Nov 9 (CT) Chamari Athapaththu smashed a quick-fire half-century as Supernovas reached their third successive final with a narrow two-run win over Trailblazers in a last-ball thriller of the Women's T20 Challenge on Saturday. After the final league game all three teams ended with two points each, but Supernovas (-0.054) and Trailblazers (+2.109) qualified due to their superior net-rate than Velocity (-1.869) and will meet in Monday's final. Athapaththu laid the foundation with an aggressive 67. more..

Nov 9 (DM) The areas, which are to be released from quarantine curfew from tomorrow, are still not safe and therefore, the risk of COVID-19 spread still prevails in the country, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said. He said in a situation where positive cases were reported from different parts of the country, it was much pivotal to strictly follow the health guidelines. �Lifting the curfew does not mean that people can go back to their normal routine and act as usual. more..

Nov 9 (FT) Prez Rajapaksa led the country in congratulating US President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris yesterday. �Congratulations! prez elect @JoeBiden on your historic victory. Look forward to working closely with you to strengthen the bilateral relations between our two countries,� Rajapaksa said in a Twitter message. He also said the Govt and the people of Sri Lanka join him in extending more..

Nov 9 (PMD) The State Katina ceremony was held under the patronage of Prez Rajapaksa at the historic Somawathi sacred premises in Polonnaruwa today (8). This is considered to be the first occasion since the reign of King Parakramabahu II to hold a Katina ceremony sponsored by the state. It is the tradition since the days of ancient kings to cultivate cotton, spin yarn and use the cotton cloth woven from yarn to sew the Cheevara (Bhikkus robe) and presented to Maha Sangha. more..

Nov 9 (Island) Public Health Midwives are threatening to resort to trade union action from next Sunday if the govt fails to redress their grievances. Chairperson of the Govt Midwives Association Devika Kodituwakku says. She said that the midwives of the Uva Province would engage in a sick note campaign on Sunday (13) demanding that the govt settle the issues pertaining to allowances that had not been paid since January this year for 486 midwives in the province. more..

Nov 9 (Island) Civil society activist Oshala Herath intends to draw the attention of the new Election Commission (EC) to the failure on the part of the outgoing EC to inquire into his complaint regarding British citizen Diana Gamage�s appointment to Parliament through SJB National List. Defeated UNP Colombo District candidate at last general election, Herath said that he would write to the new EC immediately after its formulation this week. more..

Nov 9 (AD) The Central Mail Exchange has decided to resume selected services from today onwards. Thereby, Express Mail Service (EMS) courier, Business Mail and SL Post courier services will continue following the relaxation of quarantine curfew. The registered mail division is expected to be reopened from Tuesday (10). Delivering letters to govt offices in the city of Colombo and suburbs will accordingly resume from Wednesday (11), the postmaster general said further. more..

Nov 9 (Island) The unprecedented spread of COVID-19 pandemic has been taking the world by storm since its initial discovery in the latter half of December 2019. Although Sri Lanka appeared to be initially sheltered from its deadly impact, the recent revelation of five COVID deaths within the span of one day has led to numerous speculations about the uncertainty of the future. COVID-19 patients were first isolated in SL in late January, 2020. Since then there have been 12 570 cases reported as more..

Nov 9 (FT) Divulapitiya and Peliyagoda dual COVID-19 cluster yesterday exceeded 10,000 cases, with 510 contacts of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster testing positive for the virus. With yesterday�s cases, the total cluster count has reached 10,447 and the total number of confirmed cases identified in the island has increased to 13,929. The total count also includes 1,467 SL returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel more..

Nov 9 (PMD) Located in Badulla district, villages Welanwita and Akkara Seeya in Haldummulla area, which remained deprived of public amenities for a long time and where the majority is poor, have now entered into a period of rapid development. Larger part of the expected targets included in the proposed development plan has already been achieved. The remaining is projected to be met in the next two months. With a population around 48,000, Haldummulla is the most difficult DS division more..

