Oct 25 (SO) From a humble cricketer at Nalanda College to hot favourite of the Sri Lanka team and later an elite umpire, Kumara Dharmasena has taken his interests deep into the heart of the country as a planter of trees that produce an ingredient that makes perfume. Dharmasena, believe it or not, has in his possession 12,800 of the perfume trees known by its native name Vallapatta, in English Agarwood, growing on 139 acres of land near Kalawana in the Ratnapura district. more..

Oct 25 (ST) Renowned weightlifting coach Chanaka Subasinghe has unearthed two uncut gems from Galle who are destined to bring glory to Sri Lanka. They are 14-year-old Sachini Laksarani and 15-year-old Deshan Kapila Kumara who have battled adversity to rise to the top in the sport of weightlifting. Subasinghe, a Sports Officer attached to the Niyagama Division in the Southern Provincial Council who is also an athletic and volleyball coach, spotted the raw talent of these 2 youngsters more..

Oct 25 (ST) It would be an overstatement to place him in the class of Chaminda Vaas, one of SL’s finest left-arm seamers with an unparalled impact on the game which includes 520 wickets across all formats. Isuru Udana was brought in as Vaas’ replacement for the 2009 T20 World Cup in England. While he did reasonably, his career did not flourish as expected. He played just seven matches till 2017, year which saw the second coming more..

Oct 25 (Island) 20th Amendment to the J.R. Jayewardene 1978 Constitution was done and dusted on Thursday night with the Gotabaya-Mahinda Rajapaksa govt comfortably clearing the two thirds majority barrier. Since Prez Rajapaksa’s election as the country’s seventh executive president in Nov 2019, nothing kicked up as much controversy as the 20th Amendment which the govt was clearly intent on enacting despite, in our view, the far more important challenge of Covid-19 confronting more..

Oct 25 (Island) Starved of international cricket due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka will finally engage in Test cricket when they tour South Africa later this year. Sri Lanka Cricket bosses confirmed to Sunday Island that they are finalizing the details of the tour but the series will take place for sure. Dimuth Karunaratne’s side will play two Test matches against the Proteas – the Boxing Day Test match and the New Year Test. SLC officials said that the venues for the tour more..

Oct 25 (SO) With under a month left before the much touted Lanka Premier League (LPL) gets underway, many are the claims that some of SL’s better ball hitters in T20 cricket have become the victims of backstage fixing and shut out from November’s three-week showpiece that will also feature overseas professionals. Five teams branded as Colombo Kings, Dambulla Hawks, Galle Gladiators, Jaffna Stallions & Kandy Tuskers more..

Oct 25 (TM) After much elaborate drama, vehement opposition, and toing and froing, the 20th Amendment to the Constitution has been passed with a resounding majority in Parliament. The contents of this amendment and the seismic shift it creates to our governance system reminds me of a story from early this year, before global headlines had begun to be dominated by Covid-19 – namely, the tragic helicopter crash on 26 January in Los Angeles which caused the death of more..

Oct 25 (TM) The country needs people to work and earn money, for themselves, for the govt, and for the nation. But people use this as an excuse to gather around, shop, and attend weddings and religious events, and thus increase the risk of exposure to Covid. We know we have to prevent public gatherings and so we have blanket curfews in our most populous districts, effectively cutting off most of our revenue-generating capabilities. As the country goes into a vicious tailspin with more..

Oct 25 (TM) After running into numerous obstacles that delayed the implementation of the project for years, construction of Terminal 2 at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is finally set to be launched on 30 November this year. AASL Chairman Maj. Gen. (Retd.) G.A. Chandrasiri noted that despite any obstacles they may face on the way, construction of the terminal will be launched on the scheduled date. more..

Oct 25 (ST) Govt is seriously considering a proposal to provide financial unemployment benefits to scores of Sri Lankans who have lost their jobs owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and those who are at risk of losing their jobs. If approved, the proposal will be implemented in the forthcoming 2021 budget to be presented in Parliament in November with funds being allocated for this purpose. The proposal was made by several trade unions at a recent meeting of National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) more..

