Jul 29 (CT) Attorney General Sanjaya Rajaratnam yesterday informed the Supreme Court a probe conducted into the April 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks, had revealed that SJB MP Rishad Bathiudeen and his sibling Riyaj Bathiudeen had supplied a stock of State-owned copper, at a concessionary rate, to a copper factory owned by a bomber, who blew himself up during the attacks. He said MP Bathiudeen had done this misusing his Ministerial powers at the time. more..

Jul 29 (EN) A Presidential Media Centre (PMC) was declared open today which is said to be similar to James S. Brady Press Briefing Room in the US White House to facilitate interactions between Prez Rajapaksa and the media. The James S. Brady Press Briefing Room is a small theatre in the West Wing of the White House where the White House press secretary gives briefings to the news media and more..

Jul 29 (Island) Politicians should let the doctors and experts to decide matters pertaining to the professorial unit of the Wayamba University�s Medical Faculty since it was not a task for political leaders, Minister Johnston Fernando said on Tuesday. When journalists asked the Minister for his position on the ongoing dispute over the location of the professorial unit, the Minister said politicians should not get involved in the matters decided by medical experts and professionals. more..

Jul 29 (DM) Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL), has introduced a set of special guidelines for Sri Lankan and foreign tourists who wish to visit SL from Aug 1, CAASL Chairman Upul Dharmadasa said. Accordingly, passengers with negative PCR test result 72 hours prior to arrival in Sri Lanka and should have received both the doses of the COVID preventive vaccine. The passengers who have completed 14 days after receiving the second dose are eligible to come to Sri Lanka. more..

Jul 29 (EN) Sri Lanka will enforce a ban on lunch sheets a thin plastic sheet that is laid on plates of food and is used to tie food packets, ban the imports of machines that produce them, and seize any in the country, a top official said while plastic garlands will be outlawed soon. The ban dated back to 2017 but was not strictly implemented. �There is no need for a gazette because this was earlier banned in 2017; more..

Jul 29 (MFA) The first resident High Commissioner of New Zealand to SL Michael Appleton paid a courtesy call on State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya on 28 July, 2021. Welcoming the new High Commissioner Appleton, State Minister Balasuriya highlighted the potential to build upon the existing cordial ties between the two countries. He discussed means of further diversifying and expanding trade relations with NZ and also emphasized the opportunities more..

Jul 29 (MFA) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa declared open a Regional Consular Office of the Foreign Ministry in Kurunegala virtually on 27 July. Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister Johnston Fernando, Provincial Governor for North-Western Province Raja Kollure, State Minister Tharaka Balasuriya, and several other dignitaries joined the opening ceremony. This Regional Consular Office in Kurunegala will cater to the public in the North Western Province and neighboring regions more..

Jul 29 (AD) A five-member panel of inquiry has recommended SLC to impose suspensions and fines on Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, Niroshan Dickwella over their breach of the bio-secure bubble during the England tour. Mendis and Gunathilaka are to face a 2-year suspension from all formats of cricket while Dickwella would face an 18-month suspension, as per the recommendations. The panel further recommends that all three more..

Jul 29 (DM) Govt was ready to vaccinate all between the age group of 18 and 30 soon after a suitable vaccine was recommended by the medical experts, head of the Presidential Task Force for National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 Vaccine Lalith Weerathunge said today. He said children between 12 and 18 years would also be vaccinated after a suitable vaccine was recommended by the medical experts. He told the maiden press briefing of Prez Media Centre more..

Jul 29 (DM) U.S. Ambassador Alaina B. Teplitz said today her country would not prevent its companies from investing in the Colombo Port City, but she was still concerned about the new Act governing its businesses because of loopholes for corrupt practices and money laundering. Making her remarks during an online roundtable discussion with a select group of journalists, she said she expressed concerns about this piece of legislation earlier, and she continued to remain so because more..

Jul 29 (TM) The teachers� and principals� trade unions that have withdrawn from teaching activities and examination-related duties have emphasised that Prez Rajapaksa should immediately intervene in, and provide a concrete solution to, the teacher-principal salary anomaly issue. Ceylon Teachers� Service Union (CTSU) has said that if the Premier, the Education Minister, and other authorities are unable to provide more..

Jul 29 (DM) The CEB Engineers� Union (CEBEU) claims that the govt�s aggressive target to generate 70 percent of the electricity required through renewable energy by 2030 is unfeasible, as it needs US $ 3-4 billion investment in upgrading the country�s existing electricity network over the coming years. Addressing a press briefing yesterday, CEBEU President Saumya Kumarawadu warned that the country might be moving towards a possible power crisis, due to govt�s policy. more..

Jul 29 (Island) Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa has put on hold the controversial deal of getting a blacklisted Indian company to print fool-proof stickers for bottles of liquor following the requests by Excise unions. Co-Secretary of the Unity of Excise Trade Unions Nirosh Jayakody said that they had met the new Finance Minister and explained to him that the controversial scheme had tarnished the image of the Department. �We pointed out that the deal struck between the Finance Ministry of more..

