Mar 5 (FT) Born to Sri Lankan parents, Miss Evanjelin Elchmanar, can be considered as an asset to SL, since she is the first woman of colour to win the prestigious Miss International UK title. She will be representing the UK in the 60th Miss International beauty pageant in October this year, one of the big three competitions alongside Miss Universe and Miss World. The 21-year-old Evanjelin hailing from the City of Birmingham set foot in SL on 3 Feb 2022 for the very first time in her life, more..

Mar 5 (ST) The multi-day fishing vessel Sampath 7 left the fisheries harbour in Beruwala in May last year, and its skipper Mahalingam Kanapathi steered the boat into the waters of Seychelles. However, since the vessel did not have a valid licence to fish in foreign waters Kanapathi was arrested along with his vessel by Seychelles coast guards on June 1. When such an incident occurs usually the vessel and fishing gear are confiscated and the fishermen are repatriated after the payment of a fine by more..

Mar 5 (AFP) The family of a SL woman who died in Japanese immigration detention sued the govt on Friday, in a high-profile case that has reignited calls to reform conditions in the system. Wishma Sandamali, 33, died a year ago while detained for overstaying her visa after seeking police protection, reportedly to escape an abusive relationship. She had allegedly complained of stomach pain and other symptoms for several weeks, and a govt probe into her death concluded she received inadequate more..

Mar 5 (CT) Highlighting that the private sector was deeply concerned over the current situation of the economy, joint Chambers of Commerce called for a market- driven price formula and a flexible exchange rate in addition to restructuring debt and seeking IMF support. The on-going forex crisis has resulted in daily disruptions to the supply of fuel and electricity which are critical for the functioning of all sectors of the economy, more..

Mar 5 (AD) Softlogic Holding PLC announces that the company's fully owned subsidiary Softlogic Retail Holdings has entered into a Sale and Purchase Agreement for the acquisition of Agora Limited of Bangladesh by acquiring a 100% stake in the said company via a series of transactions, subject to terms and conditions set out therein and receipt of regulatory approvals. Agora Limited of Bangladesh, headquartered in Dhaka, is a retail superstore that operates a chain of more..

Mar 5 (DM) A special tourist train from Kandy to Ella will be operational from today. This special train will leave Kandy at 7.00 am and reach Demodara at 2.20 pm. During the journey, the train stops at Peradeniya, Nawalapitiya, Hatton (2 minutes), Great Western, Nanuoya, Eljin waterfall (2 minutes), Pattipola, Summit Level (2 minutes), Ohiya end of tunnel No. 18 (3 minutes), Ohiya, Idalgashinna, Windbreak (3 minutes), Haputale, Kithl Ella (3 minutes) and on 9 Arch Bridge (10 minutes). more..

Mar 5 (ST) Once a fisherman, Manualpillai Thoms Dehol (56) now makes a living solely by repairing fishing nets to support his family of four. Hailing from a fisherfolk family at Pasaiyoor in Jaffna, he gave up fishing last year: The reason: His access to the familiar shore and the sea has been restricted by mushrooming sea cucumber farms which occupy hundreds of acres of sea areas. Jaffna�s small-scale fisherfolk use more..

Mar 5 (FT) This interview is part of the Sinhala and Tamil Diaspora interview series that is being started by the Harmony page of Weekend FT. The purpose of this series is to look at different skills that the Lankan diaspora abroad holds and how these can be used for the betterment of Sri Lanka. This series of interviews also expects to give space to different experiences and view-points of Sri Lankans who left their country for whatever reason in the past few decades. more..

Mar 5 (NR) Ceylon Teachers� Union has strongly opposed the circular issued by the Secretary of Education Prof. Kapila Perera to allow students into schools in groups when schools reopen on Monday. Chief Secretary Joseph Stalin said authorities took steps to bring in all students to school at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. He said according to the circular, in the event a classroom has more than 20 students, they should be brought in, in two groups, and if more than 40 students, more..

Mar 6 (SO) By the end of this month, we will have lived with Covid-19 for exactly two years, the first case of the global viral disease having been detected here in March 2020. Tragically, 16,000 of our fellow citizens had succumbed to the virus by now. But there is a silver lining t00 � an astonishing 600,000 have recovered from the disease in the same period. Globally, close to six million have perished, while over 440 million have been afflicted. Although there is a raging debate on more..

Mar 6 (CT) It is absurd to attempt to predict the outcome of the prez elections due in about three years, but it is possible to make a broad survey of current trends. There are four runners eyeing the starting post, in alphabetical order of initials they are AKD (the JVP-NPPS Anura Kumara Dissanayake), GR (Gotabaya the govt, SLPP and Rajapaksa-clan candidate), PCR (Patali Champika Ranawaka) leading the 43-Brigade and SP (Sajith Premadasa leader of the parliamentary opposition and more..

