Sep 14 (Island) SJB lawmaker Rohini Kaviratne says the govt is yet to explain how it intends to ensure sufficient supply of agro-chemicals for the Maha season. Pointing out that the Maha season is three weeks away; MP Kaviratne insists the govt still seems uncertain about a proper distribution scheme. The SLPP continues to cause uncertainty among the farmer community, thereby undermining the vital occupation that more..

Sep 14 (DN) Foreign Minister Prof G.L. Peiris said that the developing countries, battered by the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to use their scarce resources for the welfare of their people, if the World Bank adopts a policy of debt forgiveness. He added that SL is among the developing countries badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of the economy. �Sri Lanka normally earns US$ 4.2 billion from tourism a year. That has come to a complete stop. Our trade relations have been affected. more..

Sep 14 (AD) Sri Lanka police found a hand grenade inside the lavatory of a private hospital in Narahenpita, Colombo, Tuesday (14) afternoon, police said. The police media division told EconomyNext that the lavatory was locted on the first floor of the hospital. �Police teams are currently investigating the incident to identify the person who carried the grenade and how it got to the hospital premises.� The grenade has now been disarmed, police said. more..

Sep 14 (CI) Lasith Malinga, who has a claim to being men's cricket's greatest T20 bowler, has officially called time on the last format he had not retired in. It was always likely Malinga's playing career was over after he stopped being picked for the Sri Lanka side, while he also withdrew from several franchise tournaments, including the IPL. But if fans had held out hope for a farewell T20, that is no longer an option. more..

Sep 14 (AD) Colombo Chief Magistrate�s Court has rejected the application filed by former Governor Azath Sally seeking his release. The application was taken up before Chief Magistrate Buddhika Sri Ragala earlier today. Salley�s attorney, Maithri Gunaratna told the court that the CID, under the directives of the Attorney General, had arrested his client on suspicion of alleged involvement with extremists. However, the CID has already informed the court that no evidence was found to prove more..

Sep 14 (TM) Residents of the Karagampitiya area in Dehiwala took the law into their own hands when they caught two thieves who had raided a local hardware store in the area yesterday. The thieves were caught and tied to the front gate of the S D S Jayasinghe Playground with placards hung around their necks which read Dehiwala Thieves. Images depicting this were widely shared on social media. One area resident said that her home had been subjected to burglaries nearly eight times more..

Sep 14 (DM) A writ petition was today filed in Court of Appeal seeking an order preventing Ajith Nivard Cabraal from functioning as the Governor of Central Bank. Petitioner, former Governor Rajith Keerthi Thennakoon is also seeking a Writ of Mandamus to compel the Attorney General and IGP to take legal action against Ajith Nivard Cabraal considering evidence available within the Forensic Audit Report. more..

Sep 14 (Island) The govt�s decision to place mobile phones and communication equipment on the list of non-essential goods to import would result in sharp increases in their prices, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene told an event organised to mark the UNP�s 75th anniversary.. Addressing a meeting of party activists by zoom, the UNP Deputy Leader said the import restrictions would place parents wanting to support children�s online education in further difficulty. more..

Sep 14 (EN) Health authorities in SL have expressed concern that younger people are showing some hesitance to be vaccinated against COVID-19 due to various misconceptions. Health Services Deputy Director Dr Hemantha Herath said that the anticipated percentages of people under 30 haven�t been coming forward to get jabbed. �Various opinions have been made that cannot be established. For example, there is a misconception that vaccination might cause impotence. more..

Sep 14 (AD) New Zealand has granted refugee status to a Sri Lankan who may have unknowingly helped funnel money to terrorists behind the Easter bombings. Immigration and Protection Tribunal in New Zealand found the man was not involved in supporting terrorist goals and did not know who the money went to or came from. It heard he carried out several transactions a month in a money transfer scheme involving his more..

Sep 14 (DM) A PCR testing laboratory was established at the airport premises to perform PCR tests and issue reports in three hours for foreign tourists arriving in the country via BIA. Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and other senior officials from the airport paid an inspection tour today at the airport. At least 3,000 tourists arrive in the country each day, and each tourist will be charged US$40 by the Tourism Promotions Authority to direct them to the PCR tests at the airport, more..

Sep 14 (EN) Sri Lanka�s cabinet of ministers had cleared state-run Paddy Marketing Board to buy Nadu paddy (rough rice) at 55 rupees a kilogram, shortly after authorities raided private milling companies which store rice under emergency law. The PMB will buy the paddy, mill it into rice and sell to the public through state-run Lanka Sathosa retail network at a reasonable price, the statement said. Sri Lanka�s rice prices had soared as the rupee fell, with millers marking the cereal up. more..

Sep 14 (Island) A civil society grouping in a statement issued yesterday strongly criticised the govt over its human rights record. The statement was issued by over two dozens activists hours after the 48th sessions of the Geneva- based UNHRC commenced. Identifying themselves as the Civil Society Platform (CSP), the group launched a scathing attack over accountability issues and post-war issues, including what they claimed more..

