Jan 16 (Island) Lakpahana is a traditional SL gifts and souvenir shop located in Colombo 7, across from the Colombo Race Course in the heart of Colombo. It was started in 1973 by Deshamanya Mrs. Siva Obeyesekere founder of Laksala. �Lakpahana for more than 48 years has offered shelter, patronage and market sustenance for handicrafts. SL well known for its fine craftsmanship which originated back in the day when the majestic kings and queens required ostentatiously more..

Jan 16 (ST) Sri Lanka had an unblemished record against Zimbabwe at home. The visitors had never defeated the home team, let alone won a trophy, until their 2017 series. Even at their worst, Sri Lanka had thrashed the lower-ranked team, such was their dominance on home soil. But this changed for the first time when Zimbabwe registered a 3-2 win in the five match ODI series in 2017. more..

Jan 16 (ST) Sri Lanka Squash (SLS) is to be boosted by the signing of a former Pakistani national coach Rehman Gul, due to join and become country�s national coach with effect from next week, Vice President of SLS Eranda Geeganage said. Gul, 49, armed with a wealth of coaching exposure, including having coached in Asia and in most parts of the western world, will have his coaching stint till this December, after the Commonwealth Games. His services would be reviewed and renewed more..

Jan 16 (EN) SL�s 2022 debt service payments are US$ 6,919 million of which US$ 2.72 billion are owed to domestic holders CB Governor Nivard Cabraal said, which is close to 40% of total payments. SL has to pay US$ 6,919 million in interest and capital payments of foreign currency debt in 2022 out of which 4,197 million was due to foreign holders. About US$ 2,722 million are owed to domestic holders including in SL Development Bonds, foreign currency banking unit more..

Jan 16 (Island) Successful SL teams of 1990s and 2000s had a straightforward formula for ODI cricket; they played seven batsmen. That was the case even when we had terrific match winners like Aravinda de Silva and Sanath Jayasuriya in the 90s and a decade later in 2000s when we had the luxury of T.M. Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in the batting order. SL are heading into the three match ODI series against Zimbabwe that gets underway today at Pallekele more..

Jan 16 (SO) A legend, a myth and a champion. Sanath Jayasuriya the lone warrior of Sri Lankan cricket stands for many more titles for his legendary status. His era in Sri Lanka cricket was purely solidarity, where he broke record books for a hobby and ended careers of legendary bowlers in a whisper. Most notably Sanath Jayasuriya can be named as the father of modern-day cricket where he changed the game with his fearless power-hitting combined with an aggressive mindset. more..

Jan 16 (ST) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is likely to hire a foreigner to replace Mickey Arthur as head coach of the national team after a decision has been made to negotiate with Graham Ford and Paul Farbrace to join ranks. This was, after the committee appointed to select Arthur�s successor decided to hire a foreigner instead of a local to be the head coach of the men�s national team. Both Ford and Farbrace had involved with SLC for more..

Jan 16 (TM) The Govt of SL is optimistic of succeeding in its plan to restructure its debt with bilateral and multilateral lenders if its current attempts to restructure the debt with the Chinese Govt materialises, the Treasury said. Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle stated that if the Govt of China were to extend its support to SL, and given the existing supporting ally, the Govt of India, other lenders would also be willing to help Sri Lanka restructure its debt repayment. more..

Jan 16 (TM) The cranes ordered for the East Container Terminal (ECT) of the Colombo Port will cost $ 300 million. ECT is expected to be completed in 2024 at a cost of $ 600 million. Ministry of Ports and Shipping Secretary U. Jayalal said that procurement of the cranes for the terminal alone would cost $ 300 million. �We are getting 12 ships to shore cranes and 40 cranes for container handling. They will cost $ 300 million,� Jayalal said, adding that another $300 mil cost would be incurred more..

Jan 16 (TM) The CPC and CEB are at loggerheads over issues related to fuel purchases and power generation, with the CEB blaming the CPC for the uncertainties in the country�s power supply. CEB last Thursday claimed that power generation at the Kelanitissa Power Plant had come to a standstill due to a shortage of diesel, which was to be supplied by the CPC. However, a senior Govt official explaining the latest issue in power generation noted more..

Jan 16 (Island) The Annual Kelaniya Duruthu Perahera at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara will be held today (16). A press release issued by the Kelani Rajamaha Viharastha Sanwardhana Sabha said that the historic Kelaniya Duruthu Maha Perahera had its origins in the year 1927, due largely to the efforts of that great Philanthropist Don Walter Wijewardene, son of Helana Wijewardene Lamathani of Sedawatte. The release signed by Chief Basnayake Nilame of Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya said: more..

Jan 16 (TM) Despite sustained lobbying by the tourism sector for an interest waiver on all tourism-related debt for a period of 3 years from April 2019 to April 2022, the Ministry of Tourism is unable to grant this request as it cannot intervene in this matter. A senior official from the Ministry of Tourism who wished to remain anonymous questioned how the Ministry could intervene in a matter of waiving interest rates when licensed commercial banks were entities conducting business just like others. more..

