Feb 21 (Island) Two landmark achievements of the Chinese people during the last decade were the alleviation of abject poverty and the new Silk Road Economic Project (Belt and Road Initiative). China lifted 800 million people out of abject poverty. More than one hundred countries have gained entry to BRI, President of the Commemorative Committee of the 65th Anniversary of SL � China Diplomatic Relations Dew Gunasekara, has told an event held recently at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, more..

Feb 21 (AD) The PUCSL has directed the CEB to adjust island-wide rotational power cuts today to facilitate the ongoing G.C.E. A/L exam. Accordingly, two-hour interruptions to the electricity supply will be experienced between 4.30 p.m. and 10.30 p.m. today, PUCSL chairman Janaka Ratnayake said. Yesterday, the electricity sector regulator stated that approval was given for scheduled power cuts for today Feb. 21 on the request of the CEB, due to inadequate electricity generation. more..

Feb 21 (FT) Opens up in Saudi Arabia; Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Kuwait to follow Spa Ceylon Ayurveda Wellness � the world�s largest luxury Ayurveda chain, has opened its first Middle Eastern location at the prestigious Mall of Arabia in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; commencing their strategic entry to the highly lucrative wellness and beauty markets in the GCC region. Planned Middle Eastern expansion will see new locations opening in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in UAE, Muscat in Oman & in Kuwait. more..

Feb 21 (CI) Offspinner Ashian Daniel has ridden his excellent List A form into the Sri Lanka men's T20I squad for India, but there continues to be no room for middle-order batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who has again been omitted due to lagging fitness standards. Daniel is the only new addition to the squad that has just wrapped up a T20I series in Australia, losing 4-1. Three players picked up injuries during that series, more..

Feb 21 (CT) State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said it is important for Sri Lanka to implement a code of ethics for social media to stop the country from gaining an unfavorable reputation internationally. The Minister also said that he is prepared to stage a strong protest against those who use social media to fool the public and tarnish the country�s image. �In a recent tweet, an MP representing the Northern and Eastern Provinces claimed that his party�s activists were abducted in white vans. more..

Feb 21 (ABP) AIADMK Coordinator and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam has written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to intervene in the issue of the participation of Indian devotees at St. Anthony's church in SL's Katchatheevu. Panneerselvam on Saturday said that according to reports, the festival is to be held on March 11 and 12, and the SL Govt has decided to conduct the festival without the participation of the devotees, which includes fishermen from both India more..

Feb 21 (EN) Ministry of Justice has launched a Justice Reform (JURE) programme, with 19 million Euros worth of funding from the European Union and the United Nations, to be implemented in four and a half years. The aim of the programme is to build a �modern, efficient and inclusive justice sector in SL through innovative reforms, digital transformation and strengthened institutions, paving the way towards enhanced social cohesion more..

Feb 21 (Island) Top constitutional lawyer Manohara de Silva, PC says the Human Rights Commission of SL has absolutely no right to interfere in national security matters. The lawyer said so when The Island sough his opinion on the HRCSL�s call for abolition of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Manohara, who is also a member of the nine -member team engaged in drafting the new Constitution said: �That�s not their business. If there is any clause which is against any UN more..

Feb 21 (CT) Minister Johnston Fernando instructed ministry officials to build a car park under the flyover from Malay Street to Salve Island Railway Station that is currently under construction. Instructions were given by the Minister during his inspection tour on Saturday to observe the progress of two flyovers at Justice Akbar Mawatha and Uttarananda Mawatha in a bid to eliminate heavy traffic in Colombo. The flyover at Justice Akbar Mawatha is to be constructed at an elevation more..

Feb 21 (AD) CPC says that the country�s daily fuel requirement has increased significantly. CPC chairman Sumith Wijesinghe said that the demand for diesel, which was 5,500 metric tonnes per week, has now increased to 8,000 metric tonnes. He also said that the demand for petrol has increased from 3,000 metric tonnes to 4,500 metric tonnes. Pointing out that this is a serious situation, the Chairman said that necessary steps should be taken immediately to control this situation. more..

Feb 21 (TM) Prez Rajapaksa is to meet leading tycoons in the country today (21). President�s Spokesperson Kingsley Rathnayaka said that the meeting has been scheduled to be held at the Presidential Secretariat and would compromise of all leading businessmen in the community. �The meeting will be held between the President and the business community. Leading businessmen are to be attending. Details pertaining to the purpose of the meeting has not been revealed though,� more..

Feb 21 (Island) TNA and the GTF, in a joint statement issued in Colombo and London over the weekend, declared that they looked forward to directly engaging the TN govt and further strengthening the engagement with the govt of India in line with overall efforts to settle the Tamil national question in SL. Tamil people in SL aspire to a degree of self-rule in the areas of their historic habitation (N&E) and believe this empowerment more..