Nov 9 (CT) The 35th COVID 19 death was reported yesterday. The victim was 78 years old male. He was dead when admitting to the hospital and post-mortem confirmed that he has succumbed to death due heart attack relating to COVID 19 complications. Meanwhile, College of Medical Laboratory Science SL urged the President and the Health Ministry to take timely precautionary measures of validating the reagents required for the antibody test on COVID-19 patients within a week, more..

Nov 9 (AD) DIG Ajith Rohana says entering or leaving isolated areas will be prohibited as the health authorities have deemed them to be high-risk areas. His remarks came during a special statement delivered today to explain in details how the public should resume daily activities after quarantine curfew is relaxed tomorrow (9). Quarantine curfew imposed in the Western Province is expected to be lifted at 5.00 am tomorrow, however, more..

Nov 9 (EN) Sri Lanka�s govt labs should be able to do more tests with the machines available as private labs are more productive despite having much less resources, the Government Medical Officers� Association has said. �We have increased it now but we believe we can improve it further.� GMOA, Editor, Haritha Aluthge said. �If a private lab can do 2000 PCR tests a day with only two machines, doing 10,000 per day while having 25 govt and govt affiliates laboratories is not enough.� more..

Nov 9 (ST) The first patient possibly confirmed as having both dengue and COVID-19 in the country has been reported from the Negombo Hospital. The patient is a 29-year-old man who had come into contact with COVID-19 at a fish market, Head of Negombo�s Dengue Centre, Dr. LakKumar Fernando said. �The patient came with high fever and we tested him for dengue through an antigen test as well as for COVID-19 through an RT-PCR test. While the dengue test came positive on the 3rd day, more..

Nov 9 (CT) Except for 12 Police divisions in the Colombo District and several housing complexes, the quarantine curfew imposed in several areas including the Western Province was lifted today at 5 a.m. These areas and housing complexes have been identified as high risk areas, since the majority of COVID-19 cases found in these areas in the Colombo District will be isolated. In addition, eight police divisions in Gampaha more..

Nov 9 (FT) Before we get to the two prescriptions, a little local update. I am getting increasingly troubled by the classification of COVID deaths in SL. There seems to have been a surge of them, and on the surface, that is not surprising when 6,000 or more positive test results (posing as cases) have been introduced in about a month�s time. And given that, a mortality rise from 13 to 30, seems very mild or modest. A .14% infection fatality rate which is a global forecast would give us more..

Nov 9 (DM) SL�s private sector credit, a key measurement of economic activities, expanded at a faster pace in September than a month before, continuing a momentum set forth in August as both individuals and businesses borrowed to sustain their consumption and future growth. Banks gave Rs.87.4 billion in total private sector credit on a net basis during Sept, the second highest monthly figure after Rs.120 billion credit expended in March, ahead of country-wide lockdowns imposed to contain more..

Nov 9 (TM) Responding to allegations of the company�s involvement in importing rapid antigen tests, George Steuart Health today said no govt fund was utilized to bring down the goods. Its CEO Eran Ranasinghe said George Steuart Health utilized own funds to purchase the goods and pay for the import procedure. �We received orders from private hospitals and other institutions like the SL Red Cross Society, after the NMRA approval was received. We placed orders with our principals on 25th Oct. more..

Nov 9 (FT) Former UN Resident Coordinator to Sri Lanka Subinay Nandy has passed away, the UN office in SL said. Nandy served in Sri Lanka from 2011 to 2016. A staunch advocate of the UN Charter, he led the UN�s efforts in promoting durable peace, stability, and prosperity towards reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Prior to his assignment in SL, Nandy was the UNDP Country Director in China and Vietnam, and the Chief of the Regional Program and Policy Division in the UNDP Regional Bureau for more..

