Feb 5 (Island) Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith was conspicuous by his absence at yesterday�s Independence Day ceremony. Opinion may be divided on his boycott of the event as well as his decision against conducting religious functions to mark the Independence Day, but can he and other church leaders be faulted for doing so? They were instrumental in preventing a backlash in the aftermath of the Easter Sunder terror strikes in Apr 2019; they made a solemn more..

Feb 5 (Island) In SL, as in every other colonial outpost, resistance to foreign domination predated Western intervention by well more than two centuries. Surviving numerous onslaughts of South Indian conquest, the Anuradhapura kingdom gave way to the Polonnaruwa kingdom in the 11th century AD. The latter�s demise 200 years later led to a shift from the country�s north to the north-west, and from there to the south-west. It was in the south-west that Sinhalese first confronted European more..

Feb 5 (GV) There is genuine disillusionment in the political establishment, and these feelings are valid. From COVID-19, to the 20th Amendment, to an unprecedented centralization of power and the worst economic crisis since independence, SL faces a dire reality with no clear end in sight. We apply a bandaid to deep-seated wounds and trudge on. Post-independence Sri Lanka tells a bloody history. As a nation, we ask if we are resilient or forgetful, negligent or complicit. more..

Feb 5 (TM) Like every other year, SL is all set to celebrate Independence Day today (4), reminiscing how the country gained independence from the British colonisers and how the country overcame the challenges that emerged in the 74 years that followed. Lankans like to talk about independence, and they take pride in it despite the situation of the country on 4 Feb. This is also a day politicians, especially those in the ruling party, talk about how much being independent matters to country. more..

Feb 5 (CT) Many lawmakers have charged the present power crisis in the country is clearly attributable to a problem supplying fuel to power plants rather than a lack of diesel powered plants. Hence, it is unclear why agreements are being reached with additional private power plants when there is clearly a fuel supply issue with existing power plants. The primary allegation levelled against some engineers affiliated with the CEB more..

Feb 5 (Island) Jaffna were able to regain the top position of the points table with a comfortable 51 run win over Damublla in the National Super League (NSL) Limited Overs tournament match at Pallekele yesterday. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva was the star for Jaffna with a century. Batsmen have failed to dominate the competition so far and Dhananjaya�s hundred was the second century of the tournament following Oshada Fernanado�s hundred last week. With 264 runs in five innings, more..

Feb 5 (ST) Last Sunday Raju had sent me a text message with a brief note that surprised me. His name is Dr. Ramaraju Venuthurupalli � one of my Indian friends who retired recently after serving as a Professor of Economics at the Uni of Delhi. Although his brief surprised him and shattered all his imaginations about SL, as we all know it is not a surprise to the Sri Lankans. Here is part of a news report quotation on which Raju had commented in his note: Hand-To-Mouth situation in SL: more..

Feb 5 (DN) As SL celebrated its 74th anniversary of the proclamation of Independence, a number of world leaders, Heads of State and Govt, Foreign Ministers and Legislators extended their well wishes and greetings to Prez Rajapaksa and the Govt and the people of SL. Bangladesh Prez Mohammad Abdul Hamid says that �Bangladesh deeply values its warm relations with SL rooted in shared history & commonalities in culture, more..

Feb 5 (Island) Just as Cassandra sat down to word process her weekly Cry on Tuesday (1), she heard fighter jets, or whatever stream pass, with a violent noise. This was heard for the past four days and it is in rehearsal for the great event on Feb 4, when we are supposed to celebrate our 74th Independence Day. Of course, it is now termed National Day, calling for national-mindedness and loyalty to the country. Cass has been hearing about shortages these days and feared petrol shortage too. more..

Feb 5 (CT) Kavishka Anjula, the 24-year-old pace bowling all rounder, guided Galle to an unlikely win as he hammered 75 batting at number 9, which got them to 225 before they bowled out Colombo for 181 in the National Super League 50 over encounter played in Dambulla on Friday. Batting first, Galle batting line up were bamboozled by the pace trio of Colombo, with Kalana Perera, Himesh Ramanayaka and Lahiru Madushanka claiming two wickets each, soon they found themselves 8 down for 103 more..

Feb 5 (CT) Prez Rajapaksa�s Independence Day speech, made at the Independence Square in Colombo on Friday (4), revolved around three salient points. They were investments, human rights and leading by example, respectively. He further said a country�s freedom is most meaningful when it is strong in the social, political and economic spheres. This, therefore, means that independence of a country from the dominion of a foreign power alone, like what SL celebrated on Friday, more..

Feb 5 (Island) Until recently dual citizens could apply for a passport with all the necessary documentation and the original National Identity Card (NIC). However, now there is a requirement for dual citizens to get a new NIC before applying for a Sri Lanka passport. They say the old NIC is no longer valid. If there is a requirement to get a new NIC after obtaining Dual Citizenship, there should be a proper procedure to obtain a NIC for Dual Citizens. No such procedure exists today. more..

