Apr 2 (FT) In a major move, the State-owned utility, the CEB, has opted for the first time to raise Rs. 20 billion in debt capital from investors in the Colombo stock market. Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) announced that it has approved an application by the CEB) to issue Senior Unsecured Listed Redeemable Rated Debentures at an issue price of Rs. 100, amounting to a potential capital raising of up to Rs. 20 billion. more..

Apr 2 (MFA) Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, called for early conclusion of the Charter of the Association of BIMSTEC Speakers and Parliamentarians, in his welcome address at the 17th Ministerial Meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), comprising of Bangladeshi, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. This event was held virtually on 1st April 2021. more..

Apr 2 (DM) Six Sri Lankan trade unions and workers� organisations have filed a complaint with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group, raising the issues in the due diligence and labour rights components of the Environment and Social Action Plan for the proposed US $ 50 million loan facility to Brandix Lanka Ltd, according to a media release issued by the Washington-based Global Labour Justice � International Labour Rights Forum (GLJ-ILRF). more..

Apr 2 (TM) In the wake of media attention being focused on a heated exchange between a firebrand public servant tasked with protecting forests and a state minister charged with road and physical infrastructure development over the alleged dumping of soil in the ecologically and biologically sensitive Negombo Lagoon, the Ministry of Environment has taken steps to investigate the alleged large soil dump linked to the Ministry of Fisheries� more..

Apr 2 (FT) The All Ceylon Buddhist Congress (ACSC) Election will be held on 3 April with Prof. Lakshman R. Watawala as a Presidential candidate. Prof. Lakshman R. Watawala was awarded the Honorary Membership (Sammana Samajika) of the ACBC on 17 Jan 2015 at the 95th anniversary of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress by its President Jagath Sumathipala. He was elected as a Vice President of the ACBC in the year 2018 and was appointed as Chairman National Council more..

Apr 2 (NIA) The High Commission of India, Colombo, invites applications for the following ICCR scholarships for 2021-2022 academic sessions: Nehru Memorial Scholarship Scheme: This scheme covers all Undergraduate courses (except Medical/Paramedical & Fashion Design course) including Engineering, Science, Business, Economics, Commerce, Humanities and Arts. Maulana Azad Scholarship Scheme: Masters Degrees courses more..

Apr 2 (FT) Govt is planning to develop the gem and jewellery industry with a view to attract international travellers and expand value-added, high quality export products. In a meeting with gem and jewellery industry stakeholders this week, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga highlighted the need to introduce a program to promote high quality SL gems and jewellery among all visitors coming to SL. more..

Apr 2 (FT) Emirates is celebrating 35 years of connecting Sri Lanka to the world. Since its first flight in 1986, the airline has carried more than eight million passengers to and from Colombo � operating more than 49,000 roundtrip flights. Emirates currently serves the country with six weekly flights, connecting customers to more than 90 destinations within its network, via Dubai. Emirates launched its operations to Colombo on 1 April 1986, utilising a Boeing 777-200LR. more..

Apr 2 (DN) Sri Lanka suffered a major setback as Lasith Embuldeniya was stretched off the field with a thigh injury on the fourth day of the second and decisive Test against the West Indies at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua yesterday. The 24-year-old left-arm spinner hurt himself while fielding near the boundary line after opener John Campbell had flicked Vishwa Fernando for a couple of runs during the West Indies second innings. Embuldeniya put in the slide but more..

Apr 2 (DM) With an investigation underway to determine, if substandard coconut oil contaminated with high levels of carcinogenic Aflatoxin has reached consumers, the govt is deliberating legal action against the traders involved in the controversy. While some sceptics argue that the coconut oil controversy is an attempt to drive consumers towards palm oil, some members of the ruling party have signalled that more..

Apr 2 (FT) SriLankan Airlines, the National Carrier of SL and a member of the oneworld alliance, has unveiled neighbour-free seats. This feature allows passengers to purchase an empty seat or row beside them on a flight, at a nominal price set by the airline, ensuring the seat or row remains vacant on Economy Class, giving passengers the option to physically distance themselves inflight and fly in comfort with more space and privacy. Neighbour-free seats provide customers with generous more..

Apr 2 (TM) Powered by Dialog Axiata PLC, Genie, SL�s first PCI-DSS-certified payment app, has cemented a major milestone moment on its journey in establishing itself as the biggest payment processing network in SL through the achievement of over Rs. 10 billion worth of transactions. With over 400,000 downloads to date, Genie has been recognised by SLASSCOM Awards as the Best Startup Product/Service 2019 and the Best Disruptor Product 2019, whilst also bagging two gold more..

Apr 2 (FT) A senior professional in auditing, taxation and financial consultancy challenges the constitutionality of the new Bill titled Inland Revenue Amendment to amend the Inland Revenue Act. Petitioner Raja Nihal Hettiarachchi filed the petition in the Supreme Court seeking its Special Determination. The case is listed for hearing on Monday. Hettiarachchi claims the petition is filed in the interest of the protection of the rights of more..

