Jan 20 (Island) Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma over the last weekend quite clearly criticised the govt�s much-touted Rs 229 bn relief package. Matara District lawmaker Alahapperuma is the first SLPP Cabinet Minister to do so. The journalist-turned-politician didn�t mince his words when he declared that the financial package failed to address the grievances of the population at large, though it provided relief to the public sector, pensioners and Samurdhi beneficiaries. more..

Jan 20 (Island) Pickpockets and SL politicians have many things in common, besides being nimble-fingered. Their modi operandi are similar in most respects. They steal from the people in such a way that the latter do not realise their losses until it is too late. Pickpockets have their accomplices kick up fake shindies in public, and prey on curious onlookers who jostle and shove to get a better view of such incidents. Those who watch such pulse-racing brawls return home minus their wallets more..

Jan 20 (FT) Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena lamented the lack of professionalism among MPs and said their conduct and lack of seriousness in their work as lawmakers was a cause of embarrassment. Addressing the MPs at the beginning of the new session for the House, Speaker Abeywardena said, barring a few MPs, most come unprepared for debates and instead of addressing the issues up for discussions, more..

Dec 20 (ST) About two decades ago, Professor Chandra Rodrigo and I were working as Sri Lanka partners on what was called a Global Research Project. It was a world-wide research project explaining half a century of growth experience of developing countries in the world from 1950-2000. As the global research project was divided into a number of regional components, we together with a group of economists from our region were working on its South Asian component. more..

Jan 20 (CT) SL�s lack of batting depth was highlighted during their 22 run defeat on Tuesday against Zimbabwe, where the Islanders will now face a must win situation to seal the series on Saturday. SL were successful in chasing 292 in the 1st ODI, where Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal and Charith Asalanka were the architects of that win. But none of them could repeat their performance on Tuesday, and it was left to skipper Dasun Shanaka to drag the game deep with a maiden century, more..

Jan 20 (ST) Cooking gas cylinder explosion victims and survivors are seeking compensation � an issue, which, according to them, is in the govt�s back burner. An ad hoc consumer protection group is taking up their case and sending petitions to the authorities. The All Island Consumer Collective (AICC), which has now 800 members, is seeking justice for the victims of gas cylinder explosions that have been more..

Jan 20 (Island) Tennis coach Niranjan Cassie Chetty is a versatile personality. When he is not into coaching he is an avid reader and enjoys music. And above all what�s interesting about this man is that one can have an interesting chat with him because his interests in life and sport spread far and wide. We know little about the people who contribute to players from behind the curtain. Niranjan is a coach who shuns the limelight and prefers his chargers to bask in the glory of success and more..

Dec 20 (FT) The Ratmalana Int'l Airport is to service global and regional flights from 29 Jan, revealed State Minister D.V. Chanaka yesterday. He said that initially the airport would handle flights from South India, the Maldives and Bangladesh. The upcoming plans to resume fully fledged operations at Ratmalana came up for review yesterday during a meeting chaired by Chanaka. Secretary to the Ministry Janaka Chandragupta, Chairman of Airports and Aviation G.A. Chandrasiri, more..

Jan 20 (FT) Data shows that COVID-19 vaccines were administered to 76,994 persons on Tuesday, with second dose coverage among the country�s population over 20 years rising to 94.8%. As of 18 Jan, 32.9% of the population over 20 had received the booster dose. 75.4% of the country�s total population has received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 64.54% of the population has received the second dose as well. 16,250,671 persons have received first vaccine dose more..

Jan 20 (ST) The National Olympic Committee of SL (NOC) elections possibly heralded the general lay of the land in so far as sports in our island paradise is concerned. With the general public buffeted by a spate of economic woes, the impact on sports at large cannot be far away, that only the survival of the fittest may stand the test of time! The NOC President, Secretary and Treasurer all returned to office unscathed with the pretenders to the throne not even sure why they ran at all. more..

Dec 20 (Island) When politicians have a say in making key appointments, they nominate kith and kin, stooges and in some cases total misfits. That�s what has happened when you look at the Central Bank, Ministry of Agriculture and National Cricket Selection Panel. We warned in these spaces on Sunday that playing five specialist batsmen in the ongoing three match ODI series is too much of a risk. more..

Dec 20 (Island) Kandy district SJB MP Abdul Haleem said in Kandy early this week that SJB would not back a common candidate at the next presidential election because the party had a capable leader. Last week, SJB National List MP Tissa Attanayake too ruled out backing a common candidate. Asked whether the SJB would support a common candidate at the next presidential election, MP Haleem said, �We do not need a common candidate. more..

