Oct 18 (FT) Health officials confirmed 12 COVID-19 fatalities on Sunday, raising the country�s COVID-19 death toll to 13,484. COVID-19 deaths confirmed on Saturday include nine persons over the age of 60 and three persons aged between 30 and 59 years. 76.53% of the total fatalities are from the over-60 age group, 22.31% of the fatalities are from the 30 to 59 age group, and 1.17% of the fatalities are from the under-30 age group. Eight fatalities confirmed on Saturday were male and 4 were female. more..

Oct 18 (ST) After a hiatus of two years, the SL �A� cricket team is set to return to action when they play host to the Pakistan �A� side. As well as being the return of play for the second string national side, the occasion will be the baptism of former SL fast bowler Rumesh Ratnayake as head coach. Currently the team is undergoing intense practice sessions to make sure that they have covered all important areas that need to be fixed before more..

Oct 18 (FT) SL�s COVID-19 detections rose to 531,648 with 1,227 COVID-19 detections over the weekend. On Sunday, 578 persons tested positive for COVID-19 and the patients were from the New Year cluster. This is the first time daily detections have dropped below 600 since 21 April, when 578 persons tested positive for COVID-19. 7,147 PCR tests were conducted yesterday. On Saturday, 6,973 PCR tests and 3,847 rapid antigen tests were conducted and 649 patients were detected. more..

Oct 18 (FT) The Planters� Association of Ceylon (PA) yesterday commended the Govt�s decision to allow imports of nitrogen-based fertilisers for the tea industry, but called for distribution to be fast-tracked for the sector to immediately recommence application. It said Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) involved in commercial-scale tea, coconut, rubber and spices have noted that critical industry development activities have been severely delayed due to the unavailability of fertiliser. more..

Oct 18 (CT) Bangladesh�s Shakib Al Hasan became the highest wicket-taker in men�s T20Is when he dismissed Scotland�s Michael Leask in his side�s opening match of the T20 World Cup 2021. He overtook Lasith Malinga�s tally of 107 wickets when he slowed up the pace a tad and Leask was through his shot early, lofting a drive to long-off. The left-arm spin-bowling allrounder now has 108 wickets in 89 T20Is. When he claimed his 100th wicket against Australia earlier this year, he became more..

Oct 18 (FT) COVID-19 vaccines were administered to 57,738 persons on Saturday and both doses have been administered to 59.17% of the country�s total population. The first dose has been administered to 68.69% of the population. 14,777,220 persons have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 12,768,759 persons have received the second dose. On Saturday, 4,760 persons received the first dose of Sinopharm and 40,776 persons received the second dose of the vaccine. more..

Oct 18 (DM) SL has raised its strongest objections with India�s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and other Indian leaders, over the increase in trespassing of Indian fishermen in local waters in recent weeks and the use of bottom trawling which is destroying the sea bed in SL waters. Fisheries Minister, Douglas Devananda said that he had in recent discussions with PM Narendra Modi also informed him of damage more..

Oct 18 (DM) Rubber Research Institute of SL, the first in the world of its kind, dedicated to research on rubber, started off from very humble beginnings in 1909 with one scientist, an analytical chemist, involved in research related to rubber. Smallholding Advisory Dept had also been formed in later years to provide advisory services, and research findings had been disseminated through publications right from the beginning. The research work has undergone gradual and methodical expansion more..

Oct 18 (MFA) Ambassador of the Czech Republic to SL Milan Hovorka paid a farewell call on Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris at the Foreign Ministry on Thursday (14). Minister Peiris welcomed the visiting Ambassador (resident in New Delhi), and underscored the close and cordial relations existing between SL and the Czech Republic. Reciprocating the sentiments of the Foreign Minister, Ambassador Hovorka conveyed his deep appreciation for the strong support extended by the Govt of SL more..

Oct 18 (TM) The Govt of SL is holding discussions with Indian officials to secure a $ 500 million credit line from India, to be used for the purchase of fuel and crude oil-related products, and is optimistic that these will prove fruitful within the next two weeks. When asked about the progress of this deal, Finance Ministry Secretary S.R. Attygalle said that discussions were underway, but that it was not confirmed yet. more..

Oct 18 (DM) Prez Rajapaksa has decided not to give priority to the construction of new diesel and coal power plants in our country again. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that the Prez told at the Cabinet meeting in this regard. "Prez has pledged to support the programme implemented by international organizations to protect our country's environment as well as to control global warming. Accordingly, it is planned to obtain 70% of our country's electricity from renewable energy by 2030. more..

Oct 18 (TM) The national cricket team sponsor Dialog, together with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), premiered on Saturday (16) Ape Kollo, their T20 World Cup song in support of the Sri Lanka team on their World Cup campaign, to hit over 100,000 views in mere two hours. The song is be sung by a stellar line-up of artistes and Dialog brand ambassadors including Bathiya and Santhush, Umaria, Yohani, Sanka Dineth, Sajitha, Sanuka, Madhuvy, and guest performer Roy Jackson. more..

