Jun 18 (AD) The Secretary to the Ministry of Industries Anusha Palpita has reportedly written to Prez Rajapaksa requesting for a premature retirement. The Senior SrL Administrative Officer had previously served as Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) as well as the Additional Secretary to Ministry of Home Affairs. General (Retd) Daya Ratnayake, who has been serving as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), more..

Jun 18 (FT) A decade-and-a-half ago, we would not have expected a tuk-tuk driver, a fishmonger or a farmer to carry a smartphone; back then, these devices were considered luxuries that only a few could afford; however, today practically everyone has a smartphone, even if it were a leading Chinese manufactured smartphone brand � but, if it were not for these affordable options, smartphones and tablets would still remain in the hands of the rich and affluent. more..

Jun 18 (AD) An 11-year-old lion at Dehiwala Zoo has tested positive for COVID-19, the Dept of National Zoological Gardens confirmed today. Local officials have decided to seek the assistance and consultation from India�s Central Zoo Authority with regard to treatments required for the coronavirus-infected lion. Ever since it was brought to Sri Lanka from Seoul Zoo in South Korea in 2013, the lion, called Thor, had been in the exhibit more..

Jun 18 (EN) SL will is to get expert support from UK to assess environmental and socio economic impact of the fallout from X-Press Pearl a which caught fire and sank, the British High Commission in Colombo said. UK experts would also provide long term training for future incidents and preventive work �..[T]he UK Govt�s Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) will provideexpertise and analytical capacity to support plastic pollution monitoring, more..

Jun 18 (IT) A Dalit youth and two SL refugees were allegedly attacked by a group of men from another community in the Tirunelveli district on Wednesday night. Tension gripped parts of Tirunelveli district when six men attacked a Dalit man at Munneerpallam village due to old enmity. The report added that the police in Munneerpallam filed a case against four persons identified as Sankaralingam, Arunpandian, Arumugam and �Vathu� Mani, and two unidentified, under different sections of more..

Jun 18 (EN) A Japan-based firm involved in a scrapped light rail transit project had claimed 5,896 million rupees from SL, Auditor General revealed. SL suddenly scrapped a LRT project financed by Japan on which several years of ground work has been done following a administration change in 2020, triggering controversy. Japan Int'l Co-operation which has financed SL�s ports and other infrastructure more..

Jun 18 (AD) Gazette notifications have been published announcing that 59 local govt members have vacated their posts as they have ceased to be members of the UNP. The declarations were issued by the returning officers of relevant Pradeshiya Sabha, urban councils and municipal councils. These local govt members who represented the UNP were elected to their posts in the 2018 Provincial Council elections, however, they had later endorsed the current main Opposition, SJB. more..

Jun 18 (AFP) Sri Lanka's main zoo on Friday said it was seeking Indian help to treat a lion that tested positive for Covid-19 -- the first animal on the island known to be infected. Department of National Zoological Gardens said it was consulting vets at the Central Zoo Authority of India to treat 11-year-old Thor, a lion gifted by Seoul's zoo in 2013. "We are seeking guidance from the Central Zoo Authority in treating Thor," Director General Ishini Wickremesinghe said in a statement. more..

Jun 18 (AP) A team of technical experts from EU are helping SL's govt assess the environmental damage caused by the sinking of a container ship that was carrying chemicals and caught fire, the govt said Friday. The experts held discussions with top SL officials and stakeholders on Friday, a day after the Singapore-flagged MV X-Press Pearl ship sank off the country's main port and nearly a month after the vessel caught fire. more..

Jun 18 (NR) Chairman of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Dr. Prasanna Gunasena says a minimum of four million coronavirus vaccines are due to reach Sri Lanka in July. Speaking at the special COVID-19 Committee meeting at the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Gunasena said a higher percentage of individuals can be vaccinated in the days ahead. He said 4 m Chinese manufactured Sinopharm vaccine doses and three million Sinovac doses have been promised to SL. more..

Jun 18 (CT) Post-New Year COVID-19 cluster has reached a startling 133,061 since 15 April 2021, NOCPCO said. According to the data given by the NOCPCO yesterday, the number of COVID-19 cases from the New Year cluster surpassed the numbers diagnosed in all clusters that have emerged since Mar 2020. The previous local clusters that emerged during the first COVID-19 wave which includes the Navy cluster and their close contacts amounted to 1,962 cases, more..

Jun 18 (FT) Sri Lanka has been ranked the second-best, ahead of Singapore and several other countries, for digital nomads in 2021 by the influential French travel and tourism operator Club Med. Thailand was ranked first in the survey. Club Med said as more work from home and say goodbye to cramped commutes and limp office plants, the idea of switching home offices for sunshine, lush landscapes and more..

Jun 18 (PTI) It said the vessel, named Devon, was sailing under the flag of Portugal and was en-route from Colombo in Sri Lanka to Haldia in West Bengal when the fuel leak happened. A merchant vessel's fuel tank developed a crack leading to 10 km of oil being spilled in the Bay of Bengal on Thursday, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said. It said the vessel, named Devon, was sailing under the flag of Portugal and was en-route from Colombo to Haldia in West Bengal when the fuel leak happened. more..

