Aug 28 (Island) The govt had not set any objectives to achieve during the current lockdown, and therefore it was likely that automatic benefits of the lockdown would be lost soon, Pharmaceutical and healthcare management consultant Dr. Sanjaya Perera said. He said that instead of imposing a lockdown due to external pressure, the govt should have imposed restrictions with the aim of achieving set objectives. A number of medical experts had already highlighted what activities more..

Aug 28 (FT) Siyapatha Finance PLC�s Rs. 1.5 billion worth debenture issue has been oversubscribed and was closed on 26 August. The company issued 10 million subordinated unsecured listed redeemable rated debentures of Rs. 100 each with an option to offer a further 5 million debentures in the event of an oversubscription of the original amount. Siyapatha said it had received applications for over Rs. 1.5 billion, and the basis of allotment will be notified in due course. more..

Aug 28 (DM) The COVID Task force was placed at risk after Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena, who attended the meeting yesterday (Friday), was later found to be infected. Gunawardena had met Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, State Minister Sudarshini Fernandopulle and Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga for tea just before the meeting. Sources said that both Alahapperuma and more..

Aug 28 (DM) A tense situation was reported at a vaccination center at Dodanduwa in Galle when the health officials stopped giving Covid-19 vaccines. It was reported that the authorities at the Hikkaduwa MOH office had stopped giving vaccines after a group of people at the vaccination center behaved in an unruly manner claiming that authorities had given vaccines to several people in the Rathgama MOH area instead of giving priority to those who were at the center. more..

Aug 28 (TM) Recent video footage circulating on social media depicted a tense situation at a vaccination centre in Hikkaduwa, where members of the public alleged that health authorities marked their vaccination cards to reflect that they were vaccinated against Covid-19, when in fact they were not administered with vaccinations. Responding to this, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella stated that the situation arose as there was a clash between two groups. more..

AAug 28 (USE) The United States donated over 100,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to Sri Lanka today. These vaccines, delivered through COVAX, will help save lives and increase the COVID-19 vaccination coverage in SL so essential to ending the pandemic. �As the pandemic continues and new variants emerge, it is critical we work together to vaccinate as many people as possible, as quickly as possible� more..

Aug 28 (DM) The Immunology and Molecular Medicine Dept of Sri J'pura Uni suspects that the vast spread of COVID variants would be a Super Delta variant. Following the latest tests conducted by the department, and the result confirmed that it was 100% the delta variant which is spreading in Colombo. The test results highlighted that the delta variant shows a vast spread in other areas of the country than the COVID-19 Alpha variant. Lab tests carried out by the Sri J'pura University more..

Aug 28 8 (ANI) SL has reopened its borders to India and fully vaccinated travellers will only require a negative PCR test report conducted 72 hours prior to arrival and an on-arrival PCR test at a certified hotel, the High Commission of SL in New Delhi said on Saturday. Sri Lankan Airlines will operate four weekly flights to Chennai, three to Mumbai, and one to Bengaluru under its new schedule, and is expected to introduce significant frequency enhancements. more..

Aug 28 (Island) SL govt had saved more than USD 2 billion, thanks to three coal-fired power plants at the Lakvijaya Complex in Norochcholai, a foreign expert said, adding that China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) had already invested USD four million to extend it to a fourth plant. CEB too has invested USD one million on the proposed fourth, plant urgently needed. Officials at the plant complex told The Island that more..

Aug 28 (CT) Dr. G. Wijesuriya, Director of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, has explained the various symptoms children may display upon contraction of COVID-19. Fatigue, discolouration of the lips and eyes, and malignant-like nature of the skin may indicate low levels of oxygen within the child's body, the Doctor explained, adding that parents should keep their children under close observation. He noted, however, that it is rather difficult to detect these symptoms in children below two years more..

Aug 28 8 (Xinhua) The conviction, commitment and sacrifice of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has led to China's success in eradicating poverty, SL's Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana has said. "It's amazing the development you see if you go inside the country," especially in rural areas, said Abeywardana. Having visited China several times over more than three decades, Abeywardana said the example set by the CPC has inspired the Chinese people to action. more..

Aug 29 (CT) Covid-19 is getting too close to home for too many. Mangala Samaraweera, the veteran politician, passed away this week after contracting Covid-19. He was a political stalwart behind the victories of Chandrika Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena in prez elections. He was also a faithful lieutenant to former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. A frontline cabinet minister in multiple portfolios since 1994, Mangala surpassed his father and political figure more..

Aug 29 (ST) The Govt�s lockdown this week was neither here nor there, and now it has been extended by another week. It was clear from the very beginning that it was clamped due to sheer pressure from the general public. Shops in major towns declared a voluntary shutdown akin to a hartal on top of all the requests and even demands from the medical sector, whose voices were deftly ignored. The WHO and others, have in fact, recommended the lockdown be extended more..

