Oct 10 (DM) Worldwide, gender equality movements have made vast progress but still there is a gender gap or discrimination, often in third world countries. Though women have made much progress in their battle for equality and social justice, the girl child’s plight is still a cause for concern in most countries. Even at the time of birth we often hear exclamations of joy that it is a boy child and not so much happiness when it is a girl child. In some countries this attitude is widely seen because more..

Oct 10 (CT) Gampaha District in the Western Province is once again faced with the threat of spread of COVID -19 with the emergence of a new and immense and still growing cluster from the Brandix facility in Minuwangoda. With the identification of more and more patients with COVID-19 from the cluster or those related to it, the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services (MHIMS) has begun aligning more hospitals to receive more..

Oct 10 (CT) Last month, PM Mahinda Rajapaksa submitted a proposal to ban cattle slaughter in SL. Parliamentary Group of the ruling SLPP approved the prime minister’s proposal. The following article makes an impassioned case not just for the non-consumption of meat but brings to light the horrors of the dairy industry and why human beings should adopt a vegan lifestyle. ‘While we take care of our pets and wince at videos of animal cruelty, we also condemn innocent cows, chickens, pigs, more..

Oct 10 (ST) On any given day, a home with a sprawling garden in the heart of Colombo’s Kollupitiya would bustle with activity. The gates would open to welcome the poorest of the poor, essentially elderly women, who would not only be fed but also bathed and clothed by the retainers of this residence. In attendance and presiding over the arrangements, looking into every little detail would be the matriarch of the family, Mrs. Mallika Hewavitarne, wife of Mudliyar Don Carolis more..

Oct 10 (CT) Despite a series of measures being taken by the Govt to repatriate Sri Lankans, there are scores of issues still unsettled for those stranded migrants workers in the Middle East. Due to no flights and fear of virus infections, some workers have been refused jobs by their pay masters. Ceylon Today managed to capture the plight of the workers. Dignity – which forms the basis of fundamental human rights – more..

Oct 10 (DM) Today is World Mental Health Day and it comes amid the COVID-19 pandemic which has drastically affected the lives of people all over the world. The year 2020 has been filled with challenges due to COVID-19 for everyone. Some have been affected more. They include health-care workers who go to work fearing contagion, children who have their education disrupted and have no choice but to adapt to studying online, daily-wage workers whose livelihood has been threatened and more..

Oct 10 (CT) The most agonising experience of a motorist is to sit in his driving seat and start biting his nails when stuck in a congested traffic jam on Sri Lankan roads. Traffic congestion and road accidents are on the increase daily due to many who sit behind a steering wheel of a motor vehicle and do not seem to have any knowledge about the Highway Code, or blatantly ignore the traffic rules. Driving to Colombo on a weekday during peak hours between 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and getting back in more..

Oct 10 (DM) A country can develop only if it has a stable financial system. In order to have a stable financial system there is a need to have adequate protection to investors. This article analyses the adequacy of the safety nets available to public deposit holder in Sri Lanka and propose improvements to it. The article specifically looks at two key aspects in the safety net, namely, adequacy of Deposit Insurance cover and non-availability of Volcker Rule in Sri Lanka. more..

Oct 10 (Island) How Baba Nona sees her son, for what he is and what he does, drives much of the drama in Paangshu. Visakesa Chandrasekaram, the director, doesn’t let us into what she’s thinking at once. But there are clues lingering beneath the surface. Through them we gather that she vacillates between her intense love for him, and her disapproval of his activism. And yet she doesn’t really condemn much less discourage him; at one point, reflecting on the past, she confesses more..

Oct 10 (FT) In the first eight months of 2020, SL’s trade deficit shrank by $ 1 billion to $ 3.8 billion from $ 4.8 billion in 2019, helped by import restrictions and strong export performances since June with the latest numbers of $ 947 million in August helping the decline despite it being a weaker performance than the preceding months, latest data from the CB showed yesterday. The deficit in the trade account in August narrowed to $ 342m more..

Oct 10 (Island) The problem with political jokes is said to be that they get elected. It takes all sorts to make a world, one may say, on seeing how the political leaders of most nations behave. People love to be entertained, and some leaders entertain them albeit unwittingly the way US Prez George H. W. Bush and his son Prez George W. Bush did. Their utterances replete with malapropism and other such slip-ups came to be dubbed Bushism, on which several interesting books have been written. more..

Oct 10 (CT) Fear and uncertainty gripped the nation once again last week, as a COVID-19 positive patient was detected from Minuwangoda on Sunday (4), making it the first community case detected in many months. The patient, employed as a supervisor at an apparel factory, was initially treated at the Gampaha Hospital and subsequently transferred to IDH where health officials said her condition was not life-threatening. Later on in the day, her 16-year-old daughter was also more..

