Oct 29 (TM) SL Export Development Board (EDB) announced yesterday that it is currently working towards ensuring that the operations of export industries remain uninterrupted during the curfew period in the country. �To manage the Covid-19 situation, the export industries operating within the country have been advised to follow all the safety measures recommended by the health authorities during the curfew period and as per the Guidelines on Covid-19, Preparedness for Workplaces, more..

Oct 29 (CT) Vehicle imports sharply fell by 56.6% (16,316 numbers) year-on-year (YoY) to 12,513 numbers last month, its lowest import figure for a month recorded so far for the year, hit by a Govt import ban to conserve foreign exchange, CB data showed. Vehicle imports in September 2019 showed a higher figure of 28,829 numbers. This decline, that is, Sept over August 2020 was by 5,425 numbers (32.24%) to 12,513 numbers, with the August import figure being 17,938 numbers. more..

Oct 29 (CT) Chairman of Prez Task Force on Economic Revival and Poverty Alleviation, Basil Rajapaksa said, at this time, when the spread of COVID-19 had re-emerged, essential services must be maintained as efficiently, systematically and continuously as the last time. He also instructed the officials of the institutions to formulate a proper system to continue to provide essential services to the people including electricity, water, fuel, more..

Oct 29 (FT) Cabinet this week granted approval to add six additional wind turbines to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded Mannar Island Wind Power project aimed at generating an additional 20 MW of energy. According to the Cabinet press briefing held on Tuesday, construction work of the 100 MW wind power plant is being carried out in Mannar Island under $ 200 million investment by the ADB, and is currently at 73% completion. Govt plans to use $ 47 million more..

Oct 29 (DN) Sri Lanka will aggressively pursue the signing of the much talked about and long overdue Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China soon, SL Ambassador designate to China. Dr. Palitha Kohona said. He was addressing a seminar on Opportunities in China for SL organized by Director, Federation of Chamber of Commerce, (FCCISL), Ruwan De Silva and Senior Vice President FCCISL, Keerthi Gunawardane in Colombo on Tuesday. �Unlike the previously inked SL, FTA�s, we will negotiate more..

Oct 29 (Island) Mohammed Azam Mubarak and Mohammed Hastun, who blew themselves up inside the Kingsbury Hotel and at the Katuwapitiya Church respectively. On April 11 2019, they purchased nine backpacks and eight shawls that NTJ members wore in the video pledging allegiance to ISIS, the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks was informed, on Tuesday. Testifying before the PCoI, an officer attached to CID played more..

Oct 29 (CT) Despite the quarantine curfew being in effect, there is no impediment for students sitting for the GCE A/L exam in the Western Province, said Commissioner of Examinations, Sanath Pujitha. He said with the cooperation of the health and security sectors the necessary facilities have been provided to conduct the examination by ensuring the health of the students. He added that the SL Transport Board and the Railway Dept had agreed to provide transport without any hindrance. more..

Oct 29 (Reuters) Govt bonds fell heavily on Wednesday as the US ratcheted up pressure on the country�s govt over its ties with China. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was visiting SL as part of a four-nation Asian tour, said the Chinese Communist Party was operating as a predator in the country and had brought bad deals and lawlessness. Worries that the COVID-19 crisis will make it hard for SL to pay its debts have already seen its bonds lose over 40% of their more..

Oct 29 (CT) This time the country�s COVID-19 outbreak is from amongst those within the community supply chain, the GMOA, said. GMOA Secretary, Dr. Senal Fernando said the fear that health authorities and the Union had entertained was that the disease would re-spread amongst the public through either the health workers working with the COVID-19 patients being identified from amongst the foreign repatriates, military more..

Oct 29 (DM) SJB while stating it is against the proposed MCC agreement, asked the govt whether it had discussed it with the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who happened to be the Chairman of MCC, had come here to take a decision on it. SJB MP Hesha Withanage said that Mr. Pompeo is also the head of MCC other than being the US Secretary of State. �It would be obvious that MCC agreement would have been a topic of discussion with the visiting US Secretary of State during his visit. more..

Oct 29 (DN) DIG Ajith Rohana said that when the quarantine curfew comes into effect in the Western Province from midnight today, no one will be allowed to commute in or out of these districts, expect for certain groups. �This week is a decisive factor in ensuring that this COVID-19 pandemic is contained. We humbly request everyone to stay indoors as much as possible. For those who need to collect essentials and medications, they have been given an opportunity until 10 pm. more..

Oct 29 (FT) Visiting US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo sought to draw a contrast between what China seeks in SL as opposed to the manner in which the US operates and controversially labelled the Chinese Communist Party a predator. At a joint press event Pompeo addressed with Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the end of his brief visit to the country, the senior US official also said more..

Oct 29 (FT) In keeping with its rapid expansion plans, Sri Lanka Institute of Directors moved into a prestigious and convenient location at Cinnamon Grand Hotel very recently. Cinnamon Hotels are now one of the partners of SLID and offer special rates to members of SLID at all Cinnamon Hotels. Plans are afoot to tie up with a Credit Card company as well as to issue membership cards. The popular Board Leadership Training (BLT) is being revamped and modernised by Aruni Rajakarier, more..