Aug 29 (SO) Minister of Land, S.M. Chandrasena said that the present issues within the Govt doesn�t have any impact towards its forward march. This is just a conflict of ideas among some coalition parties of the Govt. The Minister when looking at recent history, if any issue was faced by the Govt, all constituent parties firmly stood together irrespective of their ideological differences. He said since 1948, there were so many coalition more..

Aug 29 (SO) The sudden demise of former Minister Mangala Samaraweera was the most heartbreaking and shocking news within political circles last week and several of his political colleagues in Govt and Opposition ranks expressed their heartfelt condolences over his untimely death. Former Minister Samaraweera passed away on Aug 24 at the age of 65 following a two-week battle against Covid-19. Prez Rajapaksa in a condolence note in his Facebook said, �I am deeply saddened more..

Aug 29 (CT) The Perahera in Kandy was permitted even with artistes catching Covid. The Nallur Thiruvilla was banned. Our terrorising police had parades at the temple for TV but shut down streets and diverted traffic although no one was worshipping. When robbers came 2 doors away (21.08.2021) during curfew, the police emergency number did not answer, and the normal number was hung up when I called. The police do not protect us. My Nellore is being robbed of its name more..

Aug 29 (ST) Minister Bandula Gunawardena�s announcement on Friday evening that he had tested positive for COVID-19 set off alarm bells in the highest circles of the govt, given that he had attended the same day the COVID Task Force meeting chaired by Prez Rajapaksa and attended by many senior ministers and officials. Several of his immediate first contacts from that meeting are now self isolating while others such as more..

Aug 29 (Island) It�s a sign of the basic humanism in Lankans that, regardless of whatever ideology or credentials they held, we speak well of the dead. Judging by the many posts, articles, and memes shared across social media, everyone is speaking well of Mangala Samaraweera. This is nothing to be astonished about: Samaraweera, the most unconventional national politician who ever lived, was also the most likeable to a great many in the country. more..

Aug 29 (TM) Even though SL seems better off than its beleaguered South Asian counterpart Afghanistan at this point in time, recent events in that country must surely strike a chord on what could be if the people continue to ignore their basic civic responsibility of demanding accountability from their elected leaders. All it took was a matter of a few weeks for Afghanistan, which was considered a nation on the ascent with estimated foreign reserves triple that of SL, at $ 9 billion as of last month, more..

Aug 29 (Island) Pradeep Nishantha the coach of SL�s Paralympic medallist Dinesh Herath believes that his charges now in Tokyo have the ability to create Paralympics history when they compete on Monday. �All my three throwers will be in action on Monday. I am hopeful that they would create history here,� said Nishantha in an online interview. �All three throwers are in good shape and they are eager to perform,� said Nishantha who first trained Herath to win bronze at Rio Paralympics 5 yrs ago. more..

Aug 29 (SO) Squash is an individual sport that is played inside an enclosed court and hitting the small soft rubber ball against a high wall at one end. A person watching it will not find it very exciting or thrilling but only the player knows very well how much work and strategic planning has to be put in to emerge victorious. Considering these areas that are needed for improvement the Minister of Sports has pledged to support the federation with a grant of Rs. 52 million to see the budding players horn more..

Aug 29 (ST) Throwdown specialists with the ability to rachet up speeds in excess of 145kmph with the sidearm could help SL batters better prepare to face bowlers with express pace, opines SL limited over skipper Dasun Shanaka, ahead of their six-match white-ball series against South Africa. The sidearm is a piece of cricketing equipment shaped like a long spoon, with its far-end designed to hold and hurl the ball at great speeds. more..

Aug 29 (ST) SL�s Mahesh Jayakody failed to reach the finals of the Men�s Single Sculls in Rowing as the Paralympics 2020 progressed to its fifth day in Tokyo yesterday. Jayakody clocked 11:21.31 in the second repecharge of the Men�s Singles Sculls at the Sea Forest Waterway at 7.00am SL time. He was placed last among five oarsmen in contention in the second qualifier, which was won by Great Britain�s Benjamin Pritchard, who finished the course in 9:14.61 to record his personal best timing. more..

Aug 29 (TM) The proposal that was announced during the Budget 2019 to establish a fully fledged rubber research facility in SL to benefit local tyre producers who have no access to testing and prototyping. will finally begin operations by Dec 2021. Rubber Research Institute of SL Additional Director Dr. V.H.L. Rodrigo expressed that they are hoping to commence a few operations under the testing and prototyping tyre facility by the end of this year, with 2 instruments they have right now. more..

Aug 29 (Island) Schoolboy Matheesha Pathirana has become the talk of the town after his new ball burst in the SLC T-20 League that concluded at Pallekele this week. For bowling with a slingy action, Pathirana has been nicknamed Podi Malinga as his action is identical to that of SL fast bowler Lasith Malinga. Still a schoolboy at Trinity College, Pathirana represented SL in the Under-19 World Cup last year at the age of 17. more..

