Feb 2 (Island) As part of its ongoing mission to empower and support the aspirations of young people in SL, the country’s premier poultry producer Crysbro recently held a scholarship awarding ceremony to hand over scholarships to a select group of 20 gifted young athletes selected under the NOCSL-CRYSBRO Next Champ Initiative. The ceremony took place at the NOCSL SL Headquarters with the presence of Suresh Subramaniam – President of the SL Olympic more..

Feb 2 (FT) The China National Textile and Apparel Council has signed an MOU with the Joint Apparel forum of Sri Lanka (JAAF). Following an initiative taken by the Embassy of Sri Lanka – Beijing, China National Textile and Apparel Council Vice President Xu Yingxin and JAAF – SL Chairman A. Sukumaran, signed a memorandum of cooperation online on 20 January, on behalf of their respective associations. SL Ambassador to China Dr. Palitha Kohona witnessed the signing ceremony. more..

Feb 2 (FT) Total COVID-19 patient count in the island rose to 64,983 with the detection of 826 COVID-19 positive persons yesterday. 816 of yesterday’s patients were associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster. The triple clusters that emerged from Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons have thus expanded to 60,990 patients. 10 overseas arrivals tested positive for COVID-19 as well. In addition to the triple clusters, more..

Feb 2 (CT) Minister Wimal Weerawansa said, although Prez Rajapaksa’s Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour Manifesto did not mention the involvement of an external party for the development of the East Container Terminal (ECT), the involvement of the private sector and other parties for the development of West Container Terminal (WCT) was mentioned. He added as the Manifesto has obtained the people’s mandate there is no objection towards the involvement of other more..

Feb 2 (DN) Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen has filed a special leave to appeal petition in the Supreme Court seeking an order to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal dated Nov 16, 2020 in connection with the deforestation of the northern sanctuary of the Wilpattu National Park. In its judgment, Court of Appeal Court had issued an order in the nature of mandamus ordering the Conservator General of Dept of Forest Conservation to take action to implement a tree planting more..

Feb 2 (Island) State Minister Dr Sudarshini Fernandopulle said that those who had received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine hadn’t so far reported major side effects. The vaccination programme was continuing quite successfully, she said, as the total number of persons vaccinated by 2 pm, on Monday reached 60,000. The State Minister said so in response to The Island query whether hospitals and more..

Feb 2 (DN) The Govt will not be able to intimidate the JVP by leveling allegations of political revenge against its leader, said JVP General Secretary Tilvyn Silva yesterday. Silva also alleged that the Government is using the report submitted by the Commission of Inquiry Investigating Incidents of Political Revenge to hunt down its opponents. Silva also observed that JVP has survived more brutal attempts made by capitalists to wipe out the party from the political arena. more..

Feb 2 (FT) COVID-19 death toll rose to 323, with health authorities confirming seven COVID-19-related deaths yesterday. Four of the seven deaths occurred yesterday. An individual from Nugegoda was identified as COVID-19 positive while receiving treatment at the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital and was transferred to the Homagama Base Hospital. However, he died of COVID-pneumonia and cancer yesterday. He was 69 years old. Health authorities also confirm that a 69-year-old individual more..

Feb 2 (FT) Govt decided to rely on a domestic deal for the crucial development of East Container Terminal (ECT) in Colombo Port, snubbing India and Japan with whom SL had signed a tripartite agreement to enhance the maritime hub status in South Asia. Ending weeks of impasse, Cabinet yesterday unanimously agreed ECT must and can be developed by the SLPA which has already invested around $ 100 million to more..

Feb 2 (Island) It was not easy to explain the value of a wetland to some politicians and businessmen, Environment, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said. Briefing the media to mark World Wetlands Day, which falls today-Feb 2, he said the govt had taken legal action against those who destroyed wetlands. “Anyone who destroys wetlands will be brought to justice,” he said. Amaraweera stressed that it was the responsibility of everyone to protect the wetlands. “Six major wetland systems more..

