Jan 6 (Island) The sacking of State Minister Susil Premjayantha is indicative of the govt�s desperation to suppress dissent, which shows signs of getting out of hand. It could be considered the beginning of a purge of sorts in the SLPP. Premjayantha got Prez Rajapaksa�s goat, as it were, when he publicly declared, last Saturday, that the govt�s organic fertiliser project had become a disaster, and led to a food shortage. He did not blame the Prez directly; he only inveighed against Minister more..

Jan 6 (TM) Customers have been complaining that licensed commercial banks (LCBs) are forcibly converting their US dollars into SL rupees (LKR), reportedly based on a circular the CB has issued to the banks, a claim which was emphatically denied by the Central Bank yesterday. Several customers on Twitter yesterday claimed that their US dollars have been converted into SL rupees by their respective banks. more..

Jan 6 (FT) COVID-19 case count rose to 589,479 with the detection of 550 COVID-19 positive persons yesterday. 548 persons from the New Year cluster and two overseas arrivals tested positive for the virus yesterday. On Tuesday, 620 persons from the New Year cluster and nine SL overseas returnees tested positive for COVID-19. 6,638 PCR tests and 3,670 RATs were conducted on Tuesday. �We are continuing the allocated number of random testing and testing has not been reduced. more..

Jan 6 (FT) COVID-19 vaccines were administered to 34,104 persons on Tuesday with 64.42% of the country�s population now having received the first two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. 74.4% of the population has received the first dose. As of 3 December, 28.2% of the population over 20 years had received the booster dose. The booster dose was administered to 32,182 persons on Tuesday. On Tuesday, 363 persons received the first dose of Sinopharm and 971 received the 2nd dose. more..

Jan 6 (DM) Footage of a saltwater crocodile struggling for life in the Nilwala River went viral on social media recently. The animal was spotted by area residents in Katuwangoda but even though they had alerted officers at the DWC office in Mirissa, attempts to rescue the animal had failed. However, preliminary investigations have revealed that the animal was killed from a bait that was used to capture the animal. more..

Jan 6 (TM) Despite the fundamental belief that export earnings would contribute in improving foreign reserves, economist Subhashini Abeysinghe Tweeted that it would not be upto the expectation at this juncture due to the challenges exporters face along with SL paying its debt. Verit� Research Research Director Subhashini Abeysinghe stated: �Basically, that (increasing exports) is visual thinking because you can�t increase exports like that as the records clearly show that more..

Jan 6 (FT) Prez Rajapaksa yesterday called on the Mahanayake and Anunayake Theras of Malwathu and Asgiri Chapters yesterday and received their blessings. Prez visited the Malwathu Maha Vihara and called on the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera and obtained blessings for the year 2022. Prez briefed the Mahanayake Thera on the steps taken by the Govt for the protection and conservation of historical sites of archaeological value. more..

Jan 6 (FT) Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal met his Qatari counterpart, the Qatar Central Bank Governor Sheikh Bandar Bin Mohammed Bin Saoud Al-Thani, in Doha on Tuesday. In a statement, the Central Bank said bilaterally beneficial arrangements had been initiated between the two Central Banks during the meeting. Discussions had also been held on strengthening bilateral ties and working relationships between the financial intermediaries of Qatar and SL. more..

Jan 6 (CT) SL National Men�s Team Year 2022 Int'l Cricketing Calendar will commence in January with an ODI series against Zimbabwe at home, whilst it will be followed by the team touring Australia, India and Bangladesh. Australian National Team is expected to arrive in SL for a series during June�July 2022, and Pakistan will follow suit, before SL hosts the T20i ACC Asia Cup during Aug-Sept 2022. Following the Asia Cup, SL will head to Australia to take part in Men�s T20 World Cup 2022. more..

Jan 6 (TM) Claiming that people in certain areas are acting irresponsibly in connection with the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health has stated that if it continues, the country would have to face a disastrous situation, including an islandwide lockdown. �The irresponsible actions of the people exacerbate the Covid-19 pandemic. If they continue to do so, the people of the whole country would be in a disastrous situation.� more..

Jan 6 (Island) SL Institute of Marketing (SLIM) recently signed a MoU with the SL Association for Software Services Companies (SLASSCOM), the national chamber for the knowledge and innovation industry in SL. The MoU was signed to facilitate internship opportunities for SLIM undergraduates within the SLASSCOM landscape. Signed on the 21st of Sept 2021, this partnership will enable undergraduates of SLIM to expand their horizons through internship opportunities within more..

Jan 6 (DM) Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA) lamented that they are unable to assign buses on the road due to a lack of crew members and also the operational failure of most Ticket Vending Machines (TVM). LPBOA Chairman Gemunu Wijerathne said that most of their TVMs have become dysfunctional due to lack of batteries and not updating the system with the revised fares. Therefore, he asked the people to bring the exact bus fare. "Most of our bus drivers and more..

