Apr 24 (GV) Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith presided over the April 21 commemoration with the participation of other religious leaders. Talking about the issue he has said that the problem is not just about Catholics, but that it is about the whole country. According to him, he sees the problem of terrorism and extremism as factors behind The Easter Sunday attacks. His repeated complaint is that those who are behind the attacks have not been identified. And he warns that this may create a dangerous more..

Apr 24 (CT) In the 21st century, a cargo agent failing to declare a huge quantity of uranium hexafluoride as dangerous cargo and later claiming it as an oversight is simply preposterous and Sri Lanka should probe the matter deeply, so that it does not recur considering the geopolitical climate the country is trapped in. It also highlights SL�s vulnerability to external forces. An undeclared Dangerous Cargo (DC) detected more..

Apr 24 (GV) Aluth avurudu is generally a relaxed period in the country where most people spend time with family following various traditions. But the SLPP/Rajapaksa Administration upended this situation and in the pre-avurudu period just as people were getting ready for the holidays, introduced a slew of measures, policy initiatives and draft legislation that were wide ranging in scope and breathtaking in audacity. Firstly, as an Administration that made national security a political issue, more..

Apr 24 (CT) The number of new COVID-19 cases recorded at 578, in the 24 hours ended as at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 22 April according to the Epidemiology Unit (EU), broke two unenviable barriers after a lapse of 57 and 62 days respectively. They were, passing the 500 COVID-19 cases mark after a lapse of 57 days and registering the highest number of COVID-19 cases after a lapse of 62 days. The number of COVID-19 cases last passed the 500 mark prior to the 24 hours ended as more..

Apr 24 (CT) The bombings that took place on Easter Sunday, 21 Apr 2019, destroyed the lives of so many, who are slowly being forgotten by the world. Govt�s fundamental duty is to protect the citizens of the country, which they failed to do, and this cost the lives of 269 innocent people. When they fail to fulfil their primary goal, the next best thing a Govt can do is support those affected with everything they need. more..

Apr 24 (Island) National Operations Centre for Prevention of Covid-19 Outbreak has decided to ban May Day rallies, this year, and its decision is most welcome. Mass gatherings are bound to trigger another wave of infections and plunge the country into chaos. It was a huge mistake for the govt not to impose travel restrictions in the run-up to the recent Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Drastic measures are called for to avert another round of lockdowns. Two good doctors have, in their articles published more..

Apr 24 (DM) When I wrote earlier this week about what is expected from our largest opposition party, the SJB, I did so hoping that the party would awake and articulate their vision for SL, and their stand on the many gnarly policy decisions that face our country. I was heartened to see that the party had exercised the time-honoured journalistic tradition of right-of-reply to respond to my concerns and set out its policies on a number of thorny issues. But I was surprised to see that the party�s response more..

Apr 24 (CT) Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) will conduct its election to appoint new office-bearers on Sunday (25). It is reliably learnt that current holders of four main positions are set to be re-elected uncontested. Accordingly, incumbent President Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Palitha Fernando, Secretary Prema Pinnawela, Treasurer Shantha Mendis and Recorder Saman Kumara Gunawardana are set to be uncontested. However, there�s going to be an interesting battle for the post of Vice President, with more..

Apr 24 (NIA) In the recent past, a number of media reports have shone a light on the plight of SL rural folk, mostly women, who are caught in a debt trap, having taken loans from Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) at interest rates ranging from 40 to 220%. The lenders� aggressive methods of loan recovery have only added to the women�s agony, which has, in many cases, led to suicide. According to Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR), more than 200 people had more..

Apr 24 (CT) Prez Rajapaksa met the Ministers, MPs and the staff members of his office at the Presidential Secretariat on 19 April marking the commencement of duties following the dawn of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Speaking at the event, Prez said that everyone should act with a positive attitude, determination and commitment to fulfil the aspirations of the people by overcoming challenges. Prez Rajapaksa, who extended wishes to more..

Apr 24 (TM) The discourses on and investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks are still far from being over, and the main topic � i.e. justice for those who were affected by the attacks � seems to have subdued other pressing issues that are yet to be looked into. Easter Sunday attacks not only left hundreds of bodies and people that had lost the sense of being alive, but also paved the way to create a community � i.e. the families of those who died in the attacks � that are socially, more..

Apr 24 (Island) It was a wretched Friday for Sri Lankans with the news that Lahiru Kumara had pulled his hamstring muscle and possibly will be out of the series. With a few fine brains getting together to put cricket on the right track, some firmness needs to be shown as regards to players fitness and injury management. Particularly with the likes of Lahiru Kumara. Here�s why. Considered the fastest bowler in SL, Kumara broke down during the Gabba Test in 2019 leaving the team high and dry. more..