Dec 20 (FT) The YouLead Entrepreneurship Service was launched last week to give budding entrepreneurs an opportunity to gain valuable advice from business leaders acting as their mentors. The service via www.yes.youlead.lk will be free for all who register and is available in all 3 languages. YouLead is working alongside Sanasaka Sansada Foundation with support from the USAID for this initiative. The website has been created in an easy-to-use method, where an individual has to more..

Dec 20 (Island) Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila said that the foreign currency crisis was so acute the country had no option but to implement daily 90-minute power cut until the hydro power generation increased with the onset of rains. Minister Gammanpila, who is also the leader of PHU has advised the CEB to impose daily 90-minute power-cuts or face the consequences. Gammanpila said that the entire country would face more..

Dec 20 (DN) Sri Lanka women�s cricket team led by Chamari Atapattu will meet Kenya in their second game of the Commonwealth qualifier cricket tournament today at Kinrara Oval grounds in Malaysia. In the first match, Sri Lanka won by 109 runs against Scotland and the players are ready to take the second challenge today said skipper Chamari Atapattu. The skipper led from the front by scoring 86 in 45 balls innings which consisted of 13 fours and two sixes. more..

Dec 20 (CT) Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva has made it to the ICC men�s T20I team of 2021. The ICC Team of the Year recognises 11 outstanding individuals who have impressed one and all � be it with the bat, the ball or their all-round exploits in a calendar year. It was a breakthrough year for Wanindu Hasaranga, who established himself as one of the best spinners in the shortest format while also being a player who could contribute with the bat. more..

Jan 20 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers approved the amended Intellectual Property Act No. 36 of 2003 on 12 Oct. Accordingly, the Intellectual Property Act No. 36 of 2003 was amended to suit the present requirements of the country, Cabinet Co-Spokesman Udaya Gammanpila said. He said this will enable an added competitive edge over other similar businesses or geographical locations. �It will also help to generate more income for enterprises through licensing agreements and more..

Jan 20 (CT) The number of Covid-19 paediatric patients had seen an increase, with over 30 cases of the virus being treated at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) for children, Secretary of the SL College of Paediatricians, Dr. Channa de Silva said. Dr. De Silva, when contacted said although it was not a major increase the number of cases was more than that being treated during the past few weeks. He said, however, unlike before when the hospital had to convert several wards allocated for more..

Jan 20 (EN) Sri Lanka has hiked policy rates 50 basis points to 6.5% amid balance of payments pressure and inflation of 12% after two years record liquidity injections and money supply growth. Sri Lanka has been printing money (injecting liquidity above is external anchor) for around two years, initially creating balance of payments deficits and also gradually driving up broad money and domestic inflation. more..

Jan 20 (Island) There was nothing illegal in the deal to hand over 40% of shares of the Yugadanavi Power Plant to New Fortress Energy of New York, Romesh de Silva, President�s Counsel told the Supreme Court yesterday. President�s Counsel informed the Court that there had been Cabinet approval for the handing over of 40% stake in the Yugadanavi power plant to New Fortress of New York. Cabinet approval was granted on 05 July 2021. more..

Jan 20 (FT) The Govt yesterday announced that the Cabinet of Ministers has not reached a final decision on whether to seek assistance from the IMF, whilst insisting it isn�t right to demonise the global organisation. �The matter was not taken up at the Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday. However, if Sri Lanka is to take a decision, it must be reached considering the past rather than looking at the IMF as an evil entity,� Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said more..

Jan 20 (TM) Although there was no direct information provided by then Chief of National Intelligence (CNI) Sisira Mendis and then State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Nilantha Jayawardena regarding the Easter Sunday terror attacks, four DIGs in the Western Province had received prior information about a possible terror attack from then IGP Pujith Jayasundara, claimed SDIG in charge of the WP Deshabandu Tennakoon. more..

Jan 20 (DM) Giving assurance that the JVP and its Trade Unions would not remain silent over selling state assets, JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said they would come forward to revert the agreements which had been signed to hand over the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm to India and transferring of shares of the Kerawalapitiya LNG Plant to a US Company. He said they would rally round the people to expel the govts that sell state assets and form a govt which could manage more..

Jan 20 (DM) Thousands of peope are visiting the Colombo Port City daily whereas the oppostion claimed earlier that a visa would have to be obtained to visit the Port City which they called a Chinese Colony, Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardane said. He told Parliament that some 22,000 people have visited the Port City on Tuesday (18) alone. Minister said the opposition was engaged in spreading malicious rumours about the Port City project from its inception. more..

Jan 20 (TM) Electricity consumers face further power outages today (20) as the emergency furnace oil supplied to the Sapugaskanda Power Station is set to run out today, and in the absence of further supply, power outages will be inevitable from today onwards. Although the Sapugaskanda Power Station was completely shut down on 18 January evening, the CEB received 900 metric tones (MT) of furnace oil more..

