Apr 1 (DN) Govt has not taken steps to close down any Bus Depot, asserted Transport Minister Gamini Lokuge yesterday. He said this Govt unlike the former Good Governance Govt has stabilised the bus depots to a great extent and they can pay the wages of the employees. He said the trade unions are attempting to distort reality and create a false image in the minds of the public about the Govt. �When I took up this morning�s paper, I saw that the SL Transport Employees� Union making more..

Apr 1 (AD) The former Minister Ravi Karunanayake and 06 other suspects have been granted bail by the Colombo High Court over the 2016 Bond Scam. The 7 suspects had been placed under remand custody over accusations of criminal misappropriation of bonds valued at Rs. 15 billion during Central Bank�s 2016 bond auction. The case was taken up today before the Trial-at-Bar - Judges Amal Ranaraja, Namal Balalle, and more..

Apr 1 (AD) Three persons have been killed in a fatal lorry-three-wheeler collision in Haggala, Nuwara Eliya, this afternoon (1). Reportedly, a lorry traveling from Nuwara Eliya towards Welimada had toppled on top of a three-wheeler traveling in the same direction causing the fatalities. According to DIG Ajith Rohana, the accident had occurred due to the negligence of the lorry driver. However, the driver had fled the scene and the assistant of the lorry has been taken into police custody. more..

Apr 1 (AD) The report of the Expert Committee on Solid Waste Management has been handed over to Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo. Solid waste management has become an enormous issue for many countries in the world as well as for Sri Lanka. Improper disposal of solid waste lead to a number of harmful consequences such as air pollution, water pollution, and the accumulation of various chemicals in the soil. A 14-member committee chaired by more..

Apr 1 (DM) The UNESCO has ruled out the possibility to construct a reservoir within the Sinharaja rainforest which is a natural world heritage site, an official said yesterday. Earlier, the Irrigation Department proposed to build such a reservoir at Meegaskete in Sinharaja to the dam Gin Ganga, a river originating there, to divert water to the south-eastern parts of Sri Lanka for drinking and irrigation purposes. more..

Apr 1 (AD) The leopard found caught in a snare trap at the Bopaththalawa Farm has died while being treated at Randenigala Veterinary Hospital. Veterinary Director of Wildlife Dept Tharaka Prasad stated that the snare had caused major injuries to the leopard�s stomach. The deceased leopard is a 10-year-old fully-grown male animal that is 8-feet in length. He had been found caught in a snare set up by hunters at the Menikpalama area in the Bopaththalawa reserve on March 24. more..

Apr 1 (TM) The four former directors of Swarnamahal Jewellers Pvt Ltd who were remanded on charges of money laundering were granted bail by the Colombo Fort Magistrate�s Court today. As per directions of the Attorney General, Jeewaka Edirisinghe, Anjalee Edirisinghe, Asanka Edirisinghe, and Nalaka Edirisinghe were arrested by the CID on March 16 on charges of money laundering. In early January, they were arrested on charges of running an unauthorised finance establishment and more..

Apr 1 (EN) Open University of SL (OUSL) is starting an online bachelor�s degree in information technology to fill a resource gap in the sector where students can earn credits specialising in scarce skills while working, OUSL Deputy Dean Ajith Madurapperuma said. �The lack of human resources in SL�s IT sector has affected the sector�s development and we were invited by the govt to enroll more students to the Open Uni more..

Apr 1 (Island) Legal action would be filed against the suspects of the Easter Sunday attacks in the next two months, Justice Minister Ali Sabry said yesterday. Minister Sabry said that the PCoI findings on the Easter Sunday attacks were still being studied, and investigations carried out by the CID. Legal action would be taken shortly, he added. Minister said that the AG wanted to go through the evidence recorded at the PCoI and those statements had been made available to him, too. more..