Apr 24 (CI) Being men's SL captain can occasionally feel like a no-win situation. To begin with, you're in charge of a side that has failed to seriously arrest a six-year decline. (It's been said for ages that SL are in transition, but as they are seventh on the Test rankings six years after their last great batter retired, maybe the transition is complete, and they are now just a much worse team). Such has been turnover of captaincy across formats, more..

Apr 24 (CT) Launching a blistering attack on the PCoI on Political Victimization, MP M.A. Sumanthiran said the Commission had been led by a disgraced member of the judiciary and blatantly interfered with the judiciary. �This Commission is worse than any kangaroo court,� the TNA MP said, in a 26 minute speech during an adjournment motion on the PCoI on Political Victimization, accusing the Upali Abeyratne commission of interfering in hallowed procedural safeguards more..

Apr 24 (Island) Many passenger vehicles, including three-wheelers and motorcycles are fueled by octane 95 gasoline when octane 92 gasoline (petrol) is available at a lower price. Otto engine (petrol engine) is an internal combustion spark ignition engine invented by a German engineer Nicolaus Otto in 1876 and used in most of the light weight vehicles including cars, three wheelers and motor bicycles. Otto engines can burn most of the hydrocarbon fuels (including hydrogen, more..

Apr 24 (Island) Chairman of parliament watchdog, the COPE Prof. Charitha Herath on Thursday abruptly suspended the committee�s probe on Football Federation of SL, due to the absence of incumbent and former presidents of the federation. Prof Herath gave a directive that the investigation on the federation would be held on another date again and ordered that all top officials including the former & incumbent presidents more..

Apr 24 (Island) Former SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala has written to Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa explaining that he was not the President of SLC when the illegal transfer of US$ 187,000 to a foreign account took place in 2018. Sumathipala a former President of the Asian Cricket Council has brought to the attention of Minister of Sports that at the time the incident happened, SLC was run by Kamal Padmasiri, Competent Authority appointed by then Sports Minister Faizer Mustapaha. more..

Apr 24 (FT) Three Sinha Group, a forerunner in the constructions industry proved its excellence once again by winning two Gold Awards at the 24th SL Entrepreneur of the Year awards ceremony organised by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industries in SL. Two Gold Awards were for national level and western provincial level victories respectively of manufacturing sector, extra-large category. Three Sinha Group Managing Director Manjula Ariyakumara received more..

Apr 24 (DM) Heated cross talks erupted between SJB and the govt in Parliament today disrupting business scheduled for the day. Cross talks broke out when SJB MPs alleged that there was a move to arrest their colleague MP Harin Fernando and to remand him despite the govt�s denial of it. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said that there is a move to arrest Mr. Fernando on the remarks he made in Parliament on Tuesday. more..

Apr 24 (DM) SLT-Mobitel, the national telecom and mobile services provider, is revolutionising the market with an array of new unlimited any time Internet packages for fixed line and mobile customers, including prepaid and post-paid. SLT-Mobitel understands that customers have transformed the way they work, the lifestyle they lead and their demand for data is only set to increase. The unlimited any time Internet packages are devised to cater to the diverse customer more..

Apr 24 (DM) Referring to the recent allegations made against Danushka Gunathilaka regarding a brawl in Matara, his Lawyer, Nishan Premathiratne said that the cricketer had requested SLC to take appropriate action to mitigate the continuous damage being caused to his reputation through these frivolous and unfounded allegations. Premathiratne said Gunathilaka was awaiting a favorable reply and action from SLC. He also noted that the resort which was named in respect of more..

Apr 24 (Island) The Attorney General informed the Supreme Court yesterday that the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill did not contain any provisions inconsistent with the Constitution, and therefore it did not need either a two-thirds majority in Parliament or public approval at a referendum for passage. Supreme Court yesterday concluded the consideration of petitions challenging Colombo Port City more..

Apr 24 (CT) Founder of the SLPP, Basil Rajapaksa, had reportedly held urgent talks with leaders of the SLFP on 21 April, as part of a well coordinated programme initiated by the SLPP to sort out internal political wrangling among its coalition members. SLFP Leader MP Maithripala Sirisena, SLFP General Secretary State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera, Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Mahinda Amaraweera and Suren Raghavan attended this discussion with Rajapaksa. more..

Apr 24 (Island) Undergraduates of the Jaffna University yesterday unveiled a memorial. But the VC of the Uni, who was scheduled to attend the opening was absent. The monument is in memory of those who had been killed at Mullaivaikkal in 2009 during the final days of the war between the LTTE and the security forces. Vice Chancellor Prof Sri Satgunarasa did not attend the ceremony for health reasons. He was admitted to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital following a heart attack on Thursday. more..

Apr 24 (FT) Agreements between vaccine manufacturers and the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) will guarantee the country 2.6 million doses of Sputnik V vaccines by July and 4.94 million doses of Pfizer vaccines by December, allowing the COVID-19 immunisation program to cover 40% of the population by September. SPC Chairman Dr. Prasanna Gunasena stated that agreements had been signed with more..