Jan 20 (FT) At a time when we are so much engrossed only in accusations and criticisms, deliberating on something with praise in place of criticism, complimentary instead of an-uncomplimentary feedback, may sound extraordinary and surprising. Nevertheless, a deserving commend should not go down unsung, particularly when the centred issue is of national importance. A directive issued by Prez Rajapaksa at a meeting recently held under more..

Jan 20 (FT) This is the topic of the first chapter of the policy statement called Rapid Response of Jathika Jana Balawegaya (NPP) launched recently. Economies are dependent and are based on giving and taking. One cannot take without giving. Let alone the economies, the entirety of human society is based on this. If the NPP is thinking of an independent economy, it seeks isolation, which is not possible. It goes on to state: �Introduced in 1977, Open Economic Policy has been destructive more..

Jan 20 (SLN) SL Navy conducted successful naval exercises with the German Navy�s FFGH (123 Class) frigate BAYERN, arrived in Colombo on 15th Jan, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ships URAGA, and HIRADO which arrived in Trincomalee on 16th Jan, on official visits. Having conducted these naval exercises respectively off the Western and the Eastern Coasts of the country, the ships departed the island on 18th Jan. The Commanding Officer of the visiting more..

Jan 20 (FT) The 'Top50' Professional and Career Women Awards 2021 � hosted by Women in Management (WIM), in collaboration with Women in Work, a partnership between IFC and the govt of Australia � on Tuesday honoured inspiring professional and career women in SL and Maldives making a mark in their respective fields. The 11th edition of the awards ceremony celebrated women representing a wide array of professions from industries including hospitality, banking more..

Jan 20 (EN) SL�s banks are being asked to share payments for fuel and essential items like food, CB Governor Nivard Cabraal said as lack of dollars at banks delayed clearing of letters of credit for fuel. Usually state banks opened letters of credit for fuel imported by state-run CPC. Top state bureaucrats had previously stopped state agencies from dealing with private banks. Governor Cabraal said private banks will also now have to pay more..

Jan 20 (AD) Extraordinary Gazette notification on extending the retirement age of public sector employees to 65 years has been issued by the Ministry of Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Govt. Signed by Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, the communiqu� was published on Wednesday. The special gazette says that every public servant may be required to retire from the public service on or after attaining the age of 55 years. more..

Jan 20 (EN) Sri Lanka has sold US$ 11.35 million of dollar denominated bonds after calling bids for a US$ 100 million auction, data from the debt office showed. The debt office accepted only 0.16 million dollars of 5-months bond for which 60.8 million dollars at 7.7%. 0.52 million dollars of 9 month bonds were sold at 7.86% after getting bids for 3.53 million dollars. US$ 10.62 million of 1 year 2 month bonds were sold for 8%, after getting bids for 21.63 million dollars. more..

Jan 20 (TM) The new line of credit (LOC) of $ 500 million to Sri Lanka for the purchase of petroleum products, announced by the High Commission of India to SL on Tuesday, will be a revolving credit facility for a one-year period at an interest rate of less than 2%, stated Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila. A revolving credit facility is a type of credit that enables one to withdraw money, use it to fund their business, more..

Jan 20 (DM) The CEB is to provide uninterrupted power supply today after receiving adequate fuel supply for power generation, CEB Additional General Manager Andrew Navamani said. He said 1,800 metric tons of fuel was received by the thermal power plants of the Kelanitissa Power Station, which started at 11.30 pm last night and continued until 5.30 am this morning. Later, the 115 MW power generator of the Kelanitissa Power Station was restarted this morning. more..

Jan 20 (DM) With COVID infections among school children on the rise, the number of students in a classroom should be limited, health officials stressed. Upul Rohana, Head of the Public Health Inspectors' Union of Sri Lanka said the authorities should pay immediate attention to the matter and take actions accordingly. �At present, COVID-19 is rapidly spreading among schoolchildren and if it continues to happen, the education system could be at stake,� he warned. more..

Jan 20 (EN) SL�s imports are estimated to have soared to US$ 2.2 billion in Dec 2021, central bank said amid sterilized forex sales to maintain a policy rate of 6% as inflation urged to 12.1%. CB said Dec 2021 imports are estimated to have risen to US$ 2.2 billion, up from a pre-Covid US$ 1.7 billion in 2019 and US$ 1.5 billion in 2020, when private credit was negative till July. Up to Oct 2020 imports have averaged around US$ 1.6 to more..

Jan 20 (DM) Nearly Rs. 10 million revenue had been earned from more that 70,000 local and foreign tourists who visited national parks in SL during the long weekend, Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said. Most of the tourists have visited the parks on the 16th Jan and 23,342 local tourists and 425 foreign tourists visited the park on that day and earned an income of Rs. 2,859,840. Large number of tourists have visited the parks across the country during the long weekend, the Thaipongal, weekend more..