Oct 7 (CT) MP Namal Rajapaksa has congratulated the young lady with a SL background on winning a beauty pageant in Botswana. Our politicians often rush to congratulate beauty queens. Some politicians allegedly have accompanied some beauty queens in their nocturnal and illegal visits to SL prisons. Recently, some tele- actresses had told the press, that politicians are harassing them. The beauty queen to whom Mr. Rajapaksa hurried to send his warm wishes, is in Botswana- more..

Oct 7 (CT) It�s common knowledge that the rich and powerful of the world dodge taxes and funnel wealth into secretive offshore accounts and shell companies. They have been doing this for decades and won�t show signs of stopping unless tough financial regulations are implemented worldwide. For the average citizen, tax evasion and money laundering means hefty penalties and jail time, whereas these monetary misdemeanours are merely a sport for elite as proven time & time again. more..

Oct 7 (CT) Oblivious to the passing hours, my friend sat talking in front of me. He had come all the way from Avissawella, though from the way he spoke he didn�t seem tired or flustered. Outside the rains poured and the wind blew, while inside the lights flickered every time the thunder clapped. We were talking about political reforms in the country over tea, but as is typical of such subjects, the conversation tailed off elsewhere. more..

Oct 7 (TM) Even though about six months ago, Govt took a historical decision to make SL one of the first countries to go 100% organic, as time passes by, more than concrete steps in that direction, what the country sees is poor implementation of this ambitious plan. In fact, there is great uncertainty among farmers as to whether the Govt had a proper plan in the first place, and concerns as to why farmers were hardly involved when making this decision, being the main stakeholders. more..

Oct 7 (DM) SL is a predominantly Buddhist country; hence its people are expected to be tolerant of other�s ideas. But practising this trait seems to be increasingly difficult in a country where the regime is failing to provide the people their basic needs. Cost of living is high and essential goods like rice, gas and milk powder are scarce in a market where supply no longer meets demand. It�s always a tricky challenge for any govt when the saffron robed monks back protestors in the latter�s demand more..

Oct 7 (Island) The Pandora Papers revelations have eclipsed all other issues in this country. The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption is expected to summon former Deputy Minister Nirupama Rajapaksa and her husband Thirukumar Nadesan exposed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) over controversial offshore financial transactions. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is reported to have ordered the investigation. more..

Oct 7 (Island) Your opponents and numerous self-appointed experts have been repeatedly and unfairly critical, but you and your govt deserve plaudits for the steps taken to control the COVID-19 epidemic. Of course, with the benefit of hindsight, many lapses could be found but that is the case for all countries. Maybe, more widespread testing should have been done, as some demanded, but at a time of a financial emergency complicating a medical emergency, common sense has to prevail, more..

Oct 7 (ST) Fear was a mere word for SL�s most successful and decorated sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe, until she and her entire family was tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept 13. During her career which spanned from 1994 to 2009, the Asian Black Mare came no close of encountering fear or panic. For SL�s most successful sprinter, with a tally of 18 international medals � 9 gold, 6 silver and 3 bronze � more..

Oct 7 (CT) H.M. Sisira Kumara, President of the SL Karate-Do Federation (SLKDF), was conferred the title The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays at a ceremony held at the official residence of Ambassador of Japan to SL Akira Sugiyama. The Order of the Rising Sun is the highest order conferred by the Govt of Japan, in the name of His Majesty the Emperor, on individuals who have made distinguished achievements in int'l relations & promotion of Jap. culture, among others. more..

Oct 7 (Island) Kevin Tissera, who is undertaking a PhD to develop an evidence-based approach to coaching and skills acquisition in cricket, is inviting coaches who have been in the field over the past five years to participate in a survey to understand how they are currently using feedback and technology. �I am a PhD Candidate in Sport Science at the Department of Health and Biostatistics at Swinburne University of Technology, Victoria, Australia. My project is currently exploring more..

Oct 7 (ST) To be embroiled in any sort of court case in SL is to lose time, money and sanity in the corridors of crumbling courthouses. Justice Ministry is now trying to fix that�several decades too late. Over the past one year, 5 subcommittees and 23 advisory committees have been devising ways in which to reform laws and processes to make justice more digestible. Cabinet has granted approval to a spate of changes more..

Oct 7 (FT) The monitoring mission from the European Union (EU) on its GSP+ scheme has successfully concluded its week-long visit to Sri Lanka. The mission comprising senior EU officials arrived on 27 Sept to review Sri Lanka�s progress in implementing the 27 international conventions applicable under the GSP+. The EU in a statement said these conventions, ratified by SL, covered human and labour rights, environment and climate, as well as good governance principles. more..

