Apr 8 (FT) Prez Rajapaksa yesterday visited the Temple of Tooth Relic in Kandy to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic and invoke blessings. The President was received by Diyawadana Nilame Nilanga Dela at the Temple of the Tooth Relic. Prez also called on the Maha Nayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanaratana Thero at the official monastery at Temple of Tooth Relic premises more..

Apr 8 (FT) Three COVID-19 deaths were confirmed by health authorities yesterday increasing the country�s COVID-19 death toll to 591. An 89-year-old individual from Homagama tested positive for COVID-19 white receiving medical care at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital. The individual was transferred to the Colombo East Base Hospital, where he died of trauma of blood poisoning, a bacterial infection with COVID-19, acute kidney damage, and heart disease on 6 April. more..

Apr 8 (DN) Newly appointed Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Management Committee Prof Arjuna de Silva said that they would focus on SLC accounts and legal matters during their term of office. He made these observations during their inaugural media briefing held at the SLC Headquarters in Maitland Place yesterday. �We have to work for nearly six weeks as the Management Committee of SLC and we will especially focus on SLC accounts & legal matters, especially signing of contracts more..

Apr 8 (CT) Chaos erupted in Parliament yesterday, when Opposition MPs staged a strong protest alleging Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena of being biased and favouring the Govt side. The Speaker, commencing yesterday�s Sittings, announced that Ranjan Ramanayake who is imprisoned for contempt of court, ceased to be a MP and accordingly there�s a vacant seat in Parliament with respect to more..

Apr 8 (MFA) Today (7), Sri Lanka and Afghanistan signed the MoU on Establishment of a Political Consultations Mechanism between Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan. MoU that provides for regular engagement and partnership between the two South Asian countries was signed by Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and representing the Govt of Afghanistan, by Afghan Ambassador Ashraf Haidari. Under the MoU, the two countries expressed more..

Apr 8 (DN) Since its commencement until Nov 2020, the Mattala Rajapaksa In'l Airport has generated Rs. 445.3 million in revenue, said Minister Prasanna Ranatunga. He said that US$ 247.7 million had been spent on the construction of the Mattala Airport. �From the date of commencing operations until now, 10,206 aircraft have landed at the Mattala Airport, while from the date of commencement until the end of Nov 2020 the airport has recorded 58,651 passenger arrivals and 73,513 departures. more..

Apr 8 (DN) A Cabinet proposal to import environment friendly electric vehicles and solar powered vehicles is being formulated, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said. He said the Cabinet paper proposes tax concessions to import those vehicles. He pointed out that air pollution caused by vehicles on roads is very high in SL. �We have paid attention in this regard as it has become a serious problem. The proposal to import electric vehicles and solar powered more..

Apr 8 (DM) The Sri Lanka Navy insisted that a ship gifted by China to Sri Lanka was fully operational, as speculation grew that the frigate was facing a number of technical issues. China had gifted P-625, a type 053H2G class frigate, to Sri Lanka and the ship was commissioned last year as SLNS Parakramabahu. There had been strong speculation that the Sri Lanka Navy had been facing several operational issues with the ship in the past few weeks and that it was hardly used. more..

Apr 8 (FT) The country�s total COVID-19 patient count yesterday rose to 93,993 with the detection of 221 patients. The patients detected yesterday include 178 associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster and 12 persons linked to the Prisons cluster. The Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, and Prisons COVID-19 clusters have expanded to 89,032 patients. In addition to the triple cluster, the country�s total patient count also includes 2,798 SL returnees, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, more..

Apr 8 (Island) The UK has rejected SL�s request for the disclosure of wartime dispatches from its High Commission in Colombo. The request was made during the 46th session of the UNHRC. The month long Geneva sessions ended on March 23, with the 47-member council adopting a fresh accountability resolution with 22 countries voting for, 11 against and 14 abstaining. UNHRC member and the leader of SL Core Group UK more..

