May 5 (DM) Minister Sarath Weerasekara today requested the Speaker not to allow MP Rishard Bathiudeen, who was detained under PTA, to attend Parliament until the investigations against him are completed. He told Parliament that any MP who was detained under PTA should not be allowed to attend Parliament sittings until the investigations against them are completed. Minister said if MP Bathiudeen made any statement in Parliament concerning the ongoing investigations using parliamentary more..

May 5 (EN) SL is seeing hospitalization delays in several districts as authorities scramble to provide extra beds and around 1,900 new patients are being confirmed, a health official said. SL is seeing hospitalization delays in several districts as authorities scramble to provide extra beds and around 1,900 new patients are being confirmed, a frontline health official said. �According to information, we have identified more..

May 5 (TM) The newly-appointed Country Director and Representative of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Sri Lanka, Abdur Rahim Siddiqui, formally presented his letter of credentials to Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Ministry premises. Country Director Siddiqui reiterated WFP�s commitment to supporting the Govt in enhancing food security, improving nutrition, and strengthening resilience of smallholder farmers through sustainable agriculture. more..

May 5 (AD) A member of an organized criminal gang who was operating under the alias Aliwatte Asitha has been taken into custody on Tuesday (May 04). The arrest has been made by the officers of Mattakkuliya Police. A live grenade was also recovered during the raid carried out in the area of Wattala, according to reports. The suspect had been wanted by the police over a murder which took place on the 28th of April and many other criminal activities in Grandpass, Modara, Mattakkuliya more..

May 5 (Island) Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Asela Gunawardena, who is the state authority for the national campaign against the rampaging Covid-19 pandemic, has acknowledged that his directive that Piliyandala police area be isolated on May Day was overridden. Dr. Gunawardena admitted that the very basis of the mechanism in place to isolate areas threatened by the Covid-19 epidemic had been violated. more..

May 5 (Island) Matara District SJB MP Buddhika Pathirana informed Parliament that Excise Department officers colluded with artificial toddy makers to deprive the state coffers Rs. 80 billion a year while poisoning people with toxic vinegar, its by-product. MP Pathirana said that the Excise Department officials had helped the artificial toddy producers to operate without paying taxes. The govt lost at least Rs. 80 billion per year as the artificial toddy makers bypassed the laws. more..

May 5 (DN) The Govt is working to re-establish a farming system free of chemical fertilisers and pesticides despite all obstacles, Minister Chamal Rajapaksa said. He said that the Govt will make direct and tough decisions in this regard. Minister was participating in the National Programme to Cultivate Turmeric Islandwide in Medamulana recently as part of cultivating minor export crops on a large scale. �Over the past years, foreign currency flowed out of the country when importing more..

May 5 (CI) The upcoming 3-match ODI series between Bangladesh and SL will be held at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, the BCB has announced. The matches, part of the ICC's ODI Super League, will be held on May 23, 25 and 28, within a bio-bubble stretching between the team hotel and the ground. SL will arrive in Dhaka on May 16, shortly after the Eid ul Fitr weekend, and complete a 3-day quarantine. more..

May 5 (EN) Fourteen MPs were appointed to a parliamentary select committee today to identify appropriate reforms for SL�s election laws and electoral system, a statement said. Chaired by Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, the committee will recommend amendments to the system as necessary, it said. The committee comprises MPs Nimal Siripala de Silva, Prof G L Peiris, Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi, Douglas Devananda, Wimal Weerawansa, Ali Sabry, more..

May 5 (FT) MAS Holdings announced yesterday it sold the software subsidiary attune Lanka Ltd. to Rizing, a privately-held, US-based boutique firm for an undisclosed amount. MAS said the sale was in line with its long-term strategic objectives. Rizing specialises in providing SAP solutions for Consumer Industries, Enterprise Asset Management and Human Capital Management worldwide. �This is a significant investment in a Sri Lankan-owned global technology firm by a company that is more..

May 5 (CT) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa has advised that all Govt development projects should be monitored before and after, to ensure cost control, maximising profits, timely completion of the project and safe guarding high quality. On the advice of PM, a special discussion was held at the Suhurupaya Urban Development and Housing Auditorium in Battaramulla recently to review the progress, future development plans, and new strategies for more..

May 5 (NR) MP Eran Wickramaratne says those who neglected health advisories and failed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus could face punishment in future. He said the former IGP and the former Defence Secretary are now facing murder charges for failing to act on intelligence reports and prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks from occurring. He said since they are charged over the deaths of 260 persons based on negligence, those who are responsible for the nearly more..

May 5 (FT) In the backdrop of an extremely challenging environment supporting the efforts by the Govt to uplift and stabilise the economy, DFCC Bank said yesterday it continued its committed service to customers across the country providing essential banking services without interruption during these challenging times. DFCC Bank CEO Lakshman Silva said: �Given the ongoing uncertainties, we will pursue growth. Our focus will be to engage with our customers and ensure more..

