Sep 24 (CT) A dictatorship is familiar to most of us, and can be defined as a system of govt ruled by a relatively small number of self-appointed people who hold absolute power over any organised institutions or system of laws. There are mainly five types of recognised dictatorships in the world. The Military dictatorship in countries such as present-day Myanmar, Mali and Chile under Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990), comes to being by the classical means of a coup d��tat and relies on armed forces. more..

Sep 24 (Island) Sri Lanka Athletics will give priority to Asian Games over the Commonwealth Games as the two major sports events take place within five weeks from each other in 2022. The track and field governing body indicated their priorities at a meeting with the National Olympic Committee yesterday. �Our best chances are at the Asian Games. We are trying to get the best out of the talent we have. more..

Sep 24 (Island) Sri Lanka�s cricketers who are in a bio-secure bubble at the Cinnamon Grand in Colombo will end their three day quarantine today and will start group training. Following the group training, there will be full squad training stimulating match situations and after ten days of practices in Colombo, the team will leave for Oman where they will play two T-20Is. Former captain Kusal Janith Perera, who sustained a hamstring injury during the South Africa series and was doubtful more..

Sep 24 (CI) The second edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), Sri Lanka's domestic T20 tournament, will run from Dec 4 to 23, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced on Thursday. The process to register overseas players will commence from Sept 24. The tournament was originally set to run from July 30 to Aug 22, but according to tournament director Ravin Wickramaratne, the announcement of the Kashmir Premier League, the CPL (which required players to be free from Aug 12), more..

Sep 24 (FT) SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ashok Pathirage revealed early signs of tourism revival, forecasting earnings of over $ 500 million alone in the upcoming winter season, demand for which is on the rise as the national carrier ramps up services. �The season ahead looks very promising and we are getting ready for a busy schedule,� Pathirage said. He said that following the rapid vaccination against COVID-19 in Sri Lanka more..

Sep 24 (Island) There has been a significant decrease in the daily Covid-19 cases and death toll, and therefore chances are the govt will not extend the current lockdown further. The country cannot be kept closed indefinitely, anyway. Health experts are of the view that it is advisable to stagger the reopening of the country. This is a very sensible suggestion that the govt ought to heed. The current wave of infections could have been prevented if the powers that be had listened to expert advice more..

Sep 24 (FT) National Peace Council in a statement yesterday welcomed Prez Rajapaksa�s speech at the UN General Assembly but emphasised a joint effort is required for reconciliation to become a reality. The full text of the statement follows: �President Gotabaya Rajapaksa�s address to the UNGA was short, simple and dignified. Prez covered the main issues that confront the world with his focus on Sri Lanka. These included the COVID pandemic, economic difficulties, environmental degradation and more..

Sep 24 (DM) There were no moves to create an artificial decline in COVID cases in order to get Sri Lanka removed from the red list, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardane said. He vehemently dismissed reports, which say that Sri Lanka reduced the number of PCR tests to create an artificial drop in cases so that it could be removed from the red list. "A country is not removed from the red list only considering the number of infections. There are other yardsticks based on more..

Sep 24 (DM) Rohitha Rajapaksa together with Mr. Polpithigama Kumararatne has donated Rs. 10m worth of medical equipment to the Kurunegala Hospital to treat COVID19 patients. Having been informed of a medical equipment shortage, Mr. Rajapaksa had inquired about it from the Director of Kurunegala Hospital, Dr. Chandana Kendagamuwa, and had taken immediate steps to donate a stock of medical equipment worth Rs. 10 million, with the assistance of Mr. Polpithigama Kumararatne. more..

Sep 24 (FT) SL�s COVID-19 detections rose to 510,040 with 1,368 persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday. All the patients detected yesterday were from the New Year cluster. A total of 8,256 PCR tests were carried out yesterday. 6,745 PCR tests and 3,468 rapid antigen tests were carried out the previous day. On Wednesday, 1,321 persons from the New Year cluster and 21 SL overseas arrivals tested more..

Sep 24 (FT) Over 14 million persons have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in Sri Lanka with 228,645 persons receiving a COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday. 14,032,696 persons have received the first dose of a vaccine and 11,306,826 persons have received the second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. First dose vaccine coverage in the 20 to 29 population is 40.7% and second dose coverage is 12.6%. In the population over the age of 30, 96.5% has received both doses of a Covid vaccine. more..

Sep 24 (TM) SJB MP Mujibur Rahuman, in a letter to Mass Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma yesterday, expressed his disappointment and concern over what he claimed to be the racism that was promoted by a state media channel during an interview with BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera on 18 Sept. �On 18 Sept, Gnanasara Thera claimed that Muslims are walking bombs and that Muslim extremists can activate at any moment. more..