Feb 2 (CT) Former Minister Faiszer Musthapha urged Muslims not call for international sanctions on Sri Lanka due to the compulsory cremation of COVID-19 victims. He pointed out that there was nothing wrong with trying to get rights to bury COVID-19 victims through non-violent means. However, Muslims must ensure that calling for international bans on Sri Lanka should not be their aim, he said. Meanwhile, Musthapha also said world-renowned epidemiologists have said more..

Feb 2 (Island) The SJB youth movement yesterday lodged a complaint with the CIABOC, calling for an investigation into the alleged sugar fraud, which it says caused a loss of Rs. 11 billion to the state coffers. Filing the complaint, Samagi Tharuna Balawegaya Chairman MP Mayantha Dissanayake said that in addition to the bribery investigation, a Presidential Commission of Inquiry should also be appointed to probe more..

Feb 2 (FT) Relatives of politicians get foreign postings is the dull and decidedly damnatory caption of a new report that appeared in the Daily Mirror of 30 Jan. Among those reported to have received appointments were Dulmini Attanayake, daughter of SJB MP Tissa Attanayake and Randula Gunawardena, daughter of Minister Bandula Gunawardena. Daily Mirror had failed to elicit a comment from Minister Bandula Gunawardena. It had succeeded in getting a remarkably more..

Feb 2 (FT) According to a newspaper report, the Attorney-General has advised the Secretary-General of Parliament that Ranjan Ramanayake’s seat in Parliament has fallen vacant following his conviction and sentence for contempt of court. According to the Attorney-General, Ramanayake was convicted by the Supreme Court of the offence of contempt of court punishable under Article 105(3) of the Constitution and sentenced to a term of four years rigorous imprisonment and more..

Feb 2 (CT) Russia’s Sputnik V and India’s COVAXIN produced by Bharat Biotech are being evaluated by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority’s (NMRA) Experts Committee for emergency use, NMRA CEO, Dr. Kamal Jayasinghe said. He said the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) had submitted documentation requesting approval for the two vaccines also for emergency use. He said private sector institutions which were to procure the vaccine were also to submit more..

Feb 2 (DM) The death of first SL doctor due to Covid-19 infection was reported from the Karapitiya Hospital today. The deceased has been identified as Gayan Danthanarayana, 32, a resident of Hinkanda, Ragama. He was admitted to the IDH in Colombo due to COVID-19 infection while working at the Ragama Hospital. He was later admitted to the Karapitiya Hospital on the 27th and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for treatment due to COVID pneumonia. This is the first doctor in SL to die more..

Feb 2 (WB) It’s six in the morning and the breaking dawn lights up the wetland before us. The buzz of city sounds has faded away and all we can hear are the alluring melodies of nature’s chorus - a cry of a purple swamp hen and a splash in the water by an elusive wetland creature. These are the sights and sounds residents living around Talangama lake wake up to each morning. Talangama lake is a perfect example of more..

Feb 2 (FT) As people turn to messaging apps and digital means of communication during the novel coronavirus pandemic, privacy is still at the forefront of users’ minds. As International Privacy Day dawned on 28 January, Viber, among the world’s leading apps for free and easy communication, unveiled the results of its global in-app voluntary poll in which approximately 340,000 people participated, revealing 77% of Viber users across the globe say digital privacy is very important for them. more..

Feb 2 (DN) The CID yesterday informed Colombo Chief Magistrate Mohommed Mihal that it was revealed that the suspect Fazal Mohommed Nisaar, who is currently under a detention order, maintained a communication network without the approval of the TRC and maintained ties with the individuals linked to the Easter Sunday terror attacks through this network. CID also told the court that the suspect had been linked to 494 persons through the communication network & a Muslim politician more..

