Jul 8 (FT) The Govt must explain why an emergency fuel purchase tender for 92 Octane petrol was issued and withdrawn, Opposition MP Kabir Hashim said yesterday. SJB MP accused the Govt and Energy ministry of mismanaging national energy security by not taking the right decisions on time to ensure against the depletion of national petroleum reserves. �Why was this emergency fuel purchase tender called? more..

Jul 8 (DM) The Cabinet of Ministers this week granted approval to Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation and Department of Civil Defence to fully reinstate cashew plantation in the Kandachchi Estate of Mannar District. Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation has a 6000-acre cashew plantation in Kandachchi village located in Musali Divisional Secretariat Division in Mannar District. However, the cultivation was interrupted due to the civil war with over 3000 acres of the estate being abandoned. more..

Jul 8 (CT) A 5-member panel has been formed to look into the disciplinary issue involving Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka, SLC confirmed on Wednesday. The trio were sent back home recently from the England tour. The three players were guilty of breaching the biobubble ahead of the first ODI against England and were immediately suspended. The breach only came to light after a Twitter video showed Mendis and Dickwella outside the team biobubble. more..

Jul 8 (FT) COPE Chairman MP Charitha Herath yesterday directed SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ashok Pathirage to submit a complete business plan within a month to make the National Carrier profitable. Committee also recommended to the Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism to study the current situation and submit a report at Ministerial level within a month. Committee further recommended that an expert committee more..

Jul 8 (DN) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is set to earn US $12 million directly from the upcoming ODI and T20I cricket series between Sri Lanka and India, which will commence in Colombo on July 13. This was revealed by Shammi Silva, President of SLC. �We had initially finalised to host three matches. But after some negotiations with the Indian Cricket Board we managed to increase the matches to six which will enable us to raise an additional US $6 million in revenue,� said Silva. more..

Jul 8 (FT) SL�s COVID-19 death toll rose to 3,351 yesterday with the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) confirming 38 COVID-19 deaths the day before. Two persons below the age of 30, one male and one female, were among the deaths confirmed. The COVID-19 deaths confirmed on Tuesday also include 29 persons over the age of 60 and seven persons between ages 30 and 59. Of the 38 persons, 21 were male and 17 were female. Of the 3,351 COVID-19 deaths recorded to date, more..

Jul 8 (CT) Allegations by the opposition that the Govt was moving to cancel Sirasa TV�s broadcasting licence rocked Parliament, an attempt to strike against the network that has been a major platform for criticism against Prez Rajapaksa�s failing administration. The uproar began after Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said he had learnt from trusted sources that Prez had gathered a group of senior lawyers to study more..

Jul 8 (MFA) In case SL loses the GSP+ facility as per the resolutions passed in the EU Parliament and as it severely affects the working public of the country, representatives of five major trade unions request the Govt to make submissions in this regard to the European Commission. This request was made at a meeting held on 2 July chaired by the Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunewardena with the participation of Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and State Minister Tharaka Balasuriya, more..

Jul 8 (EN) SL�s retail industry, representing supermarkets, consumer durables, footwear and restaurants badly hit by a Coronavirus pandemic has asked for relief on utility bills and to re-open sectors that are still closed. SL Retailers Association (SLRA) which represents the affected business have told PM Rajapaksa that they were already suffering from the time of Easter Sunday attacks two years earlier when the Covid pandemic hit them and sought relief from the Ministry of Finance. more..

Jul 8 (TM) In view of sustaining the education of students through indoor activities during the closure of schools due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Cabinet has granted approval to implement a programme through which the teachers� performance would be supervised and regularised by teaching instructors, a decision which has since been met with opposition from teachers� trade unions. more..

Jul 8 (CT) PM Rajapaksa has been notified that complaints submitted against 10 Cabinet Ministers of the former Yahapalana Govt are lying at the CID for the past 3 years, without being subjected to any investigation, sources said. In the complaint submitted, it is stated that complaints against 10 persons who were Cabinet Ministers at that time, on corruption, fraud and irregularities running into billions of rupees which took place during the Good Governance Govt had been submitted by more..

Jul 8 (DM) Pfizer vaccination in Colombo which was under way as the second dose for the AstraZeneca vaccine, has been postponed as the AstraZeneca vaccine will be available from the third week of July, Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake said yesterday. Mayoress said "Hence your vaccination, which was scheduled for July 8th is postponed, as we are compelled to do so. Your slot will be rescheduled and reinstated as soon as we receive new stocks of AstraZeneca vaccine on the 3rd week of July" more..

Jul 8 (EN) Fully vaccinated travelers can now visit Sri Lanka from Thursday (8) with only one-day in quarantine until on-arrival PCR tests are cleared, a ministry of health circular with fresh guidelines said. Meanwhile Sri Lankans can return to the island without obtaining prior approval from the foreign ministry. Sri Lankans or dual citizens arriving on Sri Lanka passports can directly book their tickets with their airlines. more..

