Oct 11 (CT) SL (Men’s and Women’s) Chess Teams will participate in the Asian Nation Cup Online Chess C'ship 2020 to be held from 10 to 24 October via Chess.com online platform. Since it is not possible to participate physically due to the global COVID-19 situation, the Asian Chess Federation has turned to online Chess, and the event became a reality for that reason. The men’s team will be captained by Minul Doluweera, while the women’s team will be led by experienced Women Int'l Master Sachini more..

Oct 11 (CT) Agriculture Department increased its Yala 2020 paddy production forecast by 7% (0.12 million metric tons) to 1.84 mts, based on data as at 31 July, sufficient to feed the country for 5.8 months, after discounting for waste and paddy apportioned for Maha 2020/21 cultivation. “Discounting waste and paddy apportioned for Maha 2020/21 Paddy cultivation, Yala 2020 is expected to yield 1.66 million mts for consumption,” it added. Taking into consideration this paddy converted to rice, more..

Oct 11 (ST) In a surprise move, SLC is to transfer responsibility for picking national selectors to the recently formed National Sports Selection Committee (NSSC) and National Sports Council (NSC) after it could not submit a list of ten names to be sent to Sports Minister for approval. Sports Ministry requested the Board to add six more names to the list of four names it had earlier forwarded to be considered as cricket selectors. more..

Oct 11 (ST) Tourism has badly affected many economies including SL and South Asia and even if border restrictions ease, a quick rebound is not expected, World Bank officials say. “One can’t be optimistic about a quick revival in tourism because tourism is not only the result of closure of borders and lockdown measures but also hesitancy among tourists themselves to travel. Even if border restrictions ease we don’t expect a quick rebound in tourism especially mass tourism in more..

Oct 11 (ST) Commercial banks are urging an extension to the time period on the relief given to them in the last quarter in reporting their financials. During March to Sept, a relief was given to them in some of the provisioning and how they account for financial instruments in Sri Lanka Financial Reporting Standard – 9 (SLFRS – 9). The financial reporting considerations areas in the backdrop of COVID-19 included Financial Instrument, Fair value measurement of Financial Assets, more..

Oct 11 (TM) After fingers were pointed at apparel sector workers following the detection of the new Covid-19 cluster, leading to creating social stigma, apparel associations and leading apparel companies have come to their defence. Joint Apparel Association Forum SL (JAAFSL) Secretary General Tuli Cooray said that it is concerning to see the stigma surrounding apparel workers following the detection of the cluster, more..

Oct 11 (ST) Sri Lanka’s commercial banks have backtracked from the disbursement of concessionary loans granted by the govt via Central Bank (CB)’s re-finance scheme among COVID-19-affected businesses including MSMEs (medium and small enterprises), a large number of MSMEs complained. These MSMEs noted that the ground reality is they are finding it difficult to get credit to tide them over a cash flow crunch and banks’ strict guidelines including requesting for collateral. more..

Oct 11 (ST) Discussions are underway to continue the tripartite agreement for three more months to allow companies to pay workers in the apparel and tourism sectors reduced wages depending on the companies that request it. JAAFSL General Secretary Tuly Cooray said though they have not signed the document the govt had agreed to grant permission to pay workers Rs.14, 500 or half their wages whichever is higher for those at home. The only condition this time would be that more..

Oct 11 (TM) Govt will consider a relaxation of the vehicle import ban only if the general public takes to the streets in protest against vehicle import restrictions, according to Minister Ramesh Pathirana. “If the general public gets on the road, protesting for new vehicles to be imported, then we might think about it. But for now, our concern is protecting our reserves,” he said on Thursday. Minister added that even if vehicle importers more..

Oct 11 (CT) SL authorities should take action to make effective economic decisions, including increasing Govt revenue, in the forthcoming budget, instead of criticising the recent downgrade of SL by Moody’s investor services, Former Deputy Governor of CB, Dr. W.A. Wijewardena said. SL has always been rated below investment grade, at B grade, ever since the country went for credit rating in 2007 and therefore, the present Moody’s Investors Services downgrading of SL Govt’s long-term more..

