Dec 15 (DM) Education Ministry will declare the days of opening pre-schools and primary sections of schools in a fortnight, Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said. He said that there is a practical need to reopen pre-schools. �A lot of mothers go for work leaving their children in the custody of the pre-school authorities. Now it is impossible for them to do so. So, there is an urgency to re-open them,� he said. The Minister is expected to meet with Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi and the officials more..

Dec 15 (FT) State Minister of Urban Development Dr. Nalaka Godahewa has intervened to resolve a standoff with traders that cropped up when allocating stall space at the new Manning Market complex in Peliyagoda, the Ministry said. Initially, the UDA had informed stall owners that 460 wholesale business owners at the Pettah Manning Market would each get a 12�12 foot space stall at the new market complex in Peliyagoda. more..

Dec 15 (DM) Two brothers aged 47 and 54 who had attended their mother's funeral, died after consuming a suspected poisonous spirit at Keenadeniya in Mirigama. Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said four persons have consumed a bottle of spirit which was given to them by a neighbour on Sunday night. Three persons were rushed to the hospital, but two of them - both brothers - died on admission. The Mirigama Police are conducting an investigation into this suspicious death, DIG Rohana said. more..

Dec 15 (AD) A fire has broken out at the Supreme Court Complex in Hulftsdorp, Colombo. Nine fire trucks have been deployed to douse the flames, the Colombo Fire Brigade said. The superior court complex was seen almost entirely covered in a thick black smoke as firefighters and police officers rushed to extinguish the flames. He said that Attorney General Dappula de Livera was also seen arriving at the scene, a short while ago. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. more..

Dec 15 (FT) Last week the announcement by Fitch Ratings where SL was downgraded to CCC on the criteria of Long Term Foreign Currency Issuer Default Policy (IDR) shocked the business community given that import control is yet at play whilst SL saves almost three billion from those who travel overseas for leisure and business. In this backdrop to pay the stipulated debt of around $ 4 billion will not be a challenge. The decision by Fitch to my mind was harsh on a country more..

Dec 15 (FT) Recently, quite by accident, I heard the Russian National Anthem. It immediately caught my ear. I loved it. It moved me. I listened to it repeatedly on YouTube. It was evident that a lot of people from different nationalities had also liked the Russian masterpiece. So, I wanted to know what this masterpiece was actually telling her people. It glorifies Russia as unique and asks her people to enjoy the freedom of the land and exercise its mighty will to spread its fields and forests. more..

Dec 15 (AD) The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) training aircraft PT-6 which took off from China Bay, Trincomalee and lost communications with the control tower has crash-landed in Kantale. Police said that aircraft had crash-landed on a road near Janaranjana Wewa, Kantale. Police also said that one pilot has been spotted inside. Earlier, SLAF had confirmed that the control tower had lost contact with more..

Dec 15 (Island) A group of researchers from the Uni of Colombo has identified a new bird species endemic to Sri Lanka and islands in the Palk Strait. The bird has been named in Sinhala as Hanuman Oleviya and Hanuman Plover in English. The discovery was made by a new bird researcher Jude Janith Niroshan under the supervision of senior bird researcher Dr. Sampath Seneviratne of the Botanical Science Department of the University. The research paper with regard to the findings more..

Dec 15 (AD) Cabinet of Ministers has given the nod to nominate Kitul as a major plantation crop. Further, Cabinet�s approval was granted to establish a Kitul Development Board. Kitul-related production industry is endemic to SL and it is recognized as a highly potential industry for earning foreign exchange. Various actions have also been taken to uplift the Kitul industry previously. It has been recognized that the expansion of Kitul-related industry under the programme to create more..

Dec 15 (DE) The Sri Lankan govt, which had banned the burial of the COVID dead at the beginning of the pandemic in April citing public health issues, is likely to accept the Muslim community�s proposal to bury corpses in concrete graves in their own graveyards. Hilmy Ahamed, Vice President of the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) expressed confidence the acceptance could come soon, say, in a week or so. more..

Dec 15 (FT) Deutsche Bank Colombo, along with its charity partners Seth Sarana Caritas Colombo, Association of Intellectually Disabled, JK Foundation and SAGT, last week announced their partnerships have positively impacted thousands of SL families this year. Deutsche Bank SL�s CSR In the Community program contributed to four Seth Sarana Caritas Colombo community projects this year, with Caritas deploying funds across several outreach programs, ranging from food and shelter to more..

Dec 15 (CT) Police officers in mufti will be deployed to arrest those violating the Quarantine Regulations (QR) during the upcoming festive season, Police Spokesman, Deputy Inspector General of Police Ajith Rohana said yesterday (14). Rohana pointed out that Mother Nature has not given the opportunity to celebrate this festive season like in other years. He added that celebrations are requested to be limited only for a fewer number of persons, mostly their family members. more..

Dec 15 (AD) The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to eliminate the alphabets denoting provinces in vehicle number plates. The proposal was presented to the Cabinet by the Minister Gamini Lokuge. It states that vehicles can easily be identified through the departmental database as a unique number is issued to each vehicle when they are registered. Under the new system, number plates need not be changed more..