Sep 24 (TM) The Covid-19 vaccination programme for children over 12 years of age who are suffering from chronic diseases is scheduled to commence today from the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH) in Colombo. LRH Director Dr. P. Wijesuriya told the media that other hospitals in the Western Province will start vaccinating children next week. �Children over the age of 12 with chronic diseases will be given more..

Sep 24 (ORF) Basic human rights and liberal democracy are dismissed by the autocratic leadership in SL. Such circumstances suppress the public from exercising their democratic rights on a daily basis. The predominantly active political class of Sinhalese Buddhists, who campaigned for and elected a Rajapaksa regime and once supported autocratic sentiments now seem to be questioning the regime�s behaviour. During the Prez election in 2019, which came in the immediate aftermath more..

Sep 24 (TM) SPC Chairman Dr. Prasanna Gunasena said that based on the advice of Health Ministry�s Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD), the ‌decision on whether to purchase a further 14 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, as a booster shot for the population, will be taken next week. �In May this year, we signed an agreement based on the ACCD�s recommendations to secure 4 million Pfizer-BioNTech doses for children, and 14 million extra doses. more..

Sep 24 (Island) Large scale earthquakes are not possible in Sri Lanka as the country is situated in a safe plateau between two major fault lines, a team of experts comprising Professors of Geology and scientists have said. Prof. Athula Senaratne, Prof. L.R.K. Perera, Dr. N.P. Wijayananda, Dr. Bernard Prem and Bandula Kandaragama from Australia said at a press conference in Colombo more..

Sep 24 (AD) The party leadership meeting of the SLPA was held under the patronage of PM Rajapaksa at Temple Trees this afternoon (23). The main focus of the meeting fell on the role of the party in supporting the govt in the face of the COVID-19 epidemic and the proposals to be presented in the 2021 Budget including a mechanism to educate govt MPs about such important bills beforehand. In this nearly-two-hour meeting, attention was also drawn to the potential consumer benefits from more..

Sep 24 (AD) The results of 2020 G.C.E O/L Exam have been released. Exam results can be obtained from the official website of the Department of Examinations � www.doenets.lk. However, the results of aesthetic subjects have not been finalized as the practical exams are yet to be conducted. The Ordinary Level exam was initially scheduled to be held in December 2020. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was postponed several times until the date was finally fixed for March 01, 2021. more..

Sep 24 (TM) SJB MP Manusha Nanayakkara has filed a fundamental rights (FR) petition before the Supreme Court (SC), challenging the appointment of former Central Bank of SL (CBSL) Governor and State Minister of Money, Capital Market, Ajith Nivard Cabraal as CBSL Governor again. In his petition, Nanayakkara has named the Attorney General (AG), Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa, CBSL�s Monetary Board, more..

Sep 24 (CT) Trade Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena challenged in Parliament on Wednesday that he would resign from active politics if anyone proved that he had stolen, scammed or taken commissions from any institution coming under his Ministry. He made this remark during the Second Reading of the Consumer Affairs Authority (Amendment) Bill. In response to the allegations regarding the garlic scam in Lanka Sathosa, the Minister said the IGP should apprehend more..

Sep 24 (FT) The Parliament yesterday unanimously passed new laws under the Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 09 of 2003, to increase fines for the sale of goods above the maximum retail price (MRP). This will now allow to raise the fines by 3,900% for breaking the MRP. As per the provisions of the Act, the fines are categorised as individual businesses and companies. Unavailability of proper discourse, which otherwise is common at a Bill debate, compelled State Minister more..

Sep 24 (TM) JVP-led NPP has claimed that certain groups representing the current Govt are targeting Head of the Catholic Church in SL and Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, and spreading various misconceptions in an attempt to divert the ongoing investigation into the Easter Sunday terror attacks. NPP MP Vijitha Herath, alleged that various intermediary groups representing the Govt more..

Sep 24 (FT) Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will lead the Cost-of-Living (CoL) Committee meeting today which will decide on the essential goods price hike and resolve certain issues related to import containers stuck at Colombo Port. �The decision to increase prices of rice, milk powder, gas, wheat flour and cement will be taken at the CoL meeting today,� State Minister of Cooperative Services, Marketing Development and Consumer Protection Lasantha Alagiyawanna told journalists yesterday. more..

Sep 24 (Island) The Foreign Ministry had informed the Ministry of Health that no foreign govts had informed it of preference for any particular brand of vaccine to enter those countries, Deputy Director General of Health Services, Dr. Hemantha Herath said. �The Foreign Ministry and several other institutions have informed us that there is no such requirement. Any vaccine approved by the WHO is accepted by all the countries in the world,� he said. Dr. Herath added that if someone who more..

Sep 24 (Island) Professionals� National Front (PNP) Spokesperson Kapila Renuka Perera warned of dire consequences of going ahead with the govt�s controversial agreement with the US energy firm New Fortress Energy. The grouping questioned the rationale behind losing state control/responsibility in ensuring uninterrupted fuel supplies to power stations. The agreement with the New York based US firm would result in more..

