Jun 6 (Island) Cabinet has recently decided to accept a proposal to manufacture single super phosphate (SSP) fertiliser from Eppawela rock phosphate and the arrangement was to have it as a public- private proposal (PPP).This is certainly a most welcome move where we can substitute all our phosphate fertiliser imports with locally manufactured fertiliser. However, we cannot be happy with the mode of operation proposed, viz. PPP because, Lanka Phosphate limited (LPL) more..

Jun 6 (CT) Jeevan Thondaman (26) has been in the news after his powerful father, Arumugan Thondaman, Leader of CWC, suddenly passed away at the age of 56, last week. Thondaman Jr., who completed his LLB at the Uni of Northumbria, UK, was nominated to be the Nuwara Eliya District candidate at the upcoming General Election and tipped to take up the leadership of the CWC. He tells us he has been with his father from 2017 more..

Jun 6 (Island) The best description of what caused the painful death of George Floyd at the hands of the US police has come from the lawyer of the victim�s family, Benjamin Crump: "It was not the coronavirus pandemic that killed George Floyd. It was the other pandemic. The pandemic of racism and discrimination." This particular pandemic, however, has hardly spared any nation. Speaking, at Thursday�s memorial service for Floyd, rights activist Al Sharpton declared that the victim more..

Jun 6 (Island) The US that is at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, is now at the peak of a global repudiation of its treatment of Black American people. It stands out as a mockery of Democracy, while it loudly claims to be a global supporter of the democratic political process. The knee of a White policeman that kept pressing on the neck of George Floyd, for more than eight minutes, till he could breathe no more, and was killed, is the new symbol of racial hatred in the US. more..

Jun 6 (TM) The topmost apparel manufacturers in SL are evaluating whether they should adopt the prorated salary scheme formulated by the Govt or choose to pay their employees in full. This is because paying the salaries in full would set an unhealthy precedent for the industry that smaller players with far greater financial strain would be expected to follow by their workers, putting these SMEs under immense pressure. more..

Jun 6 (CT) Co-Cabinet Spokesperson, Minister Dr Bandula Gunawardane has characterised the moment through which Sri Lanka has been passing now in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic as the worst foreign exchange crisis in Sri Lanka. The widening negative trade balance, the substantial reduction of migrant labour income, the decline in tourist arrival and the growing debt burden have made, in my opinion, Minister Gunawardane's characterisation valid. more..

Jun 6 (Island) The 1996 World Cup semi-final between SL and India is ingrained as a red-letter day in our cricketing history. It�s a game which is spoken about at every given opportunity even after 24 years. There is a reason. It was a typical David versus Goliath scenario. When an underdog overwhelms a favorite, it becomes a classic. In this piece I do not attempt to merely narrate the incidents on the field, instead I intend to walk through the thought processes and emotions of both the camps more..

Jun 6 (TM) It has been an interesting couple of weeks for Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC). First, it raised its fuel prices despite a prolonged run of extremely low global oil prices. Then, certain quarters of the Govt urged the public to boycott LIOC. A few days later, the company announced a price reduction back to the previous price point. This 360-degree turn by Lanka IOC has left many questioning IOC�s more..

Jun 6 (Island) The much needed innovation process of tourism products in SL could well take a cue from backpacker tourists Sanath Ukwatte, President of Tourist Hotels Association said. "Because they were the ones who discovered Ella and Arugambay as popular tourism sites, and even the train ride from Peradeniya to Ella which is undoubtedly one of the world's most scenic train journeys made famous by many Instagram postings, and today it has become a bucket list experience" more..

Jun 6 (CT) Bee Green Exports (Pvt) Ltd recently launched an online store to distribute and market vegetables and fruits directly purchased from farmers in Dambulla and surrounding cities for a very nominal price. The company joined with Dambulla Agricultural Co-operative Society Ltd to make this effort productive. Thus, with this initiative the farmers are guaranteed a fixed and a fair price for their harvest and the consumers are guaranteed of high quality, fresh produce delivered more..

