahewa was kicked off on 9th Dec near the wetland park in Ragama. Objectives of this landmark local project are manifold. Uplifting physical and mental hygiene of the people of the locality, avoiding inundating of Ragama town due to flash floods caused by heavy downpours, prevention of unwarranted garbage dumping in the wetland areas and creating livelihood for small entrepreneurs to name a few. more..

Dec 11 (FT) 558 persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the country�s total patient count to 30,613. 448 persons linked to the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster and 21 persons linked to the prisons COVID-19 cluster were among yesterday�s patients. The triple cluster that emerged from Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, and prisons has a total patient count of 26,985. 69 overseas arrivals tested positive as well, more..

Dec 11 (DM) An initial protest started by the inmates to escape from getting infected from COVID-19 at Mahara Prison had taken a violent turn as members of certain underworld gangs who had sought revenge from each other, the five member committee appointed to probe the mayhem had revealed. The report which was tabled by Justice Minister Ali Sabry in Parliament said a protest held by the inmates had taken a violent turn as some gang leaders have sought to take revenge more..

Dec 11 (Island) SJB MP Harin Fernando placed a wager that Prez Rajapaksa did not know the names of even one third of the SLPP MPs in Parliament. Participating in the third reading debate on the budget 2021, Fernando said that former Prez Mahinda Rapjapaksa knew each MP his or her name. �I bet you that the Prez does not know the names of even a half, nay at least one third of MPs in the govt side�. MP Shantha Bandara: Prez Rajapaksa is the only person who has more..

Dec 11 (Island) Muslim COVID-19 victims were being cremated to appease some extremist elements, SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem told parliament. �The issue of cremating the Muslims who die of COVID-19 will have far reaching implications which are detrimental not only to the govt, but to the country as a whole. I am pleading on the floor of this House, for God�s sake, please revise this draconian policy without further delay.� more..

Dec 11 (MFA) Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Ambassador of Cuba in SL Juana Rodriguez have discussed deepening cooperation between the two countries, a statement by the Foreign Ministry said. The Cuban Ambassador met with Foreign Minister on 4 Dec at the Foreign Ministry. The meeting entailed discussion, inter alia, on potential areas of cooperation, including in the pharmaceutical and sugar cane industries, where Sri Lanka would benefit from Cuban expertise more..

Dec 11 (AD) An annually occurring meteor shower called Geminids Meteor shower will be best seen from Sri Lanka this year on the night of the 13th of Dec, according to Prof. Chandana Jayaratne, Professor in Physics. He stated that this meteor shower occurs every year on the same dates between December 4-17 with peeks over Dec 13-14. �However, this year due to the absence of moon light till early morning one could see more meteors. If the sky is clear & dark with no city light pollution more..

Dec 11 (CT) JJB Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Parliament wanted to know what authority Prez�s Secretary P.B. Jayasundera (PBJ) and Finance Ministry Secretary S.R. Attygalle (SRA) had to close the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) and inform its Members to step down from their posts. Dissanayake said the two Secretaries have no power to undertake such actions as the PUCSL was established under an Act of Parliament. more..

Dec 11 (CT) President of the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU), Rizwe Mufti, and an associate were seen carrying 20 gift parcels to the PCoI into the Easter Sunday bombings, when he was to testify before the PCoI, yesterday. He took about 12 parcels into the hall where evidence is being led and it was observed that several other parcels were being taken to the office where the Members and staff of the PCoI were staying. It was also observed that some of the parcels were being more..

Dec 11 (FT) Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival and Poverty Eradication Chairman Basil Rajapaksa will today chair a high-powered meeting with tourism and travel stakeholders on reopening borders and resuming international tourism. The latest initiative is a follow-up to a meeting Rajapaksa chaired mid this week and a flurry of discussions between health authorities and tourism authorities to resume tourism with strict safety guidelines. Among the top-level participants at the discussion more..

Dec 11 (NR) The govt has decided to implement proposals cited in the 2021 Budget proposal with immediate effect. The Ministry of Finance said the Budget includes proposals that have been tabled for the wellbeing of state sectors workers, small and medium scale businesses, youth, dairy farmers and students. Accordingly steps have been taken to reduce the maximum interest rate charged on housing and real estate loans more..

Dec 11 (FT) The days are growing shorter, the nights longer. And there is an awful finality in the air, like the last sober drunk at a party that fizzled out half a bottle ago. So! The last thing I want to do is to make you laugh. But it�s still on my list. Speaking of which, when I need a little light relief, I tune into the nine o�clock news. Which, on certain channels, should be called not the nine o�clock news. Where, having started with good evening, they tell you why it isn�t. When reporting and deciding fails, more..