Apr 8 (DN) Sri Lanka will build South Asia�s first Disneyland in the proposed Bopitiya leisure Park which will be created by Korea Cavitation Co. a company with Investments from Malaysia and Korea. President of Korea Cavitation Co. Baekgeum Kim and the representative of SL Dr. Parimala Rajo Isa Michael said that they are negotiating with the govt to obtain a 150 acre land on a lease basis for this project. �We hope to raise around USD 400 million to construct this project through more..

Apr 8 (DM) The statement made by the Minister Sarath Weerasekera that Moulavi Naufer was the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks cannot be accepted, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament today. �Moulavi Naufer was never produced before the presidential commission which probed the attacks and therefore how could his name come up suddenly?,� he questioned. �Why has the report of the PCoI failed to mention anything about the paying salaries more..

Apr 8 (Island) Education Minister Prof GL Peiris yesterday called on the Attorney General to initiate the process of prosecuting those responsible for the Easter Sunday carnage on the basis of the investigations that had already been concluded. Participating in the adjournment debate on the report of the PCoI on Easter Sunday terror attacks, Minister said that 36 investigations had been completed more..

Apr 8 (FT) Myanmar is in the headlines of world news these days, not for good reasons but for very bad reasons. There was a coup and the Military took over the Govt by force on 1 Feb. People are protesting and the Military is shooting at unarmed demonstrators. Day by day there are more deaths reported as protests continue across Myanmar. Mahn Win Khaing Than, Acting Leader of Myanmar�s parallel civilian Govt, which is called Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw more..

Apr 8 (DN) Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that students enrolled for new courses conducted by the SL Institute of Tourism and Hotel Managment (SLITHM) will be trained in dealing with tourists in keeping with the health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. He said that attention has been paid to update the subjects in the courses and introducing new courses in keeping with the current requirements in the world. Accordingly, new students enrolling for more..

Apr 8 (Island) State Minister Dr. Mrs. Sudarshani Fernandopulle has alleged that those who had been pursuing accountability issues for the benefit of the LTTE rump and the Tamil Diaspora were never bothered about the sufferings of the families of victims. She said so at a commemorative event held at the statue of her husband Jeyaraj at Weliweriya, where he was assassinated by the LTTE eight years ago. She said there were many families in similar situations. more..

Apr 8 (Island) Public Security Minister, Rear Admiral (retd.) Sarath Weerasekera, would have the public believe that the Easter Sunday terror mastermind has been identified. He has said Naufer Moulavi, who masterminded the attacks, is in custody. Interestingly, not even the PCoI, which probed the Easter Sunday carnage, for months on end, was able to find the mastermind behind the savage terror attacks! How can the govt say with certainty that Naufer masterminded terror attacks? True, more..

Apr 8 (FT) Nov 18, 2010. The second presidential investiture of Mahinda Rajapaksa took place against the backdrop of a massive sun, painted in the traditional Sinhala style, with a rotund face and a halo of curly rays. At the auspicious time, the sun parted and Mr Rajapaksa stepped out, followed by wife and sons. As drums rolled and conch shells sounded, he signed on the dotted line commencing his 2nd prez term. more..

Apr 8 (DN) The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) has filed a Writ Petition in the Court of Appeal seeking an order restraining the Marine Environment Protection Authority from granting permission to the newly built Araliya Unawatuna Beach Hotel, disposing sewage into the sea. The CEJ and its Executive Director Director Hemantha Withanage filed this petition naming the Central Environmental Authority, UDA, Director General of Wild Life, Chairman of Araliya Group W. Sirisena, more..

Apr 8 (DM) A 27-year-old man has been arrested by the CID on charges of Money Laundering after Rs. 136 million was deposited in the suspect's favour by underworld figure Dharmasiri Perera alias Dharme, who operates his criminal activities from Dubai. DIG Ajith Rohana said the suspect, a resident of Ratmalana was arrested yesterday and to be produced in court today. Last year, the Police had arrested a suspect for operating a bank account with transactions to the tune of Rs.490 million. more..

