Apr 13 (DM) Based on an audit conducted by the National Audit Office in 2015, the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has pointed out last week that about 270,000 metric tons of vegetables and fruits are being wasted annually, according to the news item published by the Parliament�s media division. The COPA also states that the Sri Lankan economy incurred a loss of around Rs.20 billion annually due to this wastage. These details had been brought to light during a discussion on more..

Apr 13 (DM) Muslims of Ceylon and peninsular India, who are ethnologically similar, were in the vanguard of maritime trade in South and South East Asia from the 3rd century BC till the emergence of the Portuguese and other European powers in the 16th Century. These Tamil-speaking Muslims of part Arab ancestry were trading peacefully in the region for centuries. But they were eventually outmaneuvered by European traders who were ruthless, armed, and technologically better more..

Apr 13 (Roar) A year on since the COVID-19 pandemic upended our world, there are signs that the change in the way we think about global supply chains is going to be permanent. Take for instance air conditioning giant Daikin Industries� decision to more aggressively operate on the principle of local production for local consumption. Since air conditioners are seasonal products that need swift delivery to markets, more..

Apr 13 (CT) Tomorrow SL celebrates another Avurudu (Sinhala and Tamil News Year), this time, however, bereft of lockdowns, shutdowns, curfews and restricted movements which were a feature in the last. Those precautionary measures were taken last year to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic, but at a tremendous cost to the economy. The economy, due to border controls, curfews and lockdowns contracted by 1.6% in the first quarter (1Q) 2020, its first contraction since 4Q 2001, more..

Apr 13 (TM) Living in turbulent times, the position and calibre of a politician such as MP Rishad Bathiudeen has been called into question. His high stature and popularity among the Muslim population has had him branded as a communal politician. However, his speech in Parliament on 7 April 2021 during the debate on the Easter Sunday terror attacks portrayed him in a different light. His speech had a single theme throughout. It is that the Muslims were on the side of the nation, and that more..

Apr 13 (CT) The Fuhrer of Nazi Germany found the Jews a problem, and he provided a final solution through Gas Chambers, which produced the historic Holocaust and the state of Israel. Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa (NGR) is not a Fuhrer and Sri Lanka is not Nazi Germany, but in 2018, even before NGR became President, one of his top priestly acolytes was prepared to ennoble him as a local Hitler, and in that sense, the 20th Amendment cleared the way for NGR �s elevation. more..

Apr 13 (CT) Before Jaffna Mayor Viswalingam Manivannan was granted bail on Friday night by the Jaffna Magistrate�s Court, Hon� Minister Douglas Devananda had issued a statement to the media that the Prez was going to pardon Manivannan. The Hon� Minister had stated (i) that Manivannan would be released on bail (ii) that he would not be charged under the PTA (iii) that he would be charged under the normal law. This statement of the Hon� Minister raises the question whether Courts and more..

Apr 13 (TM) There is a latest unhealthy trend that is taking place in Sri Lanka�s cricket at the moment, we learnt. Some high positions of the special administrative committee that is currently looking into country�s cricket are understood to be socialising closely with some former senior players. And those former players are using such associations to get THEIR work done, it is learnt. more..

Apr 13 (CI) Bangladesh are expecting a competitive series when they travel to SL for a two-match Test series, and the captain Mominul Haque is hoping the team rises up to the challenge to get out of their current rut. Bangladesh will be off to Colombo on Monday to play their last matches in the World Test Championship, where they find themselves in the bottom of the points table. They will play both Tests in Pallekele, before which they have a 2-day practice match in Katunayake from Apr 16. more..

Apr 13 (CI) Creating history in SL horse racing, EFL, a leading conglomerate with interests in Logistics, Leisure and Investments and a member of Expolanka Holdings PLC, will partner with Royal Turf Club (RTC) to hold the prestigious Governor�s Cup, the country�s oldest horse racing event. Synonymous with speed, precision and exclusivity, the partnership made by EFL with RTC will promise a grand race day on April 15 as many entertainment events have been lined up in addition to more..