Oct 11 (SO) Sri Lankan industries should be developed as a source for quality products to China, said Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Dr. Palitha Kohona said on Friday. He stressed the importance of developing Sri Lanka as a sourcing destination for quality products to China and the rest of the world to boost bilateral and multilateral trade. Dr. Kohona commended the keen interest shown by the Government to strengthen commercial ties with Asian giant. more..

Oct 11 (TM) Following the controversial removal of Japan Int'l Co-operation Agency (JICA) from the Colombo Light Rail Transit Project (LRT), Govt of SL has now removed Asian Development Bank (ADB) from the Kelani Valley Railway Improvement Programme. This is according to a letter sent by ADB to Institution of Engineers SL (IESL) President Prof. Sarath Abayakoon dated 20 Sept. The letter, signed by ADB Director more..

Oct 11 (SO) Labour Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has informed trade unions to present a written complaint to the Labour Commissioner if the Brandix management, Minuwangoda had apparently failed to follow safety and health protocols so that an independent inquiry could be conducted on it. If there is any written complaint from the trade unions, the Labour Minister has directed the Labour Commissioner to conduct an independent inquiry and present him a report regarding more..

Oct 11 (ST) The visit of the Chinese delegation generated controversy after it was revealed that the delegation will not be subjected to quarantine. The Govt justified the decision on the ground that it was a high-level delegation and was only in Sri Lanka for less than a day. Instead of mandatory quarantine, the delegation was subjected to a new COVID period pre-agreed travel bubble arrangement, meaning select dignitaries from countries are allowed free movement. more..

Oct 11 (ST) Hot on the heels of a high-level Chinese visit to SL, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is due in the country this month. “He is expected to come,” said Admiral Prof Jayanath Colombage, Secretary to the Foreign Ministry. Other sources say he is due in two weeks, breaking away from an official visit to New Delhi where he is to accompany his colleague, US Defence Secretary Mark Esper, for a major military more..

Oct 11 (ST) Concerns grew yesterday over the extent of the COVID-19 pandemic’s spread in the country after 101 close contacts of workers from the Brandix apparel factory in Minuwangoda tested positive for the disease. In addition, two more workers from the apparel factory tested positive yesterday. Yesterday’s 103 cases brought the total number of cases linked to the Brandix cluster to 1,186. It was not immediately clear how many of the close contacts were from Gampaha district more..

Oct 11 (AD) Ministry of Health has urged the general public to minimize their visits to see patients admitted to hospitals, taking into account the current Covid-19 situation in the country. In a notice issued today (10), Director General of Health Services Dr S. Sridharan requested the public to strictly adhere to the health guidelines issued by health authorities to prevent the spread of the virus. Accordingly, the public is advised to make sure to maintain the one-meter social distancing, more..

Oct 11 (ST) A weaker opposition and a powerful two-thirds majority in Parliament have not reduced the woes of the ruling SLPP Alliance in any great measure. Paradoxical enough, mechanisms within the Govt, much to their own chagrin, are causing them devastating damage. This is eroding the ruling alliance’s credibility slowly but surely. It is not only in public eye but also before int'l community focused on governance issues here. more..

Oct 12 (ST) With the Supreme Court’s Determination on the 20th Amendment Bill being made available in the public domain, some aspects of the ruling warrant immediate attention. The 20th Amendment Bill had been challenged by thirty eight petitioners alleging inconsistency of its clauses with the People’s sovereign legislative and judicial powers. The Bill was argued to require approval not only by a two-thirds majority in Parliament but also by the People at a Referendum. more..

