Jan 28 (AD) Committee on Parliamentary Business after lengthy deliberation has agreed to allocate Feb 18-19, for the debate on the Forensic Audit Report regarding the issuance of Treasury Bonds by the CB. Opposition MPs had requested that two days be allocated for the debate on the Forensic Audit Report regarding the issuance of Treasury Bonds by CB during the First Sitting Week of Parliament in Feb 2020 more..

Jan 28 (Island) Revolutionizing the Sri Lankan banking and financing industry for over eight decades, Bank of Ceylon, initiated paradigm shift through Fintech innovation to reach new heights of banking through digital technology. Understanding the significant importance of digital disruption that is taking place, it was proposed to introduce "INNOVBANK International Symposium for Banking and Financial solutions in the digital era" as a platform to present ideas and proposals more..

Jan 28 (FT) ICC Sri Lanka, the sole authority to issue ATA Carnet in Sri Lanka was used by Vega Innovations to transport Vega EVX, Sri Lanka�s first all-electric Super Car to be showcased at the upcoming 2020 Geneva Motor Show in March. The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is the world�s largest business organisation representing more than 45 million companies in over 100 countries. ICC�s core mission is to make business work for everyone, every day, everywhere. more..

Jan 28 (EN) Some tour operators have begun cancelling bookings from China to Sri Lanka as Beijing banned group travel from yesterday. A spokesman for Aitken Spence Travel Group said that the firm has cancelled all future bookings until further notice. �We have cancelled all the future bookings from China from Jan 28, until further notice,� he said. Govt of China banned group travels from China to other countries from Jan 27. more..

Jan 29 (DN) April 21, 2019 began like any other day. It was Easter Sunday. While the faithful were flocking to Churches, others were planning to spend a leisurely day out. Sri Lankans were just one month away from celebrating 10 years of peace, following the victory over the LTTE. It took just a moment to shatter that hard-earned peace, as bombs placed by fundamentalist extremists went off in several hotels and churches around the island, killing more than 250 and injuring many more. more..

Jan 29 (ST) Is Spiderman a spider or a man? I think the Spiderman fans � both the kids and the adults � must have never thought of a question like that. In fact, for them it should be a weird question as long as Spiderman has supernatural powers and abilities to do good things. But a US Court once had to deal with this question and to give a verdict with a clear legal answer. Professor X and the rest of his team � the X-men, as well as other heroes such as Spiderman and Fantastic Four were kept more..

Jan 29 (Roar) Over 100 people have died and over 4,500 cases of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) have been reported globally, after the virus was first discovered in Wuhan City, China on 31 Dec 2019. The virus has since spread to at least 14 other countries, including Australia, France, Germany, Malaysia, Nepal and Singapore. The first case in Sri Lanka was reported yesterday (27), when a female Chinese tourist quarantined at IDH more..

Jan 29 (CT) Contrary to expectations the government is treading a cautious path with regard to past commitments on controversial matters made by the previous govt. This may be disappointing to its more nationalist supporters. They might have expected an immediate change of approach and rescinding of agreements they see as unfair or not in the national interest. In the run up to the prez election campaign, the present govt�s front line campaigners claimed that the MCC grant more..

Jan 29 (DN) The Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Ministry advises the public to adhere to standard health measures needed for the prevention and control of respiratory infections: * Avoid crowded places; * Frequently wash hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rubs; * When coughing and sneezing, cover the mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissues. Discard tissues safely and wash hands immediately after. * Avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and cough; and more..

Jan 29 (CT) Minister Johnston Fernando says "Good Governance actually took the country 25 years backwards in the five years they ruled the country." Q: Are you satisfied with the way the new President is ruling the country? A: It's very good. Our President and the people of the country expected this method. In fact, the people wanted a simple President and that dream has come true now. Before the presidential election, more..

Jan 29 (CT) The most dramatic example of what I have termed duality in foreign relations occurred in the case of Norway, with regard to the Bodu Bala Sena. Why they did so requires careful analysis, though I suspect that will be very difficult, since all concerned forces are trying to take advantage of each other. When I called Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2014 to say that I thought what the BBS had been up to in Aluthgama was appalling, he promptly agreed and said that the Americans were more..

Jan 29 (Island) Those of us, who watched the award-winning 2011 Hollywood flick, Contagion, may have thought such a thing was possible only in the celluloid world. It is about a highly contagious zoonotic disease, which finds its way to the US through a female American, returning from Hong Kong, and causes an entire city to be quarantined. China is experiencing a similar situation; it is reeling from a Coronavirus outbreak. Scores of people, afflicted with virus, collapse in public places, more..

Jan 29 (CT) The press statement released by the Prez Media Division on 17.01.2020 in relation to Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa�s meeting with Hanaa Singer, UN Resident Coordinator in SL, attributes the following views to Prez Rajapaksa with regards to the issue of enforced disappearances: 1. missing persons are actually dead; 2. Most of them had been taken by the LTTE or forcefully conscripted; 3. after necessary investigations steps would be taken to issue a death certificate to these missing more..

