Dec 19 (NIA) Sri Lanka, once the land of the Black Tiger shrimp, is now tasting success in Vannamei cultivation. Vannamei is also known as White Leg Shrimp, Pacific White Shrimp or King Prawn. The leisure and tourism companies like HTCey Leisure have entered shrimp cultivation on a large scale. For example, Mansur Hassen, Managing Director of HTCey Leisure, set up the subsidiary, HTCey Aquaculture, in 2019 to get into large scale Vannamei cultivation. more..

Dec 19 (CT) Wattala/Welisara Magistrate Buddhika Sri Ragala has ordered CID to expedite investigations into the 29 and 30 Nov Mahara Prison incident, which claimed the lives of 11 prisoners, and to record statements from all, including both, prisoners and officers, who sustained injuries during the unrest. The order was given when the hearings of the inquest proceedings into the deaths of 11 prisoners at Mahara Prison, more..

Dec 19 (DN) Spectrify AI, a part of VeracityAI SL�s fastest going AI company announced the launch of a new suite of solutions specifically designed to radically optimize production, agri-inputs, and quality control across the entire value chain for tea, spices and herbs for the first time in SL. Leveraging the very latest advancements in spectral scanning, artificial intelligence and machine learning, Spectrify AI delivers end-to-end consistency on quality standards directly into the hands of producers more..

Dec 19 (Island) Southern Stars led by Sachin Dias advanced to the semi finals as favourites by keeping their unbeaten tag intact on day three of the inaugural Li Ning � Lanka Shuttle Challenge in Colombo on Friday. Southern Stars won all their five ties to collect five points and were the only unbeaten team in the tournament. Western Warriors captained by Kavidi Sirimannage was the only team to pose a serious threat to the Southern Stars as they almost beat them in their tie on Thursday. more..

Dec 19 (FT) The triple COVID-19 clusters that emerged from Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, and the prisons yesterday exceeded 32,000 patients with 660 persons testing positive for the virus. All 660 patients were persons linked to the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster. The triple clusters currently total 32,380 patients. This brings the total number of Covid-19 patients identified in the island to 36,047, which includes 1,628 returnees more..

Dec 19 (TN) Sri Lanka has withdrawn a massive increase in domestic tax on Pakistani citrus � a decision that is likely to give a shot to exports from Pakistan, commerce adviser said on Friday. Adviser on Commerce to PM Razak Dawood said the SL govt took back the increase in cess on import of kinnows and mandarins from Pakistan. The cess was reverted to 30 SL rupee per kilogram from Rs160/kg. �This positive development will boost the confidence of Pakistani exporters as more..

Dec 19 (NIA) the High Commissioner of India Gopal Baglay and Secretary, State Ministry of Rural Housing and Construction & Building Materials Industries Promotion of SL Keerthi Abesiriwardhana signed on Friday, four MoUs towards streamlining the implementation mechanisms of the ongoing Model Village and three Gram Shakti Housing Projects. The signing ceremony was held in the presence of State Minister Indika Anuruddha. These MoUs would pave the way for releasing more..

Dec 19 (Island) The US and its allies would not halt their attempts to secure a foothold in SL although the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact had been discontinued and that the decision was a strategic one to lull SL public into complacency, professional and civil society organizations yesterday warned. General Secretary of Professionals� National Front, Kapila Perera said that the MCC compact was not a grant, more..

Dec 19 (DM) Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that private members� bills of some 40 MPs have been blocked due to Standing Orders in Parliament being amended by the previous govt. This has obstructed the MPs� privileges which they had enjoyed since 1948 to incorporate religious, welfare and professional organisations as a private act, according to the Standing Orders of the Parliament. MPs have also complained to the Speaker that the previous govt had changed Standing Orders more..

Dec 19 (FT) Five COVID-19 deaths were confirmed by health authorities yesterday, bringing the country�s COVID-19 death toll to 165. A 76-year-old resident of Colombo 15 yesterday died at the Homagama Base Hospital, where he was transferred after testing positive for COVID-19 at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. He died due to kidney disease exacerbated by COVID-19 and COVID pneumonia. An individual from Maharagama also passed away yesterday. more..

Dec 19 (FT) Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) said it would demand that the Govt reverses its unjustified cremation only policy, which is not based on scientific evidence nor WHO guidelines. �SLMC will demand that the Govt reverses its unjustified cremation only policy which is not based on epidemiological scientific evidence nor ethically sanctioned based on WHO and UNESCO guidelines governing protocol on Covid-19 more..

Dec 19 (Island) The UNP called for an independent inquiry into the fire that broke out at the Supreme Court complex on Tuesday. Issuing a statement the UNP said that the building was situated in a high security zone and called on the govt to conduct an immediate and transparent inquiry into the cause of this fire. �The SC complex is situated in a section of Colombo, which is currently under lockdown, and court proceedings have been limited to only urgent cases with the absence of any public. more..

Dec 19 (DM) The most vulnerable occasion where the Covid-19 virus could be spread fast is when people are having their meals with others, Director General of Health Services Dr Asela Gunawardena said. He said there was a higher tendency of spreading the virus when people were having food together especially at weddings. �People hardly follow health guidelines when they attend a wedding. People have never taken this seriously and added they are hesitant to practise basic guidelines more..