Oct 18 (FT) Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardana has appointed Export Advisory Committees covering 24 sectors for a period of 5 years until 2026. The appointment is in terms of Section 10 of the EDB Act no. 40 of 1979. It empowers the Minister in charge of the EDB, on the advice of the Board, to establish advisory committees that are oriented towards the development and promotion of specific products, product groups, commodities, as well as the functional aspects of the export trade. more..

Oct 18 (ST) SL�s capital market regulator is serious about watching/punishing false and misleading social media messages to front-run stocks. So much so that a separate unit looking at what is being said on social media such as Twitter was set up at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently. The recent wild rides at the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) have this unit on high alert, officials said on Thursday. The SEC also has complaints of a CEO in a leading brokerage more..

Oct 18 (ST) Privately-held Laugfs Gas, which is haemorrhaging red ink and taking heat from domestic cooking gas users and opposition politicians, has also caused multi-million rupee losses for the two main social security nets of SL workers battered by unbearable living costs. Financial statements show that Laugfs Gas, whose 2020/2021 annual report is titled Igniting Hope in big, bold letters, has state shareholders including the EPF, more..

Oct 18 (FT) Transparency International SL (TISL), in a statement has once again drawn the attention of the general public to the serious concerns that were brought to light by the Pandora Papers and revealed to the public earlier this month. Pandora Papers expos� provides clear evidence of how the offshore industry promotes corruption and demonstrates the importance of ensuring the transparency of beneficial ownership of entities. On SL, particularly, the Papers refer to extensive assets more..

Oct 18 (AFP) SL fishermen have launched a flotilla of boats to demand that the govt do more to protect the island nation�s prawn-rich northern waters from poaching by Indian fishers. Boats flying black flags and carrying opposition legislators travelled 100km from the northeastern fishing town of Mullaittivu to SL�s northernmost tip, Point Pedro, on Sunday. �We have come in boats to protest bottom trawling by Indian fishermen,� M A Sumanthiran, a legislator for TNA, told reporters in Point Pedro. more..

Oct 18 (CT) Highlighting his desire to find out the truth behind the Easter Sunday bombings, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the head of SL�s Catholic Church, accused the Govt of deceiving the people by promising justice for the victims of the bombings because they believe someone far more powerful is behind the attacks. He noted that Prez went all over the place before his election campaign assuring the public that he would attend to Easter attacks, more..

Oct 18 (DM) As the SJB informed the Secretary General Parliament that Diana Gamage is no longer an MP since she has been expelled from the party, Ms. Gamage said she will make a disclosure with regard to the SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara soon. When asked whether she would apply for a stay order, Ms. Gamage said there are other procedures and she would follow them. �The true face of the SJB General Secretary will be uncovered soon,� Gamage told Daily Mirror. more..

Oct 18 (TM) Sri Lanka looked like they weren�t even going to get through qualifiers with some bad losses against South Africa at home, but following the Oman leg where Avishka Fernando started playing at number four, the team took on a different look, as he scored three half centuries and anchored SL�s batting line up in all four victories. Ahead of their first T20 World Cup qualifier game today in Abu Dhabi, Coach Arthur revealed that it was their mentor Mahela Jayawardene who is the brain behind more..

Oct 18 (TM) Colombo Port City Economic Commission Legal Advisor Nihal Jayawardena PC, and Commission Secretaries Capital City Corporate Services (Pvt) Ltd, have resigned from the Commission last week, The Morning learnt. The two resignation letters were addressed to the Commission�s Chairman Gamini Marapana PC. Jayawardena�s letter was dated 14 Oct, and has cited personal reasons for his resignation. more..

Oct 18 (FT) Aseni, the whiz-kid in economics, has come across a copy of the latest Sri Lanka: State of the Economy report by the Institute of Policy Studies, better known as IPS, on the state of the economy of Sri Lanka in 2021. She has found the issue contains a valuable and enlightening analysis of the economy from an independent point. She discussed the revelations of the report with her grandpa, Sarath Mahatthaya, an ex-officer of the Ministry of Finance. more..

Oct 18 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on Monday according to Daily FT approved the Bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman�s Dept to extend the retirement age in the private sector to 60 years from 55 years previously. The Govt said the Bill had been subject to multiple stakeholder discussions initiated by the committee to study policy and legal matters impacting the private sector chaired by PM Mahinda Rajapaksa. According to the news item in the FT, the Bill has been prepared more..

Oct 18 (Island) SL, an Island Nation strategically positioned in the Indian Ocean, has a tremendous untapped potential in maritime tourism industry especially in the area of cruising, yachting, coastal tourism and shipping for leisure around the country. By developing growth strategies of this industry a greater potential is evident to attract local and foreign tourists, benefitting and enriching the local economy with foreign currency. Wineendra Weeraman, Chairman, Ceylon Shipping Corp more..

