Nov 28 (ST) Startling revelations have emerged on alleged procedural irregularities in awarding the Justice Ministry tender for the design, supply, implementation and maintenance of a Court Automation System in SL. This project envisages automating the Court hearing process and related activities with key modules of e-filing, case management and transcription along with other related sub-modules, officials said, more..

Nov 28 (SO) CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said the economy will notch around six percent growth next year following a re-bounce in the tourism sector boosting foreign exchange inflows to the country. At the media briefing on the monetary policy stance last week, Cabraal said there is no need to seek a bailout from the IMF if debt restructuring is done scientifically. The former regime had opted for a program with the global lender as the value of Int'l Sovereign Bonds (ISBs) had shot up more..

Nov 28 (Island) The Access Group consists of some of the country�s pioneering and innovative companies that have contributed to SL�s corporate landscape. Access Projects is among them � they commenced their own unique journey into creating iconic buildings with their flagship Access Towers 25 years ago. At the time, it was a unique building with its own footprint. Heading the Access Projects is Managing Director Dilshan Ferdinando who has been associated with creating more..

Nov 28 (ST) Crescat Boulevard shopping mall, adjoining the Cinnamon Grand hotel, re-opened its doors on Nov 19 after an extensive refurbishment in time for seasonal shopping. The newly revamped mall features sleek, enhanced interiors and fresh shopping and dining experiences within the well-loved and familiar venue in the heart of the city, the company said in a media release. �As one of the pioneering shopping malls in the city, Crescat Boulevard holds fond memories for more..

Nov 28 (Island) Tourism industry veteran M. Shanthikumar was elected to head The Hotels Association of SL (THASL) following his appointment as the President of the association on Thursday at THASL�s 56th anniversary celebrations held at Taj Samudra. Shanthikumar takes over the leadership from Mount Lavinia Group Chairman Sanath Ukwatte whose term ended. Shanthikumar said: �The hotel sector investment in Sri Lanka is by far the highest in the Tourism Industry more..

Nov 28 (TM) Regardless of state-run Airport and Aviation Services SL (AASL) incurring a loss of Rs. 1,792 million up to August 2021, it is confident that by February/March 2022, its revenue would be revived to pre-pandemic levels. AASL Chief Operations Director Shehan Sumanasekara stated that the target of achieving the pre-pandemic revenue level is highly plausible due to the revised health measures they have taken, more..

Nov 28 (ST) CIPM Sri Lanka, the country�s leader in human resource management, has announced a line-up of 53 international and 11 local speakers including Chairpersons, CEOs, and General Managers of top SL blue-chip companies together with leading academics in SL who will share their knowledge and insights at the World HR Congress 2021. The World HR Congress will be held in virtual mode from Dec 6 to 8 on the theme Exalting People Professionals Amidst a Planetary Pandemic:, more..

Nov 28 (ST) SLC yesterday confirmed that seven members of the national women�s team, including six players, tested positive for COVID-19 during the ICC World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe, one of the countries where the new COVID-19 variant Omicron has been detected. ICC called off the tournament after some countries imposed travel restrictions on visitors from a number of African nations, including host Zimbabwe, following the discovery of a new COVID-19 variant in South Africa. more..

Nov 28 (ST) Tight security was maintained throughout the Northern Province yesterday with temporary checkpoints and patrolling of military personnel in streets as residents and organised groups held events to commemorate those killed in the separatist war. Remembrance events were mostly held in homes and in a few selected public places with people lighting oil lamps and candles to remember the dead. more..

Nov 28 (CI) Be precise and decisive with your footwork against spin. Oh, and don't drop catches off Dimuth Karunaratne. Nkrumah Bonner, who top-scored for WI with 68 not out off 220 said the above would help his team be more competitive in the second Test. Bonner was one of only two West Indies batters to cross fifty in the first Test, the other being Joshua da Silva, with whom he was involved in a 100-run stand. Pitch for 2nd Test is expected to be just as spin-friendly as the first. more..

Nov 28 (UCAN) As SL�s High Court began the trial of 25 men accused of plotting the Easter Sunday terror attack, a Catholic leader repeated his demand for further investigation to reveal a suspected larger plot linked to the atrocity. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo demanded to know the real culprits behind the serial blasts, suggesting attempts to cover up the crime. "I urge all Catholics to stand together until the issue is resolved," he said on Nov. 23, asking all Catholic priests and nuns to prioritize more..

Nov 28 (EN) Prez Rajapaksa has warned of unpopular measures ahead as unprecedented fiscal and monetary stimulus has shattered the country�s external sector, putting pressure on the rupee and depleting forex reserves. Sri Lanka is among countries in the world that has handled the Coronavirus better than most, keeping exports up and vaccination levels, boosted by Chinese vaccines are higher than many developed nations. more..

Nov 28 (Island) The main opposition SJB warned the govt to get ready to face more charges at the next UNHRC sessions in Geneva of not doing justice to the Easter Sunday victims. Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella, speaking during the committee stage of the budget, said on Thursday that the govt has to face eight major human rights allegations against it in Geneva. The newest of these would be the allegation of not doing justice to the Easter Sunday victims. more..

