Aug 14 (TM) Mandarina Colombo, the city hotel for the discerning business traveller, reopened the doors to its rooftop restaurant On the Eleventh on 10 Aug with the introduction of Nelum Kole, a flavourful and authentic lunch menu based on Sri Lanka’s iconic nelum kole meal. The Nelum Kole lunch menu buffet is available on weekdays from 12 to 3 p.m. The launch of Nelum Kole marks the opening of the On the Eleventh rooftop restaurant following the Covid-19 pandemic, more..

Aug 14 (DM) SLPP’s triumph in the August 5 general election is massive if not astounding, given the improbabilities of the Proportional Representation system. But if there is one infliction that blemishes this super majority victory, it is racism. The undercurrents of racism were evident even this week. The day before the new cabinet ministers and state ministers took oath, distorted National flags fluttered in the centre of the Kandy city. The flags were sans their stripes that symbolized more..

Aug 14 (FT) Mahendra Percy Rajapaksa known to the world as Mahinda Rajapaksa has been sworn in as PM of Sri Lanka for the fourth time at a grand ceremony held within the precincts of the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara. The Kelaniya Buddhist temple is venerated by SL Buddhists who believe Lord Buddha visited the place during his third and last journey to the island. Besides the belief of being hallowed by the Buddha’s visit, more..

Aug 14 (TM) A virtual panel discussion was conducted courtesy of the British Council on post-pandemic education, supported by the TRANSFORM report, Current Challenges, Future Directions. The webinar took place on 28 July and featured a keynote address by National Education Commission Chairman Prof. H. Abeygunawardena, followed by a panel discussion with key policy and decision-makers from both the education and private sectors to consider what actions can and more..

Aug 14 (FT) Aitken Spence PLC said yesterday it has made a strong comeback in the month of June 2020 with the Group’s main sectors excluding tourism recording a growth in profits compared to June 2019, despite the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on overall economic activity. In a statement Aitken Spence said the three main sectors of the Group – maritime and freight logistics, strategic investments and services – collectively recorded a profit of Rs. 513 million more..

Aug 14 (FT) The Govt’s thrust on development of exports is manifested from the appointment of a host of Ministers with specific tasks, official sources said yesterday. At least four State Ministers have been directly assigned specific export emphasis of several produce types and products as part of their mandate. They are: Coconut, Fishtail Palm, Palmyra and Rubber Product Promotion and Allied Industrial more..

Aug 14 (Island) The US has evinced a keen interest in promoting ethnic reconciliation and national integration in SL and never misses an opportunity to proffer advice to the govts here. It also generously funds some local NGOs that promote democratic ideals. Issuing a statement on the outcome of the recently-concluded general election, the US has urged the newly elected govt to renew its commitments to building an inclusive economic recovery and uphold human rights and more..

Aug 14 (FT) National Development Bank, said it had recorded sound results for the first six months ended 30 June 2020, demonstrating its stability and resilience at the face of the economic and business disruptions resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. The bank also actively strategised and extended much-needed support to customers affected by the pandemic and initiated many plans, which would ensure wider benefits to the economy at large, in its role as a responsible financier in the country. more..

Aug 14 (Island) Their bid to host this year’s IPL tournament may have failed but SLC has indicated to Board of Control for Cricket in India their willingness to host the England versus India Test matches in Sri Lanka next year, if the necessity arises, informed sources said. England are scheduled to tour India next year for five Test matches but with the host nation struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, there are doubts about more..

Aug 14 (FT) Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga assured fast-track relief measures to those engaged in travel trade without curtailing the payments decided by Govt prior to the election. He made these remarks after assuming duties at the ministry. As relief measures, the Govt decided to provide an allowance of Rs. 20,000 to tour guides and Rs. 15,000 to tourist drivers affected by COVID-19. However, during the election period, EC directed the Ministry Secretary to limit the allowance to more..

