Dec 6 (TM) CEB Engineers’ Union (CEBEU), which is engaged in ongoing trade union action, said yesterday that its meeting with PM Rajapaksa last Saturday had been very positive and that they hope to meet with Prez Rajapaksa as soon as he returns from his visit to Abu Dhabi. “I think overall, we can say the meeting with the PM was very positive. He understood our problems and was very attentive to our demands. more..

Dec 6 (AD) The remains of SL factory manager Priyantha Kumara will be sent to Sri Lanka tomorrow at 10.00 a.m. through a Pakistan International Airlines flight from Lahore Airport, says a Punjab government spokesman. Foreign ministry had said the human remains of Diyawadanage Don Nandasiri Priyantha Kumara, who was killed by a mob in Sialkot area in Pakistan on 3 December, would be dispatched to Sri Lanka tomorrow (6) through SriLankan Airlines at state cost. more..

Dec 6 (FT) Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 case count rose to 567,682 with the detection of 1,486 COVID-19 positive persons over the weekend. Yesterday, 746 persons tested positive for COVID-19. Of the patients, 742 were from the New Year cluster and four were overseas arrivals. 7,975 PCR tests were conducted yesterday. The previous day, 6,680 PCR tests and 3,352 rapid antigen tests were conducted and 740 patients linked to the New Year cluster were detected. more..

Dec 6 (Island) Opposition is expected to decide whether to boycott the ongoing debate on Budget 2022, after today’s party leaders’ meeting on a complaint that SJB MP, Manusha Nanyakkara, was roughed up in Parliament by govt MPs, last Friday. SJB MP Lakshmkan Kiriella said that the Opposition sought justice. “We see no point in attending Parliament if the Speaker continues to be partial and more..

Dec 6 (TM) Claiming that Islamist extremism has now become more horrendous and savage than any other type of extremism in the world, Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera said the brutal killing of Priyantha Kumara by a mob in Silakot, Pakistan last Friday should be used as a catalyst to eradicate the growing Islamist extremism in SL. Thera said that despite the existence of various other forms of extremism in the world, including religious extremism, Islamist extremism has now more..

Dec 6 (FT) The 3-judge Bench of the Colombo High Court on Friday adjourned the hearing of the case against former Navy Commander Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda until 7 January as he had challenged the charges filed by the Attorney General against him for abducting and disappearing 11 youths in Colombo and suburbs between 2008 and 2009. The court announced this when the case against Karannagoda and 14 others was taken up before the Colombo HC Trial-at-Bar bench more..

Dec 6 (AD) Prez Rajapaksa emphasized that everyone in the region should work together to revive the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Prez made these remarks delivering the Inaugural Address at the Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) held in Abu Dhabi, yesterday (4). He said the measures taken worldwide to combat the pandemic, although they proved invaluable in saving countless lives, came at a steep cost. more..

Dec 6 (TN) Following the brutal murder of a Sri Lankan national in Sialkot, Pakistan, the Sri Lankan Cricket Board has decided to enhance the security protocol for Pakistani players and coaches who are participating in the Lanka Premier League 2021 — SL’s franchise T20 cricket league. A total of nine Pakistani cricketers — including Mohammad Hafeez, Muhammad Umar, Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz, and Sohaib Maqsood — and several coaching staff are partaking in the tournament. more..

Dec 6 (EN) Central Bank’s foreign debt has exceeded reserves by US$ 1.2 billion by Oct 2021 from around 780 million US dollars in October 2021, official data showed, amid continued low interest rates and liquidity injections. The central bank reported gross reserves which includes govt reserves of US$ 2.26 billion in Oct 2021. The central bank owes about has about US$ 1.4 billion on IMF loans about, and a negative special drawing rights allocation of about 859 million. more..

