Mar 26 (DM) The TID yesterday arrested two suspects who were involved in promoting various ideologies relating to extremism and terrorism using social media, DIG Ajith Rohana said. He said a 46-year-old man from Matale was arrested yesterday for promoting extremist and radicalist ideologies in the country via social media. The police investigations disclosed that the suspect, who was deported from the UAE on Dec 5, 2020, for having indulged in numerous nefarious activities more..

Mar 26 (ANI) Rameswaram Association has decided to boycott the upcoming Assembly election and demanded for the immediate release of 54 Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry fishermen and their 5 boats captured by the SL Navy. "A resolution has been passed at a meeting of the Fishermen's Association calling for the immediate release of 54 Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry fishermen and their 5 boats captured by the SL Navy if the Central Govt does not intervene and release them immediately more..

Mar 26 (AD) SL Standards Institution (SLSI) today rejected as totally fabricated and false the allegations in the media and social media claiming that senior officials of the SLSI had authorized the sale of unhealthy coconut oil imported to the country by four importers. SLSI, being the standards body for quality to the nation, will not compromise the set standards for any commodity or material that will be detrimental to the lives and livelihoods of more..

Mar 26 (EN) SL�s exporters and importers are braced for a spike in already high freight rates and delays amid rising fears that Suez Canal will be closed until next week as frantic efforts are made to dislodge a massive container ship that has run aground in the vital waterway. Over 200 vessels, made up of bulk carriers, container vessels, crude and gas carriers are have piled up on both sides of the canal since Ever Given, a 20,000 TEU container vessel ran aground blocking the Suez Canal more..

Mar 26 (FT) CEB has called for proposals from the private sector for the setting up of 75 kilowatt (kW) solar power generation plants on a �Build, Own and Operate� (BOO) basis with power purchase agreements (PPAs) spanning 20 years. The move is part of overall measures by the Govt to enhance renewable energy sources to cater to the country�s energy demand. At present Non-Conventional Renewable Energy (NCRE) accounts for 11% of total energy production with the goal being more..

Mar 26 (HRW) The UNHRC resolution on SL is a victory for victims of abuses to help them obtain information, accountability, and justice, Human Rights Watch said. The UN and member countries should emphasize to SL President Gotabaya Rajapaksa that any reprisals against activists who campaigned for the resolution would have serious consequences. Resolution 46/1, adopted on March 23, 2021, more..

Mar 26 (AD) Former Minister Ravi Karunanayake and six others have been further remanded until the 31st of March over the 2nd bond auction case in 2016. The suspects were produced before the Trial-at-Bar hearing the legal matters on CB Treasury Bond auctions held from March 29 to March 31, 2016. The bench consisted of Judges Amal Ranaraja, Namal Balalle and Aditya Patabendige. After the suspects were served indictments on Thursday (25), Deputy Solicitor General more..

Mar 26 (EN) A 10-day lockdown has been imposed in a section of the Jaffna town following the detection of 77 COVID-19 positive cases in the area, an official said. The Kasturi Road, Powerhouse Road and areas in between Manipal and Jaffna town have been isolated. Travel restrictions have also been imposed. The 77 cases were detected in a 24 hour period that ended at 6am today, he said, comprising the majority of the 271 cases found island wide in that period. more..

Mar 26 (Island) On March 23, at the invitation of Santhush Jeong, ambassador of Korea, the captain of the 1996 Cricket World Cup winning team Arjuna Ranatunga paid a visit to the Korean embassy. The 25th anniversary of SL clinching the maiden cricket World Cup under the leadership of Arjuna Ranatunga was recently celebrated on March 17. In line with the 25th anniversary of winning the Cricket WC, the ambassador expressed his delight and honour to host the legend of SL cricket at more..

Mar 26 (CT) SL�s unemployment rate soared to a 11-year high, with the unemployment rate climbing to 5.8% at the end of the third quarter (3Q) of last year, data showed. A higher unemployment rate than this was last seen in 3Q of 2009; with an unemployment rate of 5.9%. Meanwhile, last year, the COVID-19 devastated the economy with lockdowns to keep the pandemic at bay. Consequently many lost their jobs. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate as at end 2Q 2020 was 5.4%, more..

Mar 26 (DM) UNESCO World Heritage Committee is to consider at its next meeting the SL govt�s request to construct a reservoir covering a landmass of five hectares within the Sinharaja forest to be used as a source for a drinking water project to be implemented for the benefit of people living in the south -eastern part of the country, an official said. Irrigation Ministry Secretary Anura Dissanayake said the Irrigation Department and the Ministry more..

Mar 26 (DM) A video of a safari driver with a group of tourists chasing an elephant is going viral on social media. The video is said to be from the Yala national park. It has been shared by the Indian Forest Services officer, Surendra Mehra on Twitter. The video shows a group of tourists in their vehicle followed an elephant walking in the Yala national park. They were seen clicking pictures, chattering, and also laughing while sitting in the vehicle. However, their enjoyment turned into more..