Aug 14 (FT) Aviation and Export Zones Development State Minister D. V. Chanaka asserted the two sectors which are considered critical in building the economy post COVID-19 would be strengthened. He made these remarks after assuming duties at the ministry in Colombo. “Our primary responsibility is to make the Prez Rajapaksa’s Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour national policy framework a reality. Despite the challenges, particularly post-COVID more..

Aug 14 (TOI) Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s SLPP just secured a landslide victory in parliamentary polls, bringing back Mahinda Rajapaksa as PM. Admiral Jayanath Colombage, foreign secretary and former commander of SL Navy, spoke with Rudroneel Ghosh on the implications of the return of the Rajapaksas, and SL’s equations with India and China. Q: How do you explain the massive victory of SLPP in the parliamentary polls? more..

Aug 14 (FT) Sampath Bank said it had posted a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs 5.32 billion and a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs. 3.97 billion for the six months ended 30 June 2020. It said despite the unique challenges that prevailed since mid-March, the bank was able to limit the decline in PBT and PAT to 8% and 3.2% respectively compared to the corresponding period in 2019. The bank made solid progress towards its targets set for 2020, which together with diversified product portfolio more..

Aug 14 (FT) Teejay Lanka PLC has reported operating profit of Rs. 15.2 million and profit before tax of Rs. 13.9 million for the first quarter of 2020-21 but posted a nominal net loss – its first since being listed on the CSE – directly as a result of the loss of production and orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a filing with the CSE, Sri Lanka’s only multinational textile producer said revenue for the three months ending 30 June, at Rs. 4.7 billion reflected a reduction of 42%. more..

Aug 14 (CT) Former Solicitor General, Suhada Gamlath rejected a claim made by former Deputy Solicitor General Wasantha Bandara PC that Gamlath had asked him to take stern action against Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Chairman of Avant Garde, Nissanka Senadhipathi over the Avant Garde floating armoury case in 2015. Bandara made this claim while cross-examining Gamlath at PCoI appointed to probe into political more..

Aug 14 (FT) Sri Lanka insurance announced yesterday that it has declared the largest ever life insurance bonus of Rs. 8.2 billion for the year 2020 to its life insurance policyholders. The quantum is the largest life insurance bonus ever to be declared in the insurance industry of Sri Lanka, bringing the total of life insurance bonuses paid to policyholders since 2005 to Rs. 64.6 billion. Recording the largest life insurance fund of Rs. 116 billion, the company’s prudent investment management strategies more..

Aug 14 (EN) This week’s nomination of Democratic Senator Kamala Harris as US presidential candidate Joe Biden’s running mate is a historic moment, Harris’ Chief of Staff and senior adviser, SL-American Rohini Kosoglu said. Harris, who was picked as Biden’s vice president nominee on Tuesday, is the first woman of colour in the US to be named a VP nominee by a major party. In another first, Kosoglu was first appointed Harris’ chief of staff in 2018, becoming the only American-Asian more..

Aug 14 (Island) The US provided funds to the tune of Rs 1.92 bn to Parliament at the request of the previous yahapalana govt. Funds were utilized to refurbish Parliament’s Media centre, training of more than 100 lobby correspondents on parliamentary procedures and strengthening of House staff research capabilities. USAID in late Nov 2016 launched a Rs. 1.92 billion (USD$13 mn) partnership with the Parliament of SL to more..

Aug 14 (FT) Newly appointed Power Minister Dullas Alahapperuma yesterday assured that the Govt would take measures to introduce long-lasting solutions for the power sector, while insisting on structural improvement to loss-making institutions under the purview of the Ministry. He made these remarks after assuming duties at the Ministry yesterday. The Minister pointed out that the CEB incurs a daily loss of Rs. 250 million, which needs to come to an end. more..