Feb 5 (FT) SJB MP S.M. Marikkar yesterday questioned the Govt�s lavish spending on pageantry for the country�s Independence Day amidst severe crisis and alleged Prez Rajapaksa is marking a year of broken promises since the last ceremony. MP Marikkar said the Prez alongside his Govt had failed to meet any of the promises made during the Independence Day speech last year. Marikkar recalled that during his speech at more..

Feb 5 (EN) Minister Basil Rajapaksa who was quoted by a weekend newspaper as saying SL had bought weapons from North Korea using black market dollars, on Wednesday requested the media not to ask further questions regarding the matter. Rajapaksa, who is also a US citizen, had told a local Sunday local language newspaper that at the height of SL�s 26-year internal conflict, the government led by his elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa had purchased weapons from North Korea using more..

Feb 5 (DM) Entrepreneur and cosmetologist Chandimal Jayasinghe has sent a letter of demand claiming Rs.200 million as damages from Pushpika de Silva for allegedly making a defamatory statement regarding him in an interview with a YouTube channel. This letter of demand has been sent through Attorney-at-law Manjula Balasooriya urging Pushpika de Silva, the titleholder of the Mrs. Sri Lanka 2021 pageant to pay a sum of Rs.200 million as damages within 14 days. more..

Feb 5 (Island) Justice Minister Ali Sabry, says specific measures are required to thwart trade unions from disrupting essential sectors. Acknowledging that trade unions� right to strike as part of their overall strategy, SLPP National List MP emphasised the pivotal importance of them, too, being subject to some conditions. Minister pointed out that many countries in different regions have adopted measures to prevent destabilisation more..

Feb 5 (AD) Ministry of Health says that another 1,243 persons have tested positive for the novel coronavirus today (4). SL�s tally of Covid-19 cases confirmed in the country thereby climbed to 615,902. With this, the number of virus-infected people who are undergoing treatment moved to 20,138. Meanwhile, the death toll stands at 15,544. This is the sixth consecutive day Sri Lanka recorded more than 1,000 daily cases of Covid-19. A total of 440 more COVID-19 patients recovered and more..

Feb 5 (TM) Claiming that the country, as a nation, has begun to gradually lose the hard won freedom in the 74 years post-Independence, Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said that all those who truly love their homeland should engage in a profound examination of the conscience, and seek a total transformation of the society. In a message issued on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day, he said that due to the short sighted and unintelligent actions of political more..

Feb 5 (AD) CEB says power cuts are not imposed tonight as the expected national electricity demand can be fulfilled. The national electricity demand is expected to reach 2,370 MW tonight. The CEB, however, expects to add 2,540 MW of electricity to the national grid, even with the Kelanitissa Power Station off the grid. Meanwhile, the Energy Ministry stated that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) is unable to supply the required stocks of diesel to the Kelanitissa Power Station at the moment. more..

Feb 5 (MFA) The Foreign Ministry notes with concern the numerous misleading statements contained in the testimony of the Chairperson of the Neelan Tiruchelvam Trust Ambika Satkunanathan, during an exchange of views on the situation of human and labour rights in SL at the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights on 27 Jan, 2022. Ms. Satkunanathan�s testimony completely ignores the progress made by the govt of SL on many fronts and creates doubts more..

Feb 5 (Island) Gajaba Regiment veteran Chagie Gallage says that in spite of SL�s triumph over separatist terrorism 13 years ago, external interventions were threatening the country. �We are at a crossroads, struggling to cope up with a fragile situation� an irate Maj. Gen. Gallage said, urging those who wield political power to address the real challenges or face the consequences. The war veteran said that on the eve of more..

Feb 5 (Island) Contrary to expectations, former SJB MP Ranjan Ramanayake, who was jailed by the country�s highest court for contempt, was not among those freed yesterday to mark the 74th anniversary of independence. The SJB, some artistes, as well as civil society activists, including former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, requested that Ramanayake be released. SC in Jan 2021 sentenced Ramanayake to four years of rigorous imprisonment after convicting him of contempt of court. more..

Feb 5 (CT) Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris will set off for India Sunday for a 2-day official visit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed. This is Prof. Peiris� first visit to India after he assumed charge as Foreign Minister in Aug 2021. Minister�s visit comes days after SL and India signed a USD 500 million Short-Term Line of Credit (STLOC) agreement with EXIM of India, to purchase petroleum products. Information on meetings scheduled during the visit has not been revealed yet. more..

Feb 5 (AFP) SL marked its independence day on Friday with an appeal to its diaspora to send money home to overcome the island's worsening economic crisis and a pledge to protect foreign investments. Prez Rajapaksa urged millions of Sri Lankans abroad to invest their savings in their home country, which is facing its worst debt crisis since independence from Britain 74 years ago. "Expatriate Lankans who provide foreign more..

