May 19 (CT) SL Embassy in Israel at Central Tel Aviv, said they are closely monitoring the escalation of airstrikes between Israel and Palestine, and if there is a need to evacuate SL migrant workers, in consultation with the Foreign Ministry and the Israeli Govt, they will do so. The airstrikes between the two warring countries erupted last Monday (10). SL Ambassador to Israel, Waruna Wilpatha, urged SL migrant workers to use the two hotlines that would be reachable 24/7 and the numbers are: at more..

May 19 (TM) Ambassadors of the European Union (EU) based in Colombo called on Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday at the Foreign Ministry, and discussed issues of mutual interest, including EU - Sri Lanka cooperation, and the GSP Plus process. Foreign Minister welcomed the multifaceted cooperation existing between Sri Lanka and EU. Follow up action on the EU � SL Joint Commission Meeting held on 25 January 2021 was also discussed. more..

May 19 (NR) Day One of the two-day Parliamentary debate on the proposed Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill concluded this evening. Speaker of House Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena yesterday revealed in Parliament, the determination of the Supreme Court pertaining to the Port City Bill. Commencing the debate today, PM Rajapaksa announced the stance of the govt pertaining to the proposed more..

May 19 (MFA) Repatriation of SL migrant workers kept in the detention centres in Riyadh and Jeddah has been completed with the last batch of 103 detainees having returned to SL in the Saudi Airlines SV 786 on 19 May. This is the last leg of the repatriation process initiated by the Embassy of SL in April 2021. With this latest cluster, a total of 180 individuals, 49 females and 131 males have been brought back to SL. Since July 2020, 334 SL deportees have returned to SL from SA. more..

May 19 (NF) UNICEF, with the support of Australia, has procured and delivered a consignment of urgently needed oxygen concentrators and other vital equipment to the Ministry of Health in support of SL�s ongoing response to Coronavirus. SL is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases with a daily average of nearly 2000 since the beginning of May. The current trajectory is putting a strain on SL�s health system which has been vital in preventing a worst-case scenario more..

May 20 (DM) Twelve years ago, almost to the day, the SL security forces brought an end to a three decades long struggle against terrorism against the world�s most ruthless terrorist organization. Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri opined recently that such characterization is actually a flip side of certain inabilities on the part of the state. He is correct, in part. It should not have taken three decades. Incompetence, lack of determination, wayward and even treacherous policy choices by more..

May 20 (GV) May 18, 2021 marks 12 years since the end of the war. It must be an occasion for us as Sri Lankans to assess progress we have made in addressing root causes for the conflict through a political process and moving forward towards co-existence and more peaceful and just society. It�s also an occasion for us to assess how we have dealt with consequences of the conflict, such as searching for the disappeared, release of political prisoners, resolving land issues, ensuring economic more..

May 20 (CT) The competitiveness of a particular education depends on the toughness of the exam and GCE Advance and Ordinary Level examinations are really hard. SL provides free education up to bachelor�s degrees. GCE A/L and O/L examinations are the factors that decide one�s entry into a public university. It is a very competitive exam where only a handful of students are selected to universities. more..

May 20 (GV) The first five months of 2009 brought immense and unprecedented pain to the people of northern Sri Lanka, and to their many Tamil relatives outside the country who looked on and received daily reports of death and injury and misery. Their efforts, and the efforts of concerned people in the rest of SL and the world to bring a humanitarian pause to the war to limit the loss of life, ultimately failed. They failed due to the determination of the SL govt to destroy the LTTE and more..

May 20 (DM) Among the main news in last week�s print and electronic media were two that drew our attention. One was that of the killing of underworld criminal Tharaka Perera Wijesekera alias Kosgoda Tharaka. He was in custody when killed in a police shooting. DIG Ajith Rohana said 34-year-old Tharaka Perera had been taken to Rendapola in Mirigama to conduct a special operation and had died on admission to the Wathupitawela Hospital after he suffered injuries during the shooting. more..

May 20 (SO) Plantation Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said except for criticism levelled against the Govt, there was no active contribution from the Opposition parties throughout the Covid-19 pandemic or any assistance to mitigate it. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said anybody in the Opposition didn�t come forward even to praise the control of the first wave of Covid-19 pandemic in the country more..

May 20 (DM) When the Govt of SL (GoSL) celebrated 12 years after winning the civil war on Tuesday (May 18) the battered Tamil community had a lot to ponder on. More than any form of physical harassment at present the Tamils in the country are trying hard to cure mental wounds. They lost their loved ones, land in the north and now have to put up with the fact that a good number of their loves ones are missing from the civil war. The then president at the time the govt forces finished the war more..

