Sep 2 (Island) If his 800 runs during the 2018/2019 domestic First-Class tournament didn�t catch anyone�s eye, the dynamic Lahiru Udara�s four figure 2019/20 season surely did. He ended up as the tournament�s top run scorer with 1039 runs averaging over 86, ahead of some top players including Dinesh Chandimal who was the only other player to cross the 1000 run mark. Another remarkable fact about Udara is the pace at which he scored these runs throughout the season, more..

Sep 2 (DN) Board of Investments has approved projects to the tune of USD 1.2 billion so far this year, Director General (DG) of BOI, Sanjaya Mohottala said. Another USD billion is in the pipeline for 2020 and this number can be bettered next year, he opined. SL also had seen a positive export trend from local and also BOI companies in July. The geopolitical situation also helped in this regard. He said that the political stability that more..

Sep 2 (DN) Table Tennis Associations of SL (TTASL) has no own place to conduct practices and hope to fulfil this much needed requirement very soon. "Actually we have identified a place at Narahenpita which is a warehouse that is large enough to construct more than five areas with tables and space for spectators," said Secretary of the TTASL Chandana Srinath Wijetunga. However with all this difficulties TTASL is hoping to resume their activities by conducting Mayor�s Cup in Kandy in Oct more..

Sep 2 (CT) An outstanding and hugely attractive Vantage FFSL President�s Cup 2020 final lies in store when two of the best attacking teams - Blue Eagle and Colombo FC � clash at Sugathadasa Stadium today at 6.30 p.m. The Airmen will head into Wednesday night's big picture with a high-profile squad, while Roomy Hassen�s Colombo FC comes with a team of mostly talented and experienced players. Both Blue Eagle and Colombo FC have looked imperious throughout the tournament more..

Sep 2 (Island) As a bank that takes pride in its SL roots, Sampath Bank has always appreciated the immense value generated by the tank (Wewa) systems in and around the country and its Wewata Jeewayak programme is a committed endeavour to restore the traditional irrigation networks that were constructed by the ancient kings of SL. The Wewata Jeewayak programme is a part of Sampath Bank PLC�s community capacity building initiatives more..

Sep 2 (DM) People's Bank has entered into a MOU with the Govt Medical Officers' Association (GMOA), one of the premier professional bodies in the country, with a view to granting personal loan facilities for its membership base comprising over 18,000 members island wide. In the light of their prominent and utmost professionalism to uplift the health sector in SL, Bank has taken necessary steps to introduce this special loan scheme under more relaxed terms and conditions. more..

Sep 2 (DN) A webinar, organised by SL Export Development Board under the theme, Finding an Overseas Buyer, highlighted the need for SL exporters to identify potential overseas markets in commencing exports as selling into larger markets creates economies of scale which helps to reduce costs and increase efficiency. Addressing the webinar, Charitha Yattogoda, Director of Commerce heading the Trade Promotion Division-Department of Commerce said in order to find more..

Sep 2 (Island) Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said that those opposed to the govt was busy propagating the lie that enactment of 20th Amendment in place of the 19th would be a massive setback to parliamentary democracy. He said that it would be the responsibility of the govt to inform the people of why the 20 was being brought in. Prof. Peiris, who is also the Chairman of the ruling SLPP said that their opponents were attempting to more..

Sep 2 (FT) Prez Rajapaksa paid a visit to the city�s iconic high rise property development Altair on Monday, which stands at 98% completion. Following inspections of the elegantly-designed project and its progress, he expects the construction work to be completed in January next year. This was his second visit to the site, after being elected Prez last November. In June, Prez Rajapaksa visited the site with a view to expedite the completion of the project, which is three years behind schedule more..

Sep 2 (FT) Former Speaker and UNP leadership contender Karu Jayasuriya received blessings from senior clergy of the Asgiriya Chapter for his bid to become the next leader of the party earlier this week. Chief Incumbent of the Sudhuhumpala Rajamahaviharaya and senior member of the Asgiriya chapter Mukuruppe Rathnapala Ranthajothi Thero endorsed Jayasuriya for the leadership of the UNP, pointing out that the former Speaker had shown leadership and courage during more..