Oct 12 (ST) Parliament sessions continued this week even as the country faced a resurgence of COVID-19 cases, with the deadly pandemic having a significant effect on the affairs of the House. Before the new Parliament convened, the Health Ministry had given strict COVID-19 prevention guidelines specifically for Parliament. MPs, for the most part, had all but ignored them from the first day itself. Many MPs were even seen without masks, though the situation had changed markedly more..

Oct 12 (SO) “The country and its people benefited from the 19th Amendment. If someone disagrees with that fact he’s a hypocrite. But we agree that the two leaders – Prez and PM did nothing for the country during the Yahapalana rule” said SJB MP and former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka. Q: Why do you reject the 20th Amendment? A: We have many reasons to reject it. After the 20th Amendment, more..

Oct 12 (ST) The dreaded second wave of the coronavirus hit the Lankan landscape as expected but struck with a vengeance so exacting that it took even the health experts by surprise for its rapid transmission rate. Two days after its officially acknowledged resurgence, it had affected over a thousand victims, with the authourities warning to expect more casualties. Yet, a week after the ogre’s return, mystery still surrounds the source of the Brandix cluster, after the authourities more..

Oct 12 (CT) The National Movement for Social Justice wishes to emphasize the importance of every citizen in their responsibility to come together in collective thought and action to face the current pandemic situation faced by our country. Today, we are faced with an unprecedented health situation caused by the alarming increase in the rates of infected cases of COVID-19. The pandemic which is not only limited to Sri Lanka has been a global threat since the beginning of 2020. more..

Oct 12 (TM) The COPE commenced its first session on Tuesday (6) under its newly appointed committee chaired by Dr. Charitha Herath, who is also a Member of Parliament appointed through the National List of the SLPP. After a two-and-a-half hour first inquiry, the committee was to meet on Thursday (8) as well. However, due to the Covid-19 cluster that was activated on 3 Oct, the members had decided to postpone the session more..

Oct 12 (TM) Despite the multitude of mitigatory efforts over the past few months, Covid-19 is once again playing havoc in the country. Last week’s explosion of cases stemming from a private apparel manufacturing facility in Minuwangoda is continuing to cause ripples with cases being detected on a daily basis in at least 16 places across the country so far. It seems the worst-case scenario is now upon us and history has taught us that it is better for the authorities to admit the fact at the outset and more..

Oct 12 (TM) The build-up to the proposed 20th Amendment Bill, which has been gathering much attention during the past few weeks, was suddenly put on the backburner last week with the re-emergence of a Covid-19 cluster in Minuwangoda. The detection of a Covid-19-positive patient from the Brandix factory in Minuwangoda opened what seems like a Pandora’s box, with a sudden increase in the number of Covid-19 individuals rising above 1,000 within a matter of three days. more..

Oct 12 (CT) Sri Lanka is plagued by plastics. Landfills around the country climb higher and higher as metric tonnes of plastic waste are dumped each day. The market is full of single-use and single-serving plastic items designed simply to cater to consumers’ budgetary and fast-paced lifestyle needs, without considering the immense cost to the environment. We import thousands of plastic trinkets and electronic items every year just to throw them in the trash when they become obsolete. more..

Oct 12 (DM) When on September 28 the news broke that a new case of coronavirus was discovered in the Gampaha district, the country’s health authorities were caught completely by surprise and the populace aghast. By October 8, numbers of newly confirmed cases of coronavirus had risen to over a thousand and counting. After the last outbreak of the virus at Kandhakadu in July was brought under control, the country as a whole - health authorities and the people at large became complacent. more..

Oct 12 (DM) Charles Zelden, a top academic of the United States speaks to Daily Mirror. about the political implications of COVID-19 in his country on the Nov 3 Prez Elections. The US is the worst-hit country by the pandemic. He also responds to queries on the US Electoral College system and its relevance to Sri Lanka. He is professor of history and politics at Nova Southeastern University in Florida. more..

