Feb 1 (Island) The govt has found itself in an unenviable position. It has numerous problems to contend with both here and overseas. Two of them are very serious. It has had to face a port ca�canny against its proposed joint venture with India�s Adani Group to operate the East Container Terminal (ECT) of the Colombo Port, and is troubled by the prospect of another turn of the screw in Geneva soon. It is against this backdrop that the govt decision to meet port workers� demand that SL operate ECT more..

Feb 1 (CT) The Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into 21 April 2019, Easter Sunday, suicide bomb attacks, that killed nearly 260 people and left many others permanently disabled, officially concluded its sittings on 27 Jan. The five-member PCoI was appointed by the then President and incumbent MP Maithripala Sirisena, through an Extra-Ordinary Gazette Notification on 21 September 2019. more..

Feb 1 (FT) The Board of Investment (BOI), Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) will hold a first-of-its-kind virtual investment forum to collectively promote direct and equity investment opportunities in SL from 6-8 April. The event is expected to attract investment interest from around the world, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors. The event will discuss the macroeconomic landscape in SL and will highlight all major projects and ventures more..

Feb 1 (ST) Former SL Davis Cup star Sanjay Wijemanne stressed that an ongoing national squad is mandatory if the talented young guns were to blossom on the world stage. �The talent is there but to be world standard there is some distance to go. In terms of physical training it is much more professional now. You must have a diet plan, physical training, number of hours of tennis and the competition. All those elements have to come in,� Wijemanne said when asked about more..

Feb 1 (TM) At least three support-staff members of the SL cricket team are likely to be either sacked or removed without extending their current contracts. The move followed Minister Namal Rajapaksa�s decision to initiate drastic measures to take national cricket back on track on Wednesday. Rehabilitation and Training Manager of the SL cricket team Paul Khoury and have been either removed from their posts immediately or more..

Feb 1 (TM) The four names that have been sent by SLC to the Ministry of Youth and Sports are Hemantha Wickramaratne, Kapila Wijegunawardena, Romesh Kaluwitharana, and Waruna Waragoda. The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Thursday (29) has sent five names to the Ministry of Youth and Sports for its consideration for filling two vacant slots of the three-member National Cricket (Senior) Selection Committee. Outgoing members are its former Head Ashantha de Mel, more..

Feb 1 (SO) After a disastrous tour of SA where the SL cricket team was whitewashed 2-0, the cricket loving public in SL expected the team would be rejuvenated playing on home soil especially at Galle which is more favourable for the home team spinners to challenge opponents. However all expectations were shattered and Joe Root and his camp showed their superb allround abilities to defeat the SL team with more confidence marking England�s 6th consecutive win against SL more..

Feb 1 (ST) Investors are acutely aware of stock splits these days, thanks to many firms announcing them from earlier this month. A stock split is when a firm issues more shares of stock to its shareholders without reducing the value of their stakes. Technically, the split does not add a cents� value to the shareholders but increases the number of shares by issuing more shares to the shareholders. A rally in share price is the biggest catalyst for companies to split stocks. more..

Feb 1 (TM) The Spice and Allied Products Marketing Board is set to be re-established in three weeks after it was closed down in 2008, according to the Department of Export Agriculture � Economics Research Unit Director Dr. J.M. Seneviratne. This reinstitution of the Board was said to be in response to the pivotal need of an authority to control the trade of spice and allied products, along with undertaking the responsibility of waste material disposal regulations and management. more..

Feb 1 (CT) Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa, who is working closely with National Sports Council headed by Mahela Jayawardene, and which includes several corporate leaders, has recommended several drastic changes to improve the present pathetic situation of the country�s cricket, beginning with the root problem, which is domestic cricket. These measures have been presented to the SLC administration, who have been given more..

Feb 1 (DN) Sri Lanka should egg on more SME sector based exporters and should also drive in entrepreneurial skill to them, said Chairman Export Development Board. (EDB) Suresh De Mel. Suresh de Mel expressed his passion for working with SME exporters from regions and also highlighted his long-standing affiliations with regional chambers where he contributed immensely towards the development of SMEs capacity building and skill development. Under his leadership, EDB is planning to more..

Feb 1 (DM) Doowa fisherman Sujith Fernando�s (42) temporarily built hut was demolished on Janu 21, on a complaint made by a so called fishermen organisation representative. Sujith was forced to build this hut for his family after his permanent house was washed away by a raging sea in 2019. In Negombo, the massive sea erosion on July 18, 2019 was a repercussion of an extensive dredging of sea sand off the sea off Negombo and building of Port City project, experts, environmentalists and more..

Feb 1 (FT) COVID-19 clusters that emerged from Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons crossed the 60,000 patient mark over the weekend with more than 1,500 COVID-19 patients detected over the course of two days. The triple clusters currently stand at 60,174 patients and include 864 persons who tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, of which 827 associates of Peliyagoda cluster and 10 linked to Prisons cluster. more..