May 20 (SO) This article will attempt to juxtapose the challenge of defeating terrorism that SL faced and succeeded in May 2009 being the only country to defeat terrorism, with the challenge as well as potential we face to defeat a pandemic the world cannot. We defeated terror militarily and used Buddhistic compassion to pardon the entire fighting force of the internationally proscribed terrorist organisation that was the LTTE. Because of the clear and swift decision taken by the Prez more..

May 20 (CT) It was a sad day in the year 2009 that we remember today. As far as we SL Tamils of the North and East are concerned we have to face many obstacles even today. On one hand Covid 19 is playing havoc among us. On the other hand we face repression by the State in many ways. Personally, I would be called upon in a day or two to answer criminal charges for saying; 1. that the Tamil language was the language of the earliest inhabitants of this Island more..

May 20 (Island) There is a high intensity of transmission of covid-19 in the country just now. Although it became apparent with cases increasing in the last week of April, the increase in transmission began about 4 weeks before that. The incubation period of the virus (3-14 days) together with testing / reporting delays mean that the cases detected and reported now were the result of transmission that took place 1-2 weeks ago. Since deaths follow with a lag period of a further two weeks, more..

May 20 (TM) After so much pushing from friends (my university batchmate and a close friend in particular), I went to get my Covid-19 vaccine on 15 May. The whole of last week, I tried to book a time and place through electronic channelling but it was always full. I live in Wellawatta, Colombo 6. Hence, I tried both the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) District Five office in Wellawatta and the MOH District Four office in Kirula Road but more..

May 20 (ST) One law for all, they said. The citizenry roared in approval. For what seemed like eons the populace of the Resplendent Isle had been waiting for just leaders. At last the princes and paupers were to be judged under the same laws. How low can they get, thought the upper crust and the deal makers, to try us along with the hoi polloi. But the knowing people knew, as the saying goes. Out with nepotism, they said. Like the Roman citizens who had gathered by the body of more..

May 20 (TM) Deals pertaining to Sri Lanka�s ports-related projects caused much controversy in the recent past, and when one issue gets resolved, another emerges. However, some issues, such as the Colombo Port City project, have a multitude of angles that need attention, apart from the economic aspects. This is what happened when it came to the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill, and among many other allegations, its constitutionality was challenged by almost 20 parties. more..

May 20 (CT) SL's listed Materials, Food, Beverage and Tobacco, Banking and Telecom sector companies have shown extraordinary performance in the first quarter of this year, according to financial and economic analysts. They also point out that the prevailing low interest rate and tax rate regime in the country has greatly contributed to such a high level of progress in the face of Covid-19 pandemic. more..

May 20 (Island) The govt is doing its darnedest to have the public believe that it has identified the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday carnage�Moulavi Naufer, who is already in custody. Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (retd.) Dr. Sarath Weerasekera reiterated the govt�s position yesterday in Parliament. It was Naufer who had introduced the ISIS ideology here, the Minister said, noting that even the FBI had confirmed that he masterminded the terror attacks. more..

May 20 (Island) Chess Federation of SL will field four players led by National Champion Ranindu Liyanage of Ananda College for the Asian Continental Chess Championship which commences today. The major championship which will also select the continent�s top eight players for the FIDE Chess World Cup will be played in Hybrid Format using the Tornelo Platform. Liyanage, who is in top form after winning the SL Chess Grand Prix 2021 has already qualified to compete in the Chess WC 2021 more..

May 20 (CB) Former president Shammi Silva is set to stage a comeback into Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) after country's Sports Minister, traditionally a strong authority in the game, refused to get involved in the controversy-ridden elections to the SLC. The elections are scheduled for Thursday (20). "I don't get involved in the election process. I will work with whoever gets elected," Namal Rajapakse, son of PM Mahinda Rajapakse, told Cricbuzz more..

May 20 (Island) There may have been a few not so attractive clauses like the senior players� payments taken off from the new Central Contracts that the national cricketers are refusing to sign, but overall, there are provisions for players to earn more money if they improve their performance. For example, beating a top ranked team or reaching the semi-finals of an ICC event will enable a player to earn more money rather than pocketing money on his seniority base. more..

May 20 (FT) Top diversified blue chip Hayleys Plc yesterday announced historic results in FY21 with consolidated post-tax profit up by near 400% to Rs. 14.05 billion whilst pre-tax figure was a staggering Rs. 19.2 billion, up 250% from the previous year. The latter places Hayleys at number one among the companies which have announced results to date. Expolanka, which has so far reported the highest-ever after tax profit of Rs. 14.8 billion, had only Rs. 16.58 billion in pre-tax profit in FY21. more..

May 20 (TM) With less than two 48 hours to go for the AGM of SLC, the rival camp of the previous SLC executive committee under Shammi Silva, which was headed by Kangadaran Mathivanan and also featuring former SLC Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga and SL�s first Test Captain Bandula Warnapura �who were to contest as Secretary and Vice President respectively� withdrew from the contest last afternoon. more..

