Jul 17 (EN) The Women and Media Collective have made short and long term policy recommendations to the govt for post COVID-19 lockdown relief and recovery, targeting low-income families, daily wage earners and vulnerable communities living in the Colombo district. The Collective said in a press release that the pandemic, the nature of the responses to it and the consequences of those responses affected low income and poor communities very differently and unequally. more..

Jul 17 (DM) Public Health Inspectors Union of SL (PHIUSL) said its members have withdrawn from Covid-19 prevention duties with effect from 12.30 pm today. Union which has made several statements over the past weeks threatening trade union action said their demands have not been met thus far. Secretary of the Union M. Balasooriya said the Union arrived at this decision following the govt's failure to provide PHIs more..

Jul 17 (AD) The 14 protesters including 09 females who were arrested in connection with the tense situation in front of the Angulana Police Station on Thursday (16), have been granted bail. The suspects were produced before Moratuwa Magistrate’s Court today. As a tense situation was reported in front of the Angulana Police Station on Thursday, the police had to resort to using teargas to disperse an angry mob of villagers protesting and hurling stones at the police station. more..

Jul 17 (EN) Police have arrested 14 people who staged a protest outside the Angulana Police station yesterday, July 16, and allegedly stoned the building. The Police Media Division said that they have detained 5 men and 9 women while a total of 8 police officers have sustained injuries due to the clash. The protest was prompted by the shooting death of a 39-year-old local fisherman allegedly by officers of the Angulana Police Station during a spot-check at a roadblock in Lunawa, Moratuwa. more..

Jul 17 (PMD) President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa invited the local engineers to take part in a revolutionary transformation in the construction sector which will fulfill the needs of urban and rural population. “People in many parts of the country suffer due to lack of water for drinking and irrigation purposes. Tanks and irrigation systems have nearly collapsed. Development of the road network in rural areas should be expedited. more..

Jul 17 (Island) The govt could not be blamed for the reduction in people’s incomes because the coronavirus pandemic had affected the entire world, Minister Bandula Gunawardane said. Responding to questions at the weekly post-Cabinet news conference, Gunawardane said that the pandemic had resulted in millions losing their jobs worldwide. He claimed that SL workers were comparatively better off. The govt had requested the private sector to provide relief to their employees, more..

Jul 17 (EN) The UK will launch and Health and Care Visa for Sri Lanka health workers and their families to get fast-track visa’s to work in the National Health Service, the British embassy in Colombo said. “Eligible SL nationals, and their immediate family members, will benefit from fast-track visa processing, reduced visa fees and will not have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge,” UK High Commission said. Health and Care Visa, which will be launched formally in the coming months, more..

Jul 17 (DM) Overall human rights situation in Sri Lanka in 2019 deteriorated with increased inter-communal tensions, violence against minority groups and intimidation of human rights defenders, a human rights report said. This was mentioned in the Human Rights and Democracy Report-2019 which was published by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on July 16. Report said while SL reaffirmed its commitment to more..

Jul 17 (CT) Election Commission Chairman, Mahinda Deshapriya, said a Buddhist Monk had submitted nominations from two political Parties to contest the 5 August General Election, and asserted that this was unlawful. He said that Ven. Kolonne Sirishantha Vijaya Thera had submitted nominations to contest the coming Poll both on the Ape Janabala Party and the Jana Setha Peramuna ticket from the Ratnapura District. Deshapriya, however, warned that even if the Monk were to be elected, more..

Jul 17 (CT) Veteran film-maker Dharmasena Pathiraja’s award-winning Sinhala film Bambaru Evith has been included in the art house movie section to be screened on the sidelines of the 17th Cannes International Film Festival. The Cannes International Film Festival, staged annually in France, is one of the most distinguished in the international cinema circuit. The art house movies are slated to be screened at the Festival from 10 to 18 October this year. more..

Jul 17 (AD) The Court of Appeal has ordered the Acting IGP to implement the law against any individuals who are caught transporting sand and rubble without valid permits. A petition was filed by the Center for Environmental Justice, requesting the court to issue a writ order invalidating the recent decision taken by the Cabinet of Ministers to abolish the permit system which had existed with regard to transportation of sand. more..

Jul 17 (NR) COVID-19 Elections Regulations have been approved by Attorney General Dappula de Livera. Coordinating Secretary to the Attorney General State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne said the regulations submitted by the Health Secretary pertaining to election meetings, canvassing and Election Offices was accordingly approved by the AG. Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi yesterday said the gazette notification containing health guidelines on the conduct of more..

Jul 17 (AD) A total of 114 persons, who had visited the inmates at the Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Kandakadu, have tested negative for COVID-19, says Lt Gen Shavendra Silva. Further, 368 of their family members and close relatives were also found negative for the virus in PCR tests. After an inmate who was transferred from the rehabilitation centre in Kandakadu to the Welikada Prison tested COVID-19 positive, a new cluster of active cases emerged last week. more..