Aug 29 (ST) SL�s Major Club tournament will be reduced to 15 teams by the end of the 2023 domestic cricket season as a new cricket structure sees the demotion of 11 teams to the Governors Trophy during the next three seasons. Under this plan that was approved by the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) membership at a virtual Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on Saturday, all 26 first class clubs will play in two groups of 13 teams each. All 26 clubs will have equal status as opposed to more..

Aug 29 (SO) Amid the increasing number of Covid-19 cases and deaths in SL, the Govt has committed itself to the vaccination drive with renewed vigour since it is the most reliable weapon the world has come up with so far. The Govt has stepped up its efforts to bring down vaccines from other countries making use of the existing diplomatic relations and the personal rapport built by the Prez with world leaders over the years. So far, over 20 million doses of vaccines of various kinds have been more..

Aug 29 (Island) There is no doubt that many cynics among us thought that the ministers� gesture of foregoing a month�s salary in the context of the present covid and economic emergencies was a move paving the way to hit salary earners, both in govt and the private sector, with a 50% pay cut. This had been suggested a few days earlier by Minister Prasanna Ranatunga in a letter he wrote Prez Rajapaksa. There is no gainsaying that the current pandemic which compelled a lockdown, more..

Aug 29 (SO) Exports earnings surpassed the USD 1 billion mark last month four months after a similar achievement was recorded in March according to the Export Development Board (EDB). As per the figures released by the Customs, goods to the value of US$ 1,099.41 million was exported last month, the highest ever monthly achievement, which showed an increase of 1.33% over US$ 1,085 million in July 2020 and an increase of 12.39 percent over US$ 978.2 million in July 2019 more..

Aug 29 (SO) Govt, amidst a bleak economic situation with an almost empty coffer, has drawn up plans to complete 121 mega scale development projects this year, Cabinet memorandum presented by Finance Ministry on August 16 revealed. The aim of presenting this memorandum by Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa is to inform the Ministers on the performance of 319 projects which are to be completed during more..

Aug 29 (Island) The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has announced a partnership with DirectPay, one of the fastest-growing fintech start-ups in SL, to provide Internet Payment Gateway (IPG) support and operate as the acquiring bank for the cashless payment solutions the latter develops for clients. �With this partnership with Commercial Bank, DirectPay aims to expand its suite of services such as fully-integrated payment Point-of-Sale devices to discover new markets and more..

Aug 29 (TM) A minor earth tremor of magnitude 2.5 was reported earlier last week (24) in the Yala Block 1 area. Meanwhile, a tremor measuring a magnitude of 5.1 on the Richter Scale had also been reported from the Bay of Bengal on the same day, approximately 600 km north of the Jaffna Peninsula. While Geological Survey & Mines Bureau (GSMB) Chairman confirmed that a tremor was experienced in the Hambantota area shortly after 9.15 p.m., the tremor had not caused any property damage, more..

Aug 29 (AD) Sri Lanka has revised the visa fees and fines as per the new Immigration and Emigration Regulations issued on Aug 18 via the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2241/37. In a media release issued today (28), Dept of Immigration and Emigration announced that a foreigner staying in SL without a valid visa will be charged USD 500 penalty in addition to the visa fee. Meanwhile, a fee of USD 200 will be charged from more..

Aug 29 (ST) Former Senior Editor Elmo Gunaratna passed away yesterday at the age of 89. He served in journalism for six decades. A past pupil of Ananda College, Colombo, he started his career at the Sinhalaya newspaper before joining Lake House publications. He quit Lake House in protest when it was taken over by the Govt in the 1970s. He served as Chief Sub Editor of the Bangkok Post in Thailand. He returned in 1978 and took over as Managing Editor of the Times of Ceylon. more..

Aug 29 (AD) The notorious criminal figure, Mohamed Niyaz Noufer alias Potta Noufer has died of COVID-19, Dept of Prisons announced. He had passed away at around 7.30 pm today (28), Commissioner General of Prisons confirmed. The cause of his death has been identified as complications of kidney disease caused by coronavirus infection. Potta Noufer, the main suspect of the murder of High Court Judge Sarath Abepitiya, had been imprisoned under a death sentence. more..

Aug 29 (ST) The hotel industry, hard hit by the series of pandemic lockdowns, has shown resilience by transforming business activities to patient care. In the absence of tourist arrivals, many hotels have registered themselves as Intermediate Patient Care Centres (IPCC), providing care and comfort to patients who can afford the cost. Some 55 hotels have turned themselves into quarantine centres to provide accommodation to more..

Aug 29 (Island) Over 90% of commercial farmers involved in a survey conducted among 1,042 farmers, in all the nine provinces, of the country say they currently use chemical fertiliser, and almost all of them expect reduction in their harvest by about 47% in the upcoming season if they are not able to use chemical fertiliser. This was revealed by Dr. Nishan de Mel, Executive Director of Verit� Research, at a virtual meeting held by the institute on Wednesday, where the institute released more..