Sep 2 (EN) SL�s main stock index hit a fresh all time high on Thursday with a 1.92% gain on a strong turnover as some investors used available margin credit, brokers said. Brokers said investors were coming strongly into the market with the beginning of a new month has given them some leverage to borrow through margin credit, which should be settled by the month-end. The index continued to increase despite analyst�s more..

Sep 2 (EN) Sri Lanka has vaccinated almost 40% of the population against Coronavirus by Sept 1, with close to 500,000 getting the second over in each of the past three days, govt data showed. Sri Lanka had given two doses of vaccines to 8.5 million persons, or 39.1% of the population by Sept 1, in a country with a population of 21.9 million persons. Over 12.56 million persons or 57.3 million persons had been given one dose. China had supplied most of the vaccines to Sri Lanka. more..

Sep 2 (Island) The public and private sectors should encourage their employees to work remotely, even after the pandemic, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Management Consultant Dr. Sanjaya Perera said. He said that one of the main reason why COVID cases had increased after the lifting of the lockdowns was people returning to work. Not only did people travel in congested buses and trains, but also spent eight hours or more in enclosed spaces, most of which were air-conditioned. more..

Sep 2 (Island) Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, on Tuesday, briefed His Eminence Archbishop Brian Udaigwe, Apostolic Nuncio (the Vatican Ambassador) to Sri Lanka, on the ongoing investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage. The meeting took place at the Foreign Ministry, ahead of the Foreign Minister�s meeting with Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith expected to take place soon. more..

Sep 2 (AD) SL today commenced administering the Covid-19 vaccine to the population in the age group 18 to 30 years, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said. He said that steps have been taken to vaccinate persons above the age of 18 and below the age of 30 with the Covid-19 vaccine, on a district level starting from today. He stated that the frontline health workers in this age group as well others helping to control the spread of the virus have already been provided more..

Sep 2 (AD) A maximum retail price of Rs. 3,000 has been declared for a Pulse Oximeter, according to the State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana. He stated that registered suppliers and their brands are displayed on the website of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA). The Coronavirus pandemic has caused an increase in the use of pulse oximeters, a device that is usually placed on a fingertip, which uses light beams to estimate the oxygen saturation of the blood & pulse rate. more..

Sep 2 (EN) SL�s parliament has limited its sessions for two days next week when the emergency law on essential foods is to be taken up for debate, the leader of the house said on Thursday (2), amid an ongoing COVID-19 lockdown with many MPs having tested positive for the virus. The sessions were originally scheduled to be held for all five weekdays next week with Monday (6) being allocated for the govt to respond to more..

Sep 2 (FT) Talent is at the heart of economic transformation. Considering this, how can organisations facilitate this transformation and support and equip their talent for the current competitive environment? With the exigencies of the pandemic contrasted with the global opportunities and increased cross-border trade offered by the breakdown of location-based limitations, where does SL stand? The Youth Labour Market Assessment conducted by Verite showed poor school to more..

Sep 2 (DM) Tokyo Paralympic Games medal winners Dinesh Herath and Samitha Dulan are set to receive a huge cash prize from the Sports Ministry once they arrive on Sept 7. Gold Medalist Herath will receive a cash award of Rs. 50million while the Bronze Medalist Dulan will receive a cash award of Rs. 20m under the directions from the National Sports Council (NSC). This was confirmed by Amal Edirisooriya, Director General of the Department of Sports Development of the Ministry of Sports. more..

Sep 2 (USE) The United States govt, through the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), has awarded a grant to conserve a 17th century Royal Palace and Archaeology Museum in Kandy. Funding for the project totals over 52 million rupees ($265,000). Since 2001, AFCP has funded 14 projects in SL, including the conservation of the Rajagala Buddhist forest monastery, the preservation of more..

Sep 2 (EN) A photograph of a parakeet feeding three chicks peeking out of a nest holeshot by a 10-year old in SL during the Covid-19 lockdown has been highly commended in the UK Wildlife Photographer Awards 2021. UK�s Natural History Museum had conducted the competition for 57 years. Gagana Wickramasinghe had been watching the rose-ringed parakeet family in their nest in a dead areca nut tree in the garden. In 2020, during the long days of an island-wide lockdown, more..

Sep 2 (AD) The home-care treatment program for asymptomatic and mildly-symptomatic COVID-19 patients will be extended for the Southern Province from today. Accordingly, the program implemented to categorize the patients through the 1904 SMS service as per the level of medical attention needed will be extended to the Southern Province as well. COVID-19 infected patients with complications and respiratory issues will be hospitalized while patients with other symptoms are directed to suitable more..

Sep 2 (FT) Being one of the most formidable world class Test cricketers with 34 hundreds, seven double hundreds and a triple hundred under his belt, Mahela Jayawardena has soon evolved a coach in demand in the shorter formats of the game. He guided the English Hampshire team Southern Brave to the championship title in the inaugural The Hundred tournament in England a few days ago and more..

