May 20 (CT) The Asian Netball giants will resume practices the first chance they get, said Netball Federation of SL (NFSL) President Victoria Laxmi. Just like sports all over the world, NFSL also had to halt practices and request the squad to stay indoors and safe due to Covid-19 fear, but under the guidance of the Sports Ministry, NFSL expects to resume practices the first chance they get, and the players are eager to return to training. Commenting on the resumption of practices Victoria Laxmi more..

May 20 (ST) One of the supervisors of my doctoral research in the mid-1990s, the late Professor Peter Kloos from the Free Uni of Amsterdam, once told me that many social science scholars have a romantic idea about the past, which is anti-progressive: �They think that the past was better than the present, and lament about social change�. Since that day, I never forgot his statement and I remembered it today too, when I started to write this column by looking at healthcare as a business. more..

May 20 (ST) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) wants to kick-off its national T20 event, the Lanka Premier League (LPL), in August this year notwithstanding the current global health crisis. But they privately admit that the chances of it happening are extremely thin. Officials of the Board, whose finances are taking a beating due to the cancellation of multiple inbound tours, are not demotivated yet. They are preparing for the tournament. more..

May 20 (CI) Int'l cricket may begin in Sri Lanka as early as July, if Sri Lanka Cricket's (SLC) plans to go ahead with the forthcoming series against Bangladesh and India work out. As of now, neither the BCCI nor the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have confirmed the tours, which will have to involve substantial logistical challenges, including having player quarantine measures in place, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, within SL itself, curfews have begun easing, more..

May 20 (CT) Following Mahela Jayawardena's tweet on the proposed int'l cricket stadium in Homagama, former MP Namal Rajapaksa and former SL National rugby team captain Yoshitha Rajapaksa, too, took to twitter to question the decision to build such stadium at this hour. Taking to twitter Namal Rajapaksa said a new ground is not a priority at a time like this. In response to Jayawardena's tweet, Namal said authorities must always involve all stakeholders and get their opinion before finalising a decision. more..

May 20 (Island) UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam alleged that Sajith Premadasa's camp acted in violation of a Working Committee decision to build a coalition to take on the govt. Instead, they had formed a political party - Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) at the expense of the UNP, Kariyawasam said. He that the dissident group brazenly violated the WC decisions, taken in agreement with them. more..

May 20 (Island) Sri Lanka Cricket has faced heavy criticism from all corners for the proposed new cricket ground in Homagama at an approximate cost of US$ 40 million. Former captains Roshan Mahanama and Mahela Jayawardene have raised their voices against the new venture telling their former employer that a new ground is not necessity at the moment. SLC has argued that they intend to bid for future ICC events and that they need to have a venue that could host around 40,000 fans. more..

May 20 (ST) The Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) will assist tea smallholders with a financial stimulus package as an allocation of approximately Rs.300 million has been made for this purpose. The SLTB believes that to deal with issues in low crop resulting in reduced production due to the drought and lack of replanting, a stimulus package would support the tea smallholders to overcome these concerns going forward, SLTB Chairman Jayampathy Molligoda told the Business Times. more..

May 20 (FT) Two persons died in the Ratnapura District yesterday, due to adverse weather influenced by super cyclone Amphan in the Bay of Bengal with many parts of the country bracing for more rain and possible landslides. A 9-year-old child and a 30-year-old female from Wewalwatta and Lellopitiya in Ratnapura died in two incidents, due to a landslide and a tree falling on a market. Several more residents of the area including children more..

May 20 (Island) Lanka Indian Oil Company (Lanka IOC) had informed the Finance Ministry Secretary, prior to its recent increase of the price of Octane 92 petrol, by five rupees. A senior official of the Power and Energy Ministry said that under the agreement they had the authority to do so. "However, people can go to CPC filling stations," he added. Neither the Petroleum Sector Regulator, Public Utilities Commission of (PUCSL) nor Petroleum Ministry, has powers to intervene under the agreement. more..

May 20 (AD) Super Cyclonic storm Amphan lay centred as an Extremely Severe Cyclonic storm over west-central Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood, at 11.30 p.m. on Tuesday (19) near latitude 18.4�N and longitude 87.1�E, about 1250 km North-east of Trincomalee. It is very likely to move further north and north-eastward away from the island across the west Bengal coast during the afternoon today. Due to the influence of the system, showers or thundershowers will occur at several places more..

May 20 (TM) Central Bank today (19) issued a statement dismissing media reports suggesting that it was in danger of defaulting on its debt repayments. �Govt of SL finds inferences in recent media reports questioning its ability to honour its debt service obligations. Govt notes with dismay such inferences made by certain media to imply that SL is at risk of falling into a sovereign debt crisis by comparing Sri Lanka with other sovereigns more..

May 20 (CT) Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) had grilled former UNF MP Ranjan Ramanayaka for four hours before they had recorded a statement from him. CCD had summoned Ramanayaka to its offices to record a statement pertaining to the possession of files of the ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen murder case as well as the possession of 127 cartridges. CCD had found the items from the Madiwela residence of Ramanayaka along with the controversial audio tapes that he had recorded. more..

