Mar 2 (FT) Spurred on by the Govt�s import restrictions, local manufacturers are stepping up with about 140 new proposals, worth an estimated Rs. 48 billion, currently under evaluation by the Industries Ministry, Industries Ministry Secretary Anusha Pelpita said. He that the multitude of new ventures has left officials scrambling for land, as all zones within the Western Province are mostly operating at capacity. more..

Mar 2 (FT) Total COVID-19 fatalities in the country rose to 476 with health authorities confirming five COVID-19 deaths yesterday. A 73-year-old individual from Ganemulla tested positive for COVID-19 at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital and was transferred to the Pimbura Base Hospital, where she died of COVID pneumonia and gallbladder cancer yesterday. A 75-year-old individual from Pujapitiya also died yesterday. She was admitted to the Teldeniya Base Hospital after testing positive more..

Mar 2 (FT) Land Valuation Indicator (LVI) for the Colombo District increased by 4.6% on year-on-year basis to 145.2 during the second half of 2020. However, the percentage level of increase of LVI was in line with the declining trend observed over the recent periods. In addition, the LVI recorded an increase of 2.5% for the second half of 2020, compared to the first half of 2020. All sub-indicators of LVI, namely Residential LVI, Commercial LVI and Industrial LVI, contributed to overall increase. more..

Mar 2 (FT) Wages Board yesterday cleared the way to gazette the Rs. 1,000 daily wage for plantation workers after considering nearly 200 complaints against the move from both the tea and rubber sectors. Labour Commissioner General Prabath Chandrakeerthi said that the 19 members of the Wages Board heard 179 complaints from Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) and 18 others from the rubber industry, against more..

Mar 2 (FT) Panasian Power PLC (PAP), has recently commissioned a 3 MW ground solar plant in Matara, worth a total investment of Rs. 420 million. Panasian Power is the equity investor and led all aspects of the construction including in-house engineering, design, site acquisition, acquiring permissions, simulation and procurement. Panasian Power also took the lead in securing Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) for the project. PAP used the latest Trina bifacial solar panels, more..

Mar 2 (TM) Govt and CB initiated various policy measures during 2020, aiming at triggering economic activities, ensuring livelihoods, and preserving the stability of the country�s financial system. These policy measures included loan moratoriums, reduction of policy rates, lowering of the statutory reserve requirement for licensed commercial banks, restricting importation of non-essential items, and offering various incentives to attract foreign funding sources into more..

Mar 2 (ST) The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has called for international proposals to deploy a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) and a mooring system for liquefied natural gas (LNG) even before the Asian Development Bank (ADB) released the feasibility study it funded for the project. Feasibility studies map out the pros and cons of undertaking a costly initiative before investing time and money into it. more..

Mar 2 (CT) Chief Secretary of the Asgiriya Chapter Most Venerable Dr. Medagama Dhammananda Thera said, the country�s Buddhist clergy will support the decision taken by the Catholics to mark next Sunday (7) as Black Sunday, as justice has not been meted out to them following the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks. He stated commemorating the coming Sunday as Black Sunday was wholly justified and acceptable considering the long delay in bringing perpetrators behind the carnage to book. more..

Mar 2 (SLN) Reaffirmed strongly with the necessity of the continuation of National Security Adviser (NSA)-level meeting between India, SL and Maldives, a secretariat for trilateral National Security Advisers on Maritime Security Cooperation was formed under the auspices of Secretary of Defence, General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne at the Navy Headquarters today (1). Based on an agreement reached at the 04th NSA -level trilateral meeting hosted in Colombo on 28th Nov 2020 with more..

Mar 2 (Island) JVP�s youth wing Socialist Youth Union alleged that around 10,000 acres of forests had been cleared since the new govt came to power. National Organizer of the SYU Eranga Gunasekera said development did not mean increasing the number of concrete buildings at the expense of the environment. �We received information that Dahaiyagala forest in Thanamalwila was being cleared on Jan 30. more..

Mar 2 (EN) SL�s quarterly income tax filed for the 2020 last final quarter had exceeded the 2019 number, despite lower rates showing that economic activity was starting to pick-up and some tax payers had also opened new files, Treasury Secretary S R Attygalle said. Corporate and personal income taxes collected in Feb 2020, relating to incomes earned in the fourth quarter of 2019 had been 61 billion rupees. But income taxes paid in Feb 2021, relating to the earnings of the Dec 2020 quarter more..

Mar 2 (CT) Tsunami Baby 81 alias Jeyaraj Abilash, a resident of Kalmunai, sat for the 2020 GCE O/L Exam 2020, which kicked off yesterday. Abilash came to prominence after going missing due to the impact of the Boxing Day tsunami tragedy 17 years ago. Upon his discovery no fewer than nine women came forward to lay claim to him as their missing son. After having paid his respects to the tsunami memorial, erected at his residence in Kaluthawla along with his parents, more..

Mar 2 (FT) The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday accused the Govt of dragging their feet on issuing regulations for the burial of COVID-19 deaths and appealed for the Govt to fast track issuance of relevant guidelines. SJB MP S.M. Marikkar warned delays by the Health Ministry to issue the much-awaited guidelines regarding the burial of the COVID-19 dead could lead to more resentment & tensions between communities. more..

