Mar 17 (DM) The adjective has been tagged to the verb American. Over the past few weeks, it has been used when referring to Minister Basil Rajapaksa. Subjective. After all beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and, by implication, so too ugliness. Ugliness is not the preserve of any country or any group of people although the beauty or otherwise of the powerful get more views on account of visibility and therefore invite greater frequency of comment. Eyes of the beholder, that�s key here, more..

Mar 17 (DM) Given the chaos, confusion and uncertainty currently prevailing in SL, it is only natural for people to be afraid of a worse calamity that tomorrow might unleash on the helpless citizens of this country. The prices of cement, wheat flour, bread, rice, diesel, petrol, kerosene, domestic gas and bus fares among others have risen while people are continuing to queue up for hours at various sales outlets to buy their daily or weekly requirements. On returning home for some form of respite after more..

Mar 17 (TM) A little less than half of the drowning deaths studied at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital in Kalubowila could have been prevented as drowning is a preventable type of death under injury prevention strategies. This finding was made in an original research paper on the Characteristics of cases of fatal drowning at a tertiary care hospital in SL authored by H.T.D.W. Ariyarathna and E.L.P.A. Jayathilaka more..

Mar 17 (TM) When it comes to public representatives, the natural expectation is that their loyalties should lie with the public, as opposed to whichever political party or faction they are affiliated to. This is in fact one of the core principles of democracy � elected representatives serve as the voice of a particular constituency in directing the future of a nation. However, amidst several ministers, ministerial secretaries, and other key figures being stripped of their positions due to more..

Mar 17 (Roar) After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it can often seem that lately there are more and more things to worry about. Climate change is a contentious subject, but there are many scientists and activists who are adamant this is a very real problem. While there are those who will argue that it is not something to be concerned about, the extreme weather patterns are seen across the world make it hard to ignore, with annual weather events turning into disasters due to their more..

Mar 17 (CT) In Dec 2021, Registrar General issued a Circular, instructing that it was mandatory for Sri Lankans who wish to marry a foreigner to obtain a Security Clearance Report from the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The Security Clearance Report is to prevent foreigners who under the pretext of marrying Sri Lankans use this freedom and involve in illegal activities. Below we compare the Registrar General�s Circular in relation to more..

Mar 17 (CT) Yesterday, this newspaper, in an article published under the heading Contradictory views ruining Govt�s integrity, quoting Cabinet Spokesman Dullas Alahapperuma said, �members of the current Govt, including him, should be held accountable if there is incapacity to implement certain decisions and delay in drafting policies.� Two reasons may be attributable to the present crisis going by certain actions taken and/or recommendations made by CB/GoSL to rectify the same. more..

Mar 17 (DM) Sri Lanka�s political scene experienced a charged tempo when the main opposition SJB took to the streets on Tuesday (March 15) protesting against an inefficient govt and demanding from the president to call for an early presidential election. Mostly the idea behind the protests was to send a clear message to the president that he must change as the head of state. The main opposition might have considered Monday�s rally as a victory given the large numbers that were present. more..

Mar 17 (Island) Various views are being expressed about the state of SL�s democracy, which has lost its vitality over the years, and is not a shadow of its former self. Ex-Chairman of the Election Commission of SL, Mahinda Deshapriya, has made an interesting observation. Having had a ringside view of SL politics for several decades, he thinks that a country�s democratic wellbeing is inextricably linked to internal democracy of political parties. He said so at a recent event held in Colombo more..

Mar 17 (CT) Sri Lanka is a failed state and will remain as such until the People, Media, Judiciary, Politicians, and other State officials act as ostriches with their heads buried in the sand. Furthermore, the country possesses all characteristics of a pariah nation. Increasingly isolated in the international community due to fiscal, economic, social, and justice framework and policies adopted by a few dirtbags holding on to power to rule under a corrupt political machinery. more..

Mar 17 (ST) More than 4,800 state-owned vehicles are to be disposed of by April 30 following a govt directive to speed up the disposal or repair of vehicles not in running condition owned by all govt agencies including provincial councils. Under the plan, 3,229 vehicles are yet to be repaired, while so far, 844 vehicles have been repaired and 620 disposed of. A total of 82,194 vehicles are owned by all govt institutions. more..

Mar 17 (DN) King Suddhodana, the father of the Buddha, heard the news that his son, Siduhath had attained Enlightenment. Wanting to meet his son, the King sent an envoy to invite the Buddha to Kapilavastu, (modern-day Nepal). The envoy having entered the Buddha�s Order never returned, worst he could not pass the message. The King sent more envoys�all of them joined the order without conveying the father�s invitation to the son. As a last resort, King Suddhodana sent a boyhood more..

