Mar 13 (CT) By citing national security, any beneficial international aid or grant can be rejected, claimed Geopolitical analyst Asanga Abeyagoonasekera. Referring to the cancelled Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant from USA, he said �A report submitted to former Prez Sirisena by Institute of National Security Studies of SL (INSSSL) noted few issues with MCC, but those issues could have been re negotiated and there was space for that in MCC.� more..

Mar 13 (CI) In a game that the West Indies had dominated for large parts, Sri Lanka, who had been mediocre for most of the match, threatened to take it away with some clutch play towards the end of both innings, but some late hitting from Nicholas Pooran ensured that the platform laid by the opening pair of Shai Hope and Evin Lewis - who put on a record 192-run opening stand - was not wasted. The win means WI take the 3-match series more..

Mar 13 (DM) A woman from Mahiyangana was arrested by the special investigation unit of the Foreign Employment Bureau for allegedly luring many women aged between 20 and 40 into sex trade in Oman. Woman had assisted many women to migrate to Oman promising them to get jobs in various sectors there but used them in sex trade. Her illegal activities came to light after the media highlighted this in February and also based on info. revealed by some affected women. more..

Mar 13 (DM) Saranga Goonawardena was elected as the new Chairman at the Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) 22nd AGM, held on Mar 10, 2021, at Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo. It was followed by a gala function attended by chief guest PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, ministers, state ministers together with secretaries, govt officials and COYLE members. The traditional kiribath was cut by the outgoing and past chairmen of COYLE. Goonawardena takes over from Chamath more..

Mar 13 (FT) Sri Lanka�s total COVID-19 patient count yesterday exceeded 87,000 with the detection of 297 patients. The patients detected yesterday include 236 associates of the Peliyagoda cluster and 55 persons linked to the Prisons cluster. This brings the triple clusters that emerged from Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons to 82,935 patients. 2,244 returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, more..

Mar 13 (FT) The construction work to build 144 intermediate housing units for Madhu pilgrims was commenced at the Madhu Church premises in Mannar on Thursday yesterday under the patronage of Indian High Commissioner Dr. Gopal Bagle, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and Bishop of Mannar Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Fernando. The total cost for the project is estimated at Rs. 300 million and is built with the assistance of the Indian Govt. Noting that the project will further strengthen more..

Mar 13 (CT) Minister Sarath Weerasekera says the TID and the intelligence units are currently conducting a special detailed probe into politicians who had maintained links with Mohammad Ibrahim Nauffer, who has been identified by the TID as the mastermind behind the 2019 Easter Sunday blasts. He said, suspect Nauffer had spent a considerable number of years in Qatar and stressed the ongoing inquiry has been aimed at identifying the politicians who have had dealings with the said suspect more..

Mar 13 (PMD) Maha Sangha has drawn the Prez�s attention to the issues that have emerged due to the shortage of tamed elephants for Perahera ceremonies and stressed the requirement of a short term and long term plan to address the issue. Tradition of Perahera is an indigenous, religious and cultural heritage that has been inherited since ancient times. Maha Sangha highlighted that both Maha Sangha, more..

Mar 13 (GDI) To replace the diesel power plants of SL with 70% of the total national power generation from green and renewable sources Ambassador of Turkey in SL, Demet Sekercioglu asserts, Turkey is willing to provide the necessary support to the national electricity plan initiated under the National Policy Framework Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour. Ambassador made these comments while participating in an official discussion with Minister Dallas Alahapperuma, recently. more..

Mar 13 (CT) Managing Director (MD) of LAUGFS Gas PLC has requested the CAA for an urgent revision of retail price of a cylinder of domestic LPG gas, citing that they are severely impacted by raising substantial financial losses. MD of LAUGFS Gas PLC Piyadasa Kudabalage has cited in the letter that based on average world market prices recorded in January and February 2021, the applicable price of a 12.5kg cylinder of gas should be Rs 2,148, an increase of Rs 655 per cylinder. more..

Mar 13 (TM) As SL has chosen a $ 1.54 billion currency swap with China, former State Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva stated that the swap is a plaster solution that has been put forth by the current Govt. He emphasised that SL Govt will eventually go to the IMF regardless of their recent swap with China. �Govt needs to map out a medium to long-term debt restructuring plan to obtain sustainable confidence in the international market,� more..

Mar 13 (Island) The vehicle industry in SL is now going through a major crisis due to import restrictions. As a result, more than 500,000 direct and indirect local jobs are at risk, Director, Sterling Automobiles Lanka Renuka Wijesiriwardane said. �Our company�s main business being vehicle after sales services, all stakeholders have been noticed that our business has dropped by more than 50 percent up to now, Wijesiriwardane said at the recent launch of the SterlingCars.lk website more..

Mar 13 (FT) The Govt has no plans to address critical shortages in medicine at State hospitals, former Minister of Health and Opposition MP Dr. Rajitha Senaratne charged yesterday, calling for the issue to be resolved to ease the burden placed on patients. SJB MP argued that the established mechanism to import medicines needed by State hospitals has been thrown into disarray since 2020. "Today, there is a crisis in Govt hospitals. There is a critical shortage of medicines. more..

