Mar 2 (ST) Come March, come September Sri Lanka sends a flock of supplicants on pilgrimage to quaint Geneva where, nestled at the foothills of the Alps, lies the Temple of Human Rights. This twice-a-year journey to perform ritualistic worship to the presiding goddess Nemesis, found incarnate in sterile alpine air, is for those held to have ventured beyond the pale of human redemption, warring in the field of human conflict without the Queensbury Rule Book in hand. more..

Mar 2 (ST) Govt has begun a crackdown on non-governmental organisations, both foreign and local, by urging them to cut down on programmes they are now engaged in. First salvo has already been fired in the Mullaitivu District where NGOs have been asked minimize programmes such as women empowerment, child rights, youth training, human rights, land rights training, formulation and strengthening of more..

Mar 2 (SO) Roads, and roads to justice are two different things. But, we�ll get to that. The opening of the Matara-Hambantota stretch of the Southern Highway was an event that was suffused in some meaning. The previous Govt opened that stretch hastily before the Prez elections, after having spent an eternity on its construction. It had to be closed down though as it was incomplete. The highways of this country stand as testimony to the divergence between those who wanted the old order and more..

Mar 2 (SO) Of all the community leaders in Sri Lanka only the Tamil leadership has officially declared war against another community (i.e., the Sinhalese) and led their people to commit the crime against peace. On May 14, 1976 they collectively passed the Vadukoddai Resolution urging the Tamil youth to take up arms and never cease until they achieve Eelam. They unleashed the longest war in Sri Lanka which has led to the violation of human rights on an unprecedented scale. more..

Mar 2 (ST) There is a dreadfully fractured logic in what the Govt of SL articulated before the UNHRC as it withdrew from UNHRC Resolution 30/1 this week. This is playing to the nationalist gallery with an eye to the impending General Elections. It has disastrous consequences for the country, make no mistake. Let me be clear. This is not about Sri Lanka agreeing to co-sponsor this Resolution of much fame in 2015. It is not even about whether, as some would cogently argue, that the Resolution, more..

Mar 2 (Island) The US has finally chosen to bite the bullet. It has decided to leave Afghanistan, next year. Its western allies will follow suit, we are told. Washington would have the world believe that its so-called peace deal with the Taliban is an achievement, but it has only made a virtue of necessity. The deal is tantamount to a triumph of terrorism; the world�s biggest military power is not equal to the task of defeating the Taliban terror. Afghan terrorists must be partying. more..

Mar 2 (Island) By chance, I came across a YOUTUBE presentation of the current COPE committee interrogating the SriLankan Airlines� (UL) new Board of Directors and its senior management. Interrogation is the right word as the Diyawanna Oya stalwarts were firing questions from all angles at the new board of UL and some others who accompanied them from various departments of the company. I know the airline is struggling more..

Mar 2 (ST) SL will make Davis Cup history when they take on Paraguay in their inaugural World Group II tie in Asuncion on Mar 6 and 7. Veteran national coach Sudantha Soyza will captain SL for the first time in this historic tie against a Latin American nation. �I don�t like doing the captain�s job. It is massive because he is the one which spearhead decision which are made on courts, controlling what happens, etc. He handles everything and has basically got the biggest more..

Mar 2 (SO) Cricket followers in Hambantota are contemplating taking officials of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to the International Cricket Council (ICC) after some of them were assaulted by police and prevented from entering the venue for the second ODI against the West Indies despite possessing valid tickets. Hundreds of fans were either assaulted or blocked from entering the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium on Wednesday evening as officials manning the entrances could not cope up more..

Mar 2 (CI) Fabian Allen was on a rampage. He'd struck three sixes (one of them 98 metres long) plus two fours, and was on 37 off 14 balls. He'd just crashed one over cover, and seemed set to close out the game, only nine runs needed off the last five deliveries. But Angelo Mathews, went back through the years, resurrected what seemed for so long to be a dead-and-buried version of himself, and sharpened the next ball with considerable more..

Mar 2 (EN) The latest KUV100 from Mahindra has been launched to Sri Lankan consumers. Assembled in SL, the first KUV100s have begun rolling off the assembly line, located at Ideal Motors� MILPL Plant in Welipenna. It�s the first locally-manufactured vehicle to be introduced in Sri Lanka for the Indian Mahindra brand, and the first automotive manufacturer to enter SL since Micro Cars partnerships with Geely and Ssangyong. It expands Mahindra�s local line-up of vehicles which, more..

Mar 2 (SO) The Central Bank is taking steps to strengthen the financial position of the twenty financial institutions it referred to earlier, under a resolution plan to prevent them from being insolvent, Central Bank (CB) Governor W.D. Lakshman said on Friday. �We are monitoring these institutions, which were referred to in the recent past, closely to avert their liquidation,� the Governor said, adding that plans are afoot to consolidate the non-bank financial sector. more..