Apr 13 (Hindu) Champa Irangani is in no mood to celebrate Avurudu, or New Year, the biggest annual festival that SL�s majority Sinhalese community observes mid-April, while Tamils celebrate the Tamil New Year around the same time. �The New Year will dawn only the day our debts are cancelled. Until then we cannot celebrate. Surely not, when so many women have died by suicide under the pressure of microfinance loans,� more..

Apr 13 (Island) Sanudula Dahamdi of Musaeus College and Esha Pallie of Visakha Vidyalaya were the winners of Group �X� and �Y� respectively at the end of the Round Robin stage of the Sri Lanka Youth Girls� (U-14) Chess Grand Prix 2021. Dahamdi was outstanding right throughout as she remained unbeaten to score nine points in nine games. Pallie won Group �Y� with a score of 7 � points. Dahamdi beat L.H.M.G.S. Somarathne, Nemindi Linaya Ramanayake and Sasmi Sithumsa more..

Apr 13 (EN) Sri Lanka is in talks with oil supplying countries to extend payments terms for up to one year, Treasury Secretary S R Attygalle said. �This is nothing new,� he said. �Already the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has credit from suppliers for 180-days and 270-days. �Now we want to extend them for up to one year.� A delegation made up of Treasury and CB officials are now in the Middle East. State Minister Nivard Cabraal met senior govt officials at Oman over the weekend. more..

Apr 13 (TM) SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva stated that certain precautions have to be taken in order to prevent certain unintended consequences of the Port City Economic Commission Bill that was presented to Parliament last Thursday. He said: �We have to take precautions to ensure that we will provide the right type of environment, particularly with the regulatory framework in order to attract good, credible investors.� more..

Apr 13 (DM) SL Police urged the public to be cautious when purchasing goods online from individuals, especially through advertisements placed on the Internet. Police said it had been found that some individuals were selling stolen valuable goods such as mobile phones, jewellery, perfumes, appliances & computers by placing advertisements on Facebook and on the Internet at very low prices. After purchasing online, the goods are delivered in public places such as the highway. more..

Apr 13 (DM) Govt is working on issuing fresh regulations to stipulating the permissible level of Aflatoxin as ten micrograms for one kilo of food item, a Minister said. There is controversy over the permissible limit of Aflatoxin in food items. According to European standards, it is ten micrograms whereas it is as high as 30 in SL. State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna said that fresh regulations would be issued by the Health Ministry to bring it down to ten micrograms per kilo in SL. more..

Apr 13 (TM) As a part of its measures to find multiple sources of funding to strengthen the country�s foreign reserves in the face of the upcoming external debt payments that need to be made, SL�s high-level officials including State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal had late last week engaged in a discussion with Oman�s top officials. Sultanate of Oman Deputy Prime Minister for Int'l Relations and Co-operation Affairs more..

Apr 13 (ANI) The Bangladesh cricket team arrived here on Monday for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka scheduled to begin next week. Bangladesh is slated to play two Tests against Sri Lanka starting from April 21 and ahead of the first game, the two teams will lock horns in a two-day practice match later this week. "Bangladesh team arrives in Sri Lanka for two-match Test series," Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) tweeted while sharing the pictures from arrival. more..

Apr 13 (Island) Education Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris last week thanked Bangladesh for having stood by Sri Lanka at the 46th sessions of UNHRC, Geneva. Prof. Peiris, who is also the Chairman of the ruling SLPP, said that Bangladesh�s stand at the UNHRC underscored excellent bilateral relations between the countries. The one-time External Affairs Minister said so at an event jointly organized by the Education Ministry and the Bangladesh High Commission to commemorate int'l Mother Language Day more..