Jan 29 (Island) The grant of government approval to expand the Norochcholai coal-powered facility, to add another 300MW capacity, is welcome news, indeed, for no other reason than the need to address the dire power shortages in the medium to long term. Apart from making pure economic sense, due to the capacity to save billions of rupees to the economy, the decision is all the more praiseworthy as an expression of national priorities in the face of fear mongering by int'l vested interests more..

Jan 29 (ST) Army�s Rajakaruna scored the biggest upset in the 94th National Boxing Championships organized by the Boxing Association of SL (BASL) at the Royal MAS Arena when he earned a split decision against unbeaten Sri Lanka pugilist Dinidu Saparamadu in the Light Welter (64kg) weight final on Saturday. However, young Police boxer Rukmal Prasanna and Nadeeka Pushpakumari of Viyarathane SC stole more..

Jan 29 (CT) Commencing this year, eight Sri Lanka Emerging Cricketers will get an opportunity to play Club Cricket in Australia following an MoU Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has entered into with Dandenong District Cricket Association Inc. (DDCA) of Australia. Under the MoU, DDCA will facilitate SLC to field a selected group of Emerging Cricketers in Australian Cricket Clubs during a full cricket season, which spans from October to March each year. DDCA will also find Clubs for the Lankan players, more..

Jan 29 (DN) While Sri Lanka were beating Zimbabwe in the first Test at Harare, the under 19 team were in Bloemfontein playing their second match in the World Cup against New Zealand. In a closely fought-out game Sri Lanka lost off the penultimate ball by three wickets to suffer their second straight loss and with it dash all hopes of playing in the Super League, which did not come as a great surprise. The records tell us not to expect too much from our under 19 team. more..

Jan 29 (CI) A disciplined performance from Zimbabwe's bowlers ensured that Sri Lanka didn't run away with the advantage, the visitors remaining 284 behind with eight wickets in hand as bad light brought a premature end to the second day's play in Harare. At the crease were Angelo Mathews, the double-centurion from the first Test, and Kusal Mendis, on 4 and 19 respectively. Of the Zimbabwe bowlers, more..

Jan 29 (Island) Opportunity2030: The Standard Chartered SDG Investment Map reveals an almost USD 10 trillion (USD 9.668 trillion) opportunity for private-sector investors across all emerging markets, with Sri Lanka representing USD16.2 billion of that total. The study identifies opportunities for the private sector to contribute to three infrastructure-focused goals between now and 2030: SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and more..

Jan 29 (ST) Bank of Ceylon (BOC), as part of assisting SL youth to excel as young scientists at global level, sponsored six SL students who won bronze medals at the 16th International Junior Science Olympiad-(IJSO 2019) in December. The IJSO 2019 was held in Doha, Qatar on Dec 3-12. The event was organised by the Qatar Ministry of Education and Higher Education in collaboration with Qatar University. This international event hosted around 409 bright students from 70 countries more..

Jan 29 (FT) Newly-appointed Northern Province Governor P.S.M. Charles has prioritised resolving the land issues faced by people in war-affected areas of the country while initiating several new programs to uplift the livelihoods of low-income and vulnerable segments of the population. Charles spoke on her future plans for the Northern Province and sent out a message to the Tamil diaspora to come and see conditions more..

Jan 29 (CT) The Kurdistan Region of Iraq is ready to expand its bilateral relationship with Sri Lanka, Honorary Consul General for Sri Lanka in Erbil, Iraq, Dr. Ahmad Mustefa said on Monday in Colombo. Addressing the Sri Lanka-Kurdistan Business Forum, he said that in recent years, the investment movement has witnessed a noticeable development in all cities of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, with an increase in the number of companies operating in various fields, more..

Jan 29 (SLN) SL Navy assisted a group of Indian fishermen who had distressed in the seas while engaging in fishing, on 27th Jan 2020. A naval craft belonging to the Northern Naval Command had spotted a fishing trawler which was adrift in the Sri Lankan territorial waters at 11 nautical miles West of Analathivu island and in close proximity to International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). By further search, it was observed that an Indian fishing trawler had distressed due to engine failure more..

Jan 29 (CT) Sri Lanka's troubled MTD Walkers PLC stated that its parent company, MTD Capital Bhd Malaysia will not pursue the intended transaction in respect of the sale and purchase of 90.78% of the Issued Shares of MTD Walkers PLC (152,183,583 shares) to its former Director, Ravi Wijeratne - as announced to the CSE on 9 Sept 2019 - as there has been no positive development. more..

Jan 29 (FT) Ambassador Shani Calyanaratne Karunaratne presented her Letters of Credence to the Nominee TO President of the Syrian Arab Republic Bashar Al-Assad and Deputy PM and Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister Walid Al-Moallem on 21 January at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Damascus, Syria. After presenting credentials, Ambassador Karunaratne extended greetings from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to President Bashar Al-Assad. more..

Jan 29 (DN) Sri Lanka can be the live lab of future mobility technology in the region, said Sheran Fernando-Chairman, Ceylon Motor Traders Association. Speaking on Current Developments in Sustainable Mobility and Business Opportunities in SL, at the First German-SL Conference on Sustainable Mobility held in Colombo yesterday, Fernando stressed the need to find innovative ways to give a further flip to local transport industry and added that key issues such as congestion, more..