Mar 2 (FT) With tourism hit by multiple crises leading to cancellation, the Govt has announced a slew of measures to attract airlines to call at new int'l airports in SL though industry stressed concessions needed at main entry point Katunayake. Travel agencies and tour operators are reeling from widespread holiday cancellations in Sri Lanka by tourists with the rapid outbreak of COVID-19. more..

Mar 2 (SO) A newly installed CCTV system within the University of Kelaniya premises was the latest issue of contention between the university�s student activists and officials. Student movements within local universities have often clashed with officials over the installation of security systems labeling them as a tool of repression while authorities have pointed it out as a necessity to ensure security and stamp out ragging within the university system. Last week�s tussle and more..

Mar 2 (Island) The CID, on Saturday, questioned ASP B.S. Tissera over returning the CCTV recordings obtained from the residence of Dr Shafi Shihabdeen, accused of sterilising women without consent. He was questioned for over nine hours. When the new CID team that is investigating the Shafi case confiscated the CCTV system for a second time, they discovered that all the footage had been erased. Tissera arrived at the CID around 8.30 am. more..

Mar 2 (FT) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Director General (DG) Vajira Wijegunawardane has been removed from the post with immediate effect. Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle confirmed the move to the Daily FT yesterday and said the decision to remove Wijegunawardane was by the Commissioners of the SEC. This disclosure by Treasury Secretary is plausible contrary to earlier reports that more..

Mar 2 (EN) SL�s automobile repair service (garages) are pushing for state controls to stop agents of major brands from quickly repairing vehicles at their workshops, using spares and body parts, instead of panel beating, and re-painting, an activity known as tinkering. Regulations will reduced competitions auto repair shops from large dealerships will preserve jobs and give them more insurance claims officials said. �Car dealers doesn�t provide the tinkering or other repair services more..

Mar 2 (FT) Cabinet last week gave approval to procure 10 Kurumbettiya bicycles, which were invented by a Sri Lankan to be used for garbage collection and other requirements, with low adverse impacts on the environment. Ten of the multi-purpose bicycles, each priced at Rs. 180,000, will be purchased and distributed among the local authorities in keeping with a proposal submitted by Minister of Provincial Councils and local govt Janaka Bandara Tennakoon. more..

Mar 2 (SO) When early this month Ministry of Defence announced a week-long general amnesty for military personnel, soldier Asitha Akalanka knew he had to return. Four months ago he had come home having decided not to report back to work. Now a deserter, 28-year-old Akalanka is unemployed amidst mounting personal problems. Akalanka had joined Army�s Electrical and Mechanical Engineers regiment in Sept 2014. more..

Mar 2 (FT) Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) said on Friday it has concluded the financial year 2019 on a high note, with 28% YoY growth in Profit After Tax (PAT) at Rs. 6.3 billion. The impressive growth was strongly underpinned by the increase in revenues by 6% YoY recorded at Rs. 86 billion. In a statement SLT said the Group�s robust plans directed at achieving strong performance amidst the market competition paved the way to attain positive contributions in all key business segments of more..

Mar 2 (AD) The 22 university students arrested for protesting in front of the University Grants Commission (UGC) have been remanded until tomorrow (2). The order was issued by the Colombo Additional Magistrate when the group of students was produced before the court. Twenty-two university students including 2 monks have been arrested for protesting in front of the UGC violating a court order obtained by the Police over acts of obstruction of the public. more..

Mar 2 (Island) About 200 people had committed suicide, during the last three years or so, as they were unable to pay back the micro-credit loans and many of those organisations had obtained the services of village thugs to recover money Chinthaka Rajapakshe, Convener of Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) said. MONLAR held a demonstration last week demanding that the govt fulfill Prez more..

Mar 2 (FT) Former PM and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday requested the public to appoint a Parliament that will protect the freedom of the people and strengthen the economy at the upcoming General Elections. �A Parliamentary Election is upcoming. Appoint a good Parliament that can provide the reliefs to people, strengthen the economy, protect this freedom,� he requested the people. UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. Speaking at an event organised by more..

Mar 2 (DN) Coronavirus threat in China has further dealt a crippling blow on SL�s apparel industry with 50 factories or more being threatened with temporary closure. We are going through what would be a major crisis which should be resent for the next three months as nearly 50% of our members are threatening closure, at least temporarily due to the uncertainty prevailing over the supplies of raw materials to factories from China, Chairman of Apparel Exporters� Association more..

Mar 2 (FT) UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe said last night that the Working Committee of the Party has decided to contest the upcoming General Election under the Elephant symbol. Wickremesinghe told reporters last night that the majority in WC agreed to this decision. UNP sources said that there was opposition to this from MPs Sajith Premadasa, Ranjith Madduma Bandara and several others but the majority in the WC more..

Mar 2 (DN) According to the latest statistics issued by Epidemiology Unit yesterday, a total of 16 people are currently under observation for COVID-19. Five people are warded at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), four at the Negombo DGH, 3 at the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, 2 at the Ratnapura Teaching Hospital, 1 at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital and one at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH), Colombo. Sources said there is no need for the public to wear face masks. more..