Jul 8 (FT) Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay yesterday reiterated his country�s support for devolution in Sri Lanka based on the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of SL. During a meeting with a delegation of Tamil politicians, he also called for an early conduct of Provincial Council elections. A five-member Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) delegation led by MP Mano Ganeshan, called on the High Commissioner at India House, the HC said. more..

Jul 8 (Island) Kandy District Secretary Chandana Tennakoon said at a meeting of representatives of farmers� organisations of Minipe that some multinational trading organisations had adopted a ruse to dupe the organic fertiliser producing farmers by deploying agents to buy their fertiliser and sell it to them subsequently at higher prices. He warned the farmers that they should not fall for such tricks and use the fertiliser they produced or sell it to the state institution that may need it. more..

Jul 8 (EN) With more repatriates entering the country, SL is facing a possible threat of the newly identified Lambda variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, officials said. The govt has been repatriating Sri Lankans from abroad since last year. So far over 200,000 have returned from Europe and the Middle East. A considerable number of COVID-19 cases are detected daily among repatriate groups in quarantine. more..

Jul 8 (FT) In the midst of an acute crisis of hard currency and a loan from Bangladesh, SL�s Defence Ministry has just signed a $ 50 million deal with Israeli Aerospace Industries to upgrade its fleet of Kfirs to 4.5 generation fighter capacity. Why make this huge dent in our dwindling stock of dollars when children are studying on treetops and peasants are protesting about imminent crop failure? Who are we going to deter or dogfight with? India, with its squadrons of Dassault Rafales, MiG 29s and more..

Jul 8 (AD) Two State Ministry Portfolios were reshuffled and accordingly, two State Ministers were sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon (8). Shasheendra Rajapaksa was sworn in as the State Minister of Organic Fertilizer Production, Supply, and Regulation and the Paddy and Grains, Organic Food, Vegetables, Fruits, Chillies, Onion, and Potato Cultivation Promotion, Seed Production and Advanced Technology for Agriculture. more..

Jul 8 (AD) The Bill to amend the National Minimum Wage for Private Sector Employees in Sri Lanka was discussed at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labour chaired by the Minister of Labour Nimal Siripala de Silva, the Communications Department of Parliament said. Accordingly, it is intended to amend Section 03 of the Minimum Wage of Employees Act No. 03 of 2016 to increase the current minimum monthly wage from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 12,500 and the minimum daily wage more..

Jul 8 (AD) SL�s newly appointed Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa says that the priority of his ministry, govt as well himself is the needs of the country�s people. Speaking to reporters after officially assuming duties at the Finance Ministry today, he said that they need the support of the working people especially the farmers, fishermen, labourers, public servants and professionals. He also urged all the public representatives from MPs to the members of local govt bodies to support their efforts. more..

Jul 8 (AD) The founder of SLPP Basil Rajapaksa has taken oaths as the Cabinet Minister of Finance this morning. The Elections Commission yesterday gazette Rajapaksa�s name for the SLPP MP seat left vacant with the resignation of former MP Jayantha Ketagoda. With the revision of the scope of functions of ministries, PM Rajapaksa took oaths as the Minister of Economic Policies and Implementation of Plans. more..

Jul 8 (FT) In the previous article that appeared in this paper on 10 May under the caption, Attraction of Foreign Investments, the strategy of attraction of such investment was discussed. Two notes should be added to it. The Port City project is brilliant as a concept. It is like providing a liveable place to live in in an inhospitable environment, as in the case of the Arctic or the moon, the rest of the country being unsuitable for FDI due to several missing rungs in the economic development ladder. more..

Jul 8 (DM) A marketing officer of a leading mobile company in the country had been arrested in connection with the cyber sexual exploitation of several school girls. A principal of a school in Pitabeddara had lodged a complaint with the Police. Matara Division Children and women Bureau launched an investigation into the incident. It was revealed that the suspect has obtained the phone numbers of school girls and they were informed by the perpetrator that they would be given more..

Jul 8 (EN) Migrant workers who return to Sri Lanka are provided quarantine faculties free of charge in 14 hotels across the country chosen by the SLBFE, labour minister Nimal Siripala De Silva told parliament Wednesday (7). De Silva was responding to a question raised by the opposition about quarantine regulations for SL arrivals being relaxed prior to Minister Basil Rajapksa�s recent return to the island from the US and more..

Jul 8 (EN) SL�s first quarter growth would be better than expected, based on initial data CB Governor W D Lakshman said. He said an industrial production index, private credit and external trade showed the economy was performing better than earlier expected. Director of Economic Research Chandranath Amarasinghe said originally about 3 to 3.5% growth was expected. Official growth estimates are expected to be released in on Friday, he said. SL was initially expecting to grow around 6% more..

Jul 8 (Island) The national coordinator of the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) in a letter sent to the Chairman of the 15-member Special Parliamentary Committee on Electoral reforms, Dinesh Gunawardena, has requested that the number of members be increased to 20 including five female MPs. Manjula Gajanayaka said that at present there was only one female member on the 15-member committee. He has pointed out that Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi, more..

