Jan 29 (Island) The number of COVID positive pregnant women was increasing rapidly, Dr. Sanath Lanerolle, Senior Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Castle Street Hospital for Women, said. Dr. Lanerolle urged pregnant women to get booster shots as soon as possible. He stressed that vaccines would have no adverse effect on unborn babies. Pregnant women should be extremely careful about coronavirus, said Dr. Lanerolle, adding that while most women more..

Jan 29 (Island) Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Mali and Head of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) El Ghassim Wane during a meeting with a visiting SL delegation early this week has expressed appreciation for the SL Army Combat Convoy Company (LKACCC) serving in landlocked Mali. El Ghassim Wane said that LKACCC is a tremendous asset for UN MINUSMA and that he appreciates �excellent performance of more..

Jan 29 (ST) The recent discovery in Indonesia of a new species of tree has drawn attention to how even countries like SL can earn handsomely through carbon credits. A three-member team of tropical botanists and ecologists from the National Uni of Singapore (NUS) led by SL born conservationist Lahiru Wijedasa discovered the tree last year as a result of prolonged work alongside research assistant Agusti Randi, Indonesia�s leading botanist. Found in a peat swamp in Sumatra, more..

Jan 29 (CT) General Secretary of the Communist Party of SL (CPSL) Dr. G. Weerasinghe claimed there are 3 million doses of unused Sinopharm vaccines nearing the date of expiry. He said out of a stock of 26 million Sinopharm vaccines only 23 million had been administered and the balance is awaiting disposal upon the date of expiry. �They have already requested the Health Ministry to administer them to those who have still not received the dose. more..

Jan 29 (NZH) A young brother and sister killed by their father were photographed holding his hands on a beach as the sun set in his final Facebook post shared two days before their deaths. Police believe 40-year-old Indika Gunathilaka murdered his 4-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son before ending his own life in the garage of their home on Essington St in the southeast Perth suburb of Huntingdale. more..

Jan 29 (EN) Associated Electrical Corporation Limited and Tempest PE Partners who acquired SL Technological Campus from Sri Lanka Telecom has injected 290 million rupees in equity grow it, a statement said. SLTC runs a fully residential campus on a 35-acre property in Padukka with modern buildings. The university offers 25 undergraduate programs in Engineering, Technology, IT, Business and Music with an academic staff of over 200. The new team plans to set up a city campus. more..

Jan 29 (CT) TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran, appearing for former LTTE spokesman Daya Master, at the Vavuniya High Court, said his client served the LTTE for a monthly salary. Daya Master alias Velayudam Dayanidhi was sentenced on Monday, to two years imprisonment, suspended for a period of five years by Vavuniya High Court Judge Manikkavasagar Ilanchelian on charges of aiding and abetting the LTTE. The case against Daya Master was filed on 19 Oct 2018 by the Attorney General under more..

Jan 29 (ST) Environmental Ministry�s plan to ban single-use and short-term plastic items, including inflatable toys, has been delayed due to pandemic-related economic concerns, a senior official said. Central Environment Authority (CEA) said the decision was shelved considering the economic crisis the country was facing during the pandemic. In January last year, the CEA issued a gazette notification to ban polyethylene more..

Jan 29 (Island) The two petitions filed on the Trincomalee Oil Tanks agreement were re-fixed for Support on 25 May after they were called before the Supreme Court on Thursday. The first respondent, Attorney General, was given time till 11 March to file objections. The first petition was filed by Wakmulle Uditha Thera of the Jathika Bhikku Peramuna. He filed the fundamental rights violation petition through Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala. The second petition was filed jointly by more..

Jan 29 (DN) As part of its continued efforts of reviving SL industries and SMEs in the new normal, Dialog Enterprise, the corporate solutions arm of Dialog Axiata PLC, announced its Title Sponsorship of the National Industry Exhibition and Awards Ceremony 2022, with Dialog Finance PLC and Dialog genie powering the event as the Official Payment Partner and FinTech Partner. Organised by the Industrial Development Board under the auspice of the Ministry of Industries, more..

Jan 29 (ST) As Northern farmers began their harvest in the wake of Thai Pongal festival last week, they complained they were forced to sell their reduced harvest at lower prices to private millers to settle their debts. The ban on chemical fertiliser imports forced many farmers to buy adulterated fertiliser at exorbitant prices by taking loans or pawning their paddy4.jpgjewellery while others stayed away from farming due to more..

Jan 29 (AD) Four bodies have been recovered so far after five persons were reported missing while bathing at Gerandi Ella in Ettampitiya. Search operations are continuing to recover the other body, police said. Police earlier said that one body has been recovered so far after five persons were reported missing while bathing at Gerandi Ella in Ettampitiya. A group of around 11 persons wee bathing in the location when five of them were suddenly swept away by strong currents more..

