Feb 12 (DM) Health officials insisted that the coronavirus situation in SL was still under control. Deputy Director of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said that although a number of infected people have been found in several parts of the country, it has not spread out of control. Dr. Herath told reporters that officials have noted that the virus is spreading from one person to another as opposed to one person to two people. He said that if the virus had spread from one person to two people or more..

Feb 12 (CT) At a discussion held with Prez Rajapaksa, the Parliamentary Group of the SLFP reiterated that they will continue to support the Govt in implementing the Saubhagyaye Dekma manifesto. This discussion took place at the Prez’s Office located in the Parliamentary Complex, yesterday. SLFP MPs said everyone should be more alert regarding certain objections being made against the Govt. They said since certain members of the Opposition are trying to transform more..

Feb 12 (EN) Stocks gained 5.1% on Friday, pushed up mainly by LOLC Holdings, Vallibel one and ExpoLanka holdings, recovering some of the losses made in the past week. Colombo’s All Share Price Index gained 387.19 points to close at 7,985.00 after gaining 5.1% today. The S&P SL20 index of more liquid stocks gained 4.64% or 140.96 points to close at 3,180.24. Market participants said that the market recouped more..

Feb 12 (DM) 35 national cricketers subject to PCR tests on Wednesday, tested COVID-19 negative along with the coaching staff, net bowlers and the HPC staff. The players were part of the squad preparing to take part in the forthcoming Tour of the West Indies. However, training was halted last week following Head Coach Micky Arthur and SL opener Lahiru Thirimanne tested COVID-19 Positive. The players will return to action today with a Fitness Test scheduled to ascertain their fitness levels. more..

Feb 12 (AD) Information pertaining to fraudulent activities carried out online concurrent to the Valentine’s Day have been received, says DIG Ajith Rohana. He urged the members of the public not to fall victim to such scams. In a statement, the police spokesperson requested the public not to be deceived by text messages or messages via social media accounts asking them to make cash deposits to a delivery service in order to receive a gift sent by their loved ones. more..

Feb 12 (CT) Director of Health Services in the Eastern Province Dr. A. Lathaharan said that the spread of COVID-19 was low in the Trincomaleee District in comparison to the Batticaloa and Ampara Districts. He said the spread of the virus has been kept under control as the situation in the District is strictly monitored with the coordination of the Trincomalee District Secretary, Police, Security Forces and officials of the Dept of Health. Dr. Lathaharan also said, more..

Feb 12 (EN) Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves were at US$ 4.8 billion in by end Jan 2021 Central Bank Governor W D Lakshman said and efforts were underway to boost them. Sri Lanka reported US$ 5,665.1 million of foreign reserves by end December 2021. Sri Lanka is targeting year end gross official reserves of US$ 5.5 billion. The central bank had bought about US$ 10 million in recent days after a requirement of banks to sell 10 percent remittances converted by recipients. more..

Feb 12 (DM) The Supreme Court in a landmark decision today declared that corporal punishment of children by schools was unlawful and violated the fundamental rights of a child. By reference to the Penal Code, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the evolution of Govt policy over time, the SC declared that the slapping of a 15 year old child by a school teacher in Matara amounted to unlawful violence against a child more..

Feb 12 (CT) Former UNP MP, Vajira Abeywardena said that if the recommendations of PCoI which carried out investigations into incidents of political victimisation, members of the first Cabinet of the former regime which came to power on 9 Jan 2015 should be made respondents. Abeywardena pointed out as mentioned clearly on Page 18 of the Report of the PCoI, since the entire Cabinet had a collective responsibility, all Ministers should be named as respondents. more..

Feb 12 (AD) The govt will purchase 300,000 metric tons of paddy harvest from the farmers through the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB), says the Ministry of Finance. Purchasing paddy harvest for the Maha Season of 2020-2021 is currently underway, the ministry said yesterday. The Treasury has allocated more than Rs 16 billion for this purpose, the statement read further. Finance Ministry said the sum paid for Samba and Kiri Samba paddy will be increased by Rs. 2 per kilo from this season. more..

Feb 12 (EN) SL’s economy is managed through new policies in an alternative way but critics are using the downturn seen in the second quarter of 2020 to make, doom and gloom predictions for 2021, CB Governor W D Lakshman said. The alternative policy now being deployed seemed to be criticized based on a political or ideological basis in his view, he said. It was important to have a positive view he said. more..

Feb 12 (FT) As the news of the demise of Dr. Neville Fernando reached me, I was reminded of a very important conversation he had with me in 1991 or 1992. What he told me has a direct relevance to the present decay and the collapse of the political system of the country. The Ravaya which had been published as a monthly magazine for almost five years had become a weekend tabloid at that time. It had a substantial demand and a significant sale. In the political sense, it aimed at strengthening more..

Feb 12 (CT) Head of the Association of Govt Medical Laboratory Technologists (AGMLT), Ravi Kumudesh, said, the whereabouts of 4,554 COVID-19 patients were unknown. He stated even patients who had been initially identified by the laboratories had not been able to be identified again and scoffed at claims made by the Epidemiology Unit the pandemic had not spread in society. 15,825 persons who underwent PCR tests to determine whether they were Covid-19 positive were still more..