Jul 8 (AD) The police have arrested a total of 31 individuals for staging a protest at the Polduwa Roundabout today, in violation of prevailing health regulations. Inter University Students� Federation, Ceylon Teachers� Union and the Frontline Socialist Party had organized the demonstration against the General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University Bill. General Secretary of teachers� union Joseph Stalin, Rathkarawwe Jinarathana more..

Jul 8 (Island) GMOA has written to Director General of Health Services (DGHS) requesting him to remove the acting Medical Superintendent (MS) of Akkaraipattu Base Hospital, and hold an enquiry into the allegations levelled against him by the Akkaraipattu Base Hospital branch of the GMOA. GMOA has said the MS continues to harass medical officers and his behaviour is unprofessional. It has informed DGHS that it will resort to a one-day strike on Jul 8 unless their request is complied with. more..

Jul 8 (Asahi) The family of a detained SL woman who died at an immigration facility in Nagoya and their supporters called on the public to sign a petition demanding the release of the facility�s video footage of her. The bereaved family and students supporting them made the appeal at a news conference in Tokyo on July 7. They have launched an online petition to uncover the truth about circumstances surrounding the death of Wishma Sandamali. Wishma, 33, died in March at a detention more..

Jul 8 (FT) The mystical seven. Thebes had seven gates, ancient Egypt seven heavenly cows, Snow White seven dwarves. The tailor sewed himself a sash claiming, Seven with one blow. They were flies but who�d know that? Now this magical, mythical seven has a new entrant. Basil Rajapaksa, we are informed, assured, reassured, has seven brains. This we know from an impeccable authority, an SLPP MP. more..

Jul 8 (AD) The water supply for several areas in Colombo will be suspended for 21 hours this weekend due essential maintenance work, says the National Water Supply & Drainage Board (NWSDB). Accordingly, the water cut will be effective from 9 am on Saturday until 6 am on Sunday. Colombo 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 areas are expected to be affected by the said water cut. In the meantime, water supply for Colombo 04 and 12 areas will be under low pressure during this time period, more..

Jul 8 (TM) SL Police Spokesman Ajith Rohana has officially taken over as the Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) in charge of Traffic and Crimes. Accordingly, Rohana assumed his new duties following a minimal ceremony in line with health guidelines today. The following divisions will be under the purview of Rohana: Crimes Division, Police Narcotics Bureau, Traffic Control and Road Safety, Naval and Tourist Division, Criminal Intelligence and Prevention Division, more..

Jul 8 (FT) Recently, the Daily FT revealed how SL�s State pharmaceutical manufacturer and relevant authorities placed profits before people, discussing the State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation�s (SPMC) joint ventures with manufacturers with foreign ownership. This amoral enterprise of vested SPMC management undermines efforts of genuine local manufacturers to produce 50% domestic requirement by 2025 more..

Jul 8 (DM) The Govt has planned to open up the country within two months after vaccinating its citizens at least with a single dose, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunge said today. He told Parliament that more than three million people who are engaged in the tourism sector are facing numerous hardships due to the pandemic situation in the country. Responding to a question raised by JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the issues faced by the people in the sector. more..

Jul 8 (AD) United States has relaxed the travel ban on Sri Lanka from Level 4: Do Not Travel to Level 3: Reconsider Travel effective from July 06. This travel advisory on Sri Lanka is a periodical revision published by the U.S. State Department under Level-3 category. �Although the U.S. Travel Advisory regarding SL has been issued due to COVID-19 situation, the threat on Terrorism is also included by default,� SL�s Defence Ministry said in a press release issued today (8). more..

Jul 8 (EN) Central Bank said it was keeping policy rates unchanged at 5.5% to inject new money as inflation topped 5% in June and food prices rose in double digits and the balance of payments was in deep deficit amid money printing. CB injects overnight money at 5.5% also injects large volumes of longer term money to keep Treasury bill yields below 5.23%. Colombo Consumer Price Index, more..

Jul 8 (DM) The Fundamental Rights petition filed by environmental scientist Dr. Ajantha Perera and a social activist seeking an order directing the authorities to set up a Restoration and Conservation Fund for the environmental degradation due to the pollution caused by the X-Press Pearl vessel was today fixed for support by Supreme Court. Supreme Court 3-judge-bench comprising CJ Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice L.T.B. Dehideniya, Justice Shiran Goonaratne fixed petition for support more..

Jul 8 (CT) Recognizing that effective environmental education is currently a necessary skill for students, govt has decided to introduce a new subject on wildlife and forest conservation to the local school curriculum. Wildlife and Forest Conservation Minister C. B. Ratnayake requested Education Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris to introduce the new subject to students, and Ratnayake advised his Ministry Secretary to take steps to implement the idea following a fruitful discussion with more..

Jul 8 (TM) The COPE instructed SL Insurance Corporation to summon Litro Gas Lanka Limited and Litro Gas Terminal Lanka (Pvt) Ltd before the COPE and to conduct a government audit. The COPE instructed so at the COPE meeting chaired by Prof. Charitha Herath in Parliament yesterday. Ministers Mahinda Amaraweera and Sarath Weerasekara, State Ministers Susil Premajayantha, Indika Anuruddha, Ajith Nivard Cabraal and more..