Mar 4 (DM) The govt borrowings from the Central Bank and the licensed commercial banks accelerated during January for the second month in a row after some slowdown seen in November last year as the State is making the most of the historically low interest rates to keep State functions humming. Data showed that State had borrowed a total of Rs. 209.9 billion in Jan 2021, up from Rs. 185.3 billion in Dec 2020. The January net borrowings consisted of Rs.55.4 billion more..

Mar 4 (CT) The US is reviewing a UN report on SL�s human rights situation highlighting worrying trends on deepening impunity, increasing militarisation of governmental functions, ethno-nationalist rhetoric and intimidation of civil society. US State Dept spokesman Ned Price says �We are carefully reviewing the significant report from the UNHRC on human rights in SL.� Did Ned Price get it wrong? He must have meant the UN report on the US of A. Undisputedly the US are the biggest more..

Mar 4 (FT) Govt should concentrate on creating quality reserves by reducing the amount of inter-governmental financial arrangements, including swaps, and focus on structural reforms to improve SL�s debt sustainability over the next five years, Economist and former CB Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy said recently. He, noted that while the Govt and the monetary authority were stepping up to deal with current debt challenges more..

Mar 4 (DN) In their endeavour to support National Federations (NFs), the National Olympic Committee of SL (NOCSL) requested NFs to submit their requirements for equipment and sought assistance from The Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) through the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for funds to meet the requirements. After making a request from their higher authority and obtaining approval, ANOC distributed the requested funds through OCA to NOCSL to fulfill more..

Mar 4 (CT) Another phase of the Gama Samaga Pilisandarak Programme, to find solutions to problems faced by the rural people, was recently held in the Karuwalagaswewa area in the Puttalam District, under the patronage of Prez Rajapaksa. One of the main issues brought to the attention of the Prez, by the villagers, was the problems caused by wild elephants. Prez giving a patient ear to the grievances of villagers instructed officials to drive the elephants living in the area into the Wilpattu more..

Mar 4 (TM) All efforts made by the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) to show live coverage of the SL versus West Indies cricket series, starting today (4) in the Caribbean island of Antigua and Barbuda, failed last afternoon and there is a strong likelihood of a complete blackout of the month-long, all-format cricket series in SL. We at the Morning Sports predicted this eventuality in our Monday (1) and Tuesday (2) sports pages more..

Mar 4 (Island) Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts � announced its island weddings concept offering great value additions and special promotions spanning over 20 wedding venues throughout Cinnamon Grand Colombo, Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, Cinnamon Bentota Beach and Hikka Tranz by Cinnamon exclusively for bookings at The Wedding Show 2021, from 05 to 07 March at the BMICH. Attendees in search of the perfect wedding venue are able to choose from more..

Mar 4 (FT) Six exhibitors from Sri Lanka participated in the five-day Texworld/Apparel Sourcing Paris 2021 via virtual platform. The Lankan companies were JIA Moda, Kolonna Manufacturing, EL Holdings, Rakshaa Ltd., Sarasavi Exporters and Selta Ltd. The fair which concluded on 5 February showed new innovative ideas to the world. Texworld Paris normally brings together, twice a year in Paris, around 1,500 exhibitors from the fashion industry; however, with COVID-19 & travel restrictions more..

Mar 4 (DM) Commenting on the UK statement of Feb 25, in Geneva on SL at UNHRC by Lord Tariq Ahmad, President of UK all party British SL Parliamentary group Lord Naseby said he was astounded how the UK or any other Member of the Core group could possibly welcome the High Commissioner�s so called detailed & most comprehensive report on SL. He said report is riddled with unsubstantiated allegations more..

Mar 4 (FT) Reversal of global commodity prices will cause a multipronged impact on SL�s economy, exerting currency pressures due to a higher import bill, stressing finances of utility companies and have cascading effects on most sectors leading to price revisions and inflation, a report said yesterday. ICRA Lanka, which is a subsidiary of Moody�s Investor Services, releasing their latest Insights report warned that with gradual recovery of economic activities, a rise in domestic demand for oil more..

Mar 4 (TM) Colombo Colts Cricket Club�s request from the Minister of Sports Namal Rajapaksa to appoint an interim committee, in a letter dated 20 Feb 2021, may understandably have an effect on the 15 March Appeal Court hearing of the plea of a group of people, including former SLC administrators, to make major changes on the national cricket administration, citing a downfall in the game in recent times. A source said that on a previous instance too, under Sports Minister more..

Mar 4 (FT) SL�s total COVID-19 patient count crossed the 84,000 mark with the detection of 356 patients yesterday. The patients detected yesterday include 335 associates of the Peliyagoda cluster and the triple clusters that emerged from Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons have expanded to 80,044 patients. 84,226 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 to date. This includes 2,066 returnees from abroad, more..

Mar 4 (DN) Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa yesterday said that a full National Cricket Selection Committee will be appointed in due course in the proper manner on a long term basis. Minister made these observations during a media briefing held at the Sports Ministry Auditorium in Colombo. �We are not too late to appoint the Cricket Selection Committee. Chairman of the Selection Committee has already resigned but the other two members are already performing their task well.� more..

