Mar 18 (AD) U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland will travel March 19-23 to Bangladesh, India, and SL with an interagency delegation, the U.S. Department of State said today. He is expected to underscore the U.S. commitment to, and cooperation with, Indo-Pacific partners. Under Secretary Nuland will hold Partnership Dialogues in Bangladesh and SL and Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi. On each stop, Under Secretary Nuland and the delegation will more..

Mar 18 (CT) State Minister Vidura Wickremanayake said there are no funds for the basic functions of the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) as a result of using the funds for purposes outside the objectives of it during the era of the previous govt. State Minister said the members of the Presidential Task Force for One Country, One Law held a meeting with him. It was also disclosed during this meeting that people in several provinces had informed the Task Force that the laws pertaining to the protection more..

Mar 18 (EN) Sri Lanka�s state run liquid petroleum (LP) gas company Litro announced a continuous supply of cooking gas cylinders to the market starting Friday, while the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) said a fuel consignment sufficient for 20-25 days is also expected. A Litro spokesman said 120,000 cylinders of LP gas were to be released to the market on Friday after a consignment of 3,500 metric more..

Mar 18 (AD) SL�s utility provider the CEB said power cuts of three hours and 45 minutes will be imposed in multiple areas on Saturday while a three-hour power cuts will be imposed in the rest of the island. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, and L areas in the power cut schedule will lose power for 2.5 hours between 8am and 6pm and for one hour and 15 minutes between 6pm and 11pm on Saturday. Meanwhile, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, and W areas will have a 2-hour power cut between 10am and more..

Mar 18 (EN) Marxist youth affiliated with the opposition JVP protested the govt�s handling of SL�s worsening economic crisis on Friday (18) outside the president�s office, culminating in some protestors attempting a break-in. The JVP-affiliated Socialist Youth Union (SYU) marched from the Maradana Technical Junction to the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo Friday morning, carrying placards and shouting slogans against the ruling SLPP, Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa and others. more..

Mar 19 (CT) Foreign debt restructuring or the postponement of such repayments, thereby saving the country�s sparse foreign reserves to be reallocated to meet scarce, but yet essential imports due to the lack of foreign exchange (FX) is the urgent need to stabilise the country. Repaying debt from the country�s sparse foreign reserves, a policy initiated by CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, but not having money to make essential imports like fuel, gas, coal, medicine and milk food more..

Mar 19 (DM) Twice-postponed Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa's visit to New Delhi took place finally to secure a US $ 1 billion credit line to purchase essentials - food items and pharmaceuticals for dollar-starved SL. India offered such assistance for SL to stave off food and fuel shortages. The latest engagements herald the elevation of Indo-Lanka bilateral economic ties to new heights. US$ 1 billion credit line for essentials & another US$ 500 million credit arrangement more..

Mar 19 (CT) Prez Rajapaksa in his 12.57 minute address to the nation, last Wednesday night, said though he was well aware of the shortage of essential items and increase in prices, emphasised that the crisis was not created by him. While accepting the responsibility for his actions, Prez also said he is attempting to immediately resolve this crisis and provide relief to the people when those who contributed to the creation of this crisis more..

Mar 19 (DM) The brutal invasion of Ukraine by Russia whose leader Vladimir Putin who is considered by most independent analysts as tyrannical or insane, the crisis in Sri Lanka where the cost of living has gone even beyond the purses of middle income families with gas queues, fuel queues, powered-milk queues and other crises are events we need to reflect upon on this UN International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations more..

Mar 19 (CT) Back in 2016, I was in my sister in law�s house in Colombo attending to a family funeral. She was a stalwart Rajapaksa supporter, a MP and a famous celebrity. She was in a group of hardcore Rajapaksa supporters while I was in a small group of family friends and relatives. While her topic essentially was the greatness of MR, mine was totally opposite. I was trying to highlight the danger of one family running the country. My point was when the key national decisions were taken more..

Mar 19 (TM) In a context where SL�s human rights situation is being questioned at the international level, especially at the UNHRC, Sri Lanka is trying to counter allegations and answer questions with facts and tangible actions, diplomatically. In this process, it is important to be vigilant about discussions against Sri Lanka, and to work together with domestic and international groups. Preparing to face 51st UNHRC session is now a priority. more..

Mar 19 (Island) Sri Lankans seem to have forgotten the pandemic, which is far from over. The country�s successful vaccination drive has helped contain Covid-19 to some extent, but vaccine-induced immunity does not last forever, and many people, misled by a sinister misinformation campaign, did not receive the booster jab. WHO has warned that the current rise in Covid-19 cases in the world could lead to a much bigger problem as some countries have lowered their guard. more..