Feb 1 (TM) Whether SL goes to the IMF or not, an economic adjustment is essential, as it will break the country�s cycle of persistent deficits and increase potential growth, JB Securities� recent economic research note states. The report added that without it, creditors will be sceptical about the country�s intent to honour its future obligations and thus be reluctant to accept the terms of the restructure and it will also result in reputational damage that will hinder SL�s return to international credit markets. more..

Feb 1 (ST) The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) is seeking a waiver of staggering taxes amounting to Rs 2.5 billion a month and has warned of possible fuel price revisions if relief is not granted. State Minister for Energy Udaya Gammanpila told the Sunday Times the CPC had communicated its position to the Treasury and was awaiting a decision. �World fuel prices are rising and if tax relief is not granted the option will be a revision of the prices,� he said. more..

Feb 1 (DN) Prez Rajapaksa has appointed a special PCoI to implement recommendations and decisions made by the PCoI appointed to inquire into incidents of political victimisation. President appointed the special PCoI through an Extraordinary Gazette dated Jan 29, 2021. As per the Extraordinary Gazette issued the members of the newly appointed PCoI are SC Judge Justice Dhammika Jayawardena, more..

Feb 1 (TM) Cinnamon Life has recently secured the Certificate of Conformity (COC) for the project�s office and The Suites residential towers. Having now received full and final certification that both structures have been constructed in complete conformity with all applicable regulations and safety guidelines necessary for occupation, the John Keells Properties team is now actively preparing to handover units at The Suites and The Offices at Cinnamon Life by March 2021, more..

Feb 1 (FT) A total of 316 COVID-19-related deaths have been confirmed by health authorities to date, including three deaths confirmed yesterday. Only one of the three deaths occurred yesterday. The individual was 38-years-old and a resident of Colombo-8. He was identified as COVID-19 positive while receiving treatment at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka and was transferred to the Welisara Chest Hospital. However, he died of a lung infection associated with COVID-19 yesterday. more..

Feb 1 (CT) East Container Terminal (ECT) of the Colombo Port will not be sold or leased out in any manner or handed over to anyone. It will be further developed under the administration of SLPA, PM Mahinda Rajapaksa said. He emphasized that no discussion had taken place regarding either selling or leasing out the ECT and no proposal in connection with the sale or lease of it had been submitted to the Cabinet which meets today. more..

Feb 1 (FT) Prez Rajapaksa has instructed the officials to withdraw cases filed under old circulars with the implementation of new rules that allow farmers to continue cultivation on lands traditionally used for agriculture. Prez has instructed all the departments and institutions, including wildlife, forestry, environment and land, to take into consideration requests frequently made by the public during the Discussion with the Village sessions when formulating new laws more..

Feb 1 (FT) UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe called for a South Asian centre for virus research and disease control to be established in SL, pointing out that SL and the region needs to be better prepared to face any future health crisis. He pointed out that various viruses have emerged in the past and have had caused significant disruptions to counties and economies in the past and will likely continue to do so in the future. Former PM argued that South Asia was the most populated area more..

Feb 1 (Island) Prez Rajapaksa has accepted a proposal by 22 port trade unions aimed at resolving a crisis over the proposed handing over of the East Container Terminal (ECT) at the Colombo harbour to India�s Adani Group. The unions have accepted external investment in the proposed West Container Terminal (WCT) while the government undertook to fully develop the deep water ECT now in operation. more..

Feb 1 (Island) Central Environmental Authority (CEA) said a gazette notification had been issued by the Environment Ministry banning the use of polythene packaging products for agrochemicals and single-use sachets. According to CEA Chiariman S. Amarasinghe, this decision will come into effect from 31, Mar 2021. Extraordinary Gazette was issued on Jan 21, pursuant to Section 23W (1) (a) of National Environmental Act, No. 47 of 1980 by Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera. more..

Feb 1 (DN) Govt appointed committee to look into concerns connected with the East Container Terminal (ECT) of Colombo Port will hand over its report to Ports and Shipping Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardane today. Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chairman Daya Ratnayake said the report and its contents will be made public by the minister thereafter. He also said the Minister will apprise the Cabinet on the ECT issue today. Chairman stated this speaking to media on Saturday. more..

Feb 1 (FT) Dissent over the deal on East Container Terminal (ECT) has erupted, triggering likely economic, political and diplomatic fallout for SL as the Got and officials were busy devising an amicable way out of the crisis. Trade unions have refused to give up their demand that the Govt must abandon the tripartite govts-to-govts deal involving SL, India and Japan. Politically, the members of the Govt too are divided whilst more..

Feb 1 (FT) Aseni, the whiz kid interested in learning everything economic, is in conversation with her grandfather, Sarath Mahatthaya, on the Central Bank�s prohibition of commercial banks from entering forward foreign exchange contracts for three months on the ground that market has excess volatility and it is risky for banks. Here is the interesting discussion: Aseni: Grandpa, the Central Bank, known as CBSL, has recently issued a directive prohibiting commercial banks from more..

