Jul 16 (TM) The value of the Rupee � despite falling in almost all aspects � has at least risen to the top of discussion again, after widespread news that the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) printed billions of Rupees, which caused controversy in both the political and economic arenas. Irrespective of the necessity, many viewed this as an unwise decision that is likely to cause inflation. Last December, the CBSL said that the increase in the volatility more..

Jul 16 (CT) The end is nigh indeed for the Rajapaksa Regime and Gotabaya�s Vityathmaga cabal. No amount of finetuning by monetary authorities in the Central Bank could postpone the day of reckoning, and the magic wand of an all-in-one Finance Minister is not going to stop the inevitable collapse of the economy. The people are not prepared to stomach the pain any more, and, in spite of the danger of getting infected by the pandemic, they are coming out in more..

Jul 16 (CT) Minister Keheliya Rambukwella called the school principals and teachers who have discontinued their online teaching programme for students a worthless lot, but Ceylon Teachers� Union Secretary Joseph Stalin countered that it was the Govt failing to devise a proper mechanism for the students to continue their education uninterrupted during the COVID-19 lockdowns that was the real worthless lot. It was a recent Cabinet Media briefing, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said more..

Jul 16 (SO) Elephants in Sri Lanka are in a long and arduous struggle to survive when humans continue to encroach on their lands. Clearing of forests to make way for agriculture and human settlements has led to the human-elephant conflict with loss of lives and reduction in the elephant population. According to the World Wildlife Organization, SL�s elephant population has fallen almost 65% since the turn of the 19th century more..

Jul 16 (TM) When you fall sick, what do you do first? Most lankans would either drink a Samahan or take a Panadol, or maybe both. If you have a chronic illness, like arthritis or diabetes, most people would go to the hospital, but also seek out Ayurvedic ointments or tonics. Such is the state of Ayurvedic and Western medicine in SL: they are separate, but for most people, both systems have their uses. However, in medical establishment, Ayurveda is given a slightly lesser status than Western more..

Jul 16 (GV) For decades human rights activists have highlighted the draconian nature of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), which promises safety and security, yet in practice makes each citizen vulnerable to being arbitrarily arrested, detained, tortured and even convicted of an offence the person did not commit. Despite the fact it contravenes Sri Lanka�s international obligations and constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights, successive govts have not repealed it. more..

Jul 16 (Island) Ooh la la! Cheers and mourns Cass sorrowfully. We and our beloved country SL (no longer Free) were much in the foreign news this last week. Reason for the sorrow and bitter tears shed by Cass? The news is negative, actually derogatory. Here quoted below is one such beginning of an article on our land which could easily be Paradise if not for some of its leaders, many politicians and most of its citizens. Three brothers of Prez Rajapaksa now hold top posts in his govt. more..

Jul 16 (ST) Remittances that are the main strength of the balance payments, have been increasing in recent years. They increased from US$ 7 billion in 2019 to US$ 7.1 billion in 2020. In the first five months of this year, remittances increased by a further 18% compared to the same period last year to US$ 2.8 billion. If this increasing trend in remittances continues, they may exceed US$ seven billion this year. Although a little over one half (52%) of these remittances are from Middle East, more..

Jul 16 (DN) Sumeda Ranasinghe is a Sri Lankan javelin thrower, who participated in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was born in Galigamuwa, Kobbewela and qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games by producing a fine effort of 83.04m, which was also a new Sri Lankan record. He also became the first Sri Lankan javelin thrower to compete in Olympic history as a qualified athlete. more..

Jul 16 (Island) There are some concerns about the national economy with fmr PM Wickremesinghe raising alarm about diminishing foreign reserves. Listening to the UNP leader one recalls the pithy local saying, bale thiyanakota mole ne, mole thiyanakota bale ne (when one has power one has no brains, and vice versa). Under his watch, men in three piece suits put professional banker robbers to shame; they walked away with billions of rupees in form of fraudulently obtained Treasury bonds. more..

Jul 16 (CT) The sole SL female track and field athlete at the Tokyo Olympics will be middle distance runner Nimali Liyanarachchi, who will be competing in the 800m event. The World�s 55th ranked half-miler could not make the direct qualification cut where only 48 were selected, but was fortunate to get an Invitational Entr�e as she is ranked higher than many others in even some of the qualified events. Liyanarachchi, who was born in 1989, besides making an impact in the 800m event, more..

Jul 16 (DN) With the Tokyo 2020 Olympics less than a week away, the National Olympic Committee of SL (NOCSL) knows that for the time being at least their job is done � even if the moment for relaxing is still some way away. The past year after all has been among the most testing for athletes and officials alike. Pandemic has been life-altering, to say the least but more so for athletes, for whom it has threatened to derail a lifetime of hard work. more..

