Apr 20 (FT) Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa will attend the opening ceremony of the annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) 2021 via video link today. The four-day annual conference, which is themed A World in Change: Join Hands to Strengthen Global Governance and Advance Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Cooperation, will see the official opening ceremony today. Topics including carbon neutrality, climate change & digital economy will top the agenda in the following days. more..

Apr 20 (Island) It was beyond the powers of Parliament to add new parts to the territory of Sri Lanka, Kanaganayagam Kanag-Isvaran, President�s Counsel yesterday told the Supreme Court. Kanag-Isvaran, PC appearing for petitioners the Centre for Policy Alternatives and Transparency International, told the Court that Sri Lanka could not claim sovereignty over the artificially created Colombo Port City. more..

Apr 20 (FT) The second dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine will be administered from the first week of May, following recommendations made by an advisory committee to the Health Ministry. According to Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, committee recommendations included administering the same vaccine to persons who received the first dose of Covishield as part of the immunisation program that commenced on 29 Jan. more..

Apr 20 (DN) Colombo Port City project will bring in far reaching economic benefits to entire Sri Lanka and especially to the Colombo business community. Chairman Colombo Business Association Ariyaseela Wickramanayake said that it was wrong to say that Sri Lankans have been left out of the development of the Port City. Several local companies have already invested in it. �Browns Investments PLC, the strategic investment arm of the LOLC Group, has entered into a landmark agreement to partner more..

Apr 20 (TM) A section of the civil society, responding to a resolution submitted by PM Mahinda Rajapaksa seeking to implement recommendations of the report of the PCoI into alleged acts of political victimisation during the tenure of the UNF-led Govt, stated that this is the latest attempt by the Executive to undermine the work of the Judiciary. Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) released a statement yesterday on more..

Apr 20 (TM) A number of monks, led by Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobitha Thera have submitted a letter to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs Secretary Prof. Kapila Gunawardana yesterday, alleging that certain clauses in the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill affects the position of Buddhism in the Constitution. The letter had stated that the Bill�s 52nd, 53rd and 73rd clauses challenge Article 09 of the Constitution. Clauses Numbered 52 and 53 relate to more..

Apr 20 (CT) Attorney General Dappula de Livera yesterday appealed to the Supreme Court (SC) against the High Court Trial-at-Bar granting bail to eight suspects, including former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, in the CB Treasury Bonds scam case. Former Minister Karunanayake and seven others, who were arrested and remanded over two alleged bond scams in March 2016, were ordered to be released on bail by two Colombo High Court Trials-at-Bar on 1 April. more..

Apr 20 (DM) Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said that all those who come to work from various parts of the country after the New Year holidays should take necessary measures to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus as the next three weeks could be crucial. He urged the public to adopt proper health practices at workplaces and in public including wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing. more..

Apr 20 (FT) Sections of the proposed Port City Bill can create two legal systems within one country, the UNP charged, urging the Govt to reconsider the move for the long-term benefit of the nation. UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardana addressing the press, called on the Govt to seek broad consultation adding that the party stands ready to assist in the matter. Abeywardana stressed that based on the recommendations by the Attorney General (AG), the pervious Cabinet approved a proposal more..

Apr 20 (DM) SJB MPs Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara will reveal startling revelations in Parliament today against the ongoing probe on the Easter Sunday terror attacks and how Naufer Maluvi, who the govt claimed was the mastermind behind the terror attacks had never been brought in front of the PCoI. The duo will also expose names of certain individuals who were attempting to cover up investigations as well as the names of CID officers who were transferred more..

Apr 20 (DN) State Minister Susil Premajayantha asserted that the Colombo Port City will not be a separate entity and will fall under the jurisdiction of the Western Province. He said that amendments can be done based on the Supreme Court verdict regarding the petitions on the Port City Commission Bill. �The Supreme Court can guide us through the process. If there should be amendments to the Bill, the SC will point them out,� more..

Apr 20 (DM) PCR test results of most Sri Lankans returning to the country have been found to be faulty. This has resulted in Sri Lankans being allowed to return to the country based on certificates provided by them from tests conducted at their place of origin. Army Commander Shavendra Silva said that a significant number of Sri Lankans who had returned from overseas recently had tested positive for COVID-19. 70 Sri Lankans who had returned from overseas had tested positive on Sunday. more..

Apr 20 (FT) Total of 309 persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday and the country�s total patient count has increased to 97,105. The patients detected include 282 associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster and nine persons linked to the Prisons cluster. Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, and Prisons clusters have expanded to 91,634. SL�s total COVID-19 patient count also includes 3,272 SL arrivals from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons linked to Kandakadu more..

Apr 20 (FT) On the instructions of Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa and PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, State Minister of Finance Ajith Nivard Cabraal yesterday visited the Asgiriya Chapter, the Malwathu Chapter and the Chief Prelates of the Amarapura and Ramanna Maha Nikayas and briefed them on the relevant Draft Commission Bill on the Port City Project. Cabinet Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, Minister of State Lohan Ratwatte, more..