Jan 29 (DM) Four bodies have been recovered so far after five persons were reported missing while bathing at Gerandi Ella in Ettampitiya. Search operations are continuing to recover the other body, police said. Police earlier said that one body has been recovered so far after five persons were reported missing while bathing at Gerandi Ella in Ettampitiya. A group of around 11 persons wee bathing in the location when five of them were suddenly swept away by strong currents and more..

Jan 29 (Island) Chairman of NMSJ and former Speaker of Parliament, Karu Jayasuriya, has said that the catastrophic situation in the country, its rulers and the people were quences. Addressing the NMSJ�s Kurunegala District Convention yesterday Jayasuriya said that the country was on the brink of disaster on many fronts, and the NMSJ did not intend to incite anti-govt sentiments. �Instead, our only objective is to foster more..

Jan 29 (ST) The newly-appointed chairman of the state-owned milk products manufacturing company, Milco Private Ltd, has blamed the former administration for getting its priorities mixed up. New chairman Renuka Perera, said that ice cream, butter and yogurt, were being produced instead of fresh milk and other dairy products. The accusation came hours after former chairman Lasantha Wickramasinghe was suddenly removed. Mr Wickramasinghe was later appointed more..

Jan 29 (FT) Stoned Jewelry this week launched its website along with the celebration of the third anniversary. The www.stonedjewelry.lk is a sleek and easy-to-use website, with a full collection of Stoned on display. �We hope to provide a seamless and convenient shopping experience to everyone,� Stoned Founder Nabeela Yaseen said. �Stoned is a brand that believes in having a good time no matter the circumstance. We create unique and elegant pieces of jewellery using only precious metals more..

Jan 29 (CT) Animal Welfare Bill will be sent to the Govt printer next week and then presented to Parliament, Legal officer of the State Ministry of livestock, farm promotion and dairy and egg related industries, Kanchana Priyadarshani said. She added the Bill was specifically drafted to prevent cruelty to animals as several incidents of animal abuse have been reported in the recent past and the existing Act does not sufficiently provide for action against more..

Jan 29 (CT) Organised Crimes Detection Unit (OCDU) of the Police on Friday (28) conveyed to Colombo Chief Magistrate Buddhika Sri Ragala that to date, they had not received the necessary instructions from the Attorney General�s Dept with regard to taking further actions, pertaining to the case filed against former State Minister Vijeyakala Maheswaran. The former MP has been charged before the Colombo Chief Magistrate�s Court, with making controversial remarks, aimed at more..

Jan 29 (Island) A petition filed by a person named Kapila Renuka Perera that at present there are 32 Cabinet Ministers and 44 State Ministers although the Constitution permits only 30 Cabinet Ministers and 40 State Ministers was refixed for Support on 23 March. Perera has in his petition argued that the government has violated Article 47(1) (a) and (b) of the Constitution, and that the Cabinet is illegal and should be abolished. Perera, an engineers by profession, has named a total of 82 more..

Jan 30 (TM) If someone were to steal Rs. 1,000 belonging to the State, that person would have to face the consequences of that action in terms of the law. Similarly, if someone were to aid and abet in the act of stealing Rs. 1,000 from the State, that too would constitute an offence and is punishable by law. The law is also very specific about damage caused to public property, which constitutes a crime and is an offence punishable by law. If national wealth is construed as public property, more..

Jan 30 (Island) In claiming that all mainstream parties have failed the country, the JVP-NPP has made a necessity out of virtue. The JVP has always touted itself as the better alternative, and in the present conjuncture, it feels it�s the best alternative we have. That may explain why its manifesto, Rapid Response, reads like a rushed job, full of rhetoric but no real substance. It�s the policy statement of a party which tries to please everyone and ends up pleasing no one. more..

Jan 30 (SO) SL�s Ambassador to China Dr. Palitha Kohona explains where the strong and warm bi-lateral relations between SL and China are heading in the future, on the eve of 65th anniversary of establishing Sino-Lanka diplomatic relations. Dr. Kohona said SL�s territorial integrity has not been a bargaining chip on the table for Chinese development assistance. Q: This year marks 65 years of diplomatic relations more..

Jan 30 (SO) Sri Lanka marked the first anniversary of its Covid vaccination drive yesterday, having started it on January 29, 2021 with the AstraZeneca Covishield vaccines donated by India the previous day under its Vaccine Maitri (Vaccine Friendship) initiative. In the intervening one year, Sri Lanka has managed to inoculate nearly 65 percent of its entire population with two doses of the vaccine while another 25% had also received the booster (third) dose. more..

Jan 30 (CT) Today the country is facing many problems the effects of which have been aggravated due to several reasons. Some are beyond our control. Some are not only confined to us as a country. There are also some caused and continuing due to lack of proper attention. While the macro situation will have to be dealt with according to a well-planned strategy, there are many other areas where a proper address would result in providing an impetus to steer away from the plunging more..