Dec 19 (DM) Health authorities stated that random testing is being carried out on persons leaving the Western Province in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the festive season, adding that no decisions have yet been made to enforce movement restrictions in the country. Deputy Director-General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath stated that as several persons would be returning home this weekend, all persons in more..

Dec 19 (FT) In my view, close on a third of Sri Lanka�s economy and its profits are in danger of being sucked across our borders without us having any control over it, and this prediction is not very far in the future. How can this happen? Through international digital companies operating in our country, with the power to take foreign exchange beyond our shores, unless we intervene. The process has already begun. It�s been happening in the tourism industry for some time now. more..

Dec 19 (DM) The upcoming week would be crucial in terms of Covid-19, as the virus remains to be active, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said. He said there was a high tendency of the virus to spread when people are exposed to large crowds during shopping and other leisurely activities. Therefore, he requested people to their restrict movements during the festive season. �Plans are underway to conduct Antigen tests on people who leave the Colombo city during the weekend� more..

Dec 19 (AD) An elderly care facility in Modara has confirmed 45 new positive cases of Covid-19. Medical Officer of Health (MOH) in charge of Modara, Dr Sasanka Ranasinghe said these infections were confirmed in 98 PCR tests carried out recently. A man at the said facility had passed away of Covid-19 infection several days ago and his contacts were subsequently referred to PCR testing. In another development, travel restrictions have been imposed in Kumarimulla in Pugoda, more..

Dec 19 (DN) The first Contempt of Court case filed against Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Gampaha District Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake was yesterday fixed for further clarification by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has listed this matter for January 12 to be taken up for further clarifications. This matter was yesterday taken up before the Supreme Court three-judge-Bench comprising Justice Vijith Malalgoda, Justice S. Thurairaja and Justice Murdu Fernando. more..

Dec 19 (ST) Govt plans to allow spearfishing or underwater hunting for tourists have raised fears that SL�s stunning marine life, particularly around its world famous coral reefs, will be fished to extinction. Spearfishing was banned in 2017 after it was found that the sport�practised the way it was in SL using scuba gear or self-contained underwater breathing apparatus� had caused reefs to be decimated and localised extinction of more..

Dec 19 (FT) The pandemic is causing massive disruptions to flows of foreign direct investments. Developing countries are likely to be hit the hardest. Disruptions to flows of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) � which are part and parcel of trade and globalisation � are no exception. In late March, the International Monetary Fund announced that investors had removed $ 83 billion from developing countries since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, largest capital outflow ever recorded. more..

Dec 19 (EN) Expatriate SL nationals who arrived in the country from Sep 1 and Dec 16, 2020 will be given a chance to use their duty free allowance, SL Airports and Aviation Services said. The facility will be available till Jan 16, 2020. Interested returnees should contact 0112263017 or login www.airport.lk. �..[P]assengers who have completed the mandatory quarantine process after 16th Dec 2020, will follow the usual one month period to make use of their duty-free entitlement,� agency said. more..

Dec 19 (EN) A 75% of Sri Lankans are ready to continue the lifestyles taken up under the harsh conditions of COVID-19 enforced lockdowns during which many moved to home and rooftop gardening, Sumedha Perera Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture said. �Sri Lankans have changed their attitudes and practices along with the effect of COVID-19 outbreak,� Perera said speaking at a panel discussion organised by CCC. more..

Dec 19 (AD) A suspect who was held in a cell of Gandara Police has sustained gunshot wounds after a police sergeant�s pistol went off. The 30-year-old had been arrested over narcotics-related charges, DIG Ajith Rohana said. He is currently receiving treatment at the Matara District General Hospital. Police sergeant in question has claimed that it was an accidental discharge, however, he has since been suspended. An investigation led by a police superintendent has been launched into more..

Dec 19 (DM) The CID has recorded 52 statements in connection with the death of the Dutch Buddhist monk happened in Polgasduwa in Rathgama recently, Police said. DIG Ajith Rohana said two consultant judicial medical officers and a consultant psychiatrist have visited the scenes in the vicinity of the incident and have taken water samples from the lake for necessary tests. �The CID is ascertaining evidence in respect of the incident. Judicial medical officers have informed that more..

Dec 19 (DM) Former MP Duminda Silva had no intention of killing Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, MP Ranjan Ramanayake said. Mr. Ramanayake revealed this to the Daily Mirror and also through an uploaded statement on social media. �Duminda Silva was given liquor prior to the incident in Kolonnawa and was asked to get into a conflict with Mr. Premachandra by someone who wanted to get rid of the latter. more..

Dec 19 (CT) The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) owes Rs 71 billion to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) for 2020 alone, Chairman of the CPC, Sumith Wijesinghe said. He also said this amount is what remains to be settled after the CEB settled Rs 60 billion from the total amount it owes the CPC. Wijesinghe added that compared to last year the CPC has earned a profit of Rs 5.1 billion. According to last year�s statistics, CPC earned Rs 8.8 billion from Jan to Oct. more..