Sep 2 (CT) A strike launched by the Locomotive Engine Operators� Union (LEOU) on 31 Aug midnight, was called off yesterday (1) afternoon, after negotiations with the General Manager of the Railways Department, Dilantha Fernando. LEOU members had stopped operating what they alleged were faulty Chinese-made train engines and compartments currently being used in Sri Lanka. Speaking before calling off the strike, more..

Sep 2 (DN) 69th Anniversary of the SLFP will be celebrated today giving priority to religious events. Multi-faith religious ceremonies will be held to mark the occasion and commemorate the SLFP leaders and members who have passed away, a Party spokesman said. A special Bodhi Pooja will be held at the Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya at 6 pm today. Islamic religious activities will be held at the Dewatagaha Jumma Masjid Mosque today at 10 am SLFP Colombo District Organizer Anwer said. more..

Sep 2 (Island) Senior Prof. Nilanthi de Silva has been appointed Vice- Chancellor of Uni of Kelaniya with effect from last Friday. She assumed duties as the first female Vice Chancellor of the Kelaniya Uni. Present at the occasion were Senior Prof. P.S. Wijesinghe, former acting VC & Dean- Faculty of Medicine, Senior Prof. Ariyarathna Jayamaha, Dean- Faculty of Graduate Studies, Senior Prof. S.R.D. Kalingamudali, Dean- Faculty of Science, Prof. M.M. Gunathilaka, Dean- Fac of Social Science, more..

Sep 2 (FT) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday urged all 23 District Coordinating Committee (DCC) Chairmen to actively contribute to build the national economy. �District Coordinating Committee Chairmen bear a great responsibility towards creating an efficient State administration mechanism to move the country forward, while collectively working with Ministers and State Ministers,� Prez told a meeting more..

Sep 2 (DN) Meteorology Department said the showery conditions over the island would continue today. It predicted showers or thunder-showers over most places in Uva, Eastern, Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces. �Heavy showers about 100mm are likely at some places. Fairly heavy showers over 75 mm are likely at some places in western, North-western and southern provinces. Wind speed can increase up to 40 kmph at times over North-central & North-western provinces more..

Sep 2 (CT) The draft of 20th Amendment will be submitted to Cabinet for approval today, Minister of Justice Ali Sabry PC said. Meanwhile, the Coordinating Officer to the AG, State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne confirmed that the Secretary of the Ministry of Justice sent the 20th Amendment draft to AG Dappula de Livera PC for his observations, yesterday. The draft was prepared by a Cabinet Subcommittee comprising Minister Ali Sabry and fellow Ministers Prof G.L. Peiris, more..

Sep 2 (DM) Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardane has proposed that Kansa should be cultivated in the country to be used as an item for value addition in the export industry. He said the British colonial rulers had banned the cultivation of Kansa which was a plant with valuable medicinal properties that could be used in the manufacture of cancer drugs and cosmetics. �We should lift the ban on Kansa cultivation. more..

Sep 2 (DM) 53 returnees from Qatar, who were on the same flight tested positive for COVID-19 increasing the total number of patients to 3,081, Epidemiology Unit Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said. 398 passengers on the flight were subjected to PCR tests and then sent to quarantine centres. Meanwhile, the number of active cases had risen to 190 while the number recovered had increased to 2,879 with the eight who had recovered, were discharged from hospitals. more..

Sep 2 (DM) The term limit of a president and duration as stated in the 19th Amendment will not be changed in the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, an informed source said. The 19th Amendment states that the president can seek office only for two terms with the duration restricted to a maximum of five years. The draft of the 20th Amendment, would be presented to the Cabinet today and further, the Right to Information guaranteed in the 19th Amendment would not be compromised. more..