Dec 15 (MFA) Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena met the United Nations Resident Coordinator Hanaa Singer and the heads of UN agencies based in Colombo yesterday at an event held at the Foreign Ministry to mark the 65th anniversary of SL�s membership of the UN. Addressing the gathering Foreign Minister Gunawardena reiterated Sri Lanka�s contribution to the UN system and reaffirmed the commitment of the Govt of SL led by Prez Rajapaksa to more..

Dec 15 (FT) The 1990 Suwaseriya Foundation, Dept of Social Services and the National Council and Secretariat for Elders have been placed under the newly-appointed State Minister Sudharshini Fernandopulle. Under the subjects and functions assigned to the State Ministry, it is tasked with assisting in the formulation of policies in relation to the subject of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control for the creation of a Healthy Community under the direction and guidance more..

Dec 15 (Island) Education Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said that in spite of severe difficulties, the govt had no other option but to explore ways and means of re-opening schools, gradually next year in line with Covid-19 health guidelines. Minister Peiris, who is also the Chairman of the ruling SLPP, emphasized that indefinite closure of schools could be as bad as the catastrophic Covid-19. He said that every effort would be made more..

Dec 15 (DN) The Deputy Leader of the UNP Ruwan Wijewardene stated that the current Govt which came into power promising much reform and justice has been rejected by its own supporters within a short time. Wijewardene made these statements when he called on the Chief Incumbent of the Mahiyangana Rajamaha Viharaya Ven. Muruthdeniye Dhammaratana Thera. He said the UNP Govt was accused of selling the country�s national resources to the int'l community, more..

Dec 15 (DM) Peliyagoda Fish Market, which was temporarily closed due to the spread of Covid-19, would be re-opened for limited wholesale operations from tomorrow , Fisheries Ministry said. Ministry Secretary R M.I. Ratnayake said the Peliyagoda Fish Market Complex has been completely renovated in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health. Accordingly, it has been decided to reopen the Fish Market Complex for limited wholesale operations from Dec 16, more..

Dec 15 (Island) UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe making a public appearance after several weeks said, on Sunday, that the govt had not given any support to the joint research by the Dengue Control Centre at the University of Sri J'pura and the University of Oxford to find a cure for the coronavirus. He said that the Health Minister was drinking what he called engine oil without having purported cures tested. more..

Dec 15 (AD) Passengers standing while traveling in buses is a violation of the quarantine law, the Director-General of Health Services has informed the IGP. Issuing a written notification, Director-General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena has pointed out that the number of passengers buses are allowed to transport is only in accordance with the number of available seats. He adds that no passenger should travel on a bus while standing. Legal action may be taken under more..

Dec 15 (AD) Former All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) MP Abdullah Mohamed Maharoof has been arrested by the CID. The former Deputy Minister has been arrested over misuse of vehicles belonging to Lanka Sathosa during the 2015-2019 period, the police said. The arrest has been made last night (14) in Kinniya. Police Media Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana said that a person named Farook Mohamed Aslam, a resident of Matale, has also been arrested along with the former MP. more..

Dec 15 (Raajje) While the SL president is to have made a request to bury Muslim Covid-19 victims in Maldives, the neighbouring country�s cabinet claims to be unaware of any such request. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued, said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had sent the request to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih due to the challenges faced by Sri Lankan authorities in making funeral arrangements. more..

Dec 15 (AD) Three teams of CID officials have been deployed to investigate the fire that broke out at the Supreme Court complex. A fire broke out in a waste material storage area on the ground floor of the Supreme Court complex Hulftsdorp, Colombo, at around 4.30 pm today. The fire was extinguished by the Colombo Fire Brigade and SL Air Force a short while ago. The fire had only destroyed defective material previously used in air conditioners, according to the Police Media Spokesperson. more..

Dec 15 (NR) 558 individuals have recovered from COVID-19 and have been discharged during the past 24-hours. Total recoveries accordingly increase to 24,867. 103 individuals were discharged from the Rambukkana treatment centre, 44 from the Kahagolla treatment centre, 37 from the Palamune District Hospital, 34 from the Kalutara Police Training School and 32 from the Punani treatment centre. 8,457 active COVID-19 cases are being treated for the coronavirus at present at more..

Dec 15 (IPS) The SL govt recently cancelled three circulars that protected 700,000 hectares of forests, labelled Other State Forests (OSFs), which are not classified as protected areas but account for 5% of the island nation�s remaining 16.5% of forest cover. SL�s OSFs are areas managed by the Dept of Forest Conservation (DFC), but are not a part of areas such as National Parks, Wildlife Reserves or Elephant Sanctuaries. more..

