Nov 6 (FT) Swiss International Airlines, a member of Lufthansa Group, yesterday began weekly direct flights to SL in time for the start of the winter season. The inaugural flight from Zurich to Colombo, LX 8064, operated by an Airbus 340, touched down at 7:30 a.m. with 96 holidaymakers from Switzerland and across Europe. They were greeted by State Minister of Aviation D.V. Chanaka, Swiss Ambassador in Colombo more..

Nov 6 (Island) Prez Rajapaksa and the World Bank representatives inspected a pumping station at Nagalagam Street, in Colombo, yesterday. Prez Rajapaksa, when he was the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, planned the Metro Colombo Urban Development Project in 2012, and it includes 55 sub projects, and the Nagalagam Street Pumping Station is one of its sub-projects. The President�s Office said the main objective of this sub-project was to control more..

Nov 6 (Island) SJB MP Rohini Kaviratne says that over two weeks into Maha season the farming community is yet without agro chemicals. Referring to the Matale District Development Committee meeting this week, MP Kavirtane said that the SLPP govt seemed reluctant at least to discuss the worsening situation. Appreciating the swift deployment of Indian Air Force planes to deliver liquid nano nitrogen, lawmaker Kaviratne pointed out the very fact proved how SL mishandled more..

Nov 6 (CT) Chief Incumbent of the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, Ven. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkhitha Thera, has been appointed as the Chancellor of the Uni of Kelaniya by Prez Rajapaksa. Ven. Thera is also the University�s Head of Buddhist and Pali Faculty. He entered the Sasana in the 1960s and studied scripture at the Hunupitiya Gangarama Temple and graduated from the Vidyalankara Campus of the University of Ceylon in 1979. Ven. Thera was awarded a 2-year more..

Nov 6 (FT) The coconut products sector aims to explore prospects for exports to Europe via the Int'l Plant Messe (IPM) Essen in Germany early next year. Coconut Development Authority (CDA) will facilitate the participation of SL�s coconut-based exporters or manufacturers at the popular trade fair, which will be held from 25-28 January. Following a one-year break from physical participation at trade fairs, the CDA has decided to take part in IPM Essen, one of the world�s leading horticultural more..

Nov 6 (Island) CIABOC inquiring into Pandora Papers� disclosure of assets held by Thirukumar Nadesan and his wife, Nirupama Rajapaksa hasn�t been able to record her statement yet as she is overseas. The CIABOC questioned Nadesan for two days. Well-informed sources said that Thirukumar Nadesan had informed the CIABOC of his wife�s inability to appear before the outfit as she was abroad for medical reasons. more..

Nov 6 (DN) Reaching a significant mile stone to ensure worker safety, The Planters� Association of Ceylon (PA) and the Plantation Human Development Trust (PHDT) announced that nearly100% of RPC estate workers have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Furthermore, progress has been achieved to fully inoculate over 95% of the targeted estate community across 7 regions as at 29th October 2021 noted PA. According to recent data by PHDT, efforts are underway to assist more..

Nov 6 (FT) COVID-19 detections rose to 544,013 with 628 persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday. The COVID-19 patients detected yesterday include 627 persons from the New Year cluster and one overseas arrivals. The previous day, 592 persons from the New Year cluster tested positive for COVID-19 and 6,088 PCR tests and 4,453 rapid antigen tests were carried out on Thursday. 439,288 patients have been linked to the New Year cluster. more..

Nov 6 (CT) A US Department of Defence report says China has likely considered setting up a military base in Sri Lanka. The report released on 3 Nov, titled Military and Security Developments, involving the People�s Republic of China, notes that PRC is seeking to establish a more robust overseas logistics and basing infrastructure to allow the PLA to project and sustain military power at greater distances. Beyond its current base in Djibouti, more..

Nov 6 (CT) Colombo Chief Magistrate Buddhika Sri Ragala on Friday (5), ordered the CID to file a complaint against Fr. Cyril Gamini in Court, charging him with failure to abide by the orders of State officers as per provisions in Sections 164 and 174 of the Penal Code. The Magistrate gave this order to the CID following submissions made to him by the latter. CID informed Magistrate Ragala that they had twice officially informed Fr. Gamini to be present at their office to record a statement from him more..

Nov 6 (VN) SL bishops have urged the govt to abandon its one country, one law plan for the predominantly Buddhist nation and instead draft a new constitution. Prez Rajapaksa last month appointed a 13-member presidential task force under the chairmanship of hardline Buddhist monk Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera to study the concept and prepare a draft law. The One Country, One Law concept was an election slogan of Rajapaksa in 2019 when he was elected more..