Feb 21 (CT) Uni professors and lecturers have expressed appreciation of the Govt�s efforts to lay the foundations for a common law in the country, based on a concept that has not been implemented in any other country before. Presidential Task Force for One Country, One Law sought the views of university academics at the BMICH on 19 Feb. Deans, doctors, professors and scholars representing 18 universities including Colombo, Ruhuna, J'pura, Jaffna, South Eastern, more..

Feb 21 (DM) SL economy will suffer further blows if the UNHRC manages to adopt another resolution on the island nation, SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne said. He said that SL is already in a bad wicket when it comes to the UNHRC sessions that would begin on Feb 27, 2022 with the developments on the Easter Sunday attacks and the disclosures made by former Intelligence Officer Shani Abeysekera in his petition which was filed recently. �SL�s economy will be affected if a resolution against SL is adopted. more..

Feb 21 (DM) Sri Lanka�s stock index plunged 4.47% on Monday to its lowest since Oct 2020 as margin calls on declining shares and economic woes visibly kicked in the form of power cuts and fuel shortage weighed on investor sentiment. All Share Price Index (ASPI), closed 542 points lower at 11,591.37 points, its lowest since Oct 5, 2021. The index has lost 5.9% so far this year and 10.2% so far for the month despite more..

Feb 21 (DM) The UNP today called for a fresh probe on the disclosures made by former CID Director Shani Abeysekera on the Easter Sunday attack. UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardene who made this request at a press conference said a fresh probe should be conducted by a committee which all political parties could agree to. �Mr. Abeysekera has disclosed that he had not obtained the assistance of state intelligence apparatus, while Former Prez Maithripala Sirisena turned down a request more..

Feb 21 (TM) A society where women and children are respected must be established for a country to move forward said Minister of Mass Media Dullas Alahapperuma. �Education must be of priority. Do you see youth in other countries going behind ministers and attending political canvassing to get a job? No, this is because those countries ensure that the standard of education is very high and all people are literate enough to earn a living for themselves or learn a trade. more..

Feb 22 (DM) Politics seems to become gradually violent again. A seminar held by the NPP, JVP-led coalition in Kalagedihena was attacked by a group of thugs with stones and eggs on Jan 30. SLFP Member of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), Pradeep Jayewardene who is also the grandson of former President J.R. Jayewardene was attacked with chilli powder and rotten eggs at a committee meeting held on Jan 31. The situation showed a trend and becoming more virulent when more..

Feb 22 (DM) The first headline refers to a statement made by the Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) inter-alia that the CPC had frequently demanded price hikes but the Govt had refused to increase fuel prices. In the said article the Chairman further states that he is in the hope that the Govt will favourably consider the situation and affect a price increase, suggesting that govt intervention in preventing a price hike will definitely affect the profitability of the CPC. more..

Feb 22 (SO) The country is currently facing a crisis in the power sector. This is, however, not blamed on the Covid-19 pandemic. Non-commissioning of major power projects for the past seven years, in keeping with the long term generation expansion plan of the CEB, is held accountable for the present state of affairs leading to scheduled as well as sudden power outages island-wide. The biggest share of the blame falls more..

Feb 22 (DM) We are caught in the worst catastrophe ever, in our post independent history and it is not devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic alone as explained by rational minds. Covid-19 certainly pushed the crisis further, growing deeper by the year. Our crisis was due to import-export trade gap that was never bridged and was increasing while previous govts especially during the past 2 decades went on a borrowing spree for mega unsolicited projects that never brought any income. more..

Feb 22 (TM) It was reported recently that the TNA and Global Tamil Forum (GTF) had expressed fears about the possibility of a new Constitution further weakening the status of the Tamil people by abolishing or weakening the provincial councils, which, according to them, is the only constitutional power devolution arrangement Tamil people achieved with direct Indian involvement. They have also said in a statement that they are expecting the guidance and support of India, more..

Feb 22 (TM) Even though the Govt is attempting to amend the controversial Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act No. 48 of 1979 (PTA) through the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) (Amd) Bill, and is maintaining that these amendments are a solution to the issues with the PTA, the Bill does not seem to be receiving much support or approval. Human rights activists, legal professionals did not welcome more..

Feb 22 (Island) Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and ex-IGP Pujith Jayasundara may be thanking their lucky stars and lawyers for their acquittal in the Easter Sunday carnage cases, but, in the opinion of some legal experts, it is the Attorney General�s Dept, which is notorious for botching up prosecutions, that they should be thankful to. While heaving sighs of relief, they must be regretting having ever accepted the posts they held at the time of the Easter Sunday tragedy. more..