Feb 2 (AD) MP Ranjan Ramanayake, who was handed down a 4-year rigorous imprisonment over contempt of court, has filed a writ petition with the Appeals Court, seeking an interim order preventing the suspension of his seat in the Parliament. Attorney General and Secretary-General of the Parliament have been named as the respondents of the petition. In his petition, Ramanayake has pointed out that more..

Feb 2 (CT) SJB MP Dr. Kavinda Jayawardena has been appointed as an Additional Secretary of the SJB. The appointment letter in that regard was handed over to him by the Leader of the SJB, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday. Dr. Jayawardena also holds the post of Head of Human Rights Affairs of the SJB. Speaking to the Media after the appointment, he said, he would continue to stand up for the rights of not only the members and supporters of the SJB but also the people more..

Feb 2 (Hindu) MDMK general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Vaiko has written to the President of the European Parliament, among other global organisations, calling upon the members of the UNHRC and other affiliated UN agencies and member States to accept the right to self-determination of the Eelam Tamils and organise a referendum in SL under the supervision of the United Nations. Mr. Vaiko also requested the UNHRC members to recognise the genocide more..

Feb 2 (CT) No dengue deaths were reported in January compared to the three deaths reported in January last year, Head of Epidemiology Unit’s Dengue Sector, Dr. Arjuna Jayasekara said. Further, the number of dengue cases reported in January was 1,224; year-on-year decline of 10,384 (89.5%) compared to the total number of 11,608 dengue cases reported in January 2020. He attributed this development to the salutary impact caused more..

Feb 2 (CT) ITAK has given its consent to Leader Mavai Senathirajah to contest for the Chief Ministerial post at the next Provincial Council Election. Former MP Senathirajah, said the ITAK politburo had insisted he be the next Chief Ministerial candidate to the Northern Province, however, constitutionally, the TNA, which is the main constituent, has to endorse it. He also said the TNA had given their consent, however, the central committee must decide, so the decision is more..

Feb 2 (MFA) Foreign Secretary, Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage addressed a networking meeting recently at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute taking forward SL’s leadership role in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Working Group on Maritime Safety and Security (WGMSS). As the third largest ocean woven together by trade routes, Indian Ocean commands control of major sea-lanes carrying half of the world’s container ships, one third of world’s bulk cargo traffic more..

Feb 2 (AD) Cabinet has approved a proposal to develop the West Terminal of the Colombo Port as a Public-Private Partnership with Japan and India. Minister of Ports and Shipping had tabled a Cabinet paper with proposals as per the recommendations furnished by the negotiating committee appointed to evaluate the investment proposal by Japan and India to develop the East Container Terminal of C'mbo South Harbour. more..

Feb 2 (EN) Some of the footage seen in a widely shared video tweeted by the UNHRC about SL’s alleged human rights violations were shot in other countries, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said. He said that SL has already proved that some of the content were shot in different countries involving incidents unrelated to SL’s protracted armed conflict. The video was tweeted by the UNHRC on Jan 27, days before the release of a new report on SL by office of high commissioner for human rights. more..

Feb 2 (AD) Colombo Magistrate’s Court today issued an open warrant to arrest an infamous drug dealer named Dalugoda Arachchige Rajitha Asanka who operates under the alias Badowita Loku. He has been named as the 19th suspect in the case filed against several officers of Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) over their alleged links to drug trafficking. The open warrant was issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate Mohamed Mihal after taking into account a request made by CID. more..

Feb 2 (EN) Stocks plunged 6.5% Tuesday wiping out 245 billion rupees from stock values after making steep gains over several weeks on the back of low interest rates and strong earnings in some firms. Trading was halted twice as falling index hit circuit breakers. “We are coming off from a 30% rise in a month,” Dumith Fernando, Chairman Asia Securities said. “A lot of people will take profit & take off some of their margins. more..

