Nov 26 (DM) A host of artefacts including four golden caskets and a crystalline casket containing sacred relics had been discovered during the on-going excavations in the Deeghavapi Cheithiya site. Director General of Archaeology said it was for the first time that four golden caskets containing sacred relics had been found in one location. Archaeologists said the finds included two crystals in the crystalline casket that could be the remnants of ornaments and any such had never been found earlier. more..

Nov 26 (AD) Severe Cyclonic Storm Nivar which was located over the southwest Bay of Bengal has made landfall off the coast Tamil Nadu of India, moves north-westwards and gradually weakening, Dept of Meteorology says. The influence on the weather over the island from this cyclonic storm will be gradually reduced. Several spells of showers will occur in North-western, Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Jaffna, Mannar, Galle and Matara districts. more..

Nov 26 (Island) Chairman of the COPE, Prof Charitha Herath, on Tuesday, said the entire country was affected by the Norochcholai Lakvijaya coal power plant complex and thus the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) had a pivotal role to play in the supervision of the power plant complex. COPE studied the coal power plant complex and its environmental impact, during a meeting on Tuesday in Parliament. more..

Nov 26 (AD) Several Grama Niladari Divisions in Kalutara and Kandy Districts have been declared as isolated areas with immediate effect. Three Grama Niladari Divisions in the Bandaragama police area and two Grama Niladari Divisions in the Alawathugoda police area (Kandy District) have been isolated in this manner. Accordingly, the following areas will be under isolation until further notice. Bandaragama police area - Kalutara District: -Atalugama East Grama Niladari Division more..

Nov 26 (TOI) The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has seized a huge quantity of drugs, including 100 kg of heroin that originated from Pakistan, from a SL boat on the high seas south of Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) off the Tamil Nadu coast in a major anti-smuggling operation that lasted for nine days. Coast Guard officials on Wednesday said patrol vessel ICGS Vaibhav intercepted the SL boat Shenaya Duwa and apprehended the six crew members, along with 100 kg of heroin in 99 packets, more..

Nov 26 (AFP) SL Thursday extended a ban on non-essential imports such as vehicles as it battles a foreign currency crisis, despite EU claims it violates int'l trade regulations. The ban was announced by the finance ministry in March as the local currency plunged and the economy reeled from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and last year's Easter Sunday bombings. "The restrictions are primarily because of the difficult situation more..

Nov 27 (ST) Despite being a gloomy morning, the three friends had gathered under the margosa tree for their regular Thursday gossip. They were there after buying maalu paan from Aldoris, the choon-paan karaya, after some banter with him as he came down the lane. �Aya-weye honda deval thiyanawa. Ekak thama aanduwe kattiyata rassawal dekak karanna puluwan eka (There are some good proposals in the budget. One is allowing state workers to do 2 jobs)� said Kussi Amma Sera. more..

Nov 27 (DM) More than the COVID-19 related news that surfaces now what people have to deal with is the negativity that impacts our lives. Starting from children to the self-employed individuals we see citizens having to deal with an uncertain future. Most schools are closed, but classroom sessions are continuing, thanks to the zoom facility which is being used lavishly. We can�t afford to stay blind or stay put at home; remotely blind to what�s happening. A zoom session suggests education is being more..

Nov 27 (TM) Concerns have been raised over the recent cabinet paper submitted by the Ministry of Power, seeking Cabinet approval to call for a detailed proposal from a US company that submitted an unsolicited proposal to generate liquefied natural gas (LNG) power in the country through the US Embassy in SL. Despite the receipt of unsolicited proposals, the CEB is firm in its decision that all power projects should undergo a competitive more..

Nov 27 (CT) I was busy in early April 2019, with preparations to leave the country for two weeks long creative arts residency at Denison University, Granville Ohio, USA. A group of academics, dance alumni and a few students from the Dept of Drama Oriental Ballet and Modern Dance of the Uni of Visual and Performing Arts and the Dept. of Fine Arts, Uni of Peradeniya were invited to take part in a two week long creative collaboration with the Dept of Dance & Theatre at Denison Uni. more..

Nov 27 (DM) Had the LTTE been successful in their armed struggle for the creation of a separate Tamil State in the Northern and Eastern Provinces and if the Sinhalese in Vavuniya or some village in Ampara District organized a commemoration event for the armed forces personnel killed in the war, would the Tigers allow it to happen? Definitely, they wouldn�t. "Today is the LTTE designated commemoration day for their cadres who were killed in the same war and the Govt is making every effort to prevent more..

Nov 27 (CT) Road safety is recognised by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by WHO as a precondition to strengthen the well-being, healthy lives and to create inclusive, sustainable, and resilient cities. It further indicates the disabilities and injuries that take place due to Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) influence other issues related to community well-being as these factors contribute to hindrance of human activity of more..

Nov 27 (CT) Former President J.R. Jayewardene while in office was questioned by the BBC about the July 1983 riots. In his reply, Jayewardene took upon himself the blame for those riots. �I was foolish, I was shortsighted,� he told the BBC, giving reasons behind the July 1983 riots. He didn�t blame India for the riots, though he may well have reasons to blame India. Because, a year earlier, in 1982, TN Police arrested LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran & PLOTE Leader Uma Maheswaran more..