Jul 16 (Island) A maximum of four athletes advance from each Zonal to the Provincial Competition where they experience their first proper 400 metres hurdles race. An athlete qualifying from the Provincial level will next compete in the All Island Schools Games Athletics Championship. The Sir John Tarbet Athletics Championship, the Sri Lanka Athletics� Junior National Championship and District meets are the other meets where a schools hurdler could compete on proper hurdles. more..

Jul 16 (Island) As the National ICT Telecommunications and Mobile Services Provider, SLT-MOBITEL is committed to taking SL towards a tech-driven economy, and recently began conducting a series of free online courses in Arduino, Robotics and IoT (Internet of Things) to infuse future generations with the latest technological skills and knowledge. Preparing youth towards a digital future, SLT-MOBITEL offers the free Beginner Course in Arduino, Robotics & IoT to support more..

Jul 16 (FT) Export Development Board (EDB), under a new three-year program, is stepping up efforts to encourage SL entrepreneurs to develop and promote home-grown brands in the international market. The EDB has therefore introduced the National Export Brands Development Program 2021-2024, a financial assistance scheme for 100% SL-owned brands. The initiative intends to encourage SL entrepreneurs to develop and promote creative, innovative, more..

Jul 16 (FT) SL�s tea export earnings in the first half have increased by 14% to $ 650 million on the back of a 10% rise in quantity shipped, to 137 million kilos, in comparison to the corresponding period of last year. 2021 first half quantity was boosted by a strong June (26.9 million kilos), which is at a five-year high. It also said the January-June quantity of 136.9 million kilos, though well above last year, is much lower than the 2019 1H figure of 145 million kilos and 137.5 million kilos the year before. more..

Jul 16 (FT) Mobility solutions specialists PickMe has ended its most challenging year with pre-tax profit, prompting Chairman and investor Ajit Gunewardene to renew his call for greater use of technology and promotion of digital transformation by policy makers and corporates alike. Noting that digitisation is already adding significantly to Global GDP, Gunawardena said that tech is a magnet for capital. more..

Jul 16 (TM) Sri Lanka�s national volleyball team beat strong Uzbekistan 3-0 on Wednesday (14) at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo to qualify for the 21st Asian Volleyball Championship, which is to be held in Japan in September. Significantly, Sri Lanka who were hampered by the absence of their three key players, including the main setter, had to take on a fancied Uzbek side which included much taller spikers who had invaluable European and Turkish Leagues experience. more..

Jul 16 (DN) Former Skipper and wicket-keeper batsman Kusal Janith Perera (KJP) is a doubtful starter for the upcoming T20I and One Day International (ODI) series against India due to a prevailing long-standing injury on his right shoulder. It was noticeable that KJP was under severe pain and discomfort at practices the last few days. After inspection by the team physiotherapist, it was recommended that he will need at least four to eight weeks rest to recover. more..

Jul 16 (ST) On a Wednesday night two weeks ago, 14 youngsters were seen riding motorbikes at a relatively high speed. They turned into a narrow lane in Kondavil, a suburban area of Jaffna. The facemasks they were wearing were different from the clinical masks recommended to minimise the risk of contracting COVID-19. Theirs were covering their full faces. The hilts of the improvised machete or Aruval were protruding out of more..

Jul 16 (CT) Dubai Global Home (DGH), a global business initiative providing opportunities to set up businesses, travel, holidays, shopping, investments, education, healthcare, jobs, living and migration in Dubai, UAE, is now available for prospective global citizens in SL. The initiative is to deliver detailed information, consulting, representation, and support services for many opportunities in Dubai for professionals, families and businesses. While services are available virtually, more..

Jul 16 (Island) The electricity generation for 2020 had been forecast as 18,542 GWh as per the draft Long-Term Generation Expansion Plan of CEB for the period 2020-2039, but only 16,304 GWh of electricity was generated, as per the Annual Performance Report � 2020 of the Ministry of Power. This was mainly due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the ministry has said. Meanwhile, in 2020, 39%, 24% and 26% of energy requirements were generated from coal, hydro sources (Without Mini hydro) more..

Jul 16 (TM) Education Reforms, Open Universities, and Distance Learning Promotion State Ministry and the National Institute of Education (NIE) have planned to commence a home-based learning programme which is scheduled to be implemented covering all the provinces, from 2 Aug 2021. This move comes in the backdrop of the ongoing teachers� strike over, among others, lack of facilities for teachers more..

Jul 16 (CT) So far, the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry has identified a total of 38 COVID-19 cases with the delta variant, Deputy Director General of Disaster Management and Emergency Response, Dr. Hemantha Herath said. He said that this included another 19 more COVID-19 cases, with the delta variant, which had been identified during PCR sample testing conducted recently. They have been identified from Colombo, Jaffna and Kilinochchi following a random sample testing, he said. more..

