Jan 26 (Island) Hulstdorf was giving a ruling on a divorce case. Judge told the daughter of the separating couple, �Now that your parents are getting divorced, whom do you want to live with? I guess it�s your mother.� girl replied, �No, my mother beats me.� Then judge said, �So, I guess you want to live with your dad, �No he beats me up too,� girl said. Puzzled by this, judge asked, � So, with whom do you want to live? Little girl replied, �I want to live with SL cricket team. They beat nobody.� more..

Jan 26 (CT) General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers' Union (CTU), Joseph Stalin, said the Govt has to provide facemasks free of charge to students in the Western Province and conduct random Rapid Antigen Tests and PCR tests in schools to improve student turnout. He said there was only a forty per cent turnout following the opening of schools in the Western Province yesterday (25), adding that the low turnout was a result of the fear among parents of the students. more..

Jan 26 (AD) Minister Keheliya Rambukwella says the govt will look into and take necessary actions regarding any violations of human rights that have taken place during the country�s civil war period. His remarks came during the press briefing held this morning to announce the Cabinet decisions. The govt is of the opinion that justice must be served if human rights violations have taken place. �We expect to take the rights decisions more..

Jan 26 (AD) The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to set up an industrial estate using 100 acres of government land named Kaludiyawala Watta in the Katana Divisional Secretariat Division. Department of Govt Information said this will facilitate the commencement of industries such as rubber, plastics pharmaceutical and allied products, electrical and electronic appliances, packaging, value-added agro products and recycling industries with a focus on apparel and allied products. more..

Jan 26 (N18) SL skipper Dinesh Chandimal was at the forefront of SL's six-wicket loss to England as he threw his wicket away in circumstances where a solid knock would have been appreciated by his team management. But here's the kicker. It all happened moments after England batsman Jonny Bairstow sledged the Lankan skipper where the Englishmen said: "Come'on Chandi, Throw your wicket away." Well, Chandimal did oblige as he stepped out and miscued spinner Jack Leach more..

Jan 26 (EN) Television is king, print is in retreat though still relevant and SL audiences are bucking the global trend of shifting from legacy media to online media, a May 2020 survey revealed. The survey, carried out by International Media Support (IMS) SL, found that demographics, technology, lifestyle and significant political developments are seeing SL�s media rapidly evolve. However, television is still very much at the forefront more..

Jan 26 (Island) Kavishka Gimhan Laksiri won the CFSL Online Youth Rapid Chess Championship 2021 convincingly by scoring a total of 8.5 points from nine games. Gimhan scored eight out of eight in the first eight rounds by registering wins against Pansilu Karunarathne, Senith Gunarathne, Rashmitha Mettananda, Yemith Gunaratne, Oneli Withanawasam, CM IPTS Gunawardena, SMMP Kulathilake and WCM Sanindula Dahamdi and recorded a draw in the final round to win more..

Jan 26 (NR) MP Dr. Harsha de Silva says many who raised their voices against the destruction of the environment during the tenure of the former govt, remain silent today. The MP said large scale protests were carried out during the tenure of the former govt against environmental destruction, with social media rife of such incidents. He added that 6.9 million individuals voted in a new govt, and charged that today, no one speaks of destruction caused to the environment at present. more..

Jan 26 (AD) Cabinet of Ministers have approved a proposal to take necessary steps to increase the daily wages of estate sector employees up to Rs. 1,000, across wages control boards so that the budget proposal on the this could be implemented. The estate sector employees are eligible for a daily wage / remuneration of Rs. 750 including a fixed price allowance of Rs. 50 and another allowance named over-kilo rate if more..

Jan 26 (EN) SL will draft a new Fossil Fuel Resource Development Act to create a new legal framework for local fossil fuel and natural gas expedition and production industries, minister Udaya Gammanpila said. Despite often-repeated claims going back to the 1960s that SL has its own fossil fuel and natural gas reserves, he said, no one has attempted to extract it from the ground. �We wanted to know why we continue to be in debt to the world when there is such a precious resource underground,� more..