Nov 27 (Island) Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, who was taken into custody a few weeks ago, has been released on bail. His counsel, asking for bail, brought to the notice of the court that COVID-19 was spreading fast in prisons. Prisoners are a high-risk group. Life is precious, and nobody must be exposed to COVID-19. Bathiudeen�s safety should be ensured. But what about the other suspects, numbering thousands, held in overcrowded remand prisons, and convicts serving sentences? more..

Nov 27 (CT) The law and morality do sometimes overlap, but the law, as they say, is whatever is boldly asserted and plausibly maintained. There is an old axiom: much law, little justice. We like to think the law provides some measure of justice, and sometimes it does. But justice is a more cosmic principle than what the law embraces. It needs no rocket science or elaborate surveys to find out that majority of those at the grass-root levels have the least trust in a system that appears unfair, more..

Nov 27 (Island) The Budget Speech 2021 was presented at a time when the country is being severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. GDP growth is projected to be down to negative 2% this year. Despite this economic setback, the govt envisages to maintain an inclusive GDP growth rate of 6% per annum over the medium-term while containing inflation to around 5%, according to its macroeconomic programme, Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour. more..

Nov 27 (TM) Given the fluctuating risk levels that are presented by Covid-19, as the strains keep mutating, many countries that have moved on to learning to live with Covid-19 seem to be facing issues with keeping children in school. While schools are asked to remain open, students are faced with the erratic pattern of being asked to self-isolate every time one student gets sick and tests positive for Covid-19. more..

Nov 27 (CT) Human Rights Commission of SL has issued a directive to prison authorities to take all possible measures to protect the life of former CID Director SSP Shani Abeysekera who was recently transferred to a quarantine facility at a military installation after allegedly testing positive for the corona virus. In a letter to Prisons Commissioner General Thushara Upuldeniya, HRCSL said that it had received several complaints expressing grave concerns for Abeysekera�s safety and more..

Nov 27 (Island) Dr. Lal Ekanayake, the Director General of the Institute of Sports Medicine expressed hope that Lanka Premier League (LPL) cricket tourney which was scheduled to start in the evening yesterday would be the first step towards resumption of sports in the country despite a rise in the number of Covid 19 positive cases. �Successful staging of the LPL tournament will pave the way for other sports to resume under new normal conditions. The sports minister too is looking at more..

Nov 27 (CT) Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) stated the treatment and detention conditions of prisoners fall well below the basic living standards. The study published by the Commission found the provision of services to which prisoners are entitled, including access to health care and opportunities for rehabilitation are poor as the level of occupancy in prisons exceeds its capacity. Due to the severe shortage of staff, more..

Nov 27 (FT) Key stakeholders of the capital market this week met to take stock of the healthy revival, in the backdrop of increased investor activity and Govt expectations to boost listing as well as fair and robust trading. Convened by the capital market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the meeting was chaired by SEC Chairman Viraj Dayaratne PC and included senior SEC officials, Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) Chairman Dumith Fernando and officials, more..

Nov 27 (ST) A Board of Investment (BOI) agriculture-based company is grappling with local bureaucratic red tape to initiate commercial maize contract farming at Kantale, Trincomalee, informed sources said. This large barren land will be handed over to farmers dividing it to five acre blocks each for maize cultivation under the facilitation of private companies and investors till the re-opening of the sugar factory there, State Minister Janaka Wakkumbura disclosed. more..

Nov 27 (CI) After what seemed like endless setbacks, the first game of the Lankan Premier League is finally in the books, and it could hardly have been scripted better. Over 400 runs, dropped catches, monster sixes, quick fire fifties, an Andre Russell cameo - and a Super Over. Welcome to the LPL, ladies and gentleman. In the end though, it was Colombo Kings that emerged victorious in a game that neither team really deserved to lose. more..

Nov 27 (Island) Ideal Group, headed by visionary entrepreneur Nalin Welgama, in keeping with his ethos of growth through innovation, made a move pertinent with the new normal by acquiring one of the pioneers in SL e commerce industry, Takas.lk. Having invested heavily in developing capacity in the SL automotive sector, Executive Chairman of Ideal Group of Companies, Nalin Welgama, is determined that a SL built and operated company be in the forefront of e-commerce in Sri Lanka. more..

Nov 27 (MFA) SL Embassy in Ethiopia, in consultation with the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka and the United Nations in Ethiopia, successfully facilitated the evacuation of 38 Sri Lankan nationals from the war zone in Tigray region in the northern part of Ethiopia. Sri Lankan nationals, along with foreign nationals belonging to a number of countries, were evacuated by United Nations convoys from Tigray to the Afar region of Ethiopia and have been transported to the capital Addis Ababa. more..