Apr 13 (Island) JVP warned that Colombo Port City area was going to be another province of China if Parliament passed the proposed legislation for a Colombo Port City Commission, providing for sweeping tax breaks, tax-free salaries and to be an offshore financial centre. JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the draft bill, titled Colombo Port City Commission Bill, presented to Parliament by the govt sought to exempt more..

Apr 13 (TM) Ministry of Finance is to report to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Gender Equality in a month regarding reforms that are to be introduced by the Ministry as solutions to the microfinance issue faced by women. Committee Member and NPP MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said that when the Committee had their first meeting last week, Finance Ministry officials had informed that they are currently in the process of bringing about certain reforms in response to microfinance more..

Apr 13 (DM) China's Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe will arrive in Sri Lanka later this month to hold bilateral discussions with Govt leaders and officials, making it one of the highest level visits undertaken by a Chinese govt official since the Rajapaksa govt was sworn into power. According to sources at the Foreign Ministry, the final dates of General Wei's arrival are yet to be received but the visit is confirmed to take place after the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. more..

Apr 13 (DM) Sri Lanka will import 39,000 tonnes of dehydrated coconut chips to manufacture coconut oil to meet the local demand for edible oil without any shortage to be triggered otherwise by the ban imposed on palm oil, an official said. The Trade Ministry will sign a forward sales agreement with the All Ceylon Traditional Coconut Oil Producers' Association to obtain coconut oil at Rs. 450 a bottle. more..

Apr 13 (TM) Following the ban imposed on the importation of palm oil, bakery owners and confectionery manufacturers jointly submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Finance yesterday to provide the industries with a license to import the necessary stocks of palm oil for production. Lanka Confectionery Manufacturers� Association (LCMA) Chairman S.M.D. Suriyakumara said that a joint proposal was submitted along with the All Ceylon Bakery Owners� Association (ACBOA) and more..

Apr 13 (CT) Despite political hiccups, professionals in charge of security in India and SL have underlined the imperative need for close cooperation and sharing of intelligence information to curb common threats of terrorism, religious fundamentalism, and drug and human smuggling. It is a fact that intelligence agents of powerful countries often infiltrate underground movements to keep a close tab on their operations and strategies. However, they always share intelligence information more..

Apr 13 (CT) The Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) seized 113 kilograms of a synthetic drug called Crystal Methamphetamine, aka ICE, while conducting two special anti-narcotic operations. As a result of investigations conducted on a stock of ICE seized in Ja-Ela a few days ago, the PNB officials were able to seize another stock of 100kg of ICE in Sapugaskanda. The Police seized 13 kilograms of ICE on 11 April and arrested six suspects more..

Apr 13 (DN) It is time to embark on a new path towards a prosperous country, facing all the challenges with a new mindset and with fresh aspirations in this Sinhala and Tamil New Year, PM Mahinda Rajapaksa said. The message adds: �It is with great pleasure that I greet the dawn of the Sinhala - Tamil New Year that fulfils the fresh hopes of all Sri Lankans. The people of our country have been participating in this great cultural festival since time immemorial, giving priority to customs more..

Apr 13 (DN) Welcoming the dawn of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year with fresh hopes and renewed determination to materialize them is a valuable tradition deeply rooted in our culture, states President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in his Sinhala and Tamil New Year message. The message: �Although adverse health conditions prevented us from celebrating last year�s Sinhala and Tamil New Year, this year all of us together have made it possible to enjoy the New Year festivities, duly observing more..

Apr 13 (AD) Necessary steps have been taken to provide a bottle of quality, local coconut oil at a control price of Rs. 450, said Minister of Trade Bandula Gunawardena. He said, �No matter what changes take place, a bottle of locally produced pure coconut oil, suitable for human consumption, will be sold for Rs. 450 through Sathosa and Cooperatives, until the end of this year. We can come to such an agreement. more..