Mar 17 (Island) Decorated Army General Shavendra Silva some time back was appointed as the Chairman of the National Selection Committee. The role of this committee is to oversee the appointments of selection committees to all sports that are under the Ministry of Sports. He didn�t have many issues dealing with the appointments, but when it came to cricket there was a bone of contention. Cricket Advisory Committee moved full steam ahead backing Pramodaya more..

Mar 17 (FT) The largest post-COVID tourism event Raid Amazones involving 600 participants in two stages kicked off in Sigiriya yesterday reinforcing that SL is a safe destination. Flagging off the adventure event, Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that selecting SL to hold the Raid Amazones adventure program will send a positive message to the world that SL is a safe destination. 600 athletes take part in Raid Amazones more..

Mar 17 (Island) Representing SL�s top educational institutions on the international stage and demonstrating a significant advance in its academic web presence and research excellence, SLIIT, country�s largest non-state degree awarding institute has moved up in the Webometrics country rankings and Impact rankings for 2022. Based on the latest rankings, Webometrics highlights SLIIT having moved up in SL�s local Universities and Higher Edu institutes rankings to be placed 13th more..

Mar 17 (DM) With the current fuel price increase, people who used private transportation systems have a tendency to use train services as it was a low cost transport mode, SL Railway Station Masters' Union (SLRSMU) said. They said the revenue reported this month at major railway stations have remarkably increased and a letter mentioning the current situation was sent to the Transport Minister. In the letter, union requested the Minister to draw his attention to expanding of the railway service more..

Mar 17 (Island) SLT-Mobitel announce as part of the Digital Partnership initiative, the Strategic Collaboration with Softlogic IT, in introducing Data Exchange and Analytics Services. This essentially enables businesses to adopt a data driven approach in solving problems and gaining deeper insights in data using the tools and processes of the IZAC Data Exchange and Analytics Platform and Microstrategy (Nasdaq: MISTR). IZAC is the Global Data Exchange platform by Whiteklay and, more..

Mar 17 (DN) Sri Lankan athletics (SLA) are expected to conduct Centenary National Championships which is scheduled to be held on April 8, 9, and 10 at Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium Diyagama. This will be more important for local athletes as it has named the final selection for the Asian Games. Vice President of SLA said entries will close on March 29 for this Centenary Athletic Championships. The first and second selection trials already concluded successfully while most of more..

Mar 17 (FT) The 11-party coalition partners in the ruling SLPP-led Govt yesterday intensified their attacks on Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa blaming him for the country�s economic woes and said he must take responsibility for the suffering people were undergoing due to shortages and price hikes. �If a patient dies today because he does not have medicine for cancer treatment or a heart ailment, Basil Rajapaksa is responsible for more..

Mar 17 (FT) State Minister Vidura Wickremanayake stated that there are no funds for the basic functions of the Central Cultural Fund as a result of using the funds for purposes outside the objectives of it during the era of the previous Govt. The State Minister made these remarks when the members of the Presidential Task Force for One Country, One Law held a meeting with him. It was also revealed during this meeting that the people in several provinces had informed the Task Force that the laws more..

Mar 17 (CT) SL Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne jumped up to a career best No.3 in the latest MRF Tyres ICC Test Rankings after his fighting 107 in the second innings in Bangalore against India earlier this week. Karunarathne, 34, has scored 5,620 runs in 76 Test at an average of 39.57 where he has been the driving force of SL�s Test team in the recent past, scoring runs in difficult conditions. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli slipped to the ninth spot, with Pakistan skipper Babar Azam advancing to No.8 more..

Mar 17 (TM) According to reports, the kerb market exchange rate has readjusted to hover at around Rs. 300-305 despite the continuous devaluation of the Sri Lanka rupee over the past two weeks by around Rs. 35.5%. As of yesterday (16), based on data published by the CB, the selling rate of US dollars for telegraph transfers stood at Rs. 270.0 while the buying rate of US dollars for telegraph transfers stood at Rs. 264.7. more..

Mar 17 (Island) Advocata Institute says that SL�s labour laws that discourage the entry and retention of women in the labour force are a factor preventing female participation in the workforce. A report, titled Gender Discriminatory Labour Laws in SL and Female Labour Force Participation, recently launched by the Institute, says that the gender discriminatory labour laws, such as banning work at night, impacts female labour force participation. The report identifies lack of reference to part-time more..

Mar 17 (TM) Colombo Additional District Judge Chathurika de Silva has given a last date to the defendants, including former President and incumbent Govt MP Maithripala Sirisena, who have been named as respondents in 109 cases filed seeking compensation for the victims of the Easter Sunday terror attacks of 21 April 2019, to file statements. The respondents were scheduled to submit the statements yesterday, but de Silva gave them a last date as they had not filed such. more..