Apr 8 (AD) Reigning Mrs. World Caroline Jurie and model Chula Padmendra, who were arrested by the Cinnamon Gardens Police, have been granted police bail. They were taken into custody this afternoon over the recent controversy at the Mrs. SL beauty pageant on Sunday. The arrests have been made on the offenses of simple hurt and criminal force, according to DIG Ajith Rohana. Cinnamon Gardens Police have recorded more..

Apr 8 (FT) The decline of the Rupee vis-�-vis the US Dollar is likely to have a mixed impact on listed companies, according to stock broking firm CTCLSA Securities. In an analysis of select companies, it said depreciation of the Rupee will have a negative impact for companies such as Dialog Axiata, Hemas Holdings, Lanka Lubricants, and slightly negative counters are Sunshine Holdings, Tokyo Cement (Lanka), Acccess Engineering, Cargills (Ceylon) and Ceylon Cold Stores. more..

Apr 8 (EN) Sri Lanka plans to purchase seven million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine next year, and discussions are under way with multiple manufacturers to acquire more vaccines, the Minister of Health told parliament today. Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said officials are engaged in discussions with Pfizer Inc through the US Embassy in Sri Lanka with a view to signing purchase agreements. �If the deal goes through, the vaccines will arrive next year,� she said. more..

Apr 8 (AD) Denmark lineage of COVID-19 has been identified in virus samples collected from 3 persons in the community in Colombo, says Dr Chandima Jeewandara, Director of Allergy, Immunity and Cell Biology Unit of the Uni of Sri J'pura. SL has carried out monthly genetic sequencing of the COVID-19 virus variants since the virus first entered the country in March 2020. Accordingly, a total of 55 samples have been more..

Apr 8 (AD) Ven. Jamburewela Chandrarathana Thero has been arrested by the Fort Police a short while ago. The Thero and another protestor have been arrested during a protest held this morning in the Colombo Fort area. Reportedly, the protestors had stoned and caused damages to a jeep belonging to the Fort Police which had been deployed to control the protest. Chandrarathana Thero has been arrested under the charges of unlawful assembly and causing damages to more..

Apr 8 (FT) Vidullanka Group further upholding its position to a greener future for Sri Lanka, recently commissioned its second rooftop solar project with Trendy Connections Ltd., the company said in a disclosure to the market. This project is undertaken by Vidul Engineering Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Vidullanka PLC. The plant has an installed capacity of 240kWp and has utilised the roof area of the Trendy Connections Ltd.�s factory premises located in Nugegoda. more..

Apr 8 (CT) It was exposed at the COPE that although Rs132 million was spent for the construction of a National Cricket Stadium and a Multi-Sports Complex in the Hingurakgoda area in Polonnaruwa, a title deed for the land has not yet been obtained. Furthermore, Rs 30 million has been spent to take legal action against the former head coach of SLC Chandika Hathurusinghe due to the shortcomings in his agreement. more..

Apr 8 (EN) SL�s forex reserves dropped to US$ 4.1 billion in March 2021 from US$ 4,583 million in February, the central bank said as liquidity injections continued. Sri Lanka�s external sector remains resilient despite some near term challenges, the central bank said in its April monetary policy statement where the policy corridor was kept unchanged at 5.5% to inject new money overnight and 4.5% to withdraw excess liquidity. The rupee has also fallen below 200 to the US dollar. more..

Apr 8 (Island) The unmasking of the real culprits responsible for the Easter Sunday carnage would happen as the judicial process gets underway, Minister Johnston Fernando said yesterday. He said that the judicial process would help identify the persons who had aided and abetted the terror attacks and also those who had shirked their duties. �The PCoI report has made recommendations. Once that process commences, the culpability of those who committed the crimes, more..

