Mar 10 (ST) While low cost carriers like Malaysia’s Malido or Thai Lion have either cut down flights or completely stopped flying into and out of Colombo due to diminishing load factors, the bigger East Asian airlines are maintaining flights. The coronavirus has badly dented the local travel industry with several outbound agents reporting cancelled bookings of incentive groups to overseas holiday destinations. Airlines like Singapore Airlines, Emirates & Thai Airways are continuing more..

Mar 10 (FT) The apparel industry will kick off a consultation process this week to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on supply chains and export markets with initial losses expected to be about $ 500 million in raw materials alone, and will present a set of proposals to the Govt to tackle the fallout from the global epidemic. $ 5 billion industry, which is also Sri Lanka’s second largest foreign exchange earner, more..

Mar 10 (Island) Indian jockey Irvan Singh finished four of the five races among the top three at the RTC Premier Cup Raceday 2020, including a hat-trick of first three places for the Edwards Stable, kicking off a promising horseracing season, at the Racecourse in Nuwara Eliya on Sunday. Singh guided the famous Queen of Nuwara Eliya Alcazaba to a comfortable win in the main attraction of the day, the RTC Premier Cup, after winning the RTC Alpine Hotel Trophy on Goldie Girl and more..

Mar 10 (MoD) Defence Secretary Maj.Gen.Kamal Gunaratne said the Govt, which was committed to look after war –heroes, would revise the existing provisions through a new Cabinet paper to solve anomalies in pension and allowances for fallen and disabled war heroes and their families. Inaugurating the War Veterans’ Mobile Service (WVMS), held at Dodangoda in Kalutara district on March 7, Maj. Gen. Gunaratne said the Govt would take all possible steps for the welfare of war heroes. more..

Mar 10 (AD) Ministry of Buddha Sasana has advised against pilgrimage tours to Dambadiva in India amid growing coronavirus fears. Accordingly, tour operators and other relevant authorities have been advised by the Ministry to temporarily suspend tours to Dambadiva. This decision was taken with the rise of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in countries around the world, Ministry Secretary said. more..

Mar 10 (EN) Leader of SJB Sajith Premadasa is inviting all those opposed to the govt to join his alliance. Premadasa speaking at the opening of the SJB Headquarters in Athulkotte Monday, said he and the alliance General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara had met the UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and invited him for the launch of the alliance last week. Wickremesinghe did not accept the invitation and Premadasa said that the offer is still open. more..

Mar 10 (PV) The CEB, SL’s largest electricity provider, has issued a tender for 150 MW of solar power. The company hopes to build 20 solar projects ranging in size from 3 MW to 10 MW. The facilities will be built in different locations and each of them will be connected each to different grid substations. The ceiling price for the tender is LKR 15.60 ($0.086)/kWh. The utility said that 80% of the proposed tariff will be re-adjusted based on fluctuations in the US dollar exchange rate. more..

Mar 10 (Island) Former Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne, yesterday, switched his allegiance to UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa. Senaratne, who hadn’t been present at the launch of Premadasa’s Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) on March 02 at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, joined the opening of SJB’s main office in Etul Kotte. However, Dr. Senaratne’s son, MP Chatura Senaratne, skipped the event. more..

Mar 10 (DM) There is a trend among inmates to be incarcerated after being released, a survey conducted by prison officials revealed. It said a person had been detained 27 times in various prisons countrywide. Commenting on this, Prisons & Rehabilitation Superintendent Anees Deen said several inmates between 20 to 60 years of age made it a habit to engage in something illegal to return to prison soon after they were released. “These inmates believe their lives in prison more..

Mar 10 (CT) Election Commission has called for the suspension of re-telecasting certain political programmes previously attended by members of political parties, independent groups and candidates, as it would serve to promote such persons. The Commission noted that complaints have been received by them regarding the re-broadcasting of various political programmes, quiz programmes, entertainment programmes, development related programmes, films, tele-dramas, more..

Mar 10 (DM) As talks between the UNP and SJB collapsed yesterday, the latter decided to contest the April 25 general election under the telephone symbol. SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said his alliance would contest under the telephone symbol as talks with the UNP to contest together failed. Meanwhile, the UNP confirmed that talks with SJB to iron out differences ended without an agreement. more..

Mar 10 (DM) Taking into account the decline in fuel prices in the global market, the attention of Power and Energy Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has been drawn towards passing on its benefit to the public by opting for a domestic price revision. A statement issued by the Power and Energy Ministry said fuel prices continued to drop with the spread of coronavirus worldwide. Against this backdrop, the subject minister has decided to draw the attention of the Cabinet in adjusting fuel prices. more..

Mar 10 (AD) Former MP Rishad Bathiudeen says he has requested Prez Rajapaksa to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations leveled against him. He points out that he is being accused of the Easter Sunday terror attack and the deforestation of the Wilpattu. Bathiudeen said that at least a PCOI should be appointed to find out the truth. He further said that he had written to the Prez within a week of his appointment as Prex requesting a broad investigation on the allegations. more..