Oct 18 (Island) Indian PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Kushinagar International Airport on Oct. 20 and will also lay the foundation stone for a medical college there. Namal Rajapaksa, Minister of Youth and Sports and Development Coordination and Monitoring and State Minister of Digital Technology and Enterprise Development will be in Uttar Pradesh�s Kushinagar at the inauguration of its international airport. The SL High Commission in New Delhi issued the following statement: more..

Oct 18 (AD) SL�s first Test cricket captain Bandula Warnapura has passed away at the age of 68. He had passed away while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo. He had been hospitalized earlier this month after he was diagnosed with high sugar levels and according to reports was recovering after having had his right leg amputated. Warnapura, who was the first SL Test cricket captain, later functioned as the coach of more..

Oct 18 (EN) Sri Lanka�s central bank has not yet approved cryptocurrencies for transactions and those who use them for transactions should bear the risks of any eventualities, officials said. Sri Lanka�s cabinet of ministers appointed a committee to look into blockchain and cryptocurrency use in the country. Blockchain is a tool to transact via electronic means, which can also be used for central bank money, but crypto currencies are electronic money with their own anchor. more..

Oct 18 (Island) Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera says that human rights violation charges have been levelled against some policemen for performing their duties. He has pledged that his Ministry will introduce a mechanism to provide relief to the officers concerned. Speaking at a ceremony in Kandy on Saturday to launch a community police promotional programme, the Minister said that amendments would be introduced to the Establishments Code to provide relief to more..

Oct 18 (AD) Prez Rajapaksa has rejected the request made by 11 allied parties of the govt for a discussion on the agreement reached between the SL govt and US-based New Fortress Energy for latter�s investment in West Coast Power Ltd (WCP) � owner of 310 MW Yugadanavi Power Plant in Kerawalapitiya. The opposition as well as ruling party members had expressed objections to the agreement which would reportedly more..

Oct 18 (AD) Two persons were killed while another had sustained critical injuries following a traffic collision involving a tipper truck and a car at Ambalangoda on the Colombo-Galle main road. Police said that a tipper truck traveling from Colombo towards Galle had collided with a car traveling in the opposite direction and that the driver and two passengers of the car were rushed to the Balapitiya Hospital. However, the driver of the car and one of the passengers had succumbed more..

Oct 18 (Island) Chairman of the Airport and Aviation Services SL (AASL) Ltd, Maj Gen (Retd) G. A. Chandrasiri said that a false and malicious accusation had been levelled that the officials attached to the BIA had unnecessarily delayed a German charter flight that arrived at the airport for emergency landing with 226 passengers. Maj Gen Chandrasiri denied the allegation. A Condor flight with 226 passengers travelling from Germany to the Maldives made an emergency landing on more..

Oct 18 (EN) An alliance of school teacher and principal trade unions in SL who have been on strike for over 3 months demanding higher pay said on Monday (18) that they will resume duties next week (25) but will continue to agitate and refrain from non-academic work. Spokespersons for Ceylon Teachers and Principals Trade Union Alliance said that, however, teachers will not report to work on Oct 21 and 22 when schools more..

Oct 18 (Island) Minister Johnston Fernando said that action would be taken to introduce electronic toll collection (ETC) at expressways to help alleviate traffic congestion, reduce delays, fuel consumption, and vehicle emissions. Fernando said that a cashier at manual toll collection (MTC) centres in expressways takes around 12 to 15 seconds to collect the toll from a single vehicle and hand back the receipt. ETC could reduce this to around six seconds and help the vehicles leave more..

Oct 18 (TM) A Fundamental Rights Petition against the transfer of shares of the Yugadanavi LNG Power Plant in Kerawalapitiya has been filed before the Supreme Court of SL by Venerable Elle Gunawansa Thero and His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith. The application seeks an order to prevent New Fortress Inc from obtaining the LNG supply contract. 54 persons have been named as respondents, including PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, New Fortress Inc, several Cabinet Ministers and more..

Oct 18 (AI) SL�s Muslim community has suffered consistent discrimination, harassment and violence since 2013, culminating in the adoption of govt policies explicitly targeting the minority group, said Amnesty International, in a new report published today. From Burning Houses to Burning Bodies: Anti-Muslim Harassment, Discrimination and Violence in SL, traces the development of anti-Muslim sentiment in SL more..

Oct 18 (DM) The country will have to keep under certain restrictions until the month of December this year in order to curb people's unnecessary movement, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardane said. He said that people seem to be taking things for granted which is evident with their behaviour during the weekend. �This the very situation that we witnessed during the last New Year season where people started to go on picnics and pilgrimages making COVID situation more..

Oct 18 (EN) Commercial Bank of Ceylon said it�s QR code-based payment app had drawn 100,000 users in the past five months. The app is launched as an alternative for Commercial Bank cardholders. �[Q+ app] is well received by customers owing to the convenience and security it offers them in cashless payment processing when they pay for purchases by scanning QR codes via mobile phones or via the in-app bill payment facility,� Commercial Bank said. �The Q+ Payment App enables cardholders more..