Feb 2 (CPA) Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) is expressing its grave concern with the state of ethnoreligious relations and threats to democratic institutions in SL on the eve of SL’s 73rd Independence Day. The CPA says there is a “climate where the space for dissent is fast shrinking due to new levels of surveillance, incitement, and the targeting of minorities.” In a statement, CPA notes the spate of arrests and detentions of writers, lawyers and media personnel including more..

Feb 2 (EN) Police are investigating an incident where a civilian sustained injuries in an incident involving troops on patrol in the Settikulam area near the Wilpattu sanctuary last night the Army said. The Army Spokesman said that a civilian is injured and has been transferred to the Vavuniya hospital. “He was in an area where normally people don’t go as it is thick jungle,” he said. Police and the Army are awaiting permission from the injured person to find out what really happened. more..

Feb 2 (UN) In line with its commitment to Stockholm Convention, Sri Lanka is working to protect the environment and human health from the effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other man-made chemicals known as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). PCBs were commercially produced worldwide on a large scale between the 1930s and 1980s, and have been used in many industrial applications such as more..

Feb 2 (EN) State-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has been cleared by the cabinet of ministers to re-enter the bunkering business initially by purchasing fuel for smaller players, Petroleum Minister Udaya Gammanpila said. “The CPC used to make large profits from bunkering which was used to cross subsidize kerosene until Lanka Marine Services was privatized,” Gammanpila told reporters. “The CPC will re-enter the bunkering business. Initially will buy bunkers for all the small players in bulk.” more..

Feb 2 (CT) National Zoological Gardens in Dehiwala will reopen for the public today (1). Zoo was closed to the public in Oct 2020 due to the spread of COVID-19. Meanwhile, the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and the Ridiyagama Safari Park will also reopen today. “Zoo will reopen today. But all visitors entering the Zoo have to follow the rules put in place for COVID-19. Visitors have to wear facemasks and maintain social distancing,” Anoma Priyadarshani, Dy Director of National Zoological Gardens more..

Feb 2 (DM) Govt has turned Sri Lanka into a battlefield of global superpowers through ineffective handling of its Foreign Policy, SJB said today. SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella said that the govt had prompted that situation with regard to handling of the Eastern Terminal issue. “Eleven heads of state who had governed this country since independence including Late PMs- D.S. Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake and more..

Feb 2 (DM) Following the death of the first Sri Lankan doctor due to COVID-19 infection, the GMOA today said that the authorities and the public should pay more attention over the spreading of the virus. Addressing the media, GMOA Editor Dr. Haritha Aluthge said the country is heading towards a dangerous situation with the death of a doctor at the Karapitiya Hospital. The deceased has been identified as Dr. Gayan Danthanarayana, 32, a resident of Heenkanda, Ragama. more..

Feb 2 (EN) Sri Lanka will manufacture 100 railway passenger coaches locally with private sector participation to meet existing demands. Prevailing needs require some 700 coaches, the DGI said, with the govt expecting to increase the number to about 800 over the next five years. The cabinet of ministers has approved a proposal by Transport Minister Gamini Lokuge to select an investor in compliance with the govt procurement guidelines to manufacture the 100 coaches locally. more..

Feb 2 (EN) SL’s daily COVID-19 cases exceeded 800 for the fifth consecutive day yesterday, with 826 cases being discovered in a period of 24 hours that ended at 6am today, official data showed. The number of deaths due to the novel coronavirus increased to 324 today with the passing of Dr Gayan Danthanarayana, SL’s first frontline worker to succumb to the disease. A spokesman for the national COVID-19 task force said more..

Feb 3 (GV) Sri Lanka is led by a man who has, by his admission, two faces. In a more democratic avatar is Gotabaya Rajapaksa the President. Here, the individual in question is presented as smart, suave and sage. Before he spoke, his suit bespoke, as rapper Kanye put it in song, captures man and mission. An older and for many years now a dormant avatar is a killer who enjoys killing. There is no point in using euphemisms when Gotabaya Rajapaksa himself dispenses with them. more..