Dec 12 (DM) Anton Stanislaus Balasingham the political strategist of the LTTE and political adviser to Tiger leader V. Prabhakaran died 14 years ago in his South London residence. His death was not unexpected as it was known that the doctors had given him four to six weeks to live. Bala Annai (elder brother) as he was generally known among Tamils was diagnosed with bile duct cancer, rare/aggressive malignancy of biliary system. more..

Dec 12 (DM) Corruption is one of the most devastating crimes because it makes the rich richer and the poor poorer. During the past five centuries, colonial powers such as Portugal, the Netherlands and Britain, plundered our country though they claimed their aim was to civilise Sri Lanka. They need to be reminded that SL has a civilization dating back more than 2500 years. So corruption today is a subtle form of neocolonialism because SL�s own rich and ruling elite plunder the poor. more..

Dec 12 (Island) It is no surprise that ordinary people behave irresponsibly when some members of the noble profession behave idiotically! I do not blame anyone who has come to this inevitable conclusion after the faux-pas in Gampola Hospital. The idiotic behaviour of some doctors have not only brought our profession into disrepute but also inconvenienced the public; perhaps, endangered people�s lives by causing the closure of some services and, thereby, causing patients to more..

Dec 12 (DM) An abrupt letter sent by President�s Secretary to the Treasury Secretary, ordering to take measures to close the country�s utility regulator, the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL), under the pretext of creating an efficient work environment to implement the power generation plan which has been lagging behind for some time, has led to much controversy. PUCSL, as a regulatory body, prevented the CEB from more..

Dec 12 (CT) It is no doubt that 2020 has been a year that spelled doom for many of the economies around the globe. Restrictions on air travel, extended lockdown periods, social distancing guidelines have all contributed to slowing down global trade as well as the economies of individual countries. Sri Lanka introduced strict border controls as soon as the first few cases of the coronavirus started appearing in March. As a country that depends heavily on tourism and its auxiliary industries, more..

Dec 12 (CT) Considering the high marine diversity and attraction to up market global travellers Sri Lanka has great potential for nautical tourism, yacht building, chartering and yacht operation to be made a prosperous industry. Nautical tourism is also called water-based tourism combining sailing, boating with holiday and vacation activities, it�s travelling by boat, cruise liners or yacht moving from port to port or launching of smaller boats for regattas or day excursions. more..

Dec 12 (DM) On Feb 6, 2007, the United Nations adopted the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances. The convention foregrounds the need to ensure justice for victims, and the responsibility of States for guarantees of non-recurrence for disappearances which is a crime against humanity. The UN has declared Aug 30 as the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, to avert the recurrence of more..

Dec 12 (Island) We thought the only thing outlandish about the outgoing US Prez Donald Trump was his tonsorial choice, but now a top Israeli scientist, who is widely considered the father of the Jewish State�s space capabilities, tells us that Trump has had extraterrestrial connections, all these years. A startling claim mady by Israel�s ex-space security chief, Prof. Haim Eshed, who served in that position for three decades, has taken the world by storm; he has been quoted by a Israeli newspaper more..

Dec 12 (Island) It is not the upcoming solar eclipse on Dec 14, which will not be seen here, that has brought any new interest, but the major solar eclipse on June 1955 that is now remembered by many; especially with the Bivva Neda Vadakaha Sudiya baila beat and the tale of Emali Paney being revived in the minds of many from this honey trap of Covid cure. Those who take special delight in drinking new Kali Amma more..

Dec 12 (DM) December cold is setting in and Christmas is approaching, but people might not have the freedom to celebrate the festive season as they would wish. The lack of freedom is the highlight despite SL being a country which eradicated terrorism. Lawmakers continue to bring in new laws to curtail the freedom people enjoy. Now the people of this country have to seek the assistance of the law to bury the dead and mourn their loved ones. Christian community is demanding justice more..

Dec 12 (DN) SL left-handed opening batsman Danushka Gunathilaka scored an unbeaten 94 runs off 66 balls, including 12 fours & four sixes while chasing 127 runs to win against Kandy Tuskers on Thursday night. Thanks to Gunathilaka�s exceptional innings, he single-handedly guided his team Galle Gladiators into the semi-finals by achieving the required target with three overs to spare losing just one wicket in the LPL by eliminating Kandy Tuskers. Galle Gladiators regular skipper Shahid Afridi, more..

Dec 12 (CI) Colombo Kings made an outstanding start to a chase of 204 in their near-dead rubber v Dambulla Viiking, with the in-form Laurie Evans plundering 53 off 24 to propel Kings to 72 for 1 off 6.5 overs. But when he was forced to retire hurt with what appeared to be an abdominal strain, Kings lost substantial momentum. They lost Lahiru Udara and Daniel Bell-Drummond in consecutive overs, and the run rate slowed as new batsmen more..