Mar 19 (ST) Before it dismantled in 1991, Soviet Union comprised 14 countries from both Northern Asia and Eastern Europe, extending over 20 million square km of land unevenly occupied by over 290 million people. Its official title was the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) which had Russia as the most influential and most populated partner country of the Union and, of course, Ukraine as its second most influential partner country. On Dec 25, 1991, the last few steps of dissolving more..

Mar 19 (TM) This short essay is an attempt to explore how people who have for many centuries lived through a uniquely feudal form of subjugation, find it difficult to become free men and women and conduct their lives in modern circumstances. This particular problem is not unique to what is known as the caste-based societies but also has similar experiences in other historical circumstances like slavery, many forms of serfdom, and many other societal contexts within which the freedom more..

Mar 19 (Island) Kaushalya Herath, Harshana Rambukwella, and Darshi Thoradeniya, all friends and colleagues, have recently made some important interventions through the Kuppi Talk column on the topic of decolonising education. Framed within part of a larger conversation on the importance & value of arts education within the uni, their interventions have brought a topic discussed globally to the attention of the local reading public. I broadly concur with much of their suggestions. more..

Mar 19 (FT) The private sector this week assured foreign missions that there will be no hardships for tourists with the industry fully geared in terms of fuel as well as food and other supplies. SL Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) President Thilak Weerasinghe and The Hotels Association of SL (THASL) President M. Shanthikumar have issued a joint written assurance to this effect to all foreign missions, more..

Mar 19 (Island) Since 2002, the World Happiness Report has used statistical analysis to determine the world�s happiest countries. In its 2021 update, the report concluded that Finland is the happiest country in the world. To determine the world�s happiest country, researchers analyzed comprehensive Gallup polling data from 149 countries for the past three years, specifically monitoring performance in six particular categories: gross domestic product per capita, social support, more..

Mar 19 (CT) The country is going through the worst ever economic crisis since independence. The possibility of spreading it into other spheres, like political and social may not be completely ruled out. Minor clashes in fuel stations and in front of gas vendors have been reported on a daily basis. Out of four base requirements (electricity, fuel, gas and water) with the exception of water, three public utilities are seriously affected. In addition, items like cement, wheat flour are in severe shortage. more..

Mar 19 (AN) A petition signed by about 200,000 people was recently delivered to the govt. Sponsored by National Women's Movement for Economic Rights (NWMER), it demands the govt take immediate action against the economic crisis, which is particularly hard on women. "Poverty, including food shortages, is on the rise in SL,� reads the petition. �Ordinary farmers, fishermen, labourers, small manufacturers, small vendors, more..

Mar 19 (DM) The shortage of printing papers and printing equipment in the local market has hampered printing of final term examination papers in the Western Province (WP), Ceylon Teachers' Union (CTU) said. CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said that WP Educational Directors do not care about the final school term tests. The WP Provincial Educational Director has advised all schools to print the exam papers for grades 6, 7 and 8 term tests at the expense of the schools, Stalin said. more..

Mar 19 (DN) The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is scheduled to be held today at Taj Samudra Hotel Colombo. ACC�s Member delegates from all across Asia are set to attend this meeting .The officials of the SLC said representatives from 40 countries including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Malaysia will take part in this meeting. The Meeting will be chaired by ACC President and BCCI Secretary Jay Shah. In addition during this visit ACC President met more..

Mar 19 (DM) Sri Lanka has been ranked 127 in the UN�s 2022 World Happiness Report, while Finland has been named as the world's happiest country. Last year, SL was ranked 129 out of 149 countries in the World Happiness Report. In the index that ranked Afghanistan as the unhappiest. Lebanon, which is facing an economic meltdown, fell to second from last on the index of 146 countries, just below Zimbabwe. India is ranked at a lowly 136, even below Pakistan, which is at 121, more..

Mar 19 (DN) Army Sports Club will be without their star centre Danushka Talwatte, as he is nursing an injury and will be a doubtful starter today, when they take on the Police Sports Club in their Nippon Paint Inter-Club �A� Division league rugby first round final match at Police Park today, starting at 4:15pm.led by centre Iroshan Silva, the Police team got some good players who could be match winners for them. Players such as Ashan Fernando, Mohan Wimalaratne, Udara Sooriyapperuma, more..

Mar 19 (CT) SL team suffered a 3-0 defeat in the T20 series followed by a 2-0 whitewash at the hands of India in the Test series, where SL�s weaknesses in all three departments of batting, bowling and fielding were highlighted. Some quarters had charged that the Selection Committee should be directly held responsible for the two three-day defeats in the recent Test series. Hence, we sought the views of the Head of the more..