Nov 6 (EN) Unlike previous years, 64-year old Wijesiri* is not busy late in October. Though he was loitering with his sarong and bear body here and there in his area in Mullegama, a rural village in the border of Ambara-Monaragala district, instead of engaging in his usual hard work of producing to feed the nation. The traditional farmer in the village which even does not have access for mobile phone signals from any of the network, has decided not to more..

Nov 6 (FT) In a round table discussion with some of the leading COVID clinicians and frontline doctors there was an extraordinary level of agreement as to what they�ve seen, learned and demonstrated regarding this misconstrued, miscommunicated and tragically responded to pathogen. Their canopy consensus breaks down into four points. Let me first just list some of these noted experts: Robert Malone, key architect of the mRNA technology that enabled the most commonly used vaccines; more..

Nov 6 (FT) Vil Uyana, the iconic, award-winning, luxurious boutique hotel, set amidst purpose built wetlands and thriving natural environment, celebrated its 15th anniversary of operations last week. And what better anniversary gift than to have their resident crocodile Villy produce a brood of hatchlings almost to the day, for the first time ever. The mother and 16 babies (up to now) are reportedly doing fine. Story of Villy the crocodile, and Vil Uyana the hotel, are both most interesting. more..

Nov 6 (DN) Public Health Inspectors Association President Upul Rohana yesterday said all efforts taken by the Health sector in coordination with security apparatus will become fruitless, if large scale demonstrations and protests are conducted in the country without following COVID- 19 health protocols. He said that the whole country will be in trouble again, if large scale congregation of people takes place without following due health measures. �Most of these participants seemed to more..

Nov 6 (DM) Emerging major clusters is inevitable irrespective of the vast vaccination drive in the country if people act in a manner conducive of spreading the disease, Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr Hemantha Herath told Daily Mirror yesterday. He said if people continued to ignore health practices, there is no other result other than getting back to the serious situation the country had a few months ago. �In the case of vaccines, none of the them help prevent infection more..

Nov 6 (CT) Maritime law expert Attorney-at-Law Dr. Dan Malika Gunasekera, who was appointed as an expert to the environmental damage assessment committee on the MV X-Press Pearl incident, has been removed by the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) citing conflict of interest for engaging in a Court case of a ship consignee, his client, who demanded the X-Press Pearl compensate for the loss of more..

Nov 6 (SLN) Relinquishing duties to which he was committed more than 33 years, Rear Admiral Asoka Wijesiriwardane retired from naval service today (5). Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne flanked by the Board of Management extended warm wishes to the retiring naval officer who is celebrating his 55th birthday today. Thereupon, Rear Admiral Asoka Wijesiriwardane was accorded a Guard of Honour in accordance with naval traditions before fellow naval officers more..

Nov 6 (FT) Ahmed A. Jawad, formerly a senior career diplomat with the SL Foreign Service, has been appointed Director of the Centre for Indo-Lanka Initiatives at the Pathfinder Foundation, with effect from 1 November. He was SL�s Ambassador to Norway and Saudi Arabia and High Commissioner to Canada. He held various diplomatic positions at SL missions in Sweden, France (including UNESCO) and China. In Canada, he served concurrently as Representative of SL to more..

Nov 6 (TM) The Hippo Spirit vessel can enter the Colombo Port for a service call, but cannot the crew cannot disembark and unload the cargo, said Harbour Master Capt. K M Silva. �If a service call is required, the vessel can enter the port. But, as of now, the Hippo Spirit vessel has not made the request. This is not an easy process, the local agent has to be informed by the vessel, to which the agent needs to contact the SLPA and more..

Nov 6 (DM) A police constable of the Hungama Police and his lover who were involved in making packets of heroin had been arrested by the Tangalle Division Crime Investigating Unit during a raid carried out on a lodge in the area, the Police said. They had in their possession 28.580grams of heroin at the time of arrest. Investigations revealed that the 41-year-old suspect woman was a resident of Thalalla in Tangalle. She had been carrying on the racket for a long time more..

Nov 6 (CT) Govt of SL�s Face Value Money Printing (FVMP) debt continued to scale new heights for the third consecutive market day, Friday (5), this time increasing by Rs 3.322 billion (0.19%) to a new record high of Rs. 1.7648 trillion due to a sustained lack of Govt revenue. The FVMP debt which is inching closer to the Rs. 1.8 trillion mark, has recorded its first to the third highest FVMP debt in the three consecutive market days to Friday, registering its highest ever to date of more..

Nov 6 (ST) A look around at what is happening and then a closer look at the latest virus variants as well as studies on the different vaccines. This is the wide-ranging interview the Sunday Times has with Prof. Neelika Malavige, Head of the Dept of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Uni of Sri J'pura. Pointing out that the current pandemic situation in Sri Lanka is under control (reduced infections and reduced deaths), she asks: more..