Dec 11 (FT) A recent article written by me titled the End of an Era received considerable attention in the political arena. One main observation I have made about SL following the end of the internal civil war has been that SL was heading towards a catastrophic end through anarchic developments. I have also written a book titled Lankava Galavaganima in 2011 explaining the situation. It can be said that my prediction about SL has come true to a considerable degree by now. more..

Dec 11 (DM) A Cabinet Sub-Committee, under leadership of Transport Minister Gamini Lokuge was appointed today to investigate railway employees occupying railway reservation lands illegally, the Transport Ministry said. This Cabinet Sub-Committee, which was appointed to look into the possibility of taking necessary action against the illegal squatters, met at the Transport Ministry for the first time yesterday, had identified about 152 railways employees who are still residing more..

Dec 11 (NR) 570 individuals have recovered from COVID-19 and have been discharged during the past 24-hours. Accordingly, total recoveries in SL has increased to 22,831. 126 individuals were discharged from the Kahagolla treatment centre, 47 from the Kopai treatment centre, 45 from the Ampara rehabilitation centre, 38 from the Gallela treatment centre and 33 from Neville Fernando Hospital. Accordingly, 7,636 active coronavirus patients are being treated for the virus more..

Dec 11 (DN) The Govt would have spent Rs.90 billion on anti-Coronavirus efforts by December end, PM Mahinda Rajapaksa told Parliament. Participating in the debate for the Third Reading of the Budget, PM Rajapaksa said no one expected the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019, but the country had to face this pandemic. �Under the current situation we have spent Rs. 70 billion for the anti-COVID drive and by the time more..

Dec 11 (Island) The incorporation of modern technology into the learning and teaching process is an essential factor for the quality development of education, State Minister Kanaka Herath has said recently. The State Minister said that the present Government was constantly advocating for the quality development of education and under that the introduction of modern technology in the teaching and learning processes was considered as the main objective of the present Govt. more..

Dec 11 (FT) In its journey of gathering momentum to uplift SL�s IT/BPM sector through homegrown innovations and startups, the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Forum and Regional Forum of Sri Lanka Association for Software Services Companies (SLASSCOM) is organising the chamber�s Innovations Awards competition, aptly named SLASSCOM Ingenuity Awards, under the Island of Ingenuity concept, to take place on a virtual platform connecting all nine districts of the island. more..

Dec 11 (DN) Sri Lanka has recorded the highest annual elephant deaths and second highest human deaths in the world due to human � elephant conflict. This was revealed at the meeting of Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) held recently. It was disclosed that SL has been ranked second in reporting the highest number of human deaths due to human-elephant conflict in the world whilst India holds the first rank. more..

Dec 11 (NR) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa has advised the new members of the Election Commission to look into the prompt conduct of the Provincial Council Election and legal measures involved. PM advised to look into whether the election can be held under either the old or new electoral system. The newly appointed members of the Commission including Chairman Nimal Punchihewa, met with PM this morning. Officials stated that legal provisions required to amend electoral system, more..

Dec 11 (CT) The Progressive Women�s Collective (PWC) launched a protest near the Parliament roundabout yesterday (10), endorsing Human Rights Day and demanding the protection of the rights of all human beings, especially prisoners and women. Savithri Paulraj, representing the Collective, pointed out that with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Govt had violated one of the main human rights, the right to health. �The Govt is deceiving the public by advertising myths. more..

Dec 11 (Reuters) Rating agency S&P slashed SL�s credit rating to CCC+/C on Friday, citing concerns that risks to the island nation�s debt servicing capacity have risen as the COVID-19 pandemic squeezes the govt�s ability to generate earnings. S&P�s downgrade from B- follows similar moves by Fitch and Moody�s in recent months and underlines the challenges facing the country as it strives to recover from the pandemic-induced more..

Dec 11 (DM) There is a possible threat of COVID-19 spreading from Western Province to other areas, where the risk is low, GMOA said. GMOA Editor Dr. Haritha Aluthge said the spreading of the virus was mainly found in the Western province, but the emergence of new positive cases shows vast spreading among other areas too. He said the total number of COVID-19 cases has exceeded 30,000 in the country. �While comparing with other countries, the spreading of virus is quite rapid, more..

Dec 11 (Island) SJB MPs called on Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to cancel the traditional Speaker�s Luncheon for MPs at the end of the budget debate and utilise the funds so saved for provide relief to pandemic-hit people. SJB MP Buddhika Pathirana said that all MPs had been invited to the luncheon to be hosted by the speaker at the end of the budget debate. SJB MP Chaminda Wijesiri said that an enormous amount of funds would be spent on the luncheon. more..

Dec 11 (DM) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday called on health authorities to find an immediate solution to the burial issue of Muslim COVID-19 victims following serious concerns raised by the Muslim community over the cremation only policy. PM held discussions with Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, state Minister Dr. sudharshani Fernandopulle, minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara, muslim parliamentarians and some officials more..