Feb 22 (CT) This newspaper, in an article published yesterday quoting Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila, said the country may run out of fuel very soon and that the main reasons were petrol being supplied at a concessionary rate to the public and fuel as a whole being sold at a significantly lower rate than the purchase rate. Raising a red flag, he also revealed that the CPC owes two State Banks US$ 3,700 mil. Minister said the cost of fuel imports will be borne by average person, more..

Feb 22 (ST) When this appears the Govt�s brains trust could be pouring over UN Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet�s latest missive on Sri Lanka if it has reached Colombo which is still not certain. Following up on the UNHRC�s tough resolution on Sri Lanka last March carried by a comfortable vote in favour of its sponsors, High Commissioner Bachelet was to present a report on what progress Sri Lanka has made to carry forward the recommendations in Resolution 46/1. more..

Feb 22 (Island) The judiciary has spoken loud and clear! In acquitting the former Defence Secretary and the IGP from the Easter Sunday carnage case, the 3 judges of the Colombo HC Trial-at-Bar had commented its unacceptable to file cases against govt servants alone as politicians were above them. They were indicted on an unprecedented 855 charges but the judges decided to acquit them on the basis of the prosecution evidence alone, without even the need to entertain the defence case! more..

Feb 22 (FT) Prez Rajapaksa yesterday called on the top private sector leaders to invest in local industries and to give a hand in the nation building process. The high-powered meeting was chaired by Prez Rajapaksa along with Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, CB Governor Nivard Cabraal and the country�s top private sector leaders including Kasturi Wilson, Dhammika Perera, Krishan Balendra, Ashrof Omar, Mohan Pandithage, more..

Feb 22 (DM) Joa was probably born in 1992, and was brought to the Dehiwela Zoo in 1995. He was a 3 year old African Bush (or Savannah) elephant. There are two sub species of African elephants, the Forest Elephant and the larger Bush Elephant. He was one of two African elephants sent from Botswana on an exchange programme between zoos. His companion was Nandipa, an African Forest elephant who was smaller in stature than Joa. Unfortunately Nandipa died at age of 6. more..

Feb 22 (FT) Hatton National Bank (HNB) said it solidified its position as one of the most sustainable and strongest banks recording a well-rounded performance in 2021. Group Profit After Tax (PAT) increased to Rs. 20 billion, representing a growth of 47% year on year (YoY) while Bank PAT improved to Rs. 17.3 billion as economic activity picked up during the year. The monetary policy loosening adopted to spur economic growth post the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 continued more..

Feb 22 (TM) A loan of Rs. 250 million provided by Lanka Electricity Company (LECO) to the cash-strapped CEB is unlikely to provide any significant relief to the CEB, due to the extent of the fuel crisis in the country, The Morning learnt. The PUCSL last week held consultations on the CEB�s ability to make payments and facilitated a short-term loan of Rs. 250 million from the profit-making utility provider LECO in order to purchase fuel from CPC. more..

Feb 22 (CT) Panasian Power PLC (PAP), a leading supplier of renewable energy to Sri Lanka�s national grid recently commissioned two ground solar power projects, 1MW ground solar plants in Mahawa (also known as Maho), and Pannala, both in the North Western province of the country. The project is worth a total investment of LKR 300 million. The Maho and Pannala plants mark the fifth and sixth such ground solar power plants commissioned by Panasian Power PLC. more..

Feb 22 (CT) SL football captain and custodian Sujan Perera (TC Sports Club), Duckson Puslas (Valencia), Chamod Dilshan (Da Grande) and Mohamed Aakib (Da Grande) are currently in the Maldives Playing in the Dhivehi Premier League (DPL) tournament which will run till June 2022. Sujan was earlier in the Maldives, filling his professional contract for Club Eagles in the 2019-20 Dhivehi Premier League season and now he has joined hands with TC Sports Club after more..

Feb 22 (DN) Sri Lanka has pulled off an exciting consolation victory in the fifth and final match of its Twenty20 series against Australia in Melbourne on Sunday. Australia the current T-20 World Champions won the series 4-1 but most important factor is SL ended the series with a win which always brought them good confidence before the forthcoming India series which will commence from next Thursday (24). Actually Sri Lanka could have finished this series 2-3 as second T-20 played at Sydney more..

Feb 22 (Island) SL women�s teams made a clean sweep bagging the first, second and third places of the Central Asian Beach Volleyball Championship concluded in Negombo on Sunday. The hosts� number one, two and three teams outperformed Maldives and Uzbekistan teams to reach the final and the third place matches. The hosts number one pair Deepika Bandara and Dinesha Prasadini won the women�s championship beating number two team Shehani Asanga and Sulochana more..