Mar 10 (SLA) Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army says the tri services once again shouldering the national responsibility of containing any possible transmission of deadly Covid-19 (Corona virus) in the country in close collaboration with authorities in the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Defence have now finalized arrangements to quarantine foreigners and SL expatriates arriving here more..

Mar 10 (DM) Sri Lankans returning from overseas are requested to self-quarantine at home for 14 days due to the spread of coronavirus, Health Services Director-General Dr. Anil Jasinghe said. He said the decision was taken following long discussions with the Secretary to Health Ministry, Airport and Aviation Services Chairman G.A. Chandrasiri and airport officials. "Currently, quarantine procedures are applicable only to passengers arriving from South Korea, Iran and Italy. more..

Mar 10 (DN) Information, Media, Higher Education, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena said that the govt will soon begin the construction of fully fledged university in Kotagala, Hatton for the benefit of students in the plantation sector who qualify for university entrance. He made these remarks when he visited Kotagala along with Minister Arumugam Thondaman to inspect the land which has been earmarked for the construction of the new university. more..

Mar 10 (Island) Having secured the support of the majority of ex-UNP MPs and the constituents of the UNP-led coalition which contested the 2015 general election, Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa, yesterday said his outfit wouldn’t close the door on UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. Addressing a gathering after the opening of SJB’s main office at No 815, E.W. Perera Mawatha, Etul Kotte, 2 km from Sirikotha, more..

Mar 10 (DM) An official attached to the Maskeliya Pradeshiya Sabha who is in charge of environmental issues had said on Sunday that the employees of the Pradeshiya Sabha and the armed forces had collected 1.5 million plastic bottles that had been dumped along the path to the peak of Sri Pada by the pilgrims who had visited the sacred mountain in the past three months. Sadly, this has occurred despite numerous calls by the police and other relevant officials repeatedly requesting more..

Mar 10 (DM) Things cannot get any more ludicrous than this. As the SL voters go to vote for a new Parliament on April 25, in little more than six weeks from now, the UNP is feuding over who will own the party’s symbol. This should not have been a problem at all. The aged old elephant is both familiar and invokes a sense of nostalgia of its glorious past. However, Sajith Premadasa, the deputy leader and his loyalists who are indulging in a self-destructive fratricidal battle bemoan that though more..

Mar 10 (TM) Considering the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on Sri Lanka’s raw material imports, the Export Development Board (EDB) has formally requested the Govt to provide a stimulus package similar to that offered by the Malaysian Govt. This request has been made by EDB Chairman Prabhash Subasinghe from Prez Rajapaksa in a letter, seen by The Sunday Morning Business, dated 3 March. more..

Mar 10 (TM) The proposed Colombo Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, stretching from Malabe to Colombo Fort, has been put on hold due to the Govt’s financial constraints and inability to allocate funds for land acquisition. Project experts said that the Govt was unable to allocate a total of around Rs. 7 billion as land acquisition cost for the project. This is the only commitment that had to be made by the Govt for the project as more..

Mar 10 (ST) A Sri Lankan mastermind overseas is being sought for the narcotics smuggling network that was uncovered this week following a month-long joint operation by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) and the Sri Lanka Navy. As of Friday, 33 suspects including 14 Iranians, four Pakistanis and 15 Sri Lankans were being held for questioning. The police are hunting two other Sri Lankans, while int'l assistance more..

Mar 10 (FT) Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) have rejected a revised demand by the govt & trade unions for a Rs. 1,100 daily wage for estate workers as a stalemate persists, with the Govt and unions having previously turned down private sector alternatives. Rs. 1,100 daily wage is to ensure that take-home for estate workers will be Rs. 1,000, in line with Prez Election pledge of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. more..

Mar 10 (Island) The CEB was losing Rs. 6.66 on each kwH produced. The average selling price is Rs. 16.53 and CEB subsidy amounted to nearly Rs. 88 billion annually. The subsidy breakdown is as follows: Lanka Electricity Company (LECO) Rs. 11,661 million, Domestic (LOW END) Rs. 39,792 million, religious Rs. 1,152 million, govt Rs. 847 million, industrial Rs. 30,947 million, hotels Rs. 1,192 million, street lights Rs. 1,885 million more..

Mar 10 (FT) Simmering tensions between SLFP and SLPP members of the coalition that swept the Prez elections barely a hundred days ago have come to the surface. A Party Leaders meeting of the SLPP-led SL Nidahas Podujana Peramuna will be held tonight and the SLFP leaders are bound to bring this issue up. A senior member of the SLPP Prasanna Ranatunge has joined lesser members in criticizing more..

Mar 10 (AD) The Court of Appeal has decided to support the writ application filed seeking to revoke the arrest warrants issued against former Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Perpetual Treasuries Ltd (PTL) owner Arjun Aloysius and two others. The writ application is to be taken up by the court tomorrow. Lawyers representing Karunanayake today filed a writ application before the CA requesting cancellation of the arrest more..