Mar 17 (FT) Colombo stock market remained lacklustre with indices closing on a mixed note though turnover improved. All Share Price Index closed with 61.75 points or 0.6% down whilst the active S&P SL20 gained by 9 points or 0.26%. Turnover was Rs. 3 billion involving 117 million shares. Asia Securities said the S&P SL20 got support from price gains in JKH (+3.9%), HAYL (+1.4%), COMB (+1.3%), VONE (+2.0%) and MELS (+2.8%), which cushioned the losses more..

Mar 17 (Island) JVP youth wing has called on the public to take to the streets to send the incumbent govt home and thereby end the prevailing crisis engulfed by uncertainty. National Organiser of the Socialist Youth Union Eranga Gunasekera said that prices of all essential commodities have been increased by around 40% and people are in dire straits. �The price of a loaf of bread is over Rs 120 now. If this govt remains in power, the people will not be able to celebrate Sinhala/Tamil New Year more..

Mar 17 (FT) The SJB said yesterday that it would commence discussions with all stakeholders next week to formulate and present a comprehensive economic plan to overcome the current crisis. The discussions headed by its economic policy team comprising MPs Dr. Harsha De Silva, Kabir Hashim and Eran Wickremaratne, will look to present a blueprint for a Social Market Economy that would touch all aspects of more..

Mar 17 (AD) President�s Media Division says that payments have been made for the LP gas tankers docked in the Colombo Port. Unloading of the gas will commence today (17) and the distribution of domestic LP gas will continue, it said. It was reported earlier today that Litro Gas and Laugfs Gas PLC, the two largest suppliers of liquefied petroleum (LP) gas in SL, had decided to halt the distribution of cylinders for domestic use. The decision was taken due to the shortage of supplies, more..

Mar 17 (DM) There is no point in substituting and targeting an individual without properly understanding the problems that prevail in the country, head of Presidential Task-force for One Country-One Law Ven. Galagodaththe Gnanasara Thera said. He said nearly US$ 15 billion received by the country through the tourism industry, had been lost subsequent to the Easter Sunday attack in the country an during the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. more..

Mar 17 (TM) Addressing the nation at a challenging time, President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said that following his discussion with officials from the IMF, he has decided to work with them, after examining the advantages and disadvantages of doing so, in order to fill the country�s trade deficit and build the foreign exchange reserves. �We must take action to fill the trade deficit and increase our foreign exchange reserves. more..

Mar 17 (FT) COVID-19 vaccines were administered to 28,471 persons on Tuesday and the country�s first dose coverage has risen to 77.45%. 65.45% of the population has received the second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 34.81% has received the booster dose. Among the population over 20 years, 96.1% has received the second vaccine dose and 52.22% has received the third dose. The first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine has been administered to 96.2% of the population over 12 years and more..

Mar 17 (FT) SL�s COVID-19 case count rose to 657,134 following the detection of 320 COVID-19 patients yesterday. There has been a gradual drop in daily COVID-19 detections, with 428 cases detected the previous day. 4,419 PCR tests and 2,411 RATs were conducted on Tuesday. A total of 69,248 COVID-19 patients have been detected since 1 January. SL�s local cases also include 483,090 patients from New Year cluster, 82,785 patients from Peliyagoda cluster, 9,154 patients from more..

Mar 17 (TM) It is speculated that Central Bank of SL (CBSL) Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal will resign soon, after orders by Prez Rajapaksa and subsequent advice received from PM Rajapaksa, in light of Prez Rajapaksa�s discussion with officials from the IMF on Tuesday (15). The first condition stipulated by the IMF in its extension of technical assistance to SL in connection with overcoming the prevailing economic crisis, called for more..

Mar 17 (FT) I, like you maybe, had mixed feelings about the rally that was this week. Pros: On the one hand, it was exciting that something was happening at last. It looked like the people had finally had just about enough of all their hardships. Now they were on the verge of responding as citizens. And a representative sampling of them were getting ready two days ago to send the villains and other accomplices packing! That it was held on the Ides of March (15th) � this emblematic day when more..

Mar 17 (FT) March 15 feels like a tipping-point. The citizens addressed the President a day before the Prez addressed the citizens. SJB lived up to its name with the massive wave of popular protest that hit the seat of power, Colombo, getting in the face of the armed STF at the Presidential Secretariat, setting fire to a coffin with Prez Rajapaksa�s name on it. Belying (or notwithstanding) media speculation of internal dissonance, the SJB proved itself an impressive mass movement with a militant more..

Mar 17 (AD) Two incidents of murders committed during home burglaries have been reported from two separate areas in the country. It is reported that two individuals who had entered a residence located at Thalahena in the Malabe police area yesterday morning had tied up a woman inside the house and murdered her husband before making off with their gold jewellery. The murder victim is an 80-year-old man while the body has been placed at the Colombo National Hospital. more..