Feb 12 (DN) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa called on the Maha Sangha to discuss on the resolution to be presented against Sri Lanka at the next UNHRC sessions in Geneva in March. The purpose of this meeting held with the participation of Maha Sangha and several ministers at the Temple Trees on Tuesday evening was to seek the advice of Maha Sangha on the steps that should be taken by SL against this resolution, more..

Feb 12 (SLC) Sri Lanka Cricket today launched the 2 KM Run Fitness Test for the National Players to ascertain their fitness levels. Accordingly, 32 of the players out of a 36 member provisional squad training for the Tour of West Indies, which is under discussion, participated in the test, which was conducted at the Sugathadasa Stadium. The new test, a standard method of determining the Fitness and Endurance levels of athletes, replaced the Yo-Yo method adopted by SLC. more..

Feb 12 (AD) The Attorney General Dappula De Livera has requested for a copy of the final report of the PCoI appointed to investigate the Easter Sunday terror attacks. The Attorney General has requested for a copy of the report from the Secretary to the President in order to consider forwarding charges against the suspects, the AG’s coordinating officer said. The PCoI appointed to investigate the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks handed over its final report to Prez Rajapaksa on Feb 1. more..

Feb 12 (AD) Minister of Justice Ali Sabry stated that a massive transformation of the whole justice system is under way in which three full time sub-committees pertaining to Criminal Law reforms, Civil Law reforms and Commercial Law reforms are at work whilst another committee of experts is involved in drafting the new Constitution. He stated the above at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice held yesterday more..

Feb 12 (CT) Secretary to the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, has been appointed as the Vice President of the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN). The appointment was made at the 24th Joint Intergovernmental Meeting (IGM) and Scientific Planning Group (SPG) Meetings of APN held on 9 February 2021. Dr. Jasinghe has been appointed as the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment since 14 Aug 2020. He was the President of the College of more..

Feb 12 (MoD) The Deegawapiya Trust Fund launching ceremony was held under the patronage of President Rajapaksa, the Chief Guest and PM and the Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, at the Sri Sambodhi Viharaya in Colombo today. Inaugurating the project mooted for fund raising, Prez Rajapaksa also launched the www.deegawapiya.lk, the official web site instituted to carry Deegawapiya Stupa restoration updates, more..

Feb 12 (DM) While saying that the Health Ministry has nothing much to do with regard to detection of new variant from several areas, Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said the Ministry was keen in taking necessary steps considering the situation to ensure people are safeguarded. Dr. Herath said the Director General of Health Services would issue relevant circulars very soon to introduce changes to more..

Feb 12 (AD) Colombo’s Archbishop His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith asked for a probe into those individuals who identify themselves as Christin pastors and indulge in unethical conversions targeting celebrities such as artistes, sportsmen, accomplished women and businessmen. He stressed the need to work out a legal procedure to regulate the activities of such persons. He urged the govt to watch over these persons who call themselves pastors & probe their int'l masters more..

Feb 12 (DM) Administering COVID-19 vaccine to those who consume alcohol and smoke cigarettes is mere a waste of money and resources, said National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) Chairman, Dr. Samadhi Rajapaksa. “Smoking affects and damages the respiratory system as same as what the COVID-19 virus does to human. Therefore, those who consume alcohol and smoke cigarettes are highly susceptible to become infected with COVID-19 virus,” Dr. Rajapaksa underlined. more..

Feb 12 (EN) Sri Lanka’s exports fell 3.5% from a year earlier to US$ 964 million in Dec 2020, recovering from 16.3% drop in October amid a second wave of Coronavirus, official data show. Imports fell 14.4% to US$ 1,527 million as tourism receipts fell to an estimated US$ 0.7 million from US$ 455 million. The trade deficit fell to US$ 562 million from US$ 784 million in December. SL’s exports recovered strongly up to Sept 2021, but more..

Feb 13 (DM) Stories about Sri Lankan migrant workers, especially women left on roadsides in Kuwait after being stranded went viral, first on social media and then carried in the mainstream media this week. Veracity of those stories has to be guessed on the basis of the deafening silence maintained by the authorities on these stories. Video footage showed how young women were sitting on the pavements along with their baggage after being evicted by their employers in that country. more..

Feb 13 (CT) Cricket fame PM Imran Khan of Pakistan is expected to arrive on a state visit to SL on 23rd of this month. As always, the arrival of any Muslim Head of State from abroad is an occasion to celebrate for SL Muslims, not because those leaders would help advance the status of the community materially or otherwise, but because of a feeling of belonging to a universal Islamic community or umma. This is something unique to Islam, which others may find difficult to understand. more..

Feb 13 (CT) Defence Secretary, General Kamal Gunaratne boldly says he is prepared to face anything that comes his way, even if it’s a arrest, as he is not a war criminal. “Who cares, I served my country and let the Govt clear my name, and it’s not my business to do that.” He notes that the UNHRC issued a nonsensical and a pathetic report. Q: Are you for militarising the country? A: It’s a wrong perception. more..