Oct 7 (EN) Sri Lanka�s telecom regulator will get more land to strengthen its position as a property developer and attract tourists with a water park. The cabinet of ministers had approved a proposal to transfer 4 acres, 3 roods and 24,47 perches near the tower project. Sri Lanka Telecom Regulatory Commission, which collects fees from telecom operators, had earlier engaged a Chinese contractor to build a large tower in the middle of SL�s capital Colombo called the Lotus Tower. more..

Oct 7 (DN) SL will begin their preparations for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in the UAE with a two-match series against Oman, starting in Al Amerat, Muscat today. The first match will be played as a day game at the Oman Cricket Academy Ground while the second T20 will be played on Saturday under lights. This match will be of great significance as this is the first time that the two nations are meeting in any format of cricket. Oman, coached by former SL great Duleep Mendis will have 2 star players more..

Oct 7 (TM) There are innumerable private and govt-managed institutions that run at a loss, some of them at a very big loss, usually to the govt. Some of them, like the plantations, are running at a loss due to employer-based employee problems that have an adverse impact on the productivity at these workplaces, which then have an adverse impact on the GDP-based national income. A solution that is gaining ground worldwide is the application of the solidarity principle. more..

Oct 7 (TM) An all-party meeting organised by National Movement Against Teacher-Principal Salary Anomalies (NMATPSA), was held at the Abhayarama Temple in Narahenpita yesterday to discuss the teacher-principal salary anomaly issue and for the Movement to intervene to find a fair solution to the matter. The meeting was attended by Chief Incumbent of Abhayarama Temple Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera, more..

Oct 7 (FT) Sri Lanka�s COVID-19 case count rose to 522,778 with the detection of 776 COVID-19 patients yesterday. The patients detected yesterday were from the New Year cluster. 6,505 PCR tests were conducted yesterday. On Tuesday, 5,415 PCR tests and 2,881 rapid antigen tests were carried out and 784 COVID-19 patients were detected. The detections include 762 persons from the New Year cluster, 20 persons from the Prisons cluster, and two Sri Lankan overseas arrivals. more..

Oct 7 (FT) An order has been placed for 6.8 million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to be administered as booster shots, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said in Parliament yesterday. While 14 million doses were secured, Rambukwella said it has been decided that the country required only 6.8 million doses. �The World Health Organization has issued certain recommendations for persons over the age of 65 but our health units have decided to consider over-60 age group� more..

Oct 7 (Hindu) National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India has nabbed a senior intelligence operative of the defunct LTTE in Chennai on Tuesday. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, Satkunam alias Sabesan, 47, a SL Tamil and a former member of the LTTE�s intelligence wing, had transferred a huge amount of money to former cadres or sympathisers of the outfit to revive the movement in the Island Nation. more..

Oct 7 (DM) Clarifying uncertainties in the society, Paediatrician Dr. Shaman Rajindrajith said vaccination of children does not become a prerequisite for reopening schools. Dr. Rajindrajith who is also the President of the SL College of Paediatricians and a member of the Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD) said as per the scientific research and data available right now, reopening schools does not require vaccinating all school children. more..

Oct 7 (FT) The Second Report of the Committee on Public Accounts which contains information on 16 investigations carried out by the Committee was presented to the Parliament yesterday by its Chairman Prof. Tissa Vitharana. The report focuses on the current status of the Muthurajawela wetland and human-elephant conflict among several other areas. The committee also stated that authorities should look at a mixed system that suits each area in dealing with the human-elephant conflict. more..

Oct 7 (TM) An application has been filed at the Vavuniya High Court (HC) yesterday by the legal representation of three prisoners detained at the A'pura Prison, seeking an order to summon State Minister Lohan Ratwatte over being in alleged contempt of court in connection with the latter�s reported intimidation of the said prisoners at the A'pura Prison on 12 September. These 3 prisoners are being detained under the PTA Act more..

Oct 7 (DN) Teachers are the forerunners who have the hearts to regenerate children�s education which was restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said PM Rajapaksa yesterday. PM made this observation when he joined in the function held in conjunction with the World Teachers� Day organized by the Ministry of Education, via video technology to express his good wishes. �We know that from the past our beloved teachers dedicated themselves to generating well-balanced citizens,� more..

Oct 7 (FT) Celebrating the success of its inaugural virtual AGM that took place on the 24 Sept, the SL Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) announced the election and appointment of its new Chairman Ajward Deen. The new SLGJA committee has outlined an extensive plan that intends to uplift the industry post-pandemic. Like many other industries, the COVID-19 pandemic has hit the gem and jewellery trade significantly. With approximately 800,000 to a million people dependent on more..

Oct 7 (FT) Members of the SJB yesterday filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court challenging the ban on the import of chemical fertiliser into the country. The Petitioners are SJB General Secretary MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara and former MPs Dr. Hemakumara Nanayakkara and P. Harrison. They are all members of the Samagi Govi Jana Peramuna Association. Farman Cassim, PC, will support the petition. more..