Jan 26 (TM) Marine environment investigations are underway in the vicinity of Little Basses Reef after a bulk carrier ran-aground off the coast, Marine Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) said. MEPA Chairperson Darshani Lahandapura said there are no oil leaks observed from the distressed vessel to the ocean so far. According to the SL Navy, the high tide experienced at the seas off Little Basses Reef had refloated the bulk carrier, MV Eurosun, which had rested on a rock while more..

Jan 26 (YS) Urging respect for religious beliefs and health guidelines, the UK has said it has been raising the issue of forced cremation of COVID-19 victims� bodies with authorities in Sri Lanka. Sarah Hulton, the UK ambassador to SL, said in a tweet on Tuesday: �Families should be able to bury their loved ones, in line with international health guidelines and their religious practices.� Hulton said more..

Jan 26 (CT) Colombo Chief Magistrate Mohammad Mihal yesterday issued an international warrant for the arrest of Udara Sampath, a suspect in the case filed against Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) officers charged with peddling illegal drugs. The warrant was issued by the Court following a request made by the CID. An arrest warrant had also been issued on the said suspect by Court on 14 Sept last year. The case pertaining to the peddling of illegal drugs by PNB officers was taken up yesterday. more..

Jan 26 (CT) A woman had committed suicide while taking the life of her 4-year-old son in the Bangalawatte area of Gandara. Reportedly, the incident had occurred after the 24-year-old woman�s husband had left for work. A magisterial inquiry into the death and the post-mortem examinations were conducted. Gandara Police is conducting further investigations. �The preliminary investigations revealed the woman had committed suicide after a dispute with her mother. more..

Jan 26 (AD) A special mutation of SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes Covid-19, has been detected in SL, says the Director of Dept of Immunology & Molecular Medicine of Sri J'pura Uni, Dr. Chandima Jeewandara. He made these remarks issuing a special statement today. This mutation of the virus is different from the strain previously identified in SL, he said adding that it has similar characteristics to the strain that more..

Jan 26 (TM) Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella reiterated that there is no change in the current position regarding the cremation of those who died due to COVID-19. He was responding to a question raised by a journalist at the Cabinet news briefing today. The journalist raised concerns over a UN Human Rights Council report that stated that there was no evidence to say that COVID-19 virus spreads through buried bodies of COVID victims. more..

Jan 26 (TM) Thought the US is no longer a part of the UNHRC, the country is interested in the commitment SL has made to the Council and urges the got to come up with a meaningful plan at the upcoming UNHRC session, US Ambassador Aliana B Teplitz said. In response to a question raised during a virtual conversation held with a group of journalists today, the Ambassador further said it was pleased to hear last year from Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawaradne that there will be more..

Jan 26 (TM) The COPE said it is investigating whether there are any legal impediments to the repatriation of SL workers using the current assets of Rs. 14 billion accumulated by the Bureau of Foreign Employment. The committee made this observation when it met recently under the chairmanship of MP Charitha Herath, to examine the report of the special audit to study the current situation in the field of foreign employment. more..

Jan 27 (DM) He is everywhere nowadays. On television his humble voice offers a palpable respite to those who have got fed up with the cacophony of political rhetoric. In the newspapers his motivational quotes inspire millions of the faint-hearted � who are worried whether they would ever reach their life goals. His is a determination that every parent wants to inculcate in their children. At a time when there�s a degree of uncertainty both politically and economically, what the 44-year- old more..

Jan 27 (CT) Persistent Indian fisher poaching led to the deaths of three Indian fishers and one Lankan fisher residing in India last Monday (18). Consequently India sent a demarche to SL over this issue. While deaths of civilians, in a confrontation, armed or otherwise, are a tragedy this newspaper�s records show that a similar incident took place 48 years ago in 1973, when tiny Iceland�s Coastguard opened fire and killed two British fishers poaching on Icelandic waters of the North Atlantic. more..