Mar 6 (SO) As war unfolds in Europe with Russia�s military operation in Ukraine, the direction of SL�s foreign policy and implications on the rest of the world has become a contentious topic. Sri Lanka has been a long-standing partner of both Russia and Ukraine, benefiting from their military prowess, especially during SL�s war against terror, and economic support in the form of bilateral agreements as well as tourists. more..

Mar 6 (SO) Ministers Wimal Weerwansa and Udaya Gammanpila were stripped of their ministerial portfolios by Prez Rajapaksa on Thursday as per the powers vested in him by the Constitution. Two Ministers were sacked from their portfolios following some critical remarks they made on the Govt at an event on Wednesday to launch a new national statement with the participation of eleven constituent parties of SLPP led Govt. Following the Prez�s decision to sack Ministers Wimal more..

Mar 6 (CT) By sacking Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila, the govt has betrayed its inability to withstand criticism, especially from within. Weerawansa and Gammanpila were, of course, hardly the first govt MPs to offer such criticism: Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe came out long before them. But Weerawansa�s and Gammanpila�s sacking is important because of who they are and what they represent. While it is somewhat justifiable to view what�s unfolding now as part of a long drama more..

Mar 6 (SO) Russia launched a military action on Ukraine on Feb 24, after years of tensions over Ukraine�s plans to enter the NATO. The war in Ukraine is continuing into its second week with no sign of de-escalation despite ceasefire talks between representatives of both countries in the Blarusian border. We interviewed SL�s former Ambassador to Ukraine and Russia Udayanga Weeratunga on the short & long term impact more..

Mar 6 (ST) While war has broken out in Europe, Sri Lankans seem more focused on their daily battles at home. Minister Basil Rajapaksa�s suddenly cancelled visit to New Delhi last weekend to clinch the additional one billion dollar emergency aid package has not been rescheduled, yet. Everything is hush-hush. Indian Foreign Minister had insisted he be present to meet the SL Minister; why the Foreign Minister�s presence is required when it is a subject coming under 2 Finance Ministers more..

Mar 6 (ST) My dear Wimal and Udaya, I thought I should write to you when I heard that you had suddenly been stripped of your Cabinet portfolios by Gota maama. I know most people have more important issues to think of � such as finding petrol or surviving without electricity � but your dismissal is also worth talking about. Though your removal was sudden, many were expecting it to happen sooner rather than later. That was because you � especially Udaya � were making a habit of criticising more..

Mar 6 (ST) Left-arm spinner Dilum Sudeera ended with an impressive match bag of 13 for 73 as Tamil Union record a convincing nine-wicket win over Panadura SC with a day to spare in the Major Club Emerging Tournament match played at the Panadura Esplanade yesterday. This was Tamil Union�s second successive victory, having demolished Police SC last week by innings. Colts CC too recorded massive innings and 266 runs win over Kandy Customs CC with a day to spare more..

Mar 6 (Island) SL�s Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa recently made plans for a visit to India. The visit comes two months after he led a delegation that secured credit lines, currency swaps, and financial assistance from New Delhi. India has so far helped secure USD 2.4 billion worth of such assistance, a much-needed intervention at a time when the country�s foreign reserves have dangerously dwindled. With his latest trip, Rajapaksa hopes to finalise a USD 1 billion import financing deal, more..

Mar 6 (ST) CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal had to field some tough questions on Friday after the Monetary Board�s policy review meeting. In a surprise move, Monetary Board decided to raise rates and suggest a fuel price hike to manage the ongoing economic crisis. As Governor Cabraal is adamant not to go to the IMF despite strong views in support of the move in the Cabinet of ministers and among economists, more..

Mar 6 (Island) In 1984, soon after PM Indira Gandhi authorized Operation Blue Star to remove militant Sikhs from the Golden Temple here in Punjab that resulted in several Sikh deaths, Indian intelligence services pulled out Sikh guards from her security detail fearing her safety. However, the Iron Lady one of the most respected political figures in the world, reinstated her Sikh bodyguards as she trusted them. Six months later, she paid a heavy price for the oversight as the Sikh guards gunned more..

Mar 6 (Island) Days before he was sacked, former Minister Udaya Gammanpila made a point that would surely have resonated with many of us when he asked: Are we to eat apples and grapes sitting in the dark? There will be little dispute over what he was urging � that we were importing a large number of inessentials. In that context, the ex-minister who maintained his ever-smiling face even after his summary removal, also announced that a list of 600 inessentials whose import were being banned more..

Mar 6 (SO) The shock death of ex-Australian bowler Shane Warne brings back memories how he cut his teeth at the infamous 1992 SSC Test, became the most hated down the years until the 2004 Asian tsunami devastated the island. It was noon time at the SSC in Colombo on Sept 22, 1992 and five reporters (unlike a hundred today) covering the first Test between Australia and SL rushed out of the Press Box to grab a snack for lunch on more..