Jan 16 (TM) SL�s licensed banks are following mixed regulations for Over-The-Counter (OTC) dollar exchanges. Two State banks � Bank of Ceylon and People�s Bank � provide a maximum of Rs. 210 with the additional incentive offered by the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) for a US Dollar OTC exchange with a declaration of the source of funds. However, certain private banks also provide Rs. 201 plus the CBSL incentive of Rs. 10 after being provided a declaration on the source of funds and considering more..

Jan 16 (TM) Rice importers are requesting the Trade Ministry to waive off demurrages for containers stuck at port to maintain the wholesale price of imported nadu and samba at Rs. 105 and Rs. 120 per kg, respectively. About 20,000 MT of imported rice had been stuck at the ports for the past 10 days in 800 containers. A meeting was held at the Trade Ministry last Wednesday (12) with the rice importers, where the Ministry has requested the importers to keep the whole price of imported rice at a fixed price more..

Jan 16 (ST) SL�s debt-ridden govt is now negotiating a fresh financial relief package from Japan amounting to between $2billion and $3.5 billion similar to Indian assistance of US$ 900 million granted to SL recently, with the aim of overcoming the current economic crisis. The exact amount of the planned swap of the loan into dollars is yet to be finalised as it depends on the outcome of the ongoing negotiations, a senior official more..

Jan 16 (ST) In a new twist to the foreign exchange crisis in the country, exporters have resorted to new import businesses to circumvent CB regulations. CB rules say the exporters who need to import to source raw materials etc don�t need to convert their exports proceeds to rupees. This has got the exporters thinking that they can go into unrelated business � and start importing. �These are different business lines and they don�t need to declare that the LC is for such imports if they are exports. more..

Jan 16 (ST) Prez Rajapaksa has summoned an emergency high-level meeting with top officials of key institutions to discuss ways of raising US$ four billion required for oil imports for the rest of the year. The officials to be invited for the meeting include those from the Central Bank, state-owned Bank of Ceylon and People�s Bank, Finance and Energy ministries, CEB and CPC. The meeting follows a request first submitted by the CPC to CB for money to ensure the maintenance of uninterrupted more..

Jan 16 (ST) There seems to be an increasing trend in COVID-19 infections and we need to strengthen surveillance for Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) and Influenza-like Illness (ILI), urged a top doctor on Thursday. Looking back at the recent past of what occurred both in neighbour India and also SL, Senior Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama of the NIID, Angoda, said that the Delta variant of concern was first more..

Jan 16 (Island) MEP leader and Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena says that all stakeholders of govt are duty bound to protect it. �People voted and elected this govt at a time when the country was in dire straits owing to the loss of national security. They saw as the solution for their despair and hoped that we would be able to lead the country out the quagmire it was in. We are now duty bound to deliver what we promised,� Gunawardena said addressing an MEP meeting held at more..

Jan 16 (TM) Maintaining an uninterrupted fuel supply is reaching near impossible levels, says Minister Udaya Gammanpila, asserting that the task is increasingly challenging. �So far we have managed to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply. Frankly, day by day I now feel that the situation is getting near impossible. The rest of the month of January will be very challenging,� he said. While the country only has sufficient fuel stocks for another 20 days [from 13 Jan], he said the difficulty was more..

Jan 16 (ST) No recent episode better exemplifies just how out of touch the SLPP-led Govt is with events on the ground than the exhibition during this week�s circus concerning power failures that affected much of the country. On Monday, CEB obtained permission from the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL), the power sector regulator, to go for scheduled power cuts lasting one to two hours. more..

Jan 17 (DM) The Mahawamsa or the Great chronicle of Lanka does not start with the account of Vijaya, the first recorded king of the country. The Vijaya story only begins in the sixth chapter of the book under the title The coming of Vijaya as given in the English translation of the text by eminent orientalist Wilhelm Geiger. The title of the first chapter of Mahawamsa reads The visit of Tathagata and recounts the events related to the Buddha�s three visits to Sri Lanka starting more..

Jan 17 (CT) Giant reptiles, five to ten feet in length, have taken headlines by storm. Ever since the deadly crocodile attack that claimed the life of a diver at the Dehiwala beach, a primeval fascination, more than terror, has dominated the public psyche. Just like something out of horror films like Jaws or Lake Placid, the media followed the monster-in-our-backyard story with bold curiosity. But many experts who were interviewed allayed fears regarding the deadly predators who have invaded more..

Jan 17 (DM) Child Protection is a National Crisis in SL. 30 years after signing the UN Convention on the UNCRC in 1991, a child is sexually abused every 2 hours and SL has fallen to the abysmal 10% of countries least safe for children against violence. The Stop Child Cruelty Trust (SCC) headed by Dr. Tushara Wickramanayake therefore initiated the formation of SL�s FIRST Child Protection Alliance (CPA) more..

Jan 17 (DM) We wrote on these columns, under the heading Election Phobia? Only one Cure; Face It� , on Feb 7, 2019, when the Yahapalana govt kept postponing PC elections. Dictionary definitions blended together, phobia, means an extreme and illogical fear reaction. SL recorded its first death due to coronavirus, on Mar, 28, 2020, and up to the date of polling on Aug 5, 2020, only 11 such cases were reported, less than 2 per month, compared to the current average of 15 to 20 deaths a day more..