Jan 27 (DM) If you are on the lookout for exotic pets, rare foreign insects or even an animal tooth for a talisman, you would have to look no further than a particular stretch along the Galle road, Mount Lavinia. Although most of us imagine that illegal trade of this sort takes place in dark corners and alleyways, recent discoveries made by authorities suggest otherwise. On June 6, 2020, a group of Wildlife Officers raided a popular more..

Jan 27 (CT) Preparing for the forthcoming UNHRC cannot be easy for a govt that was elected on a nationalist platform that was very critical of international intervention. When the govt declared its intention to withdraw from SL�s co-sponsorship of the October 2015 resolution No. 30/1 last February, it may have been hoping that this would be the end of the matter. However, this is not to be. The UN Human Rights High Commissioner�s report that will be taken up at forthcoming UNHRC session more..

Jan 27 (Island) Cabinet of Ministers has recently decided to update the Parliamentary Acts on Broadcasting, Rupavahini and Telecommunications and introduce a Bill on establishing a Broadcasting Regulatory Commission. Since, all these are interlinked, it is necessary to take a holistic view of them, taking into consideration new developments such as digital broadcasting. Before that, it would be pertinent to consider the historical development of these services. more..

Jan 27 (DM) Under the 100,000 km road development project based on a concept by Prez Rajapaksa the relevant institutes received instructions to carpet and develop Diyagala � Nallathanniya road in Ginigathhena. It was planned to hand over the construction of the first three kilometres to Sierra Construction Ltd. The road is systematically planned to be widened up to 6.25 metres and 3 metres by the RDA more..

Jan 27 (GV) SL govt is likely to face an uncomfortable time at the UNHRC session in February-March 2021. Strong criticism can be expected, in the light of leaders� failure to act on grave violations in the last stages of the civil war and ongoing mistreatment of minorities. Having withdrawn from past agreements to work with the int'l community, the Prez�s appointment of a 3-person panel to revisit allegations of human rights abuses will be widely seen as an attempt to more..

Jan 27 (CT) Even as the political ruckus created by him over his demand for the dissolution of the Provincial Council died a natural death, Public Security Minister, Rear Adm Sarath Weerasekara (retd), has come up with a new one. His plan to propose to Parliament a programme for military training of adults above 18 years of age is wrought with multiple concerns. As Tamil groups, spearheaded by vociferous sections of the Diaspora, shouted from Geneva rooftops whenever more..

Jan 27 (Island) The GMOA has woken up to the chronic delay in the process of producing medical graduates. By the time a doctor completes his or her internship he or she is about 30 years old, it has said, calling for action to ensure that students gain admission to medical faculties at the age of 18 and pass out when they turn 23. The GMOA�s call must have struck a responsive chord with all students who are dreaming of becoming doctors, and their parents. more..

Jan 27 (ST) I came across news that Anne Krueger has published a new book titled International Trade: What Everyone Needs to Know. I don�t think the author is a familiar name to our readers. Anne Krueger has been a pioneering economist who has worked largely in the area of international trade for more than 60 years, I believe. For that matter she has been one of the leading economists who contributed to the decisive shift in world development thinking and practice from more..

Jan 27 (ST) Two years ago, the local governing body of shooting sport, the NSSF (National Shooting Sports Federation), was forced to construct a makeshift shooting range in a private property of its president Shirantha Peries in Kohuwala. The main purpose of this range was to support and provide training facilities to the national shooters � junior and senior � prior to international meets, after the NSSF heavily relied on more..

Jan 27 (DN) Prolific run-getter in the concluded SLC Premier League Cricket Tournament, wicket-keeper opening batsman Lahiru Udara of NCC, has been left out from the 35-member pool for the upcoming tour of the WI. Udara scored a massive 1,039 runs with a superb average of 87.00 at a strike-rate of 86.72 inclusive of three centuries and six half-centuries with a highest score of 290. In his last six innings, he scored 70, 105, 90, 93, 111 and 66, an outstanding effort by NCC opener. more..