Apr 2 (ST) Taking a cue from new Standard Operations Procedure (SOP), Lanka Ashok Leyland PLC has resumed vehicle assembly operations in the country after 27 years of its factory shut down during the import relaxation period since 1994. Ashok Leyland�s factory in Jalthara, Homagama is now rolling out buses and lorries as the company�s imports from India has come down to zero due to current vehicle import restrictions. The vehicle assembly venture has a 28% stake from India more..

Apr 2 (FT) The Colombo stock market began April on a strong note with both indices up with stepped up investor activity, though foreign exodus got aggressive with the year-to-date (YTD) figure topping the Rs. 18-billion-mark, raising concerns. All Share Price Index (ASPI) gained by 1% or 72 points and the S&P SL20 Index improved by 0.6% or over 17 points. Turnover was Rs. 1.5 billion with 86.3 million shares traded. First Capital said the Bourse continued its drive in the positive direction more..

Apr 2 (CT) The driver of the bus that met with a fatal accident in Passara, which took the lives of 14 people, had previously been arrested for reckless driving by the Mirihana Police and a warrant was issued for his arrest as he failed to attend the Court hearing in that connection, Mirihana Police said. The previous incident of reckless driving had taken place on 28Nov2020 and Mirihana Traffic Police had filed charges against the driver. more..

Apr 2 (FT) Sudarshana Paniya developed by Sri J'pura Uni (USJ) and the University Business Linkage Cell (UBL), was released to the market on Wednesday, and is being marketed as a revolutionary Ayurvedic medicine to improve the health and wellbeing of Sri Lankans. The drug was released following laboratory testing according to Western standards. The USJ described it �a great step forward in the commercialisation of research and is the first of its kind for the USJ,� more..

Apr 2 (FT) Three COVID-19-related deaths, stating that the country�s COVID-19 death toll has risen to 571. One of the deaths occurred yesterday was that of an 85-year-old individual from Panadura. The individual tested positive for COVID-19 while receiving treatment at the National Hospital of SL and was transferred to the Homagama Base Hospital, where he died of a hip fracture and COVID-pneumonia. On 31 March, an 80-year-old individual from Katugatota died while more..

Apr 2 (TM) University of Colombo (UoC) has issued guidelines for students to follow when using social media platforms, including forbidding students from criticising the university. Certain guidelines, among others, read that students �should not criticise services, rules/regulations of the university, or staff members on social media, and could communicate concerns to university counsellors, academic co-ordinators/tutors, more..

Apr 2 (DM) PCR tests were conducted on students of Ananda College, Colombo after a school teacher tested positive for COVID-19, Public Health Inspectors' (PHI) Union Secretary M. Balasuriya said. He said that attempts were being made to trace the contacts of the male teacher who was a hosteller. Meanwhile, a spokesman from the school said only Grade seven students were advised not to attend classes while no decision had been taken to close the school. more..

Apr 2 (FT) A total of 211 COVID-19 positive persons were detected in the island yesterday and a total of 92,917 persons have tested positive for the virus to date. The patients detected yesterday include 185 associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster and 12 persons from the Prisons cluster. The triple clusters that emerged from Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons have expended to 88,107 patients. The country�s COVID-19 patient count also includes 2,674 SL returnees from abroad, more..

Apr 2 (TM) Following the Extraordinary Gazette issued in January, which bans the use of single-use plastic (SUP) consumer items after yesterday (31), plastic ban violators would face fines in courts post-implementation, according to the CEA. CEA Director Sarojini Jayasekera highlighted the firm stance taken with regards to the restrictions, as she stated that the sale and manufacturing of the SUP more..

Apr 2 (FT) On visiting a country if you see a large number of their population engaged in a particular area of work, it will not be unreasonable to assume that the people of that country have traditionally occupied themselves in that activity, the circumstances of the country create a basis for it, they are naturally proficient at it, and, that their temperament is in harmony with the requirements of that activity. A visitor to SL will be struck by the very large number of persons employed in more..

Apr 2 (Island) Neither the Parliament Select Committee, PCoI on Easter Sunday attacks nor the CID had so far questioned JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on his alleged links with Mohamed Ibrahim, Minister of Public Security Dr. Sarath Weerasekera said recently in an interview to a YouTube channel. �These commissions and institutions were investigating the Easter Sunday attacks, and until I came along, they didn�t talk to Anura Kumara about his links to Ibrahim,� more..

Apr 2 (Island) All Sri Lankans should have a united stand on the UNHRC resolutions against Sri Lanka, Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris said on Thursday night addressing an event for SLPP lawyers at Battaramulla. �This is important if we want to protect the war heroes, independence and sovereignty of Sri Lanka,� he said. Minister Peiris said that within 12 hours of passing the resolution, UNHRC had called in applications for 12 vacancies as regards a mechanism to investigate Sri Lanka. more..

Apr 2 (AD) Two youths have died in a fatal motor crash involving three vehicles at the Polwatte Junction on Pannipitiya-Borella Road early this morning (2). CCTV footage of the accident showed a speeding motorcycle en route from Pannipitiya area crashing against a car, which came from the opposite direction and turned to the Polkatuwa Road. Just then, another motorcycle that approached from behind the first motorcycle also collided against the car. more..