Sep 24 (FT) Mangala, during the final phase of his life, had an intensive dialogue with me on the need for formulating a basic document containing fundamental principles that should be incorporated in a program of transformation for Sri Lanka, and the significance of having such a document. I am of the view that it was a distinct occasion where he had manifested his political acumen and maturity. He was not omniscient, but was going through a process of self-criticism. more..

Sep 24 (FT) In spite of the negative opinion on SL�s ability to repay foreign debt by rating agencies and somewhat stemming from a fiscal crisis largely precipitated by COVID-19, the country repaid the $ 1 billion bond by the deadline and a further $ 400-500 million in other commitments, keeping intact its reputation for honouring sovereign debt. Despite that, Moody�s Investors Service downgraded SL�s current rating CCC+ to negative, citing its assessment of the country�s increasingly more..

Sep 24 (MFA) Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris met the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the UAE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, on the sidelines of the 76th session of the UNGA where both Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the good relationship between the countries based on mutual understanding and respect. Minister Peiris recalled his longstanding friendship with the Foreign Minister of UAE Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan & stated that he was looking forward more..

Sep 24 (AD) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed SL Customs to immediately clear all essential food items currently in the port. The PM has issued this directive during the Cost of Living (CoL) Committee meeting held today via video conference. He issued the directive to the Imports and Exports Controller General and the Director General of SL Customs. It had been decided during the meeting to ensure that the essential food items cleared from the port are distributed to the general public more..

Sep 24 (EN) Health authorities have denied allegations of artificially lowering the daily COVID-19 caseload in order to have Sri Lanka removed from a pandemic red list, a top health official said. Responding to claims that a recent drop in daily cases was due to reduced PCR testing, Director General of Health Services Dr Asela Gunawardena said that no data has been manipulated. �We cannot do that. more..

Sep 24 (CT) An investigation must be carried out in regard to a statement made by Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, of a possible terrorist attack similar to the Easter Sunday attacks, SLPP MP Dilan Perera said. He added the basis of these statements could only be revealed by an investigation, otherwise, in the event of such attack, Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera would blame the Govt. �National security within the country is in a good state and Prez has pledged to more..

Sep 24 (AD) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa attended the special commemorative event today which was organized in front of the Manhattan Memorial in the United States to mark the 20th anniversary of terrorist attacks in Washington and New York, the President�s Media Division (PMD) confirmed. The Terrorist attacks that took place on the 11th of Sept 2001 targeted the World Trade Centre in New York and and the Pentagon, the headquarters of the US Dept of Defence. more..

Sep 24 (Island) Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (Retd) Sarath Weerasekera told Parliament on Wednesday that Sri Lanka would be under threat as long as the IS ideology promising 72 virgins in paradise for those who sacrificed their lives in the name of Jihad existed. �Anyone who believes in that ideology could carry out an attack any time. It is not easy to identify them,� the minister said, responding to a question by more..

Sep 24 (TM) SL and India are planning to conduct joint operations to carry out anti-drug smuggling operations in the Indian Ocean. Navy Spokesman Captain Indika de Silva, said that this plan was discussed by the Navy Commander Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne and Indian Navy Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh, and mainly focused on the curbing of drug smuggling and trafficking across the Indian Ocean. Additionally, Admiral Singh also pledged his support with more..

Sep 24 (Island) SL women carry the main burden of household work, and therefore they have knowledge and influence that could be channeled to improve community waste management, which is not only harming health and the environment but also causing disputes between different communities, says Asia and the Pacific branch of the UN Women. The govt�s Time-Use Survey of 2017 found that women spend 27.6% more time than men doing housework each day. more..

Sep 24 (CT) The UNP Self-Employed Traders� Union (UNPSETU) yesterday (23) filed an FR petition before the Supreme Court, charging that due to the imposition of the quarantine curfew, they had not been able to engage in their livelihood hence their Fundamental Rights had been infringed. The petition was filed, on behalf of the union, by its Chairman G.I. Charles, Secretary Krishan Marambe and National Organiser R.N.A.A. Fernando, more..

Sep 24 (AD) Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has decided to bear the expenses for the PCR tests of SL migrant workers, who return to the island from the Middle East, carried out at the BIA. This is implemented as a pilot project for a period of three months, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said. In the meantime, a rapid PCR testing facility was declared open in the vicinity of the Katunayake Airport on Thursday to allow tourists and SL returnees to undergo rapid PCR tests more..

Sep 24 (CT) Colombo District Court (DC) yesterday imposed two injunctions on UNP Leader and National List MP, Ranil Wickremesinghe, its General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara and party Disciplinary Committee, preventing the expulsion of 31 of its Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) members. Accordingly, the Court also issued notices on the respondents concerned to make submissions in this regard on 6 and 7 October. The two injunctions were slapped on the respondents by more..