Jan 17 (CT) At a time when we are so much engrossed only in accusations and criticisms, deliberating on something with praise in place of criticism and complimentary instead of an-uncomplimentary feedback, may sound extraordinary and surprising. Nevertheless, a deserving commend should not be left to die down unsung due to flimsy considerations, particularly when the centered issue is of National Importance. A directive issued by Prez Rajapaksa more..

Jan 17 (CT) Despite the fact that Beira Lake plays an important role in conveying surface drainage and flood waters, as well as serving as a catchment and home to species of storks, pelicans, monitor lizards, and a variety of fish species, wastewater outlets have been directed to the lake water body through drainage outlets which according to SLLRDC is the major cause of the lake�s severe pollution. more..

Jan 17 (Island) Now, anyone could import rice, paying as little as 25 cents a kilo as duty. Minister Bandula Gunawardena has said the govt decision is aimed at preventing a rice shortage and bringing rice prices down. But the question is whether enough foreign exchange is available for rice imports. Minster Gunawardena himself has admitted that there are already 500 freight containers of rice at the Colombo Port pending clearance. The power and energy sectors are in a mega crisis as more..

Jan 17 (ST) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa made an extraordinary appeal to the people on Wednesday, asking them to forget the past two years and hope for better times in the future. �The past has value only to the Opposition,� he declared at the Eastern Terminal Construction launch ceremony. �We must always embrace the future, not the past. No one should give up hopes or optimistic thoughts that they have about the country and that we should embrace the future, leaving past 2 yrs to the critics.� more..

Jan 17 (ST) As SL�s Catholic Church marks 1000 days of jihadist attacks on churches and hotels in 2019, the intensification of a grim tussle between the Church and law enforcement authorities over the discovery of a hand grenade at the All Saints Church in Borella this week is remarkable in more ways than one. First, extraordinary symbolism of fierce verbal onslaughts on law enforcement authorities by the Church evidenced recently indicates the complete breakdown of public trust of the Catholic more..

Jan 17 (CT) The question of what happens after death naturally arises in the mind of thoughtful people, as we do not know what lies beyond death, because no one has ever returned to the living to recount his experiences, life after death. Almost every religion across the world has a defined belief on what happens when a person dies, yet the question is still widely debated and discussed without any conclusiveness. Most religious teachers from days of yore were unanimous more..

Jan 17 (CI) Zimbabwe's batters gave their side a healthy chance. On a flat Pallekele track, the openers put on 80 off 88 balls - debutant Takudzwanashe Kaitano hitting 42, and Regis Chakabva going on to make 72 off 81. Then Sean Williams dominated the middle and late overs, hitting 100 off 87. But although they made 296 for 9 - generally an excellent first innings score on SL surfaces - the home side's top order more..

Jan 17 (CT) The 71st Battle of the Gold between St. Sebastian�s Moratuwa and Prince of Wales Moratuwa ended in a draw on Saturday. Prince of Wales won the toss and opted to field. St. Sebastian�s were bowled out for 254 runs in their first inning. Sandeesh Fernando top scored with 66, while Sukitha Prasanna (41), Senith Fernando (31), Yashan Avishka (30) and Kalana Sandeep (21) helped to build their innings. Sumalka Fernando claimed 5/39 & Achala Perera claimed 2 wts. more..

Jan 17 (DM) Claiming that the power supply could be continued without interruptions until next Tuesday (18), Power Minister Gamini Lokuge said today a decision would have to be taken on power cuts if the CPC did not provide required fuel stocks to the CEB until Jan 22. He told the media that there would be no power cuts until Tuesday (18) as the CPC had provided 3000 MT of fuel to the CEB. �We will have a discussion with the CPC tomorrow (17) to obtain required fuel stocks until Jan 22. more..

JJan 17 (Island) Chairman of the Committee to Protect the Rights of Prisoners, Attorney-at-Law, Senaka Perera, says his outfit will soon move the Supreme Court against the acquittal and discharging of Inspector Neomal Rangajiva, the first accused in the Welikada Prison killings. The civil society activist said that the relatives of those who perished in the violence in the Welikada Prison compound on Nov 9 and 10, 2012, more..

Jan 17 (Island) The SL Air Force will commence its sports program for the new year with the prestigious Commanders Cup 2022 golf tournament powered by Dialog Enterprises. The 9th edition of the Commander�s Cup golf tournament will take off at the picturesque Eagle golf links at China Bay on the 22nd of January with the participation of over 100 local and foreign golfers. The 18-hole course offers nearly seven kilometers of challenging rounds of golf for a par of 72. more..

Jan 17 (ST) Wesley College claimed the M. Sathasivam Challenge Trophy for the very first time since its inauguration in 1999, after handing S. Thomas� College a 10-wicket defeat at Campbell Park, as the hosts also claimed a vital century old traditional first XI match after many moons against the opponent. Chasing a target of eight runs with ample overs in hand, Wesley wasted no time at all as they utilised only three deliveries to out of the 48, to score 12 runs and seal the victory. more..