Sep 14 (CT) UNP urged govt to continue lockdown for another month claiming that Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the party can rebuild country�s economy if the lives of the public are safe from the pandemic. UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardena expressed these views while accepting medical equipment donated by the Chinese Govt to fight the COVID-19 pandemic at Wickremesinghe�s behest. �That is why the UNP leader said that lives of the people should be protected. more..

Sep 14 (TM) Former Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) Ambika Satkunanathan has expressed that it is critical to investigate the alleged incidents of intoxicated Ministers entering prison premises. �It is critical to investigate this incident. In my experience at HRCSL, when investigating such prison incidents it is imperative to secure evidence, especially CCTV evidence immediately to prevent any tampering or destruction,� Satkunanathan expressed. more..

Sep 14 (EN) Any external initiative by the United Nations to address alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka would not achieve the goals stated by the world body and such a move could create polarisation in the island nation, the country�s foreign minister said on Tuesday. Responding to UN Human Rights chief Michelle Bachelet�s Monday statement in which she said that her office has begun work to implement the accountability more..

Sep 14 (DM) European Union (EU) has expressed its regret over the decision of the SL Govt to no longer support the UN framework to address the legacy of the past conflict, to ensure acknowledgements for victims, and to foster accountability, reconciliation and human rights. The EU also stressed the need for continued efforts for reconciliation, accountability and human rights pursuant Council resolution 46/1. �The EU notes the declared intent of the Govt of SL to maintain more..

Sep 14 (Island) Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that a national policy to recruit teachers to the school system was being formulated and it would be introduced to the country soon. Speaking at the Consultative Committee on Education held in Parliament on Friday, Minister said that the need for a national policy to recruit persons to the teaching service had been there for decades. He also pointed out that there was a need to formulate a proper system more..

Sep 14 (DM) The Core Group of Sri Lanka (Canada, Germany, North Macedonia, Malawi, Montenegro and the UK) today raised its concern about current human rights developments in Sri Lanka, including accountability, ongoing PTA detentions and increased limitations on civil society space. �We continue to stress the importance of a comprehensive reconciliation and accountability process. more..

Sep 14 (AD) Total number of people who fell victim to COVID-19 infection in SL soared yet again as 136 more fatalities were confirmed on Monday (13). The new development has pushed the official death toll from the virus outbreak in SL to 11,567. The latest victims include 76 males and 60 females. As many as 106 deaths were reported among elderly people who are aged above 60 years. In addition, 28 individuals aged between 30-59 years and 02 below 30 years have also succumbed to the virus. more..

Sep 14 (DM) Claiming that the Covid mortality and infections have reduced during the lockdown period, State Minister Sudarshani Fernadopulle said today that the Govt will take steps to reopen the country after next Monday. She told reporters that the four-week lockdown was more than enough to curtail the spread of the disease and that there has been a decrease in Covid mortality and infections during this period. �I don�t think the country will be locked down after next Monday. more..

Sep 14 (EN) Sri Lanka, now into its fourth week of an extended COVID-19 lockdown, is likely to gradually reopen starting next Tuesday (21), though health experts warn that the country is not yet out of the woods. State Minister Dr Sudarshini Fernandopulle said that a drop in daily cases and deaths has been observed since the quarantine curfew was announced on Aug 20. �No matter what allegations some people may level, more..

Sep 14 (EN) SL has enough fuel stocks and the public should fear shortages, Co-Cabinet spokesman Ramesh Pathirana said as the country�s Petroleum Minister was reportedly seeking credit lines to buy oil. �We can tell you that there is no scarcity of oil in this country,� Pathirana said. �Do not get unnecessary fears.� His comments came amid reports that SL was seeking to borrow US$ 2.5 billion from some unsolicited proposal made by US and Europe based funds to repay loans of more..

Sep 14 (TM) The Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA) has demanded an immediate end to what it terms as the continuing illegal admission of civilian students to the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU). In the letter addressed to the President, the FUTA stated that the KDU is continuing to illegally admit civilian students and has recently published advertisements in newspapers and social media to recruit students to a broad range of undergraduate study programs. more..

Sep 15 (CT) The game of musical chairs between Cardinal and PM is comic. Musical chairs is a party game played by children at birthdays. To watch two fat, hardly mobile aging frogs circling the Pope�s throne would delight any bunch of six and seven year olds. To go to Rome or not to go? To obfuscate the strange episodes peeping through the events and bogus �investigations� pertaining to the Easter Sunday Bombing (ESB) or to go sleep, the choice brings adults to tears. more..