Oct 25 (SO) Mahinda College left hand batsman Navod Paranavithana is the youngest cricketer at age 18 to be picked for the upcoming Lanka Premier League (LPL) T20 tournament. He was picked into the Colombo Kings squad to be what is called a Supplementary Local. Under the Supplementary Local category a total of 92 players were included in the bidding or auction list comprising domestic club cricketers and Emerging players. Paranavithana became a sensation last year when more..

Oct 25 (ST) Hoteliers are facing a further blow to their earnings since the latest outbreak of COVID-19 as the only guests that patronized them, the Sri Lankans, are now steering clear of holiday travel. With the outbreak of the coronavirus in Minuwangoda, govt had placed a number of clampdowns on social gatherings and restricting numbers that forced the closure of many events. While some even cancelled their weddings more..

Oct 25 (ST) While the tea hub of Sri Lanka located in the Gampaha district that is currently facing a lockdown, is operating amidst constraints, the supply chain is expected to continue smoothly. The coronavirus outbreak in Gampaha has led to a complete lockdown of the district since last Wednesday night. SL’s main tea warehouses of brokers and factories and warehouses of exporters have always been located in the tea hub of Gampaha in areas like Peliyagoda, Wattala more..

Oct 25 (ST) Foreign investment in Sri Lanka’s rupee-denominated securities market is to be made more attractive by offering forex risk cover, tax relief and other incentives by the Finance Ministry and the Central Bank, a senior official of the State Ministry of Finance disclosed. The govt has identified the need to facilitate non-resident investors’ investments in government securities and other sectors to encourage the inflow of foreign currency into the country. more..

Oct 25 (ST) The debt-ridden national carrier SriLankan Airlines incurred a net loss of Rs 47 billion by March 31 this year along with an accumulated loss of Rs 326 billion, while the company’s current liabilities exceeded its current assets by Rs 211 billion, an audit report revealed. National Audit Office carried out the audit. It pointed out that the airline experienced a net loss of Rs 47,197.86 million during the year ended March 31 with more..

Oct 25 (ST) Despite a spike in the detection of COVID-19 positive cases throughout the country, the Tourism Ministry has sought cabinet approval to jump-start the tourism industry by inviting groups of 50 each from Russia and Germany. Ministry Secretary S. Hettiaarachchi told the Sunday Times that under the plan, a few Southern Province hotels had been selected to fly in the tourists. The tourists are to land at the Mattala airport. The hotel will be restricted to the visiting tourists while more..

Oct 25 (ST) Academics have discussed climate change risks to Sri Lanka at an online conference in Peradeniya. Engagement between the scientific community and policymakers is important to bridge the gap between theory and practice, said Dr Anil Jasinghe, secretary to Ministry of Environment, who also cited a world index that says SL is among the most vulnerable to climate change. He spoke at the Int'l Conference on Environmental Monitoring and Management at the Uni of Peradeniya. more..

Oct 25 (TM) With serious concerns raised over the recent irregularities with PCR test results, the Ministry of Health said that the sensitivity of a PCR test carried out at a local laboratory stood at around 70%, which means the remaining 30% could either be false negatives or positives. Ministry of Health Spokesman Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara stressed that the sensitivity of a test carried out at a local laboratory was dependent on various more..

Oct 25 (TM) The COPE would meet next on 3 November and continue its schedule as before. COPE Chairman Charitha Herath said that the Committee would meet once again at the very next session of Parliament. “Parliament is next set to meet on 3 Nov and we too will have our next committee meeting on that same day.” He said the Committee would be calling on the individuals as scheduled prior to its sessions being postponed. “We will first take up the matter of more..

Oct 25 (AD) Quarantine curfew is imposed in several more police division in Colombo with immediate effect. Accordingly, Maligawatte, Keselwatte, Dam Street, Barber Street, and Foreshore Police Division will be under quarantine curfew from here on. The decision will be in effect until further notice. Nine other police areas in Colombo District, namely Mattakkuliya, Modara, Wellampitiya, Bloemendhal and Grandpass, Kotahena, Dematagoda, Maradana, Gothatuwa & Mulleriyawaare also currently more..

