Nov 5 (CT) Dambulla, the city that never sleeps, has encountered a massive problem. Around 3 million kilograms of vegetables have been piled up at its Dedicated Economic Centre due to the current COVID-19 doldrums. Dambullla is renowned as being the country’s central marketplace of agricultural produce and is at the hub of major routes linking key agricultural communities. This is not the first time where stored vegetables have been left to linger and rot during this pandemic. more..

Nov 5 (DM) It is getting to be too difficult to keep pace with the rapidly-spreading COVID-19, mainly in the Colombo District, which Army Commander Shavendra Silva, who Heads the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak, has described as the hotbed of the infection. He said the increasing numbers of COVID-19 infected patients in the Western Province and the urgent need to contain the situation were the reasons for the Govt to extend the curfew by a week. more..

Nov 5 (TM) SL is riding its most aggressive wave of Covid-19 infections with last week’s numbers climbing by nearly 3,000 cases; the number of positive cases reported on 22 Oct stood at 6,287, and by last Wed (28), it stood at 9,205. Govt is continuously reassuring the public that there will not be an islandwide lockdown at this point, stating that while only selected areas would be isolated, some areas would allow restricted more..

Nov 5 (GV) October was a bleak month for freedom of expression with four cases of assault against five provincial journalists. All five journalists had to be hospitalized. A camera was lost in one instance and one was damaged in another incident. There was data loss in one case. Police have arrested suspects related to all cases; some are still in remand in custody while others have been released on bail. But there is doubt whether those responsible will be held accountable. more..

Nov 5 (CT) November has already arrived, and Covid 19 has restricted our movements at campus. I am in the middle of a research project related to 1956. During the months before November that year, University of Peradeniya was not under the attack of any virus but it was busy getting ready for a landmark event. Those who were in the midst of it perhaps did not know that they were creating history. They were attending to the routine activities of the campus, which was a vibrant place anyway. more..

Nov 5 (CT) For a long time, I have been complaining that the West has been paying little attention to the relative success of Sri Lanka in dealing with the pandemic. I made this point again on a comment thread on YouTube reacting to a GoSL video explaining what actions the Govt had taken. Most of the comments on the thread were broadly supportive of the video, of the Govt and of my comment. There was one glaring exception; someone calling himself poorpoor who violently abused Sri Lanka, more..

Nov 5 (Island) There had been a major hiatus of systems thinking, relevant expertise, and leadership, of managing COVID-19 in Sri Lanka that continues to date. These not only led to economic collapse, but also to miss the ongoing community spread during the past few months and the current upsurge of uncontrolled, second wave of COVID-19 started in mid-August 2020. The entire country (24 out of 25 districts) has been affected with multiple community clusters, except in Kilinochchi district. more..

Nov 5 (TM) SL’s Covid-19 relapse has pushed everything, including climate control and environment protection, to the backseat. The only thing on everyone’s mind is the virus and the uncertainty that comes with it. Annual global plastic production reportedly exceeds 335 million metric tonnes and approximately half of this goes into the production of single-use plastic products. With concerns of plastic waste increasing more..

Nov 5 (GV) Over the course of October Sri Lanka welcomed two of the world’s prominent powers, China and the US, to the country. In early October, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa held talks with Yang Jiechi, a senior diplomat and a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). This was the first diplomatic visit Sri Lanka entertained since overseas travel restrictions were imposed worldwide due to the Covid-19 pandemic. more..

Nov 5 (Island) US prez election has gone right down to the wire. However, speaking from the White House, Prez Donald J. Trump declared victory even before several key battleground states were called. Claiming that there had been an electoral fraud, he said he had made that prediction before the election, and it had come true. He said: “Frankly, we did win this election … We want the law to be used in a proper manner, so we’ll be going to the US Supreme Court.” He made that declaration in spite of more..

Nov 5 (CT) While Departure for foreign employment during the first six months (1H) ended June this year declined 57.2% to 40,689 compared to 95,007 departures recorded during the corresponding period of last year more than 39,489 migrant workers have lost their jobs as of end August due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The SLFBE temporarily banned Sri Lankans from migrating for employment following travel restrictions more..

Nov 5 (DM) European Union (EU) recently highlighted concerns with regard to Sri Lanka’s import restriction that is currently in place to prevent the outflow of foreign exchange, calling the ban unfair. EU First Councillor, Head of Political, Trade and Communications Section Thorsten Bargfrede pointed out that the move to restrict imports was not the ideal avenue, specially since the island nation aspires to become a regional trading hub. “We feel that closing borders at this point is more..

Nov 5 (DM) The number of COVID-19 patients reported relating to the Minuangoda cluster is getting low and the patients reported from the Paliyagoda fish market is increasing, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said. He said the COVID-19 patients reported around the country during the past month had any kind of link with the Peliyagoda and Minuwangoda COVID clusters. He said the infected persons were reported from around the country, which means the disease had already been more..