Feb 13 (CT) SL history proves the fact that strongest people friendly Govts were established through political alliances and fronts. The Govt of Prez Rajapaksa and PM Rajapaksa, too is comprised of several strong and well experienced leftist parties, other than SLPP. Such alliances are very important for the country as they give more strength and power to the Govt. Value of other parties of the alliance should be measured by the social elements they represent & quality of their leadership, more..

Feb 13 (CT) A major anniversary of our school leads us to affirm its greatness, reminisce on the good times and the eccentricities of the teachers who acted for our own good. Scenery and environment stay fixed in memory; and we take pride in the achievements of fellow students who made their mark in the world. In the memory of a little boy in the age of innocence, I am awed by the beams of sunlight pouring through foliage of tall mahoganies that seemed to reach up to the sky. more..

Feb 13 (DM) Pottuvil to Poligandy (P2P) Protest that ended last week was a watershed moment in the political history of SL Tamils. The Five day P2P protest march began in the East on Wednesday (3) and concluded in the north on Sunday (7). Thousands of Tamils marched on foot and proceeded in vehicles from Pottuvil in the Ampara District to Poligandy in the Jaffna District. P2P protest trek proceeded along the littoral in more..

Feb 13 (CT) Sri Lanka is following a different kind of economic model compared to that which it practised during the last 40 years, Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Professor (Emeritus) W. D. Lakshman told the Media on Friday. He further said the underlining factor in the alternative economy the new Govt is following is political stability. The Governor also said the economic prescription the Govt of SL (GoSL) currently follows is market oriented, but a guided economic model. more..

Feb 13 (SO) Sasanka Perera’s new book, The Fear of the Visual? Photography, Anthropology, and Anxieties of Seeing (2020) covers various topics that have been systematically explored. As the title suggests, why has there been a reluctance on the part of sociologists and social anthropologists to address visuality in their work? Specifically in the context of this book, why have these disciplines pushed photography into sub-disciplinary practice of visual anthropology or visual studies? more..

Feb 13 (Island) Plenty of articles about independence, nationality et al. Most were disheartening. A bleak future is seen for this little Indian Ocean State. It is hoped India is not too piqued by the unilateral decision to not award them the Colombo Port’s East Terminal. Cass makes mention of one article: Celebrating Independence Day again – hopefully last! By Prof Susirith Mendis in the Mid Week Review of The Island on Wednesday February 10. more..

Feb 13 (CT) Sri Lanka is readying to welcome an iconic cricket star turned PM of Pakistan, Imran Khan, on a two-day visit, which is timely and crucial. Pakistani media has already claimed that PM Khan would be leading a high level delegation on his first visit to SL as PM, at the end of this month, but the Pakistan Govt has not officially released Khan’s programme. His arrival is slated to be on February 22 and 23. A Pakistani TV channel has claimed that a defence development may take place. more..

Feb 13 (ST) Emptiness stares them in the face wherever they cast their eyes, engulfing their very being. They are back home in Ragama having bid goodbye to their beloved son, their only consolation that they were able to hold his hands as he breathed his last difficult breaths on Monday (1). Very popular among his seniors, peers and juniors and adored by any patient who crossed his path, multifaceted Dr. Gayan Danthanarayana was more..

Feb 13 (Island) What has befallen the precious assets of this country, under successive govts, reminds us of Nanda Malini’s beautiful song, Ratakarawanta nam masuran ethiwa kete (which roughly put into English means ‘if the country is to be run with enough funds in the coffers’). It is replete with heavy sarcasm and biting satire. Urging the rulers to sell all national assets and treasures to raise funds needed for governing the country, it says, among other things, Sigiriya can be more..

Feb 13 (Island) A tree ordination ceremony this week marked a religious move to protect an endangered tree. SL tree Crudia Zeylanica or Pandu Karanda was ordained by members of the National Bhikkhu Front, to protect it from being destroyed by an expressway construction in the Gampaha area. It was draped in a yellow robe and the necessary ritual chanting done to save it as a member of the Vruksha-Latha Sangha, the new Nikaya of the Sangha. While such devotion and dedication more..

Feb 13 (WP) In his grief, Mohamed Niyas cannot bring himself to tell his wife the truth. She knows that their 2-month-old boy, who was born with a serious heart condition, died in January after being rushed to the hospital in their seaside town in SL. But he has not found the words to explain what happened next: Their son’s body was put into a small box wrapped in yellow plastic and cremated — against the family’s wishes — more..

Feb 13 (Island) The Upali Group, its employees and sales agents countrywide, have made arrangements to invoke blessings on its Founder Upali Wijewardene, who disappeared 38 years ago. Bodhi Pooja, Pahan Pooja and an alms-giving will be held, in his memory, on Feb 13 (Saturday). On 12th February (Friday) 9 a.m. Holy Mass was held at the Mattakkuliya De Mazenod House, opposite Carmelite Convent. A special Bodhi Pooja will be held at Kelani Raja Maha Viharaya at 6 pm more..