Sep 12 (CT) There is a right way and a wrong way to fight any battle. The right way is the way to win or at least accumulate as many gains as possible, and to do so in a manner that is universally recognizable as ethical, so that even if you lose the battle you would have won the moral high ground, giving you a good chance to win the war. The 20th Amendment battle is far too important not to fought in the best and smartest way possible. While the broadest coalition of the most diverse forces is more..

Sep 12 (TM) Earlier last week, we reported that there was an increase in HIV-positive cases recorded by the National STD/AIDS Control Programme (NSACP), noting that youths from 19-25 years of age showed high prevalence of contracting the virus. The sentinel data collection across the island indicates that there are 3,600 people living with HIV (PLHIV) who are over the age of 15 and reflects an HIV prevalence of less that 0.1%. more..

Sep 12 (DM) Sajith Premadasa�s decision to deliver his speech at the commencement of the ninth parliament in English gleaned mixed reactions from various crowds. Some argue that he was channelling the spectre of Ranil Wickremesinghe by trying to be like Ranil in a place that�s missing Ranil. Others argue, like I do, that there�s nothing wrong with it. It is significant to note that no one criticising the way the speech was delivered has paid any attention to what the speech was all about. more..

Sep 12 (DM) Ignorance of the law is no excuse. It must be stated at the outset of this article, that the knowledge of the law in relation to subjects coming under the purview of various officials, be they be attached to the Govt, Provincial Administration or even the Local Govt administration is much to be desired. If the position of the officials is such then one can imagine as to what would be the position in relation to elected representatives. The other aspect is the shortcomings that more..

Sep 12 (DM) The proposed 20th Amendment which the SLPP govt is going to pass in Parliament next month is nothing but another round of manifestation of uncultured politics in Sri Lanka. It is going to be a further step of incivility of politics not only because of the contents of this piece of legislation, but mainly because it manifests the rashness and slavish mindset of many politicians, even in respect of the basic law of the country which would govern the lives of their own future generations. more..

Sep 12 (Island) The proposed new amendment to the constitution is going to allow Dual Citizens to contest for political office. What a terrible thing, the hard core frog in the well Lankan says. The carefully preserved, inbred lifestyle of our island will be decimated. When your wealth is measured by the number of bangles on your wife�s hand, when you pawn your jewellery on a regular basis to be able to give New Year presents to your relatives, thereby creating an image that you are prospering. more..

Sep 12 (Island) There is a clear duality in the PM�s decision on a ban on cattle slaughter. The cattle are slaughtered for the purpose of beef consumption. But the new slaughter ban will support beefeaters with imports of beef from abroad. This duality may be part of the Lotus Bud or Podujana Peramuna political thinking, such as its desire for dual citizens to be able to contest parliamentary elections. We are now told that more..

Sep 12 (CT) Without any doubt 2020 will be one of the hottest years on record for the planet. And, it will most probably be the hottest ever, according to a report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Continued destruction caused to the environment is one of the reasons for the extreme weather felt across the globe and this is the case in Sri Lanka too: dry seasons have become hotter and monsoon rains continue far longer than they used to be. more..

Sep 12 (Island) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, addressing Parliament, made no bones about his opposition to the MCC compact, which, he said, he had opposed as a minister of the yahapalana Cabinet. He said there had been no change in his stance thereon; he considers the compact detrimental to the interests of SL. He may not have been able to express his views freely as a member of the UNP-led regime, which was an American puppet, but he is free to do so now. more..

Sep 12 (SO) The nearly 3-day battle to douse the fire on a crude oil tanker in SL�s Eastern seas has been brought under control following a strenuous fire-fighting effort by SL sailors and the Indian coast guards. The crude oil tanker MT New Diamond chartered by the Indian Oil Company (IOC) had been sailing from the port of Mina Al Ahmadi in Kuwait to the Indian port of Paradip when disaster struck at around 8 am on Sept 3. more..

Sep 12 (ST) The name Pradeep Basnayake better known as Bassa is synonymous with SL rugby. In the Central Hills, where he is a legend, Basnayake is a home grown hero who never crossed over to any club but served Kandy Sports Club with utmost dedication and loyalty during his entire playing career. For Trinity College, he remains an icon who won the Bradby as a player, won the coveted Rugby Lion, captained Sri Lanka in Rugby and coached the 1st XV Trinity outfit to a Bradby victory. more..

Sep 12 (CT) Dian Gomes has been appointed as an Executive Committee Member of the World Boxing Body of AIBA, the supreme and most prestigious global association dedicated to boxing. Dian needs no special introduction as his name is synonymous with the renaissance of sports in our island. A former Royal College fly weight boxing champion and a former President of CIMA Sri Lanka Division, Dian has been a leading corporate personality for the better part of three decades, more..

Sep 12 (CT) Despite not playing rugby for nearly sixth months, Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) is planning to kick off the sport with two inter club Sevens rugby tournaments end of October. Under the theme Get back to rugby, SLR is planning to have a workshop on 17 September with all stakeholders to discuss the process and how safe it is to return to play in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. more..