Aug 14 (CT) Western Province Illegal Drugs Raid Unit said a young couple suspected of transporting a stock of illegal drugs worth over Rs 100 million in a luxury vehicle, were arrested in the Palenwatta area in Piliyandala yesterday. Police said the couple aged between 21 and 23 had a kilo of illegal drugs at the time of their arrest and noted that the luxury motorcar used by the couple to transport the drugs had also been seized. Police estimated the total value of the drugs to be over Rs 100 million. more..

Aug 14 (FT) Newly-appointed Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday said the Govt would take measures to uphold media freedom, while strengthening the competitiveness among State media organisations. He made these remarks after assuming duties at the Media Ministry in Colombo. Rambukwella said the administration under Prez Rajapaksa was committed to uphold democratic rights of freedom of speech and more..

Aug 14 (Island) Animal rights groups yesterday said they were hopeful that newly appointed Justice Minister Ali Sabry would take steps to enact the Animal Welfare Bill without further delay. Rally for Animal Rights and Environment (RARE) said that the matter had been dragging on for far too long. The Attorney General’s Department is working on the Animal Welfare Bill, according to sources. PM Rajapaksa recently made inquiries about proposal, which were to be submitted in July, but more..

Aug 14 (DM) The SriLankan Airlines flight in which with 23 passengers tested positive for COVID- 19 only landed in Colombo for technical purposes en route to Shanghai from Dubai on August 7, and no passenger boarded the aircraft or disembarked it here, a Chinese embassy spokesman said. The spokesman said flight UL 866 had a stopover in Colombo only for refuelling, and none of the passengers disembarked it. He also said no passenger boarded aircraft from Colombo. more..

Aug 14 (CT) Sources close to former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said the latter has consented to take over the Leadership of the UNP, which is expected to be vacated by incumbent Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe soon. Several former UNF MPs such as Ravi Karunanayaka, Arjuna Ranatunga and Palitha Range Bandara along with two of its activists Kithsiri Manchanayaka and Kasthuri Anuradhanayaka, had urged Jayasuriya to more..

Aug 14 (CT) Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi pledged to take measures to prevent and control diseases in the country. Wanniarachchi, assuming duties yesterday, said as a country, all sections of society had worked to control COVID-19. “In the Ministry of Health, there have been many instances where there have been allegations of fraud and corruption,” she said. “According to the policy statement of Prez Rajapaksa, the vision of prosperity, the Ministry is ready to take up more..

Aug 14 (DM) National Elections Commission informed all newly elected MPs to submit their assets and liabilities declarations before the first sitting of the new Parliament, Aug 20. EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said according to the law, MPs should declare their assets by the first sitting of Parliament to the Commission. The candidates who were not elected to Parliament but had still failed to submit their asset declarations are supposed to submit them before Sept 6. more..

Aug 14 (DM) The govt has made its intentions clear through the synopsis of its cabinet, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) said. SJB National List MP Harin Fernando said that the govt has clearly indicated that its intentions with regard to the 19th Amendment by allowing the President to hold the Defence Ministry portfolio. “It looks like the govt had violated the 19th Amendment even before the meeting of the new Parliament. more..

Aug 14 (FT) The victory of the Govt at the Parliamentary Election is huge and miraculous. Had there been a First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) electoral system that was in operation prior to 1977 instead of the current system of Proportional Representation, the result achieved by the Pohottuwa (SLPP) could have been much greater than the result achieved by the UNP in 1977. The landslide victory of the UNP at the ’77 election resulted in weakening the Opposition movements in the Sinhala south more..

Aug 14 (Island) The govt could not ignore the concerns of Tamil people just because it has a two thirds majority in Parliament, TNA leader R. Sampanthan said. PM Mahinda Rajapaksa and his govt should find solutions to the problems faced by the Tamils, he said. Sampanthan also asked the govt to find a permanent political solution to the problems faced by the Tamils through a new constitution. “The govt attempted to divide the votes of Tamil people through various means. more..