Jun 18 (DM) Prez Rajapaksa said today inaccurate figures on Covid death toll reported on June 11 led to the extension of travel restrictions and stressed that it was vital to provide accurate and updated information to make correct decisions. He said it was revealed through comprehensive investigations that only 15 deaths had occurred on June 11 whereas 101 deaths were reported that day. He said travel restrictions, which were to be lifted on June 14, were extended till June 21 based on information more..

Jun 19 (DM) Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) is experiencing a crisis with the institute making it known that 8000 vacancies need to be filled to provide an optimum service, according to a leading Sinhala daily newspaper. According to a spokesman of the Railway Engine Drivers� Association the institute needs a total work force of 23,000 and the mentioned number of vacancies exists in many departments; the voids to be filled are for the posts of station master, assistant driver and more..

Jun 19 (DM) History does not provide us with answers to all todays or tomorrows questions; but it definitely provides us with options to answers to these questions if looked at carefully. I am indeed pleased to associated with the 110th Birth Anniversary celebrations of Hon. Dudley Senanayake - One of Ceylon�s greatest Sons and one of the nation�s most eminent liberal thinkers of the 20th century. His life and political conduct stand out as a beacon of light through history and more..

Jun 19 (DM) The European Parliament�s resolution on Sri Lanka on June 10 was the second international stricture against the country imposed this year in the light of human rights situation in the country. The first one was the resolution passed by the UNHRC in March. The European resolution was adopted by 628 votes in favour of it in the 705-member legislative assembly of the regional grouping. more..

Jun 19 (CT) It has nearly been a months since stringent travel restrictions were imposed island wide to curb the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths. Authorities were hoping the restrictions would prevent public gatherings and that there would be a gradual reduction in the number of cases reported daily. However, a month later, daily case numbers are still over 2,000. Despite restrictions and the arrest of those who violate restrictions, people are seen freely moving about, engaging in more..

Jun 19 (DM) The statement put out by SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, critical of Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila over the latest fuel price hike, laid bare once again factions and frictions in the govt. It is commonsense that the fuel price hikes cannot be enforced without sanction of the Finance Ministry. The subject ministry can make recommendations, but it is finally the collective decision of the govt under usual circumstances. The recent spike of fuel prices to reflect increases more..

Jun 19 (CT) Any Govt in any country may have its pros and cons and Prez Rajapaksa�s Govt is no different. While it may have taken a considerable amount of progressive decisions, in the interest of the people of this country, whether such actions and decisions have reached the pulse of the public is questionable. One of the main reasons for such good deeds going unnoticed could be the consistency this govt continuously displayed more..

Jun 19 (TM) In order to bring about a greener, more sustainable Sri Lanka, the Govt has announced their plans to expedite the Aruwakkalu Sanitary Garbage Depot. The depot is set to address the country�s waste problem and bring in additional sources of income. According to the UDA, both Prez Rajapaksa and PM Rajapaksa signed off on the acceleration of the development project. This depot is expected to welcome 1,200 tonnes of garbage per day, out of which waste by-products will be used to more..

Jun 19 (CT) A desperate decision by Prez Rajapaksa (GR) to invite TNA leaders for talks followed by an equally desperate cancellation of that invitation reveals a lot more than what news headlines try to convey. On the one hand, it recalls what happened in the 1950s when Bandaranaike realized the folly of introducing the Sinhala Only Bill and events followed thereafter; and on the other, it admits an uncomfortable truth that the country has reached a dead end under GR�s so-called more..

Jun 19 (GV) On the May 7, 2014 Sandun Malinga, a 17 year old boy and four others with him were beaten by police officers, arrested and detained at the Kandaketiya police in the Badulla district. The next day, around 2.30 am, Sandun complained of chest pains when his mother visited him at the police station but police officers refused the mother�s request to admit him to hospital. The mother visited him again around 7.30 am and saw him in a bad condition, lying on the cold floor while crying. more..

Jun 19 (Island) India has denied media reports that its Navy recently assaulted a group of SL fishermen, who claim the attack took place on the high seas. We cannot either confirm or deny these claims. Both sides cannot be expected to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Fishers are notorious for fish tales, and so are diplomats, who are said to lie abroad for the good of their countries. But the question is who actually set upon the SL fishermen, whose torsos and limbs are wealed and raw. more..

Jun 19 (Island) One does not know whether Minister Udaya Gammanpila is enjoying his time of special prominence with the SLPP Secretary calling for his resignation and the SJB moving a vote of No Confidence in him. Cause for his delight must be that the price of oil remains at the new high levels that were announced by him. He will certainly go down in history as one who replaced Rajapaksas in leadership on a national issue of importance. more..