Dec 19 (Island) Prof. Saumya Liyanage, who was removed as Professor and Dean of Graduates Studies has been reinstated in these positions with immediate effect by the Council of the Uni of Performing Arts. The Council removed him from those positions on the allegation that he had not completed his postgraduate degree with research within the stipulated period of eight years. Prof. Liyanage argued that he had got his PhD within the stipulated period. more..

Dec 19 (ST) With Sri Lanka in the throes of the second wave of COVID-19, a multidisciplinary team in the hill town of Kandy has gone beyond their call of duty to bring about a simple solution to get a heads-up of an imminent infection so that it could be contained before the spread starts. Poring over reams of scientific literature and wearing tight their thinking caps, they have come up with a novel concept more..

Dec 19 (CT) Katunayake-Seeduwa Urban Council Budget, for 2021, presented by the ruling UNP on Friday, was defeated by a majority of 13 votes. The budget proposal presented by the Party for 2019 and 2020 were also defeated, making this the third budget proposal defeat. It should be noted that the UNP UC was controlled by six Councillors. All nine SLPP Councillors, three Councillors from the SLFP and the JVP Councillor voted against the budget, while the Chairman together with 5 UNP more..

Dec 19 (DM) Responding to a tweet, former Captain Mahela Jayawardena today said he is happy to serve his country even as a slave. "I am happy to be a slave to build my country and will never be a slave to ruin it.." Jayawardena tweeted. He made this comment in response to tweets criticizing his work with the recently formed national sports council. One tweep questioned as to why Jayawardena addressed the sports minister with the title Honourable in an earlier tweet by Mahela, more..

Dec 19 (PMD) Recommencing the Discussion with the Village programme Prez Rajapaksa visited Rawanakanda in Imbulpe, Balangoda yesterday. The visit marks the third in the series of Discussion with the Village attended by the Prez. The first programme was held in September in Haldummulla in Badulla district and the second was in October in Wilgamuwa, Matale district. The idea behind this programme is for Prez to talk to more..

Dec 19 (Island) National Coordinator of Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) Manjula Gajanayake said that the CMEV had made a written request from the newly appointed Election Commissioners (EC) to address five major shortcomings in the present electoral process. CMEV has called for the following: 1. Introduction of a legal mechanism to regulate election campaign finance. 2. Amending antiquated election laws 3. Bringing in a law to enable the youth more..

Dec 19 (AD) SL�s Covid-19 numbers saw another surge today as 495 more persons were tested positive for the virus. The newly-identified patients were identified as close contacts of earlier cases linked to the Peliyagoda fish market. One of them was detected in random rapid antigen tests carried out on people leaving the Western Province. A total of 750 persons who were moving out of the provincial limits have been subjected to rapid antigen testing today. more..

Dec 19 (MFA) Ambassador of Indonesia in Colombo Gusti Ngurah Ardiyasa paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Foreign Ministry on 17 Dec 2020. During the discussions, the two dignitaries emphasized the need to further enhance trade ties in a mutually beneficial manner. While reiterating the long-standing, multifaceted ties between the two countries, Minister Gunawardena appreciated more..

Dec 19 (Island) The nine-member Public Service Commission (PSC), chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Jagath Balapatabendi, is in the process of deciding on AG�s Dept investigation into the alleged negligence on the part of two of its officers � Deputy Solicitor General Azard Navavi and State Counsel Malik Azeez, in respect of the handling of a file on now proscribed NTJ and its leader Zahran Hashim responsible for 2019 Easter Sunday carnage. more..

Dec 19 (DM) No SL citizen will allow himself to be buried in another country, an SJB MP Mujibur Rahman said. He said that one cannot agree with the idea of burying Muslims of this country who succumb to COVID- 19 in Maldives. �I am a citizen of this country and I don�t want to be buried in another country,� Rahman said. �As we understand it has been the SL govt which has requested the Maldivian govt to allow SL Muslims who succumb to COVID-19 to be buried in that country. more..

Dec 19 (EN) Internal conflicts between the two main parties in the governing SL Nidahas Podujana Peramuna are emerging as the junior partner, SLFP, is grumbling that their grassroots workers are being left out of development projects. Earlier this week, General Secretary of the SLFP Dayasiri Jayasekara fire a salvo saying that local councillors and organisers from his party at the village level are hugely disappointed as more..

Dec 20 (CT) To burn or to bury? That has become the bedeviling Covid-19 question in Sri Lanka with no respect for the dead and no empathy for those who are left to mourn. According to WHO guidelines, Covid-19 victim�s bodies are not infectious, unless other complications are involved � such as hemorrhagic fevers (Ebola, Marburg) or cholera. In general, dead bodies themselves are not infectious, but body fluids are and they secrete even after death. more..

Dec 20 (SO) Trace and Test. This is a term that has become popular since March this year, when the Coronavirus hit our shores. SL has so far detected around 35,000 Coronavirus patients (the vast majority of whom have since recovered fully), but that is only half the story. It is extremely important to find those who have come into contact with an infected person, however remotely. Apart from the immediate family members, any person can come into contact with hundreds of others more..