Oct 10 (CT) Since the initial Intelligence information regarding a possible terror attack, which could be launched by the group led by National Thowheed Jama’ath Leader Zaharan Hashim, was received on 4 April 2019, the political and security heads concerned had enough time to prevent it, said former Secretary to the Ministry of Law and Order, Padmasiri Jayamanne. He was testifying before the PCoI into Easter Sunday bombings, on 8 Oct. more..

Oct 10 (DN) SSC opening batsman Nipun Dhananjaya topped the list as the highest run-getter with 376 runs, having struck a century and three half-centuries averaging 75.2 from six matches in the SLC Major Club Under-23, 50-Over Tournament. Dhananjaya scored a cracking a century on his way to becoming the leading run-scorer in the tournament scoring 100 against Bloomfield, on the final day of the first round of the tournament. Malindu Maduranga the Mahanama College more..

Oct 10 (DN) A B2B webinar between prominent SL and Omani boat-building companies was held on October 8 with a view of promoting collaboration between the boat-building industries of the two countries. The Sri Lanka Embassy in the Sultanate of Oman and the Export Development Board (EDB) of SL jointly organized this B2B webinar. The B2B meetings were held between Executive Director Yasser Al Fairuz together with CEO, Salem Al Touqi of popular Omani boat manufacturing more..

Oct 10 (SLA) Sri Lanka Army, the protective shield behind which our country pursues unhampered and arduous struggle toward economic growth and social development, matures into its 71st birthday today (10) as the finest and most trusted service-provider whose scope of dedication, courage, devotion to duty and self-sacrifice has commanded the admiration of the Nation more than ever before. The incumbent Commander of the Army at this milestone anniversary while paying tribute to more..

Oct 10 (CT) The people of this country asked for a new Constitution and not patch ups, said State Minister Vidura Wickremanayaka. Certain provisions in the 20th Amendment affect the country as a whole, while certain others affect only a number of individuals, therefore, these patch ups will not be a solution. If they try to bring back the 18th Amendment through the 20th Amendment, it should not be forgotten that this was the main reason for the public to previously reject a Mahinda more..

Oct 10 (DM) Sri Lanka has not reached a fourth stage of COVID-19 pandemic as there is no situation where the spread of the disease becomes uncontrollable with large numbers of cases being reported everywhere in the country within a short period of time, Heath Minsiter Pavithra Wanniarachchi told Parliament. Minister came out with this explanation in response to a query made by Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella more..

Oct 10 (CT) A special committee has been appointed to investigate and recommend measures regarding the mineral sand waste, which is being released from Pulmoddai to Dambulla, Kandalama, by a private company, said the Industries Minister, Wimal Weerawansa. He ordered the discharge of mineral sand waste from the Ceylon Mineral Company in Pulmoddai to be temporarily suspended until the committee submits a report containing proper recommendations in this regard and more..

Oct 10 (FT) SL’s leading ride sharing application, PickMe, recently joined hands with leading local banking and financial institution NDB Bank to fully oversee the bank’s travelling and transportation requirements. The partnership will enable swift and convenient mobility for the banking staff across all its branches. Commenting on this new partnership, PickMe COO Isira Perera said that the taxi hailing app was pleased to have a reputed client such as NDB Bank onboard: more..

Oct 10 (FT) Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has raised serious doubts about PM Mahinda Rajapaksa’s assertion that the proposed 20th Amendment will not erode the powers of the Auditor General. Issuing a statement as the Chairman of the National Movement for a Just Society, Jayasuriya, who has championed transparent governance during his political career, clarified how the independence of State auditing apparatus would be eroded more..

Oct 10 (CT) State Minister Susil Premajayantha said in Parliament on 9 October that discussions are being held between the Education Ministry, the Health Ministry, the Transport Ministry and the Police to provide facilities to 800 Grade Five students who live in the Gampaha District and study in the Colombo District to sit for the Scholarship Examination. He said this in response to a question made by the Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella. more..

Oct 10 (DN) The Embassy of SL in the Republic of Korea in close coordination with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), Korea Importers Association (KOIMA), Korea Business Council and of course Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Colombo conducted a Webinar, with particular focus on business opportunities and vistas, strategies to enhance bilateral trade particularly exports of goods and services of Sri Lanka to South Korea, investment & commercial opportunities and more..

Oct 10 (Island) Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC, has directed that his officers refrain from dealing with govt servants and police officers currently serving in areas where a curfew has been imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19. AG’s Office announced the unprecedented measure as the govt battled what a section of the media called the Brandix cluster. Coordinating Officer to AG de Livera, Nishara Jayaratne said officers would more..

Oct 10 (FT) The Minuwangoda Police Station yesterday resumed operations after the premises were shut down when an individual operating the canteen tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. The individual is a close contact of an employee of the Minuwangoda garment manufacturing facility, who also tested positive for COVID-19. According to DIG Ajith Rohana, 85 officers stationed at the Minuwangoda Police Station have been subjected to testing and quarantine. more..