Feb 1 (FT) Prez Gotabaya announced in public his intention to hand over the East Container Terminal (ECT) to India. What he failed to mention in his original statement was that he is honouring the agreement made between Govts of India and SL in May 2019, to run the ECT jointly with 51 and 49% between the two countries, with major share owned by SL. Also, that Adani Group is the nominee of the Indian Govt. In the second agreement signed between India, Japan and SL &Govt, more..

Feb 1 (Island) As SL opens its doors to the world once more, Sri Lanka Tourism has implemented several measures to ensure that the island getaway is as safe as possible for international guests. A medical insurance scheme is a key element of the many safety nets put in place. In order to provide this service, People�s Insurance, a part of SL�s largest financial services groups has entered an agreement with SL Tourism to be the exclusive insurance provider for all inbound tourists. more..

Feb 1 (Island) Acting on the instructions of Prez Rajapaksa, the SLAF has undertaken a special project to develop Kanugahawewa village in Kebithigollewa, Anuradhapura. Based on the proposal made by the Divisional Secretary, UDA has planned to develop Kanugahawewa as a model village with the SL Air Force. The project is being implemented under the guidance of the Commander of the Air Force who appointed a Steering Committee led by more..

Feb 1 (AD) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa says that the East Container Terminal of the Colombo Port will be operated 100% under the control of the SLPA. He said that the relevant Cabinet paper will be submitted today. PM assured of this during a discussion held today with the representatives of port trade unions. The collective of trade unions at Colombo Port had resorted to trade union more..

Feb 1 (AD) Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to investigate the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks handed over its final report to Prez Rajapaksa today. Hearings and other procedures of the Presidential Commission officially came to a conclusion on Jan 27, 2021. The Commission was appointed by former President Maithripala Sirisena on Sept 22nd, 2019 to investigate the series of attacks that took place on Easter Sunday same year and to recommend necessary actions. more..

Feb 1 (Island) DIG Ajith Rohana said that plainclothesmen had been deployed to ensure that people under self-quarantine confined themselves to their homes. Police had received complaints that some people undergoing quarantine left their homes, posing a danger to the public. Accordingly, a special police operation was launched from Saturday to monitor them, he said. The DIG said that it was an offence punishable under quarantine law for a person undergoing self-quarantine to more..

Feb 1 (TC) SL is in discussion with India and other countries for support in the March session of the UNHRC in Geneva when Western nations bring an intrusive and punitive resolution against it for alleged war crimes. A top source in SL govt said that the support of about 15 members of the 47-member UNHRC is being sought to counter the Core Group�s move to bring a resolution that is expected to call for targeted sanctions, more..

Feb 1 (CT) The newly-appointed Jaffna Mayor Visvalingam Manivannan has set aside all his duties and responsibilities and begun translating all name boards written in Sinhala to Tamil. Name boards at the newly-opened Long Distance Bus Stand at Muneeswaran Street in Jaffna had been written first in Sinhala, then in Tamil, and finally in English. Politicians had expressed strong objection to this and said it had to be changed with immediate effect and found fault with officials. more..

Feb 1 (AD) A gazette notification has been issued removing the Chairman of the Talawakelle-Lindula Urban Council from his post. This has been issued after investigations have found the Chairman to be guilty of allegations leveled against him. The gazette has been issued by the Governor of the Central Province Lalith Gamage. A member of the urban council had filed a complaint against its Chairman Ashoka Sepala and accordingly, the governor had appointed a one-member commission to more..

Feb 1 (Island) President of the College of Medical Laboratory Science Ravi Kumudesh said that a single private lab had been entrusted with the task of conducting PCR tests on all tourists arriving in Sri Lanka. Kumudesh added that a state-run lab has been set up at the BIA but it had not received a single sample. �We exposed this through the media. We have even written to the Prez but nothing has happened. more..

Feb 1 (FT) SL Association for Software Services Companies (SLASSCOM), the national chamber for IT/BPM industry in SL calls applications for the SLASSCOM Ingenuity Awards 2021 (formerly known as SLASSCOM Innovation Awards), which is to be held for the third consecutive year, in celebration of the greatest innovators in SL. Conducted as an all-island competition representing all-age groups, all ethnic groups, businesses of all sizes, universities and schools, SLASSCOM Ingenuity Awards more..

Feb 1 (AD) A female student has drowned while bathing in the Walawe River at Kalthota in Balangoda, stated DIG Ajith Rohana. Reportedly, the 16-year-old student had gone bathing in the river along with 15 other students from a school in Kalthota. The female teacher who accompanied the students has been arrested over the incident. Kalthota Police had launched an investigation into the incident while it was uncovered that the teacher in question, who is in charge of more..