Nov 17 (CT) With the challenge of finishing within the top four, SL Women�s Sevens squad led by Dulani Pallikondage will leave this evening for the Asia Sevens in Dubai, which will be worked off on 19 and 20 November at Dubai Sports City. Returning to the int'l rugby arena after a lapse of two years and with a short stint of training, the Women Tuskers are eyeing a berth in the top four of the table. SL last played an Asian Sevens Series in 2019 when it was held in C'mbo, finished 5th in Asian rankings. more..

Nov 17 (FT) Administration of a third or booster dose for the over-60 age group commenced today, with the program being rolled out in Western Province, Southern Province, A'pura District and Ampara District. Persons are eligible for the booster dose if it has been three months since they received the second dose. Third dose is being administered using the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Administration of the third dose commenced with frontline workers and 120,485 have received the booster dose. more..

Nov 17 (FT) The Lanka Premier League Colombo franchise has a new owner as Softlogic Holdings PLC Founder and Chairman Ashok Pathirage enters the second season of the premier T20 tournament of the island nation by IPG Founder and CEO Anil Mohan acquiring the Colombo-based franchise in the tournament. The Colombo franchise will witness explosive players who will set the stage alight for their side in the upcoming LPL, more..

Nov 17 (Island) In a brand new initiative, under the working title Project 72, Roar Media and author Sarah Kabir are set to take a deep dive into SL�s past since gaining Independence in 1948, entertainingly and educationally covering some of the most defining years in the nation�s history. A first-of-its-kind documentary, Project 72 will portray SL�s journey since Independence in a way it has never been seen before; From brilliant political manoeuvring to battles won and lost, more..

Nov 17 (PMD) Two newly accredited Ambassadors and a High Commissioner to SL presented their credentials to Prez Rajapaksa at the President�s House in Colombo this morning (16). The new ambassadors have been appointed by Japan and Thailand to SL while a high commissioner has been appointed by South Africa. Accordingly, 01. Mr. Poj Harnpol presented credentials as Ambassador of Thailand, 02. Mr. Sandile Edwin Schalk presented credentials as High Commissioner of SA, more..

Nov 17 (DN) Waseem Razeek put up another stunning performance to sail his team to the grand finale with a 2-1 victory over Bangladesh in their four nations inaugural international invitation soccer tournament for the �Mahinda Rajapaksa Trophy� at Race Course grounds under lights, yesterday. A goal in each half, including a penalty kick in the late stages of the game by Razeek, saw SL secure a berth in the final against Seychelles this Friday. Both teams took to the field with high expectations more..

Nov 17 (Island) People had lost faith in health guidelines and quarantine laws because the govt continued to abuse them for political reasons, CMLS President, Ravi Kumudesh said. People saw health guidelines and quarantine laws as political tools and therefore they were increasingly suspicious of what health officials were saying, Kumudesh said. �This is a serious obstacle to COVID prevention activities. People think these are political tools. This is already having disastrous consequences,� more..

Nov 17 (TM) Dismissing claims that there is a fuel shortage in Sri Lanka, Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila assured that if such a fuel shortage is due to occur in future, Govt would inform the public with enough time for the public to prepare accordingly. �My first responsibility is to ensure that there will not be a fuel shortage in the country. The entire world is in a fuel crisis at the moment. SL does not produce fuel within the country. more..

Nov 17 (EN) SL�s state-run CEB had lost only 545 million rupees in the September 2021 quarter, down from 12.4 billion rupees a year earlier amid heavy rainfall which has boosted hydro generation, interim accounts show. CEB revenues in the Sept 2021 quarter fell 3.4% to 63.5 billion rupees and cost of sales fell 12.9% to 60.8 billion rupees. The power utility reported a gross profits of 2.7 billion rupees compared to a 9.4 billion rupee loss last year. At group level, which includes LTL Holdings, more..

Nov 17 (CT) The Year 2022 Budget is a growth-centric Budget. This Budget was formulated to boost the signs of growth that we have been experiencing since the pandemic. And the Govt is of the view that ultimately the sustainable economy that it wants to bring about, is only possible with an aggressive drive towards bringing in structural reforms that will promote investments and productivity. As such, the budget can be looked at as a Budget that has targeted reforms aimed at broadly 4 aspects: more..

Nov 17 (TM) Even though Covid-19 Technical Committee has granted approval for the use of the oral antiviral pill Molnupiravir no decision has yet been taken as to when and to whom it will be given in SL, as National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) approval is pending. �Nothing has been decided yet. Although certain committees may give their approval for the use of this, in the end, it should receive NMRA�s approval. more..

Nov 17 (Island) Sri Lanka should not take the marine environment damage caused by the Singapore flagged X-Press Pearl disaster lightly, Dr. Theresa Karlsson, science and Technical Adviser of IPEN Int'l Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) says. Karlson has said that despite the measures already adopted by the Lankan authorities to clean up the beaches, a lot more has to be done to reverse the damage created. Dr. Karlsson, responding to queries directed, during a webinar, told The Island more..