Nov 27 (FT) Backing lower interest rates as the best growth formula, the CB yesterday decided banks would charge only 7% on mortgage-backed housing loans and would introduce lending targets to selected sectors to counter the second COVID-19 wave. The Monetary Board at its last monetary policy announcement for this year kept policy rates unchanged and decided to introduce two new measures to complement more..

Nov 27 (CT) A German, a Frenchman, a Canadian and an Englishman all playing for one team - not a club, but for a country! If SL football authorities� plans materialise, their National team could soon see an amalgamation of such foreign players who have a SL background. Football Federation of SL in recent years has been raiding overseas nests for young talented players who have a SL background with the idea of forming a strong National team with the inclusion of these foreigners. more..

Nov 27 (FT) Central Bank (CB) yesterday said gold pawning in the first nine months had reached Rs. 241 billion, up from Rs. 197 billion in the first six months, but was still only a fraction of overall credit. Economic Research Department Director Dr. C. Amarasekara told reporters that in the first six months total loans reached Rs. 1,917 billion and eventually grew to Rs. 3,976 billion by the end of September. �There have been erroneous reports that gold pawning is increasing exponentially more..

Nov 27 (Island) The majority of the luxury vehicles imported by special permit holders in contravention of the import ban imposed by the govt in view of precarious economic situation caused by corona first wave are likely to be released subject to penalties. Well informed sources said that those vehicles shipped in without even opening LCs would be released. Among the violators were many govt servants. more..

Nov 27 (FT) Central Bank Governor Professor W.D. Lakshman said the European Union (EU) taking issue with SL�s decision to restrict imports was an overreaction, and he was confident any issues could be resolved through discussions. Responding to questions during an online press briefing, Professor Lakshman insisted that restrictions were necessary to preserve precious reserves. He and other bank officials pointed out that as much as 65% of imports, especially intermediate goods, more..

Nov 27 (CT) In solidarity with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) that started yesterday, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in SL with support from the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) lit up South Asia�s tallest structure, the Lotus Tower, which turned orange in their Orange the World campaign. The 16 Days of Activism against GBV is for the victims and survivors of sexual and GBV during COVID-19, the UNFPA noted. more..

Nov 27 (PMD) A monitoring mechanism has been devised to ensure strict adherence to the ongoing home quarantine process for the contacts of the infected persons introduced as a measure to contain the COVID � 19 pandemic. The responsibility of monitoring is entrusted with a team of field officers. The team comprises Economic Development Officers, Agriculture Research and Production Assistants, Samurdhi more..

Nov 27 (Island) Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella called on the govt to take action to prevent the UK from moving a UN resolution against the country next March. MP said that he had warned about the present situation the previous day in the House. �During the committee stage debate on the financial vote on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs I warned the govt. I recalled that former Prez Rajapaksa promised former UN General Secretary Ban ki-moon an internal war crimes probe. more..

Nov 27 (Island) Close to 74,000 people belonging to 27,974 families had been placed under home quarantine, DIG Ajith Rohana said. He said that the number of cases from the Minuwangoda and Peliyagoda clusters had increased to 17,436 with 458 persons had tested positive for the virus on Tuesday. Two wards of the Kethumathi Maternity Hospital, Panadura were temporarily closed on Wednesday after two pregnant women admitted there tested COVID-19 positive. more..

Nov 27 (FT) The dual COVID-19 cluster identified from Divulapitiya and Peliyagoda rose to 18,491 with the detection of 553 cases yesterday. 553 cases have been identified as associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster. Additionally, six SL returnees with COVID-19 have also been identified. This brings the total number of COVID-19 patients identified in the island to 22,028. The total count includes 1,512 SL returnees more..

Nov 27 (Island) TNA Jaffna District MP MA Sumanthiran says that if the govt believes that sovereignty of this country is only for the majority then the minorities will be compelled to seek their own. Participating in the third reading debate on Wednesday, MP Sumanthiran said: �Sovereignty of a country is for all people. If the majority only enjoys sovereignty, then you are leaving the other people out. You are forcing them to claim their own sovereignty. That will be your own doing. more..

Nov 27 (Island) Neither the Constitutional crisis of 2018 nor the periodic changes of Prez and Defence Secretaries between 2015 and 2018 had impacted adversely national security, former President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday told the PCoI. Sirisena made this statement when Attorney- at- Law Dilshan Jayasuriya, appearing for former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, asked whether the appointment of five Defence Secretaries and three Prez Secretaries in a short period more..

Nov 27 (CT) Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) have withdrawn their services in Beruwala in the Kalutara District amidst the increasing number of COVID-19 patients being detected from several areas of the District, demanding Health Dept to cancel a transfer given to a Medical Officer of Health (MOH) who is alleged to have interfered and disrupted their services, Secy of PHIUSL, M. Balasooriya said. more..

Nov 27 (CT) The Monetary Board of SL, during its recent meeting, decided to maintain policy rates at the current level, as it was important to continue the downward adjustment in lending rates to boost the economy. Accordingly, the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank will remain unchanged at 4.5% and 5.5%, respectively. The CB said �The Monetary Board, having noted the reduction in overall market lending rates so far more..