Dec 12 (FT) Mass Asia Investments Ltd. is planning to launch several Mini Super Markets in SL. �These supermarkets will be similar to the much sought-after 7/11 style supermarkets commonly found in South East Asian countries,� said Mass Asia Group Chairman Dr. Aloka Wahalawatta. The first Colombay Super Mini Mart was already opened in Katuwawala, Boralesgamuwa and plans are to open two more this year in Kegalle and Negombo. Company plans to invest around Rs. 30 m more..

Dec 12 (FT) During the recent lockdown in SL, many businesses were driven to rethink their business model and come up with new strategies. New health and safety regulations and reaching customers at their own homes became an imperative, mainly for hospitality and the food industries. Just Eat Right Ltd., one of SL�s pioneering health food restaurants also found themselves rethinking their business during the pandemic. With the restaurants temporarily shut down and food delivery more..

Dec 12 (DN) Ceylon Institute of Builders (CIOB) noted that the recent budget has ambitious goals in terms of construction and that there would need to be additional capacity in terms of human resources, materials, and financing in order to achieve them. CIOB noted the value of the projects to the broader economy and the need to find efficiency in the sector. There are 650,000 domestic workers and 1 million workers total in construction according to the figures compiled by the previous govt. more..

Dec 12 (DN) Central Province Governor Lalith Gamage said that 42 of out of 45 Schools within the Kandy City limits which are currently closed due to the spread of COVID-19, will be reopened on Monday (14). He said it was decided to reopen the schools with the consent of all after discussions with the members of the Central Province COVID-19 Committee. However, the Trinity, Thakshila and Kalaimagal schools in the outskirts of the city would remain closed for a further period. more..

Dec 12 (FT) Signalling intent to turnaround sluggish growth by boosting demand the Finance Ministry yesterday said it would immediately begin implementing a slew of Budget proposals targeted at providing relief to public sector workers, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), youth, dairy farmers and students. This initiative will be spearheaded by the Budget proposal to introduce a maximum interest rate on more..

Dec 12 (FT) Govt has repatriated 272 locals, including 64 students who had been stranded in Malaysia, the Foreign Ministry said. The High Commission of SL in Malaysia, in collaboration with the Foreign Ministry, the Prez Secretariat and SriLankan Airlines repatriated a group of 272 stranded Sri Lankans in Malaysia. They had registered with the High Commission and expressed their desire to return to Sri Lanka in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic on 9 Dec more..

Dec 12 (MFA) High Commissioner of SL to Bangladesh Professor Sudharshan Seneviratne presented the Letter of Credence to the President of Bangladesh Md. Abdul Hamid on 3 Dec at the Presidential Palace in Dhaka. Following the official ceremony, a cordial discussion was held between the President and the High Commissioner. President Abdul Hamid recalled his longstanding warm association with former President and current PM Rajapaksa and commended the effort of more..

Dec 12 (FT) President�s Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera has issued new instructions to State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), including State-owned banks and financial institutions, to curtail their advertising, marketing and promotional activities and restrict such expenditure to 5% of an SOE�s annual total budgeted operating costs. In the case of the National Lotteries Board (NLB) and Development Lotteries Board (DLB), more..

Dec 12 (CT) President of SL Boxing Association (SLBA) Dian Gomes and President of the Archery Association Cdr. H.U. Silva, have denied participation and right to vote at the up-coming National Olympic Committee AGM, where SLBA raised its voice against Harassment by NOC in a media release. Full Media release: Senior sporting veterans in the likes of Dian Gomes, President of the SL Boxing Association (SLBA) and Cdr. H.U. de Silva, former Secretary General of NOCSL more..

Dec 12 (CT) SJB Member Karunarathna Paranavithana inquired about the stance of the pro-Govt academics in Viyath Maga organisation, on the closure of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), which regulates the prices of utilities and maintains the standards of such services. �Academics who promised to work with Prez Rajapaksa to build this country are nowhere to be found when this most important Commission is being abolished. more..

Dec 12 (Island) Ministry of Health, Nutrition & Indigenous Medicine with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched the Sri Lanka Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDGs) at an event held in Colombo. FAO in a press release said: Country specific FBDGs are one of the FAO/WHO recommended tools to improve healthy eating habits and lifestyles of individuals & populations. more..

Dec 12 (IPS) These are the words of a 58-year-old farmer from Kilinochchi who started smoking in his youth while participating in a recent study conducted by IPS. It is a sobering reminder that while SL has made notable strides in reducing the overall smoking rate from 38.1% to 28.4% between 2009 and 2018, smoking remains a significant health threat. The challenge for SL now is to identify the groups where smoking prevalence is highly concentrated � what we term the Last Mile Smokers more..

