Nov 29 (SO) The 2021 Budget promotes economic growth while focusing on social security, poverty alleviation, environment and social justice through fair distribution of resources among regions, said Central Bank Governor Prof. W.D. Lakshman elaborating on the Monetary Policy stance of the bank on Thursday. He said the govt has allocated a vast amount of resources to achieve these goals through the 2021 Budget and added that enhancing public investments and promoting domestic more..

Nov 29 (TM) A prominent minister has been reissued with the license to operate Wayamba Distilleries (Pvt) Ltd in Kurunegala, in which he has a majority stake, after agreeing to settle outstanding tax payments on an instalment basis to the Department of Excise. Wayamba Distilleries was sealed by the Police on 19 Jan 2015 reportedly due to skipping tax payments and operating storage facilities without a proper license. more..

Nov 29 (AD) A woman who had been subjected to quarantine at a quarantine center claims that her miscarriage was caused by the negligence of officials who escorted her to quarantine centers. The 21-year-old pre-school teacher, who had been pregnant at the time, and her family from Pethiyagoda, Kelaniya had been subjected to quarantine at Diyathalawa Quarantine Center when her husband, who works at Peliyagoda Fish Market, was hospitalized over covid-19 on Oct 24. more..

Nov 29 (SO) Cricket may no longer be the summer English sport or the sport of amateurs with so much of commercial value and highly paid professionals taking to the game. But in SL the name of the game is to exploit the smallest of loopholes in the law. According to the sport’s global keeper the ICC the law governing the size of the playing field should be between 65 and 90 yards. SL has chosen the smallest playing area, fit for junior schoolboys, on which to showcase int'l pros at the LPL. more..

Nov 29 (TM) SL’s economic challenges and mountain of public debt are significantly delaying the review of the country’s request from the IMF for emergency financing that was made over seven months ago, according to the IMF. “Assessing the relevant conditions for the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) has taken longer than for other countries, due to Sri Lanka’s daunting economic challenges, high public debt, and more..

Nov 29 (TM) Associated Motorways (AMW) has offered Voluntary Retirement Schemes (VRS) to 175 employees citing pandemic-induced financial difficulties despite making a net profit in excess of Rs. 300 million so far this year, The Sunday Morning Business learns. Our sources noted that out of these 175 employees, only about 73 employees accepted the VRS after being told that the company could not ensure the payment of their full salaries going forward if they chose to remain. more..

Nov 29 (SO) Around 600 prison inmates serving sentences for minor offences will be given a Presidential pardon, Commissioner General of Prisons said. He said they are currently collecting data on eligible cases and it was too early to announce the exact number of inmates who will be pardoned. “In the next two to three days we will check court cases and release the inmates, according to the guidelines received,” he said. The step was taken following an outbreak of more..

Nov 29 (TM) A severe electricity shortfall may be experienced within the next few years as Japan has ceased funding for the Greater Colombo Transmission and Distribution Loss Reduction Project Phase II, with the cancellation of the Colombo Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project by the Govt. This is expected to result in a power shortage due to the lack of infrastructure to transmit the power generated at the plants. more..

Nov 29 (ST) More than 20,000 containers are still held up at the Colombo Port as clearing of the goods has slowed down, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chairman Daya Ratnayake said. The move has resulted in the port finding it difficult to accommodate more cargo. He said some of vessels were not calling over due to the congestion which has caused delays. General Ratnayake said as a result some of the ships were bypassing Colombo and heading to ports in Singapore, India & Bangladesh. more..

Nov 29 (AD) SL has reported two more coronavirus-related deaths. A 76-year-old man and a 96-year-old woman have succumbed to the virus in this manner. The deceased male, a resident of Colombo 02, has died of high blood pressure and a chronic kidney disease worsened by COVID-19 infection. He had passed away on Nov 26, upon admission to the Colombo National Hospital. The woman has passed away at her residence in Colombo 08 on Nov 27. The cause of death has been determined as more..

Nov 29 (ST) The controversial decision last Friday by Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi has been questioned by the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) which states the five-member committee report that inquired into the conduct of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) failed to single out any member or the President in their report as responsible person/s for the deficiencies of SLMC and they have not recommended more..

Nov 29 (ST) The head and four others of Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) were sacked on Friday by Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi with the removal letters being delivered halfway through the SLMC’s monthly meeting which had started at 1 p.m. The dramatic removal of SLMC President Prof. Harendra de Silva and others came following a report by a 5-member committee appointed by the minister to inquire into complaints against the SLMC, state watchdog body of medical education more..

Nov 29 (TM) The national daily PCR testing capacity has been boosted by 2,000 with the restoration of the Mulleriyawa PCR machine’s operations, bringing the total daily national testing capacity to between 9,000 and 12,000 tests, according to Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena. Dr. Gunawardena said that the PCR test results of the positive Covid-19 patients were being delivered within 24 hours while the negative results were being given within 48 hours. more..