Dec 6 (AD) At least 13 key suspects were remanded Sunday to police custody in a case relating to the lynching of a SL factory manager in Sialkot. As of Sunday morning, six more suspects were arrested as well, according to Pakistan’s The News. With the latest detentions, a total of 124 suspects have so far been arrested, which include 19 key suspects. The police said that the 13 suspects in their custody will be presented more..

Dec 6 (CT) Indian govt has expressed its displeasure, to Minister Basil Rajapaksa, over Colombo’s failure in the recent past to honour most of the State level agreements signed with New Delhi, sources said. Indian Govt has stated that SL has also reneged on its promise to fulfil many such recent Pacts signed between the two countries. New Delhi has expressed these concerns to Rajapaksa during latter’s 2-day tour to India where he has held discussions with his Indian counterpart. more..

Dec 6 (Island) Pakistan PM Imran Khan announced that the man who tried saving the SL national during the recent lynching incident will be awarded the Tamgha i Shujaat — the second-highest civil award for bravery bestowed by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, foreign media reports said. “On behalf of the nation, I want to salute moral courage & bravery of Malik Adnan who tried his utmost to shelter & save Priyantha Diyawadana from the vigilante mob in Sialkot, [including] endangering his own life more..

Dec 6 (TM) Presidential Secretariat has, through letters signed by the Secretary to the President Dr. P.B. Jayasundara, informed all BOI members who resigned last week that Prez Rajapaksa has refused to accept their resignations,. The letters, dated 2 Dec 2021 and as seen by us, had been served to the BOI Chairman, Director General (DG), and three Directors who had resigned from their posts last Thursday via letters sent to more..

Dec 6 (FT) Delivering the keynote address at the International Conference on Business Innovation (ICOBI) hosted by SL’s Green University, National School of Business Management, known as NSBM, Australian National University’s Emeritus Professor Prema-chandra Athukorala gave a fine warning to SL’s economic policymakers. He said that at this point in time when SL is faced with the deepest foreign exchange crisis in its history, there is no homegrown solution except seeking more..

Dec 6 (FT) The word whistleblowing has become a buzzword with the revelation of a major garlic scandal at Sathosa where the whistleblower, Thushan Gunawardena (TG), former Executive Director, of the CAA exposed that a quantity of 56,000 kilos of garlic meant to be distributed to customers at the rate of Rs. 135 had been sold to a wholesale supplier. It was alleged that the plan was to buy back the same consignment at Rs. 445 a kilo and make them available to the customers more..

Dec 6 (FT) For the seventh consecutive year, Sri Lanka’s diversified conglomerate Sunshine Holdings will support the country’s premier economic forum, the Economic Summit 2021. Hosted annually by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), the foremost economic event of the country will be held from 6-7 December, as a hybrid summit catering to participants who will join online as well as participate in-person, at Shangri-la Colombo. The theme for this year’s summit – more..

Dec 6 (IANS) Pakistan is the largest recipient of eye donations from SL, having received at least 35,000 corneas since 1967, says Dr Niaz Brohi, a leading ophthalmologist of Pakistan. He is a member of the SL Eye Donation Society from Pakistan. He lamented the Sialkot incident and then said: “SL donated us eyes, but we have lost sight.” Ever since a mob lynched SL national Priyanatha Kumuara in Sialkot on Friday, Dr Brohi says he has been grief-stricken like many others in the country. more..

Dec 6 (EN) The Colombo High Court Trial at Bar on Monday (06) cleared former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran and eight others of 11 out of 22 charges filed against them in the 2016 treasury bond scam case. Karunanayake confirmed on Monday afternoon that he was charged on counts 1, 2 and 12 of the 22 charges. “Today, the court released all from charges 1-11. more..

Dec 6 (DM) The Sri Lankans living and working in Pakistan should be recalled unless the Pakistani Govt is prepared to ensure their safety, JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today. He told a news conference that the Pakistani Govt should give maximum punishment to those who were involved in the gruesome lynching of Priyanatha Kumara, who was brutally tortured, killed and burnt in Sialkot, Pakistan by a mob and guarantee the safety of other Sri Lankans living there. more..