Sep 12 (CT) A total of 6.3 MKgs were on offer this week, recording an increase over the previous week�s 5.9 MKgs. There was good demand. Ex-Estate offerings comprised 0.8 M/Kgs. Quality of offerings from the Western and Nuwara Eliya planting districts showed some improvement, whilst the Uva/Uda Pussellawas showed no change. Improved demand, particularly following quality � an encouraging trend. Best Western BOP�s gained Rs. 30-50 per kg and substantially more for more..

Sep 12 (Island) SL�s leading private sector bank HNB PLC in partnership with Unimo Enterprises Limited, a fully-owned subsidiary of United Motors Lanka PLC, offering customers vehicles with a down payment of 30 percent of the value of the vehicle. The partnership will provide customers with convenient leasing solutions for a limited stock of DFSK 7seater SUVs, Glory 330 MPVs and Z100 compact cars during the promotional period. HNB Dy General Manager- Retail/SME Banking, more..

Sep 12 (FT) Govt will offer swap arrangements to investment that could come into the country through Treasury bills and bonds, State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal told Parliament, outlining plans to boost growth through attracting investment. �Through that swap arrangement we are hoping to attract more and more investors to come in which will ensure that SL will have a stable rupee and a strong reserves & allow us to confront more..

Sep 12 (ST) The govt has commenced work on the implementation of the Rubber Master Plan crucial for the development of the sector aimed at increasing yields while taking a pragmatic decision not to interfere in pricing. With the rubber industry facing a number of issues the govt has appointed a committee to look into the implementation of the Rubber Master Plan in a bid to initiate its proposals, SL Association of Manufacturers and Exporters of Rubber Products Director General Rohan more..

Sep 12 (Island) Dipped Products Ltd (DPL) through its Firstlight Initiative, over a period of some 12 years, empowered around 3000 rubber farmers in Moneragala to expand their rubber growing initiative to ensure their rubber production is absorbed by the company. It is also significant that the company continues to assist these farmers and their families. At Moneragala we spoke to these farmers who were enthusiastic about their supplier relationship with the company and continuous good standing more..

Sep 12 (ABC) The man who caused a UNSW colleague to spend a month in jail by framing him with a fake terror plot has tearfully admitted in court he was "a coward". Arsalan Tariq Khawaja was jealous of Mohamed Nizamdeen's friendship with a woman when he scrawled terror blueprints in a stolen notebook in Aug 2018. Khawaja, the 40-year-old brother of cricketer Usman Khawaja, sobbed as he told Downing Centre District Court more..

Sep 12 (DN) Sports will be made a US$ 1 billion revenue-generating subject within the next five years, said Minister of Youth and Sports Namal Rajapaksa. He was speaking at the launch of the Lanka Sportreizen organised Open/National Surfing Championships which will be held on September 26 and 27, at Arugam Bay. Minister said that his plan to convert SL Sports to a US$ 1 billion includes the local manufacture and export of sports equipment, sports apparels, and services to the world. more..

Sep 12 (EN) Two Bahrain resident expatriates from SL and Britain say they have conceived and are developing a honey coated, banana fibre face mask which would have anti-microbe properties suitable to protect against Coronavirus, but is rapidly biodegradable. They are now looking to further refine the mask with additional research and development, get certification and commercialize it. The Mel-Cotta (honey coated) branded mask uses banana stalk fibres, honey and propolis � more..

Sep 12 (FT) Index of Industrial Production (IIP) for July increased by 2.4% compared to the same month in 2019, Census & Statistics Dept said, indicating that the economy was gradually recovering from the COVID-19 impact. IIP reported for the month of July 2020 and 2019 were 111.1 and 108.6 respectively. IIP is an index which details out the growth of sub sectors of the industry sector in a given period of time. more..

Sep 12 (CT) SL�s next year (2021) debt repayment is estimated to surge past Rs 3.0 trillion as debt to GDP is expected to exceed 100%, the Colombo based equity and economic research arm, First Capital said. This year�s (2020) SL�s Debt to GDP is expected to reach 96% amidst a larger budget deficit. �Overall trade contraction and extended import restrictions will improve current account to a marginal surplus but deficit may expand closer to US$ 1 bil in 2021, once restrictions are lifted� more..

Sep 12 (Island) Supreme Court on Aug 9 re-fixed for support on Nov 26, the fundamental rights violation petitions filed by Muslims and Christians protesting against the order of the Health Ministry to cremate all victims of Covid-19 regardless of their religious faiths. Notice had to be re-issued on the newly appointed Director General Health Services and the Secretary to the Ministry of Health. Muslims and Christians have said that it is a violation of their religious freedom to be cremated. more..

Sep 12 (DM) Police Department had decided to increase the cash rewards given to police officers who successfully carry out operations and to informants who provide information about illegal firearms, Acting IGP C. D. Wickramaratne said. He revealed that police had conducted special operations to arrest suspects with illegal firearms and with hand grenades. But in the recent past, the circulation of illegal firearms & hand grenades more..