Jan 6 (Island) A simmering battle between the health ministry and the GMOA over the recent controversial change of the system that had been in place with regard to post-intern appointments has taken a new turn with PM Rajapaksa declaring that the final decision on such matters should be taken by Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. PM Rajapaksa said so at the end of a meeting at Temple Trees on Tuesday morning attended by more..

Jan 6 (Island) SLFP General Secretary and State Minister of Batik, Handloom and Local Apparel Products Dayasiri Jayasekera yesterday said that his party�s Central Committee would decide the time when the party should leave the ruling alliance. Minister said that a couple of years back people had been asking them not to contest under any symbol other than the Lotus Bud but today the very same people were asking them not to contest under the Lotus Bud symbol under any circumstances. more..

Jan 6 (FT) 42nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the SL�Japan Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce was held recently at Ramada Hotel Colombo. Ambassador of Japan in SL/Council Patron Mizukoshi Hideaki was the Chief Guest at the AGM. The SL�Japan Business Council was set up in 1979 as the SL � Japan Business Co-operation Committee (SLJBCC) by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, following a MoU with the Japan�SL Business Co-operation Committee more..

Jan 6 (TM) One day after State Minister Susil Premajayantha was removed from his state ministerial portfolio, the Pasupela Ape Handa (Voice of the Backbenchers) organisation launched by three SLPP Govt MPs, yesterday warned senior politicians within the Govt that it is best to keep their mouths shut. �It is best if senior politicians within the country keep their mouths shut, at least during this year. Prez Rajapaksa said when this year started that he will take direct, more..

Jan 6 (DN) Governor Central Bank (CBSL) Ajith Nivard Cabraal said that rumours spread by some mischievous elements that Sri Lankan banks have been ordered by CBSL to forcibly convert balances in their customers� Forex accounts are totally false. �These are rumours spread by some mischievous elements,� he said. The Central Bank on Dec 29 informed the public that (as announced on 22 Dec 2021) expected foreign currency inflows are forthcoming & with receipt of recent inflows, more..

Jan 6 (CT) With a crack in the ruling alliance being visible with constituent parties of the SLPP-led Govt trading charges at each other following State Minister Susil Premajayantha�s sudden removal, a possible Cabinet reshuffle coupled with a possible reorganisation of top Govt bureaucracy is tipped to take place after 12 Jan. Secretaries to the Ministries as well as Chairpersons of State Corporations and heads of statutory boards would be replaced. more..

Jan 6 (DN) Both public and private sector companies have secured over USD 500 million worth of deals and opportunities by participating in the ongoing Dubai Expo here. Negotiations were also opened to secure a USD 100 million bid for some of the large gemstones that were found in SL towards the latter parts of December last year. Officials from the Gem Corporation at the SL Pavilion of the Expo said that a large gem buyer was keen to purchase the largest gem cluster more..

Jan 6 (Island) Monetary Board of the Central Bank, acting in terms of the Regulations made under the Registered Stock and Securities Ordinance and the Local Treasury Bills Ordinance, has extended the suspension of Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) preventing it from carrying on the business and activities of a Primary Dealer for a further period of six months with effect from 4.30 p.m. yesterday (05), in order to continue the investigations being conducted by the Central Bank of SL said more..

Jan 6 (FT) SJB�s vocal experts on the economy exposed the key causes for what they described as an unprecedented socio-economic crisis in the country reinforcing the failure on the part of the Govt. SJB MPs Kabir Hashim, Dr. Harsha de Silva and Eran Wickramaratne, who form the nucleus of the party�s Centre for Economic Policy, in a joint briefing to the media listed several policy fiascos of the Govt and its failure to heed warnings more..

Jan 6 (DM) SL is still negotiating with the Dubai-based company which has offered US$ 100 million for the Queen of Asia, the world�s largest natural corundum blue sapphire found in SL, whether to make final deal. State Minister Lohan Ratwatte who is currently in Dubai said that no final decision was taken into the company's offer to sell the Queen of Asia. He said the officials and the owner of the blue sapphire are still at the discussion stage with the company for highest offer more than more..

Jan 6 (Island) JVP Leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said in Kandy that the Head of State sacked ministers and removed ministry secretaries in a state of panic, fearing they would carry out more attacks on the govt. Dissanayake said that State Minister Susil Premjayanth and Agriculture Ministry Secretary had been removed as the President was feeling insecure. �This is not an acceptable situation�, he said. He was responding to media when he called on the prelate of Asgiriya more..

Jan 6 (TM) DGHS Dr. Asela Gunawardena has granted approval to the Ministry of Education to normalise academic activities at all schools from Grades One to 13, starting from next Monday (10). All govt schools and govt-approved schools were reopened on Monday (3) for academic activities after term holidays which commenced on 23 Dec 2021. Earlier, Ministry of Edu had given instructions to summon students in batches more..

