Apr 16 (Island) Former Finance Minister and newsmaker, Ronnie de Mel, has attracted media attention, again, at the age of 96. He is reported to have said, during a recent conversation with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, that the SL economy should be repositioned with a tilt towards socialism. He has also stressed the need for equitable growth, and other such pro-poor measures in keeping with the tenets of Buddhism. It is being argued in some quarters that de Mel, more..

Apr 16 (GV) The youth of a country are the forerunners of social progress; notwithstanding this historical fact, we cannot underestimate the role other social strata play in the social development of a nation. Youth are the generation that mostly accepts and accommodates change in a society. So they become pioneers of social change. Yet, the expectation of the elder generation is for the new generation to function within the confines of the socio-economic and cultural framework more..

Apr 16 (Island) Ushered in by the coo-ee of the Koel and the swaying of Erabadu bunches, the Sinhala and Tamil New Year will dawn in the wee hours of April 14. With houses to clean, preparation of sweetmeats and last-minute shopping, times are hectic�. and the streets congested. It is believed that New Year traditions predated the advent of Buddhism in the 3rd century BC. But Buddhism resulted in a re-interpretation of the existing New Year activities in a Buddhist light. more..

Apr 16 (TM) The Sinhala and Tamil New Year is just around the corner, and Sri Lankans are getting ready to celebrate the occasion after two years. The 2019 New Year was a dull affair, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the related travel restrictions that prevented any gatherings. This year�s celebrations too will have to adhere to safety guidelines, limiting festivities to family gatherings and simple New Year meals. more..

Apr 16 (CT) Australia�s Mulgrave Cricket Club have announced the signing of former SL skipper Thilakarathne Dilshan as the captain of the Mulgrave Cricket Club for the 2020/21 season. Mulgrave Cricket Club plays in A Turf, or Division 3, of Victoria�s Eastern Cricket Association. �Tillakaratne played for the club last season during its T20 campaign, helping us to the Grand Final, and has been one of the finest players that SL has ever produced, averaging over 40 in Test cricket, more..

Apr 16 (Spears) �NI Sri Lanka, a stunning 15-suite private resort, combines the privacy of an exclusive villa with five-star resort amenities on an all-inclusive basis, including a resort general manager, a team of butlers and concierges, internationally-trained executive chefs, an Ayurvedic spa manager and therapists, kids activity coordinators, a personal trainer and tennis coach. �NI Sri Lanka is perfect for extended family getaways, small conferences, destination weddings and more..

Apr 16 (Island) An outfit, led by Yasmin Sooka, a member of the UNSG Panel of Experts� (PoE), has urged the UK to take punitive measures against the Commander of the Army, General Shavendra Silva, who is also the CDS. Army headquarters said that the matter had been brought to the notice of the relevant authorities. It said that it was all part of the ongoing well-funded campaign against the SL military. more..

Apr 16 (Island) Sathosa Motors PLC and its new state-of-the-art vehicle service complex, is now serving not just Isuzu but also any brand of vehicle. Pioneering automotive specialist, Sathosa Motors is the sole authorized agent for the world-renowned Isuzu brand, but the newly developed service complex will now undertake all kinds of services required for any brand of vehicle. The internationally trained specialists are ready to serve you at the Sathosa Motors Service Complex now on more..

Apr 16 (CGTN) China and Sri Lanka have enjoyed a close relationship for decades. With the pandemic still raging around the world, China is donating vaccines to Sri Lanka. 600,000 doses have recently arrived in the country. Top officials from both countries also vow to advance relations. To discuss China-Sri Lanka cooperation in the post-pandemic era and the West's skepticism in this regard, CGTN anchor Zou Yue sat down with Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary, Admiral Jayanath Colombage. more..

Apr 16 (AI) At least 41 SL women, the majority of whom are migrant domestic workers, have spent months on end arbitrarily detained at a deportation center in Saudi Arabia, awaiting repatriation to their home country. The women have been held at a Deportation Detention (Tarheel) Centre in Riyadh for periods ranging from eight to 18 months. At least three of them have young children detained with them, and one woman is in more..

Apr 16 (Island) Franklyn Cooray, the former SL Schools Cricket Association official, retired as the Master in Charge of Cricket of St. Sebastian�s College, Moratuwa after completing more than three and half decades of yeoman service recently. Franklyn Cooray who was popular in cricket circles as Frank Cooray, was the longest serving team official at the time of his retirement. During his 37 year association with schools cricket, Cooray witnessed the evolution of First XI cricket more..

Apr 16 (Island) During the 2018 Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi, a group of us SL journalists were discussing how good Babar Azam was. Former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis, who was one of the commentators was behind us. He heard the conversation and interrupted us. �You guys have no idea what talent is. If you want to look at real talent and pure class just take a look at that guy,� he said so pointing his finger at the SL team. They were warming up and Kusal Mendis was getting more..