Jan 29 (FT) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said circulars issued to various Govt institutions and departments should enable the public sector to work better and not the opposite, pledging to create a better working environment for State employees. Rajapaksa had made these statements while chairing a high-level meeting with department heads at the Finance Ministry yesterday. Rajapaksa had taken the opportunity to more..

Jan 29 (CT) A large percentage of the 3 million small scale estate owners in SL use their smartphones to obtain information rather than referring to particular websites; and with this knowledge, Technical Assistance to the Modernisation of Agriculture Programme (TAMAP) launched the Govipola app yesterday at a workshop on Improved Market Information Systems for Agriculture in SL. The app is an improved market information and trading platform for agriculture developed by Croptronix, more..

Jan 29 (Island) Displaying goodwill and appreciation to NSBM Green Uni and its many efforts to drive the nation towards a knowledge-based economy, PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, paid a courtesy visit to the university premises in Homagama on Monday. PM was welcomed by Prof. E.A. Weerasinghe Vice-Chancellor NSBM and its Management. Minister Bandula Gunawardane also graced the occasion. This visit is significant as it�s the Premier�s first visit to NSBM, a project which commenced under more..

Jan 29 (Island) State Minister Susil Premjayantha turned down UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa�s offer to serve as PM, in a govt headed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Premjayantha said that there was nothing common in Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa�s vision and that of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. Addressing the media at the PM�s Office, Colombo District MP said that Premadasa heading for a heavy defeat at more..

Jan 29 (FT) Counsel K.V.S. Ganeshwaran, appearing for former Northern Province Minister Ananthi Sasitharan, withdrew from the contempt case in the Court of Appeal against former Chief Minister and former SC Justice C.V. Wigneswaran. The case came before the Bench comprising Justices Justice Mahinda Samayawardena with Justice K. Priyantha Fernando. Court fixed the case to be taken on 18, 19 and 20 May. Attorney-at-Law K.V.S. Ganeshwaran yesterday filed a motion more..

Jan 29 (GoUK) There is an ongoing outbreak of coronavirus in China. The virus originated in Wuhan City, Hubei Province but cases have been confirmed in other parts of China and in other countries. SL Ministry of Health has confirmed that one patient has tested positive for coronavirus. SL Govt is taking various precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. Ministry of Health has issued this press release and introduced a 24 hour hotline for anyone requiring information on coronavirus - more..

Jan 29 (FT) Govt imposed restrictions on Chinese nationals visiting SL and sent Lankan students returning from Wuhan Province in China to the Diyatalawa Army Camp to be kept under observation for two weeks after the first positive case of the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was identified by health authorities in the country. The restrictions on the issue of visas to Chinese nationals was put in place upon instructions more..

Jan 29 (Island) The govt should take strong measures to prevent invasive or alien species entering SL, top conservationist said. He added that coronavirus and the strict restrictions imposed by Chinese officials on exotic animal trade would certainly hamper illegal pet trade. Herpetologist, Thasun Amarasinghe, currently working as a senior research scientist at Uni of Indonesia said that China had banned the trade in wild animals on Sunday until the coronavirus was eradicated. more..

Jan 29 (TM) Chinese Embassy in Colombo has informed its nationals from Coronavirus affected areas including Hubei Province to cancel or postpone their visits to SL, Embassy said. Embassy added that Chinese authorities have responded to the epidemic with the highest attention, and have taken strict measures to control it from further spread. It has also fully cooperated with SL departments and taken effective precautions, trying the very best to protect SL and its people more..

Jan 29 (CT) State Minister Susil Premajayantha said there have been difficulties in evacuating students from Wuhan, China as Chinese authorities have locked down the area as efforts were increased to halt the spread of the coronavirus. Premajayantha said, Chinese Govt has advised those in Wuhan not to leave and therefore, SL Govt is unable to evacuate students living in Wuhan. He said there are over 500 Sri Lankans in China more..

Jan 29 (FT) The Small Hydro Power Developers Association (SHPDA), representing the major local power generators of renewable energy in Sri Lanka, recently held a general meeting about the current energy crisis. The renewable energy sector which has seen heavy local investment from 1996 to 2015, resulting in significant foreign currency savings, has been stagnant since 2016 due to the CEB halting the implementation of new mini hydropower projects. This policy continues despite more..

Jan 29 (Hindu) Senior diplomat Taranjit Singh Sandhu will be the next Indian Ambassador to the US. Mr. Sandhu, a 1988 batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service, is the current Indian envoy to Sri Lanka and will succeed Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who will take charge as the Foreign Secretary on Wednesday. Mr. Sandhu�s appointment comes days before the expected visit of Prez Donald Trump to India. As the top Indian diplomat in Washington D.C., he has to deal with the ongoing more..

Jan 29 (DM) Chinese companies, operating in Sri Lanka, are reported to have directed their employees who have recently returned from China after the Chinese New Year festivities to undergo a 14-day period of self isolation before confirming they are not carriers of the coronavirus and are free of any symptoms. In case any Chinese workers showing symptoms of infection by the coronovirus, they have been advised to more..