Aug 5 (AD) Former President Maithripala Sirisena did not make any statement during or after the two meetings of the SLFP that he would leave the govt when the time became opportune, a senior party member said. Fielding questions at a media briefing held at the Environment Ministry, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said referring to the statement attributed to former President and Chairman of the SLFP on quitting the govt if necessary at a meeting in Puttalam, was not clear. more..

Aug 5 (EN) A SL lawmaker has once again broached the subject of curtailing social media in the country, with a top minister calling for either a total ban on social networking sites or a robust regulatory mechanism. Labour Minister Nimal Sirispala de Silva, having just spoken about child abuse, told parliament that social networking sites such as Facebook are 90% responsible for the scourge because of an alleged tendency more..

Aug 5 (Island) The country was expected to maintain an economic growth rate of 5 percent in the current year, according to the fiscal policy maintained by the Govt, State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal said in Parliament on Tuesday. Cabraal said that even the tourism industry could be revived before the year end, boosting the economy for the benefit of the public. He was participating in the Adjournment Motion by JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the economic situation in the country. more..

Aug 5 (DM) Court of Appeal has affirmed the death sentence imposed by Nuwara Eliya High Court on an accused for committing the murder of a mother of two children in Dikoya, Nuwara Eliya in 2009. The deceased one Sellamani was living with the accused Sinnappan Krishnakumar in an illicit relationship and they had two children by the union. The accused was a married man whose wife was employed overseas. According to the evidence of the father of the deceased, his daughter and the accused more..

Aug 5 (TM) SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne stated in Parliament that the SJB is not opposed to the concept of a military university. Instead, he highlighted that the SJB is opposed to the KNDU Bill in its current form. According to the MP, the SJB will continue to move amendments to make the bill more accountable to the UGC. Referring to former PM Sir John Kotelawala�s vision to provide higher education to those wanting more..

Aug 5 (EN) SL has printed enough money after a failed bond auction last week to potentially wipe out foreign reserves equivalent to a central bank swap being negotiated with Bangladesh, official data show. The central bank�s Treasuries stock rose to 1,194 billion rupees on August 2, the bond settlement day up 53.9 billion rupees from 1,141 billion rupees a day earlier. Last week the central bank offered 125 billion rupees of bonds in a price controlled bond auction and only 86 b rupees more..

Aug 5 (WFP) With WFP�s assistance, Govt will commence the second phase of take-home rations distribution to 1.2 million children enrolled in the National School Meal Programme. This initiative is funded by the Govt with a contribution of US$6 million (approx LKR1.2 Billion) and WFP with a contribution of US$200,000 (approx LKR40 million). The food ration handout is overseen by the State Ministry of Women and Child Development, Pre-school and Primary Education, more..

Aug 5 (AD) Minister of Sports Namal Rajapaksa says that there are several reasons why SL athletes have not been able to win an Olympic medal. Responding to Olympic-related queries in the Parliament today, he said that some athletes participated in the Olympic Games with the mentality of going on a trip. �A country usually prepares for 10 to 15 years to secure an Olympic medal. But in our country, these programs more..

Aug 5 (ME) The government of Sri Lanka is working to expedite the removal of the wreck of the containership X-Press Pearl from its shores while also continuing its efforts to monitor for environmental pollution and damage as well as to receive compensation. A report from the govt committee formed to investigate the damages and oversee the salvage operations details efforts that are expected to continue into 2022. According to a copy of the report obtained by more..

Aug 5 (DM) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and MP Nalin Bandara who arrived at the Port Police to inquire about the teachers who were arrested for staging a protest in front of the Presidential Secretariat yesterday, were prevented by Police today from entering the premises. Sajith Premadasa, accompanied by MP Nalin Bandara and a group of lawyers stood outside the police for more than 20 minutes and requested the police to inquire from senior officials to grant approval to meet more..

Aug 6 (DM) Sri Lanka is a nation which has seen many rebellions staged against the state or the govt. These rebellions suggest that past govts have hardly been people friendly regimes. There is a section of the society which still maintains the idea that SL would have been better off under British rule. But history shows us that the Ceylonese were brutally repressed during colonial times and their incomes were taxed with the introduction of taxes. Apart from paying taxes for uncultivated lands more..

Aug 6 (DM) A scorpion wants to cross the stream and asks a frog to carry it across. The frog hesitates because it is afraid the scorpion will sting it. The scorpion argues that if it does so both would drown. The frog then agrees and starts swimming while carrying the scorpion on its back. Mid-stream, the scorpion stings the frog. The dying frog asks the ungrateful stranger why he did so knowing well both would die. The scorpion replies: �I couldn�t help it. It�s in my nature.� more..

Aug 6 (Roar) The plastic pellets that continue to litter SL�s coastlines are a bleak reminder of the fire that broke out on board the MV X-Press Pearl in late May. Although the fire has been long subdued, the resulting maritime disaster � widely perceived to be the worst Sri Lanka has ever faced � is far from over. The billions of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) pellets that the distressed vessel more..