Jun 6 (FT) US Washington DC-based People for Equality and Relief in Sri Lanka (PEARL) in a statement opined that Prez Rajapaksa-appointed new Task Forces signalled deepening militarisation in the country. It strongly condemned the establishment of two Presidential task forces and alleged they set the country on a firm course to autocratic governance. The rest of PEARL�s statement is as follows: more..

Jun 6 (ST) The BMICH has implemented stringent health and safety measures to ensure a health safety environment for its customers, visitors, exhibitors, staff and tenants when normalcy returns after a prolonged period of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the meantime, the BMICH has been operating the essential services during this period, for the essential services of the tenants. �It is our primary responsibility to ensure the health and safety of our customers, visitors and more..

Jun 6 (FT) Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) expressed its deep concern with the appointment of two Presidential Task Forces by Prez Rajapaksa. CPA�s full statement: These appointments came soon after the Supreme Court refused leave to proceed to all petitioners on the subject of the dissolution of Parliament for more than three months and the holding of free and fair elections. At present, Parliament has been dissolved for longer than the constitutionally mandated three months. more..

Jun 6 (DN) Sri Lanka Cricket is concentrating on hosting the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) as a forerunner to the ICC World T20 in Australia in Oct-Nov as they are unlikely to get any int'l cricket before the world event. The SLPL is scheduled to take place in Aug-Sept and the national team players resuming training and practices following the Covid-19 outbreak, is looked at by SLC as a positive sign that the situation more..

Jun 6 (CT) GMOA said quarantine regulations are applied to those within the country and even those coming into the country from abroad, notwithstanding who they were. Assistant Secretary of the GMOA, Dr. Naveen D. Zoysa, responding to a question regarding the most recent dilemma of a U.S. diplomat who came into the country flouting the health requirement under quarantine regulations to undergo a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test at the BIA, said there was an established more..

Jun 6 (ST) Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) is determined to expedite the probes against capital market offenders that have been on their hands for more than half a decade. �We have about 50 cases so far and we broad-based the Surveillance Committee from the initial two to four people,� Viraj Dayaratne, Chairman SEC said. He stressed the main question in these investigations is to find out if there is sufficient evidence with regard to a capital market offence. more..

Jun 6 (EN) Sri Lanka is planning to allow tourists to visit the island without a mandatory two week quarantine from Aug 1, but periodic testing during their stay, information released by the state tourism authority showed. Tourists could enter from Katunayake, Ratmalana or Mattala airports from Aug 1. Tourists will be asked to take a pre-departure test at least 72 hours before departure. They will be tested on arrival. more..

Jun 6 (ST) No decision had been taken yet on allowing people to line the streets and view the Kandy Esala perahera, which is scheduled to take place in July. Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela said a decision about the perahera procession going around the temple square had not been taken either. However, he said the perahera will take place from July 25 onwards within Sri Dalada Maligawa complex. Diyawadana Nilame said a decision on allowing public to watch perahera, more..

Jun 6 (Island) UNP Working Committee would meet on Monday (8) to determine disciplinary action against those who promoted other political parties after getting elected to local government bodies on the UNP-led UNF ticket, UNP legal secretary Nissanka Nanayakkara said. The meeting is scheduled to commence at 10 am at Sirikotha with party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in the chair, Nanayakkara said. There were complaints to the effect that local govt level politicians, more..

Jun 6 (MB) On May 29, a vanishingly rare black leopard � an actual black panther � died at a govt wildlife treatment facility in SL. It had been brought there three days earlier after being trapped in a snare in a tea estate in the hill town of Hatton, in the central district of Nuwara Eliya district. The big cat�s fate sparked public outrage in Sri Lanka, a biodiversity hotspot with a fast-dwindling population of leopards. more..

