Feb 16 (TM) What once seemed to catch public interest, from the destruction of Wilpattu to Sinharaja, now appears to be an everyday tale for the average Sri Lankan. Verité Research confirms that the country’s current forest coverage is at a feeble 29.2%, while 40% of SL’s wetlands have already been lost due to the aftereffects of disorganised urbanisation. Uruwarige Wannila Aththo, chief of indigenous Vedda community, more..

Feb 16 (ST) As a juvenile, young Kusal Goonewardena had to globetrot along with his family with his father being an engineer who worked for the United Nations. Within his first nine years, Goonewardena grew up in Zambia, England, Oman and Bangladesh, before his parents decided to settle down permanently in the land Down Under. Moving on with his new life, along with his younger brother Kapila Goonewardena, unknown to many in his native country, Sri Lanka, has achieved more..

Feb 16 (FT) Hayleys Group said it has maintained remarkable growth momentum in the first nine months of FY 2020/21, delivering its highest ever pre-tax profit of Rs. 11.51 billion which represents a tripling of profitability compared to the corresponding period of last year. “The performance reflects exceptional growth in the core performance of the Group’s export-oriented businesses, relentless focus on cost efficiencies through the Haysmart program and commendable improvements more..

Feb 16 (ST) Several audits have confirmed that Sri Lanka Cricket’s existing IT system had serious lapses despite the Board’s IT Department having repeatedly rejected the possibility following an alleged wire-transfer fraud that took place in 2018. Responding to the CoPE on the reported wire-fraud this week, the Board admitted that a recent Cyber Security Vulnerability Assessment by the PricewaterhouseCooper more..

Feb 16 (ST) For 50 years or so some Sri Lankan leaders fascinated by what Singapore had achieved as an independent nation hoped to emulate that city state. After all, they used to say, SL had many more resources — natural and human, especially politicians. Not that the architect of modern Singapore Lee Kuan Yew had much use for a plethora of politicians, particularly of the SL breed, as he indicated to me during a conversation in Hong Kong where he was attending more..

Feb 16 (FT) LOLC Holdings PLC (LOLC) releasing its nine-month results has recorded a PAT of Rs. 45 billion after adjusting for corporate tax on a PBT of Rs. 48 billion. Group recorded Rs. 4 billion as profits for the quarter, and LOLC said it was a healthy performance considering the COVID-19 pandemic situation negatively affecting the financial services and leisure sector directly and other sectors indirectly. Group’s Financial Services Sector contributed Rs. 3.5 billion as profits, more..

Feb 16 (FT) SJB MP S.M. Marikkar urged the Govt to gazette the recommendations of a nine-member panel of medical experts on the burial of COVID-19 dead and work to end the mandatory cremation policy currently followed. “Govt appointed an expert panel of virologists and other subject matter experts to look into the issue regarding the burial of COVID-19 dead,” stated Marikkar. “The committee was led by Prof. Jennifer Perera more..

Feb 16 (FT) The leading blue-chip conglomerate, Aitken Spence PLC said yesterday its non-tourism multi-industry sectors reported a Profit-Before-Tax (PBT) of Rs. 1.3 billion in 3Q, a growth of 44% compared to the previous year in the midst of challenging economic conditions. These sectors also reported an EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest Expense, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation) of Rs. 1.7 billion compared to Rs. 1.4 billion of EBITDA recorded during 3rd quarter of previous year. more..

Feb 16 (FT) The construction of 50 houses in Walahanduwa estate on grant basis under Indian Housing Project kicked off yesterday, the Indian High Commission said yesterday. The foundation stone for the project was jointly laid by High Commissioner of India Gopal Baglay (in virtual mode), State Minister Jeevan Thondaman, Plantation Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana. HC Gopal Baglay addressed the gathering through a special video message said India will continue to support Sri Lanka more..

Feb 16 (TM) What we are passing is, more or less, one of the most turbulent times for SLC administration. Following the change of Govt last year and a series of defeats the national team suffered after international cricket returned following pandemic lockdowns and all, the Shammi Silva-led SLC is now in the spotlight, with just over three months to go for its next elections. Here is Silva speaking on those allegations and, perhaps, more..

Feb 16 (DM) Among the four Sri Lankan players who failed the fitness tests conducted by Grant Luden on Friday, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Danushka Gunathilaka only marginally missed the deadline of running two kms in 8 min. 35 seconds. According to highly placed sources at SLC, both finished the running in 8:45 secs and 8:41 secs respectively. The other two, Kusal Perera and Dilruwan Perera, took 9:50 and 11:45 seconds. “Bhanuka and Danushka were not tired, but they just lost track of time” more..