Jul 17 (FT) A group of responsible citizens have come together in a citizen’s collective, Nidahasa, to upholding and defending SL’s most valuable political legacy and hope – democracy. The movement was launched on 8 July in Colombo ahead of Sri Lanka’s crucial elections scheduled in early August. Movement stressed the crucial responsibility of the govt to safeguard the citizens amidst fears of a second wave of COVID-19, more..

Jul 17 (CT) SJB Leader, Sajith Premadasa, said a new Govt headed by him will strive to provide a monthly sum of Rs 20,000 to those who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, in spite of the criticism directed at him by those who had obtained commissions and stolen public money. He said, though those who are unable to stand the affection he has garnered with the masses continue to sling mud at him, he affirmed it was not an uphill task for him to provide this amount to the public. more..

Jul 17 (CT) PCoI appointed to probe into the Political Victimisation of public officials during the tenure of the former UNF led Govt yesterday, issued summons to the former Director General of the CIABOC Dilrukshi Dias Wickremesinghe in relation to a complaint filed by former Governor of the Eastern Province, Rohitha Bogollagama. Dias Wickramasinghe was named as a respondent by the Chairman of PCoI, retired SC Judge, Justice Upali Abeyratne based on the statements more..

Jul 17 (EN) SL’s foreign project loans disbursements fell to US$ 369 million up to April 2020 from US$ 539 million from a year earlier, amid a Coronavirus pandemic while China led with a US$ 500 million budget support loan. Total disbursements on China projects were US$ 68.4 mil outside the US$ 500 mil budget support loan, followed by ADB with US$ 94.9 mil (last year 400 mil), World Bank US$ 77.5 million more..

Jul 17 (DM) The Director of Ministerial Security Division (MSD) SSP W. Thilakarathne said that the late politician Arumugam Thondaman’s son Jeevan Thondaman had been given MSD security following orders, they received, from government higher-ups. He said this when inquired him about the written complaint filed by the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) against providing ministerial security for SLPP election candidate of Nuwara Eliya Jeevan Thondaman. more..

Jul 17 (Island) Managing Director of Danusha Marine Lanka Pvt Ltd and Danusha Group of Companies Sumithra Fernando said that the govt should safeguard the local boat building industry by restricting the import of used craft (fishing and leisure boats). SL had become a dumping ground for second hand boats as no age restrictions had been imposed as in the case of motor vehicles. From 2018 to 2020, about 448 boats and yachts had been imported and they had cost the country of more..

Jul 17 (CT) Summons has been issued to social media based online commentator, Indika Rathnayaka, to be present at the Organised Crimes Prevention Division, on 29 July, to record a statement. On 8 June, Executive Director of the Buddhist Information Centre (BIC), Ven. Angulugalle Siri Jinananda Thera lodged a complaint in writing with the Director of the CID, claiming that Rathnayaka was, through Facebook posts and the formation of Facebook based groups and more..

Jul 17 (FT) Commercial High Court this week granted interim relief to Plaintiff Zahra Exports Limited of No. 334, T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 in a trademark case the Company had filed against Millennium Teas Ltd., of 161/B, Ambatale Road, Mulleriyawa North, over the use of a similar-sounding name. Judge of the Commercial High Court D.F.H. Gunawardhena issued the enjoining orders in terms of Section 170 read with Sections 121, 144 and 160 of Intellectual Property Act more..

Jul 17 (CBC) In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court of Canada has dismissed an appeal by the Quebec Crown for a new trial in the case of a SL national who was deported after his murder charge was stayed due to excessive court delays. Sivaloganathan Thanabalasingham, a refugee from Sri Lanka and a permanent resident, was charged in 2012 with the second-degree murder of his 21-year-old wife, Anuja Baskaran. more..

Jul 17 (NR) Commander of the Army Lt Gen Shavendra Silva says 205 defence personnel who associated coronavirus positive cases from the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre and their family members have been directed to their homes. Lt Gen Silva said the final PCR tests conducted on the group returned negative and therefore a decision was reached to release the group. Speaking at the opening of the Kilinochchi Army Hospital today, Army Commander more..

Jul 17 (DM) Through third party sources it was informed that former Prez Sirisena's govt had given Presidential awards to Senior Police officers including the then SIS Director for their involvement on investigating Easter Sunday attacks, former Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) Director DIG Nalaka de Silva informed PCoI. He said this while responding to a question raised by Commissioners on whether intelligence officials had received any awards after Easter Sunday attacks. more..

Jul 17 (CT) Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs) appealed to Prez Rajapaksa to give them a discussion concerning the possibilities of upgrading the technology available in the molecular biology laboratory at BIA and IDH. President of the College of Medical Laboratory Science SL, Ravi Kumudesh, said that with the opening of the BIA there would be an urgent need to enhance the efficiency of laboratory facility more..