Nov 5 (FT) Export Development Board (EDB), expressing its concern about the resurgence of COVID-19 in main markets, has called on the private sector to plan and prepare as it is threatening to impact trade once again. “We are quite concerned about the resurgence of COVID-19 in our major markets,” EDB Chairman Prabhash Subasinghe said. He said the partial lockdowns in the European Union (EU) markets as well as in the UK more..

Nov 5 (Island) SL’s most popular youth-telco brand, Airtel Lanka was once again ranked among the Top 40 Best Workplaces for a fourth time by the Great Place to Work Institute. Commenting on this recognition, Airtel Lanka’s CEO Ashish Chandra said, “Ultimately, it is people that give life to culture, and culture that gives rise to greatness. Our continuing success is therefore, a product of truly empowered teams, passionate about what they do and the connections they make through more..

Nov 5 (FT) The construction work of the second phase of the Maligawatta-Apple Watta housing scheme has commenced this week on the instructions of Prez Rajapaksa and PM Rajapaksa. These houses will be provided to needy families living in low-income settlements in accordance with the Vision of Prosperity policy statement. Construction of the houses commenced under the patronage of State Minister Dr. Nalaka Godahewa. The project at a cost of Rs. 4 billion more..

Nov 5 (TM) Discussions pertaining to Sri Lanka’s request from the IMF for a Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) are at a standstill until Budget 2021 is passed in Parliament, according to the Treasury Secretary. Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle said that any credit line discussion has to be based on documentation and in this case, it is the Budget 2021 upon which discussions on the RFI has to be built. more..

Nov 5 (Island) Since the Spanish flu infected close to a third of the, then global population a century ago, not even the First & Second World Wars could bring about an enormous tragedy on the human race until COVID 19 pandemic hit all corners of Planet Earth. New Corona Virus cases are already racing towards the 50 million mark and the death toll exceeding 1.2 mil people with just the 2nd Wave of the pandemic beginning to spread all over the world like a wild fire aided by natural wind. more..

Nov 5 (CT) Candidate Master (CM) Ranindu Liyanage, 16-year-old schoolboy from Ananda College Colombo, was recently crowned 2020 National Chess Champion. This is the most prestigious title that a chess player can strive for. The title has been won by an Anandian after 20 years (Luxman Wijesuriya won in 2000). Ranindu first attended Ashoka Primary School Kalagedihena (Grade 1 to 3). He started his chess career in 2009 under chess instructor Nimal Rathnasiri more..

Nov 5 (FT) SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday accused the Govt of misleading the public on the East Container Terminal (ECT) being developed by the State following media reports that it could be given to India’s Adani Group. Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that the Adani Group was the frontrunner to develop SL’s stalled ECT. However, ahead of the Parliamentary Election in August, following pressure from trade unions, more..

Nov 5 (AD) Considering the current pandemic situation in the country, there will be no penalties over failure to file a return of income before Nov 30, states Dept of Inland Revenue. According to the provisions of Inland Revenue Act, No. 24 of 2017 (IRA) every person, who is liable for income tax shall file a return of income not later than eight months after the end of each year of assessment. Therefore, last date to furnish the Return of Income for the year of assessment 2019/2020 is Nov 30, 2020. more..

Nov 5 (CT) Real wages of Public Sector Employees have increased 4.3% during the first eight months of this year ended August, as against a decline of 4.4% and 2.8% witnessed by Formal and Informal Private Sector Employees respectively. According to the Central Bank, “Nominal wages of public sector employees, as measured by the public sector wage rate index (2016=100), increased significantly by 11.1% during the period from January to August 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.” more..

Nov 5 (Island) A regulation under the Medical Ordinance to make it compulsory for obtaining two credit passes (C) and one ordinary pass (S) in GCE A/L Biology stream to be registered with the Medical Council of SL was passed on Tuesday in Parliament. Another regulation under the Act was passed on the same day amidst the objections of JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who suggested that the resolution should be more..

Nov 5 (FT) The Centre for Journalism and Education, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the development of journalism in SL, in a statement has urged the Govt to offer free PCR tests for journalists exposed to COVID-19. Following is the full text of the statement from CJE. “It has come to our attention that a number of journalists have tested positive for COVID-19 and that a large number of others have been asked to self-quarantine or have been advised to take PCR tests. more..

Nov 5 (DN) The cricket-loving public will finally have an opportunity to witness an international cricket tournament after the Lanka Premier League (LPL) was granted final approval yesterday, to go ahead with the tournament. SLC officials met the Health Minister and her officials after which a positive response was granted to carry on with the tournament. However, the tournament will be delayed by a week from the given schedule, and is now set to commence from Nov 28 and more..

Nov 5 (FT) The Govt must begin a dialogue with the IMF and international capital markets to re-profile the country’s debt repayments for the next year so they are postponed by 24 to 36 months, SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva urged. Speaking at a press conference Dr. de Silva called on the Govt to understand the reality of the looming economic crisis and be mindful of nearly $ 6 billion in local and foreign debt repayment due in 2021. more..