Apr 2 (Island) The SJB yesterday alleged that the enactment of the 20th Amendment had enabled the SLPP govt to interfere with the police with impunity. The recent transferring of ASP Eric Perera based at Wennappuwa in the Chilaw police division on political grounds wouldn�t have been possible if the 19th Amendment had been intact, SJB lawmaker Mujibur Rahman said. Along with the tough talking ASP, five other more..

Apr 2 (DM) Then Prez Maithripala Sirisena and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe had apologized to the brother of two tourists killed in the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. David Linsey, the brother of Amelie and Daniel Linsey said that Sirisena and Wickremesinghe had apologized to him when he met them a few months after the attacks in Colombo. This year marks two years since the deadly Easter Sunday attacks in SL in which over 260 people were killed, including more..

Apr 2 (FT) SL is now in an unfortunate plight in which the failure of the state has entered the phase of its completion both internally and externally. The rule of the country is eclipsed by dark shadows of disintegration and anarchy. State and the political system are also in a state of disarray and virtual collapse. Economy is on the brinks of virtual bankruptcy. In the sense of geo-politics, the country is largely under siege. The anarchic situation and bankruptcy the country is facing have more..

Apr 2 (DN) State Minister Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle yesterday requested the public to adhere to all known preventive measures to reduce the spread of COVID- 19 in the Sinhala and Tamil New Year season. Dr. Fernandopulle said that the spread of the virus, which has been reduced as present, could increase without the public�s sustained support for pandemic control. She said this when asked if the Govt encouraged more..

Apr 2 (AD) The third round of tests has reconfirmed that the unrefined coconut oil consignment, imported by three private companies and stored in their warehouses, contains the highly carcinogenic substance called Aflatoxin. State Minister of Consumer Protection Lasantha Alagiyawanna said the relevant importing companies have already been informed to re-export the coconut oil stocks in question without delay. Recent tests carried out by the SL Standards Institute (SLSI) and more..

Apr 2 (EN) The Election Commission (EC) has appointed a five-member committee to study registered political parties that have been named along ethnic or religious lines, the commission said. The committee, headed by an Additional Election Commissioner, will study the constitutions of such parties and submit a report to the EC, based on which the EC will decide whether or not to recognise them as registered parties. The EC decided to appoint this committee on Tuesday (30) with more..

Apr 2 (EN) Sri Lanka�s govt debt as a share of gross domestic product is expected to rise to 115% in 2021 and poverty to 10.9%, the World Bank said in the wake of several years of mostly monetary stimulus followed by the inevitable stabilization policies. Import controls would reduce growth, while high debt and reduced access to markets were threatening debt sustainability, the agency said in a report on South Asia. more..

Apr 2 (AD) A 5-member Cricket Management Committee has been appointed by the Minister of Sports Namal Rajapaksa until the board elections of Sri Lanka Cricket are held. Prof. Arjuna de Silva has been appointed as the head of the Cricket Management Committee. In the meantime, former SL cricketer Ashley de Silva, Sujeewa Mudalige, Uchitha Wickramasinghe and Amal Edirisooriya will serve as the members of the said panel. Last month, Attorney General had given directions to more..

Apr 2 (Island) SL diesel and furnace oil plants released over 13 million kg of carbon on Wednesday alone to generate 15.3 gigawatt hours, Minister of Power Dullas Alahaperuma said at the opening ceremony of the Deduru Oya Power Plant in Kurunegala. He said that the country spent a lot of money on fossil fuels and it was important to increase the output from renewable energy. �The annual expenditure on fuel is equivalent to the annual remittances from our migrant workers. more..

Apr 2 (DM) SJB MP, Champika Ranawaka today continued the suspense surrounding whether he would contest the Prez Elections in 2025 saying it was too early to say anything. Ranawaka, who is rumored to be preparing to contest the next Prez Polls said there was ample time for the elections and the Provincial Council Elections and the Local Govt Elections would have to be faced before the Prez Polls. more..

Apr 2 (EN) An expert committee will recommend what age groups in SL ought to receive the Sinopharm vaccine, Chief Epidemiologist Dr Sudath Samaraweera said. Once all Chinese nationals employed in SL have received the jab, the health ministry will take a call on who in SL should get it, based on the experts� recommendation, he said. As per research so far, Samaraweera said, people under the age of 18, pregnant women and those witch chronic illnesses will not receive more..

Apr 2 (EN) A state-run retail chain under SL�s Trade Ministry is giving a discounted grocery pack and a face mask for Coronavirus valued at 1,000 rupees (5 US dollars) in the run up to a traditional New Year as the rupee has hit 200 to the US dollar amid unprecedented money printing. The Sathosa Sahana Malla (relief) by state-run Lak Sathosa retail chain has 12 essential items and is available from April 1. Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena told reporters the relief bag contained more..

Apr 2 (DM) Former Prez Chandrika Kumaratunga has informed the SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara to cancel the SLFP All Island Working Committee meeting scheduled for April 5 claiming it was against the party constitution. In a letter addressed to the General Secretary, Ms Kumaratunge said she as the patron of the party had not been invited to the meeting scheduled at 2 pm on April 5. She also said the majority, more..