Jul 18 (DM) The SJB is now five months old. It officially began on February 11, when the Election Commission recognised Sajith Premadasa as its Chairman and Ranjith Madduma Bandara as its Secretary. Two days later, the JHU, SLMC, and Mano Ganesan’s TPA pledged their support and joined in. The Working Committee of the UNP approved the swan as its symbol on Feb 19; five days earlier, Ranil Wickremesinghe had agreed to file nominations as a common front under more..

Jul 18 (CT) When the outbreak started, it began to beat the SL economy, well-being and prosperity by several means such as declining economic growth, limiting people to people relationship, restrictions on travelling between districts and banning of gatherings. Though the new coronavirus started spreading at the end of Nov 2019 in Wuhan, no one can predict when the pandemic will end. Therefore a post-COVID world is a far cry from healing the whole world from COVID-19 and it is necessary to more..

Jul 18 (DM) The hills of Nuwara Eliya are vibrantly alive with the hectic sounds of parliamentary electioneering! Nuwara Eliya district with its picturesque landscape and salubrious climate elects eight members in the 225 member parliament of SL. 577,717 registered voters in the district are eligible to cast their ballots at the forthcoming elections scheduled for Aug 5. Nuwara Eliya electoral district has a unique place more..

Jul 18 (CT) What at issue in this upcoming general election is most transparent and has been rendered so by the ruling party. It is the quest for a two-thirds majority so as to design a new Constitution by a process which is not reliant on smaller parties deemed extremist, and can roll-back the 19th and 13th amendments. Every single idea contained in this contention is either questionable, illogical, false, dangerous or some mixture of all these. From my perspective, which is that of a political more..

Jul 18 (DM) It was with curiosity that I read the article by Mr. Sanjeewa Fernando, under the intriguing title; From Homilies on Piety to Harangues in Politics appearing in the Daily Mirror. Therein, the writer adopts an old strategy – applaud first and attack thereafter, using politician Harin Fernando’s tirade against Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith as a launching pad. he writer starts castigating the politician concerned, declaring; “many Christians and Catholics have expressed more..

Jul 18 (DM) Former State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene says that the incumbent govt will not survive for long, especially when looking at what they have done to control the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Mr. Wijewardene is contesting the upcoming Parliamentary Election under the UNP ticket from the Gampaha District and is confident that the Grand Old Party will sustain even with the split in Party members. more..

Jul 18 (CT) In an alarming development, the Govt Analyst’s Department disclosed last week that the spouse of one of the Easter Sunday suicide bombers, Pulasthini Rajendran alias Sarah, could not be identified among those perished in the 26 April 2019 Sainthamaruthu explosion. DNA tests conducted on samples collected from the Sainthamaruthu explosion site have revealed that Sarah had not been present at the location at the time of the blast. According to Govt Analyst’s more..

Jul 18 (CT) The Port of Hambantota was a bastion of prosperity and hope for the people of SL, before and subsequent to its construction, until the UNP good governance captured power. It was China, who extended their hands of friendship, providing financial collaboration with SL to build it, though the gigantic project was not granted on the basis of economic aid. The most crucial part, the voters must comprehend is that the Mahagama Port was never an investment to produce quick bucks. more..

Jul 18 (Island) SL fought the first battle against COVID-19 successfully before reopening to resuscitate its economy. It is one of the few countries to have accomplished this feat. The war against the highly contagious, elusive virus, however, is far from over. Globally, having stumped scientists and doctors, coronavirus remains resilient, raising as it does its head from time to time as if to mock humans who think no end of themselves. (It has even made US Prez Donald Trump swallow more..

Jul 18 (Island) The SLPP has called off its scheduled propaganda rallies for the time being in view of the rising threat of a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Its national organizer Basil Rajapaksa has instructed all party organizers to abide by this decision. This must have been a difficult decision to take, in a context where the strategically scattered yahapalanites are trying to hoodwink the electorate to elect them back to parliament (I say strategically scattered because more..

Jul 18 (Island) We have come to the Manifesto stage of the current election campaign. SJB and UNP have now issued their manifestos, on meeting the challenge of the SLPP. Manifesto was a declaration of importance in world and local politics in decades gone by. There was the Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels in 1848, October Manifesto by Nicholas II (1905) in an effort to cease the Russian Revolution, Fascist Manifesto of 1918, more..

Jul 18 (Island) Tissa Abeysekara once called Bandula Nanayakkarawasam the brightest spark in the fifth generation of contemporary Sinhala songwriters. He didn’t name the five generations, but he did observe that their ancestry began with Ananda Samarakoon. With this we can try to chart the evolution of 20th century songwriters in terms of the singers who embodied those generations: Samarakoon, Sunil Shantha, Amaradeva, Victor Ratnayake, and T.M. Jayaratne, more..

Jul 18 (DN) Women’s rugby will make a comeback to Kandy. Once it is started it is going to be the fastest growing sport. Females are keen followers of the game and can be seen in numbers at schools and club matches. The plan is to start with a seven a side tournament. This will be a good attempt to identify the reasons for the tremendous growth in women’s rugby in Kandy and to share the experiences of the game. Women wish to play the game using same laws of the game as men. more..