Oct 29 (FT) Renewed international interest in Sri Lanka in recent months has coincided with the consolidation of the Quad, which brings together Australia, India, Japan and the United States of America; and with the resumption of China�s rise after the impediment the country faced with the outbreak of the pandemic. The remaining months of 2020 and the next couple of years remain crucial from both vantage points, but it is of importance for SL at this stage to strategize foreign policy, more..

Oct 29 (Island) The monthly meeting of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) would be held today despite any objections raised, Colombo Mayor, Rosy Senanayake said. This monthly meeting must take place to pass important bills and to provide relief to people in the city limits, she said. Senanayake said that over 1,200 COVID-19 positive persons had been found in the Colombo City within the last 10 days. After the Peliyagoda fish market cluster was detected over 5,000 tests had been more..

Oct 29 (DN) Strengthening the relationship between two state giants, Sri Lanka Insurance in collaboration with People�s Bank unveiled SLIC Service Counter at the People�s Bank premises to enhance the accessibility of their services and to deliver customer convenience to the public. With the opening of the SLIC Service Counter, People�s Bank customers and staff members have the opportunity to experience an array of insurance solutions provided by Sri Lanka Insurance. more..

Oct 29 (Island) US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo yesterday side-stepped a query whether the govt of SL had requested him to reconsider the travel ban imposed on Army Chief Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva on the basis of unsubstantiated and unverified war crimes allegations. The US in February this year slapped a travel ban on wartime GoC of the celebrated 58 Division and his family on the basis of more..

Oct 29 (DN) It has been proved that illegal landfills in the Muthurajawela wetland are being carried out by (Tipper) dump trucks used for dumping concrete blocks, old tires and demolition materials. During a recent visit to Muthurajawela, the Minister inspected a number of dump trucks that had been used to dispose such materials at the wetland. The Minister whp spoke to the drivers. They said that they had been dumping such waste into Muthurajawela from the several years. more..

Oct 29 (Island) In the lead up to the highly anticipated 2021 budget, Verit� Research recently announced the latest results and recommendations of their annual budget monitoring study, which tracks the government�s performance and openness on key promises made in its recent annual budgets. According to Verit� Research, in the 2018 budget speech, the Minister of Finance announced that an implementation unit would be set up under the ministry to monitor execution of proposals. more..

Oct 29 (AD) Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has assented the draft bill of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution today. Speaker has put his signature validating the 20th Amendment to the Constitution which was passed in Parliament with 2/3 majority on Oct 22nd, Parliament�s Dept of Communication said. The Speaker signed the blueprint of the constitutional amendment at around 11.30 am this morning, more..

Oct 29 (FT) Cabinet this week gave their consent to introduce a new Securities and Exchange Commission Act, which seeks to update existing regulations and modernise functions of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). Cabinet approved a proposal submitted by PM in his capacity as the Finance Minister to direct the Legal Draftsman for the preparation of a draft bill for the introduction of a new Act, replacing the existing Securities and Exchange Commission Act No. 36 of 1987. more..

Oct 29 (FT) I watched the second and final Trump-Biden debate on CNN after I had spent the two previous days watching the 20th Amendment debate on the SL Parliament channel. The rules of the US Presidential debate were drawn up by the independent Debate Commission and included a mute button in case either or both candidates kept interrupting. If it were SL today (after 20A), the Debate Commission would be picked by Prez Rajapaksa, or to put it differently & implausibly, more..

Oct 29 (NIA) US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, aggressively pushed the Trump Administration�s anti-China agenda in his talks with SL Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena here on Wednesday. But the SL leaders refused to fall in line and instead pressed for US investments and economic cooperation. Prez told Pompeo that he is not ready to compromise the independence, sovereignty and territorial more..

Oct 29 (Island) SDIG Ajith Rohana said the registration number of all buses had to be displayed inside them so that commuters could take them down. �If we find a COVID-19 positive case and he or she had traveled in a bus we could announce the number of the bus and the passengers who travelled in that bus can undergo self-quarantine. He also urged the people to abide by the health guidelines. �Please wear masks when you leave home, practice physical distancing & wash your hands more..

Oct 29 (AD) Attorney General Dappula de Livera has given instructions to transfer the probes into the Brandix apparel factory from the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) and to a special investigating team from other units. Acting IGP C.D. Wickramaratne was directed to take the relevant measures in this regard. The coordinating officer of the AG, State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne said the directives came after it was revealed that certain CCD officers were tested positive for Covid-19. more..

Oct 29 (AD) There are reports that some who had organized excursions and pilgrimages were planning to leave the Western Province before the curfew is imposed tonight (29), stated DIG Ajith Rohana. He said that only a limited number of individuals will be allowed to enter or exit the boundaries of the Western Province. �No persons who are not involved in essential services will have the opportunity to cross these boundaries. more..