Nov 29 (ST) The lockdown at Temple Trees, historically one of the main centres of power in the country, continues amidst the spread of the deadly coronavirus. Last week’s exclusive revelation in these columns, over a matter of great public importance, was ridiculed by some officials. Their lackeys, like slippery worms eating into deadwood, burrowed their way to annihilate the truth. There is no fact checking, more..

Nov 30 (ST) On November 16, the Appeal Court held former cabinet minister Rishad Bathiudeen guilty of clearing 2,000 hectares in the Wilpattu wild life sanctuary in 2012 to resettle Muslims displaced during the Eelam war; and, following the principle the polluter pays as contained in the Rio De Janeiro Declaration, ordered him to pay the cost of replanting an area equivalent to that cleared. It was a landmark judgment which underscored the importance of the environment; more..

Nov 30 (ST) As SL hurtles down the precipice of covid-19 contagion coupled with unprecedented economic devastation, bitter and biting anger at our plight can scarcely be contained. State health agencies tasked with handling the pandemic stamme and stutter while a militarised command continues to elbow out a professionally coordinated public health-led effort. In one sense, this is not all that remarkable. What we are facing is the common or garden path consequence of misrule more..

Nov 30 (Roar) A significant percentage of Sri Lankans are malnourished, and not enough people know about it yet. One might be forgiven for strongly doubting this statement given the increase in heart disease, diabetes, and visibly expanding waistlines, but a large percentage of the country is suffering from malnutrition in a number of surprising ways. Despite significant improvements in many socioeconomic more..

Nov 30 (TM) The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), or Global Goals, aim at paving the way to a prosperous world in economic, social, and environmental dimensions. There are 17 SDGs demarcated by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 to address the global challenges, and almost all countries of the world, including SL, are progressing towards achieving these goals. The environment has been highly challenged during the past few decades due to rapid industrialisation more..

Nov 30 (CT) Let’s switch gears from the usual discourses on economy, environment and politics, and focus our attention on something that impacts our lives just as highly as the aforementioned topics; traffic. Vehicular transportation is one of SL’s important circulatory systems transferring goods and services and most importantly connecting people. Accordingly, what is important to vehicular transport is not increased mobility by the way of improved roads and infrastructure but the safety of and more..

Nov 30 (DM) The second wave of the Covid 19 is taking its toll on Sri Lanka and Colombo is one of the most affected areas. With the death toll from Colombo increasing and more people are infected, Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake said that the public was not taking the situation seriously. Colombo Mayor said that she was working with the authorities and in some instances working on her own to address the crisis. more..

Nov 30 (DM) COVID-19 pandemic has, according to the UN created the biggest disruption of education systems in history, affecting nearly 1.6 billion students in more than 190 countries in all continents. The closure of schools and other learning spaces have impacted 94% of the world’s student population -up to 99% in low and lower-middle-income countries. Research carried out by the WHO has shown that while children and adolescents can be infected and can infect others. more..

Nov 30 (DM) The budget comes at a critical time. It is the first budget in the time of the current Prez and the govt that was voted in August 2020, and also the budget that spells out the govt’s programme in the days of the COVID and after. Many groups and critics have pointed out that the budget has not provided for the people, their safety and survival. The provisions have little to say about catering to middle-class white-collar workers either. Education, one of the cornerstones of any budget more..

Nov 30 (ST) In an all girls final, Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya prevailed over Hillwood College Kandy in the final of the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) conducted by the National Olympic Committee of SL via the zoom technology over the weekend. Speaking on the subject of Engaging in sport by practicing Olympic Values teach the athletes to overcome barriers of Life put forward by Sirimavo Bandaranaike as against the point of view put forward by more..

Nov 30 (SO) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the legendary civil rights activist once said “A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a moulder of consensus”. The statement suits the leadership of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. During the first year of his Presidency, he has not only displayed an effective leadership style but also moulded consensus through his management ability. It is said that while a politician thinks of the next election, a statesman thinks of the next generation. more..

Nov 30 (ST) The broader contours of a new Constitution for SL are taking shape as an experts committee has renewed its call for further public representations. Though nothing is still final, the experts did focus attention on some contentious areas, like for example present 13th Amendment. Insiders say that at one point, the issue became too hot that it had to be put to vote. The side that sought to make some changes had their way. more..

Nov 30 (Island) Wildlife Officers are protesting against a recent unfortunate incident, in Polonnaruwa, where State Minister of Wildlife Protection Wimalaweera Dissanayake had conniptions, when they refused to follow his order that villagers be allowed to graze their cattle inside a wildlife sanctuary. He was shown on television yelling at the officers menacingly in full view of the public. What he was forcing the officers to do was to violate Fauna & Flora Protection Ordinance. more..