Sep 2 (FT) Staying at the top of the Colombo bourse appears challenging as Expolanka Holdings yesterday dislodged LOLC Holdings yet again to reclaim the most valued status. The recoup follows a strong performance by Expolanka yesterday. Its share price shot up by 17.5%, or Rs. 25, to close at Rs. 167.50, which ensured a market capitalisation of Rs. 327.44 billion. Expolanka saw 31.1 million of its shares change hands via 11,804 trades for Rs. 5 bil. It touched an intra-day high of Rs169.50. more..

Sep 2 (Island) Vaccination was not a silver bullet, and it had to be supplemented by other initiatives to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, Prof Manuj Weerasinghe, Head of the Dept of Community Medicine, Uni of Colombo, said. Boosting immunity was vital for overcoming any virus, and vaccine played a big role in the fight against COVID-19, he said. However, vaccines alone were not the only way to overcome the pandemic, the Professor said. �If we think we can get out through this crisis more..

Sep 2 (ENS) The long coastline in the district has been on high alert for the past 72 hours following intelligence input that some Sri Lankan nationals will try to start their voyage to Pakistan from one of the harbours in Ernakulam and Alappuzha. The alert comes days after the police and Intelligence Bureau (IB) carried out a security audit at harbours in the district and identified several vulnerabilities. more..

Sep 2 (CT) The Opposition spoke against the construction of the road from Lankagama to Neluwa since the day construction commenced. None of them said anything positive when this road was being built, Minister Johnston Fernando said. �As the Minister in charge of Highways, I have said on several occasions in Parliament and outside that I would provide a vehicle and all other facilities for opposition members who want to visit Lankagama and see how this road is being constructed� more..

Sep 2 (DM) While many Sri Lankans are celebrating the country�s heroics in the Paralympics in Japan, little do they know about what appears to be a major power shift in sports management in the island. Public-Private Partnership, better known as PPP, has been a topic discussed excessively behind closed doors. Public-Private Partnership (PPP), a proposal put forward by the Minister Namal Rajapaksa, has received cabinet sanction. It allows the private sector companies to manage more..

Sep 2 (FT) The main Opposition the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday called on Prez Rajapaksa to rescind the purported declaration of State of Emergency to deal with the food crisis, saying it was made in bad faith and posed serious implications. �We call upon his Excellency the Prez to forthwith rescind the purported Declaration of a State of Emergency,� SJB Gen. Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara more..

Sep 2 (TM) Despite the efforts of Afghanistan�s ambassador to SL Ashraf Haidari which sought to build a bridge between SL and Afghanistan, Haidari disappointedly noted that no such efforts have been made from SL�s part. He was responding to a question raised by a journalist about what Afghanistan gained from SL, having been a country that came from war to peace, in an interview which was widely circulated on social media. Haidari explained that he has tried on numerous more..

Sep 2 (CT) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, submitting a letter to Prez Rajapaksa, sought a Presidential pardon for former MP Ranjan Ramanayake. In January this year, Ramanayake, who was convicted over a Contempt of Court charge by the Supreme Court, was sentenced to a term of four-year rigorous imprisonment. A three-Judge Bench comprising Justices Sisira de Abrew, Vijith Malalgoda, and Preethi Padman Surasena had unanimously issued the verdict. more..

Sep 3 (CT) Saturday, 28 Aug marked the final curtain call on the journey of a veteran journalist that spanned over 60 years, as 89-year-old Elmo Gooneratne fell victim to the deadly COVID-19 infection. The veteran journalist who mentored as a senior who mentored generations of young journalists in his six-decade journalism career, is regarded as the only one in SL�s media history of having simultaneously managed four national newspapers- published in two languages more..

Sep 3 (CT) The situation is approaching irreversible proportions. If it were only the Covid-19 virus, maybe, perhaps maybe, we may have had a chance of recovery within a reasonable period of time. But it was too little too soon for the governing principals to cope with. Their elemental qualities took over the already-corrupt temperaments. Whatever happens to the real victims of the deadly virus that has been claiming millions of lives all over the globe, how could the Covid virus benefit me? more..

Sep 3 (CT) Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) has been mentioned in myths and is considered sacred. They have, however, recently proven to be a problem. The most pressing issue is that their population is growing. While farmers have avoided harming them, the population of their natural predators has decreased for a variety of reasons. Farmers have been hit hardest, as peafowl and other birds have become pests, more..

Sep 3 (CT) State Minister of Finance and Secretary to the finance Ministry are out boasting about the increase of Dollar reserves from 2.8 billion at the end of July to 4 billion. This was solely due to the replenishment of quota for US$ 780 million from the IMF and loan facilities by Bangladesh and China worth US$ 400 million. Loans obtained from China will be spent back on Chinese vaccine Sinopharm which was bought at a very high price. Approximately US$ 900-1000 million of more..

Sep 3 (TM) The concept of survival of the fittest, in simple terms, describes those who are capable of facing, adapting to, and evolving in unfavourable environments, and it has been proven true on many occasions throughout history. The same theory could be applied to human society � powerful, influential, and wealthy nations have most often been able to ensure the safety of their citizens, while less powerful nations enjoy no such assurance of survival. more..