Oct 29 (Island) The Water Board would not disconnect the water supply of consumers who lived in quarantined areas and had not settled their bills, Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara said. He also assured them of an uninterrupted water supply. Nanayakkara also said plans were afoot to provide 400,000 new connections to applicants, who had applied for water supply by March, 2021. He added that the target would be achieved by expediting the repair and operation of pipelines & pumps more..

Oct 29 (CT) TNA Batticaloa District MP R. Sanakiyan claimed that due to the selfish acts of the TMVP party, the underprivileged Tamil community in the district have lost many benefits which they ought to have received. Sanakiyan alleged that owing to the selfishness of an individual the people in the Batticaloa District are facing many inconveniences. He further alleged that the TMVP believes that they are the custodians & should come to power to hold District Development Committee meeting. more..

Oct 29 (AD) A high-capacity PCR machine in SL has been out of order for the past few days, says the Army Commander, Lt Gen Shavendra Silva. He said this has caused delays in issuing test results while creating stagnation in making real-time decisions. He added the technicians have made very hard efforts to fix the malfunctioning machine, however to no avail. This PCR machine had been constantly running for nearly 20 days without more..

Oct 29 (EN) SL Army is inquiring into an allegation that a local commander had clashed with medical personnel in a District Hospital in the Welioya area causing doctors to take strike action. Doctors in the District Hospital of Sampathnuwara in Welioya have withdrawn services in protest against what they said was the rude behaviour of an Army officer in the area, GMOA said. Dr Navin de Zoysa of GMOA said that the Union has written to Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi informing her of strike action. more..

Oct 29 (AD) The Main Opposition, SJB today made an appeal to the Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena with regard to the allocation of seats in the House to the party members who backed the govt during the vote on the 20th Amendment to the Constitution. Chief Opposition Whip MP Lakshman Kiriella, in a letter directed to the Speaker, said the parliamentary group of the SJB has decided to oust the following party members: 1. MP Diana Gamage more..

Oct 29 (CT) While insisting, the second wave of COVID-19 in the country has gone out of control, Lanka Private Bus Owners� Association (LPBOA) slammed Ministry of Health for having double standards when it came to COVID-19 health guidelines. Gemunu Wijeratne, President of LPBOA said that initially the Health Ministry instructed bus drivers to transport passengers on a 100% seating capacity and more..

Oct 29 (AD) A total of 414 more persons have tested positive for Covid-19 today, says the Army Commander Lt Gen Shavendra Silva. All fresh cases have been linked to the Minuwangoda-Peliyagoda cluster. According to reports, 62 of them have been identified from quarantine centres while the remaining 352 are close contacts of earlier cases from Peliyagoda cluster. This brings the total number of cases reported from the Divulapitiya and Peliyagoda Covid-19 clusters to 6,145. more..

Oct 29 (CT) The second wave of COVID-19 came about as a result of carelessness and negligence on the part of the people, and no one should blame the Govt, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said. He said at this juncture, there is no point in blaming each other, but the wise thing is to find a solution. Minister raised these concerns while distributing 1,000 protective kits required to safeguard the staff of 19 govt hospitals in the Hambantota District, namely Kariyamaditta, Weeraketiya, more..

Oct 29 (AD) SJB MP Dr. Kavinda Jayawardena says that the members of the govt who spoke against the United States cannot be even found now. He said: �We never spoke against countries like America or India or China or Germany or the UK.� �We did not say no to America. But those who said no to America like Udaya Gammanpila, Wimal Weerawansa and Seetha (Arambepola) can�t even be found now,� he said. more..

Oct 29 (EN) Sri Lanka�s hill country vacation hotspot Nuwara Eliya has asked weekend trippers not to come to the town as 30 Coronavirus patients were confirmed, as the Covid-19 continued to spread around the island. �More than 30 persons have been confirmed with Coronavirus so far,� District Secretary M B Pushpakumara said in a statement. �Usually large numbers of visitors come to Nuwara Eliya over the weekend. Due to the spread of Coronavirus coming to Nuwara Eliya is extremely risky. more..

Oct 29 (AD) The Committee on Parliament Business which met today at the Parliament Complex decided to limit next week�s sittings of Parliament to one day due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic situation. Accordingly, Parliament will convene on 03rd of November from 10 am to 12 pm only and on that day, two regulations to the Medical Ordinance submitted by the Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi will be taken up for debate. Also, no time will be allotted for the Questions for more..

Oct 29 (AD) State Minister Tharaka Balasuriya reaffirmed Prez Rajapaksa�s commitment for 80% renewable energy to UK�s COP26 Regional Ambassador for Asia/Pacific and South Asia Ken O�Flaherty during a virtual discussion on 27 Oct. Cognizant of SL being ranked the 6th most vulnerable country in the world to the adverse impact of climate change in the Global Climate Risk Index 2020, the State Minister highlighted more..

Oct 30 (CT) The Covid-19 narrative has colonized the world, attacking and shutting down global and local economy and society, as well as, trade and transport systems with a face-mask as its telling symbol. In strategically located Sri Lanka more people have died of random elephant attacks, or in car accidents than from Covid-19, which has claimed a grand total of eighteen (18) lives in the past year in this island of 22 million people. However, livelihoods, education and more..