Sep 2 (Island) SLPP National List member Gevindu Cumaratunga strongly pushed for a new Constitution instead of bringing in the 20th Amendment in place of 19th Amendment enacted at the onset of UNP-SLFP administration in 2015. Cumaratunga emphasized that Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the SLPP received overwhelming mandate at the 2019 presidential and 2020 general election, respectively, to enact a new Constitution. more..

Sep 2 (FT) Here from the frontlines are insights and learnings and distinctions that can further inform our medical response to COVID and hopefully inspire our emerging policy towards travel and tourism and the profits they bring with them for SL�s national solvency and recovery. Onto the findings: Hackery is giving us fresh dosages of whackiness as COVID conundrums multiply. Even the fabled NY Times could not resist reporting this. I have frequently flagged the inconsistencies of PCR testing more..

Sep 2 (FT) I do not know Hejaaz Hizbullah. I have come to know of him from the several accounts published in the media over the past few months, by a classmate, a contemporary and colleague, a student and a brother. I do not know what pain of mind he must feel, isolated in a cell, without being charged, but accused of a heinous crime by the authorities and judged variously in the careless courts of public opinion. But I do feel pained, for him, for us on this island. more..

Sep 2 (Island) Kalmunai Sub Division of the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) had been asked to investigate and report on NTJ leader Zahran Hashim and his associates after TID received a foreign intelligence alert about a possible terrorist attack, Ruwan Pathirana, former OIC of the unit on Religious extremism at the TID, told PCoI. The witness, on Monday, said that the then Director of the TID, DIG Waruna Jayasundara had instructed his unit to arrest Zahran, his brother Rilwan more..

Sep 2 (AD) Dinesha Sandamali alias Thotalanga Kudu Sanda had been arrested over drug trafficking charges by the Welikada Police on the new Kolonnawa Road in Rajagiriya. Police said the woman was arrested using an undercover agent. Following the interrogation, the police recovered 25 grams of heroin at a house at Methsanda Sevana housing complex in Thotalanga. Investigation revealed that the 36-year-old woman had been involved in drug trafficking for some time and more..

Sep 2 (AD) Another unusual minor tremor is reported from the Kandy District early this morning (02). According to the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB), the incident took place at around 07.06 am in the Pallekele area. Senior Director of the GSMB, Mr. Udaya de Silva noted that it is yet to be determined if this tremor is an earthquake. In the meantime, a minor tremor was recently reported from Anuragama area more..

Sep 2 (DN) A new coupon will be introduced to all farmers for fertiliser relief from the next Maha Season, Regulation of Fertilizer Production and Supply, Use of Chemical Fertilizers and Pesticide State Minister Mohan P De Silva said. Speaking to the media at Habaraduwa in Galle, he said during the next Maha Season, fertilizer will be distributed among farmers without a shortage for which a new system has been introduced by Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage. more..

Sep 2 (CT) The UNP Working Committee meeting to be held on 4 September will be a very heated one, sources at Sirikotha said. The sources also said former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had sent a letter to UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday (1), informing him that he too, will contest for the Party Leadership. It is also learnt that Wickremesinghe is preparing to nominate former State Minister Ruwan Wijewardene for the UNP Leadership, as Ceylon Today has reported several times before. more..

Sep 2 (MoD) Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne said the govt would end looming social threats in the same vigour that eradicated terrorism in the country to bring peace and prosperity under the leadership of Prez Rajapaksa. �There is no room for emerging social threats in the form of organized crimes, underworld acts and drug menace to jeopardise the future of our younger generation� he said. more..

Sep 2 (FT) Project Steering Committee (PSC) met with the Construction of Surgical Unit to Teaching Hospital Batticaloa under the guidance of Deputy High Commissioner Vinod K. Jacob, at the High Commission of India on 19 Aug, in order to review the progress of the implementation of the project. The meeting was attended by the officials of the High Commission of India, Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine, Dept of External Resources and Department of Project Management and more..