May 5 (TM) The State Ministry of Co-operative Services, Marketing Development, and Consumer Protection reportedly held a roundtable discussion last night (4) to evaluate a solution to gas companies demanding a gas price hike, citing the increase in imported gas prices as a reason. Speaking to us, State Ministry Secretary K.D.S. Ruwanchandra stated that the meeting was expected to be held after Parliament meets. more..

May 5 (DM) The Environment Ministry had decided to take legal action against companies that have violated the gazette notification issued by the Ministry regarding the use of disposable single-use plastics and polythene. An extraordinary gazette notification was issued connected to this by the Environment Ministry on March 31. Accordingly, the Ministry had advised the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to carry out immediate inspections about such violation of gazette notification. more..

May 5 (DM) Govt bears the full responsibility of providing public transportation in the country, despite the pandemic situation, Transport State Minister Dilum Amunugama said. He said the laws have been strictly in place prohibiting buses carrying passengers above the seating capacity in both private and SLTB buses violating COVID health regulations, With the implementation of the laws, not a single bus operator is allowed to carry passengers exceeding seating capacity. more..

May 5 (NR) State Minister Channa Jayasumana says the govt will take all necessary measures to prevent the novel coronavirus variant that is prevalent in India from entering the country. Making the concluding statement during the adjournment debate on the current COVID-19 situation in the country, State Minister said the double mutant coronavirus variant first detected in India has not entered the country thus far. more..

May 5 (AD) Sri Lanka will roll out the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine starting from tomorrow, says State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana. Accordingly, people aged between 30 to 60 years from Gothatuwa and Colombo areas are expected to be administered the Russia-made vaccine. On May 04, Sri Lanka received the first batch of Sputnik V vaccine containing 15,000 doses purchased from Russia. Sri Lanka has decided to buy a total of 13 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine. more..

May 5 (AD) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa has been elected as Chair of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Governors for the year 2021/2022 during the 54th Annual Meeting that was held virtually this afternoon (5). PM Rajapaksa, as the Minister of Finance, serves as the Governor for Sri Lanka of the ADB. The annual meeting that was originally scheduled to be held in Tbilisi, Georgia, unfolded in a virtual format due to the current pandemic, the PM�s Office said. more..

May 6 (DM) The final challenge, so it is said, faced by the Ascetic Siddhartha prior to Enlightenment was an encounter with Mara. Mara confronted Siddhartha in his, Siddartha�s own image. Bernado Bertolucci offers an excellent visual rendition in his 1993 movie Little Buddha. If it is taken as a metaphor, then the true enemy however you want to define enemy is within. True enemy or ultimate enemy, if you will. It�s a parable with innumerable application, spiritual and otherwise. more..

May 6 (DM) A good number of people didn�t like late President Ranasinghe Premadasa. That was because of his dictatorial ways. When Premadasa ruled the portion of the country under the control of Govt security forces Tiger Leader Prabakaran ruled the rest of the island. When both Premadasa and Prabakaran died their demises were celebrated by the people with rounds of milk rice and by lighting firecrackers. When May Day dawned this year many pieces were penned on Premadasa because more..

May 6 (DM) Until a few years ago, adults didn�t think twice before beating a child in their drive to correcting indiscipline. How it impacts the psyche and adulthood depends upon the connections one creates in the journey of life. Some end up fit for prison while others skim past into leading normal lives. Children were at the receiving end of violence at home, at school and by society. It was the thought of the times that physical more..

May 6 (DM) More than a thousand COVID-infected patients from across the country are currently being reported daily since the virus was first detected in March 2020. The number of people testing positive to the latest UK variant, SARS-CoV-2 during the past four days are as follows --1,716 on May 1; 1,843 on May 2, 1,923, on May 3 and 1860 on May 4 bringing the total number of cases to 115,590 and the death toll to 709 as of last morning. These figures are near alarming when compared more..

May 6 (CT) A quote attributed to the Greek play write Euripides says that those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad. Reading the news from Sri Lanka, one can only wonder if a prescient Euripides had Lanka�s successive rulers in mind. The President has vowed to ban the import of fertilizers. Politicians are famous for vowing to bring rice from the moon. But they brought the consumer Iti haal and American flour. Australia worked hard on its organic agricultural content for more..

May 6 (CT) The Respirone Nano AV99 became a popular talking point recently, as it became one of the first face masks entirely designed and produced locally. The mask, which is reportedly environmentally friendly, comfortable and well equipped to prevent the wearer contracting COVID-19, is being treated as a milestone in Sri Lankan innovation. Recently, the mask was presented to the Cabinet and Minister Bandula Gunawardane more..

May 6 (GV) In 1949, a year after Sri Lanka gained independence, a Committee on the Preservation of Wildlife (Sessional paper XIX � 1949) recommended that when development takes place, elephants living in the proposed areas be driven into national reserves and sanctuaries and that temporary corridors be set between these protected areas for the purpose of these drives. Their well-meaning recommendations were based on the knowledge that they had at the time, more..