Nov 28 (Island) Sections of the CEB Engineers Union (CEBEU) have amid rumbles of a blackout over the New Fortress Energy (NFE) deal say that all decisions taken by the President and Executive Committee of the CEBEU since Aug 31 are null and void because their mandate to hold office has already expired, CEB sources said. They said no AGM had been held this year as required by the union constitution despite ample opportunity to hold one. It requires the union president and more..

Nov 28 (ST) Second Reading of Budget 2021 was passed in Parliament on Monday with a thumping majority of 93 votes. A total of 153 MPs voted for the motion � a two third majority, while the Opposition could muster just 60 votes against it. On paper, it showed that the SLPP-led Govt continues to be united and enjoys overwhelming superiority in numbers in the Ninth Parliament. more..

Nov 29 (Island) A few days ago President Gotabaya Rajapaksa(GR), the first military man and, unarguably, the most ignorant in the ways of governance to occupy the presidential seat, celebrated the completion of two years as the eighth president of the Republic of Sri Lanka. The salutation coincided with the formal vesting with the Sangha, of the �Sandahiru Seya� in Anuradhapura, a project commenced during brother Mahinda�s last term as president. more..

Nov 29 (DM) Watching news in the company of a lady relative at her house, I had a feeling of shameful discomfort when I saw Tissakutti denying the use of any unparliamentarily terms, and even challenging the opposition, offering to quit politics if it was proved. The amazed elderly lady inquired as to what really transpired; and making it more embarrassing, the lady�s husband avoided involvement in the ruckus when she reprimanded me, �Aren�t you a journalist who pretends more..

Nov 29 (Roar) Sarath Lal Kumara was about 27, and newly married, when the SL govt began hunting down socialists in the country. This was during 1987 - 1989 � a period later described as the years of terror � when the Marxist JVP, today a political party, then an armed rebel group, launched its second insurgency against the govt. At the time, Kumara, then still in university, and living in Moratuwa, was pressured by his wife and more..

Nov 29 (ST) Has the law been forgotten to such an extent in Sri Lanka that individuals who happen to antagonise the politically (or militarily) powerful are being summoned to the CID on the basis that they have offended repealed laws? Does no one know what laws are in force in the country and what have been repealed? What is this colossal joke that is being inflicted upon us? In the absence of infantile foundational knowledge on the laws which may be invoked to allege that a violation more..

Nov 29 (ST) It is becoming increasingly clear that the promised vistas of prosperity and splendour are rapidly moving further distant with the govt habitually reversing gazettes that proclaim major policy decisions at the drop of a hat. This ridiculous trend has led to loss of governmental credibility beyond measure whilst these vacillations, these turnarounds faster than the spins of a weathercock in gusty winds, have set back the nation leagues from its intended destination and turned awry more..

Nov 29 (CT) The Govt is sticking to its organic farming policy and has strategically revoked the chemical fertiliser ban, saying that the private sector can import it, but the govt sector will stick to their policy of providing subsidies for organic farming, but the question remains as to how the Govt will monitor who is using which fertiliser when using chemical fertiliser or a combination of organic & chemical fertiliser producing higher yields. more..

Nov 29 (TM) The pernicious perversion of party policies for personality politics is the pervasive principle of political posterity. In SL. Last week, Prez Rajapaksa and his immediate predecessor, incumbent SLPP coalition Govt MP and SLFP Chairman Maithripala Sirisena, exchanged veiled threats on different platforms, albeit not directly at each other, but which nonetheless have the effect of boomeranging on the duo. A troubled Rajapaksa, speaking at the opening of a bridge, more..

Nov 29 (CT) There is a glimmer of hope today after nearly two years of the Coronavirus disease ravaging the country with varying intensity, the Govt trying its level best to bring it under control, despite attempts by the Opposition, putting the proverbial spanner in the works, to bring it down by hook or by crook. There is reason for being optimistic vis-�-vis the current situation in the country above all with saner counsel prevailing at last regarding the fertliser issue, Coronavirus disease afflicted more..

Nov 29 (DM) During the past two weeks, the country has witnessed around six explosions in households caused by liquid petroleum gas (LPG) as cooking fuel. At least one person has died as a result of exploding LPG cylinders. Unfortunately, up to today, the public has not been informed as to what exactly is causing the cylinders to explode. Whether it was the users� fault or that of the manufacturer, or damage caused during transit is not known. What makes these accidents scarier is the fact that more..

Nov 29 (Island) Maithripala Sirisena did not want to remain a Cabinet minister in the UPFA govt, which he left in Nov 2014 mainly because the Rajapaksas were riding roughshod over him. He ran for President and became Zorro, as it were, in SL politics by defeating Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa. But, a little over six years on, he has chosen to stomach many indignities at the hands of the Rajapaksas and remain an ordinary MP in the current SLPP administration. Zorro is back to zero. more..

