Nov 28 (CT) �We appreciate the Prez, Police and Tri-Forces for the lockdown and we understand how difficult the situation is, but we want the Govt to understand that we are poor people and we are just demanding clean food.� An agitated mother, Shermila, cried over the hunger her family is faced with due to the low quality food they got as rations for 14 days. �It is a disgrace that a resident of the Methsada Sevana housing complex, more..

Nov 28 (CT) Alagiyawanna Mukaweti was a Sinhala poet, who lived in the Kotte era. Subhashithaya is a poetry book he composed to provide advice on life. One of the verses in the poem uses sandalwood to describe excellent character. Like the sandalwood spreading fragrance when it is crushed, good humans also shows their morals under pressure. This poem came to my mind when I thought of that great educationist R.I.T. Alles who we commemorate for the seventh year. History is heavy and more..

Nov 28 (ST) There is a popular saying, particularly during the time the govt�s budget is presented, that the poor pay more taxes than the rich in Sri Lanka. Whenever I heard it, I had a question: How is it possible? I thought of worthwhile noting it at the outset for our discussion today, not just to answer this question, but since it directs us to recognise some deeper issues, perhaps going beyond economics to politics as well. The claim is based on direct � indirect tax shares of Sri Lanka. more..

Nov 28 (Island) Cassandra, like so many others of her ilk, has locked herself down and voluntarily shut herself in the confines of her home. Being of mature age, she does not fret at self-imposed stay-at-home-ness and actually finds plenty to do to occupy the alone-hours. Such persons also know they are abiding faithfully by medical guidelines. Most sally forth on walks, masked and all, and keep in contact with friends and relatives via electronic wonders and that old faithful � the telephone. more..

Nov 28 (TM) Sri Lankan-born Anjalee de Silva was recently elected to Monash City Council in the latest local government elections in Victoria, Australia. She was endorsed by the Australian Greens Party and is the only Councillor of Sri Lankan origin to be elected in Victoria for the upcoming four-year term. As part of her role as a Councillor, she has also been appointed a member of the Monash Council Gender Equity Advisory Committee and the Monash Council Multicultural Advisory Committee. more..

Nov 28 (CI) Outside of Shahid Afridi's furious 23-ball 58, Jaffna Stallions were almost totally in control. They slowed Galle Gladiators down after the Gladiators got a decent start with the bat, made breakthroughs through the middle overs, thanks partly to an outstanding spell from Wanindu Hasaranga, and prevented Afridi from turning a good score into an imposing one. With the bat, Stallions were measured but insistent, more..

Nov 28 (GV) Maaveerar Naal, otherwise known as Heroes day, is celebrated on Nov 27 to remember those who lost their lives fighting for the LTTE. While this day has come to be a highly politicised one, what us as SL citizens must remember is that ultimately it is a reminder of the loss of life because of war. Memorialisation and reconciliation sound like heavy words. In SL these words are sometimes synonymous with being desha drohi. To speak of the past, to speak of reconciliation, more..

Nov 28 (Island) Mystery surrounds some vital aspects of the Easter Sunday attacks although those who carried them out have been identified and their confederates arrested. That a group of National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) terrorists, led by Zahran Hashim, carried out a series of suicide bombings, on 21 April 2019, is known to one and all, but who actually handled them has not yet been found out. The police have confirmed that the NTJ had planned a second wave of attacks on places of more..

Nov 28 (FT) Fitch Ratings yesterday downgraded SL�s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to CCC on increasing challenges to its external-debt repayment position, worsened by COVID-19 impact. The international rating agency said it typically does not assign Outlooks or apply modifiers to sovereigns with a rating of CCC or below. �The downgrade reflects SL�s increasingly challenging external-debt more..

Nov 28 (CT) Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the governing body of the Commonwealth Games shared information about potential budget and sport programme for the 2026 Commonwealth Games (CWG), to help SL�s potential bid to host the Games, CEO of CGF partnership, David Leather said. Leather said this during a virtual CGF General Assembly yeterday providing updates for its members, while also saying CGF is continuing discussions with Australia and Canada, more..

Nov 28 (FT) Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FCCISL) commended the 2021 Budget, saying it had taken into consideration many factors that were important for the revival of the economy. �We observe that Govt keeping in line with its election manifesto has focused on programs for economic development, social welfare, etc., we also understand that the Govt has to make this Budget in a very challenging and depressed economic environment, perhaps the biggest ever since more..

Nov 28 (DM) The World Bank�s new Country Director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, Faris Hadad-Zervos, completed his first visit to SL yesterday. The purpose of this visit was to meet key policymakers and understand the country�s development priorities. Based in Kathmandu, Nepal, this was the Country Director�s first visit to SL in his new role. Hadad-Zervos was joined by Chiyo Kanda, the new Country Manager more..

Nov 28 (Island) Diego Maradona is remembered the world over for his unquestioned glory in football. Those two goals he scored against England in 1986, winning the World Cup will never be forgotten, especially that second goal that beat all the English players, so soon after that �Hand of God� goal he scored with a touch and twist of his hand, which the referee did not see. Diego Maradona will no doubt bring courage to our own footballers, who await a good rise of the game, at least to what it was more..