Sep 3 (TM) After seeing an adorable Golden Retriever or a German Shepard puppy, people often end up wanting a pet dog without considering the story behind its birth or the responsibilities that come along with owning a pet dog. Pedigree dogs (every other breed of dogs except the local street dogs of Sri Lanka) are bred by private owners who are called backyard breeders. They raise dogs in their homes and more..

Sep 3 (DM) Teacher-principal unions are roaring like lions. Probably they don�t hear the silent cry of students who are stuck at home. As much as 4.3 million students have been deprived of classroom education for over one and a half years because of the pandemic. Now their online education too has come to a stop because of striking teachers. The bright ones having a better focus on studies are following some kind of education, but the rest are struggling to face these challenging times. more..

Sep 3 (ST) Woke up late this morning and as I was munching my favourite kimbula bunis (the crocodile-shaped bun with sugar sprinkled on top), the phone rang. By the way, the decades-old kimbula bunis hasn�t lost its glamour and is still a favourite, even among today�s younger generation. Who was calling this early in the morning? It was Kalabala Silva, the often agitated academic. �How� how are you?� I asked. After greeting me, he asked in return: �Do you know one of the biggest issues that more..

Sep 3 (TM) Among full time fisherwomen, a local study noted that the majority are above 50 years of age, widowed, and illiterate, and moreover, engage in the profession by manually catching shellfish by wading through the shallow depths of lagoon waters without the use of fishing crafts, yet all are struggling below the poverty line. These findings were made in a study on the Contribution of women in fisheries and fishery-related activities in Ponnalai, Jaffna researched and authored by more..

Sep 3 (Island) We sincerely and very sadly mourn the death of Susil Siriwardena and Mangala Samaraweera. Cass echoes Macbeth from her most favoured Shakespearean tragedy: �(They) should have died hereafter; there would have been a time for such a word.� Especially true of the demise of Mangala at age 65. Many fine appreciations were written by those who knew Mangala Samaraweera well and published in all our newspapers. His many character facets were highlighted but more..

Sep 3 (CI) Avishka Fernando, long considered one of SL's finest limited-overs batting prospects, was left out of the squad entirely for SL's first two limited-overs assignments this year (in Caribbean, and in B'desh). The omission wasn't down to runs or form, but because of failed fitness tests - coach Mickey Arthur having made fitness a non-negotiable for players this year. Although clearly stung by being overlooked, more..

Sep 3 (Island) Yes, we all need to do that, in very possible way, and I�m quite certain every Sri Lankan is grateful to what the frontliners are tirelessly doing to curtail the spread of this deadly virus, in our part of the world. Though the music scene is totally dead, local artistes have grouped together to come up with a tribute song, called Obai Obamai Sada Wiruwan. The opening lines of this song say it all� �There are no soldiers in the frontline, in this battle; No armor, yet they fight death more..

Sep 3 (CT) Innovative Production Group (IPG) FZE, the official right holders of Lanka Premier League (LPL) for 2020-2024, today (2) unveiled London-based HAMRO CEO Q. Khan as the new owner for the Dambulla Giants in the prestigious T20 league of the Island Nation. HAMRO head office is in London�s financial district of Canary Wharf. A pioneer in the real estate sector and well known for his entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavours, Khan�s involvement in the game is exemplary. more..

Sep 3 (CI) Sri Lanka scored 90 runs off the last 10 overs of their innings and defended 90 in the last 10 overs of South Africa's to take the series lead and 10 points into the World Cup Super League table. History was on the hosts' side, with no team ever successfully chasing a total over 300 in a day-night game on the island. South Africa, on 210 for 3 after 40 overs, were well-placed but Sri Lanka's attack held its nerve. more..

Sep 3 (Island) A coach plays a vital role in an athlete�s success. When it comes to track and field sports, a coach can make or break the career of an athlete. It is the coach�s specific training plan that helps the athlete peak at the right time to produce his best. A good coach would know where his trainee would end up and what his performance would be like even before the athlete gets into the track for his competition. Former SL national record holder-turned javelin coach more..

Sep 3 (CI) Former SL batter Avishka Gunawardene has been named SL's Under-19 coach until the end of 2022. Gunawardene had been approached by the Afghanistan Cricket Board for the post of batting coach, and he had in fact agreed to take up the position temporarily, for the series that was meant to be played against Pakistan, in Hambantota, this month. However, it is understood that Gunawardene had always hoped for a long-term role within SL cricket, rather than an overseas appointment. more..

Sep 3 (FT) The Govt yesterday reassured availability of adequate organic fertiliser for the Maha season of the paddy cultivators saying elaborate measures and mechanisms have been put in place to avoid shortage. It said the entire process, including farmer awareness, technical assistance and financial assistance is being continued uninterrupted. Various measures undertaken starting from the 2020 Yala season and more..