Nov 29 (GV) In Terry Pratchett�s Small Gods, a god gets turned into a tortoise. Omnia is great god Om�s fief. Everyone worships him there, out of habit or in fear of his human enforcers. But no one believes in him. When belief diminishes, gods fade. Om would do anything, absolutely anything, to rekindle belief. Like the Rajapaksas. Two years after Gotabaya Rajapaksa�s spectacular victory, the Terminator appears more like a joker. more..

Nov 29 (Island) The budget speech that the Minister Basil Rajapaksa delivered in Parliament on 12 Nov was fairly structured with the following sections. That is a positive. 1. Preface. 2. �Global Challenges.� 3. Our Strengths. 4. The Challenges Before Us. 5. Policy Synopsis. 6. Development of the National Economy. 7. Revenue Proposals. 8. Macro-Economic Vision for Revival. 9. Conclusion. But its content was the question owing to boasting, half-truths, contradictions & unachievable more..

Nov 29 (CI) How do you solve a problem like Galle? Well, winning the toss and batting first would be a start. But what else can you do? The fact is, there are few grounds in world cricket where the toss plays such a significant role - on pitches that are known for taking exponential turn as the game wears on, only twice have teams batting fourth chased down a triple-digit total successfully here. On both those instances, the first by Sri Lanka in 2019 and the other by England earlier this year, more..

Nov 29 (CI) Dinesh Chandimal has had an unusual Test career. He has 11 Test hundreds, which in this side is equal to Angelo Mathews' tally, and fewer only than Dimuth Karunaratne's 13, and yet he had been left out of the XI in the previous series against Bangladesh. He is one of only two Sri Lankan batters (the other being Mathews) to average over 40, but has not had his place nailed down in the side over the past three years. more..

Nov 29 (Island) Chathurya Nilaweera of Stafford International School is set to meet top seed Thehan Wijemanne of Royal College in the men�s singles tennis final of the 106th Colombo Championships today after they won their respective semi-final matches at the SL Tennis Association courts. Both Nilaweera and Wijemanne could not proceed to the final at the 2020 edition of this championship. While Nilaweera was edged out by Wijemanne in the quarter-finals the latter suffered defeat more..

Nov 29 (ST) As SL look for a clean sweep of the 2-match Test series against West Indies, they are likely to bring in bowling all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne in place of Dushmantha Chameera for the final match starting Monday at the spin-friendly Galle cricket ground. Although they included two frontline seamers in Suranga Lakmal and Dushmantha Chameera for the opening game, it was the 3-man spin attack that undid the WI batters to give SL a comfortable win in 1st Test. more..

Nov 29 (PTI) India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka on Sunday (28), concluded a two-day maritime operation in the Indian Ocean region to keep it safe and secure including for international trade, officials said. Ships and aircraft of the navies of the three countries participated in the maiden Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) Focused Operation, the Indian Navy said. It said the three countries had participated in the fifth deputy national security advisors-level meeting of CSC on August 4 more..

Nov 29 (FT) COVID-19 vaccines were administered to 50,594 persons on Saturday, including 37,756 persons who received the booster dose. A total of 15,926,273 persons have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, 13,738,536 persons have received the second dose and 502,951 persons have received the third dose. On Saturday, the first dose of Sinopharm was administered to 1,386 persons and 8,201 persons received the second dose. In total, the first dose of Sinopharm more..

Nov 29 (FT) The $ 15 billion hotel industry is urging the Govt to give it due recognition and support to ensure that the socio-economically-critical tourism sector is revitalised sooner than later amidst multiple crises. The status quo of the hotel and tourism industry, and the challenges and opportunities it faces, were well articulated by M. Shanthikumar, new President of The Hotels Association of SL (THASL), more..

Nov 29 (Island) SL senior national squash teams took wing to Malaysia to participate in the 20th Asian Squash Team Championships to be held from Nov 30 to Dec 4. The women�s event will be taken part by eight teams while 13 teams will compete in the men�s event. The country�s men�s team will be represented by Ravindu Laksiri, Shamil Wakeel, Methmal Wood and Sheriff Hakeem while Fathoum Issadeen, Yeheni Kuruppu, Chanithma Sinaly and Dewmini Gallage form the women�s team. more..

Nov 29 (Island) Torrential rains have affected 15 districts, and one death has been reported in the Kandy District, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). DMC Deputy Director Pradeep Kodippili yesterday said that three houses had been destroyed and 81 others damaged. Thirty-seven families were sheltered at welfare centres in Kandy and Kurunegala. The MDC yesterday said that showers or thundershowers would occur countrywide after 1.00 p.m. today. more..

Nov 29 (TM) SL�s rubber exports are on track to achieve $ 1 billion in export revenue this year, making it the first time the annual rubber exports will touch the $ 1 billion mark. During the budget debate last Saturday, Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana described 2021 as a historic year for SL�s plantation industry and stated that as per forecasts, export revenue from rubber products is expected to exceed $ 1 billion for the first time in history. more..