Nov 30 (Island) Dr. Vitarana very simply explains the basic facts about the virus, its current level of transmission in SL, the difficulties SL will face in obtaining a vaccine for the entire population within a short-time frame, and calls for community action to end the pandemic. He calls the current mode of transmission, uncontrolled community spread. He suggests there could be 80% asymptomatic transmission and cites a figure of 30% test positivity from a random PCR study in Colombo more..

Nov 30 (ST) When Dimuth Karunaratne took a group of young cricketers to SA last year, the prospects of a thrashing loomed ominously on the horizon. With Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal out of the series, the chances of even a draw were remote, leaving alone a win. However, what ensued at the end of the two-match series was truly remarkable as SL clinched it 2-0. It was a feat no other SL team had achieved in SA. more..

Nov 30 (ST) Malaysian businessman, founder of the controversial multilevel marketing scheme GoldQuest (GQ) and Asia Capital PLC’s (ACap) 72 per cent shareholder, Vijay Eswaran’s team is in discussion with the company’s Japanese shareholders to settle a host of law suits, officials said. Mr. Eswaran had also approached a major finance company in Colombo to pledge his stake in ACap to raise money in order to buy the Japanese investors over. more..

Nov 30 (FT) Int'l Chamber of Commerce (ICC) recently provided an update on the electronic ATA Carnet (eATA) pilot project as part of the World Customs Organisation’s annual ATA/Istanbul Administrative council meeting. ATA Carnet is an int'l customs document that permits duty-free and tax-free temporary import of goods for up to one year. ICC is the int'l organisation administering the global guarantee chain that all national guaranteeing associations are affiliated with. more..

Nov 30 (FT) Sanitary napkins last week came under the spotlight in social media, with the Opposition alleging that the Govt has slapped additional taxation, but the industry contends this wasn’t the case. As part of boosting revenue, the Govt, in follow up to the 2021 Budget presented and approved in Parliament last week, revised customs duties and levies. What was applicable to sanitary napkins as a finished product was more..

Nov 30 (TM) In the most advanced economies, people commence their working careers with part-time work as young as 15 years old, full-time work as young as 17, and retire only at 65. That’s nearly 50 years of full-time contribution to the national economy. In Sri Lanka’s private sector, the age of entry is as high as 21 for lower level staff and 25 for graduates. Retirement is at 55. Thus, the total contribution to the national economy is only about 30 years. more..

Nov 30 (CT) The COVID-19 Pandemic kept cricketers indoors for months with their daily training schedules cut off, and most of them looked rusty during on the field in the Lanka Premier League. But 12 dropped catches in four matches on top of several fumbles and misfielding which went for boundaries means Sri Lanka Cricket coaching staff will be itching to work with them on this aspect, which was what the coaches were discussing for a while when referring to Sri Lankan cricketers. more..

Nov 30 (ST) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his capacity as finance minister, presented a new note to Cabinet this week authorising the CEB to sign up for a liquefied natural gas (LNG)/diesel-fired power plant without reference to the Attorney General (AG). This is in stark contrast to his earlier stance that the AG and Chairman of Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) must make necessary arrangements to grant more..

Nov 30 (FT) Central Bank has extended the deadline to seek extended debt moratorium from Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs) for business and individuals impacted by COVID-19 till 10 Dec. The earlier deadline for submission of requests was 25 Nov. Central Bank said NBFIs are required to finalise the decision and communicate the decision (grant/deny) in writing to the applicant within 45 days of submitting the request. As a new requirement, Central Bank has also stated that all CEOs more..

Nov 30 (Island) SL’s leading cement manufacturer INSEE Cement is driving transformation across the local construction industry with significant investments in empowering one of the sector’s key stakeholder groups; the mason. INSEE Sathkara, a multifaceted initiative to develop local masons powered by INSEE Cement is shaping the mason of the future – a professionally, socially and financially empowered individual contributing significantly to the advancement of both the local construction more..

Nov 30 (Island) Police spokesman, DIG Ajith Rohana, told the PCoI that the power to issue detention orders for suspects arrested on terrorism-related activities should be given to a DIG instead of a court of law. He said that there was a dire need for a new law governing the activities of intelligence agencies. Police Spokesman said that suspects arrested for terrorism, related offences should be questioned at least for six months. more..

Nov 30 (WN) Asanka Gurusinha, the hard-hitting left-handed batsman who was part of the Sri Lankan World Cup-winning team of 1996, had been appointed Nigeria’s head coach and high-performance manager, it has been announced. In this role, which begins next month, Gurusinha will lead the Nigeria Cricket Federation’s high-performance unit while also acting as coach, trainer and mentor to the country’s rapidly growing number of domestic coaches. more..

Nov 30 (Island) Bolt, the leading European transportation platform committed to making urban travel easier, quicker and more reliable; announced its entry to the SL market, with a pilot launch of its service in Colombo, on Nov 25, with over 2000 drivers ready to start accepting rides. Bolt pilots its services in South Asia for the first time with the launch of operations in Sri Lanka. Committed to affordable trips and happy drivers, the company has announced that it will be charging drivers more..