Sep 15 (CT) Sunil Perera, the iconic SL singer, entertainer, musician, fearless political and social critic, passed away on August 5 due to complications relating to Covid-19. He contracted the dreaded disease a few weeks ago and returned home completely recovered. In a viral video, he is seen singing Kris Kristofferson�s Why Me Lord in gratitude. Unfortunately, a few days ago, he was rushed to a private hospital with breathing complications, where he passed away. more..

Sep 15 (CT) In 2013 the Horton Plains National Park became a colourful, spectacular attraction to its visitors when after 12 long years the Nelu (Strobilanthes) started blooming. The national park was filled with flowers as far as the eye could see for around two months until the flowers started gradually fading away. Way back in 1881 a mass flowering of Nelu was recorded by Thomas Farr Inn, Founder of Farr Inn Lodge at Horton Plains. more..

Sep 15 (TM) Sri Lanka is at a critical juncture where it has to defend its image and autonomy before the international community while defending the state of its citizens� rights. At the 48th UNHRC Regular Session, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet claimed that the continued surveillance, intimidation, and judicial harassment of human rights defenders, journalists, and families of the disappeared in SL has not only continued, but has broadened to include students, more..

Sep 15 (GV) Rice has played a vital role in SL for many centuries not only because it is the staple diet but also because paddy cultivation has been the main source of livelihood for many people. Rice, as the final consumption product, has significant importance. However, farmers do not get a fair selling price for paddy while consumers cannot buy rice at a reasonable retail price. This dispute, known as the rice crisis, has given rise to an ongoing dialogue between many stakeholders in SL. more..

Sep 15 (TM) Sri Lanka�s state-run medicines regulator, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), is one of the most discussed institutions at present, due to its role in evaluating and authorising Covid-19 vaccines. However, recently, it also reported a massive data loss in its database, which made it a hot topic again, due to the repercussions the said data loss is likely to cause. more..

Sep 15 (ST) At a time when national unity is the need of the hour for the country to face the twin challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the country�s economic down turn, the actions of a few pose a serious threat to communal harmony. At a time when every section of the citizenry is required to contribute to the national effort, it is alarming that the actions of the usual suspects can drive a wedge between communities and thereby undermine the national interest. more..

Sep 15 (CT) Oil used to be what every Govt either treasured or craved: a gusher of revenue, jobs galore and no need to depend on imports. But economists talk of the resource curse, in which too much of a good thing skews the economy, pushes up costs and crowds out other activity. And now, there�s a new sort of curse from having oil. In the era of the climate emergency, fossil fuel wealth could become a stranded asset, forced to remain in the ground as world battles to cut carbon more..

Sep 15 (Island) Chinese Embassy in Colombo is reported to have handed over a consignment of medical equipment to the UNP for distribution among the state-run hospitals. China has made the donation at the request of UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, we are told. It defies comprehension why any foreign govt should hand over medical equipment, meant for the SL public, to local political parties instead of Health Ministry. As a popular Sri Lankan saying goes, more..

Sep 15 (Island) Disciplining society was a critical political drive behind the election campaigns of the incumbent Govt. The majority of people voted for this Govt with expectations for a disciplined society. They voted in as Prez, a former military officer, a prominent actor in the victorious war-winning regime to discipline and protect the nation. The triumph of military masculinity then was not an accident but the will of the majority. Its consequences, including the militarisation of our institutions & society, more..

Sep 15 (CI) Did you watch either of the two previous games? Then you know the basic story. First, Sri Lanka lose wickets in the powerplay. In this match, it was three wickets by the end of the fourth over. First, Avishka Fernando was caught and bowled by Kagiso Rabada - the umpires unsure if it was a bump-ball at first, until replays showed Fernando was out. Then, Dhananjaya de Silva ran past a ball from Bjorn Fortuin and more..

Sep 15 (FT) Apparel giant Hela Clothing has become the first major SL manufacturer to set up operations in Egypt in a bid to serve its customers better and boost revenues. The foray into North Africa by Hela comes after successful entry and growth in East Africa, with operations in Kenya beginning five years ago, closely followed by Ethiopia. Hela acquired a distressed asset � an apparel manufacturing factory in Alexandria in Egypt with 1,000 employees previously managed by more..

Sep 15 (Island) Standard Chartered affirmed its position as one of the largest trade finance counter parties of the ADB, winning the Most Responsive Bank against COVID-19 Award at the Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program Awards 2021. Bank won the award for its partnership with ADB to finance the import of 15.4 million vaccine doses to effectively face the pandemic situation in SL. �Winning Most Responsive Bank Against COVID-19 is deeply personal to Standard Chartered. more..

Sep 15 (EN) A Pradeshiya Sabha member elected to the Monaragala PS in 2018 on the ruling SLPP ticket and accused of bribing voters has been disqualified in a landmark judgement delivered Monday (13). High Court Judge Ranga Dissanyake delivered the verdict, disqualifying SLPP member Harshaka Priya Dissanayake for various bribes allegedly offered to voters in the Madurakeiya division at the 2018 LG elections. more..