Nov 5 (FT) The Govt has failed to manage cost of living and the COVID-19 outbreak, SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne charged yesterday, urging the Govt to promptly deliver relief to those affected by COVID-19 and the resulting economic climate. He said the Govt had failed to pass on significant benefits from the rapid decline in the price of oil in the international markets to the public when it was possible, claiming that such actions by the Govt has contributed to a high cost of living for the public. more..

Nov 5 (FT) In spite of widespread speculation that SLPP National List MP Jayantha Ketagoda was to resign this week to make room for SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa to enter Parliament, the move has been delayed. Both Ketagoda and sources close to Rajapaksa were tight-lipped about the reason for the delay. With the 20th Amendment now operational, Rajapaksa who is a dual citizen will have no obstacle in entering Parliament. Under the 19th Amendment, dual citizens were barred more..

Nov 5 (DM) The total number of COVID-19 patients identified in the island exceeded 12,000, with 443 persons testing positive for the virus yesterday. The new cases include 418 contacts of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster and 25 persons from quarantine centres. The Divulapitiya and Peliyagoda dual cluster has increased to 8,709 cases. This brings the total number of patients identified in the country to 12,187. more..

Nov 5 (DN) France is keen on establishing more people-to-people contact with SL, through initiatives such as scholarship and exchange programmes. This was expressed by the Ambassador of France in SL Eric Lavertu when he called on PM Rajapaksa at Temple Trees. Ambassador mentioned that a number of Govt sector employees are already pursuing advanced studies at French higher educational institutions and that the two countries could collaborate on more student exchange more..

Nov 5 (Island) The govt had to set up a national mechanism to collect all information about COVID-19 to make its anti-pandemic drive more effective, says JVP-led National Intellectuals’ Association. NIA General Secretary, Dr Nihal Abeysinghe, a former epidemiologist of the Health Ministry and regional advisor on vaccine-preventable diseases of WHO, said the researchers at the Uni of Sri J'pura had found that the latest version of COVID-19 virus spread faster than the previous strain. more..

Nov 5 (Island) Contrary to various claims as regards the origin of the Minuwangoda covid cluster that could have resulted in a catastrophic coronavirus eruption at the Peliyagoda Central Fish Market, Health Ministry is yet to announce its conclusive findings. The top health administration remained silent when Minister Pavitra Wanniarachchi recently inquired whether they were able to ascertain the origins of the second wave now into its fifth week. more..

Nov 5 (FT) I have a sad dream. In it, the warm sunlit epoch of science is over. And a reign or era of cold superstition where empty vessels make the most noise and hollow clay pots float down to a sunless sea has taken over. That blessed isle which was once a model for – and the envy of – its admiring neighbours has sickness at every hand and hardly wisdom to soothe its wounded spirit. There are champions of the people and other fatuous charlatans everywhere, especially more..

Nov 5 (FT) SL is currently experiencing two crises which will trigger the third. They stem from a common source and therefore can be resolved only if rectification takes place at that source, that root. One crisis is the second wave of COVID-19. It is manifest and acknowledged but its dimensions are played down and the sins of commission and omission which led to it are unspoken. Another is that of our external relations. That crisis is latent, but not entirely invisible, and more..

Nov 5 (AD) The Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Traffic Division at Anamaduwa Police has been killed in a road accident. Reportedly, the OIC had been traveling with another police officer when he had lost control of his vehicle and collided with the Anamaduwa clock tower at midnight yesterday . The Police said that the accident had taken place while pursuing a vehicle transporting cattle on a tip-off received by the police. The deceased Traffic OIC is a 38-year-old Sub Inspector (SI) named more..

Nov 5 (DN) The Supreme Court has ordered the Police to pay compensation of Rs. 200,000 in a Fundamental Rights case where a youth was assaulted by Anuradhapura Police in custody. The youth had suffered injuries to his hand and it was also revealed that the Police had threatened the youth at gunpoint not to report this incident. SC ordered the former IGP to pay Rs.100,000 and two officers (Gallage & Amarasinghe) of the A'pura Police station to pay Rs.50,000 each. more..

Nov 5 (AD) Army Commander Lt Gen Shavendra Silva says the quarantine curfew in Western Province is likely to be lifted after Nov 9. He said it is imperative to reopen the country as soon as possible. He explained that the purpose of the 10-day quarantine curfew was to curtail the spread of Covid-19 in the Western Province, the region with the highest population density in the country. more..

Nov 5 (DM) Laugfs Gas PLC returned to profitability in the three months to September (2Q21), as the company sailed on the economic rebound since the easing of the coronavirus lockdowns in May. SL’s only private sector LP gas distributor recorded a revenue of Rs.8.85 billion for the quarter, up 31% from Rs.6.77 billion in the comparable period, last year. The group reported earnings of Rs.1.02 a share or Rs.395.3 million for the July-September period, compared to 5 cents a share or more..