Oct 25 (Island) Peliyagoda fish market coronavirus cluster believed to have been triggered by the fresh eruption of the contagion at Minuwangoda appears to be quite big in dimension and widespread in its reach. “The fish market outbreak seems rather substantial with a potent level of transmission”, says Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara, Deputy Director of MRI. “It is imperative that we trace everybody who came into contact with those infected to prevent more..

Oct 25 (AD) 92 more individuals have tested positive for the novel coronavirus COVID-19. All of them are close contacts of the coronavirus patients linked to Peliyagoda Fish Market. Meanwhile, a total of 368 cases of COVID-19 positive cases have been identified within the day far. Thus, the Minuwangoda and Peliyagoda cluster has registered a total of 4,050 positive cases. Following the latest update, the total number of Covid-19 confirmed in Sri Lanka shot up to 7,521. more..

Oct 25 (SO) Govt will decide whether to isolate five districts where the spread of Covid-19 has recorded a sudden spike, early next week, authoritative sources said. Health Officials have observed a disturbing trend in the Gampaha, Colombo and Kalutara districts in the Western Province and Kurunegala and Kegalle districts, since last week in the number of Covid-19 positive cases. GMOA said Govt should take a firm decision to isolate the five Covid-19 hubs to contain the spread of virus more..

Oct 25 (ST) On the fast track to become a capital city like Colombo is this strategically important southern seaboard town. A port, an international airport, a world-class conference hall are in place. Wide paved roads, well-lit, are a showpiece. More infrastructure projects are under way to bolster this transformation. This town forms the main gateway to the Ruhuna National Park better known as Yala, just 65 km away. more..

Nov 26 (CT) This is not a personal story though it’s based on experience. Hundreds even thousands experience it every day. Nor is it a complaint-filed grumble; actually, it has made me a minor celebrity among friends and family. It’s a story about how COVID (CV) has stood everything that has long been taken for granted on its head. It’s a story about an inconspicuous chap KD who made a trip from CMB to a destination further east HKG. Our intrepid warrior tilted not at mere windmills but more..

Nov 26 (CT) There are similarities of some incidents happened after the 2010 Prez Election and at the Parliament when 20th Amendment was approved. Prez election of 2010 was fought in the lines of war victory. The question was who was the war hero, whether it was Commander-in-chief Mahinda Rajapaksa or Commander of Army Sarath Fonseka. Majority of the Sinhalese decided that the Commander-in-chief was the war hero. Ironically Tamil nationals who were at the receiving end more..

Oct 26 (TM) Last Thursday’s (22) debate over the 20th Amendment Bill, the vote that followed, and the manner in which certain Opposition MPs voted in favour of it, seem to have baffled many. The Sunday Morning this week spoke to SJB National List MP Diana Gamage, who voted in favour of the 20A, on her decision and what she had to say about the feedback that she is now receiving from her party. more..

Oct 26 (ST) A resort outside Colombo which had high occupancy during the weekends from local clientele, was empty last weekend. Hotels and resorts outside Colombo are facing cancellations for weekend stays, one reason why these institutions are barely managing to keep their head above water while debts and bank loans pile up. All the hopes of a growing number of middle-class Sri Lankans – even though small – opting to spend the weekends at resorts and hotels that would have helped more..

Oct 26 (Island) That the 20th Amendment was passed does not come as a surprise. That some opposition MPs voted with the govt also does not come as a surprise and neither does the fact that the unity of the governing coalition held during the voting despite the sparring between constituent sections of the govt that had been going on for weeks over some provisions of the Amendment. What was surprising however was the manner in which some constitutional shibboleths of the past more..