Apr 20 (FT) The original Colombo Port City project is acknowledged as the germination of an inspiration grown in the heart of former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa, during the early period of his second term of office. Basically the project is to reclaim a part of the sea surrounding the southern part of the Colombo Harbour facing the Galle Face Green area. This concept advanced into an unsolicited proposal by the company that was engaged in the contract for land fill associated with more..

Apr 20 (FT) On 4 Jan, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the President to take necessary steps to publish the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill on the Government gazette and submit same to the parliament. Accordingly, the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill was drafted by the legal draftsman to provide the necessary legal provisions for the said Commission. In 2010, the development of Port City was proposed by China Communications more..

Apr 20 (AAP) A 14-member delegation comprising senior Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka arrived in Lahore on Monday to undertake a week-long religious pilgrimage to various Buddhist heritage sites in the country. Buddhist monks started their journey with a visit to the Lahore Museum which houses some of the finest remains of the Gandhara civilisation and rare Buddhist relics including the Fasting Bhuddha and Sikri Stupa dating back to 2 BC. The visit has been arranged by more..

Apr 20 (HNB) SL�s leading private sector bank HNB PLC, partnered with Hayleys Agriculture to offer customers, convenient leasing solutions and attractive benefits for Kubota, Agrotech and Farmtrac range of agricultural machinery. The partnership which offers HNB customers special discounts on tractors, transplanters and harvesters was inked at a ceremony held at Hayleys Agriculture Office in Deans Road. HNB Head of Personal Financial Services, Kanchana Karunagama more..

Apr 20 (Hindu) India supports the call of international community for the SL govt to fulfill its commitments on devolution of political authority including through early holding of elections to provincial councils, according to S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister. This also covers the commitment of ensuring that all the provincial councils are able to operate effectively in accordance with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of SL, more..

Apr 20 (AD) SLPP MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe�s son Rakitha Rajapakshe, who was arrested in connection with a road accident in Rajagiriya that left four persons injured last night, has been granted bail. Colombo Magistrate�s Court had released him on a bail of Rs. 100,000, DIG Ajith Rohana said. The 32-year-old who was admitted to the private hospital in Colombo following the accident was placed under arrest this afternoon. A car traveling from Borella towards Battaramulla had collided with more..

Apr 20 (DN) SL Ramanna Nikaya Chief Prelate Most Ven. Makulewe Wimala Nayake Thera said that the Maha Sangha appreciates the Government�s decision to convey the true facts with regard to the Port City Economic Commission Bill to all religious leaders. The President�s decision to make aware the Maha Sangha and other religious leaders regarding the Port City Economic Commission Bill is highly appreciated since there are various allegations and rumours about the Bill, the Chief Prelate said. more..

Apr 20 (EN) Sri Lanka has decided to cancel all May Day events in light of growing concerns of a surge in COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks, Army Commander Gen Shavendra Silva said. The presidential task force overseeing SL�s pandemic prevention efforts, which Silva heads, announced the decision this afternoon. According to a task force statement, representatives of major political parties has agreed with the decision more..

Apr 20 (FT) The fourth edition of Green Energy Champion Sri Lanka was launched yesterday extending an invite to all energy innovators from across the island for a chance to gain exclusive access to an advanced business accelerator program (Green Energy Champion Accelerator 2021), which will further prepare them for exciting local and international partnerships in the Green Energy ecosystem. All startups and SMEs are invited to present their creative and more..

Apr 20 (NR) The GMOA says the coronavirus can be contained if the public, health units and the govt fulfil roles equally. GMOA Central Committee member Dr. Naveen de Zoysa said a global pandemic will not end in two or three years adding the coronavirus is worsening even in developed countries. He said citizens should be relieved as SL�s public health system is a strong unit and is being controlled in a unique manner. He claimed the health sector is taking measures over the vaccination drive, more..

Apr 20 (NIP) Thomas Hawkins, in his poem, The Tragedy of War, has written: The tragedy of war, ends not with those who died, for the tragedy continues in fragile minds, who did survive. The poem epitomises the sad plight of 70,000 war widows, mainly concentrated in the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka. Fourth Eelam War ended in 2009. But for the women left behind, the battle for survival continues. more..

Apr 20 (DM) Opening hours of bars in hotels and liquor shops should be extended in order to create a night economy in Sri Lanka, MP Diana Gamage proposed in Parliament today. �Bars in hotels are usually closed at 11 p.m. but I propose that they should be allowed to remain open till 1 a.m. every day while liquor shops which are closed at 9 p.m. should be allowed to remain open till 10 p.m every day. Such moves will help Sri Lanka to embrace a night economy,� the MP said. more..