Mar 10 (EN) Trading in Sri Lanka’s stocks were halted as the market plunged 5% soon after opening, following turmoil in global markets, and uncertainty at home, brokers said. The S & P Index SL 20 Index fell over 5%, triggering a circuit breaker for 30 minutes amid thin volumes. There was broad based selling in index heavy stocks and others, brokers said. The Coronavirus epidemic is expected to hit export firms as well as more..

Mar 10 (DM) Former Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera today said that if the fuel price formula was implemented, all types of fuel could be reduced by Rs.20 per litre from March 10. He said, during the Yahapalana Govt, that fuel prices were revised on the 10th of every month in accordance with the fuel price formula to give maximum benefit to the consumers of the country, comparing prices in the world market. more..

Mar 10 (AD) Earlier today, it was reported that group of passengers who are being directed to the Batticaloa Campus and Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre had raised objections over being charged a fee for daily provision of meals at the quarantine facilities. According to reports, the expatriates and foreigners, who are being quarantined at these two centres for 14 days, were asked to pay a total amount of more..

Mar 10 (TM) The UK Armed Forces Cricket Association (UKAFCA) arrived in Sri Lanka this week, as part of their tour of India and Sri Lanka, the British High Commission said in a press statement. The team will tour Colombo, Dombagoda, Seenigama and Welisara, playing a series of friendly matches against teams in Sri Lanka. A British High Commission spokesperson said ‘cricket embodies so many great things about the people to people links between the UK and Sri Lanka. more..

Mar 10 (CT) The prime purpose of food programmes or nutrition programmes is to prevent hunger and promote food security. Nutrition programmes such as food banks, community nutrition projects and school lunches are found in all parts of the world sanctioned by Govts and intergovernmental bodies and are usually run by non-profitable outfits, charities, religious institutions, volunteer service organisations and community co-operatives. The UN Food Programme is the prime example and more..

Mar 10 (FT) With another General Election around the corner, an ominous development looming over voters is a sudden upsurge in religious and cultural fundamentalist ideas in the country. Fundamentalists close their brains to contrary views, elevate their own to a high pedestal unilaterally and disparage all others. It brings in ethnic, religious and social disharmony. Almost all political parties appear to have embraced these ideas as a strategy to win voters to their camps. more..

Mar 10 (EN) All seven individuals suspected to have been involved in the violent incident at a restaurant in Periyamulla, Negombo, last night that saw one person dead and four injured are now in police custody. The police media division said that six suspects surrendered to the Negombo police this afternoon, following the arrest of an 18-year-old suspect earlier today in connection with the incident. All suspects are reportedly between ages 18 and 20 and reside in the same area in Periyamulla. more..

Mar 10 (AD) The Colombo Permanent High Court-at-Bar today re-issued an arrest warrant on the Secretary of the Presidential Commission appointed to investigate alleged incidents of political victimization, Pearl Weerasinghe. The 3-member judge bench ordered police to arrest the Secretary of the commission before March 12 and produced her before the court and warned that the Acting IGP will have to more..

Mar 10 (FT) Govt institutions that enter agreements in the future should include a clause stating that in case of arbitration, it should be undertaken at the Sri Lanka Int'l Arbitration Centre (SLNAC), Cabinet has decided. This is part of the Govt plan to extend and strengthen the operations of the SLIAC which was established in 2015 to enable local and int'l companies to resolve their commercial disputes by arbitration as well as to position Sri Lanka as an int'l arbitration hub in the region. more..

Mar 10 (DM) Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) must understand that its members may lose their membership in UNP because its constitution states that UNPers cannot obtain the membership of another party, former UNP MP Palitha Range Bandara said. He said that SJB has actually formed another party instead of an alliance and being more or less a political party those who join it could lose their membership in UNP. "I am prepared to hold a public debate with SJB leader more..

Mar 10 (EN) Stocks plunged 4.14% Tuesday with the benchmark all share index falling to an 8 year low in one of the biggest one day falls on record amid continued foreign selling and weak domestic sentiment, while global market were also in turmoil, brokers said. A global epidemic of Coronavirus had hit global trade, with SL’s exporters, importers and construction firms also expected to take a hit as supply chains are disrupted. more..

Mar 10 (AD) A suspect has been arrested in connection with the death of an employee following a massive brawl at an restaurant in Periyamulla in the Negombo Police Division. The suspect, an 18-year-old from Periyamulla, was arrested today following investigations carried out by Negombo Police. He is to be produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court later today. One person died while several others were wounded and hospitalized following a clash at an eatery in Periyamulla more..

Mar 10 (EN) Police investigators have taken fingerprints off the tyre that grievously injured Sri J'pura Uni undergraduate Pasindu Hirushan, Police Media Division said. Hirushan, a first-year student at the university’s management faculty was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Colombo National Hospital after an alleged incident of university ragging that involved a tractor-tyre last week. Vice Chancellor Prof Sudantha Liyanage said earlier that the student had suffered these injuries when more..