Oct 12 (FT) As the nation is fighting against COVID-19 pandemic, State-owned chemicals giant Paranthan Chemicals functioning under the purview of Ministry of Industries has taken prudent and timely endeavour by expanding its production capacity of Sodium Hypochlorite which is highly a sought after chemical for disinfecting purposes. The World Health Organization highlights the application of Chlorine based products such as Sodium Hypochlorite which displays a broad more..

Oct 12 (Island) SL now has its own text-based helpline for those facing emotional and mental distress. Airtel Lanka together, with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), launched the text-based platform 1926, a dedicated helpline to encourage an open culture around mental health. The service is free for Airtel customers and is also accessible for users of other mobile networks. In times of need, a user only has to send a simple text message to 1926, and this will be responded more..

Oct 12 (TM) Sri Lanka’s island status has made it a rich hub for seafood of different varieties and an extensive network of seafood exporters. Thus, the seafood product sector has emerged as a quality exporter of a wide variety of fish, with the most popular of them being tuna. The country is currently home to 24 seafood exporters, whose top five exports consist of tuna (in fresh, chilled, and frozen forms), shrimps & prawns, crabs & lobsters, more..

Oct 12 (DM) Lawyers for Democracy (LfD) issuing a statement called upon the BASL to express the views of the Bar on the 20th Amendment, where it proposes the arrogation of the power of appointment of judges to the Superior Courts by the President and the bringing the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) directly under the control of the President by changing the composition of the JSC is a serious step towards the control of the judiciary. Convener of the LfD, wrote: more..

Oct 12 (ST) Ravindu Sithum Jayasundara, a tall and lanky 16-year-old athlete from Sir John Kothalawela MV, Kurunegala has been dubbed SL’s Usain Bolt because he bears a striking resemblance to the legendary Jamaican sprinter. It remains to be seen whether he can walk the talk and bring glory to his motherland on the int'l arena. But the teenager has shown glimpses of his potential as a star athlete with his phenomenal record-breaking performances in the 100, 200 and 400 metre events last year. more..

Oct 12 (AD) SL apparel manufacturer Brandix issuing another statement stated that they confirm with proof that all stipulated protocol was followed concerning Brandix employees and their families returning to SL from India. Full statement: Certifications from authorities confirming adherence to quarantine process available for all 341 employees and members of families that travelled from India to Sri Lanka. more..

Oct 12 (TM) John Keells Properties expanded their already diverse portfolio recently, with the announcement of two new sets of luxury properties based in and around the Victoria Golf and Country Resort in Digana. Spanning an area of around 517 acres, the main property is set to accommodate the luxury resort, the real estate property, and an 18-hole golf course. Named Sunrise Ridge and Peacock Valley, the two properties are set to be some of the most unique real estate more..

Oct 12 (CT) Vision Care is marking World Sight Day 2020 under the global theme Hope in Sight by highlighting the importance of regular eye testing irrespective of a person’s age. Globally, as many as one billion people live with a preventable visual impairment or one that has yet to be identified or addressed. Reduced or absent eyesight can have significant and long-lasting negative impact on all aspects of an individual’s life. Day-to-day events such as activities around the house, more..

Oct 12 (TM) Sri Lanka and China have agreed that the export basket of SL offered to China needs to be reviewed in order to boost exports to China and improve the trade balance, which has long been in favour of China. This was agreed in principle when Prez Rajapaksa and PM Rajapaksa met a high-level Chinese delegation on 9 Oct in Colombo, in the presence of Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Ministry Secretary more..

Oct 12 (Telegraph) Dubai is witnessing a rare uptick in homelessness as migrant workers left destitute by the Covid downturn have begun sleeping out in parks under the glistening skyscrapers. Blue collar workers from Asia and Africa say they are trapped after losing jobs and running out of money to return home. Migrant workers who spoke to The Telegraph claimed they have been left abandoned after losing their jobs as the economy tightens. With no jobs and expired visas, many have congregated in more..