Dec 15 (AFP) Multiple Facebook posts shared repeatedly in Dec 2020 claim the SL govt raised the eligibility age for motorcycle licenses from 17 to 25. The claim, which states the new policy will come into effect from January 1, 2021, circulated online one day after two young children were killed in a motorcycle accident in a Colombo suburb. Police arrested a 20-year-old man following the accident. The claim in the posts is false; SL's Dept of Motor Traffic told AFP on Dec 11, that no such more..

Dec 15 (EN) Sri Lanka�s health authorities identified four new COVID-19 cases at the Unity Plaza mall in Bambalapitiya this morning, the country�s official pandemic task force announced a short while ago. The National Operation Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 (NOCPOC) said the four cases were identified after random PCR tests were carried out in the area. Authorities have temporarily shut down the mall and all staff will be subject to PCR testing, the task force said. more..

Dec 15 (CI) On the surface Galle Gladiators don't deserve to be in this final. They've won only a third of their matches in the tournament, and their semi-final opponents suffered several injuries in Sunday's nail-biter. And yet, when you look at the attack they've suddenly managed to string together towards the end of the tournament, you can't really begrudge them their place either. Dhananjaya Lakshan, who swings the ball into more..

Dec 16 (ST) The repayment of SL�s debt obligations next year is a national anxiety. The low external reserves, a balance of payments deficit this year and the impact on the economy of the spreading COVID are serious concerns. On the other hand, there are some bright spots in the economy that lend hope to a better than expected outcome in the trade balance. Exports have picked up to as much as before COVID, imports have been reduced and the trade deficit is less than that of 2019. more..

Dec 16 (CT) Fear when combined with falsehood and insular inward-looking nationalism make a potent combination that can lead to the brutalization of society in the short term and possible disaster in the longer term. SL is gaining int'l notoriety on this account. The issue of enforced cremation of those who die of Covid, or are suspected of it as a possible cause of death, has shocked the sensibilities of the world to the extent that four UN Special Rapporteurs have called on SL to more..

Dec 16 (CT) A phoenix is a bird in ancient Greek folklore that intermittently regenerates. Associated with the sun, a phoenix obtains new life by arising from the ashes of its predecessor. Dean of the Colombo Medical Faculty, Prof. Vajira Dissanayake was appointed as the new Chairman of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) by Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi having revoked the appointment of Prof. Harendra de Silva more..

Dec 16 (CT) Stay safe, no lockdowns was the message which State Minister of COVID Disease Control Dr. (Mrs) Sudarshini Fernandopulle conveyed to this newspaper yesterday, when asked what measures the Govt plans to take to control the second wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Second wave of the pandemic, that is currently sweeping the country, had its genesis 44 days ago when a woman working at the Brandix Minuwangoda Branch was first detected with COVID-19 on 3 Oct. more..

Dec 16 (CT) Prez Rajapaksa and his Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva, should explain in court why newly released government lists show hundreds of Sinhalese and Tamils went missing in Matale in 1989 and Mullivaikal in 2009. Both men remain criminally liable under int'l and domestic law for enforced disappearances that occurred under their command and control. Gotabaya Rajapaksa was secretary of defence in 2009; Shavendra was a key div. commander, more..

Dec 16 (TM) Unrest continues to develop in areas that have been placed under isolation for the sixth week, especially where people reside in flats built for low-income families located in the middle of the commercial capital of SL. Last week, families left their flats and gathered near the barricade to protest and voice their woes. By now, the people have had enough of waiting for the Govt to provide them relief and being asked to more..

Dec 16 (Island) Chancellor, VC, Registrars, Deans, Directors, librarian, professors, lecturers, other dignitaries, graduating students, ladies & gentlemen, It is with a sense of pride and gratitude that I deliver the convocation address of this year at the Open University. We are in the middle of a pandemic. In addition to taking and harming many lives all over, the pandemic has robbed me of the opportunity of standing in front of you in a grand convocation hall looking at your faces lighted with happiness. more..

Dec 16 (Island) Politicians always feel for the people when they are out of power. Their love for the masses flies out of the window after winning elections and being ensconced in power. The Opposition has called upon the govt to curtail wasteful expenditure and channel the funds so saved to grant relief to the pandemic-hit people. Bravo! On the eve of the final budget vote, the SJB urged the Speaker to cancel the traditional dinner held to mark the passage of the budget. more..

Dec 16 (Island) The finals of Lanka Premier League will take place tonight with tournament favourites Jaffna Stallions taking on giant killers Galle Gladiators at Suriyawewa. Galle Gladiators had a horrible start to the competition losing five games in a row. Their campaign is a reminder of Pakistan�s stunning World Cup win in 1992. Imran Khan�s side was almost eliminated from the competition in the first round itself when their captain urged the team to fight like cornered tigers and more..

Dec 16 (CI) Of the 198 legal deliveries Wanindu Hasaranga has bowled in the LPL, a staggering 97 - almost half - have been dot balls. Even when batsmen have attempted to go after his bowling, they have not been able to sustain any sort of assault, only 17 boundaries having come off Hasaranga's bowling all tournament. That's only one more than the number of LPL wickets Hasaranga has. That Hasaranga is easily the highest wicket-taker in the tournament more..