Oct 7 (DM) Referring to the Pandora Papers where Two Sri Lankans were listed over their alleged transactions, Minister Namal Rajapaksa said the relevant transactions had happened in the period from 1990 to 1998 and thus those in power during that period should express their stance. He said that there are two different viewpoints about the Pandora Papers; some say it is baseless whereas some say it is credible. �However, when I visited the website, I came to know that the relevant transactions more..

Oct 7 (CT) Teacher and principal trade unions staged protests in several locations across the island yesterday (6), demanding the Govt to provide solutions to their issues immediately. Ceylon Teachers� Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin, who took part in a protest, stressed that they will not back down from their trade union action until they get favourable solutions from the Govt. Stalin further stated that the only reason protests are continuing is because the Education Ministry more..

Oct 7 (Island) Police haven�t yet sought a statement from State Minister Lohan Ratwatte as regards a complaint lodged by the Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners, in respect of incidents at the Anuradhapura prison on the evening of Sept. 12. The civil society group, in its complaint, dated 16 Sept. to the CID, hasn�t referred to the incidents at the Welikada prison, also blamed on the then State Minister of Prison Management more..

Oct 7 (DN) Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena handed over an official identity card for the first time to school teachers and principals under the Ministry of Education at the Ministry located at Isurupaya yesterday (6) when Teachers� Day was commemorated. Up to now the Ministry of Education had not issued an official identity card to school teachers and principals. Current Minister of Education Dinesh Gunawardena took measures to adress this issue and fulfilled yesterday. more..

Oct 7 (CT) The Govt has decided to give more land to the Lotus Tower project in Colombo. Accordingly, Cabinet approved a proposal tabled by Prez Rajapaksa as the Minister of Technology to transfer land in the extent of four acres, three roods and 24.47 perches in the proximity of the tower project which belongs to the UDA to the TRC. Govt said construction activities of the Lotus Tower project are nearing completion, while the TRC is now planning the commercialisation aspect of the project. more..

Oct 7 (TM) Prez Rajapaksa instructed the CIABOC to launch an immediate investigation into the allegations against Sri Lankans implicated in the Pandora Papers file leak in connection with transactions, including the maintenance of large cash deposits. The PMD noted that the Prez has requested a report on the matter from CIABOC within a month. Presidential Secretariat Legal Affairs Director General Harigupta Rohanadheera more..

Oct 7 (FT) Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla�s visit made two things clear: Firstly, that Delhi�s seemingly non-competitive policy of laissez-faire verging on benign neglect of its strategic interests in Sri Lanka had drawn to a close. It comes in the wake of a likely South Asia/Indian Ocean review at the Quad summit at the White House recently. Secondly, the India strategy of the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration had failed in an important respect. The object of that strategy, more..

Oct 7 (DN) The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution forwarded by Prez Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Minister of Technology to expand the Communication to the Village project introduced to provide high-speed Internet connections to the entire country, Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said. He said that a survey covering all the 14,000 Grama Niladhari divisions within 25 districts in the island was conducted under the project Communication to the Village by TRC in 2019 more..

Oct 7 (FT) The unfinished struggle for transformation is revealed every now and then in SL and gets faded within a shorter period. However, the discussion between Victor and Mangala, published on paper titled Agenda for transformation comes with an alarm signal of a failed state, and the same sentiment is shared by many writers that the country becoming a failed state is inevitable. Victor has come with a forward-looking paper to address the post-failed-state scenario and the proposal more..

Oct 7 (SLN) Special operations conducted by the Navy in northwestern seas, Kiranchi beach area in Kilinochchi and Udayirputi Island in Kalpitiya, led to the recovery of about 1954kg of smuggled dried turmeric, on 06th and 07th October 2021. SLNS Vijaya in the Northwestern Naval Command managed to recover a stock of dried turmeric, in a special operation mounted upon detection of an Indian fishing vessel in Sri Lankan waters northwest of the island on 06th October. more..

Oct 7 (AD) CIABOC has issued summons to Thirukumar Nadesan, the husband of former Minister Nirupama Rajapaksa. Nadesan has been asked to appear for the Bribery Commission tomorrow morning. A series of financial documents released on October 03 exposed the secret offshore wealth and dealings of hundreds of world leaders, politicians and billionaires. Former Minister Nirupama Rajapaksa�s name was also more..

Oct 7 (EN) Two key school-level examinations that had previously been rescheduled due to the COVID-19 epidemic have been postponed once again, a govt minister said. State Minister of Education Reforms Susil Premajayantha told parliament on Thursday (7) that the Grade 5 scholarship and the GCE A/L exams that were scheduled to commence on Nov 14 and 15 respectively have been postponed indefinitely to allow time for their respective syllabi to be covered for the students to prepare. more..