Aug 6 (CT) Currently, all major hospitals are filled with COVID-19 patients due to the increasing number of cases reported throughout the island. Most State Hospitals have declared healthcare emergencies as they have run out of beds, due to the major influx of those infected with the virus. ICU facilities are also strained as a result of the increasing number of patients with COVID pneumonia. Recent video, shared on WhatsApp, provided a glimpse into the situation more..

Aug 6 (GV) At the time of gaining independence 74 years ago, Sri Lanka was a prosperous country that was recognised as a model economy with a per capita income of $120, on par with Japan. At that time, the per capita income of South Korea was $86. The per capita incomes of the three countries today are Japan $40,113, South Korea $31,489 and SL $3,682. Being a democratic country, Sri Lanka conducts elections every five years. Elections have changed either the political party in power more..

Aug 6 (CT) India has been transparent about its security surveillance on the maritime border lately with the advent of China in SL in the backdrop of the Indian Ocean gaining prominence in the 21st century and becoming an axis for geo-strategic and geopolitical competition among world powers. There has been a noticeable change in India�s stance, shifting its focus to the Indo-Pacific region from the Western bloc, where SL is located. more..

Aug 6 (DM) Dr. Padma Gunaratne, President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) warned a few weeks ago that the country is heading toward what she called �the first phase of the Covid-19 fourth wave outbreak.� Doctors, as we know, are playing a wonderful role in combating the pandemic. What doctors say should be taken seriously. She has said more. She reaffirmed what�s already known; the Delta Variant has entered the country. She also claimed or rather was reported to have more..

Aug 6 (ST) I was woken up at 7 a.m. this Thursday by the phone�s incessant ringing. Groggy, after watching a late night movie, I woke up, looked at the time and picked up the phone. It was Ruwan putha, a young economist whom I met last year at an economic event and thereafter have had a few conversations on a variety of topics. We also share a common interest � music! You will hear more about this bright, young man in these columns in the next few months. �Hello�hello, I hope I didn�t more..

Aug 6 (FT) Of all the pandemic-initiated crises, starting with public health and economic, the education crisis has been the one that�s often relegated in the list of priorities. When all schools in about 192 countries abruptly shuttered in March 2020 ousting nearly 1.6 billion students from education, it chalked a historic milestone in education, globally. Several countries immediately took action to facilitate online and internet-based education for students. more..

Aug 6 (TM) Sigiriya and the Yala National Park are being developed as Sri Lanka�s first eco-friendly, sustainable tourist destinations, which will forbid the use and disposal of plastic. Accordingly, Sigiriya and its surrounding areas are expected to be declared as an eco-friendly tourism zone without the use of plastics, while the Yala National Park tourist zone is expected to be an eco-friendly, safe, and protected area without the use of plastics. Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga expects more..

Aug 6 (FT) President�s Principal Advisor Lalith Weeratunga yesterday reiterated that the Govt�s policy on the use of organic fertilisers remains unchanged. Weeratunga said that transforming a country that had been accustomed to using chemical fertilisers for decades to use organic fertilisers is a challenging endeavour, and therefore, the different opinions directed at the move were reasonable. more..

Aug 6 (TM) The SL Export Development Board, in collaboration with The Consulate General of SL in Guangzhou, and the Department of Commerce of Fujian, successfully organised the Fujian, China � Sri Lanka Economic and Trade Forum and Matchmaking event on 28 July via video conference + web cast. The virtual event was attended by over 11,000 participants from China and SL. Officials of govt promotional agencies such as the SL Tea Board, National Gem & Jewellery Authority, more..

Aug 6 (Island) The govt has decided to convert the entire agriculture production from non-organic into organic. The President has declared that Sri Lanka is the first country to achieve 100 percent organic in farming. Genuine experts and practitioners have questioned the feasibility of this project. Pseudo experts are full of praise for it. Farmers and smallholders who are not experts have to bear the brunt of the project. They experience shortages of fertiliser and are confused. more..

Aug 6 (FT) Main Opposition SJB MP S.K. Marikkar yesterday castigated the Govt for leading the country to economic and health crises due to sheer mismanagement and mixed-up priorities. Speaking in Parliament, MP said that State Minister MP Nivard Cabraal can only offer up the previous regime and the pandemic as excuses for the current crisis in the country. �However, Prez Rajapaksa has been in office for 21 months more..

Aug 6 (Island) One of the respected voices in cricket has warned that cricket selectors can be influenced and there needs to be background checks before selection appointments are made. This individual is a former SL captain who has held various positions at SLC since retiring from the game and he is known for his unquestionable integrity. He was one of the former captains who attended a meeting chaired by Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa at the ministry premises earlier this week. more..

Aug 6 (Island) Those who opposed the Sir John Kotelawala National Defence Uni (KNDU) bill are cock-a-hoop about the govt�s decision against taking it up for debate in Parliament. They are bragging that they have brought the govt to its knees. But it is too early for celebrations. The postponement of the bill, we reckon, is only a tactical retreat; the govt is wary of opening another front while struggling to hold coronavirus at bay, and does not want to get overstretched by launching another offensive. more..