Jul 16 (Island) Those who were detained last week for holding a demonstration against the proposed Kotelawala Defence Uni and sent to quarantine centre in Mullaitivu, held another demonstration on Wednesday there. Among them (centre) is the General Secretary of Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) Joseph Stalin. Addressing the media after the protest at the quarantine centre in Mullaitivu, Stalin said that if they were not released immediately, they would intensify the demonstrations inside more..

Jul 16 (Island) Public interest litigation activist Nagananda Kodituwakku has requested the Supreme Court to declare 14th Amendment to the Constitution void ab initio and has no force in law. This move has come while a high profile project is underway to introduce a new Constitution, A nine-member group led by eminent President�s Counsel Romesh de Silva is engaged in formulating a new draft Constitution. more..

Jul 16 (Island) Minister Douglas Devananda threatened to take stern action if a sea cucumber farm, managed by a Chinese company in Kilinochchi that was allegedly operating under an invalid license. Devananda made this statement during an observation visit to the above mentioned sea cucumber farm. He was accompanied by journalists, representatives of local fisheries associations and ministry officers. The authorisation to operate the farm had been given by the previous govt. more..

Jul 16 (CT) State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa said that it will be revealed to the entire country within two weeks, inclusive of all facts, if the chemical fertiliser mafia is carrying out a conspiracy against the Govt or not. He said that while the import of chemical fertiliser has been banned, the arrival of a ship carrying them raises grave questions. �The arrival of a ship carrying such cargo arouses serious suspicion. After the import on chemical fertiliser was banned on 6 May, more..

Jul 16 (AD) Prez Rajapaksa says that those who protest against educational reforms should come up with proposals for a modern education system instead of advocating political motives. He made these comments today during the launch of the City University programme keeping with the promise made in the national policy framework Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour. Its first university is planned to be established in more..

Jul 16 (MFA) US Ambassador to SL Alaina Teplitz called on the Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena 13 July. Foreign Minister thanked the govt and people of the US for the assistance extended to combat COVID-19 pandemic and to mitigate the environmental and socio-economic impact of the MV X-Press Pearl disaster. He particularly appreciated U.S. govt for sending emergency medical supplies such as PPEs and oximeters through the USAID as well as vaccines through COVAX programme. more..

Jul 16 (TM) World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), while condemning the arrest and subsequent forcible direction to quarantine the protestors including trade unionists during the recent protests in SL, has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all the arrested protestors. The WFTU has stated that it strongly condemns the repression of the recent demonstrations against the proposed privatisation of education under General John Kotelawala National Defence Uni more..

Jul 16 (TM) While claiming that the current Govt is continuously delaying the investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks on 21 April 2019, the Catholic Church alleged that this continuous delay would create some suspicion among the public that the incumbent Govt may also have had some involvement in the said bombings. National Catholic Centre for Social Communications Director and Parish Priest of St. Anne�s more..

Jul 16 (FT) There can be situations, where, like some humans and animals, even nations could go mad. Seemingly Sri Lanka today is in such a situation. Sri Lanka is currently going through the biggest and the most complex crisis it has ever faced since entering into the modern era. In terms of complexity and magnitude the present crisis can be described as a worse crisis, the impact of which is many times more than that of the challenges posed by Wijeweera and Prabhakaran put together. more..

Jul 16 (Island) What has befallen former South African President Jacob Zuma serves as a warning to all political leaders of his ilk in other parts of the world. He is languishing behind bars for having sought to evade accountability for his questionable actions during his tenure as President. His imprisonment has sparked widespread riots and looting. In his youth, Zuma made a name for himself as a freedom fighter, taking on the apartheid regime, and even served a prison term for doing so. more..

Jul 16 (FT) The Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to identify appropriate reforms of election laws and the electoral system has received over 100 proposals, Committee Chairman Leader of the House, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said. Ten political parties are among those that have submitted proposals, according to Gunawardena. The deadline for political parties to submit proposals ended yesterday. In total the committee has received 138 proposals so far. more..

Jul 16 (EN) Washington-based Int'l Finance Corporation said it has launched a program to help women employees balance their work and life as work from home becomes widespread due to the COVID-19 pandemic. IFC a member of the World Bank is conducting this program jointly with the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry SL (FCCISL). This series is conducted by the Together We Can partnership � launched under the IFC-DFAT Women in Work program. more..

Jul 16 (EN) Public security minister Rear Admiral (Rtd) Sarath Weerasekara is still of the view that mandatory military training will result in a disciplined society, according to a statement on Friday. Weerasekara said that when he proposed mandatory military training for people above 18 in January, members of parliament insulted him. On Jan 18, the minister said that the objective of his proposal is to use military training for more..