Dec 4 (TM) The earmarking of prime slices of the Colombo city for mixed development projects by the UDA has raised a number of concerns among the public, as they questioned the ownership and utilisation of those highly valuable properties. Despite UDA’s objective being identified as an attempt to develop the entire city, many criticised its adamant approach when acquiring the properties. The most recent example of this was more..

Dec 4 (DM) School education coming to a standstill in Sri Lanka can be viewed from many angles. The word standstill can be too harsh for people supporting this govt. But what other best word can describe a situation where students who are studying are told that exams are postponed indefinitely? This is the scenario with the O/L Exam, which was scheduled to begin on January 18, 2021. If one studies the education system in the country and how the govt manages it, more..

Dec 4 (CT) “Though records show cyclone frequency in SL has a declining trend over the 20th century, currently, nonetheless, a report warned of increased intensity of tropical cyclone activity in the Bay of Bengal, emphasising that disaster risk reduction remains a priority”- Excerpts from an ADB publication titled Climate Risk Country Profile: Sri Lanka published on 18 Nov, 2020. Disaster management should be as important as national security as the impact of COVID-19 and more..

Dec 4 (TM) Reopening of schools for the third academic term seems to have reached a premature end, with student and teacher turnout being quite low, whilst schools in the Western Province continue to remain closed. Due to a higher number of areas in the Western Province being under isolation, Education Ministry took a call to keep the schools within the area closed. Meanwhile, schools in other provinces reopened on 23 Nov. more..

Dec 4 (ST) In an economic recession, govts act differently. The proponents of a bigger role expected from the govt will have a comfortable time to be convinced in what they believe in. Equally important is that the opponents of such a strategy will have a hard time to get their points across with conviction. These opposing views have much to do with a decades-old debate between two economic camps. Nevertheless, the time that we live in is a necessary condition to understand the debate too. more..

Dec 4 (Island) The PCoI probing the Easter Sunday attacks is reportedly in the process of winding up, following two extensions of its term; everyone is eagerly awaiting its findings, conclusions and recommendations. There will not be enough time for some of the key witnesses whose statements have already been recorded by the police to appear before the commission, according to media reports. The commission must be having a valid reason for this, but it would have been better if more..

Dec 4 (DN) Making earthenware had been the bread and butter or sole livelihood of some villagers and stacks of finely crafted pottery neatly arranged in stockpiles outside their houses was a common sight in rural Sri Lanka for centuries. This rich heritage and traditional craftsmanship have immensely influenced the distinctive designs and exquisite elegance of ceramic products, especially ornamental ceramicware, made in Sri Lanka. High quality of raw materials such as red clay, kaolin feldspar, more..

Dec 4 (Island) Dr. Wickrema Weerasooria, son of Queen’s Counsel NE Weerasooria, studied at Royal College, and entered the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, and won Harvard Memorial Prize and the Governor General’s Prize. He graduated in Law from Peradeniya, with First-Class Honours, and was later called to the Bar, as an Advocate. I have known and associated with Dr. Wickrema Weerasooria in different capacities. First, I knew him as a pioneer Law Educator at Vidyodaya University. more..

Dec 4 (FT) New kid in the real estate industry, Lanka Realty Investments Plc (LRI) yesterday walked the talk of its optimism with a Rs. 2.8 billion takeover move of Colombo 4-located Unity Plaza owning company On’ally Holdings. It acquired a 51% stake amounting to 93 million shares at Rs. 30.20 each in a deal worth Rs. 1.4 billion from Renuka Capital Plc and related parties Dr. S.R. Rajiyah and I.R. Rajiyah (44.6%) and four other more..

Dec 4 (Island) The current pandemic situation has forced Sri Lanka Athletics to take an unprecedented step in including two track athletes, who are currently serving drug bans, in the list of eligible athletes to compete at the forthcoming National Athletics Championships. Names of sprinter M.G.C.M. Jayasekara and 800 metres specialist S.K. Wedagedara, who were banned for failed drug tests appear in the list of eligible athletes published by Sri Lanka Athletics. more..

Dec 4 (CT) Shocking new video has emerged showing scenes of inmate unrest inside the Mahara Prison complex, while jailers jeer and laugh while taping the entire episode. Audio from the tape depicts jailers and prison officials thriving in the entertainment on the grounds below, as prisoners clash and run wildly around the yard. “කොට්ට පොර බලනවා වගේ බං” one of the prison officials remarks watching the scenes, referring to the suspended pillow fights traditionally played in villages more..

Dec 4 (CI) An all-round display from Wanindu Hasaranga capped off yet another fine display by the Jaffna Stallions, as they won their fourth game on the trot, and subjected the Galle Gladiators to a fourth straight defeat, with an ultimately comfortable five-wicket win. Despite a 44-ball 56 from Danushka Gunathilaka and cameos from Ahsan Ali, Azam Khan and Chadwick Walton, the Gladiators' batting line-up exhibited familiar more..