May 20 (FT) The SL multinational Haycarb PLC has reported revenue of Rs. 25.4 billion, profit before tax of Rs. 4.49 billion and profit after tax of Rs. 3.56 billion for the financial year 2020/21. The earnings per share of equity holders of the company was Rs. 10.25 for the year. Haycarb PLC and its parent company Hayleys Chairman Mohan Pandithage said that the company overcame the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and responded positively to opportunities due to the business model more..

May 20 (CT) Sri Lanka cricket (SLC) officially announced that they have granted official contracts to 24 players, and those unwilling to sign are most welcome to sign tour by tour contracts. This was revealed at a virtual media briefing conducted by SLC yesterday. �We have put the contracts on the table for signature, and whoever wants to sign can do so, and those who are unwilling to sign are most welcome to sign tour by tour contracts. We have no issue with that,� said Ashley de Silva, more..

May 20 (Island) Global Tamil Forum (GTF) says that the 40,000 to 70,000 Tamil civilians killed in the final months of the war in northern SL constitutes only a fraction of the total number of deaths during the 30-year-old conflict. The UK headquartered organisation has urged the Tamil community and their leaders to take stock of the challenges and opportunities in the present political climate and act strategically by forming partnerships more..

May 20 (DN) The Govt is taking measures to import 900,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine, Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said. He said those stocks are expected by July. He added that the Govt authorities are already in talks with the relevant parties. He was speaking at a meeting at the Gampaha DS office on Tuesday to review the progress of the vaccination programme in the Gampaha District. 260,915 persons in Gampaha District had received AstraZeneca vaccine more..

May 20 (TM) Reacting to the last-moment withdrawal of the Kangadaran Mathivanan camp from the 20 May Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) AGM, one of the leading officials of the previous SLC Ex-co said that they knew their rival faction will withdraw from the race any moment. �We knew that they were going to withdraw. We knew that from the very beginning of the campaign. We have nothing to do with it. But we have always said we were going to win this election pretty easily,� more..

May 20 (DM) Lawyers have told court that former CID Director Shani Abeysekara, who they identified as SL�s Sherlock Holmes, was a victim of a conspiracy. On a request made by the lawyers, Court of Appeal yesterday fixed revision appeals against the refusal of bail to Shani Abeysekara and Sub Inspector Sugath Mendis by Gampaha HC to be taken up on 4th June for inquiry, even if current restrictions on court sittings continue. more..

May 20 (Island) Commercial Bank of Ceylon has helped 210 school leavers find lucrative employment after completing Vocational Training Authority (VTA) training programmes and obtaining National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) certifications. Bank has been a part of the VTA�s initiative to train students who drop out of school after Grade 10 to equip them with skills necessary to thrive in the country�s construction industry since VTA first launched a specialised intervention titled more..

May 20 (FT) UNP called on the Govt to withdraw the Port City Bill and re-draft a new bill with broader consultation. �We welcome the determination by the Supreme Court in regard to the Colombo Port City Economic Commission bill, but a mismanaged Port City will not contribute to the national economy as anticipated,� UNP member and former MP Sandith Samarasinghe told journalists yesterday at a press conference, where he was joined by the UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardena. more..

May 20 (TM) Govt will not legalise the exportation of cannabis from SL in the near future, or in the years to come, despite certain parties lobbying for its legalisation, stated Trade Ministry Secretary Bhadrani Jayawardana. She made this statement in response to a question we raised on cannabis exports. Such a move would require a national policy-level decision, she noted, stressing that neither the Govt, more..

May 20 (DM) The govt has shot down a request by the private sector to pay for the importation of Astrazeneca vaccines for the corporate world as several are desperately awaiting the second jab. An effort was underway by Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) in recent days to gather information on how many doses were required by the private sector for its employees who had received the first dose of the Covishield Astrazeneca vaccine. more..

May 20 (Island) Prof. Neelika Malavige of Sri J'pura University yesterday said only those engaged in providing essential services should be allowed to travel. Employees should not be allowed to eat together, Prof. Malavige said. �You take masks off when you eat. If a group of people sit together and eat, all the precautions taken during the rest of the day will be in vain. Every country that has successfully controlled the spread, has adopted such measures.� more..

May 20 (CT) 12th National War Heroes Commemoration Day was held yesterday evening at the Parliament Grounds under the patronage of Prez Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and PM Mahinda Rajapaksa. During the ceremony, the fallen soldiers from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and Civil Defence Force, especially those who died in Sri Lanka�s war, were honoured for their courage and their service to the Nation. more..

May 20 (TM) Tourist service centres are to be established along the road network connecting the major tourist cities of the country, and under the first phase of this programme, 28 tourist service centres will be constructed in Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Badulla, and Kegalle Districts, said Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga. He said that these tourist service centres, which are equipped with all the facilities required by local and foreign tourists, will be set up in accordance with int'l standards, more..