Dec 11 (DM) The indigenous herbal syrup produced by Indigenous medical practitioner Dhammika Bandara which is claimed to be a cure for COVID-19 was not given to the opposition MPs, SJB MP Mujibur Rahman said. He said that the syrup bottles which were brought to Parliament on Thursday were given only to ruling party MPs. �Maybe the govt must be thinking that opposition MPs should not be protected from the pandemic,� Mr. Rahman said. �However, MPs could be saved from more..

Dec 11 (AD) Covid-19 infections registered in Sri Lanka swept past the grim milestone of 31,000 as 536 more persons were tested positive today. Govt Information Dept stated that 461 of the newly-identified patients are close contacts of earlier cases linked to the Peliyagoda fish market. The remaining 75 have been detected from the prison cluster. Total number of Covid-19 infections confirmed in the country to date now stands at 31,149. Recoveries from the virus meanwhile climbed to 22,831 more..

Dec 11 (TM) In the mid-1980s, Singapore�s Sim Lim Tower was an unremarkable building � a $ 30 million project housing a few distributors of TVs and printers. Taken over by a new management by the name of Sim Lim Realty in 1987, Sim Lim Tower was transformed to Sim Lim Square, an ambitious, six-storey, $140 million project. Today, it is an imperative part of Singapore�s IT industry � its name is synonymous for more..

Dec 11 (AD) A 23-year-old expectant mother has given birth to twins at the Mulleriyawa Base Hospital while battling Covid-19. The babies were delivered on Sunday evening by caesarean section as the mother was suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes. Gynaecologist Dr Mayuramana Dewolage said more than 170 coronavirus-infected pregnant women have successfully delivered their babies at the Mulleriyawa Base Hospital. He noted that the twins were born with low birthweight and more..

Dec 11 (MFA) At the invitation of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore, State Minister for Regional Co-operation, Tharaka Balasuriya delivered a pre-recorded statement at Switching on Cross Border Start Ups & Innovation, an event organized jointly by the High Commission of Sri Lanka and GB Community Development (GBCDL) to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Singapore, on 8 Dec. more..

Dec 11 (DM) PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks observed that there were certain instances where SL Muslims who go to Saudi Arabia were brainwashed by some Islamic preachers. During the testimony of All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) Chairman Rizwe Mufti, Commission drew the witness�s attention to a video clip regarding a speech conducted by an Islamic Preacher to SL Muslim migrants in Saudi. more..

Dec 11 (FT) Global financial giant Citi�s research arm is forecasting SL�s economy to contract by 4% this year before rebounding to a 3% growth in 2021. This assessment is contained in Citi Research�s latest report on SL. �Following the recent resurgence of COVID clusters, prompting a stalling of mobility and selective curfews, we downgrade our growth forecast to -4% in 2020F, and a 3% rebound in 2021F, close to consensus,� Citi Research said. However it is more bearish in 2021F more..

Dec 11 (CI) Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes are the notable omissions from England's Test tour to Sri Lanka next month, with both men being rested from the 23-man touring party, ahead of the multi-format tour of India which gets underway in February. Rory Burns also misses the trip, as his wife Victoria is expecting their first child in the second week of January, while Burns' Surrey team-mate Ollie Pope will join the squad as a non-playing member, with a view to being fit in time for the 4 Tests in India more..

Dec 11 (DM) Following the recent minor tremors which caused alarm in the Digana area in Kandy, there is no threat or danger the tremors could cause to the Victoria reservoir and it is 100% safe, Central Province Governor Lalith U. Gamage said. He said this during a discussion held at the Governor office auditorium in Kandy yesterday. According to the reports issued by Geological Dept, reservoir could be used for another 100 yrs, more..

Dec 12 (CT) Thank you Honourable presiding member. I am glad to speak on the 3rd Reading, particularly on the votes of the Ministry of Justice today when my good friend at the Bar Hon. Ali Sabry is the minister of Justice. We�ve had a long association. He occupies a very prestigious post that of a Minister of Justice, In the olden days it was occupied by somebody who was from the Senate � from the upper house � because it was a prestigious office to hold. more..

Dec 12 (CT) It was undoubtedly the most frustrating cinematic experience ever. I watched Funny Boy by D. Mehta [DM] on CBC Gem, during the weekend of 5th Nov 2020. It is indeed a funny film, which does a great deal of injustice to a Lankan Tamil queer boy�s coming-of-age story. Funny Boy is a novel authored by a cis gay Tamil man, S. Selvadurai, who is a member of the global Tamil diaspora, or to be precise, the Lankan Tamil diaspora of the territories of Turtle Island we know as Canada. more..