Jun 6 (DM) The incident of a senior US diplomat being given the green light to enter into the country sans a PCR test became a learning moment and resulted in the issuance of revised instructions for diplomats to be followed when arriving in SL due to Covid-19, Admiral Jayanath Colombage, Additional Secretary to the Prez for Foreign Relations, said. He said the official approval for the said diplomat to arrive in SL was sent on May 26, before PCR tests were made mandatory at the airport. more..

Jun 6 (HT) When former India coach John Wright spotted Jasprit Bumrah and brought him in the Mumbai Indians� set-up, the right-arm fast bowler from Gujarat had raw pace and an action to draw attention. The talent was always there but Bumrah was helped fine-tuning them by SL pacer Lasith Malinga while playing for Mumbai Indians. Malinga, who himself was renowned for his unusual slingy action and ability to bowl with impeccable accuracy even at the death overs, worked with Bumrah more..

Jun 6 (AP) The tourists came to see the magical waterfalls and mountain views of the lowland jungle and rainforest. But then the pandemic hit, and they were stranded in Sri Lanka. When flights were canceled and the airports shut down, Darshana Ratnayake came to the rescue. Ratnayake, a cafe owner in Ella, a former colonial hill station in SL tea country, organized free food and shelter for dozens of stranded tourists. more..

Jun 6 (CT) A comprehensive investigation has commenced concerning a military officer who had masqueraded as an officer attached to the Presidential Secretariat and brought down a parcel from China aboard a SriLankan Airlines flight claiming that it was meant for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The said officer had informed SriLankan Airlines that a parcel needs to be brought down for Prez Rajapaksa from Shanghai and instructed them to take steps to bring the said parcel to SL. more..

Jun 6 (DM) From tomorrow (6) onwards, in all districts of the island curfew will be effective from 11 pm to 4 daily until further notice, Prez Media Division announced. The permission to travel between districts except in the districts of Colombo and Gampaha remain unchanged. Govt requests all parties to strictly follow COVID � 19 prevention health guidelines as before during functioning of offices and institutes of both public and private sectors and in day-to-day activities, it added. more..

Jun 6 (FT) Three Police officers were suspended yesterday following the Acting IGP ordering an investigation into the alleged assault of Thariq Ahamed. However, Police department also claimed that minimum force was used to stop and control Thariq Ahamed, a 16-year-old boy with autism, who was allegedly stopped and assaulted at a roadblock on 25 May. Police allege that Ahamed had ridden a bicycle through the roadblock without more..

Jun 6 (FT) Our planet is in peril perhaps like never before. On the one hand, there�s a coronavirus running amok. On the other, viral political cultures are using the opportunity to unleash mayhem and madness under cover of COVID-19. Many masks have fallen worldwide and humans everywhere are being tested in all manner of ways. And the current pandemic is only part of the problem. Only poets and philosophers would utterly embrace the truism that Earth is where every prospect pleases more..

Jun 6 (FT) The world was hit hard by the first wave of coronavirus, as lockdowns and social distancing have stopped the domestic business activities and firms simultaneously. Since the engine of the growth is almost at a halt, both household and firms are waiting for a silver lining in global economy, whereas policy makers tend to facilitate enabling environment for opportunities. Govts around the world are eager to protect their domestic business as a part of their contingency measures. more..

Jun 6 (DN) Twenty-two dengue deaths and 12 deaths due to rat fever (leptospirosis) were reported across the country this year. About 19,940 positive dengue cases and about 2,198 patients suffering from leptospirosis have been identified countrywide this year, Kurunegala District DMO Dr. A. Priyadarshana said. A majority of dengue patients were reported from the Colombo District while the Ratnapura District recorded the highest number of rat fever cases, the Health Ministry confirms. more..

Jun 6 (Island) Ceylon Tea auction sales reached an all-time high in May 2020, recording a national average of Rs.697.57, surpassing last month�s record. The latest statistics from the industry showed that May 2020 recorded an Rs.8.39 increase, compared to the Rs.689.18 achieved in April 2020. Analysis of the elevational averages of May 2020 by Forbes & Walker Tea Brokers showed that High-Growns totalled Rs.645.41 in May 2020, Medium- Growns reached an average of Rs.599.60. more..