Apr 20 (AD) The Attorney General has filed indictments in the Kegalle High Court against 16 suspects for conspiring to cause violence and thereby inciting religious ill-feeling and disharmony among communities by vandalizing five Buddha statues and another in Mawanella area in December 2018. According to the Attorney General�s Coordinating Officer, State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne, the indictments were filed under the provisions of Prevention of Terrorism Act. more..

Apr 20 (EN) An intelligence officer who had been arrested in connection with 2019 Easter Sunday bombings was transferred to the custody of military intelligence before a statement could be recorded, opposition MP Harin Fernando told parliament today. Investigations by former CID Director Shani Abeysekara had revealed that the suspect had had discussions with the perpetrators of the attack, he said. more..

Apr 20 (DM) A 40-foot container load of refuse tea worth Rs. 10 million has been seized today at the Colombo Port, Customs Deputy Director Sudantha Silva said. He said the container was recalled while being shipped to Iraq through UAE. The raid was conducted by the Customs Risk Management Unit, he said. �During the raid, the customs officers managed to find 67,495 kg of refuse tea packed in sacks,� he said. "The consignment of refuse tea was declared to Customs as chilli powder & rice. more..

Apr 20 (DM) Ministers Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila, Vasudeva Nanayakkara and MP Tiran Alles who were alleged to have boycotted an all party leader's meeting with PM Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday had infact met the PM separately ahead of the meeting claiming they had certain political issues to discuss which could not be discussed in a larger crowd. Senior political sources said the four MPs had not boycotted the meeting as alleged by some, but the four of them had arrived at more..

Apr 20 (DM) Before the New Year, the CMC found only 1 or 2 COVID positive patients through 100 PCR tests. But after the New year, the rate has increased to eight persons in 100 PCR tests, Chief Medical Officer Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Dr. Ruwan Wijeyamuni said. He said random PCR tests conducted last Thursday (15) resulted in 10 COVID-19 patients. PCR tests conducted last Friday (16) found with 15 patients and 18 patients more..

Apr 20 (DM) Following the increase in the number of COVID patients in Colombo, the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has decided to conduct random PCR tests, CMC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ruwan Wijeyamuni said. He said all MOH offices in the Colombo District including Colombo North, Colombo Central, Borella, Colombo East and West in the Western Province have been advised to conduct random PCR tests from today. MOH officers are advised to conduct nearly 600 PCR tests more..

Apr 20 (TM) General Secretary of the JVP, Tilvin Silva stated that the party opposes the govt�s decision to suspend all May Day rallies and processions. He stated that if the basis of the activities being suspended was due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, there were several activities that should have been suspended. �We cannot say this is a decision taken due to health reasons because the govt had already made plans for the rally to commence. more..

Apr 20 (Island) The current administration couldn�t be defeated easily despite the many disputes among constituent parties of the govt, PLOTE leader, Dharmalingam Siddarthan said. The TNA, therefore, should take all coming elections very seriously, he added. Addressing the media in Vavuniya, the PLOTE leader said that the disputes among the constituents of the current administration would not be so severe as to topple govt, more..

Apr 20 (CT) Pragathi Banku Sevaka Sangamaya said they would not support the trade union action proposed by the Lanka Banku Sevaka Sangamaya (Ceylon Bank Employees� Union). President of Pragathi Banku Sevaka Sangamaya, Nishantha Samarasinghe, said that although the Lanka Banku Sevaka Sangamaya claims a massive loan has been granted to a newspaper company because of its political connection, that allegation was false. �The particular loan has been granted to more..

Apr 20 (EN) Passing the recommendations of controversial Commission on Political Victimisation as an act in parliament will essentially decide the fate of the govt�s political opponents extra-judicially, former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said. The whole country will suffer as a result both locally and internationally, Jayasuruya said in a tweet this afternoon. The parliament�s order book for tomorrow (21) reportedly lists a motion for a number of high profile indictments and judgements to be more..

Apr 20 (FT) Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said a national initiative will be implemented through a joint action plan of the Provincial Councils and Local Govt institutions to revive the tourism industry post-pandemic. �One tourism development plan should be implemented in the country. Govt is currently working on a joint action plan that is being prepared with that objective in mind,� he said, resuming duties at the Tourism Ministry after more..

Apr 20 (NR) Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MP Diana Gamage has called for the legalisation of marijuana cultivation in Sri Lanka to increase foreign exchange inflow. Speaking in Parliament today the MP said bars and liquor stores that open from 9am to 9pm, should be provided licenses to open from 10am to 10pm instead. The MP added a night economy is required in Sri Lanka as tourists lack places to spend money when travelling, and proposed that hotel bars be opened till 1am. more..

Apr 20 (CT) The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) held a silent protest against the Colombo Port City Economic Draft Bill outside the Supreme Court yesterday (19). FSC politburo member Pubudu Jagoda stated that the protest was held against the manner in which the Bill was presented before the Parliament on 8 April with the knowledge that there was insufficient time for those opposing the Bill to file a petition considering the holidays that followed. He said the project is only being implemented for more..