May 20 (AD) Four more persons tested positive for coronavirus as of 11.55 pm on Tuesday (19). On that account, the total positive cases count moved up to 1,027. These new coronavirus patients have been detected from Sri Lanka Navy. In the meantime, the number of coronavirus patients who returned to health has reached 569. 449 active cases are currently under medical care at the IDH Hospital, Welikanda Base Hospital, Colombo East Base Hospital, Iranawila Hospital, Kattankudy more..

May 20 (EN) Super cyclonic storm Amphan had moved 1250 km away from Trincomalee coast but it will still generate high rainfall and lightning in several areas of the island, Meteorological Department said. At least 3 people have died in Sri Lanka in Matara and Ratnapura districts. Amphan is now moving towards India and Bangladesh where evacuations have begun amid a Coronavirus crisis. more..

May 20 (AD) A total of 578 navy personnel have tested positive for Coronavirus so far while 221 of them have recovered and have been discharged from hospital, Commander of the Army Lt Gen Shavendra Silva said. Hetold reporters today that 357 navy personnel are still receiving treatment for COVID-19 at selected hospitals. The total number of Covid-19 cases reported in the country so far stands at 1,027 while 434 of them are currently under medical care at selected hospitals. more..

May 20 (FT) In early March 2020, a friend who operates a medium sized business in Australia called me to discuss challenges faced by the business due to COVID-19 related Govt restrictions and its negative impact on the sales. We decided to prepare a six-month cash flow forecast to review the cash duration and discuss funding options with the bank to overcome any cash shortfall. When the cash flow forecast till 30 Sept 2020 was prepared, we realised that we had already bought more..

May 20 (FT) One perspective of coronavirus is that it is another flu. It is a virus that is short-lived; 80% who get it recover in seven or eight days with no medication and can self-isolate at home, 20% have some sort of breathing difficulty; of every 100 who get CV, maybe two or three will die. That is why CV is a mouse. The Government is like the ostrich that buries its head in the sand when it sees danger and hopes it goes away. Coronavirus will not go away. It must, without prevaricating, more..

May 20 (DM) While saying that the decision to remove his SLFP membership was a laughing matter, former MP Mahinda Samarasinghe said his SLFP membership was automatically cancelled when he joined the SLPP in March. SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara yesterday announced that former SLFP MP Mahinda Samarasinghe was removed from the SLFP. �It is a laughing matter to remove me from SLFP membership as my SLFP membership was more..

May 20 (FT) Traitorisation, the monster created over the years by Tamil nationalist politics, is running amok again. The current target is former Jaffna District MP and TNA spokesperson Mathiaparanan Abraham Sumanthiran. The lawyer-politician is being attacked as a Tamil traitor for some of the comments he reportedly made in a Sinhala language interview conducted by Chamuditha Samarawickrama for his Truth with Chamuditha You Tube channel. more..

May 20 (FT) The SLPP yesterday argued that it was impractical to reconvene Parliament as the seating of former parliamentarians would be too confusing as they have submitted nominations from different political parties to contest the upcoming General Elections. Speaking to reporters, SLPP senior member and former MP Dilan Perera said the legality of a considerable number of former MPs including UPFA would be questioned if Parliament was reconvened. more..

May 20 (AD) Thirty Sri Lankan multi-day trawlers have drifted away towards Indonesian waters due to inclement weather, the Department of Fisheries said. The Department stated that reports have been received that none of the 180 fishermen aboard the vessels have sustained any harm or injury in the incident. Reportedly, the vessels had washed away towards the Indonesian waters after adverse weather conditions experienced while they were out in the sea for fishing. more..

May 20 (EN) Standard and Poor�s has downgraded SL�s sovereign rating to �B-� as tax cuts made in January in fiscal stimulus which were further worsened by import controls, raising doubts about budget and debt repayment ability as a Coronavirus crisis slowed growth. Outlook at the lower level is stable. �We expect COVID-19 outbreak to push SL�s economy into a recession in 2020, against earlier expectations of a rebound� more..

May 20 (NR) Former UPFA MP Dilum Amunugama says the govt must reach a decision pertaining to those arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and who have no cases filed against them, currently being held in remand custody over a long period of time. He said the Prez�s attention has been directed to whether long-term detainees should continue to remain in custody, adding that discussions in this regard are underway. He said 11 years have passed since the arrest of more..

May 20 (DM) Health Ministry has issued following operational guidelines on preparedness for response for COVID-19 outbreak for the film & teledrama industry. General advice: Stay home if you have even minor respiratory symptoms; Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. When soap and running water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer; Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth or mask at all times; Practice good respiratory etiquette. more..

May 20 (NR) Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe says no new COVID-19 patients have been identified during the past 20 days outside of quarantine centres or from the SL Navy. Dr. Anil Jasinghe said a four-member committee was appointed to deliberate the COVID-19 crisis in around the Welisara Navy camp and several other camps. He said the expert committee has presented a number of proposals to be more..