Mar 2 (CT) Education Minister, Prof. G.L. Peiris said 38 COVID-19 positive candidates who faced the GCE O/L Exam, yesterday (1), were accommodated in special examination centres. He said examinations were held methodically, adding that over 40 special examination centres islandwide were set up to facilitate students in emergency health situations, adding that steps have also been taken to facilitate candidates who face several other difficulties. more..

Mar 2 (CT) A former Sri Lankan Test cricketer has been summoned to appear before Court today on allegations of match-fixing during the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2020, which was held on August in Hambantota. The former cricketer has been summoned as part of investigations into alleged attempts to fix a match in the LPL 2020. He has been accused of reaching out to players, and of failing to cooperate with ongoing investigations into the allegations. more..

Mar 2 (FT) The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) instructed authorities in the education sector to implement an infrastructure development plan for Govt schools which have less than 200 students, within the next four months. The Committee heard that there are 5,161 schools in the country with less than 200 students and both students and teachers face many problems due to inadequate facilities. more..

Mar 2 (Island) Convenor of the Jaffna Civil Society Centre Arun Siddarth together with a group of like-minded people commenced a walk from Dondra to Point Pedro yesterday to promote racial harmony and national unity Siddarth alleged that it was local politicians, foreign powers and a few overseasbased organisations that had created mistrust and division between Sinhalese and Tamils in the country. Naming a few of these foreign based organisations he said that LTTE had plundered Tamil more..

Mar 2 (DM) SL�s vehicle importers have called on the govt to pay heed to their concerns, and stressed it is time to conceptualize a plan to rescue the automobile imports sector from collapsing. Vehicle Importers Association of SL (VIASL) asserted that intervention is sought from the highest level to revoke the current import ban on vehicles. VIASL official said that while it is understood the ban cannot be lifted completely, it is expected from the govt to allow vehicle imports at least for more..

Mar 2 (Island) Indian Air Force planes have arrived in Sri Lanka to take part in an aerobatic display at Galle Face. SL Air Force is celebrating its 70th Anniversary today March 02 and the presentation of the President�s Colours to the No. 5 Fighter Squadron and No. 6 Helicopter Squadron of the SL Air Force. To commemorate this historical event, a fly past and an aerobatic display is also being organised for the first time in SL more..

Mar 2 (FT) With the start of the UNHRC sessions in Geneva on 22 Feb, several commentators have expressed opinions as to how Sri Lanka should address the issues raised in the Report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Others, some with extremely impressive credentials, have been more specific and confined themselves to issues relating to accountability. The prevailing perception is that domestic legal provisions are inadequate to address issues relating to accountability more..

Mar 2 (FT) Sri Lanka needs not only India�s vote but its active support � the Indian umbrella to be unfurled�in Geneva next month. The carefully calibrated statement by the Indian representative on the OHCHR Report clearly declares before the international community, Delhi�s commitment both to Sri Lanka�s unity and territorial integrity as well as to the aspirations of the Tamil people, meaningful devolution and the full implementation of the 13th Amendment. more..

Mar 2 (Island) JVP has torn the Easter Sunday PCoI report to shreds. Its leaders have picked many holes in the document, and their arguments are tenable. Their position is that the PCoI has served no useful purpose as it has failed to identify the masterminds of the terror strikes. One cannot but agree with them on this score. JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has gone a step further; he has demanded to know why Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was the PM at the time of the Easter Sunday more..

Mar 2 (DN) Total vehicle registrations have fallen to 3,256 units in January down from 4,478 units the previous month and 34,475 units 12 months ago. JB Securities say for the analysis from Jan 2019 to Jan 2021 they had to update their database to accommodate a new category called locally assembled vehicles that were previously not in the RMV data feed. In the brand-new car segment of the 40 units registered in January, 27 units were Zotye � Z100 down from 48 units the previous month, more..

Mar 2 (IT) India has been urging Sri Lanka to implement and enforce the 13th amendment of its Constitution ever since the country's war with Tamil separatists ended in 2009. At the ongoing session of the UNHRC in Geneva, India said that it supports its neighbour's "unity and territorial integrity" and remains committed to "aspirations of the Tamils of Sri Lanka for equality, justice, peace and dignity". more..

Mar 2 (DM) The woman, suspected to have mercilessly assaulted an infant, and the incident was witnessed in video footage circulated on social media platforms, was arrested last morning in Jaffna, DIG Ajith Rohana said. He said the woman (24) who was involved in that savagery was the eight-month-old boy's mother. DIG Rohana said the police have begun an investigation into this barbaric act after a video footage in social media brought this incident to light. more..

Mar 2 (DM) Despite the pall of gloom which engulfed the world, last year, the only silver cloud which surrounded Lanka was the highest ever recorded level of cinnamon exports, which stood at US 38.2 Billion for 2020 for 18, 722 tonnes. Cinnamon exports have performed extremely well in 2020 even with the Covid 19 lockdown. If not for Covid disturbance to production, transport, delays in shipments due non availability of containers and the shortage of high priced higher grades more..