Apr 1 (AD) Former Roman Catholic Bishop of Mannar, Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph has passed away at the age of 80. He had been receiving treatment at a private hospital in Jaffna at the time of his passing. Rev. Joseph was born on the 16th of April 1960 on the northern island Neduntheevu � also known as Delft. He was educated at St. Patrick�s College in Jaffna and St. Joseph�s College in Anuradhapura. Following his entry to the priesthood, he was enrolled at St. Martin�s Seminary in Jaffna more..

Apr 1 (DM) SL�s senior medical experts have stated that Sinopharm vaccines which were given by China should not be used on Sri Lankan nationals. Senior medical practitioners both in the govt and private sectors have expressed concerns over using 600,000 vaccines given to Sri Lanka. Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) in a statement said that an independent panel of experts was appointed by the NMRA to review more..

Apr 1 (CT) The Govt has decided to import dehydrated coconut kernel to encourage local production of coconut oil. Director-Operations of the Coconut Development Authority, Operations, Piyasena Edirimanne said the proposal has received Cabinet approval and tenders will be called soon after the technical committee report. Accordingly, dehydrated crude coconut will be imported in the future from countries such as India, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines and more..

Apr 1 (TM) Heat Index Forecast by the Meteorological Dept today depicted that the heat level in six districts in the island is expected to rise to the Extreme caution level. Accordingly, the Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Vavuniya and Mullaitive districts will be affected by this rise in temperature. Temperatures between 32 to 41 degrees Celsius fall under the Extreme Caution level. The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by the relative humidity more..

Apr 1 (DM) Govt said that despite several difficulties faced within the past few weeks from unexpected influencers to bring down the Sinopharm vaccines from China, govt had finally been successful. State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana said that Sri Lanka faced many difficulties within the last two to three weeks from certain unexpected influencers from various parties to bring the vaccines to Sri Lanka, but more..

Apr 1 (Island) Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywar-dena said that Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize Sri Lanka after its independence and ever since Turkey had stood by Sri Lankans in many exigency situations. The Speaker was grateful to Turkey for medical donations dispatched to Sri Lanka recently to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. The Speaker said this at the Sri Lanka � Turkey Parliamentary Friendship Association meeting held in Parliament recently. more..

Apr 1 (EN) SL�s banks borrowed 64.6 billion rupees overnight on Wednesday up from 46 billion rupees a day earlier, keeping call money rates rock solid at 4.65% amid wide open taps, official data show as the rupee dipped below 200 to the US dollar. In previous crises, liquidity shortages have been found mostly in state-run banks that finance the budget through overdrafts shorting reserves when they do not have deposits, analysts say. State banks are also asked to subsidize losses more..

Apr 1 (AD) Four individuals have been arrested for spreading extremist propaganda and the ideologies of Zahran Hashim through cyberspace. The suspects were taken into custody on Wednesday (31) by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID). The TID initially apprehended two persons on Wednesday. One of them was identified as a 31-year-old from Wellampitiya area and the other is a 32-year-old from Thihariya area. more..

Apr 1 (ORF) In Geneva, a tough resolution on promoting reconciliation, accountability, and human rights in Sri Lanka was passed with 22 votes out of 47 countries supporting the resolution. The current resolution gives more teeth to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to investigate and collect evidence of human rights violations, not limiting to the past unaddressed concerns by the govt but also to the future concerns in Prez Rajapaksa�s govt, more..

Apr 1 (DM) Education Minister G.L. Peiris yesterday instructed the University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof. Sampath Amaratunga to immediately investigate and submit a report on Rs. 50 million financial fraud that took place at the Peradeniya Postgraduate Institute of Science last season. The Education Minister also instructed Prof. Amaratunga to look into whether such financial irregularities have taken place at all universities and postgraduate institutions in the country. more..

Apr 1 (TM) SL will soon begin registering domesticated dogs, who form the bulk of the approximately 3 million canine population in SL, in an effort to control the spread of rabies. Health Ministry Public Health Veterinary Services Director, Dr. L.D. Kithsiri said discussions are being conducted with the relevant parties to register domestic dogs. �We have asked for assistance from the Local Govt Authorities like the MCs, UCs more..