Nov 9 (CT) PCoI probing acts of Political Victimisation during the previous UNF-led regime, issued notice to five SJB MPs yesterday, ordering them to be present before the Commission today, in order to be notified of legal action being instituted against them, on charges of issuing derogatory statements to the Media, on the conduct of the Commission�s activities. In the notice issued by the Secretary to the Commission, more..

Nov 9 (FT) Resilience is what defines industries that stand the test of time. Industries described as relics of the past are in reality misunderstood entities that have adapted themselves to thrive in modern times due to its commitment towards change and adherence to the highest ethical standards. These remain the lifeblood of developing economies and present the best way for countries to grow and thrive. Unfortunately, those outside these industries tend to brand them as unethical, more..

Nov 9 (EN) Two hotels that were converted to quarantine centres for Ukranian and SriLankan aircrews had illegally allowed parties and gatherings for locals in the hotel premises during the quarantine period, Public Health Inspectors� (PHI) Union President Upul Rohana claimed today. The PHI Union is in possession of enough evidence to prove that parties held at the hotel where the Ukranian crewmembers were quarantined had triggered Sri Lanka�s second wave of COVID-19, more..

Nov 9 (FT) Aseni, the wiz-kid who is interested in learning everything economic, has turned to her Grandpa, Sarath Mahaththaya, an ex-director of the finance ministry, this time to seek wisdom on a new hot topic. That is, she has heard from many that making foreign borrowings is evil because it would trap a country in what is known as a debt trap. She wanted a clarification from her Grandpa. But her inquiry led to the following dialogue more..

Nov 9 (FT) Chamber of Tourism and Industry (CTI) has urged the PM to offer a new compensation package for the SME sector in provincial areas. The recommendations include extension of moratorium as well as grants. CTI President A.M. Jaufer, in a written submission to the PM, has listed nine recommendations. While welcoming the relief package already given by the Govt, CTI said in view of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, it would like to urge the Govt to consider further more..

Nov 9 (DM) Bandaragama Police have arrested a sergeant attached to the Kollupitiya Police Tourist Division along with 3 other persons, including a heroin trafficker for travelling in a car without curfew passes. Police said a car travelling from Galle towards Panadura was stopped and searched when it exited the Galanigama interchange yesterday evening. The police Sergeant, a resident of Panadura and three other persons in the car were later produced before the Bandaragama Police on charges of violating quarantine curfew. more..

Nov 9 (CT) In a bid to prevent transport services from collapsing, the Govt will temporarily revise bus fares, if needed, based on a new COVID-19 Transport Policy after lifting the curfew, State Minister of Transport Dilum Amunugama claimed. Steps will be taken to commence bus services based on the COVID-19risk and the policy will consist of measures to ensure the safety of passengers among others. SL Transport Board Chairman, Kingsley Ranawaka said more..

Nov 9 (FT) The Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) in a statement extended its gratitude to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister and Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa for extending the grace period of the Central Bank-backed 4% Saubagya Working Capital Loan Scheme from six to nine months. �This lifeline given by the Govt will help the tourism industry to survive during these extremely challenging times,� SLAITO said in a statement. more..

Nov 9 (DM) A Red alert on thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning was issued for 16 districts, the Department of Meteorology said today. They said fairly heavy rainfall of more than 100 mm could be expected at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central Provinces, Galle and Matara Districts. There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers, they said. Accordingly, 16 districts including Mullaitivu, Mannar, Vavuniya, Anuradhapura, Puttalam, more..

Nov 9 (NO) Wildlife authorities have found the carcasses of a pair of stillborn elephant twins in SL. The heartbreaking discovery was made on Saturday in Mahasenpura,. Photos show the carcasses of the two baby elephants lying side by side. One is covered in dust from the ground where it lays while the other�s dark skin is visible from the waist up. Births of healthy elephant twins are extremely rare, with Sri Lanka only recording more..