Sep 12 (Island) Family members of The Island Deputy Editor Zacky Jabbar, who died recently, say they have no suspicions whatsoever of his untimely death. Zacky�s elder brother, Salman Jabbar, told The Island that baseless claims were being made in some quarters about Zacky�s death, and they had caused intense pain of mind to him and other grieving family members. Salman and his sister Feroza found Zacky�s body on 9 Sept & informed the police, who conducted thorough investigation. more..

Sep 12 (DN) Anti-Corruption Committee, which was set up with the approval of Cabinet of Yahapalana Govt to look into corruption, has wasted Rs.33,714,807.59 million of govt money by committing large scale corruption for 29 months. This was revealed before the PCoI. Anti-Corruption Committee which was set up by former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe on Jan 21, 2015 has paid Rs. 22, 714, 079.27 million to 44 officers who worked for the committee from Feb 2015 to June 2017. more..

Sep 12 (FT) SJB severely criticised the Govt, claiming it was attempting to weaken measures in place to reduce corruption by removing the National Procurement Commission and curtail the powers of the Auditor General through the 20th Amendment (20A). SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said that the proposed 20A will do away with the Procurement Commission, which was introduced under the 19th Amendment to update more..

Sep 12 (DM) 77 kg of nitric acid which is used in the manufacture of explosives were seized from Atulugama and a probe has been launched by the police into the incident, police said. Two suspects aged 48 and 54 years were arrested in connection with the incident and the suspects had made contradictory statements to the police. �Nitric acid was stored illegally in 3 plastic containers without a govt issued license and we will look into whether this was to be used for any illegal purposes� more..

Sep 12 (FT) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday led Parliament in paying tribute to late Minister Arumugam Thondaman during a Condolence Vote in the House. Opening the Condolence Vote on late Thondaman in Parliament, PM said the former CWC Leader was a man who stood against separatism and dedicated his life to uplifting the estate sector Tamils. �He (Thondaman) met me hours before his death, and what he discussed with me were the issues pertaining to estate sector Tamils.� more..

Sep 12 (CT) Ten Opposition MPs have expressed willingness to support the proposed draft of the 20th Amendment, a top Cabinet Minister said. The group had affirmed that they were ready to back the Govt in two ways, he added. He averred that some of the Opposition MPs would cross over to Govt ranks when the vote will be taken Minister noted that a sizeable lot from the Opposition would still continue to back the Govt with regard to democratic more..

Sep 12 (FT) Whilst the world is challenged with the COVID-19 virus attacking over 26 million people with 0.8 million deaths, we see the real impact of from the pandemic is emerging only now. None of us are sure on the originator of the virus but it can be branded economic terrorism by COVID-19. India announced that the economy has contracted -23.9% with unemployment hitting 24% in Rajantan and 20% in Delhi, which means millions of people have lost their sources of income. more..

Sep 12 (FT) At times some of us may be feeling quite nostalgic about the curfew times! You wake up late with the assurance that the next meeting or the lecture, which may be just five minutes away yet you are quite confident that you can make it. Even if that means sitting on atop the toilet seat! Seamless working and multitasking had been really facilitated by technology and the technology was available when the humans had to be locked inside this time. That was the power of more..

Sep 12 (DM) The govt has decided to make it mandatory for govt and semi govt institutions to allocate 25% of their advertising budgets to State-run media institutions so that that govt doesn�t have to allocate moneys from the national budget to support these media establishments. A proposal in this regard by the Minister of Mass Media has been approved by the Cabinet. Accordingly, the beneficiaries of this proposal include Rupavahini Corporation, SLBC, ITN and ANCL. more..

Sep 12 (Island) Minister Udaya Gammanpila said that contract for the supply of four types of empty metal cylinder containers to the Litro Gas Lanka had been awarded in keeping with guidelines issued by the Department of Public Finance. He said that PM proposed the awarding of the contracts to the cabinet on the recommendation of the Cabinet-appointed Standing Procurement Committee. Having explained the decision making process, lawmaker emphasized that it was not a more..

Sep 12 (DN) SL�s excellent healthcare service and the healthcare workers were the main reason behind the country�s success against the deadly COVID � 19 pandemic, PM Mahinda Rajapaksa said. PM was speaking at the capping ceremony of 298 newly recruited nurses to the State health sector who passed from the Colombo Nursing School. Addressing the gathering at the event held at Temple Trees, more..

Sep 12 (AD) Fourteen more patients who had tested positive for COVID-19 have been discharged from hospitals today upon making complete recoveries. The daily situation report said that 7 patients at IDH, 2 at the Welikanda Base Hospital and 5 at the Iranawila Hospital had returned to health. This brings the total number of COVID-19 recoveries in the country to 2,983. The total number of positive cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Sri Lanka thus far meanwhile stands at 3,169. more..

Sep 12 (EN) Forex reserves had risen to US$ 7,440.5 million in Aug 2020 from US$ 7,095.8 million in Sept 2020, with the central bank buying a net buyer of dollars in forex markets amid negative private credit, data showed. In August the central bank bought US$ 121 million to stop the appreciation of the rupee amid weak private credit in the earlier month, and sold 28 dollars to defend a soft-peg around 185 to the US dollar. In July the central bank bought US$ 162.5 mil from more..