Jul 30 (TM) In light of the prevailing discussion about sexual abuse and exploitation, including those taking place on cyber space, and also a recent incident involving a woman who was subjected to sextortion by a Sri Lankan man living in the UK, the Police have urged the public to be more vigilant and responsible when using social media. SDIG Ajith Rohana, highlighting that the use of social media has been creating various issues in the recent past, requested women to refrain from sharing more..

Jul 30 (CT) It was early 2005, a few months after I had been made the CEO of Rivira Media Corporation. I had been warned that the media industry was a cutthroat one, and to expect little help for a fledgling newspaper like Rivira. Still I decided to reach out to the heads of some electronic media organisations to see if we could work together. Amongst those I emailed was the Chairman of MTN Networks, Raj Rajamahendran, better known as Killi Maharaja. I introduced myself and more..

Jul 30 (SO) Scientists at the Sri J'pura University who studied the efficacy of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine said their research was limited to those over the age of 21 and therefore, they cannot advise on the effects it would have on schoolchildren. The Allergy, Immunology and Cell Biology Unit (AICBU) of the Sri J'pura Uni which conducted the highly publicised local research on Sinopharm, said this particular vaccine more..

Jul 30 (CT) Democracy is a system of governance where people choose their representatives, by freely exercising their treasured franchise at elections. Results do not match theory. It was famously defined by Abraham Lincoln as �rule of the people by the people for the people�. At the other end of the scale, it has been cynically said to be �Based on the fond belief that the franchise somehow transforms the ignorance of the many into the wisdom of the chosen few� or as Churchill declared more..

Jul 30 (CT) Yesterday this newspaper carried an article under the heading Domestic Servants Ordinance (DSO) to be amended. It said that the Labour Ministry has decided to amend the 150-year-old DSO with the intention of preventing minors from being employed as maids and to introduce new laws related to housemaids, etc. DSO doesn�t address any of the aforesaid issues, but rather treats the domestic as an allegedly suspected criminal with its main theme revolving round a domestic�s more..

Jul 30 (CT) We are currently living in an unpleasant era in which adults have begun to abandon SL�s future in order to brighten their own. We are ruled by a regime that has already begun to sink our future, oblivious to the fact that those futures are the ones that will lead to SL becoming a developed country. However, both of these people are well-known societal decision-makers. One type of adult is classified as a teacher, while the other is more..

Jul 30 (ST) When the judges of the 5th Triennial Geoffrey Bawa Awards for Excellence in Architecture 2019/2021 waxed lyrical, enthusing about the winning entry, one realizes the decision may well have been unanimous. The award was announced on Thursday evening, with the ceremony organised by the Bawa Trust being held on Zoom. Speaking about Palinda Kannangara�s the Frame Holiday Structure in Imaduwa, made of scaffolding and glass that seems to float over a green flooded land, more..

Jul 30 (ST) As I watched from my home-office window, Aldoris, the choon-paan karaya in his modified tuk-tuk accompanied by his unmistakable tune, driving down the lane, I reflected on a number of developments that garnered the govt�s attention this week. Adding to the new developments are the persistently ongoing ones like protests by farmers across the country over the ban on chemical fertiliser and teachers over salary anomalies and demands for a phone allowance as more..

Jul 30 (Island) The National Curriculum Framework document published by our National Institute of Education makes the following observation: There is a shortage of qualified STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) teachers and a deployment practice skewed towards urban schools, making it difficult for non-urban students to access STEM streams. As a result, the govt�s efforts to increase STEM access in provincial and rural areas by providing additional classrooms and more..

Jul 30 (Island) Sri Lanka�s national vaccination drive has gained considerable momentum with more vaccine doses arriving, and the administration thereof continuing apace. The only way to reopen the country fully, and revive the economy soon is to accelerate the vaccination programme further, and ensure the public compliance with the health regulations to beat the Delta variant, decisively. Sadly, it has been reported that some people are not keen to have themselves vaccinated. more..

Jul 30 (TM) In our last column published on 24 June titled Are SL banks failing the production economy?, we wrote about how SL�s banks have been failing the production economy due to their risk aversion and lack of lending towards productive sectors of the economy. To briefly recap, we argued that banking system plays a significant role in bridging gaps in financial resources & allocating resources in an economy. more..

Jul 30 (DN) SL middle-distance runner Nimali Liyanarachchi did not have any training workouts today as she concentrated fully on tomorrow's event at the 2020 Olympic Games here in the Japanese capital. Although the XXX11th Olympic Games started last Friday with a spectacular opening ceremony, the showpiece of any Games is track and field, which will start tomorrow with the Women�s 100m first-round heats. Liyanarachchi will be seen in action in Women�s 800m first-round heat more..