Nov 17 (FT) SL�s COVID-19 detections rose to 552,994 with 720 persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday. COVID-19 detections were from the New Year cluster. On Monday, 731 persons from the New Year cluster and one SL overseas arrival tested positive for COVID-19. 7,077 PCR tests and 3,127 rapid antigen tests were performed on Monday. 448,168 patients have been detected from the New Year cluster, 82,785 patients have been detected from the Peliyagoda cluster, more..

Nov 17 (TM) JVP has claimed that Budget proposal for the financial year 2022 does not include any solution to the socioeconomic crisis currently faced by the people. JVP Politburo Member Sunil Handunnetti stated that the Budget proposal has not resolved any issues such as those pertaining to gas and fertiliser shortages, skyrocketing commodity prices, and dwindling foreign exchange, particularly dollar deficits. more..

Nov 17 (DM) Do not defeat the local govt budget and hamper development activities due to personal issues, Eastern Province (EP) Governor Anuradha Yahampath said. She said this while addressing the local govt members of the Trincomalee District. If there is any issue with the chairman or mayor, the governor requested them not to use the budget as a solution to address it. "If you are trying to settle personal quarrels with the chairmen by defeating the budget, don't do so. more..

Nov 17 (DM) CCD has arrested a man who has given a note on a piece of paper to the security deployed at the Opposition Leader�s office mentioning about a bomb attack on SJB rally in Colombo. The investigations revealed that the man was a mentally disordered suspect. Chief security officer of the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa lodged a complaint with Cinnamon Garden Police on Nov 9 over the suspicious note mentioning an attack during the SJB rally. more..

Nov 17 (Island) Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa has declared that his proposals to impose 25% retrospective tax surcharge on listed persons or companies that earned over Rs 2 bn 2020/2021 and increase VAT to 18% from the current 15% wouldn�t be abandoned. FM said only Prez Rajapaksa and PM Rajapaksa and the Cabinet could intervene. FM Rajapaksa said that he discussed the issue at hand with more..

Nov 17 (Island) PM Rajapaksa called on all parties in Parliament to join hands with the govt to usher in a new era. Participating in the second-reading-stage debate on Budget 2022, PM said that the govt had decided to increase investment in developing social infrastructure despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. �We are passing through trying times and the country�s public financial sector faces numerous challenges. However, we have decided to steer ahead despite challenges. more..

Nov 17 (TM) Board of Investment of SL (BOI) stated last Friday (12) that any payment was not made from the accounts of BOI in relation with the infrastructure projects amounting to Rs 3,352.92 million, responding to the allegation that was made by the COPE. BOI made this statement while responding to the allegation raised by the COPE through a media statement issued on 11 Nov 2021, stating that the aforesaid amount of funds has been paid without a formal payment plan. more..

Nov 17 (FT) A new survey shows that increasing numbers of Sri Lankans want to leave the country, probably more than at any time in the past five years. Findings were released yesterday by compiler of the survey Institute for Health Policy (IHP) via SL Opinion Tracker Survey (SLOTS) that was launched to assess public opinion as the country recovers from COVID-19. IHP said survey findings confirm recent observations more..

Nov 17 (FT) Last month, the SL Cabinet granted the nod to a new bill which, according to media reports, is being drafted to prohibit any form of obscene publications, produced through information technology and other media. So far (time of writing is 1 Nov), there have been no public consultations on this bill (that I am aware of), which if enacted, is bound to have undeniable implications of fundamental rights of SL citizens from all walks of life, including & especially, on our freedom more..

Nov 17 (FT) SL is currently facing an unprecedented set of economic challenges: a large and increasing public debt, rising fiscal and current account deficits, foreign exchange shortages and declining investor confidence. The collapse of tourist revenues and remittances due to the pandemic have compounded the situation. SL�s foreign exchange reserves are at an all-time low, currently sufficient to cover two months of imports. As a rule of thumb, a country�s foreign exchange reserves should be more..

Nov 17 (DM) Former President Mithripala Sirisena today alleged that the Health Ministry had failed to take steps to fully operate the National Renal Treatment Hospital in Polonnaruwa despite orders given by the President to make it fully function within three months. He told Parliament that the President during an inspection visit in the Hospital, instructed the higher officials of the Health Ministry to take steps to fully function the Hospital within three months. more..

Nov 17 (EN) SL can stand straight and solve the debt crisis by exporting cannabis oil instead of bending in two before the International Monetary Fund and other creditors, legislator Diana Gamage who is backing the ruling party said. �We do not have to beg and bend in two (hingar kun-ner, dekerter namen-ner) before the IMF or other creditors,� legislator told parliament. �We can earn billions from the export of CBD oil (Cannabidiol) if we throw out British era legislation, more..

Nov 17 (AD) The High Commissioner of India in SL, Gopal Baglay today delivered to veteran SL traditional dancer Dr. Vajira Chitrasena, the Padma Shri Award conferred upon her by the President of India for the year 2020. The award was handed over in a ceremony held at the Temple Trees, in the presence of the PM Mahinda Rajapaksa. On Nov 08, 2021, a Padma Awards Investiture Ceremony was held at more..