Apr 1 (CT) If the Govt is to issue licences to foreign fishing vessels to fish in SL, the local fishing community may face a grave crisis soon, SJB MP Dilip Wedaarachchi said. He said especially those living in the North and East would suffer as a result. About 200,000 families in the North depend on fishing as a livelihood, Wedaarachchi pointed out. He added that the Govt�s decision to provide licences to foreign fishing boats would result in the collapse of the fishing community in SL. more..

Apr 1 (SLN) A special operation conducted by the Navy in the coastal area of Wankaleipadu in Mannar on 30th March 2021, led to the seizure of over 33kg of Kerala cannabis. Sri Lanka Navy has been conducting regular operations and patrols in coastal areas with a view to ward off wide-ranging nefarious activities including smuggling of drugs into the country via sea. Similarly, the North Central Naval Command, after having detected a suspicious boat movement towards the Wankaleipadu beach, more..

Apr 1 (EN) State Minister Arundika Fernando has defended a controversial letter he wrote to the minster of public security in December last year requesting the transfer of a senior police officer in the Chilaw electorate. The letter, which was leaked to social media earlier this week purportedly by former governor Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon according to some reports, has caused much controversy, with allegations of political interference more..

Apr 1 (Forbes) In March 2021, UNHRC adopted Resolution 46/1 establishing a new accountability process to collect, analyze, and preserve evidence of international crimes committed in SL for use in future prosecutions. The SL govt opposed the resolution. Resolution 46/1 is designed to revive talks about the human rights violations committed during the 26 year civil war that came to an end in 2009. A conflict that was marked by �persistent and grave human rights violations and abuses more..

Apr 1 (PTI) The militaries of Sri Lanka and Pakistan have conducted a 15-day joint exercise aimed at enhancing bilateral defence relations and sharing the rich experience of two armies against terrorism. Titled the Ex-Shake Hands, the exercise was conducted in Saliyapura in North Central Province of SL. Militaries of SL and Pakistan have conducted a 15-day joint exercise aimed at enhancing bilateral defence relations and sharing the rich experience of two armies against terrorism. more..

Apr 1 (EN) Sri Lanka Customs is deploying a separate team to check whether coconut oil with higher that permitted levels of aflatoxin, which have been taken out of the port is re-exported in its entirety, Director General of Customs Vijitha Ravipriya said. �We are checking in companies� storages as well to check whether they have the same quantity we released from the customs,� Ravipriya, a retired military Major General told reporters. more..

Apr 2 (CT) There are instances where the law has to be enforced to the letter just as it has to be implemented selectively in other contexts: both for the people�s well-being. While in the case of the buses and trains not running on time the law has to be strictly enforced, it has to be relaxed to allow for priority needs for instance when making State lands available to the public. In SL from its historical beginnings even though the people used land all land was owned by the king until 1815. more..

Apr 2 (DM) According to our Foreign Minister, there is nothing worrisome about the fact that 22 countries supported the UNHRC Resolution on SL while only 11 opposed it which effectively means they are in support of SL. According to Dinesh Gunawardena, the most important outcome of the Resolution which was passed on March 22 in Geneva is that 14 states abstained from voting. By his logic it is a victory as he touted, �we welcome the majority of 25 of 47 members in the council to have expressed more..

Apr 2 (CT) The PCoI into the Easter Sunday bombings was also tasked with investigating all authorities, including govt officials who failed to prevent the bombings despite prior warnings. Accordingly, based on the findings in the PCoI's final report, this article describes the failure of law enforcement officials to fulfill their responsibilities. Police structure of the areas in which certain incidents took place on 21 April more..