Nov 6 (Island) Janak Jeevantha Bandaranayake, who served at the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka over a span of three decades has been conferred The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays. The ceremony was held on Nov 4 at the official residence of Ambassador SUGIYAMA Akira. During his tenure at the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka, Mr. Bandaranayake contributed to deepening cultural ties between the two countries. He was instrumental in inaugurating more..

Nov 6 (AD) The Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has filed a writ application before the Supreme Court with regard to the gazette notification pertaining to Muthurajawela wetlands. The Cardinal has sought the Supreme Court to issue an order revoking the relevant gazette notification vesting nearly 3,000-acre lands belonging to Muthurajawela wetlands with the Urban Development Authority (UDA). Minister of Urban Development & Housing and PM, more..

Nov 6 (EN) Sri Lanka�s health ministry is waiting for the Advisory Committee of Communicable Diseases and the National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA) to approve the recently developed molnupiravir anti-COVID drug. State Minister Channa Jayasumana said a written request has been sent to the Director General of Health to give a recommendation for the pill that was jointly developed by U.S.-based Merck & Co Inc (MRK.N) and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. more..

Nov 6 (AD) The total number of people who died of COVID-19 infection in SL moved up as 20 more fatalities were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services on Friday. The new development has pushed the official death toll from the virus outbreak in the country to 13,841. The latest victims include 10 males and 10 females. 6 deaths were reported among elderly people aged above 60 years. In addition, 14 people aged between 30-59 years have also fallen victim to virus more..

Nov 6 (Island) In principle price controls fail, and they create shortages and black markets. The only way prices can be controlled is not by gazette or emergency rule, but via the market itself, says top SJB spokesman and economist Dr. Harsha de Silva. Issuing a statement in the wake of the govt doing away with price control, Dr. de Silva has said: �To do so, the reason why prices are increasing must be determined. more..

Nov 6 (Island) Police say the recent arrest of Ruwan Chamila alias Dematagoda Ruwan is the culmination of a high level investigation undertaken by law enforcement authorities probing threats posed by the underworld to national security. SSP Nihal Thalduwa explained how following a govt intervention at the highest level, police initiated a special investigation targeting money laundering. �The police discussed this matter even with the banking sector as part of the overall efforts more..

Nov 6 (CT) A total of 505 suspected dengue cases have been reported during the first four days of Nov 2021, Acting Director of National Dengue Control unit of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said. He warned that there could be an increase in the number of dengue cases within the following weeks. He added according to the surveys carried out islandwide, there has been an increase in the dengue mosquito breeding sites. While 2,979 suspected, dengue cases more..

Nov 6 (DM) Claiming that the popularity of the government was fast diminishing as never before, the National Peoples� Power (NPP) said today the government was using various ploys to divert the people�s attention from burning issues. NPP MP Harini Amarasooriya said that no other govt which came to power with a remarkable mandate had lost its popularity within a short period of time in Sri Lankan history. more..

Nov 6 (DM) The protection against any COVID-19 infection has declined for all PfizerBioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, State Minister said based on US latest study. He said the overall vaccine protection had declined from 87.9% in February to 48.1% by Oct 2021. �The decline was greatest for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, with protection against infection declining from 86% in March to 13% in Sept,� he underlined. �Declines for PfizerBioNTech were from 89% to 58% more..

Nov 6 (AD) The police have arrested two individuals in connection with the dead body of a female found in a travelling bag abandoned at a garbage dump in Sapugaskanda. The suspects, identified as a married couple aged 36 years, are reportedly residents of Samithpura in Mattakkuliya. The vehicle used by the perpetrators to move the body has also been taken into custody, the police said further. On Thursday morning (4), a body was found inside a travelling bag, with hands and feet tied, more..

Nov 7 (CT) If nothing else, the phenomenon of Trumpism in America has created a rather morbid global curiosity about American politics. Sri Lankans, whether they are in SL or America, are no exception. And dual citizens, both current and former, are likely to be doubly curious. All of this is reflected in the current coverage of American politics and news stories in the SL media, including the Sunday Island. The latest news story and commentary are about the beating President Biden�s Democratic Party more..

Nov 7 (CT) This endeavor is to put the sum right. It began with inchoate rage of students. Military Brahminism trespassing free education was the inceptive issue. Pent up resentment has turned in to apoplectic rage of peasant, pedagogue, and priest. The state is perceived as lazy and leechlike. Socialist Democratic Republic has turned in to a monstrous store house of unfulfilled promises � political economic and moral. These are uncertain times. We are in crisis. more..

Nov 7 (ST) Prez Rajapaksa who was in Glasgow, Scotland to attend the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) brushed shoulders with many prominent world leaders including Indian PM Narendra Modi, a photo of which was tweeted by the Indian leader and the SL Prez. Shortly afterward, the Indian PM tweeted a photograph of him catching up with Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg but more..