Dec 12 (DM) Agriculture Ministry has decided to provide Rs.700 million for 2000 families, to cultivate fruits for the export market, with the aim of uplifting the economy of the poor farming community. Accordingly, it has been decided to provide assistance of Rs.500,000 per family in the Nawalapitiya, Gampola, Udunuwara and Hewaheta electorates in the Kandy district, through the Innovation Project implemented with the assistance of the World Bank. more..

Dec 12 (ST) Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to relocate the Ministry of Justice to the World Trade Centre (WTC) for two years starting from next year at a cost of more than Rs 400 million. Accordingly, a floor area of 35,071 square feet of WTC tower is to be rented out to the ministry from Jan 1 next year to Dec 31, 2022. The Treasury has already allocated funds amounting to Rs 233,086,544.00 and Rs 174,075,701 more..

Dec 12 (Island) Archaeology Department officials have unearthed a granite slab inscription buried from a land that is believed to be the site of the former Kurindi Sirisangabo monastery popularly known as Kurudumale Vihara at Thannimuruppu in Mulaithivu. A section of the slab inscription jutting out of the soil was first noticed by a team of officials of the Survey and Conservation Unit of the regional archaeological office in Vavuniya and archaeologists working in the Mulaitivu zone. more..

Dec 12 (FT) Committee on High Posts (HPC) approved the appointment of four secretaries to ministries and an ambassador, Secretary General Dhammika Dasanayake said. Among those whose names were confirmed to the posts were Dr. Anil Jasinghe as Secretary to Ministry of Environment. In addition, Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama as Secretary to Ministry of Water Supply, Prof. Kapila Perera as the Secretary to Ministry of Higher Education, and M.M.P.K Mayadunne as Secretary to more..

Dec 12 (FT) Over 700 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Sri Lanka yesterday, expanding the Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons clusters to 27,747. The persons who tested positive yesterday include 687 persons linked to the Peliyagoda cluster and 75 persons linked to the Prisons cluster. A total of 762 patients were detected yesterday. 31,375 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 to date. more..

Dec 12 (AD) Govt of SL (GOSL) is disappointed with today�s rating action by S & P Global Ratings (S&P) at a time when the Parliament of SL has just passed, with an overwhelming majority, the new Govt�s first full-year Budget for 2021, which laid out a carefully crafted medium term policy framework, alongside a novel orientation for a solid recovery of the economy in the period ahead. It is surprising to note that S&P, in its assessment has ignored the envisaged medium �term positive developments as more..

Dec 12 (AD) Another Covid-19 related fatality has been confirmed in Sri Lanka, says the Director-General of Health Services. New development brings the total deaths from coronavirus registered in the country to 147. The victim has been identified as an 82-year-old woman living in Colombo 13 area. She was transferred to the Mulleriyawa Base Hospital after testing positive for the virus. According to reports, she passed away on Thursday while receiving treatment in the ICU of the hospital. more..

Dec 12 (CT) D.T. Ilesinghe, who in May 2018, had informed the Nuwara Eliya Police that National Thowheed Jama�ath (NTJ) Leader Zaharan Hashim and several other suspicious persons were staying at a lodge in Nuwara Eliya, had been threatened by some Police Officers not to reveal anything about the incident after the 21 April 2019, Easter Sunday bombings. A group including Zaharan had stayed at the Thakshila Lodge more..

Dec 12 (DM) Secretary to the President has issued a directive to suspend the ongoing advertising and marketing programs of all State institutions with immediate effect. The chairmen and boards of directors of state enterprises, state agencies, state banks and insurance companies are to be notified to this effect. It is very heartening to note that the underlying objective of this directive is to ensure that such expenses are incurred in the best interest of the organisation�s corporate strategy. more..

Dec 12 (FT) Despite being the first country in the world to elect a female Prime Minister 60 years ago, Sri Lanka�s current track record in women�s rights and welfare is quite dreary. While over half the country�s population is female and their contributions are significant, women are still treated as second-class citizens. For instance, SL�s economy is heavily reliant on remittances from migrant workers (one of the country�s top sources of foreign exchange) and a large portion of these remittances more..

Dec 12 (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 12 (FT) A high-level discussion chaired by Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival and Poverty Eradication Chairman Basil Rajapaksa yesterday resolved a few more issues, including the need to increase PCR capacity towards reopening of borders for international tourists by the second week of January. Tourists will be welcomed in parallel to the repatriation of Sri Lankans from overseas without any interruption. Noting that there were many countries that had already opened more..

Dec 12 (Island) SJB yesterday questioned the composition of various commissions with the focus on the Police Commission, Public Service Commission and the Human Rights Commission of SL. SJB lawmaker Mujibur Rahman alleged that the commissions had been packed with those near and dear to pohottuwa administration. MP said that the 20th Amendment to the Constitution touted as the panacea for all our ills paved more..