Apr 16 (FT) SL yesterday took receipt of the $ 500 million worth loan from the China Development Bank but the rupee�s slide persisted to a new record-low. US Dollar selling rate was quoted at Rs. 204.628 per dollar against the previous high of Rs. 203.73 at Monday�s trade. Wealth Trust Securities said yesterday the Rupee was seen appreciating as its USD/LKR spot contract closed the day at Rs. 199.75/200.00 against more..

Apr 16 (SF) Being an island nation, SL�s national airline has an international focus. SriLankan Airlines� destinations range across the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and the Middle East. But despite the airline casting its eye over a range of new planes, it has no interest in acquiring any of the new generation long-range narrowbody aircraft to fly these routes. SriLankan Airlines CEO, Vipula Gunatilleka, was questioned about SriLankan�s fleet�s future direction at an online CAPA Live event on Wednesday. more..

Apr 16 (DN) Over 107,000 saplings have been planted with the introduction of the Husma Dena Thuru National Tree Planting Programme in the last four months, said Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera. National Tree Planting programme is now very popular and many parties have extended their support for it and have even initiated their own programmes. Minister was speaking while participating in a tree planting programme held in the Angunakolapelessa area he also distributed more..

Apr 16 (EN) Speculation is intensifying on who will fill the vacant national list seat of UNP, with party officials saying there is agreement to nominate ex-PM Ranil Wickremesinghe though he has reportedly declined the offer, leading to other names being suggested. A UNP source said that some younger members of the party had discussed the possibility of naming incarcerated SJB former MP Ranjan Ramanayake more..

Apr 16 (SLN) Indian Naval Ship (INS) Ranvijay arrived at the port of Colombo on a 3-day visit on 14th April. INS Ranvijay is a destroyer serving in the Indian Navy and this 146.2m long platform is manned by a crew of 425. Meanwhile, the Commanding Officer of the ship, Captain N Hariharan today (15) called on Commander Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral Meril Sudarshana. The subsequent discussion between them focused on several important matters of mutual interests. more..

Apr 16 (FT) Health authorities yesterday confirmed four more Covid-19 deaths and the country�s COVID-19 death toll has risen to 608. A 78-year-old individual from Kapuliyadda was transferred from the Marassana District Hospital to the Kandy National Hospital, where he died yesterday. The cause of death is cited as COVID-pneumonia, heart disease and high-blood pressure. An individual from Deniyaya tested positive for COVID-19 at the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital and more..

Apr 16 (DM) SL is yet to set a date as to when it will begin the second round of COVID-19 vaccinations as India is yet to confirm if it can cater to the SL Govt's urgent request to export one million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Serum Institute in India, which manufactures the AstraZeneca vaccine is unable to continue supplying to SL's Health Ministry at least for the next one or two months with a sudden spike of infections more..

Apr 16 (EN) An influential Buddhist monk who has close links to the ruling SLPP of Prez Rajapaksa has added his voice in opposing a law to govern Colombo Port City, slamming it as an attempt to build a �Chinese Colony�. �We are not opposed to the Port City. We are not opposed to investments,� Muruththetuwe Ananda Thero from Colombo�s Abayaramaya Temple said. �This is being made into a Chinese colony. We are not ready to allow the Port City to be made into a Chinese colony. more..

Apr 16 (FT) SL�s total COVID-19 patient count yesterday rose to 95,949 with 212 persons testing positive for the virus. The patients detected yesterday include 153 associates of the Peliyagoda cluster and 14 persons from the Prisons cluster. Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, and Prisons clusters have risen to 90,693. In addition to the triple clusters, 3,044 returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their close contacts, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster and 253 foreigners more..

Apr 16 (DM) US has offered SL support to manage its debt and find a more sustainable path forward. US Ambassador to SL, Alaina B. Teplitz told journalists at a media roundtable that the SL Govt must look at its debt burden realistically, practically and think about sustainability going forward. �It is not necessarily a problem for a govt to be carrying debt but it�s got to be able to pay for that debt in a way that doesn�t then exclude its more..

Apr 16 (TM) The first flight under a travel bubble agreement between Sri Lanka and India is expected to take off by the end of this month, according to the Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranathunga. Minister of Tourism revealed that the first flight to take off from Sri Lanka to India under the concept is scheduled to land at the Kushinagar International Airport. �The first flight will take off at the end of the month where it will land at Kushinagar Airport,� Ranathunga stated. more..

Apr 16 (DM) While claiming that SL is concerned about the increase of COVID-19 cases in the world as well as the neighbouring countries, Army Commander Shavendra Silva said that it is the main reason that SL is adopting a strict quarantine process in place and will continue with it despite some opposition to it. �We are very much concerned about the increase of COVID-19 cases in the world especially neighbouring countries and that is why we are always maintaining a strict quarantine more..

Apr 16 (FT) A 5-judge bench was appointed by the Supreme Court yesterday following more than half a dozen petitions being filed against the Port City Commission Bill on grounds that the proposed legislation is in contravention of the Constitution with different petitions appealing for it to be passed with a two-thirds majority, a referendum and approved by provincial councils. Petitions were filed by multiple politicians and organisers, more..