Jan 27 (AD) The chief warden of Avanthi Devi Children�s Home in Anuradhapura, who under remand custody over the alleged abuses and misconducts at the residential institution, has been granted bail today (26). Chief Magistrate Janaka Prasanna Samarasinghe ordered to release the suspect on two personal bails valued at Rs 200,000. He, however, noted that bail will be revoked and that the suspect will be remanded again if any reports on witness intimidation are received. more..

Jan 27 (CT) Dealing a major blow, SL�s premier paceman and T20 skipper Lasith Malinga will not take part in the upcoming tour of West Indies, a source at SLC revealed. According to the source, it has now been confirmed Malinga will not take part in the series and SLC is still discussing whom to appoint to lead the side to the Caribbean. �Lasith Malinga will not take part in the WI series, and we are still discussing to appoint a new more..

Jan 27 (FT) Health authorities yesterday confirmed one COVID-19 death, which brought the country�s total COVID-19 death toll to 288. A 71-year-old individual from Ragama tested positive for COVID-19 while receiving treatment at the Welisara Base Hospital. She was then transferred to the IDH where she passed away yesterday. The cause of death is cited as trauma of blood poisoning and COVID pneumonia. Meanwhile Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said there has been no change more..

Jan 27 (CT) England captain Joe Root scored a magnificent match-winning double hundred in the first Test, and followed it up with a brilliant 186 in the second in Galle, which helped the Englishmen to whitewash an error laden SL team in their own backyard. Former SL captain and batting legend Kumar Sangakkara has richly credited Root for his amazing execution with the bat in Galle and termed it as: �Everyone who played or watched this Test match, Root would be the best example to more..

Jan 27 (TM) Sri Lanka has received over 1,700 tourists in one month, including the group of Ukrainian tourists who began travelling the island, from late Dec 2020 to Jan 2021. According to SLTPB, 1,700 tourists were recorded during the period from 25 Dec 2020 to 24 Jan 2021, along with a group of German travellers. She said that out of these 1,700 tourists, 60 tourists came during the period from 21-24 Jan this year. more..

Jan 27 (DN) The lull in the apartment sector will pick up while the construction boom which was evident six years ago will re commence despite the economic downturn from the COVID-19 pandemic, President, Chamber of Construction Industry (CCI) Ranjith Gunatilleke said. In an interview on the sidelines 17th annual Build SL Housing and Construction International Expo launch which will be held from May 14 to 16 2021, at BMICH he said that the current low interest rates have resulted in more..

Jan 27 (ST) Sri Lanka Tourism on Thursday opened its doors to international travellers after a 10-month lapse with new health guidelines to follow amidst a crowded gathering under questionable safety precautions at the event itself. As SL opens its doors to the world, SL has to ensure that the place is safe, secure and serene, SL Tourism Development Authority Chairperson Kimarli Fernando said as she launched the guidelines on the health regulations at the Atrium lobby of the Cinnamon Grand. more..

Jan 27 (FT) Total number of COVID-19 patients detected from the Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, and Prisons clusters exceeded to 56,000 with the detection of 755 patients. 56,036 COVID-19 patients have been detected from the Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, and Prisons clusters that first emerged on 4 Oct. Of yesterday�s patients, 741 were associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster, seven were from the prisons cluster, and more..

Jan 27 (DN) Minister of Energy, Udaya Gammanpila reiterated the assurance of energy security and self sufficiency of Energy requirements in the country while addressing the employees of Lanka IOC at their head office on Jan 26, 2021 in presence of Secretary- Ministry of Energy. K D R Olga and Additional secretary Chaminda Hettiarachi. In line with the national policy of Saubagya Dakma (Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor), Minister further elaborated the plan of making SL as more..