Jan 6 (DM) Litro Gas Lanka Limited has decided to streamline the manufacturing of domestic and commercial gas cylinders and has already taken steps to increase its manufacturing capacity, Litro Gas Senior Manager, Chamani Pathirage said. While issuing a notice, she said that they have already released 220,000 cylinders to the market over the last two days. Meanwhile, the company has taken measures to provide a maximum of 90,000 to 100,000 LP gas cylinders to local market more..

Jan 6 (FT) What Sri Lanka is experiencing now is the total collapse of an amateurish economic experiment shaped by policies on the run from an ethno-religious nationalist president GR, who has now been recognised as Sri Lankadheeshwara Padma Vibhushana, a unique and prestigious title ever awarded to any political leader by the Sangha community. No sooner this president was elected to office in 2019, he got himself surrounded by a power cartel or Viyathmaga consisting of more..

Jan 6 (AD) The circular to eliminate anomalies in the salaries of teachers and principals have been published by the Ministry of Public Services and Provincial Councils and Local Govt. The communiqu�, signed by the ministerial secretary, J.J. Rathnasiri, was issued on Wednesday (5). Revisions are being made to the salary scales in the Teacher Service, the Principal Service, and the Teacher Educator Service in accordance with the decisions taken at the meetings of more..

Jan 6 (FT) Susil Premjayanth is one of the good ones; educated, intelligent, experienced, a fine speaker and debater be it in parliament or on TV. He is not one of those the protesting peasants refer to rudely as the buffaloes in Parliament. An SLPP member, he represents what is best in the SLFP tradition: he is a moderate, progressive centrist. Someone who should have wielded a top portfolio, he has been deprived of his State Ministry by President Gotabaya. more..

Jan 6 (EN) Health authorities in Sri Lanka are concerned over an apparent misinformation-fuelled hesitancy shown towards the COVID-19 booster dose that was largely absent in the initial rollout. So far the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been administered to 4.1 million Sri Lankans as their booster jab, irrespective of the vaccine they received as their first two doses. However, that�s less than 25% of the 13.8 million people already more..

Jan 6 (DM) Two men have been arrested by the STF for possessing three elephant pearls valued over Rs. 50 million in Ampara. The STF said the elephant pearls weighing over 150g were siezed on information received by the STF Ampara camp. The suspects aged 39 and 40 from Ransegoda and Kengalla, were handed over to the Ampara Police for further investigations. It was revealed that the tuskers entering the Yala, Kumana and Udawalawe reserves were killed, pearls sold for Rs 50m more..

Jan 6 (AD) The two boys who went missing from their home in Banduragoda, Wattemulla in the Kotadeniyawa police area two months ago, have been found. The duo was located from Mirigama town earlier today (January 6), according to the police. The two children, aged 10 and 12 years, were reported missing since November 23, 2021. Kotadeniyawa Police had opened an investigation in early December last year, after receiving a complaint on the sudden disappearance of 2 cousins. more..

Jan 6 (AD) Under the govt�s initiative to provide employment opportunities to graduates, more than 51,000 degree holders, who were receiving training at public institutions, have received letters of appointment as Development Officers on permanent basis. Accordingly, these newly-appointed Development Officers will receive a basic salary of Rs. 31,490. These graduates have received training for a period of one year at provincial councils, more..

Jan 6 (MFA) Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris held discussions in Seoul with Deputy PM and Minister of Education of the Republic of Korea Yoo Eun-hye. Minister Peiris referred to extensive economic cooperation between the two countries, especially Overseas Development Assistance led by KOICA and the EXIM Bank of ROK. Minister Peiris expressed appreciation of the benefits derived by Sri Lanka from these programmes. The Foreign Minister, referring to the 22,000 Lankans more..

Jan 6 (Island) A series of cultural, sports, literary, commemorative and aesthetic events have been organised by the SL Malay Association and the Colombo Malay Cricket Club to mark their centennial and sesquicentennial anniversaries respectively, throughout this year. �The series of SLMA centenary commemoration is scheduled to be inaugurated on 22 Jan. with the issuance of a first day cover and thereafter it will be marked with several sports tournaments, a symposium, more..

Jan 6 (AD) Former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for an Adjournment Debate following Prez Rajapaksa�s address to the House on January 18 pursuant to Article 33(A) of the Constitution. The lawmaker has written to both Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Leader of the House, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in this regard. �This is a practice we have followed since the 1978 Constitution came into force,� he said. The President prorogued Parliament from midnight on more..

Jan 6 (AD) MediaInc., a cutting-edge initiative aimed at creating positive disruption in SL�s media space, has finalized its first cohort: three innovative start-up media outlets that will receive comprehensive support in implementing their ideas and launching their platforms. These digital media start-ups have already made their presence felt � particularly through social media. This has earned them a place in the incubator, which focuses on Idea Stage. Over the next three months, more..