Sep 2 (AD) Police have recovered 23 kilograms of heroin in the Sapugaskanda area and arrested one suspect in connection. The drugs were seized at Samadhi Mawatha in Sapugaskanda during a raid carried out by Meegahawatta Police. A 37-year-old carpenter from the area has been arrested on suspicion. He is reportedly the brother of a police officer attached to the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD). CCD officer in question is also currently under investigation over alleged involvement more..

Sep 2 (Island) One-time SLFP General Secretary Prof. Rohana Lakshman said that in spite of setbacks suffered over the past couple of years, the party was determined to re-organize ahead of future elections. In an interview, on the eve of the SLFP�s 69 anniversary on Sept. 2, Prof. Lakshman said that they faced daunting challenges amidst continuing turmoil. Pointing out that the SLFP had 126 elected members in the 144-member more..

Sep 2 (EN) Sri Lanka has extended import duty surcharges on refined fuel for three months till Nov 24, which is a key revenue source for the govt as tax revenues are hard hit by a Coronavirus pandemic. SL is also building a fund out of fuel tax revenues. The current administration has said it will not adjust fuel prices to market levels but will change taxes to keep retail prices steady. Petrol 92 Octane will be taxed at 20 rupees a liter. Other petrol would also be taxed at the same rate. more..

Sep 2 (CT) International Coconut Day will be held at the Lunuwila Coconut Research Institute (CRI) today at 8:30 a.m. under the patronage of Minister of Plantation Dr. Ramesh Pathirana and State Minister of Coconut, Kithul, Palmyrah, Rubber Cultivation Promotion and Related Industrial Products Manufacturing, Arundika Fernando. A number of events have been organised to mark the Day. The introduction of an improved hybrid coconut variety and a red beetle repellent produced by CRI, more..

Sep 2 (USE) The US Govt, through USAID, has donated 200 brand-new, state-of-the-art ventilators to SL, delivering on President Trump�s offer of critically needed supplies and supporting Sri Lanka�s fight against COVID-19. The ventilators were handed over to Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi by the U.S. Ambassador to SL, Alaina Teplitz. The ventilators, produced in the US, feature cutting-edge technology. more..

Sep 2 (EN) Sri Lanka�s Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said it is hosting an online forum with Asia Securities, on financial restructuring as companies face many challenges. Companies often do not see financial restructuring as viable tool due to the lack of awareness, unfamiliarity related to legal and regulatory issues, the inability to raise the required capital to support restructuring, and difficulties in engaging with banks to restructure debt, the organizer said. more..

Sep 2 (CT) Ministry of Youth Affairs and the Ministry of Education need to support in educating all youth and adolescents on the prevention of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), said the Public Health Specialist of the National STD/AIDS Control Programme, Dr. Sriyakanthi Beneragama. She stated there was an increasing trend of young boys being infected with HIV and added that most of them had become infected due to having unprotected sex (without the use of contraception) with males. more..

Sep 2 (CI) Sri Lanka Cricket has announced fresh dates for the Lanka Premier League (LPL), which has now been scheduled between Nov 14 and Dec 6. However, govt approval for a shorter quarantine period for players, officials and broadcast staff is yet to be secured; it is this hurdle that had forced the postponement of the LPL, originally slated to begin in late August. SLC officials have asked that the quarantine period for more..

Sep 2 (EN) Environment ministry will take a final decision on banning quarter arrack bottles this week while a decision to ban small retail packets of fast moving consumer goods had already been taken. A final decision on banning quarter bottles (160 � 185 milliliter range arrack bottles) would be after meeting manufactures this week, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said. The manufacturers had been asked to take the responsibility of buying back the bottles after being used, he said. more..

Sep 2 (DM) Justice Minister Ali Sabry said yesterday 553,000 Sri Lankans, a five per cent of the country�s population and one out of 20 persons, were addicted to drugs. Speaking at a function held at Viyangalla in Kalutara, Minister Sabry assured that measures would be taken to eradicate the drug menace from the country. "In order to ensure the security of everyone, we will unearth all roots of the drug scourge. If a special unit is needed for this, we will create one as well," he said. more..