Oct 10 (ST) The tea traders industry is faced with a grave crisis of adulteration of Ceylon Tea by factories. “Adulteration is one of the most serious problems we are facing,” Colombo Tea Traders’ Association (CTTA) Chairman Jayantha Karunaratne said at the 126th AGM of the CTTA at Cinnamon Grand in Colombo. He hoped that once this issue is resolved they could obtain better and improved prices in future. Mr. Karunaratne also raised the issue of the issues faced by more..

Oct 10 (CT) Namal Kumara, who exposed an alleged plan to assassinate former President Maithripala Sirisena and current President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2018, had been paid by former President Sirisena’s office, said former IGP Pujith Jayasundara. He also said special inquiries should be made regarding the person who detonated a suicide bomb at the Tropical Inn Lodge in Dehiwala. Jayasundara testified before the PCoI more..

Oct 10 (Island) Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena assured Parliament, on Thursday (8), that strict health guidelines would be followed at the parliament affairs services unit in Battaramulla to ensure the safety of all parliamentarians and staff members after a family member of an employee of the unit underwent a PCR test for suspected COVID-19 infection. The parliament affairs services unit is located at Battaramulla outside the parliament premises. more..

Oct 10 (CT) Minister of Transport Gamini Lokuge on 8 October said in Parliament that the Government is planning to extend the Kelani Valley rail line up to Ratnapura and at present, feasibility studies are being conducted on the project. In response to a question raised by SJB MP Waruna Liyanage, he said that a project to double track the Kelani Valley Railway Line from Colombo to Avissawella as the first phase of improving the Kelani Valley Railway Line has already been launched. more..

Oct 10 (Island) China reiterated its commitment to supporting Prez Rajapaksa’s development objectives envisaged in his 2019 presidential election manifesto. The assurance was given by senior Chinese leader and top foreign policy official Yang Jiechi, who is a member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party and the director of its Central Committee’s Foreign Affairs Commission, the top policy-making body. more..

Oct 10 (AD) Commander of the SL Army, Lt Gen Shavendra Silva says that he does not foresee that in the coming days there will be any changes to the curfew which has currently been imposed in several areas in the wake of the latest Covid-19 cluster in Minuwangoda. “In regards to the areas already with curfew imposed, I don’t foresee there will be a change. In fact, all what can happen is lifting the curfew. That I don’t see that it will happen during next 2-3 days. I don’t think it will happen,” more..

Oct 10 (EN) SL’s LTL Holdings is expected to build a 300 MegaWatt liquefied natural gas cable power plant within three years, while a second 300 MW plant would also be built, Minister Dullas Allahapperuma said. Cabinet had decided to award the 300MW dual fuel IPP to LTL group in Feb 2020, on the condition that all court cases are withdrawn. The tender for the IPP floated during the last administration ended in a dispute after LTL Holdings went to court over the award of the contract more..

Oct 10 (CT) A group of Govt MPs have sent a written request to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to have Riyaj Bathiudeen, the brother of ACMC Leader MP Rishad Bathiudeen, who had allegedly helped National Thowheed Jama’ath (NTJ) Leader Zaharan Hashim to flee to India in 2018, rearrested and launch a fresh probe into the allegations levelled at him. Riyaj Bathiudeen, who was arrested by the CID on 14 April, more..

Oct 10 (FT) Recently Donald Trump while engaged in a public debate with his rival Joe Biden in the US Presidential race side-tracked a sensitive question put to him, stating, Stand back and standby. Matching the rhetoric Trump is famous for, his choice of words well suited to his disavowal of the blame game centred round White Supremacy, a penalty kick he would inevitably incur in the play ahead of him. In SL, the controversial 20A has many shafts from different groups aimed at it, more..

Oct 10 (FT) The man knew his life in this world was over and looked at us and said, Mang yannang, Sir (Sir, I’ll go). It was a heart-rending scene. The bag-like head-gear was brought down to cover the prisoner’s face and neck and the noose was put round his neck. I had a feeling of despair… Here was a man who had talked to me a few minutes ago, now being killed in cold blood before my very eyes and yet I could not do anything about it. I felt sick and horrible. more..

Oct 10 (DM) The general public has been requested not to panic considering the prevailing situation as all possible measures are being taken to contain the spread of the virus and mitigate the situation, Chief Epidemiologist Dr Sudath Samaraweera said. “As of now, the amount of cases being reported form the Minuwangoda factory cluster is comparatively reducing,” he told a news briefing. However, he stressed that people must comply with health guidelines and urged prompt measures more..

Oct 10 (DN) Director of Sports attached to the Education Ministry Daya Bandara has instructed all school Principals and Heads of National Colleges of Education in a circular that all sports meets, sports programmes and sports festivals that were previously scheduled to be held this year (2020) be cancelled with immediate effect due to the existing COVID-19 pandemic situation. “We have to seek the permission of the Health authorities prior to the conducting of sports events. more..