Mar 4 (FT) Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has urged hotels to strictly adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols, following the Health Ministry flagging off non-compliance. As the regulatory body, SLTDA has formally cautioned all Level 1 accommodation providers, destination management companies (DMCs) and guides (national, chauffeur and area) in a letter dated 2 March that the authority will take severe action against those violating protocols more..

Mar 4 (FT) The mismanagement of permitting burials of those who succumbed to COVID-19 indicates the insensitive nature of the Govt and points to a weak leadership, SJB MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar charged yesterday. He stated that by not heeding the recommendations of experts and the failure to expedite granting permission for burial of remains has tarnished the good name of Sri Lanka internationally. more..

Mar 4 (DN) An automated system has been developed to curtail the long-room Customs procedures and a pilot project has been started with selected exporters. Director General of Sri Lanka Customs, Major General (Retd) Vijitha Ravipriya mentioned that SL Customs has linked with SL Tea Board, Department of Motor Traffic, SL Ports Authority, Terminal Operators and National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) to deliver an automated system. more..

Mar 4 (AD) The Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force Air Chief Marshall Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria called on PM Rajapaksa at Temple Trees this evening. The Air Chief Marshall, who is visiting SL to attend the 70th Anniversary Celebrations of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), expressed continued support to Sri Lanka in the defense sector, the PM�s Office said. Sri Lanka and India have had a long-standing defense and security cooperation that has spanned many areas more..

Mar 4 (TM) Minister Douglas Devananda made a request to both Prez & PM to reconsider the decision to bury the Covid-19 deceased in the Iranaithivu island. Devananda had engaged in discussions yesterday with the Prez and the Premier and had communicated that the civilians in Iranaithivu island are against the island being used as a burial ground for those who succumb to Covid-19. more..

Mar 4 (Island) Govt of Japan provided a total sum of US$ 636,363 (approx. Rs. 120 million) through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) to Delvon Assistance for Social Harmony (DASH) for humanitarian demining activities in Northern SL. The grant contract was signed on 2nd March 2021 at the Japanese Ambassador�s Residence in Colombo, between Ambassador Sugiyama Akira and Programme Manager of DASH Ananda Chandrasiri. more..

Mar 4 (DM) Former national cricketer Sachithra Senanayake today gave an 8-hour statement to the Special Police Investigative Unit preventing crime and corruption related to sports today over match fixing allegations. He called over at the Police Unit at the Sugathadasa indoor Stadium at around 10.00 am today to give statement with regards to alleged attempt to fix matches in the 2020 Lanka Premier League (LPL) T20 tournament. LPL T20 tournament held from Nov27 to Dec17, 2020 in H'tota. more..

Mar 4 (Island) Presidential Secretariat has declined to release 22 volumes (each containing about 600 pages) of proceedings to Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC, on the advice of the PCoI that probed the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage. Of the 87 volumes, Presidential Secretariat yesterday (2) had sent only 65 to the AG. The AG has been informed that the PCoI is of the opinion that 22 volumes shouldn�t be disclosed due to more..

Mar 4 (CI) During an extraordinary run chase in the first T20I against Sri Lanka, Kieron Pollard became just the third batsman to hit six sixes in an over in international cricket following Herschelle Gibbs in the 2007 World Cup and then Yuvraj Singh at the 2007 T20 World Cup. Here's how he did it. 5.1 Dananjaya to Pollard, SIX runs Pollard goes down on one knee and slogs this length ball over long-on. There was a shout of catch it but Pollard cleared the boundary by some distance more..

Mar 4 (CT) Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB) stated it would support Black Sunday declared by the Archdiocese of Colombo on 7 March to protest against the lack of justice for those killed and wounded in the Easter Sunday terror attacks of 2019. The JJB stated the Easter Sunday attacks was a tragedy that took the lives of many and caused severe injuries to hundreds. The victims and their families deserve justice for this grave crime. However, JJB alleged, the report of PCoI more..

Mar 4 (Island) Many an eyebrow has been raised over the delay on the part of the Finance Ministry to respond to a Finance Committee (FC) request for a comprehensive report on an alleged fraud in the controversial sugar tax revision. Chairman of the FC Anura Priyadarshana Yapa on Jan 5 issued instructions to the Finance Ministry in this regard when the FC considered several special gazette notifications pertaining to more..

Mar 4 (CT) Despite the Govt selecting an area on the Iranathivu Island as a COVID-19 burial ground, it was revealed that no formal request has been made from the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) or the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) to conduct a survey on the ground water levels in the area. GSMB Chairman Anura Walpola and Assistant General Manager of the Ground Water Section at NWSDB, Mahinda Premaratne said they were yet to do a study more..