Mar 6 (SO) School athletes who had almost nothing to look forward to came out of cold storage to contest the Relay Carnival conducted by Gateway College in conjunction with their 25th anniversary celebrations held at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Tuesday and some of them had very close finishes. However, the conduct of this event was to seek a revival of athletics among school children who were without any competition for the past two years and the organisers said they were pleased with more..

Mar 6 (Island) Property Development PLC (PDL), Bank of Ceylon (BOC) subsidiary owning its headquarters building in once again attempting to delist from the CSE offering its minority shareholders Rs. 183 per share � a substantial increase from the previous Rs. 130 price offered five years ago. BOC is the predominant shareholder of PDL owning 95.55% of the company�s equity. This makes it ineligible to be quoted either on the main board or the Diri Savi Board of the CSE due to more..

Mar 6 (ST) After a stint of two-years as the Goalkeeping Coach of the SL football team, German Amir Doksanaltic left the country, but with a heavy heart. Doksanaltic, who joined the national football coaching setup on February 18, 2020, has not been granted a service extension by his employee, Football Sri Lanka (FSL), and the Bosnian born German lamented that he deserves an explanation. Speaking to the Sunday Times, hours before his flight back to his country of birth Bosnia, more..

Mar 6 (ST) The CEB has been directed to implement a short term emergency plan to avert power cuts as soon as possible with the involvement of engineers and power sector experts. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has issued this directive at a top level meeting recently and the CEB has been asked to devise the emergency plan, a senior official of the Power Ministry disclosed. The Finance Ministry has also expressed willingness to contribute their input in the preparation of emergency plan. more..

Mar 6 (SO) Moves to further tighten the lid on non-essential and non-urgent imports and increase fuel prices and electricity tariffs to reflect the cost are to be pushed by the Central Bank to address the acute shortage of foreign exchange that has triggered an economic crisis in the country. The banking and financial sector regulator will urge the Govt to take the unpopular measures based on its previous recommendation. more..

Mar 6 (TM) As a relief mechanism amidst the ongoing power crisis, the Treasury on behalf of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has settled approximately Rs. 15 billion to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) during this week. A senior official at the CEB, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed that the Treasury had paid the sum with the aim of supporting the CEB to purchase an uninterrupted fuel supply from the CPC, as the CEB did not have sufficient funds at its disposal. more..

Mar 6 (ST) Govt is restricting the imports of 600 non-essential items to support the ongoing efforts to preserve the stability of the exchange rate and foreign currency market liquidity, particularly by discouraging excessive imports of a speculative nature. The Finance Ministry is proposing to suspend the import of 600 non-essential items considering the pros and cons of the proposal submitted by the Central Bank (CB) which had only requested to raise taxes on those items, more..

Mar 6 (ST) SL�s main industries were queuing up for fuel, running from pillar to post and even resorting to meetings with govt bigwigs as they struggled to make ends meet this week facing the worst of the economic crisis. But Finance Minister has assured good news from March 5. Finance Minister Basil Rajapakse on Wednesday met tourism industry stakeholders and announced his plans assuring no electricity disruptions from Mar 5 more..

Mar 6 (TM) SL Ports Authority (SLPA) has decided to waive off demurrage charges of containers that are still languishing at the Colombo Port due to the shortage of US Dollars in the country. A senior official from the SLPA revealed that the decision had been finalised to waive off demurrage charges, based on the documentary proof provided by the containers. �All parties who have requested the SLPA to waive off demurrage costs will have to show proof of procurement issued from local banks more..

Mar 6 (Island) Gamani Corea, a former Governor of the Central Bank and ex-Secretary-General of UNCTAD, was one of the harshest critics of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Addressing a luncheon at the UN delegates dining room, he castigated the two Bretton Woods institutions for their obsession in laying down stringent conditions� euphemistically called structural adjustment policies (SAPs) � in return for concessional loans to world�s poorer nations. more..

Mar 6 (TM) SL is unlikely to see an uptick in foreign remittances until the rupee is floated, former CB Governor W.A. Wijewardana said. He said the CB appeared to be taking the correct path with regard to interest rates, but that the rupee needed to be allowed to float, pointing out that foreign remittances for January were far less than they were the same month in 2021. �It seems the CB is finally on the right track by taking measures such as increasing interest rates & tightening monetary policy. more..

Mar 6 (SO) It is somewhat intriguing that a group within the Govt itself is attempting to form a coalition with former Prez Maithripala Sirisena who failed throughout his entire regime, said Transport Minister Dilum Amunugama. As former Minister Udaya Gampanpila had said, this whole problem is not because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but due to the mismanagement of finances by the previous Yahapalana Govt. Actually, Govt is still trying to undo the blunders committed by previous regime. more..