Nov 17 (MFA) A leading businessman and friend of Sri Lanka in the Philippines William Chen made a cash donation of US Dollars 20,000 (approx Sri Lanka Rs.4 million) to the Itukama Covid-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund. The donation was facilitated by the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Philippines Shobini Gunasekera. This contribution will support and strengthen activities aimed at mitigating the spread of COVID-19 as well as related social welfare programmes in Sri Lanka. more..

Nov 17 (TM) Discussions are currently ongoing to increase the capacity of drug rehabilitation centers to accommodate up to 8000 people by next year says Minister of Justice Ali Sabry. �Drug addicts should be rehabilitated, and not just put in prisons. The addicts must be educated on the adverse effects of drugs and the wrong decisions they make. From this, future generations can be protected and we can ensure that people will not turn to drugs later on in their lives. We should avoid relapses,� more..

Nov 17 (EN) If COVID-19 cases in SL continue to rise, schools will have to be closed again and restrictions re-imposed, health officials said, days after the govt announced the reopening of schools. COVID-19 cases have seen a slight increase in SL, with 720 new infections being detected on Tuesday (16). Total cases in the island are at 552,994 with 13,772 active cases. With 18 deaths reported on Tuesday, more..

Nov 17 (Island) Prompt action would be taken against proposed irregular constructions at the Mawella Bay, Environment Minister Amaraweera said. He said the matter would be thoroughly investigated by ministry officials. Any violation of environment laws would be severely dealt with, he said. Property owners around the Mawella Bay in Tangalle claim that the Coast Conservation Department (CCD) wants to build a breakwater in Mawella Bay. more..

Nov 17 (AD) The regulatory prices for 60 varieties of essential drugs have been announced by the State Ministry of Pharmaceutical Production, Supply and Regulation. Accordingly, a maximum retail price has been imposed on 131 types of 60 essential drugs. In a communiqu�, Secretary to the State Ministry, Dr. R.M.S.K. Rathnayake noted that selling these drugs above the maximum retail prices is against the law. The general public can inform the state ministry of such irregularities via more..

Nov 17 (EN) Legal action will be initiated against people who took part in a protest march organised by SJB on Tuesday upon investigation, police said, as SJB lawmakers urged the Speaker to probe what they called heavy handed action by the police. SSP Nihal Thalduwa said Wednesday (17) that large crowds had gathered in Colombo for the protest. �The police needs to investigate the matter first. No one has been arrested yet. more..

Nov 17 (Island) A 3 member TNA delegation would leave for the United States and when they returned an alliance of all Tamil political parties would be formed, TNA leader R. Sampanthan said on Sunday. They would also work with India to ensure that the 13th Amendment was fully implemented, Sampanthan said. He said that a TNA delegation would also meet Indian PM Narendra Modi. �A TNA delegation, including MP MA Sumanthiran, will leave for the US at the end of the month. more..

Nov 17 (CT) UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe requested Minister Basil Rajapaksa to clarify why the Govt decided to reduce money allocated for the Health sector, as the COVID pandemic was not over. Participating in the second reading of the Appropriation Bill 2022, he said while Rs 301 billion has been allocated for the health sector for this year (2021), only Rs 234 billion has been allocated in the Budget for next year. �You cannot say that the pandemic would not affect more..

Nov 17 (CT) Since Sri Lanka�s credit rating is low, the Govt is facing an uphill task to obtain loans, even when there is a desperate need for it such as the need for foreign exchange to import fuel, Minister of Energy, Udaya Gammanpila said. He said they were currently in talks with a number of countries to secure a loan facility to purchase fuel as a solution to the foreign exchange crisis. �At present we pay USD 350 million every month. This is a huge sum of money. more..

Nov 17 (DM) Refusing claims that chemical fertilizer was banned overnight, State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa said organic farming was tested by the Agriculture Dept for three seasons from 2019. He told Parliament that the Agriculture Dept tested on how organic farming could be done by getting farmers to use 30% of organic fertilizer and 70% chemical fertilizer for three seasons since 2019. State Minister said the Agriculture Dept has experienced it and observed more..

Nov 17 (CI) Mickey Arthur will join Derbyshire CCC as its head of cricket at the end of SL's upcoming two-Test series at home against West Indies, which runs from Nov 21 to Dec 3. His contract with Sri Lanka Cricket was due to expire at the end of the West Indies series anyway. While Arthur had repeatedly expressed a strong desire to extend this stay, SLC is understood to have been largely unresponsive; there has not been more..

Nov 17 (AD) Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella says that SL is expecting to manufacture 80% of the country�s medical supplies within the country itself within the next five year. He revealed this while addressing a gathering during the opening ceremony of a state-of-the art modern manufacturing facility for medical consumables and devices by Flexicare Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., a fully owned subsidiary of Flexicare Group, UK. It is envisaged that over 90% of production will be exported more..