Mar 19 (SLN) A special operation carried out by the Navy in seas off Oluthuduwai, Mannar today (18) led to the seizure of about 175 kg of Kerala cannabis (In wet weight). The Navy also nabbed 02 suspects and a dinghy in connection to the incident. SL Navy has been conducting regular operations covering the coastal areas of the island with a view to thwarting a wide range of nefarious activities. As an extension of these efforts, SLNS Gajaba and SLNS Thammanna in the North Central Naval Command more..

Mar 19 (DM) The wife of Lahugala PS Chairman has been hospitalised after being beaten by the Chairman and another woman. The Chairman�s wife had visited a house upon a tip-off where she had found her husband with another woman. The heated argument between the two parties had resulted in the Chairman's wife being wounded and hospitalised. Subsequently, she was admitted to the Base Hospital, Potuvil. The woman who was alongside the Chairman, has been arrested more..

Mar 19 (CT) Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Dr. Prasantha Jayamanna, stated in a Cabinet Paper that the lease of 13 acres of land at the Port of Colombo is for a consortium of investors. "It's for a group of investors," he stated and added that while the East Container Terminal and the West Container Terminal, as well as the existing terminals, are being developed, there is a need for new logistic centres at the port. more..

Mar 19 (FT) The Colombo stock market bounced back yesterday though on thin volumes whilst seeing another week of losses as investor sentiment remained bearish. The All Share Price Index gained by 1.3% and the S&P SL20 rose by 1.8%. Turnover was Rs. 1.4 billion involving 72 million shares. During the week, the ASPI and the S&P SL20 lost 3.03% and 1.91% respectively, whilst recording an average daily turnover of Rs. 1.83 billion. Asia Securities said the indices ended the week more..

Mar 19 (Island) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was incapable of leading the nation and had admitted that during his most recent address to the nation, Opposition Leader, Sajith Premadasa said on Thursday in Devinuwara. �Addressing the nation, the President said that the current crisis, the nation is facing, is not his doing. He said that people had urged him to come into power. It�s as if he were inconvenienced by becoming the President of the country,� Premadasa said, more..

Mar 19 (Island) Seeking IMF help will lead to the ruination of local industries, warns the Education Secretary of Frontline Socialist Party, Pubudu Jayagoda said. Commenting on the address to the nation by Prez Rajapaksa, on Wednesday, Jayagoda said that the Prez had sought to absolve himself of responsibility for the current economic crisis. �This is a man who once insisted that he was a great administrator who had done a great job. On Wed, he said �none of this is my creation.� more..

Mar 19 (DN) Public Utilities Commision (PUCSL) Chairman Janaka Ratnayaka stated that power outages may occur this weekend, but they will not last as long as they do during the week. �We did not approve any power cuts to be imposed by CEB on the basis of breakdowns at CEB power plants in Norochcholai or Kelanitissa,� he said. Ratnayaka said this when asked by us whether PUCSL had given CEB a time frame in which to remedy the existing interruptions in power supplies and more..

Mar 19 (CT) Despite the current economic crisis in Sri Lanka, which has led to planned power interruptions and shortage of fuel, tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka, during the first 15 days of March, has reached 53,255. The current numbers indicate that Sri Lanka would be able to attract more than 100,000 tourists in March 2022, for the first time since Feb 2020, a month before SL imposed islandwide lockdowns to curb Covid-19. more..

Mar 19 (FT) Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recently granted medical equipment and PPEs to combat with COVID-19, which are worth of Rs. 22 million, to the Awissavella District General Hospital in the Western Province. The donation ceremony was organised by the Awissawella DGH Director Dr. Aruna Sandanayaka and his team with the participation of senior officials from Ministry of Health and JICA including Additional Secretary (Medical Services) Dr. Sunil De Alwis, more..

Mar 19 (AD) Despite having recommenced liquefied petroleum (LP) gas distribution from today, Litro Gas officials are warning that the state institution remains at risk of closure from a staggering Rs. 2,000 loss on each cylinder. Litro officials, explaining the possible short-term consequences of this situation, said the sudden devaluation of the Rupee has further complicated its purchases at current market rates. They explained that if this continues, company has only 3 mo.s left to survive without a price hike more..

Mar 19 (CT) It is reported that civil unrest is taking place though on a smaller scale countrywide in the wake of the acute problems created by the economic downturn and the resultant likelihood of the Govt collapsing. It is said the intelligence units had already briefed top brass of the Govt with regard to anti-Govt protests which have shown signs of escalating with political parties being unable to curtail it. more..

Mar 19 (AFP) SL�s tea crop suffered its lowest yield in 13 years, official data showed Friday, reducing output in its main export commodity as the island grapples with its worst economic crisis in seven decades. The country�s agriculture sector was hit hard by a ban on agrochemicals imposed last April as the Govt introduced an ambitious plan to make SL the world�s first nation to rely solely on organic farming. The ban was lifted in October following backlash from the industry but farmers were more..