Mar 2 (FT) SL Press Institute (SLPI), in collaboration with the UNESCO New Delhi office, inaugurated a two-day workshop Women in Media and Safety with an aim to promote the safety of women journalists in the country on 26 Feb here at Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel. The workshop designed to build capacity of women journalists working in the field, will also focus on other key aspects of safety like harassment in the workplace and online safety. The event was inaugurated by an eminent panel comprising more..

Mar 2 (CT) SL Govt's withdrawal from the co-sponsorship of the UNHRC adopted Resolution 30/1, is a major disappointment for the Tamils, noted Secretary General of the Thamizh Makkal Kootanii C.V. Wigneswaran said. The domestic Commission of Inquiry which the Govt has assured the UNHRC in Geneva, Switzerland, on 26 Feb, is only a narrative from 2010 a new LLRC, he pointed out. more..

Mar 2 (DN) Dialog Axiata PLC, launched Sayuru a free, tri-lingual and fully-fledged SMS and Voice messages based weather and warning service for fishermen across coastal communities developed by Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in partnership with the Department of Meteorology. A considerable amount of the total population in the coastal areas make a living through fishing, and the unpredictable weather conditions have had an adverse effect on their livelihoods. more..

Mar 2 (PMD) The public has been requested not to display photographs or portraits of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in public places, stated Prez�s Media Division (PMD). A statement by the PMD points out that it has been observed that the portraits and photographs of the President are being exhibited on roadsides and at events without proper supervision. Prez Rajapaksa, while expressing his gratitude towards those who make portraits of him, requests public not to do so here onwards. more..

Mar 2 (EN) Sri Lanka�s Parliament is likely to be dissolved today and while the governing party�s campaign for an end-April poll is well under way the main opposition UNP remains deeply divided. A crucial meeting of the UNP�s top decision-making body the Working Committee which met on Sunday ended without a decision under which symbol its alliance will contest, a statement released by the Opposition Leader�s Office said. more..

Mar 2 (DM) US invaded Afghanistan on Oct 7, 2001 over Taliban�s refusal to hand over Osama bin Laden -the architect of the 9/11 attack to the US- and to dismantle al-Qaeda and its bases in Afghanistan. The invasion aimed at removing Taliban from power for support to bin Laden, even though it was well-known that though Taliban was a violent group inside Afghanistan, it was�nt involved in international terrorism against the US or the West. Though initially successful in toppling the Taliban in 2011, more..

Mar 2 (DM) Debt relief is now a call at all levels of state and society in Sri Lanka. PM recently requested a three-year moratorium on debt repayments to India, the Govt earlier announced a debt repayment moratorium of one year for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) with loans up to Rs. 300 million, and women�s groups called for the abolition of exploitative microfinance schemes during a protest held on Feb 27, in Colombo. Why this sudden concern about debt, more..

Mar 2 (TM) Govt�s decision to withdraw from its co-sponsorship of the UNHRC Resolution on Sri Lanka has been criticised by the international community while the Commissioner for Human Rights has rejected Sri Lanka�s proposal to appoint another Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to probe war crimes committed during the civil war. However, the US and India have been non-committal on Sri Lanka�s decision. more..

Mar 2 (TM) The Sri Lanka Police and the Agriculture Ministry are currently engaged in discussions to shift several police divisions to the controversial private building, D.P. Jayasinghe (DPJ) Tower in Rajagiriya. The DPJ Tower located at No. 288, Sri J'pura Road, Kotte is owned by the husband of popular cinema actress Sabeetha Perera. Police Media Spokesman said the legal, crimes & media divisions of Police Dept more..

Mar 2 (ST) Govt is to raise more than Rs 600 billion by way of foreign loans, Treasury Bonds or debentures for the completion of the Central Expressway project after deciding to leave out Japan and China � countries which initially negotiated to fund parts of the project. Despite the adverse economic situation which has prompted the Govt to put on hold several mega projects, the Cabinet this week approved the proposal to more..

Mar 2 (EN) Sri Lanka�s economic misery has increase in 2019, according to an annual global index compiled by a Johns Hopkins economist Steve Hanke, as the island�s growth slipped and inflation and interest rates climbed after the latest currency collapse. Sri Lanka�s misery index score climbed to 17.9 points in 2019 from 16 in 2018, according to the latest index published in National Review, a US based publication. more..

Mar 2 (TM) State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) owes private pharmaceutical importers a whopping Rs. 12 billion, according to the SL Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI). Members of SLCPI, who wished to remain anonymous, said that this is the total debt accumulated from 2017 onwards for procurement carried out by the SPC. They also allege that the Govt is unable to settle this outstanding more..

Mar 2 (CT) The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) has informed the Ministry of Environment and Wild Life Resources that a private firm has got permission from the Central Environment Authority (CEA) Central Province office to grow aloe vera on the buffer zone of the Wilpattu National Park. The letter sent by CEJ Policy and Advocacy Campaign officer, Janaka Withanage to the Ministry Secretary states that and more..