May 6 (DM) COVID-19 terror, Sri Lanka�s third longest war since independence, entered its 465th day yesterday, and, in its wake killing the largest number of casualties in a single day, a figure of 13, on Tuesday, according to the Epidemiology Unit (EU). EU defines a day as the 24 hours ended on a particular day, in this case being Tuesday. Not only that, Tuesday also saw the single largest number of COVID-19 casualties registered on a single day, a number of 1,923 according to the EU. more..

May 6 (Island) Authorities permit the construction of taller, copy-cat buildings, to satisfy their egos totally disregarding the fact that material resources used for these structures are finite and will soon disappear leaving a scar as evidence of the greatest irresponsible destruction to this beautiful island, a nation that belong to all its citizens. Since the advent of the Industrial Revolution, sand, the humblest of materials, is the main material that our modern cities are made of. more..

May 6 (TM) Gone are the days when almost every student in a classroom said that their ambition was to become a doctor, engineer or a teacher. However, SL is yet to be done away with that mindset that continues to tell our children and parents that certain professions are noble and certain professions are not, and that examinations and formal education is the only thing that can help build a prosperous future. The results of the GCE A/L exam that decides future of those completing school education, more..

May 6 (TM) Sri Lanka is expected to sign the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Bangladesh in early 2022 with the discussions pertaining to the agreement happening actively regardless of the prevailing situation, Acting Director General of Department of Commerce, Ananda Dharmapriya said. He said that high-level bilateral discussions were held during the last meeting of both countries. more..

May 6 (Island) The SLFP, which fears that legal action will be taken against its leader and former Prez Maithripala Sirisena, over the Easter Sunday carnage, has fired a shot across the SLPP�s bow, in the form of a veiled threat to go it alone at future elections. Its trepidation is understandable. Former IGP Pujith Jayasundera and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando have already been indicted for murder, etc., in the Colombo High Court as they failed to prevent Easter Sunday more..

May 6 (FT) HSBC yesterday said it has become the first to offer LiveSign, a cloud-based service that replaces the paper and ink signature process, in Sri Lanka. It said HSBC LiveSign powered by Adobe ensures a fully automated electronic signature workflow and is made available for HSBC�s corporate clients. With HSBC LiveSign, customers can easily sign documents anywhere, anytime, and on any device within minutes. HSBC SL and Maldives Head of Wholesale Banking more..

May 6 (Island) As Sri Lanka ended their Test win drought that had stretched for 16 months, they had an unlikely hero. Praveen Jayawickrama, a left-arm orthodox spinner on debut was Man of the Match, finishing with figures of 11 for 178, the tenth best bowling figures by a debutant in Test match cricket. Despite having played just ten First Class games before his Test debut, Jayawickrama bowled like a man who had been more..

May 6 (CI) Praveen Jayawickrama's 11 for 178 in SL's 209-run win over Bangladesh in their second Test in Pallekele has helped him enter the ICC Test bowlers' rankings at No. 48. SL captain Dimuth Karunaratne, who scored 118 and 66 in that game, moved up from No. 15 to No. 11. Twenty-two-year-old Jayawickrama's match haul was the best by a Sri Lankan on Test debut. He took 6 for 92 in the first innings as Bangladesh were bowled out for 251 in response to SL's 493 for 7 declared. more..

May 6 (CT) The upcoming three-match ODI series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will be held at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka The matches, part of the ICC's ODI Super League, will be held on 23, 25 and 28 May within a biobubble stretching between the team hotel and the ground. Sri Lanka will arrive in Dhaka on 16 May and complete a three-day quarantine. Their first practice session will be on 19 May at the National Cricket Academy ground, adjacent to the stadium. more..

May 6 (TM) In a path-breaking move, the national cricket selectors have decided to infuse more and more young blood in the Sri Lanka ODI team. In what could be termed as a bold move, they have dropped this time a couple of veterans such as Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, and Dinesh Chandimal from the forthcoming ODI tour of Bangladesh. Karunaratne was the former Sri Lanka ODI Captain and Mathews was the one who more..

May 6 (FT) The Mount Lavinia Magistrate observed that the breathalyser test conducted by Mount Lavinia Traffic Police was faulty and did not properly conform to the Motor Traffic Act and reduced a driving license suspension by four months. Hence the six month suspended term of the suspect�s driving license was reduced to two months following the application made by Senior Counsel Ian Fernando who appeared with Geethma Perera and Ushira Dharmaratne on behalf of the suspect. more..

May 6 (DN) Off-spinner Ramesh Mendis believes that his association with Bowling Coach Sajeewa Weerakoon made a huge impact in his performances during the 2nd Test against Bangladesh. �I really worked hard with Spin Bowling Coach Sajeewa Weerakoon even during the COVID-19 period and I made few changes to my bowling action,� Mendis said after his heroics at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy. �I use to have a chat with Sajeewa Weerakoon everyday and discussed more..