Dec 4 (DM) Hotel Association of SL (THASL) applauded Prez’s recent call to gradually restart the country’s tourism industry but expressed the need for greater clarity on the burning issues faced by the tourism sector going forward. THASL President Sanath Ukwatte said Prez’s views expressed at the SL Economic Summit this week is a “step in the right direction to save jobs and restore millions of livelihoods in the hospitality industry, which is completely paralysed due to Covid-19”. more..

Dec 4 (DN) Sports Ministry officials head by Director General of Department of Sports Development, Amel Edirisinghe made an inspection tour to the Weber Stadium, Batticaloa yesterday. The present condition of the stadium, pavilion, swimming pool, indoor stadium and the ground were inspected by the officials. Issues regarding maintenance and development of the sports venues were discussed. A meeting was held with the Batticaloa Municipality officials who are maintaining the stadium, more..

Dec 4 (CI) Kandy Tuskers had top significant top-order partnerships and never quite seemed like they were in trouble, but a total of 156 for 6 always seemed light. Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera both produced slow-burn innings - Mendis hitting 55 off 45, and Perera 41 off 34. But although they set a solid foundation - their 58-run partnership coming off 45 balls - Tuskers were slow through the middle overs, and the they failed to more..

Dec 4 (ST) As a major step towards curbing the illegal bottom trawling by Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters, the Fisheries Ministry has taken steps through diplomatic channels to share the details of intruding Indian trawlers, a senior Fisheries Ministry official said. The Fisheries Ministry was collecting details such as satellite locations in the Palk Strait from the Sri Lanka Navy, Coastguard and sharing them with the Indian counterparts through diplomatic channels in Colombo. more..

Dec 4 (FT) Civil Appellate High Court of Colombo has ruled against J.B. Boda, a Singapore-based brokering company, in what insurance industry analysts see as a landmark judgment. J.B. Boda asserted in Court that it was entitled to function as a broker in SL though not duly registered as a brokering concern, as required by law. The Civil Appellate High Court Bench ruled against the foreign broker and the judgment effectively makes operative District Court interim injunction issued in more..

Dec 4 (NIA) Sri Lankan civil society organizations agitating for the Muslims’ right to bury those of them who had died of COVID have declared that they will explore options to secure their inalienable religious right to bury their dead. “The faith the victims of forced cremation of COVID-19 or Covid-19 suspected dead had in the highest court in SL has been shattered. Victims and communities are now left without a recourse more..

Dec 4 (Island) National Savings Bank (NSB), in collaboration with one of its fully owned subsidiary, SL Savings Bank (SLSB), has planned to introduce a special loan scheme to offer credit facilities under a lower interest rate with a view to accelerating the development of shrimp farming industry in SL. Shrimp farming industry in SL, which came into being around 30 years ago, could be identified as a higher value generating sector among the industries based on aquaculture in the country. more..

Dec 4 (Island) SLT and Mobitel together began an exemplary green initiative project simultaneously with Sri Lankan Premier League (LPL) 2020 called SLT – Mobitel Green Premier League (GPL), as a sustainable environmental conservation project. According to the winning score of each team in every match of the LPL, SLT and Mobitel will take necessary actions to plant the equivalent number of plants as forest restoration at Rajawaka forest reserve in Kalthota, Balangoda. more..

Dec 4 (AD) Five more persons including one woman who were infected with Covid-19 virus have passed away. New fatalities were reported from Kolonnawa, Colombo 02, Colombo 10 and Colombo 12 areas. The new development brings the total deaths from Covid-19 to 129. One of the victims is a 56-year-old woman from Kolonnawa area. She has died on Saturday (28) while receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital. more..

Dec 4 (CT) The country’s foreign reserves were poorer by US$ 18.52 million yesterday due to the settlement/s of Govt of SL’s (GoSL) foreign debt servicing commitments and/or a maturing swap of Central Bank of SL’s (CBSL) with the market. Conversions are based on the middle rate of the administered spot as at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, which was Rs 185.175 to the US dollar. According to data, SL's foreign reserves have fallen to a 42-month low to US$ 5,858.50 million as at end Oct 2020. more..

Dec 4 (CT) Annual revenues for ride-hailing in SL could increase by more than a quarter if gaps between men and women’s ridership were closed, according to SL’s first-ever study on women’s role in the country’s ride-hailing industry. The study Women and Ride-hailing in SL was conducted as part of the Women in Work Programme – a partnership between IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and Australian govt – along with the local ride-hailing platform PickMe and Kantar Public. more..

Dec 4 (Island) The recent Mahara Prison riot erupted as 120 inmates afflicted with COVID-19 had been taken there from the Welikada prison at the behest of a Director in charge of prisoners’ health, who was a Viyathmaga member, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament. “Many explanations have been given by ministers about the riot at Mahara Prison. The number of deaths is not yet known and around 120 are wounded. more..

Dec 4 (FT) Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC), the leader of the shipbuilding industry in Sri Lanka and one of the most competitive shipyards in South Asia, secured a contract to build a cable laying and repair vessel (vessel) to Orange Marine France. Orange Marine is a French company specialising in the field of submarine telecommunications, from the initial design, engineering, to installation of intercontinental and regional links, and maintenance of existing cables. more..