Nov 9 (AD) MP Anura Priyadharshana Yapa has been appointed as the Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance (CoPF). The CoPF convened this afternoon in a Committee Room at the Parliament. At the meeting, Minister Bandula Gunawardena nominated MP Yapa to chair the committee. His nomination was seconded by MP Dilan Perera. Subsequently, a preliminary discussion was held on the upcoming tasks on the new Committee on Public Finance of the ninth parliament. more..

Nov 9 (AM) Veteran singer WD Ariyasinghe passed away today following a prolonged illness. He was 64 years old at the time of his death. Ariyasinghe is the husband of Darshani Chandrasena, a university lecturer and music director, and a father of two. He has sung a number of popular Sinhala songs and imparted his knowledge to students from all walks of life. He was known for his popular songs such as Maha Wessata Pera, Ma Langatama Thawa Lan Wela, Thisara Thudata and many more. more..

Nov 9 (PTI) MDMK general secretary Vaiko on Monday urged PM Narendra Modi to take immediate steps for release of over 100 impounded mechanised boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen from Sri Lanka or ensure compensation. Citing news reports, he said a Sri Lankan court has ordered 121 boats seized from the fishermen to be destroyed, adding it was shocking. Of the over 100 boats, as many as 88 were from Rameswaram, Vaiko, more..

Nov 9 (NR) Ministry of Education says it is engaged in efforts to complete virtual lessons for students as an alternate measure amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Ministry said Cabinet approval to broadcast the programme has been granted, while discussions have been held with state and private media organisations pertaining to telecasting the programmes. Ministry said the lessons of main subjects for students of Grades 3 to 11 and A/L students will be broadcast from 15 of Nov more..

Nov 9 (AD) The reopening of the Manning Market, which was scheduled for today, has been postponed indefinitely. DIG Ajith Rohana said that this was due to many laborers (nattamis) testing COVID-19 positive following PCR testing. �Therefore, the health authorities did not allow the vendors or the stakeholders of the Manning Market to open the market today.� Police, health authorities, intelligence units are looking ascertaining the situation with regard to the patients, and close contacts more..

Nov 9 (AD) Five MPs of the SJB who had been summoned by the PCoI on Political Victimization, for allegedly making defamatory remarks regarding the commission, appeared before it this morning. The MPs had arrived at the commission at around 10.45 a.m. today. The SJB MPs had been summoned based on information that they had allegedly made defamatory remarks on the Prez Commission while speaking to media more..

Nov 9 (CT) Kalmunai Municipal Council Member P.M. Shifan claimed that despite there being several thousands of COVID-19 patients in India, they protested demanding the Govt to stop the cremation of Muslims who died from COVID-19. Shifan further said the situation would change soon. He lamented that the Govt was continuing to cremate bodies of Muslim COVID-19 victims by muting social media and individuals who fought against cremation. He said nine Muslims who had contracted more..

Nov 9 (FT) The Ministry of Health in partnership with Dialog Axiata PLC (Dialog), has enabled high-speed PCR testing at the BIA. Dialog�s contribution of 4,000 Robotic Arm compatible test kits forms a part of the company�s ongoing commitment to empower the national healthcare efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2020, Dialog pledged a sum of Rs. 200 million towards the upliftment of critical health infrastructure associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. more..

Nov 9 (EN) SL�s exports grew 3.6% to US$ 774.5 million in Sept 2020 with apparel export falls made up by personal protective equipment exports of cloth, plastics and rubber. Textiles and apparel exports fell 6.6% from a year earlier to US$ 419.1 million. Rubber products exports rose 9.9% to US$ 78 million. Plastic exports grew 483% to US$ 34.1 million from US$ 5.8 million a year earlier. SL is planning to ban plastics next year and more..

Nov 10 (GV) The democratic ideal sounds simple enough. All citizens have a say in their system of governance, typically through elected representatives. The concept has been a part of Sri Lankan politics since as far back as 1931 under British colonial rule when Sri Lanka enjoyed universal franchise and partial representation. Yet, despite our 90 years of democratic resilience, the SL political system is somehow flawed, ill-reputed and often charged with being undemocratic. more..