Nov 28 (Island) The Expert Committee, appointed to draft a new constitution, has invited the public to submit their ideas and views relating to the topics listed by them. This approach was confirmed by the Minister of Justice Ali Sabry in a media report that stated: �A new constitution is to be drafted to replace the Second Republican Constitution of Sri Lanka, and we are inviting the general public to submit their ideas, or views, under the topics of; nature of state, fundamental rights, language, more..

Nov 28 (Island) SLPP National List MP Mohammed Muzammil asked whether Colossus Copper Factory, Wellampitiya, under investigation for alleged funding of 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, had benefited from substantial copper imports during the 2015-2019 period, amounting to Rs. 63,708 mn. Colossus owner Imsath carried out suicide attack on the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo. more..

Nov 28 (DN) Former India paceman Irfan Pathan became the first casualty in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) T20 Cricket Tournament when he pulled a hamstring injury in Hambantota on Thursday. The 36-year-old left-arm seamer walked out of the field after bowling just 1.5 overs for the Kandy Tuskers in their curtain raiser match against the Colombo Kings at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium. �Pathan has a hamstring strain and he will be monitored during the next few days and more..

Nov 28 (Island) Fifteen MPs have been appointed to the Legislative Standing Committee in addition to the Deputy Speaker as the Chair, the Deputy Chairperson of Committees, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced to the House. The Speaker said that the Committee of Selection has nominated Prof G. L. Peiris, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Namal Rajapaksa, Mohan Priyadarshana de Silva, Sisira Jayakody, Dr Rajitha Senaratne, Chandima Weerakkody, Govindan Karunaharan, more..

Nov 28 (AP) During his leisure time, Mahinda Dasanayaka packs his motorbike with books and rides his mobile library � across mostly muddy roads running through tea-growing mountain areas � to underprivileged children in backward rural parts of SL. Having witnessed hardships faced by children whose villages have no library facilities, Dasanayaka was looking for ways to help them. Then he got the idea for his library on wheels. more..

Nov 28 (CT) Budget 2021 does not show any concern in the welfare of the freelance professionals in the tourism industry, who have been actively involved in earning foreign exchange to the country during good times of the industry. Tourist Guide Lecturer and member of the SL Institute of National Tourist Guide Lecturers Association (SLINTGL) Ruwan De Silva said, Govt has only given them a onetime grant of Rs 20,000 a few months ago and this too even from the SLTDA. more..

Nov 28 (EN) Sri Lanka has disputed a sovereign rating downgrade by Fitch Ratings to CCC, barely above default, expressing disappointment over as the decision while challenging the conclusions. �The Govt has repeatedly expressed its ability and willingness to meet all its debt obligations falling due in the period ahead,� the Finance Ministry said. �The Govt�s strategy in foreign debt management is to avoid total rolling over of the upcoming maturities, while its strategy in overall debt management more..

Nov 28 (Island) It was revealed at the Committee on Public Finance that 74% of the 2020 fiscal revenue had been received so far and that amount was Rs 1,124 billion out of the expected total govt revenue of Rs 1,580 billion. The amount was revealed by Secretary to Ministry of Finance S.R. Attygalle in response to a question raised by Chairman of the committee Anura Priyadarshana Yapa regarding govt revenue for 2020. more..

Nov 28 (CT) Of the Rs 400 billion spent on public building construction works in 2017, which is the latest of such figures available, Rs 352 billion of such works were executed by State sector agencies, comprising 88% of such investments, while a mere Rs 48 billion (12%) was contracted to the private sector, Architect Russel Dandeniya said. However, considering the fact that the State sector employs a mere 9% (120) of all architects in the country, while private sector more than 91% (Over 1,200) more..

Nov 28 (DN) The CB is to impose a rate cap for lending to property-backed loans to salaried employees. The maximum rate will be 7% for the first five years. All subsequent repayments (after the fifth year) will be capped at 1 percentage point increase over the monthly Average Prime Lending Rate (AWPR). Director Research Dr C. Amarasekara said, �mortgage-backed securities will not cause a bubble.� The regulator is also looking to collect data and thereby target lending to more..

Nov 28 (CT) Former IGP, Pujith Jayasundara, who appeared before the PCoI, for the last time on 26 Nov, became emotional while giving evidence. When questioned as to why he had not paid sufficient attention despite the then Senior DIG Ravi Seneviratne, of the CID having informed that there could be a terrorist attack following the discovery of a stock of explosives in the Wanathawilluwa area in Puttalam, more..

Nov 28 (Island) Badulla district SJB MP Chaminda Wijesiri�s question on the purpose of India�s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visiting Sri Lanka was not allowed by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, citing procedural reasons in Parliament yesterday. When the first round of the question time was over, MP Wijesiri asked why India�s NSA Doval was visiting the country yesterday and whether the visit had anything to do with handing over the Eastern Jetty of the Colombo Port to India. more..