Feb 16 (DM) Denying the media reports that there would be travel restrictions in areas where the new variant was detected, State Minister Sudarshani Fernandopulle said the health authorities are closely monitoring the situation and actions would be taken accordingly. She said that there won’t be any extra measures though a few cases of new variant had been identified in the country. “Epidemiology Unit is monitoring these new cases very closely. Whenever there new clusters of cases, more..

Feb 16 (FT) Aravinda de Silva is once again back in the limelight. Having served his country as an outstanding cricketer by helping them to win their first and only 50-over Cricket World Cup and by serving in various other administrative capacities, the last as Chairman of cricket selectors, he is today the Chairman of the Cricket Committee appointed by Minister Namal Rajapaksa to uplift SL cricket from the depths it has fallen to. more..

Feb 16 (TM) To be honest, I was not expecting much from the President, Secretary, Treasurer, or the CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) when they went before the newly minted COPE for the second time in the span of 12 months. SLC brain trust, the term is used very loosely here, was at their depressing worst during their first innings at COPE in 2020, or so I thought. Then I watched a tape of SLC’s second inning at COPE on Feb 11, 2021 and was forced to change that conclusion. more..

Feb 16 (FT) Softlogic Holdings PLC has managed to post an improved third quarter vis-a-vis a year earlier but losses have risen substantially in the first nine months. Consolidated pre-tax loss was Rs. 2.7 billion for the nine months ended on 31 December 2020 as against a loss of Rs. 41 million in the corresponding period of last financial year. After tax loss was Rs. 3 billion six times more than Rs. 518 loss in first nine months of FY20. Net loss attributable to equity holders of the parent more..

Feb 16 (CT) Minister Wimal Weerawansa, said the Opposition should not look to score brownie points at his expense, considering the politically pitiful state they find themselves in. He said he will also not give a boost to such politically immature people in the Opposition, as they continue to grope in the dark in the face of the two-thirds majority commanded by the present regime. Minister stated his only modus operandi had been to sustain more..

Feb 16 (TM) There are no plans within the Police system to segregate officers on the basis of gender, according to DIG Ajith Rohana. He was responding to a query made by The Morning in light of the petition filed by senior police officers against the appointment of Bimshani Jasingharachchi as the DIG in charge of welfare. DIG Rohana said that there are no plans within the Police to bring about segregation based on gender. “There are no plans to segregate based on gender in the Police.” more..

Feb 16 (Island) Minister Rear Admiral (retd.) Sarath Weerasekara has said that his Ministry’s main objective is to create a society free from fear and it could not be achieved without eliminating the drug menace. He was speaking at a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Education and representatives of organisations affiliated to the school community at his Ministry, the ministry sources said. Minister also stated that action should be taken to prevent the physical entry of narcotics into the country more..

Feb 16 (Island) A Former UN Assistant Secretary General and the author of the report of the Secretary-General’s Internal Review Panel on UN action in SL Charles Petrie has declined to explain why the UN deliberately thwarted verification of unsubstantiated allegations against Sri Lanka by way of a controversial confidentiality clause. The Island raised the issue at a webinar titled SL: Quest for justice, rule of law & democratic rights more..

Feb 16 (ST) Sri Lanka will roll over short term debt and official loans while eagerly awaiting China’s financial assistance to avert a flagging foreign reserve position and balance of payment issue, State Ministry of Finance officials have said. The total debt repayment including the interest for this year stands at US$7.3 billion and it has now come down to $6.9 billion after the recent settlement of a $400 million SWAP facility granted by India, official data showed. more..

Feb 16 (CT) Arrangements have been made for MPs to receive the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine today, at the Army Hospital, Narahenpita, Serjeant-at-Arms Narendra Fernando said. “MPs have been informed in this regard. However, these arrangements could be subjected to change,” he added. He said no decision is taken regarding giving the vaccine to Parliamentary staff yet. Minister C.B. Ratnayake recently became the first MP who publicly announced that he received the vaccine more..

Feb 16 (CT) Chief Minister of India’s Tripura State, Biplab Deb, sparked off a controversy over the weekend when he revealed that Indian Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah intended to establish Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Govts in SL and Nepal. Chief Minister Kumar, claimed Home Affairs Minister Shah intends forming a BJP Govt in SL, to create an Atmanirbhar South Asia, that was allegedly a success in making Bangladesh, more..

Feb 16 (AD) SL has surpassed the grim milestone of the 400th death caused by coronavirus today (15). As per the Ministry of Health, a total of 06 new COVID-19 deaths have been reported today. Among the latest victims are five male patients and one female patient. This brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths witnessed in the country to 403. 01. The deceased is a 78-year-old male from Divulankadawala. He was transferred from Welikanda Covid Treatment Centre to more..

Feb 16 (DM) In response to concerns raised by India about a Chinese company involved in some power projects in the North, the Chinese embassy said it was purely a commercial activity undertaken through an open international bidding process. Sri Lanka awarded the contract to a Chinese company to execute three renewable energy projects in the islands off Jaffna. There were media reports earlier that India raised concerns in this regard on the basis that it posed a security threat to India. more..