Mar 2 (AD) The Colombo Magistrate�s Court today rejected the anticipatory bail application filed by former cricketer Sachithra Senanayake, seeking to prevent his arrest over match-fixing allegations. The former SL cricketer is accused of attempting to fix matches in the 2020 Lanka Premier League (LPL) T20 tournament. The Lanka Premier League was held from Nov 27 to Dec 17, 2020 in Hambantota. more..

Mar 2 (FT) Court of Appeal has ordered that the revision bail applications filed by former Director of the CID Shani Abeysekara and former Sub Inspector of CID Sugath Rohana Mendis attached to the Embilipitiya Police be summoned on 17 March. The petitions were called before a panel of Appeal Court Judges comprising justices Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and R. Gurusinghe on Monday. Attorney-at-Law Viran Corea, appearing for the petitioner, requested the court give more..

Mar 2 (AD) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa has given directives to include the subject of health in the draft of new Constitution as a closed service that operates under the Central Govt. The directives came after a request made by the chief of Govt Medical Officers� Association (GMOA) Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya during a discussion held at the Temple Trees. The problems faced by health workers and the solutions put forward by the GMOA for the relevant issues were taken up at the meeting, more..

Mar 2 (AD) It has been revealed that the decapitated body of a woman found in a suitcase at Dam Street had been transported from Hanwella all the way to Colombo in a Hanwella-Pettah (143) bus. The footage of the suspect who had brought the suitcase to that location had been caught in a nearby CCTV camera. It shows the suspect, wearing a face mask, dragging the suitcase along the road before leaving it on more..

Mar 2 (Island) Haritha Hansana from Denipitiya Primary School beat all nine opponents to emerge as the champion of the Inaugural CFSL Online Under-12 Championship on Sunday. Hansana beat Krithik Koneshwaran, Methan Sritharan, Asini Gamage, S. Fairooz, B.A.M. Arachchi, Sithum Pahasara, Pamok Samaranayake, Sasula Pathirana and S.S.L.N. Dandeniya to remain unbeaten throughout the tourney. Hansana who won the National Youth Under-10 title in 2019 more..

Mar 2 (AD) A decision has been taken to bury the bodies of COVID-19 victims in Iranaitivu, stated Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. According to Minister Rambukwella, a plot of land in Iranitivu in Kilinochchi District has been identified for this purpose. Pointing out that a gazette notification has been issued regarding COVID-19 deaths, the Minister stated that the decision was taken during the discussion held yesterday (01) regarding the action being taken in this regard. more..

Mar 2 (EN) Health Ministry expects to vaccinate university students against Covid 19 virus as groups starting from 4th-year students to restore normal activities of the universities in the country, Chairman of the UGC Prof Sampath Amaratunga said. He said that Prez had also instructed the Health Ministry to vaccinate about 5800 medical students including the medical students in the Kotelawala Defence Uni more..

Mar 2 (Island) The killing of fishing cats (Prionailurus viverrinus) is on the rise countrywide mainly because they resemble leopard cubs. They also end up as road kill. The Sinhala term for fishing cats�� Handun Diviya��gives the jitters to many villagers who fear that the animals are leopards and a threat to them, according to researcher cum conservationist Chaminda Jayasekara. Following the death of a farmer in a leopard attack recently, fishing cats are also being increasingly targeted and more..

Mar 2 (FT) Central Bank is likely to keep policy rates unchanged this week, First Capital Research said yesterday, though it backed slashing them further to improve slow consumer demand and sustain the secondary market at lower levels. Releasing their pre-policy analysis, First Capital Research said among the arguments against further relaxation in monetary policy was that high-frequency indicators point to retrenchment in economic activity. Reversing downward trend witnessed in recent months, more..

Mar 2 (DM) Concerns are raised whether pressure was exerted on Investigation Officers of the Ministry of Education Western Province who were in the process of preparing a report regarding the questionable activities of a principal of a school in Western Province in connection with grade one admissions. This school principal is alleged to have manipulated the procedure of admitting students to grade one. more..

Mar 2 (AD) Sri Lanka Air Force today (March 2) celebrates its 70th anniversary as the Guardians of the Skies. To coincide with the anniversary, a total of 7,757 air force personnel including 467 officers from different ranks have been promoted to their next higher rank. As part of anniversary celebrations, a wide range of events have been arranged including a ceremonial fly past and aerobatics display in the skies off Galle Face Green from the 3rd to 5th of March. more..

Mar 2 (FT) The Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) has called an emergency board meeting to evaluate and approve power purchases to ensure uninterrupted power supply, PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said. He said that the public should not be concerned about any moves to institute power cuts by the CEB, as the regulator was moving ahead with plans to approve emergency power purchases. �A board meeting has already been called for early next week, more..

Mar 2 (AD) West Container Terminal (WCT) of the Colombo Port is approved to be developed as a Public-Private Limited Company in partnership with India�s Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ Consortium) along with its local representative John Keells Holding PLC (APSEZ Consortium), and SL Ports Authority (SLPA). On Feb 1, the Cabinet decided to develop WCT as a Public-Private Limited Company more..