Dec 4 (DM) An allegation made by tamil National People’s Front MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam that the govt rejected the offer made by the LTTE to release around 100,000 Tamil Civilians who remained trapped during the final stage of the war caused an uproar in Parliament yesterday. He said the govt refused to receive these civilians despite the assurance given by the then Minister Basil Rajapaksa that they will be received and taken care of if the LTTE allows them to leave. more..

Dec 4 (DN) The project to convert the Meethotamulla garbage dump to an urban park will be completed by 2023, State Minister Dr. Nalaka Godahewa told Parliament. The UDA will have to attract investors to have the urban park up and running at an estimated Rs.1.7 bn project expense, he said. Minister observed, “The provisions allocated to convert Meethotamulla garbage dumping site into a urban park is Rs.1700 mn more..

Dec 4 (DM) SL born member of the New Zealand Parliament Vanushi Walters during her maiden speech to the house on Wednesday made a brief statements in both Sinhala and Tamil and said that human rights belong to all. “…I was now not only a Sri Lankan but also a New Zealander, my family having arrived in 1987. I felt the rush waking up the morning after my mother told me Richard de Zoysa’s story,” Ms Walters, who is the first SL born MP to be elected to the NZ Parliament told the House. more..

Dec 4 (CT) Expenditure Head of the Defence Ministry was passed in Parliament by 132 votes yesterday. After the debate, ACTC MP Selvarajah Kajendran called for a division on the Expenditure Head. Therefore, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena took a vote row by row in the Chamber. Accordingly, 137 votes were in favour while 5 MPs voted against. Ishaq Rahman who was the only SJB MP remained in the Chamber voted in favour of the Expenditure Head. more..

Dec 4 (FT) The dual Divulapitiya and Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster yesterday expanded to 22,488 cases with the detection of 628 patients. 627 of the new cases were associates of the Peliyagoda cluster, while one case was an overseas arrival. A total of 26,038 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in the island to date. In addition to the dual cluster, the total count includes 1,518 SL returnees from abroad, more..

Dec 4 (DM) The Malaysiyan police are on the hunt for a man who claimed to be the commander-in-chief of the LTTE, and threatened to shoot IGP Abdul Hamid Bador. Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Huzir Mohamed said the suspect had also sent threats via email to the media, that he would attack the Bukit Aman police headquarters and the defence ministry. “The suspect is the same individual who was previously investigated under Section 4 (1) of more..

Dec 4 (CT) Minister of Public Security, Rear Admiral (retired) Sarath Weerasekara, opined that it was a big mistake not being the TNA after winning the war in 2009. Participating in the Committee Stage debate on Appropriation Bill of 2021, Weerasekara alleged that the TNA is the political voice of the LTTE. "The normal practice of the world is banning the political voices of terrorist organisations. When Nazi Leader Adolf Hitler was defeated, Nazi movement was banned in Germany. more..

Dec 4 (CT) Muslims may consider Sharia Law important, but that does not mean it could be interpreted or introduced as the law of the country and forced on other communities or used to intimidate and influence other communities, Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith insisted. Cardinal also pointed out that investigations conducted so far on the brutal Easter Sunday Attacks have shown that Sharia Law and more..

Dec 4 (FT) The entire State of SL in general and the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary in particular, i.e. the three main constituent elements of the State, are in a state of deterioration and complete breakdown caused by excessive degeneration and resulting impotence and incompetence. The entire State has reached a level where it cannot be revitalised by simple reforms without recreating the entirety of systemic apparatus. In this backdrop, Gota appears more..

Dec 4 (FT) Events don’t always turn out the way we expect them to unfold. Matters do not transpire all the time in the manner clever people scheme, ordinary people propose, or do-gooders intend. In such distressing, futile times, we experience pain in its most insufferable form. We then begin to see obstacles in their most punishing order – as insurmountable, impractical and at times with that sinking feeling that there is no more hope. It has been said that hope is the only thing stronger more..

Dec 4 (AD) The deep depression over Gulf of Mannar remained stationary during the last six hours and located about 145 km to the west of Mannar, says the Dept of Meteorology. In an advisory issued for North and North-west sea areas, the Dept further stated that the system is expected to move further away from the country. Wind speed will be (50-60) kmph and wind speed can increase up to 70 kmph at times in the sea areas extending from Puttalam to Kankesanturai via Mannar. more..

Dec 4 (DM) A bus carrying 23 COVID-19 patients heading towards Punani collided with another bus coming from Kattankudy to Polonnaruwa at Asela Pura in Welikanda this morning. DIG Ajith Rohana said the drivers of the two buses were hospitalised and two patients who suffered minor injuries were taken to the treatment centre by the authorities. He said the drivers of the two buses were injured and hospitalised. Two out 23 COVID patients were found to have minor injuries and more..

Dec 4 (AD) A high-level delegation of medical experts, comprised of consultants and medical specialists had a cordial discussion with Commander of the Army Lt Gen Shavendra Silva to explore the possibilities for accommodating COVID-19 patients for treatment at private sector hospitals, if they so desire. The meeting took place at the Army Hq on Thursday. The delegation comprised Consultant Surgeon Dr Maiya Gunasekera, more..