Mar 13 (FT) State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal said he found the IMF's reaction to SL getting a $ 1.5 billion swap from China surprising, and reiterated the Govt could maintain a sound macroeconomic framework without support from the multilateral lender. State Minister took to twitter to respond to comments made by IMF Communications Dept Director Gerry Rice during a press briefing on Thursday where he said more..

Mar 13 (FT) The country�s COVID-19 death toll yesterday rose to 525 with health authorities confirming five COVID-19 deaths. A 73-year-old individual from Polgasowita tested positive for COVID-19 at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital and was transferred to the Homagama Base Hospital. However, he died of heart disease, acute kidney disease, COVID pneumonia, and acute diabetes yesterday. On Thursday, a 75-year-old individual from Moratuwa died at the IDH, more..

Mar 13 (PO) Members of SL�s 1996 World Cup winning team will celebrate the Silver Jubilee on Wednesday, it is learnt here. On March 17, 1996, SL team, under the captaincy of Arjuna Ranatunga won the 50-over Wills Cup final against Australia, led by Mark Waugh. D/N final was played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. �This event is to celebrate SL�s World Cup victory in 1996. Most of the members of the victorious team with their families and dignitaries will take part in this event�, more..

Mar 13 (FT) Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle yesterday denied any public revenue loss from the sugar commodity levy change, insisting the tax revamp was a policy based decision to reduce cost of living and terming it any other way was unfair oversimplification. Attygalle, speaking to reporters at the Finance Ministry, insisted that seeing a loss of Rs. 16 billion revenue to the consolidated fund from the commodity levy reduction more..

Mar 13 (FT) Power revolves around a nation�s foreign policy and how you conduct it with the rest of the world. Nations have given top priority to economic diplomacy and foreign relations and policy is based on your economies and political conduct and how you conduct and manage your economics, and in politics, as much as your goodwill friendship, they need to verify your balance sheet and any economic benefits one could derive from you. The era is gone when the goodwill is maintained more..

Mar 13 (AD) SJB MP Abdul Haleem has tested positive for COVID-19 in a rapid antigen test carried out on Friday (12). However, MP Haleem said he was referred to a PCR test today as the results of the rapid antigen test were doubtful. Accordingly, he is currently under home-quarantine until the results of the PCR test are received. He also noted that he received the COVID vaccine jab at the Army Hospital two weeks ago. MP Haleem is the 8th MP in SL to contract the novel coronavirus. more..

Mar 13 (DM) Wildlife Conservators in Anuradhapura said the death toll of wild elephants in accidents was increasing in alarming proportions and that three wild elephants in the area had been electrocuted to death in cultivated land for the last five days. The calf was about one and half years old and that it had roamed away from its mother. The elephant calf which was injured with gunshot wounds was found in the Ipalogama area. They said the three wild elephants had been killed by the squatters more..

Mar 13 (FT) Women undoubtedly are the most oppressed throughout all societies, north or south, east, or west, poor, or rich, developed, or underdeveloped, and throughout the most of human history. It is the number one human rights problem today not addressed properly. Out of around 7.8 billion world population, while male-female balance might be 1:1, there is estimated 1.7% people who are intersex. Whereas rights of all people are important, there is a clear oppression more..

Mar 13 (AD) The Opposition often levels absurd accusations against the govt, Prez Rajapaksa said today. During the 14th session of Gama Samaga Pilisandara programme held in the Hikkaduwa DS Division, Prez responded to the controversial remarks made by SJB MP Ashok Abeysinghe recently. MP Abeysinghe had claimed that Prez Rajapaksa, former Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Avant-Garde chairman more..

Mar 13 (Island) Minister Dullas Alahapperuma recently instructed CEB officials to remove utility poles erected in an ad hoc manner and paint them white to prevent motorists from crashing into them at night. CEB officials have been instructed to hold discussions with RDA officials on the matter. These instructions were given at Ministerial Consultative Committee on Power, when members told Alahapperuma that utility poles tended to stay where they were even when roads are widened. more..

Mar 13 (DM) Current school curricula are outdated and they are not designed to fit the society, Education Minister G.L. Pieris said. Minister said the whole education system in the country had to be changed in order to help develop the personality of the children. "A complete educational reform did not take place in the country in the past 20 years," he said. Therefore, the Ministry had decided to launch a Digital Platform for Complete Education Reform on March 26, the Minister said. more..

Mar 13 (AD) Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekara says he has signed the Cabinet paper banning the burqa in SL. His remarks came during an event held at Munasinghe Aramaya in Kalutara today. Explaining the reason for the move, Minister said the burqa directly affects the national security of the country. �We had a lot of Muslim friends when we were little. But Muslim females did not wear the burqa back then.� more..

Mar 13 (Island) The CEB has not repaired the 154 MW Kelanitissa Combined Cycle Power Plant for 18 months and the unexplained delays in implementing power projects were part of a plan to make the CEB purchase emergency power, CEB Technological Engineers and Superintendents Union (CEBTESU) Chairman AGG Nishantha said. CEB technicians had damaged the Turbine Rotor of the plant when they attempted to install it without checking its equilibrium in August 2019, he said. more..