Aug 14 (FT) The swearing-in ceremony for SL’s new Cabinet took place at the historic Magul Maduwa, at the Sri Dalada Maligawa premises under the patronage of Prez Rajapaksa and PM Rajapaksa. Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa through an Extraordinary Gazette on Tuesday announced the Ministry structure consisting of 28 ministries and 40 State ministries. This includes key ministries and subjects that come under the purview of the President and the PM. more..

Aug 14 (DN) The event was held at the Everest Hotel, Nepal and was graced by the former PM of Nepal Jhala Nath Khanal, Roy Joseph- Managing Director, Hemas Manufacturing SL and Tara Bahadur Kunwar - Chairman of Hajurlai Namaste Trade Link Ltd, the exclusive distributor for Hemas Brands in Nepal, alongside other dignitaries. Speaking on the entry into Nepal, Roy Joseph, Managing Director, Hemas Manufacturing said, “We are excited and happy to expand our footprint more..

Aug 14 (AD) Fifteen prison officers who were involved in various corruption offences have been interdicted, says the Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya. He said these officers were attached to the Mahara, Colombo Magazine, Boossa, Welikada, Galle, Negombo, Wariyapola and Angunakolapelessa prisons. An assistant superintendent, two chief jailors and a jailor are among interdicted prison officers, more..

Aug 14 (DM) State Intelligence Service (SIS) in 2018 had asked the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) to halt an inquiry with regard to ISIS follower Mohommad Nilabdeen Mohammed Rimzan who had returned to Sri Lanka after joining the Islamic State (IS) organisation, former Director of TID DIG Nalaka de Silva yesterday informed PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks. In 2018, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara had instructed the TID to continue the inquiry with regard to Rimzan and to deploy more..

Aug 14 (FT) Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi sent his congratulation message to Dinesh Gunawardena for the latter being reappointed as the Foreign Minister of SL. In the letter, Wang Yi noted the stable development in bilateral relations and fruitful achievements in jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative had been made. He pointed out that the friendship in weal and woe between China and SL has been further strengthened in the fight against COVID-19 more..

Aug 14 (Stuff) A SL national who sexually assaulted a Christchurch woman while she slept will be deported as soon as he becomes eligible for parole. Krishnan De Silva, was sentenced to two years and eight months’ imprisonment on a charge of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection by the Christchurch District Court on Friday. The 30-year-old was already in custody for fraud offences committed after the sexual more..

Aug 14 (Island) The SL Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (SLPMA) has welcomed the creation of a new State Ministry for pharmaceuticals manufacture as a crucial positive step towards the strengthening of the local pharmaceuticals industry. Association, in a statement issued soon after the swearing in of the new cabinet and State Ministers, emphasised the importance of its contribution to the nation and local manufacturers to ensure the availability of more..

Aug 14 (EN) SriLankan Airlines cargo flight to China will be unaffected by a four week suspension of flights to Shanghai imposed by Chinese authorities following Covid-19 positive cases on a passenger charter flight, the airlines said. The positive cases were found on a charger flight from Dubai with 223 Chinese nationals on board. Though all passengers had taken a pre-flight PCR test which was negative, they had been positive when tested in China. “The airline operated a charter flight with more..

Aug 14 (EN) Sri Lanka will maintain a stable rupee and competitive interest rates and create conditions to bring back foreign investors to capital markets, State Minister for Finance Nivard Cabraal said. “We will keep a stable rupee, and competitive interest rates for all to do business,” Cabraal said soon after assuming office at the Finance Ministry in Colombo. SL’s rupee fell from 131 to the US dollar at the end of 2014 to 182 to the US dollar more..

Aug 14 (AD) The University Grants Commission (UGC) says the academic activities of all universities belonging to the national university system will be resumed as per usual from the 17th of August. The Chairman of the UGC, Senior Prof. Sampath Amaratunge mentioned this addressing a special media briefing in Colombo this evening. However, the examinations of the third year students of medical faculties were conducted regularly from the 15th of July, he said. more..