May 20 (AD) Supreme Court has postponed the further hearing of the Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging the date set by the Elections Commission to hold the General Election 2020 to tomorrow. The hearing of petitions was continued for the third consecutive day, this morning, at the Supreme Court before the five-member judge bench consisting of Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justices Buwaneka Aluvihare, Sisira de Abrew, Priyantha Jayawardena, and Vijith Malalgoda. more..

May 20 (NR) Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi says 5,71,892 families will receive the Rs.5,000 grant during the next few days. Minister said Rs. 25,359 million have been allocated to provide the grant to those affected by the COVID-19 crisis. She added that long-term kidney patients, differently-abled persons and elders will also receive grants from the govt for the month of May. Rs.3,988 million have been allocated to provide monetary aid to 797,000 persons. more..

May 20 (CI) Sri Lankan players are likely to start training from June 1 subject to clearance from the country's govt. The fast bowlers will be the first set of players to return to training once cricket resumes with plans also to train in a biosafe environment taking shape. Mickey Arthur, SL's head coach, said that plan was part of the discussions he had last week with Dimuth Karunaratne and Lasith Malinga (share captaincy across formats) more..

May 20 (NR) Landslide warnings issued by the NBRO to residents of Ayagama, Kiriella, Ratnapura, Elapatha and Kalawana DS areas in the Ratnapura district have been extended. The NBRO said several areas in the Ratnapura district received a rainfall exceeding 150mm during the past 24 hours. Residents living in landslide prone areas have been instructed to evacuated to safe locations. Since the Galle district has received a rainfall of more than 100mm during the past 24 hours more..

May 20 (EN) A squad of Policemen from the Ratnapura station rescued a family group trapped 2 kilometres inland by floods including an infant, the Officer in Charge of the station Inspector Rohan Olugala said. He said that the rescue was carried out today in Lellupitiya, Rathnapura which is seeing unprecedented flooding group of people including the family of the infant was trapped by rising waters. Commenting on the precautions taken to take the displaced to a safe location more..

May 20 (EN) Successive govts including the previous Yahapalana coalition failed to lay the technological groundwork needed for a hassle-free and equitable transition from traditional education to distance education or e-learning in Sri Lanka, former opposition leader Sajith Premadasa said. While countries like Singapore have found the switch to e-learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic relatively easy, SL is struggling due to more..

May 20 (Island) Court of Appeal, issued notice on the Attorney General to appear before Court, on May 29, in connection with an appeal petition filed by former Minister Rajitha Senaratna. Former Minister Senaratna, who is in remand custody in connection with the controversial White Van Press Conference, has filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal, challenging the judgment of Colombo High Court. Court of Appeal bench comprised Justice Achala Wengappuli and Justice Priyantha Fernando. more..

May 20 (CT) Former North Central Province (NCP) Governor Tissa Vitharana said that small paddy cultivators and their children in the NCP were suffering from severe malnutrition, having only one meal per day due to increased debt owed to various Banks and private money lenders. He said that according to a 2017 survey on malnutrition, one among eight persons (12.5%) in the NPC were suffering from malnutrition and that the situation has only got worse. more..

May 20 (AD) The law will be strictly enforced against those who were arrested over intentionally violate curfew regulations, said DIG Ajith Rohana. Nearly 6,000 individuals who were arrested as such have been imposed with penalties so far, said the DIG. Meanwhile, 60,425 persons have been placed under arrest for violating the curfew since March 20 and 16,924 vehicles have been seized. more..

May 20 (EN) Colombo port has to diversify beyond being a transshipment port to be a true maritime hub, offering bunkering at market prices, ship chandling, a better legal system, marine finance and insurance a veteran shipping official said. �I feel that we have to redefine from Sri Lankan point of view of calling Sri Lanka a hub when it is only a transshipment hub,� Ruanthi De Silva, a maritime consultant said at an online forum organized by National Chamber of Commerce. more..

May 20 (AJ) The world is going through a period of unprecedented instability, distress and uncertainty. The novel coronavirus pandemic, and the threat posed by it to the socioeconomic fabric of nations, pushed many governments around the world into an existential crisis and forced them to switch to survival mode. Populist politicians in these countries, who failed to respond to this public health crisis swiftly and efficiently, resorted to scapegoating minority communities, especially Muslims, more..

May 20 (CT) The Ministry of Health has issued guidelines that must be adhered to when conducting weddings and functions at halls during the prevailing situation concerning the novel coronavirus pandemic. They also have issued PHI guidelines which are as below. Reception hall in which the ceremony will be held as well as other equipment that will be used must be sterilized at least two times. more..

May 20 (TM) High Commission of India has invited applications from eligible SL students seeking admission to Undergraduate Courses in MBBS, BDS, BE, B.Tech, B.Pharmacy & B.Arch under the Self Financing Scheme for the academic year 2020-21. The candidates who wish to apply for MBBS/BDS courses will have to obtain minimum of Marks at 50th percentile in NEET exam which will be conducted by NTA (National Testing Agency) on July 26, 2020. B.Arch aspirants are required to more..