Feb 5 (DM) PM Rajapaksa said freedom is not something that ends with the victory and it is something that should be won day by day. "Freedom is not something that ends with the victory. It is something that should be won day by day, and it is this fact that we must highlight on each Independence Day. However, I firmly believe that a nation inspired by hundreds of years of relentless struggle for freedom, is fully capable of remaining undaunted and facing up to this challenge more..

Feb 5 (DM) The main opposition SJB and a few other opposition political parties representing Parliament boycotted the 74th national Independence Day celebrations at the Independence square today. SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara told Daily Mirror that his party decided to boycott the ceremony and held its own celebrations at Pollwatte Temple. �We decided to keep away from the main ceremony as we opposed the move to hold a grand ceremony more..

Feb 5 (AFP) The IMF is ready to discuss options with Sri Lanka if the govt asks for financial support, its mission chief for the island said on Thursday. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a disastrous impact on Sri Lanka�s economy, which has been deprived of its tourism bonanza while workers� remittances from abroad have fallen sharply. �While the IMF has not received a request for financial support from Sri Lanka, more..

Feb 5 (FT) Much has been made of the national day celebrations that are on � the (a) good, the (b) bad, and (c) the ugly. Happy day for kids of all ages who like parades (a). Sad turn of events for suicidal citizens facing sundry scarcities is (b). Shocking ongoing trend (c) for a few who were hoping we would sooner than later outgrow our penchant for all things colonial, and transition peacefully from a post-war into a post-conflict society. But despite the naysayers who point to both a distinct lack of independence, more..

Feb 5 (FT) There was a time I was inclined to perceive the JVP and the JHU as two political parties contesting for the ownership of the Sinhala-Buddhist right and in the process have contributed to the regression of the ideological base of the Sinhala-Buddhist psyche; given a liberative and aggressive character to the Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinism and prevented the introduction of genuine reforms that would have been more beneficial to the nation whilst at the same being different to conventional political parties, more..

Feb 5 (DM) No preliminary report had been received regarding the attack on the Meenagaya Intercity Express Train (6079) at the Kekirawa Railway Station on Jan 14, Railways General Manager (GMR) Dhammika Jayasundara said. He said the train was approaching the Kekirawa railway station when some unruly elements started hurling stones at the train in the middle of the trade union strike launched by the SL Station Masters' Union (SLSMU) on Jan 14. Several windows on the train, including the windscreen, were shattered during the attack. more..

Feb 5 (DN) The Long-Distance Passenger Reservation Centre at the newly constructed bus stand in Batticaloa was opened by Eastern Province (EP) Governor Anuradha Yahampath yesterday afternoon. The service allows passengers from Batticaloa to Colombo and other remote areas to book seats online. This is the first time that passengers in the Eastern Province have been allowed to book seats online. The Governor operated the first bus from Colombo to the bus stand marking the occasion. more..

Feb 5 (AD) Minister of Health has issued a Gazette Extraordinary to prohibit people who are not fully vaccinated against Covid-19 from entering public places. Accordingly, proof of vaccination will be mandatory effective from Apr 30, 2022 for visiting public places. The gazette notification has defined a public place as �any place or a mode of transportation used in public transport to which the public have access, whether as of right or otherwise, whether on payment or not, more..

Feb 5 (DM) Govt has so far undecided to go for a lockdown despite a sharp increase in the number of COVID positive cases over the last few days. The govt will impose restrictions if needed, said State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana. However, he said they had no intention of imposing restrictions causing hindrance to people's day to day lives. "We advice people not to panic about the surge in COVID cases but comply with precautions according to the guidelines issued by the Health authorities and to take the booster dose," more..

Feb 5 (Island) The SL High Commission in New Delhi yesterday named its Chancery Building after Sir D.B. Jayatilaka, SL�s first representative to India, coinciding with the event to mark the country�s 74th Independence Day held at its premises. This year marks the 80th anniversary of SL (then Ceylon) sending Sir D.B. Jayatilaka as its first Representative to India in 1942. Naming of the Chancery Building after Sir D.B. Jayatilaka comes as the first of a series of activities organised by more..

Feb 5 (EN) SL will need more vaccination to push Coroanvirus into an endemic stage, where the disease circulates among the population at a low level of intensity with lower fatalities like other viral diseases, doctor say. The Covid pandemic will not get in to an endemic level naturally anytime soon with new variants coming up fast, doctors say. Diseases such as SARS, which was more easily detectable, was quickly stamped out with contact tracing. Small pox was eradicated with vaccination. more..

Feb 5 (CT) Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith visited the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) on Independence Day (4) morning to see the sacristan of the All Saints� Church in Borella, Francis Munindran, who is still being held in custody over the hand grenade which was found inside of the All Saints� Church in January. Cardinal Ranjith boycotted conducting the traditional Independence Day Mass at the All Saints� Church and participating in the national Independence Day celebration more..