Dec 6 (IT) Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez has been asked to appear before the Enforcement Directorate on Dec 8 in New Delhi in connection with a money laundering case. Jacqueline Fernandez is being investigated by the ED in Rs 200 crore extortion case involving conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar. In a recent chargesheet against Sukesh Chandrasekhar, the Enforcement Directorate mentioned Jacqueline Fernandez's involvement with the conman. more..

Dec 6 (EN) Sri Lanka does not need to go on bended knees to an outside agency to solve the country’s debt problems, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said, amid concerns over debt repayments. There was nothing wrong with changing the debt profile on one’s own, Cabraal told a business forum. He said a private business when faced with excessive debt will try to extend the maturities, negotiate with lenders to reduce more..

Dec 6 (EN) SL’s recurring monetary instability is due to lack of industrialization and not money printing or budget deficits, Howard Nicholas, an economist said, though the hot favourite now is lack of tourism revenues. Others have blamed SL’s monetary troubles on trade deficits (the usual suspect), oil, vehicles (another usual suspect), low productivity, exiting rupee bond holders (after 2015 in particular). Throughout the 1990s controlling budget deficits were given as a panacea more..

Dec 6 (AD) Three youths have drowned after being swept away by strong waves while sea bathing near a beach in Mullaitivu. Police said that the three youths, who are from Vavuniya, had drowned last evening (5) and that one of the bodies had been recovered last evening itself. The two other bodies were recovered this morning (06) following search operations. The deceased have been identified as Shivalingam Shakeelan (26), Manoharan Danushan (27) and Vijayakumar Dharshan (26), more..

Dec 6 (EN) Having boycotted the day’s parliamentary session on Monday, lawmakers representing main opposition the SJB staged a protest outside the parliament complex accusing govt MPs of attempted violence. The party has announced a boycott of parliamentary sittings until their security is guaranteed after govt MPs allegedly attempted to attack SJB MP Manusha Nanayakkara on two separate occasions, last Friday more..

Dec 6 (Island) All Ceylon YMMA Conference in a statement expressed its condemnation of what it termed as barbaric and dastardly mob attack, murder, lynching and setting on fire of a SL Factory Manager in Pakistan. Statement signed by the National President of the All Ceylon YMMA Conference Saheed Rismy said: “All Ceylon YMMA Conference wish to express its strong and unequivocal condemnation of the barbaric and dastardly mob attack, murder, lynching and more..

Dec 6 (AD) Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena today decided to call for a report on the recent unruly behaviour of several lawmakers in the parliament chambers. Accordingly, a committee of senior MPs of the ruling party and the opposition will be appointed within this week to look into the matter. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana announced today that a committee consisting of senior members from the Govt and Opposition will be appointed within this week to look into and more..

Dec 6 (APP) Chinese experts have criticized India for meddling in Chinese companies’ energy projects in Sri Lanka, saying that New Delhi’s interference poses a serious threat to development and prosperity in South Asian countries such as SL. The comments came after Indian media reported that a project involving the installation of hybrid energy projects on some SL islands had been shelved, owing to security concerns from a third party. more..

Dec 6 (Island) Civil society groups and individuals have called for an immediate moratorium on the use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). In a statement titled Civil Society Statement on Govt Proposals to Reform the Prevention of Terrorism Act, they said: We reiterate that national security cannot be achieved by creating insecurity for already discriminated against and marginalized communities, and call for the repeal of the PTA. The repeal of the PTA must also be considered more..

Dec 6 (AD) Litro Gas Lanka Limited has commenced the distribution of domestic LP gas cylinders, conforming to the requirements of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA). The CAA said that the new stock of LP gas cylinders can be identified by the shrink bundling film of the gas cylinder valves (the polythene seal), which will carry a red logo on a white background. Following a discussion held yesterday with State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Litro Gas Lanka Ltd more..