Oct 26 (TM) The much-disputed Clause 17 of the 20th Amendment on dual citizenship was put to vote separately, during which Opposition MP S.M.M. Muszhaaraff, who voted against the second and third readings of the new constitutional amendment, voted in favour of the clause. The Sunday Morning spoke to Muszhaaraff of the ACMC, which is a constituent partner of SJB, on his decision to vote in favour of Clause 17 more..

Oct 26 (DM) In Oct this year, the country’s total workforce, stood at approximately 8,971,000 persons. The minimum wage rate of workers has remained static - at Rs.10,000/- a month, through 2019 and 2020. The cost of living on the other hand has increased many times over. At today’s prices, it costs a family of four (father, mother and two children) at least Rs. 20,000/- per month to have two basic meals a day. Despite this, when the coronavirus hit the country, which in turn more..

Oct 26 (CT) When an unprecedented war broke out between India and China 58 years ago on 20 Oct 1962, Ceylonese PM, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, made a brave effort to defuse the conflict which was threatening to turn the region into a theater of power rivalry and war. Leading a six-member group of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) called the Colombo Powers Sirimavo Bandaranaike attempted to bridge the yawning gap between India and China on their 4056 km Himalayan border. more..

Oct 26 (CT) Cabinet of Ministers recently granted approval to a proposal submitted by the Minister of Environment to ban single-use plastic and polythene with effect from 1 Jan next year. This move includes prohibiting sachets made of polythene and plastic less 20ml/20g, various inflatable toys made of plastic excluding balloons, balls and floating toys and plastic cotton buds excluding hygiene products, while identifying the use of packages of 100ml/100g or more, plastic toys made of eco-friendly more..

Oct 26 (ST) As SL’s Parliament passed the 20th Amendment Bill enhancing the powers of the Presidency on Thursday while the country erupted in covid-induced flames, there is delight in watching the Rajapaksa brotherhood being hoist with its nationalist petard. Govt which had marched triumphantly into power blaring its Sinhala-Buddhist credentials was pushed to secure a two thirds vote for the 20th Amendment Bill primarily through the crucial support of minority oppo. politicians. more..

Oct 26 (ST) US‘ troops including intelligence personnel have arrived in SL to bolster security for the visit of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his entourage, who will arrive in Colombo on Tuesday. They are already making security preparations together with their SL counterparts including those from the State Intelligence Service (SIS), the country’s premier intelligence agency. The larger component of the US team and more..

Oct 26 (ST) In the twilight glow of Oct 22, the final curtain fell on the dramatic enactment of what can be dubbed the Tyrannical Twenty, and thus, whilst it brought to a close the 19A, a fleeting period shorter than a summer’s day or brief as a mayfly’s life, it opened up a new foreboding age of light denied as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be till a more egalitarian era dawns on the land. The ‘ayes’ who voted for it signalled its advent as a progressive step to brave the challenges of more..

Oct 26 (TM) American Centre in Colombo hosted a webinar on robotics and automation as part of their Makerspace on 24 Oct. The webinar was conducted by mechatronics specialist and tech company Zone 24×7 Senior Designer Ranjan Kulathunga. The webinar was a platform conceptualised to provide young inventors, entrepreneurs, and educators with technology and resources to foster innovation and solve problems. Makerspace conducts courses and public seminars on subjects like robotics and more..

Oct 26 (ST) With 25 days remaining for the curtain-raiser of the inaugural Lanka Premier League (LPL), the organisers of Sri Lanka’s franchise-based Twenty20 cricket extravaganza are yet to finalise the owners of three teams and confirm the process of TV Rights, which will make a huge impact on the future of the competition. According to sources, the 23-day LPL is yet to rake in an exclusive TV Rights Holder, but more..

Oct 26 (Island) The Opposition MPs who voted for the 20th Amendment (20A) in Parliament, the other day, are making a vain attempt to justify their action. They would have us believe that they did so without expecting anything in return. There is no such thing as a free vote in the Sri Lankan Parliament. What took the cake was SJB National List (NL) MP Diana Gamage’s excuse. She said she had acted like (Mark) Antony, who, she said, had stabbed Caesar for the love of Rome. more..