Jun 19 (Island) In this time of natural disasters and govt�s omissions and commissions; a leaky burning ship surreptitiously invited to seek haven just outside our Colombo Port for money considerations, destroying our wonderful sea and life in it for a hundred years, one hugs little bits of normalcy that intrude joyfully our woeful state. Such was my emotion when I opened my front door on Friday 11 June and saw The Island newspaper in crisp print lying there waiting to be read. more..

Jun 19 (Island) It has been done or has it? Port City Bill has received overwhelming approval of Parliament, all amendments suggested by the SC were incorporated, so that a referendum or 2/3rds majority requirement were foreclosed. On the Speaker signing it, following due process, the Bill became law: it is within the constitution. But social media, for which truth is not a troubling issue, are carrying out a carping, personalised campaign of innuendo and insinuation against it. more..

Jun 19 (WP) In Sri Lanka�s Kalutara District, once Chaminda Ruwankumara sees that a palm tree�s flower is mature, he prepares to climb. He tucks a knife secured in a sheath into the back of his shorts, hangs a pot from the knife�s handle, and makes his way 25 to 40 feet up a makeshift wooden ladder wrapped around the tree. Ruwankumara then cuts the flower, collects its sweet sap and climbs back down. more..

Jun 19 (FT) Access Engineering, Balance of Plant (BOP) subcontractor of the Mannar Wind Power Plant, is nearing the completion of the scope of work assigned for this ambitious project which is a flag bearer to drive SL to a future of clean renewable energy. Located in the southern part of Mannar Island, the 100 MW semi-dispatchable wind power plant is expected to supply more than 380 million units of electricity to the national grid annually where electricity from this project can be generated more..

Jun 19 (DN) SL Women�s Cricket Captain Chamari Atapptu has signed with the Perth Scorchers for the upcoming Australian Women�s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2021. The 31-year-old left-hander said that this is the first time that she is contracted with the Perth Scorchers, having earlier represented the Melbourne Renegades for two years. In fact, two of the left-hander�s six international centuries have come on Australian soil; she smacked 113 from 66 balls in a T20I at North Sydney Oval in 2019, more..

Jun 19 (CT) For the first time in history, Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa took steps to ensure 21 National track and field athletes entered into a contract and would receive Rs 100,000 per month apart from nutrition allowances. Minister stated that now it�s up to the Athletics Association to carry out the technical aspects, by setting qualification standards and making recommendations, while more..

Jun 19 (DN) Kimiko Shihara Raheem is a former SL national swimmer who has represented the country at several international competitions including the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Kimiko was born on Jan28, 1999 and was educated at Asian Int'l School. She won multiple Gold Medals at the 2016 South Asian Games in the backstroke and freestyle events. She won all her events while setting new records in all of them in both the Short Course Junior National Swimming C'ships more..

Jun 19 (CT) The Sports Ministry has asked SLA to cut down on the 15-member team recommended for the forthcoming Interstate Athletics Championship in India to five. To accommodate the request made by Indian authorities, SLA included a 4x100m women�s relay team to the original contingent. However, the Athletics Federation of India has intimated they can provide full board to only five members, while only accommodation will be provided free to the rest of the contingent. more..

Jun 19 (Island) Italy based athlete Yupun Abeykoon could become the first SL sprinter since 1996 to compete in the men�s 100 metres at an Olympics after improving his world ranking to be among the top 50 athletes in the world. According to the World Athletics� world rankings updated on Wednesday Yupun has climbed 34 places up to be ranked 48th in the world. The fourth place performance produced at the last week�s more..

Jun 19 (FT) Central Bank has made a formal Recovery Plan mandatory for all commercial and specialised banks from next year. In a directive issued this week, CB said the Recovery Plan (RCP) should identify the full range of recovery options available to a licensed bank to deal with shocks to capital, liquidity and all other aspects that may arise from institution-specific stresses, market-wide stresses, or a combination of both. Banks should have an RCP in place and RCP shall include more..

Jun 19 (CT) Though the European Union�s (EU) GSP+ trade facility has helped SL to boost export performance, loss of the facility would not create a major setback besides the strong potential for a trade surplus with the EU, Softlogic Equity Research said. EU Parliament recently adopted a resolution seeking the temporary withdrawal of SL�s GSP+ status. Last time Sri Lanka lost the GSP+ facility was in 2010 on humanitarian grounds and many industries claimed that they were in jeopardy more..

Jun 19 (ST) Both the X-Press Pearl�s chief engineer and second engineer have told the CID they were not informed about an acid leak in one of the containers on the vessel responsible for one of SL�s worst maritime disasters. According to the CID, Chief Engineer Oleg Sadilenko told investigators he first became aware of a problem in the cargo after seeing email exchanges to and from the vessel while it was en route to Port Hamad in Qatar more..

Jun 19 (Island) Department of Wildlife Conservation, and environmentalists, expressed concern about the increasing number of deaths of marine species, following the ecological disaster caused by the fire destruction of Singapore-flagged MV X-Press Pearl off the Colombo port. Around 40 dead sea turtles and ten dolphins have washed up on shores. The actual number of deaths is believed to be at least 5 times more. Govt Analyst�s Dept is currently trying to establish the causes of deaths. more..