Dec 6 (Island) Korea International Cooperation Agency, (KOICA) provided a grant worth four million USD to the Road Development Authority through the Ministry of Highways. The Record of Discussion for the project was signed on Nov 30, at the Ministry of Highways. Country Director of the KOICA Sri Lanka Office, Kang Youn Hwa, Secretary of the Ministry of Highways RWR Pemasiri and representatives of the Road Development Authority were in attendance at the signing ceremony. more..

Dec 6 (CT) Minister Basil Rajapaksa, has stated that his party managed to win a spate of recent polls due to the support it had received from its coalition partners. Hence, he has advised his party to work in unity with its coalition parties without unduly causing any friction among them. Rajapaksa has opined that the winning margin of the SLPP at the 2018 LG Polls stood at 5.5 million votes but they increased it to 6.9 million votes at the Prez Poll due to the support they had received from its coalition partners. more..

Dec 6 (AD) The remains of SL national Priyantha Kumara, who was lynched by a mob in Pakistan’s Punjab province, reached the island a short while ago. The body was repatriated on Monday, even as Pakistani authorities arrested more suspects involved in the grisly incident that shocked people across the world. The remains were airlifted by SriLankan Airlines flight UL 186 at 12.30 p.m. from Lahore and arrived at BIA at 5 pm more..

Dec 6 (CT) Presidential Task Force for One Country, One Law received a warm response from the people of the Eastern Province. The Presidential Task Force held public consultations in the Batticaloa and Valachchenai Divisional Secretariat Auditoriums, on Saturday (4). Buddhist monks, priests, professionals, and social activists expressed their views on the problems that have existed in the area for a long time. Proposals were submitted to the Committee orally and in writing. more..

Dec 6 (CT) Civil society is not appreciated in Sri Lanka, which is a minus point, the Dutch Embassy in SL, quoting Ambassador Tanja Gonggrijp, said on Thursday (2). Gonggrijp speaking at the inauguration of the Central Environment Authority’s (CEA’s) 40th Anniversary Celebrations, held at the BMICH on 24 Nov, said civil society is not always appreciated enough in SL. “But I will say it anyway: Besides Government working with business, we need civil society including academia more..

Dec 6 (FT) Sri Lanka Tourism at Expo 2020 Dubai records having earned over $ 124,000 worth of media coverage presenting destination Sri Lanka, at the SL Pavilion; on CNN Arabia, CNBC, SKY, Dubai TV, Abu Dhabi TV and Sharjah TV alongside being featured in the Khaleej Times and numerous magazines and periodicals and newspapers carrying over 40 articles, in just two months from commencement of exhibition. more..

Dec 6 (CT) Dutch Govt is preparing a Govt-to-Govt project in the North, the River for Jaffna project, to provide drinking and irrigation water to the Peninsula, the Dutch Embassy in SL, quoting its Ambassador Tanja Gonggrijp, said. Gonggrijp, speaking at the inauguration of the CEA’s 40th Anniversary Celebrations, held at the BMICH on 24 Nov, also said that she was convinced the Netherlands can support SL with their transition to the 70% renewable energy commitments more..

Dec 6 (TM) Minister Udaya Gammanpila has stated that operations of the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery, which were temporarily suspended on 15 Nov, is scheduled to recommence tomorrow. On 15 Nov, Minister Gammanpila said the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery would be temporarily closed for a period of 50 days as the country’s limited foreign exchange needs to be utilised for the importation of other essential items, while the CPC trade unions suggested that this move could drive up more..

Dec 6 (TM) More than 700,000 state-sector employees attached to the SL Govt Officers’ Trade Union Association (SLGOTUA) are to engage in a one-day strike on 8 Dec, claiming that the Govt has not yet responded to their request to increase the salaries of public servants as a remedy to the rising cost of living (CoL). SLGOTUA National Organiser B.A.P. Basnayake said that there will also be a protest on same day near Parliament more..