Apr 8 (AD) Extraordinary Gazette notification announcing the appointment of Mr. Ajith Mannapperuma to the parliamentary seat vacated by Ranjan Ramanayake, has been published a short while ago. The gazette notice states that the Secretary General of Parliament has informed the Election Commission, under Section 64(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981, that a vacancy has occurred in more..

Apr 8 (CT) Even though parents and the public think that home is the safest place for children to be in , it has been proved that 65% of child cruelty and physical abuse take place within their own homes, said Associate Prof, Faculty of Medicine, Uni of Kelaniya, Asvini Fernando. She said, major reason for cruelty and abuse within the home is domestic violence, alcohol addiction & improper relationships. Due to these concerns, the child is forced to face various types of cruelty in the home. more..

Apr 8 (EN) The retirement age of employees can have widespread ramifications on a country�s socio-economic growth. In this context, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Sri Lanka, in association with the Daily FT, organised a webinar themed Debate on Retirement Age on 20 March. Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Managing Director and Partner Prateek Roongta delivered the keynote speech, which was followed by a panel discussion comprising Commissioner General of Labour more..

Apr 8 (AD) Tests carried out on samples from the two bowser trucks containing coconut oil � which were recently taken into custody at Dankotuwa � have indicated the presence of Aflatoxin. The two bowser trucks were seized by Dankotuwa Police on the 30th of March, on suspicion of containing carcinogenic substances. A total of 27,500 liters of coconut oil had been taken into custody from the two bowser trucks more..

Apr 8 (DM) Five uniforms belonging to the newly- established Police Unit by the Jaffna Municipal Council, which are similar to the LTTE police uniform, had been taken into custody by the Jaffna Police today. Jaffna Mayor Visvalingam Manivannan said that a 5-member Police unit has been established to protect the cleanliness of Jaffna. Mayor said the unit was established in order to take legal action against those who pollute the main streets of Jaffna, spit betel saliva on the road, more..

Apr 8 (EN) Sri Lanka has failed to sell 58% of a 45 billion rupee Treauries auction amid price ceilings above which unsold bills have been monetized in the past, amid record balance of payments deficits, official data showed. However the debt office which is a unit of the central bank had sold higher volumes of 3 month bills, small volumes of longer tenors were sold. In 3-month bills the debt office sold 17.4 billion rupees at 5.08% up 03 basis points after offering 10 billion rupees. more..

Apr 8 (DM) Commenting on earth tremors in Digana, Anuragama, Alutwatta, Haragama, Talatu Oya, Gurudeniya, Sinharagama, Mailapitiya and Kundasale on August 28, 2020, locals said that they heard a booming sound and their roofs and glasses were rattled. �We felt as if something was moving underground and walls cracked. We were frightened. We could have been prepared if we knew what was happening. more..

Apr 8 (EN) The sun will continue to shine directly above SL till April 14 resulting in extreme heat, even as the rest of the island is forecast to experience heavy rainfall. High temperatures were recorded in Bolawatta, Wedeniya, Wattarama, Ambagamuwa, Digana, Mahawala, Galgamuwa, Ampara and Oluvil at 12.12pm today. �The sun, on its apparent march from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere, will be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from April 05 to 14,� more..

Apr 8 (FT) The first edition of the HR/IR Forum for 2021 of the Employers� Federation of Ceylon (EFC) was held recently on the theme of IT-integrated remote work culture: Pandemic and Beyond. The webinar-forum which brought together experts in HR/IR, Industrial and Labour Law and disability sector from the EFC and its member-companies, deliberated on opportunities and challenges a remote work culture driven by IT entails in the pandemic-clouded environment. more..

Apr 8 (CT) Ulapane Sumangala Thera of the Bhikku Organisations Collective said it is apparent that Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith is expressing impulsive ideas with a political face. The monk made this comment when he participated in a Media briefing organised by the Bhikku Organisations Collective and Saahasika Viyaruwa Paradawamu organisation to reply to a statement made by the Cardinal opposite more..