Apr 16 (DM) SJB National list MP Harin Fernando yesterday said he will inform the nation about a major political decision he is to make in Parliament soon. �I will not reveal what I am going to do now but will make a special statement in Parliament soon and will implement my decision on behalf of former MP Ranjan Ramanayake,� he said. Speculation is rife that he will resign from his seat as a national list MP and allow Mr. Ramanayake to come in to fill the vacancy. more..

Apr 16 (DM) A total number of 309 cases have been reported to the Colombo National Hospital (CNH) within the last two days (April 13-14) had seen a 39% rise compared to last year. A total of 188 patients were received last year but it was not highlighted due to the COVID pandemic. According to the Deputy Director of Accident Ward, 73 persons have been admitted for having fallen on the roads and other places and another 77 persons have met with road accidents during the New Year. more..

Apr 16 (Island) SLPP MP Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe alleged that the proposed Bill, titled Colombo Port City Economic Commission, would transform the reclaimed land, adjacent to the Galle Face Green into a Chinese territory. Addressing the media, under the auspices of Ven Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera, Rajapakshe, warned of dire consequences if the govt went ahead with what he termed the despicable project. more..

Apr 16 (FT) Today�s COVID orthodox are philosophically, medically, socially, culturally, legally heterodox from any historical perspective. They are the actual contrarians! And yet, with dazzling sleight of hand, they have put those taking a zealously rational position in the dock, in their stead! There was a dropdown diatribe from an anti-sceptic, and it was itemised in terms of positions claimed to be debatable. If only, assertion made for compelling argument. Let�s take a look. more..

Apr 16 (FT) Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith�s discontent is obvious; his every statement underlines his dissatisfaction. In the Easter Sunday outrage of 2019, in addition to plush Colombo hotels, several churches were targeted, hundreds of innocent worshippers fell victim to the coordinated attack of the suicide bombers on that day. Not only were the attacks indescribably inhuman, they were senseless; men, women, children, harmlessly going about their prayers perished in one blinding more..

Apr 16 (DM) Police said they had recovered the bodies of a 17 year old boy and his 52 year old father, who were swept away in the Welioya river in Kalupahana, Haldumulla while they were bathing in the river yesterday evening. A search operation to look for the father-son duo had been launched soon after with the support of the Army rescue team from Diyatalawa and area residents. The two bodies were found wedged among the rocks some 600 meters away from the spot where they went missing. more..

Apr 16 (DN) More than 1,600 Jaffna youth joined the SL Army during the ongoing recruitment drive in the past three months, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said. He was addressing a large gathering of Tri Service troops serving the peninsula on Monday. Silva said �this re-assures the faith and high regard those young ones have towards our organisation and symbolises their sincere need for true co-existence and reconciliation, despite obstacles and threats, placed before them by more..

Apr 16 (CT) Colombo Port City will not be a part of SL once the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill comes into effect and this will immensely affect the Sovereignty of Sri Lanka, SLPP MP Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe alleged. He insisted that 1,100 acres allocated for the Colombo Port City is not a part of the Colombo District and is not under the control of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC). more..

Apr 16 (CT) Sri Lanka Air Force swimming champion Roshan Abeysundara has been promoted to the rank of Corporal from yesterday. SL Air Force Headquarters announced that Abeysundara was promoted by Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana at the Air Force Headquarters in recognition of his achievement. The SLAF swimmer and Aircraftman set a new Asian and Sri Lankan record by swimming 59.3km across the Palk Strait in 28h19m43s. more..

Apr 16 (AD) National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has issued landslide warnings for three districts � Kegalle, Matale and Kandy. Kandy District � Udunuwara, Delthota, Gangawata Korale, Yatinuwara, Thumpane, Ududumbara, Doluwa, Medadumbara and Pathadumbara Divisional Secretariat Divisions and surrounding areas; Kegalle District � Mawanella and Aranayaka Divisional Secretariat Divisions and surrounding areas; Matale District � Ambanganga Korale more..

Apr 16 (FT) Indicating a strong revival in manufacturing activities in the country, the manufacturing PMI reached a 9-month high of 67 in March, Central Bank said in its latest report. This was largely attributable to the increases observed in Production, New Orders, and Stock of Purchases sub-indices. The significant increases in New Orders and Production sub-indices, particularly in the manufacture of food and beverages, more..

Apr 16 (CT) UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will enter Parliament on the Party�s sole National List slot, within one month, UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardena told a meeting on 14 April. Even representatives of other parties are of the opinion that Wickremesinghe should occupy the only parliamentary seat won by UNP at the last General Election, he mentioned. When inquired, UNP Vice President Akila Viraj Kariyawasam confirmed that the Party has unanimously decided more..

Apr 16 (AD) Two persons have sustained injuries after the STF officers opened fire at a Cab that defied the orders to stop at a checkpoint in Point Pedro in Jaffna. The incident took place at around 7.30 am today. The relevant checkpoint had been set up by the STF officers to protect a natural sand deposit from illegal sand miners in the area. This morning, the STF officers at the checkpoint had signaled a Cab speeding towards them to stop, however, driver had failed to obey the orders, more..