Apr 2 (GV) Subsequent to the recent release of the report of the PCoI on the Easter Attacks and after the UNHRC in Geneva had passed a resolution highly critical of SL�s current human rights situation, Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa, speaking in Parliament has, on behalf of his SJB, articulated a clear national security and external affairs policy that offers a stinging critique of the ideologically driven and unsuccessful practices of the current administration and lays out more..

Apr 2 (DM) The general breakdown of law and order in the country is of great concern. Days ago we witnessed the beating up of a lorry driver by a law enforcement officer; all in broad daylight. The reason for the assault was the lorry driver knocking down another policeman who was on duty, on the road, close by. The video footage of the incident went viral on social media and some comments made by Facebook (FB) users clearly distort facts regarding the application of the law. more..

Apr 2 (CT) Disturbing the vast expanse of natural greenery in the surrounding area, a concrete monstrosity comprising 108 residency units, along with a rooftop and a swimming pool, is rising up in the vicinity of the historically significant UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sigiriya Rock. It is located at an archaeological excavation site known as the Pothana Cave site, where prehistoric skeletons were discovered. more..

Apr 2 (CT) If there is any harm or humiliation to our country, it is the real Sri Lankans who suffer the most. That is why we feel great pain when we see what is happening in the country today. But unfortunately, as our country is rapidly descending into a precipice today, all those responsible are playing the fiddle as Nero did when Rome was burning to the ground. Therefore, we urge them at this juncture to open their eyes and look at this great tragedy that is befalling the country and more..

Apr 2 (CT) Today at this forum I intend to approach this problem from four angles. 1. What blessings does nature and the environment offer you and me? 2. What is the extent of damage and harm the govt has done to the environment. 3. What are the reasons that have led the rulers to take such vicious and harmful steps to harm Mother Nature? 4. What immediate steps can we adopt to stop this wanton rape and destruction? �Comrade V.I. Lenin has said that the worker sans knowledge is a loser more..

Apr 2 (Island) Govt would have the public believe that a possible delay in Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine imports from India will not affect ongoing vaccination drive here; there are enough doses for the booster shots, it says. Large stocks of Covid-19 vaccines are arriving from China and Russia. Will the govt tell us to get the Chinese/Russian vaccines if Oxford-AstraZeneca jab is not available? Our vaccine woes are of our own making. Time was when we met out vaccine needs thanks to MRI. more..

Apr 2 (Roar) Nobody could have predicted the remarkable remoulding of family dynamics and socioeconomic paradigms the COVID-19 pandemic brought about. In SL, the first lockdown was imposed in mid-March 2020 and the safety protocols implemented by SL authorities drastically altered the established structures which were heavily reliant on social interaction. Since then, the metamorphosis to the new normal has been a gruelling adjustment for all. To learn more on COVID-19�s impact on more..

Apr 2 (CI) West Indies surged into command on day four as half centuries from Kraigg Brathwaite, Kyle Mayers and Jason Holder helped set up a 377-run target for Sri Lanka. West Indies batted quickly in the absence of a frontline spinner - Lasith Embuldeniya did not bowl in the innings after being stretchered off early on day four with a leg injury sustained in the field - to rack up 280 for 4 in their second innings. more..

Apr 2 (Island) It is all too obvious from the recent UNHRC vote on its latest resolution on SL aimed at promoting war crimes accountability, reconciliation and other undertakings in the country, that Sri Lanka cannot expect countries of the South to back it unitedly and without reservations on these questions. This is a principal, thought-provoking message from Geneva. Countries such as SL cannot apparently expect such support merely by virtue of their formal identity as more..

Apr 2 (DN) Today is Good Friday where the Christian world will commemorate the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross over two millennia ago. Good Friday is the culmination of Lenten which began on Ash Wednesday and the intervening 40 days was marked by acts of fasting, penance, mortification and other forms of sacrifices as Christians retraced the last days of Jesus leading up His Crucifixion on Mount Calvary. In SL too Catholics engaged in solemn prayer and sacrifice participating more..