Apr 24 (FT) On 21 April, the SL-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association meeting was held in the Parliament under the patronage of PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana and Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa. Ambassador of Japan to SL Sugiyama Akira was invited to the meeting. On this occasion, Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana was elected as the President while Selvarajah Kajendran, J.C. Alawathuwala and more..

Apr 24 (DN) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa stated that the State banking system should be further strengthened. PM pointed this out during a lengthy discussion with the officials of the Pragathi Bank Employees Union at the PM's Office in the Parliament Complex. The meeting was held to discuss ways to further strengthen the State banking sector in the face of current challenges and to find solutions to the problems of the employees. Members of the Union thanked the PM for more..

Apr 24 (FT) Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) warned the public of an imminent third wave of COVID-19 and called for all possible precautions including avoiding crowded places, social distancing and staying at home to be immediately implemented. SLMA issuing a statement along with its Intercollegiate Committee of all the Medical Professional Organisations said it wanted to desperately warn the general public of more..

Apr 24 (FT) Sentiment surrounding the economy rebounded in March as nearly half of the respondents to the latest LMD-Nielsen Business Confidence Index (BCI) survey expect conditions to improve over the next 12 months compared to the 28% that expressed this opinion in February. On the other hand, 12% of those polled by Nielsen say the economy will deteriorate during this period while 39% believe conditions will remain the same. As for the outlook for business, more..

Apr 24 (CT) An 11-member delegation of prominent Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka, who visited Pakistan on a Pakistani Govt�s invitation, met PM Imran Khan this week. The SL delegation recalled and appreciated Pakistan�s long-standing friendly relationship, cooperation and solidarity with SL. They thanked the Govt of Pakistan for organising the trip. PM Khan welcomed the delegation and underscored the importance of enhancing people-to-people contacts & strengthening interfaith harmony. more..

Apr 24 (AD) The CIAD on Saturday (24) arrested former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and his brother Riyaj Bathiudeen. The two brothers were arrested for allegedly aiding and abetting the suicide bombers who carried through the deadly terror attacks on Easter Sunday in 2019 Reportedly, the former minister was taken into custody at his residence in Bauddhaloka Mawatha in Colombo while his brother Riyaj Bathiudeen was more..

Apr 24 (AD) A new strain of COVID-19 has been detected in SL, says Prof. Neelika Malavige, the Head of the Dept of Immunology and Molecular Sciences at Sri J'pura University. This new virus variant has high transmissibility, she explained, adding that one person infected with the new variant can spread it up to 5-6 people as opposed to the previous strains which infected only 1 or 2 persons. She stated that slight differences in the symptoms were observed in recently-identified patients. more..

Apr 24 (CT) Minister Sarath Weerasakera said, laws will be introduced to curb around 1,000 unauthorised Facebook accounts being operated in the country. He said these Facebook accounts have had no owners to date and hence new regulations will be introduced to make such accounts defunct shortly. He stated the proposed laws will be introduced based on provisions contained in the Penal Code and noted the Cabinet had also approved the introduction of laws aimed at monitoring more..

Apr 24 (FT) As infection numbers hit a two-month high of 969 people yesterday, Govt issued tougher COVID-19 guidelines as part of efforts to get the virus under control but ruled out a fresh lockdown citing anxieties over economic impact. The public is being urged by health authorities to strictly follow safety guidelines given the spread of a new COVID-19 variant and concerns the virus could be airborne. more..

Apr 24 (DM) While admitting that he had been to the Anti-Corruption Secretariat three times, JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said he would join any camp to take action against fraud and corruption. He told Parliament that he had provided all the information he had with regard to the incidents of fraud and corruption committed by various people. �Former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe proposed my name to Anti-Corruption Secretariat. I have been to the Secretariat three times and provided more..

Apr 24 (FT) The 21 April Easter Sunday tragedy in SL has close similarity in some key aspects with the 9/11 carnage in New York and Washington a decade ago. In the case of 9/11, all independent inquiries concluded that neither Osama Bin Laden nor any Muslim organisation had anything to do with it. Instead it was an inside job involving America�s FBI, Israel�s Mossad and Britain allegedly using Saudi elements. There is evidence convincingly in favour of the independent inquiries than more..

Apr 24 (Island) Education Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris says the govt has received over 950 proposals for improving the education system in the country. Prof Peiris recently said that teachers, school principals and religious leaders were among those who had responded to their call for proposals to improve the education sector. The Education Minister said that the govt intended to submit those proposals to the stakeholders of the private sector who provide employment to the youth. more..

Apr 24 (FT) While to other countries, the Indian Ocean is only one of the important oceanic areas, to India it is the vital sea. Her life lines are concentrated in that area. Her future is dependent on the freedom of that water surface. No industrial development, no commercial growth, no stable political structure is possible for her unless the Indian Ocean is free and her own shores fully protected. The Indian Ocean must therefore remain truly Indian � K.M. Panikkar, India and more..