Jun 6 (Island) Diplomatic immunity did not allow a diplomat to violate the laws and regulations of the receiving state, former Sri Lanka Ambassador in Geneva, Tamara Kunanayakam, said yesterday. A US diplomat, attached to its Colombo Embassy, was allowed to enter the country, though he refused to take a PCR test. Deputy Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services Limited Rajiv Suriyarachchi said that more..

Jun 6 (EN) Sri Lanka has settled 196.6 billion rupees in budget arrears out of a total of 240.7 billion rupees, Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had informed the cabinet of ministers. Another 44 billion rupees remains to be paid. The 240 billion rupees is about 1.5% of the 2019 gross domestic product. Sri Lanka has a habit of running arrears on the last months of the year and paying them in the first quarter. When new administrations come to power, complaints are made. more..

Jun 6 (MFA) The govt of Lebanon has agreed to conduct free PCR tests for Sri Lankans seeking to be repatriated. In line with the Sri Lanka policy on repatriating Sri Lankans overseas, Ambassador Shani Karunaratne had discussions with the Lebanese Minister of Labour, Madame Lamia Yammine at the Labour Ministry premises on 01 June 2020. Among matters discussed were the COVID-19 outbreak and the Sri Lankan migrant workers, the economic crisis in Lebanon, more..

Jun 6 (Island) Many an eyebrow has been raised over the inordinate delay on the part of the Election Commission (EC) to inform the Govt Printer to issue the gazette containing the names of those contesting the much delayed 2020 parliamentary election. The EC consists of Mahinda Deshapriya (Chairman), Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole and Nalin Abeysekera, PC. Political & official sources said that the process couldn�t more..

Jun 6 (DM) A 38-year-old man, his daughter and another girl have drowned while bathing in a pool of water adjacent to the Gerandi Ella Falls in Madulsima. Police said the incident was reported at around 10 this morning. All three including the 12 and 13-year-old girls are residents of Gerandi Ella. The remains are to be taken to the Passara hospital for post-mortem examination. The Madulsima Police is conducting further investigation. more..

Jun 6 (DN) SL car sales dealers request the govt to refrain from charging demurrages and other taxes for a further two month period for imported vehicles pile up in the Hambantota Port. Global Motor Trading Chairman, Anver Shahim while thanking the govt for the timely action in delaying the demurrages for three months requested for more time. �However the lockdowns and curfews continued more than we expected and hence clearing of vehicles takes a longer period. This is why we are requesting more..

Jun 6 (Island) Former Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena cursed those who sold Hambantota port stating that they should be struck by lightning. He said so during a heated debate with SJB candidates, Dr. Harsha de Silva and Ajith P. Perera on Balaya political programme. SJB pointed the finger at SLPP Kurunegala District candidate Dayasiri Jayasekera, who had been an SLFP member of the cabinet at the time the previous UNP-SLFP more..

Jun 6 (AD) Thirty-three more COVID-19-infected patients under medical care were discharged from hospitals today as they have recovered completely. Accordingly, SL�s recoveries count moved up to 891. The new recoveries are reported from Infectious Disease Hospital (12), Welikanda Base Hospital (4), Colombo East Base Hospital (1), Homagama Base Hospital (7) and Minuwangoda Base Hospital (9). In the meantime, coronavirus-positive cases confirmed in the country hiked to 1,801 on Friday (5). more..

Jun 6 (Island) During the lockdown, we have continuously extended our digital support portfolio to SL and German companies, Andreas Hergenr�ther Chief Delegate of German Industry and Commerce in SL (AHK) said releasing a press release, which contained the findings of a survey conducted by AHK Sri Lanka among 160 CEOs and representatives of German companies. Reproduced below are some excerpts from his statement and AHK review. more..