Apr 13 (Island) PM Rajapaksa said that he was confident that differences among the constituents of the SLPP coalition as regards the May Day celebrations and the next PC elections could be ironed out soon. Leaders of all SLPP allied parties have been invited to a special meeting to be held at Temple Trees with the PM presiding on April 19. PM said it was natural for members of a political alliance to have their own standpoints and views on matters of national importance. more..

Apr 13 (TM) The long-delayed provincial council (PC) elections are unlikely to be held within this year, with the passage of an essential legal amendment still pending. Minister Udaya Gammanpila said that since the amendment to the Provincial Councils Elections Act No. 2 of 1988 is yet to be passed, the elections would most likely be held in 2022. �We hope to reach a final decision soon. The next party leaders� meeting will be held on 19 April where this would be discussed,� more..

Apr 13 (CT) The auspicious times for the upcoming Sinhala-Tamil New Year are as follows: Dawn of New Year: The Sinhala-Tamil New Year will dawn on Wednesday, 14 April at 02:33 a.m. Punya Kalaya: Punya Kalaya (inauspicious time) is from Tuesday 13 April from 08:09 p.m. to Wednesday 14 April 08.57 a.m. Lighting the Hearth: Light the hearth at 06:17 a.m. on Wed 14 April, clad in green (palawan) attire and facing East, more..

Apr 16 (CT) Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II and the longest-lived British Royal Consort, of over 69 years from 6 Feb 1952 to 9 April 2021, died at the age of 99 years on 9 April 2021, two months before his 100th birthday. He was also the longest-lived male member of the British Royal family. Philip was born into the Greek and Danish Royal families. He was born in Greece but his family was exiled from the country more..

Apr 16 (DM) The govt seems to be in a fix in meeting the ultimatum thrown by the Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith to bring the perpetrators of the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks to justice before April 21. The Archbishop who had expressed satisfaction over the investigation into the terrorist attacks on churches and tourist hotels carried out on April 21, 2019, after the new govt led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa assumed office in Nov 2019. more..

Apr 16 (DM) Minister Udaya Gammanpila takes questions on internal squabbles of the govt and his criticism of certain actions. Q: Recently at a function in Avissawella, you said the govt was deviating from the mandate. How seriously did you view it? A: If we were to stick to the mandate, the govt shouldn�t have brought the 20th Amendment in its original form and it shouldn�t have attempted to sell East Container Terminal more..

Apr 16 (CT) Herr Hitler is back in the news. At a press briefing, in response to a journalist�s query, a Minister of State has suggested that the people expect decisive governance as that of a Hitler. It seems that, in the public psyche of this land like no other, Herr Hitler is perceived as a magically mysterious super-efficient good Shepard. Not surprisingly, German envoy in Colombo has responded. �Adolf Hitler, responsible for human suffering and despair beyond imagination more..

Apr 16 (DM) Sri Lankans � mainly Sinhalese and Tamils celebrated New Year on Wednesday in a more relaxed manner this year when compared with last year, with the COVID-19 pandemic compelling the authorities to place restrictions on travelling from one Province to another, gathering in large numbers at shopping centres, temples and Kovils and the need to strictly adhere to health guidelines. Not that these restrictions have been removed or diluted but that over a period of time people tend to more..

Apr 16 (CT) Gotabaya Rajapaksa Govt continues to turn justice on its head, moving Parliament to directly interfere in matters before the judiciary after efforts to convince the Attorney General to drop the cases have proved futile. Last Friday under the cover of the Avurudu holiday season PM tabled a resolution in Parliament that seeks legislative approval to end trials against several family members indicted for corruption more..

Apr 16 (DM) I got into the habit of travelling to work at night during the pandemic. Much of the past year seems to have been spent in lockdown. But there were sporadic periods of going to the office. The nights were always hot and sultry, but infinitely better than the days. "It�s never been a fair playing field. Instead of reducing inequalities, the pandemic has only widened them. But cycling through an apocalyptically silent and empty city at night has its rewards, bringing you face to face with more..