Mar 26 (EN) 54 Indian nationals that were taken into custody by the SL navy on Wednesday for illegally fishing in SL waters have been handed over to Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the navy said. Upon such arrests, foreign fishermen are handed over to SL�s fisheries authorities who set legal procedures in motion in order to prosecute them. However, if the SL govt decides not to prosecute them due to diplomatic level discussions held between the two govts concerned, more..

Mar 26 (EN) Prez Rajapaksa points out that the Digital Platform is a great opportunity for the public to come up with ideas and creative proposals in order to formulate a Sustainable Education Policy Framework. �The vision and philosophy of a country is shaped by its education system. An outdated education system creates a society that cannot keep pace with the modern world. A policy formulated as a result of more..

Mar 27 (DM) Water is freely available and we gladly give a glass of fresh water to anyone who asks for it. History has taught us that what is freely given is often not fully appreciated. So is it with water. We often waste water without realising that in about two decades the world could be facing a stormy fresh water crisis. In recent decades, the world�s big powers including the United States have gone to war in Iraq, Syria and other countries. They say the reason is to fight terrorism but more..

Mar 27 (CT) Diplomacy is not necessarily govt-to- govt (G2G) contact only, but also embraces people-to-people (P2P) contact, US Ambassador Alaina Teplitz is quoted to have had said in Colombo, the US Embassy said on Wednesday. Speaking at the Sri J'pura University�s Humanities and Social Sciences Research Conference recently, she is further quoted to have had said: �It�s really P2P ties that may lead to the making or breaking of relationships between countries. more..

Mar 27 (DM) Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara, a senior left-wing politician serving in the present govt, responds to allegations against govt on ecocide, internal squabbling, lack of direction and the high living costs. He stresses that the govt should pointedly answer the allegations. Q: In the context of the govt facing various allegations, how do you assess the current political situation? A: Firstly, pandemic is overriding in importance more..

Mar 27 (DM) �Britain will not be able to have its own way in the UNHRC as there are other influential countries such as Russia, China and Cuba at the UNHRC,� said the then Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2013. He was responding to the then British PM David Cameron�s March 2014 deadline for SL to improve its human rights situation and the warning that Britain would have no choice but to move a resolution against SL the following year at the UNHRC if SL did not oblige. more..

Mar 27 (CT) Recently published Financial Statement of the People�s Bank springs hopefulness with a sigh of relief in those who were concerned about many questionable happenings in that bank over a long span of time. PB has safely sailed away from all the ill effects during a period filled with many unpredictable realities and uncertainties, admirably. We have to appreciate the solid inputs and the professional manipulations that appear to have gone into this success story. more..

Mar 27 (DM) �The 2021 Resolution endorses the Report of the High Commissioner, and expresses serious concern at what it describes as �trends emerging over the past year, which represent a clear warning sign of a deteriorating situation of human rights in SL,� said Dr. Nihal Jayawickrama in an exclusive interview. He represented the Govt in the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly while serving as more..

Mar 27 (CT) Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the choice of the people to replace the Yahapalana govt in 2019; it became a reality with 6.9 million voting for him and electing him as the president. He was very proudly saying that he was elected by 6.9 million people in the country, which is something that had not happened in the past; but he has not said this lately as he knows that this support does not exist anymore. His policy of I will do what I want has also backfired. People are beginning to criticize more..

Mar 27 (DM) One of the not-so-surprising decisions taken by the present Govt was to withdraw from co-sponsoring the landmark UNHRC Resolution 30/1. This Resolution was co-sponsored by the Yahapalana Govt to promote reconciliation, accountability and human rights in the country. With the Govt repeatedly denying claims on war crimes, a new Resolution was drafted in the wake of damning reports by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), more..

Mar 27 (CT) Technology continues to permeate all aspects of the modern world. Legal systems too are transitioning from legacy IT systems to digital technologies thus redefining the ways in which justice is delivered. This article explores the possibility and feasibility of digitisation towards digitalisation and digital transformation. In the face of COVID-19, court systems around the world have adapted to assist litigants better and provide greater access to justice. more..

Mar 27 (Island) A video clip of part of a conversation of local radio commentators with probably the DJ joining in during a music session, had them with good humour thrashing Meghan � the wickedly whining Duchess of Essex � on her recent Oprah Winfrey interview. They very rightly said that in Sri Lanka folk invariably comment on the skin colour of a newborn � kaluda sududa? and no one takes the slightest offence. People go further macabrely, Cass adds, commenting on the laid-out dead more..

Mar 27 (CT) UNHRC country specific resolution Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in SL was adopted with 22 countries voting in favour, 11 voting against while 14 abstained. The Govt rejected the resolution saying the whole exercise by the UNHRC was uncalled for. Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, following the vote, said the resolution that was adopted was only an advisory resolution more..