Mar 4 (CT) Air Show marking the 70th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) commenced yesterday, under the patronage of Prez Rajapaksa in the skies above the Galle Face Green in Colombo. A contingent of the Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in the event with aerobatic displays by the Sarang Helicopter Air Display Team, Surya Kiran Aerobatics Demonstration Team and Tejas Multirole Light Fighter Aircraft. SLAF also displayed their air capabilities at the show. more..

Mar 4 (CT) Health Ministry issued guidelines for the autopsy, disposal, transportation and burial of COVID-infected dead yesterday, further amending the Circular titled Autopsy Practice and Disposal of a Corpse due to COVID-19 issued on 1 Jan 2021. According to the guidelines, on written requests of next-of-kin of the deceased, addressed to the Director or Head of the healthcare institution where the death has occurred, the remains of more..

Mar 4 (FT) Many young managers ask for �job descriptions� or JDs when they are being appointed to new positions. Some of them hold these JDs so sacrosanct they never venture out to do anything outside unless it is properly sanctioned. In certain situations, this is also driven by the mechanical performance appraisal systems that are fully data driven and automated. Unfortunately, this tend to be the norm with certain work situation especially under the current working from home situations. more..

Mar 4 (FT) If somewhat unseemly, the communication is reassuring; the Western medical approach is alive and kicking; muthra saha lay pariksava (urine and blood testing facilities) abound in the country. In the capital city of Colombo, swept by trade winds for centuries, blatant promotion is unnecessary, all medical centres provide basic investigative facilities, urine testing can be done in suitable privacy, without announcing it to all and sundry. Outside C'mbo, things are different. more..

Mar 4 (DN) The Indian Visa Service (IVS) Application Centre at No.145 Temple Road, Jaffna, shut on 13th March 2020 due to COVID-19, has resumed its operations from yesterday. It will function every Wednesday from 0900 hrs to 1300 hrs. It will accept all categories of visa applications except tourism, which remains suspended due to COVID-19. Applicants have the option of receiving their serviced passports by courier by paying the prescribed fee at the IVS Application Centre more..

Mar 4 (DN) A mother has jumped into a well in Vattakachchi in Kilinochchi with her three children aged two, five and eight, Police said. They said the mother was rescued by the villagers while the body of one-year-old child has been found. Search operations are underway to find the missing children with the assistance of the navy and the residents of the area. Police said investigations have revealed that the incident has occurred due to a family dispute. more..

Mar 4 (DM) A leading Muslim organisation in SL will this week send an official letter of concern to the global Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the World Muslim Congress, seeking their intervention to urge the SL govt to allocate a decent land for the burial of Muslim COVID-19 victims. The SL Islamic Centre, which is a member of the World Muslim Congress will raise serious concerns with the global bodies and more..

Mar 4 (AN) Sri Lankan govt has agreed to the request of the Muslim World League (MWL) � in accordance with Islamic procedures � to stop cremating the bodies of Muslims who have died of COVID-19. The news came in a phone call to Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, MWL secretary-general, from Sri Lanka�s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dinesh Gunawardena. During the call, Gunawardena told Al-Issa that the SL govt had agreed to the MWL�s request. more..

Mar 4 (AD) Charges against former Minister Champika Ranawaka over the hit-and-run case in 2016 have been read out at the Colombo High Court today. The matter was called before Colombo HC Judge Namal Walalle. Accordingly, the indictment filed by the AG was read out in the open court during the legal proceeding. Preliminary objections against the indictment are schedule to be taken up on the 27th of April. The case was filed over the alleged hit-and-run incident which took place on more..

Mar 4 (EN) Cabinet Minister Wimal Weerawansha is joining the ranks of Sri Lankans who are not satisfied with the findings of the PCol into the Easter attacks. He said that the people expected the commission to reveal correct information. He said, �although some information was revealed, as a whole we cannot be satisfied with it.� He said information such as who was behind the attack and who are the foreign forces involved if more..

Mar 4 (DM) Police Marine Division has launched a special search operation this evening in the Kelani River from Modara to Hanwella to trace the severed head of the woman who was murdered at a guest house in Hanwella by a Sub Inspector of Police. The decapitated body of the 30-year old woman from Kuruwita found stuffed in a bag and left at Dam Street in Colombo on March 1. Later it came to light that the woman was lodging with the SI at a guest house in Hanwella where she was killed. more..

Mar 4 (DN) Court of Appeal yesterday directed the AG to get instructions from the respondent parties and report to Court on March 9 regarding alleged illegal constructions and filling of lands within the Muthurajawela Sanctuary. Court of Appeal two-judge-Bench comprising Justice (President) Arjuna Obeysekera and Justice Mayadunna Corea made this direction pursuant to writ petitions filed by Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith and the Centre for Environmental Justice. more..

Mar 4 (FT) The final version of the draft Data Protection Bill has been released by the Legal Draftsman�s Department. Originally, the Dept released the latest revised version in mid-Jan 2021 and this version was reviewed again by the Attorney General�s (AG) Department and their observations were released on 16 Feb, ICTA sources said. Several changes have been made to the substantive provisions of the original Draft Bill, more..