Nov 28 (EN) SL is expecting a US$ 700 million equivalent loan from China Development Bank in Dec 2020. Authorities earlier said the loan would arrive in October. About US$ 500 million are expected to come in dollars and the balance would be Renmnbi denominated. ADB approved a US$ 165 million credit in November for on-lending to small and medium enterprises. SL repaid a maturing billion dollar sovereign bond in Oct 2020, and has also repaid over US$ 4b in other repayments. more..

Nov 28 (FT) The dual COVID-19 cluster that emerged from Divulapitiya and Peliyagoda expanded to 18,963 cases with the detection of 472 new patients yesterday. The patients were associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster. Additionally, a SL returnee had also tested positive for COVID-19 while in quarantine. In addition to the dual COVID-19 cluster, the country�s total case count includes 1,508 SL returnees more..

Nov 28 (CT) Minister of Public Security, Rear Admiral (Retired) Sarath Weerasekara said, assistance of the INTERPOL, CID and Intelligence Forces will be sought to track down and take action against those who collect funds for the LTTE overseas. �There are many persons who collected funds for the LTTE in foreign countries. Since that is illegal, we hope to seek assistance from the INTERPOL and Govts in those countries to take action against them. Intelligence Forces and more..

Nov 28 (FT) The SJB expressed concern about the continued detention of former Director of the CID Shani Abeysekera and called on the govt to give a guarantee of his safety. SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara stressed that the Govt must be responsible for the health and wellbeing of Abeysekera who is currently undergoing treatment, having contracted the COVID-19 virus while in remand custody. He was later transferred to Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), more..

Nov 28 (DN) National Security Adviser (NSA) of India Ajit Doval told PM Mahinda Rajapaksa that a dialogue among countries in the region would be helpful to find solutions and strategies to overcome economic difficulties created by the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, Indian NSA suggested that the PM Rajapaksa take the lead in building a dialogue between other countries in the region with the aim of finding a solution to more..

Nov 28 (FT) Budgets are presented by every govt and every year except under unavoidable special circumstances. Normally, SL had chosen 5 Nov as the day for presenting the budget to Parliament. However, 2019 was an exception due to several reasons. Commissioner of Elections issued the gazette notification on 18 Sept 2019 calling for nominations for the Prez Election closing on 7 Oct and the Prez Election on 16 Nov 2019. The new Prez was declared elected on 17 Nov 2019. more..

Nov 28 (FT) A few articles back, I suggested we look at prescribing shutting down the world as a cure versus targeted, focused interventions in line with the modest lethality (in actuarial terms, and comparing it data-wise to the major global killers) of this vastly overblown pathogen. Three doctors, Dr. Kerry Nield Ph.D, Dr. Juergen Dobmeyer MD and Dr. David Cook, PhD, all experienced and accomplished in healthcare across Europe, have taken a similar perspective, more..

Nov 28 (CT) Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) has sent letters of demand to the Director General (DG) of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), the Mahaweli Authority, Ministry of Environment and others, over the alleged destruction of forests in Pollebadda, Maha Oya, for the proposed Agriculture and Livestock Development Project at Pollebadda-Rambakan Oya. �We have learnt that the DG of the CEA under the Reference Number 08/EIA/AGR/01/2020 dated more..

Nov 28 (AD) More Sri Lankans stranded in foreign countries have been returned to the island today (28). Accordingly, 118 expatriates from the UAE, 96 from Qatar and 53 from India were repatriated. They have been referred to PCR test upon arrival at the BIA and were subsequently directed to quarantine centres. Army Commander Lt Gen Shavendra Silva recently announced that Sri Lankan expatriates in the Middle East will be given priority in the repatriation process. more..

Nov 28 (Island) Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage had said that beginning from the next harvesting season, 1,000 kilos of paddy per hectare would be purchased at a guaranteed price of Rs. 50 per kilo from every farmer who received the fertilizer subsidy. The minister has said that Rs. 100 million was allocated to the Paddy Marketing Board to restore the storage complexes in order to carry out more..

Nov 28 (AD) Covid-19 related recoveries reported in SL went up again as 430 patients were discharged from medical care upon returning to health. According to data, total recuperations count now stands at 16,656. SL has confirmed 22,501 positive cases of Covid-19 infections to date, and 107 of them have fallen victim to the virus. However, 5,738 active cases are still receiving treatment. As per the daily situation report, following hospitals and treatment centres had reported the latest recoveries: more..

Nov 28 (DN) A Sinhala Language Studies Dept has been established at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Yunnan University, China. Yunnan Uni, founded in 1923, is also on China's list of top national universities. Its Faculty of Foreign Languages currently teaches a number of European, Asian and African languages, and offers postgraduate opportunities in a number of languages, including English, French and Japanese. Around 25 students have been admitted to more..

Nov 28 (Island) The yahapalana govt�s preoccupation with the consolidation of power had made it possible for the Easter Sunday terror attacks to be carried out, Minister Prof GL Peiris told Parliament. �The yahapalana regime deliberately dismantled security measures and mechanisms in response to requests of minority groups to get their support to consolidate power. There had been a mechanism operated by intelligence and more..