Mar 27 (ST) The appointment of a new ombudsman is being considered along with necessary legal protection to be provided for borrowers experiencing default situations in the repayment of loans obtained from banks due to financial difficulties in the COVID-19 pandemic period. Govt will appoint a new ombudsman or provide more powers to the present financial ombudsman to redress the grievances of borrowers and prevent banks from auctioning of land and property mortgaged to banks and more..

Mar 27 (FT) The Govt of Japan provided a grant of $ 36,759 (approx. Rs. 7.2 million) through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) for the provision of Reconditioned Ambulances for the Moolai Co-operative Hospital. The grant contract was signed on 24 March at the Ambassador�s Residence in Colombo, between the Ambassador of Japan Sugiyama Akira and Co-operative Hospital Society Ltd. Moolai President M. Gnaneswaran. more..

Mar 27 (TM) The Export Development Board (EDB) has evaluated various programmes to promote locally manufactured boats and ships, which have taken a drastic toll due to the challenges influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic, The Morning Business learns. Speaking to us, an EDB spokesperson stated that the plummeting export figures of the boat and ship building industry have been acknowledged and more..

Mar 27 (CT) The upcoming Avurudu season will bring good fortune every day to recipients of remittances via the Commercial Bank of Ceylon, with the launch of the Bank�s Double Wasi promotion offering 22 customers the opportunity to double the amount they receive. On each of the 22 days ending 15th April, one lucky remittance customer of the Bank stands the chance of winning a cash prize, the Bank said. Recipients of money via ComBank Remit Plus � the remittance services of the Bank � more..

Mar 27 (ST) SL�s own Creately was recently tapped as a top five contender in the List of Best ANZ Sellers for 2021 by industry benchmark site G2. Additionally, G2 also tapped Creately as a Leader in the Diagramming segment. The world�s largest software marketplace and review platform, G2.com features over 100,000 reviews and over five million visitors. G2�s Best Software Awards rank the world�s best software companies and products based on authentic, timely reviews from real users, more..

Mar 27 (CI) Reforming Sri Lanka's domestic structure is among Tom Moody's priorities in his new role as director of cricket, and a fresh plan for first-class structure may be revealed over the next few months. So said Moody in his first press conference in his new role, having just spent three weeks observing and reviewing cricket in SL. Moody was hired for a 3-year stint as director by a technical advisory committee led by more..

Mar 27 (FT) A UNFPA supported survey in 2019 found that one in four (24.9%) women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence since age 15 by a partner or non-partner in SL. Across the world and in SL, UNFPA supports Govts and women�s organisations to strengthen their response to violence against women and girls. Contrary to what is often believed, gender-based violence can happen to anyone, anywhere. A community approach is therefore required to ensure that more..

Mar 27 (Island) Steps had been taken to introduce a new online system for local authorities to approve construction plans, N.P.K. Ranaweera, Director General of the UDA said in Parliament recently at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Urban Development and Housing. Director General said that the system had already been initiated as a pilot project at the Kotte Municipal Council and Gampaha and Kalutara Pradeshiya Sabhas. The meeting was chaired by State Minister Indika Anuruddha, more..

Mar 27 (ST) The forest department�s delays in acquiring land that would triple the size of the Sinharaja rainforest sanctuary is allowing landholders and rogue operators to clear land, fell valuable trees and gain controversial building permission inside the reserve, environmentalists claimed. Activist Pahiyangala Ananda Sagara Thera alleged businessmen and estate owners have started to encroach into the forested area more..

Mar 27 (CT) Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) has published list of athletes who are eligible to compete at the Senior National selection trials to be held from 7-9 April at the Sugathadasa Stadium Colombo. However, SLA has restricted participants for the National trials to abide by the COVID-19 prevention DREAM protocol of the Health Authorities. Hence, they have selected a list of eligible athletes to compete at the trials based on their performance at the 2020 National Athletics Championship more..

Mar 27 (ST) SL Press Institute (SLPI), its constituents and affiliated organisations met Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on Monday to submit a proposal for a single Authority to monitor the media, including print, radio, television and digital media in keeping with self-regulatory principles that will ensure freedom of expression and social responsibility. The delegation comprised representatives of the Newspaper Society of SL (NSSL), Editors� Guild of SL (TEGOSL), more..

Mar 27 (Island) The courts had quite justly come to be regarded as the sentinel over the powers of the legislature and the executive in SL in order to safeguard the rights of the citizen under the law and the Constitution, AG Dappula de Livera, PC has said on March 23 at the ceremonial sitting of the Court of Appeal. �The credibility of a judicial system in a country is dependent on the Judges who man it. Judges must be persons of impeccable more..

Mar 27 (FT) The Colombo stock market yesterday ended a tough week on the up as against a 5% decline the previous week. All Share Price Index (ASPI) and the S&P SL20 gained 3.55% and 3.96% respectively, NDB Equities said. Average daily turnover was Rs. 1.28 billion. In contrast the previous week the ASPI and the S&P SL20 lost 5.42% and 4.70% respectively, whilst recording an average daily turnover of Rs. 1.11 billion. Analysts said it was a week of fluctuating fortunes more..