Aug 6 (ST) Among the Kotelawala Defence University�s (KDU) borrowings over the years is a foreign currency loan of US$ 177.33mn (Rs 35bn) in addition to a local currency loan of Rs 3.16bn obtained from the National Savings Bank (NSB) on a Treasury guarantee in April 2013, documents show. The KDU experienced a steep deterioration in its debt-to-equity ratio. According to the National Audit Office (NAO), in 2018 ratio stood at 3.5:1. more..

Aug 6 (FT) The Health Services Director General on Wednesday confirmed 94 COVID-19 deaths, raising the country�s COVID-19 death toll to 4,821. A total of 313 COVID-19 deaths have been confirmed in August and there has been a steady increase in the number of daily COVID-19 fatalities. On 1 Aug, health officials confirmed 63 deaths, on 2 Aug, 74 COVID-19 deaths were confirmed, and on 3 Aug, 82 COVID-19 deaths were confirmed. Of the total fatalities, 2,799 are male & 2,022 are female. more..

Aug 6 (DM) Govt MP Gevidu Cumaratunga who spearheads the civil society movement called Yuthukama organization urged teachers who are on trade union action to be mindful of the challenging pandemic situation of the country and refrain from mass demonstrations in the greater good of public health. Making his remarks to the media, MP Cumaratunga said the govt had agreed in principle that the long-standing salary anomalies of school teachers and principals should be rectified. more..

Aug 6 (FT) A batch of 2.14 million doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 is due to arrive in Sri Lanka today and another batch of 1.86 million doses of the vaccine is due to arrive on Sunday. SL is also due to receive 727,540 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX Facility on Saturday. The vaccine doses are the second half of a total of 1,456,000 doses donated by Japan. more..

Aug 6 (CT) Super Fashion Northern Warriors and Event TV Western Warriors entered the final of the Army Commander�s League T20 Cricket tournament conducted by Sports Committee and Cricket Committee of SL Army at the Army grounds Dombagoda yesterday, as the top two teams on the points table at the end of Day Six. Northern Warriors recorded 5 wins to top the points table, while Western Warriors recorded 3 wins and ended in second place. more..

Aug 6 (FT) The results of the latest LMD-NielsenIQ Business Confidence Index (BCI) survey indicate that sentiment surrounding the economy continued to regress in July as 59% of respondents say that economic conditions are likely to deteriorate in the coming 12 months � a notable increase from 49% recorded in June. Meanwhile, 10% of those polled feel that conditions are likely to improve during this period while another 31% say the economy will stay the same. According to the survey sample, more..

Aug 6 (AD) Prez Rajapaksa stressed that the security of children should be strengthened at the rural level. According to the information revealed, the majority of the children employed as child labourers are from the estate sector. Prez pointed out that the necessary authority should be exercised at the Grama Niladhari Division level to prevent this plight. Grama Niladhari officers possess the information on families in estate sector. more..

Aug 6 (Island) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa was denied entry to the Harbour Police yesterday morning when he arrived there to visit detained teachers and principals. Premadasa was accompanied by a group of MPs and lawyers. There was a heated exchange as the police prevented them from entering the station. On Wednesday police arrested 44 principals, teachers and some of their supporters following a protest opposite the Presidential Secretariat. more..

Aug 6 (ST) The govt is to implement a stringent fiscal measure of pruning welfare expenditure for the needy population owing to rising cost of public sector pensions and salary payments while cutting down unnecessary spending of state institutions, Finance Ministry sources said. This directive was issued recently by Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa at a recent meeting with Ministers and secretaries in Colombo, the sources said. However the Minister has issued instructions to senior officials to more..

Aug 6 (Island) State Minister Dr. Nalaka Godahewa says the country is in a bind due to dwindling revenue in the face of annual state sector salary and pension bill reaching a staggering Rs 1.2 trillion. Dr. Godahewa, who holds Urban Development, Waste Disposal and Community Cleanliness portfolios, is of the view that the issue at hand should receive the attention of all political parties represented in Parliament. more..

Aug 6 (TM) The cruise ship Navigator of the Seas, under the agency of Prudential Shipping, called at the Hambantota International Port (HIP) for the purposes of receiving bunkers, marking another significant milestone in the diversity of the vessels calling HIP for bunkering. Bunkering is an important part of HIP�s energy services portfolio. Different categories of vessels calling at the port for this service is another step in the port coming closer to establishing itself as a strategic bunker more..

Aug 6 (ST) President of the SL Basketball Federation (SLB), Aelian Gunawardene, wants the Education Ministry�s to reconsider their decision on the ban imposed on schools sports activities of Under-13 age category. The Education Ministry discontinued competitive sports for schoolchildren below 13 a few years ago, through a circular. Basketball, the second most popular sport in the world and in formidable nations such as the USA, and European countries, is considered more..