Jul 30 (ST) Sprinter Medhaani Jayamanne�s year-or-two stay in the sport has been a part-and-parcel of within and beyond the control odds. But it is the uncontrollable that has taken the toll and outweighs the good and the great. Be it born only with one kidney or her parents not amongst the living, not even a lot of athletes would have carried that physical-and-mental scar with them. But she does so, silently. Junior Jayamanne hails from a sporting family, where Medhaani is continuing more..

Jul 30 (ST) Legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga terrorised batters right through his four overs, Dasun Shanaka picked up two wickets through the early middle overs, and Dushmantha Chameera kept the pressure on with the new ball and at the death, to reduce a severely depleted India batting order to 81 for 8 in their 20 overs. Against the worst XI India fielded (they were forced to dip into their net-bowling reserves in this game, more..

Jul 30 (CI) 81 for 8 India's total in the third T20I was their third-lowest in the format and their lowest against Sri Lanka. India's previous lowest T20I total against Sri Lanka was 101 all-out in Pune in 2016. 81 for 8 It was also the second-lowest total made by a Full Member side while batting through all 20 overs in a T20I. The lowest is West Indies' 79 for 7 while chasing 106 against Zimbabwe in 2010. 4 for 9 Wanidu Hasaranga's bowling figures were the best against India in men's T20Is. more..

Jul 30 (SLN) The Russian Navy celebrated the 325th anniversary of the founding of the Russian Regular Fleet (Navy Day) on a high note in St Petersburg on 25th July, in the graceful presence of Prez of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. At the invitation of the Commander in Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, Commander of SL Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne & Prez Navy Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs. Chandima Ulugetenne, who were on an official visit to Russia more..

Jul 30 (DM) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa recently revealed about an attempt to acquire 12000 acres from Block 1 of the Yala National Park which comprises 14,101 hectares with the support of the Govt. After this revelation, environmental organizations and people who adore the national park raised opposition. The statements made by officers of the Department of Wildlife and Conservation (DWC), more..

Jul 30 (TM) SL Tourism Development Authority, Ministry of Tourism with the technical and financial assistance of UNDP in SL has initiated the National Sustainable Destination Certification (NSDC) scheme to transform nine chosen destinations in nine provinces with the best sustainable practices as the second phase of the National Sustainable Tourism Initiative. Sustainability is a key driver to preserve and conserve the island�s outstanding natural and cultural heritage to safeguard more..

Jul 30 (TM) The SL Govt is discussing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the UK, hoping it would help both countries strengthen their trade ties with each other. Speaking to us, Ministry of Trade Media Spokesperson Mahesh Wickrama stated: �It is still in the discussion level,� implying that the suggestion in this regard has been taken into consideration; however, it has not been finalised yet. He added that the UK is a lucrative market for SL, indicating that SL can reap commercial opportunities. more..

Jul 30 (TM) A study conducted on the immune responses of 553 Sri Lankans to a single dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine after 16 weeks post-vaccination has found that neutralising antibodies against the Covid-19 virus have significantly reduced across all age groups. The Covishield vaccine is manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. �Our findings showed that 26.1% of the participants did not more..

Jul 30 (FT) SL�s Free On Board (FOB) prices for black tea are the highest in the world, Asia Siyaka Commodities PLC revealed yesterday. It said by June 2021 Sri Lanka had exported 137 million kilograms of tea compared with 124 million kilograms in 1H 2020. The country has earned $ 651 million from these shipments compared with $ 571 million a year ago. �If weather conditions hold true and agricultural inputs are available as and when needed, the country could easily more..

Jul 30 (DM) A political party presenting a manifesto and winning an election is simular to a film director working according to what�s written by the script writer. What�s important is that both parties have a document to work with, a blueprint. The difference between films succeeding and govts failing is because the people working on the set make a great effort to stick to the script. Politicians rarely do that! The time spent in power by a govt is akin to what happens during the duration of a film. more..

Jul 30 (TM) A joint promotional programme is being formulated to attract more tourists to Sri Lanka from Sunday (1) onwards, which is to be implemented by SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), SL Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), tour operators, and airlines. A special discussion on the action plan to be implemented under this programme was held at the Tourism Ministry recently, under the patronage of more..

Jul 30 (FT) Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resources Development Scholarship (JDS) program has completed the selection process of the fourth batch under the third framework and the selected officials are scheduled to commence studies in September. In this regard, an exchange of note between the two Govts, and grant agreements between the Govt of SL and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the implementation of this program were signed yesterday more..

Jul 30 (DN) National Olympic Committee of SL (NOC) President Suresh Subramaniam said that Sri Lanka will implement a methodical programme when sending participants for future international meets starting from next year�s Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. Addressing a news conference at Comfort Suites Tokyo Bay in Chiba Prefecture yesterday, SL NOC chief stressed the need to give more and more training and competition opportunities, if SL is to pin more..