Jan 30 (SO) State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said that anybody who wishes to be in the Govt criticises and points out its mistakes, it is not an issue at all and they are open for it. However, if somebody is doing it deliberately to embarrass the Govt while being a stakeholder of it, then a decision has to be taken regarding them. He said, �The people didn�t give us the responsibility just because they wanted a change. more..

Jan 30 (TM) Sri Lanka is in the throes of a major economic and humanitarian crisis. Although this began with the 70% fall in tourism following the Easter attacks, it was exacerbated by the Covid crisis which affected nearly all sectors. The crisis was further exacerbated by high Govt spending and tax cuts (such as the cut in VAT from 15% to 8% in 2019), eroding State revenue, while large debt repayments have left foreign exchange reserves at their lowest levels in a decade. more..

Jan 30 (Island) As readers know, auctioneers conclude a sale saying going, going, gone! with a hammer blow to signal that the final bid has been accepted and whatever�s on offer is sold. We may well adapt the analogy to the impending power cut hanging over our collective necks like a Sword of Damocles with coming, coming, came! Thankfully it has not yet come, but the fuel supply situation is threatening thermal electricity generation as the dry season has set in after a year of good rainfall more..

Jan 30 (SO) Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris said that no discussion has been held within the Govt to extend the term of Parliament or the President. The Minister said, �Since we have another three years left of the people�s mandate we received, it is the Government�s goal to transform the President�s Saubhagyaye Dekma Policy Statement into reality within that period. We dedicate ourselves to the maximum for that and the Govt has no intention of holding a referendum at all.� more..

Jan 30 (CT) Sri Lanka is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, If standard accounting practice is applied the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is not a going concern. Fact. The world at large and the arms that are collaborative do not allow a country to go down the pipe. Why? The knock-on effect it will have on other nations. The resultant chaos and misery on a populace who follow democracy by a simple act of placing a cross on a ballot paper and handing over more..

Jan 30 (Island) Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage says that Sri Lanka will not agree to the special mechanism imposed by the UNHRC yet will implement solutions as far as practically possible. In a zoom interview Admiral Colombage said Pre Gotabaya Rajapaksa has given him clear instructions not to give extensions to diplomats beyond three years. He also said our missions abroad will focus more more..

Jan 30 (Island) Multichemi International Ltd, which manufactures and distributes a wide range of products under dash, one of SL�s leading detergent and household care brands, has begun exporting its products to several int'l markets in Asia & Oceania, with plans also to enter Africa. The dash brand includes a wide range of products in the Car Care, Household Care, Home Fragrances and Laundry Care sectors. Multichemi International Ltd, which has been awarded ISO 9001:2015 more..

Jan 30 (ST) Next week, the nation will raise the Lion flag, sing the national anthem, watch the country�s armed forces parade and schoolchildren will dance while the soothing strains of religious chanting commemorate the 74th year of SL regaining its Independence from 443 years of foreign rule. The country is in bad shape, no doubt. Undoubtedly, there have been advances as there have been setbacks over the past seven and half decades, but at least the people are free from the yoke of more..

Jan 30 (TM) An audit of the Employees� Provident Fund (EPF) conducted by the National Audit Office (NAO) has shed light on a massive misappropriation of funds. The revelation came to light in a report published by the NAO recently. EPF is the country�s largest and most widespread social security scheme. The audit has revealed that a total of Rs. 5 billion or 56% of the investments made by the EPF in equity of more..

Jan 30 (ST) The hunt for Mickey Arthur�s replacement as national Head Coach has met a roadblock with two earmarked candidates, Graham Ford and Paul Farbrace, turning their backs on SLC. This means the process will take much longer than expected with SLC confirming that Rumesh Ratnayake�the interim Head Coach�will oversee the team during the Test and T20 series against India, which follows the five-match T20 series against Australia next month. more..

Jan 30 (ST) My dear Udith, I thought I must write to you because many people seem to be suddenly talking about you, although not in a very flattering way. They are making many accusations against you � and tarnishing Mahinda maama�s good name too in the process. Surprisingly, you haven�t said anything at all in response. Udith, this is probably the most publicity that you ever got in your career and being a politician, any publicity is better than no publicity. People hardly knew about you even more..

Jan 30 (TM) The Govt has postponed its previous plan to reopen the Colombo International Airport, Ratmalana from 29 January to mid-March 2022, due to technical difficulties encountered at the terminal. Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Pvt.) Ltd. (AASL) Chairman Major General G.A. Chandrasiri revealed that the aircraft that were scheduled to be arriving at the Ratmalana Airport were big aircraft and more..

Jan 30 (Island) SL probably had the best lead up to the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup, a multifaceted coaching staff, a captain who had played Youth Int'l matches since 2018, and a team heavily laden with all-rounders, yet a maiden Under 19 World Cup title continued to elude them as Afghanistan ended SL�s unbeaten run in the crucial quarter-final in Antigua on Thursday. One might see the excessive number (four) of run-outs as the main cause for defeat but as it could be seen from the group stage, more..