Mar 13 (EN) SL has asked vehicle importers to come up with a plan such as a quota or alternative foreign exchange financing to consider relaxing an import ban slapped in 2020. SL slapped import controls and completely banned motor cars, which are taxed at high rates, after record money printing triggered currency depreciation and a steady erosion of forex reserves. Importers of brand new and used cars had met the Finance Ministry and asked for relaxation of the import control this week. more..

Mar 13 (HT) Indian PM Narendra Modi and Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa spoke on Saturday and discussed issues relevant to the bilateral and multilateral cooperation, including the coronavirus pandemic, a govt statement said. The leaders �reviewed topical developments and the ongoing cooperation between both countries in bilateral and multilateral forums.� �They agreed to maintain regular contact between relevant officials, more..

Mar 13 (ST) A fuller bench of SL�s Supreme Court (more than five judges) has been tasked with deciding on an issue of whether a bank can sell off a property owned by a shareholder of the borrowing company that was offered as mortgage in lieu of a loan in a situation where the bank is unable to recover the loan. The issue was referred to a fuller bench after a 3-judge bench of the Court examined a case where a borrower is seeking an injunction against DFCC Bank to prevent it auctioning more..

Mar 13 (AD) An extraordinary gazette notification containing new regulations to rehabilitate the individuals who surrenders or is taken into custody over extremist activities has been issued on Friday (12). The regulations were made by Prez Rajapaksa under Section 27 of Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, No. 48 of 1979. The regulations may be cited as Prevention of Terrorism (De-Radicalization from holding violent extremist religious ideology) Regulations No. 1 of 2021, more..

Mar 13 (AD) It is China�s consistent stand that the national flag is a country�s symbol that must be fully respected, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo stressed in a statement published on Friday (12). Carpets and footwear displaying the SL national flag had been made available for sale on Amazon, one of the world�s leading online consumer goods retailers. The Sri Lanka Flag Non-Slip Doormat had been priced at USD 12 more..

Mar 13 (TM) HSBC Colombo Fashion Week Summer Edition announced fashion in a new environment in 2021. The theme for this year�s event will be Circularity in Fashion. HSBC Colombo Fashion Week, popularly known as CFW, in its 18th year introduces an important aspect of sustainability, which is an urgent need around the world to make circularity in fashion work. This year, HSBC Colombo Fashion Week will see 21 designers who are set to showcase their collections over a period of more..

Mar 13 (FT) An expert committee has been appointed to formulate the National Trade Policy, Minister Bandula Gunawardena told the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Trade Affairs. UGC Chairman Professor Sampath Amaratunga has been appointed as the Chairman of this expert committee, he said. Its office will be located at the BMICH premises. Committee will obtain views and recommendations from the public within the next few weeks on the new National Trade Policy. more..

Mar 13 (ST) A landmark event to boost organ donations from deceased donors and give a fresh lease of life to numerous men, women and children, who have no other option but wait in hope for such an organ, was held without much fanfare recently. The very first colourful National Organ Donor Card being presented to the Health Ministry Secretary, Major-Gen Sanjeewa Munasinghe on Feb 19 at the Sri J'pura General Hospital (SJGH) more..

Mar 13 (CT) Dept of National Botanic Gardens has added three new plant species that are at risk of extinction to the National Red List of 2020, with the aim of conserving them. Director General of the Dept of National Botanic Gardens, Dr. Shelomi Krishnarajah, said the three plants that will be added to the list are Rinorea bengalensis, Rinorea decora, and Crudia zeylanica. Five plants were added to the extinction list in 2012 and in a span of eight years it has been possible to find three of them. more..

Mar 13 (NR) SJB claims the company charged over the alleged sugar tax fraud is also involved in fraud related to the importation of coconut oil. MP Champika Ranawaka said the Ministry of Finance issued a special Gazette notification in July 2020, drastically reducing the tax imposed on the importation of coconut oil. MP said thereafter the relevant company had imported a large stock of coconut oil adding however that the price of coconut oil did not decrease in the local market. more..

Mar 13 (EN) The Former Secretary to the PM Saman Ekanayake has filed a Fundamental Rights Petition in the Supreme Court seeking a stay order against the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on alleged political victimisation which has recommended legal action against him. Ekanayake�s lawyers said the PCoI recommended action against the former Secretary for his role in setting up Anti-Corruption unit more..

Mar 13 (EN) Prez Rajapaksa wants elections to Provincial Councils held soon either under the old Law or under the proposed new Act with its complications removed, a statement issued by the Presidential Secretariat said. The statement was issued after the Prez met with the Association of Provincial Council Members of the ruling SLPP at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday. Prez had said that the Amended Provincial Councils Act which included a new delimitation of constituencies, more..

Mar 13 (AD) A man has been arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) for promoting Wahhabism and Jihadist ideology in the country. As per reports, the arrest was made in the area of Dematagoda on Friday (12). The suspect has been identified as Rasheed Hajjul Akbar who is a resident of Mawanella area, DIG Ajith Rohana said. It was revealed that he had served as the chairman of Jamaat-e-Islami Organization for many years. The 60-year-old is also a close relative of more..