Feb 16 (Island) Prez Rajapaksa’s Office strongly denied a claim by former US Ambassador for War Crimes & Global Criminal Justice Stephen Rapp (2009-2015) that wartime Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa had admitted to killing LTTE leaders following their surrender to the Army in 2009. Rapp claimed Rajapaksa had told him so when he met the latter in Colombo. There was absolutely no basis for Rapp’s claim, more..

Feb 16 (FT) The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape of the world forever. Amidst such unprecedented trials, Sri Lanka has also been tasked with the economic challenge of preserving her foreign reserves. Where did all this lead? To the indefinite import ban on all non-essential goods, including, motor vehicles, earlier this year. Since March 2020, the import ban, which was initially supposed to last only three months, has lasted 10 months, and counting. more..

Feb 16 (AD) Minister Udaya Gammanpila says that Prez Rajapaksa has given a pledge that the dual citizens will be deprived of the right to participate in politics under the new constitution. The President has given the pledge to 10 political parties, says Co-Cabinet Spokesman Gammanpila. Minister stated that the Prez had given the relevant pledge in Sept 2020. “Prez pledged to 10 parties last September that the new constitution would deprive dual citizens of the right to participate in politics. more..

Feb 16 (Island) Former Prez Maithripala Sirisena has requested senior govt authorities not to harm or dislocate a critically endangered tree, SL Legume or Crudia zeylanica, in Gampaha. Sirisena, who held the Environment portfolio in the yahapalana regime, on Sunday, met residents in Gampaha and had lengthy discussions on saving the endemic tree situated in the path of the new expressway. Surakimu SL Movement representatives and villagers briefed the former prez on the matter more..

Feb 16 (FT) We often hear the phrase, the fog of war. But the fog of COVID goes much farther in provoking befuddlement. It’s spreading, unprecedented numbers of cases, mutants, variants… First, the raw numbers psychological scam. We have been told by the Army Commander that much of the recent apparent case surge owes to two factories. So, it is not a widespread pattern, it is congregated, and we trust isolated. Secondly, there were a number of PCR machines down, more..

Feb 16 (EN) It’s been five days since Sri Lanka announced the detection of B.1.1.7, the highly transmissible UK-variant of COVID-19, within its borders, and opinion seems divided on whether the country should go for another lockdown to prevent an outbreak. Officially, the govt is of the position that SL, cash-strapped and debt-ridden, cannot afford an island-wide lockdown. Minister Udaya Gammanpila told reporters this morning that no restrictions more..

Feb 16 (ABC) A Tamil family seeking asylum in Australia will remain on Christmas Island for now, after the full Federal Court upheld a previous ruling relating to the immigration status of their youngest child. Lawyers for the family are now calling on the Federal Govt to immediately release the family from detention. Priya and Nades Murugappan and their Australian-born daughters Kopika, 5, and Tharunicaa, 3, had been living in Biloela in central Queensland, but in 2018 immigration officials more..

Feb 16 (EN) State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana has been appointed as the Acting Minister of Health until Pavithra Wanniarachchi returns to work. The Acting Minister was sworn in before Prez Rajapaksa today. Wanniarachchi who tested positive for COVID-19 on Jan 22 was discharged today from IDH after being admitted to the ICU of the Hospital on Jan 29. Jayasumana is the State Minister of Pharmaceutical Production, Supply and Regulation. more..

Feb 16 (DM) A large stock of local and foreign liquor sold without any licenses at three different parties organised in hotels in Galle and Moratuwa to celebrate the world lover’s day was seized by the Excise Department on Sunday. Excise Department’s flying squad Excise Bureau of Special Operations Colombo (BSO) on information raided three Valentine’s Day parties held in hotels in Unawatuna, Moratuwa and Boralesgamuwa more..

Feb 16 (AD) The govt has decided to limit the time duration of a funeral to 24 hours, says State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana. Prof. Jayasumana said that steps have been taken to implement new decisions on a number of issues including the time period of a funeral. He said, “We have decided to impose a limit on the number of people attending a funeral and to advise that the funeral be completed within 24 hours. more..

Feb 16 (Island) Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said yesterday that a special operation had been launched to nab people moving around in public without face masks. DIG Rohana said that people were still moving around without face masks totally disregarding health regulations. The DIG said that legal action would be taken against individuals caught in public without face masks. Those found without a face mask in public places first would be subjected to PCR or Rapid Antigen tests, more..

Feb 16 (AD) The Supreme Court has set a date for the hearing of a fundamental rights petition seeking annulment of the promotion of Bimshani Jasin Arachchi, SL’s first female Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG). The petition was taken up before a panel of judges comprising of Justices Murdu Fernando, Shiran Gunaratne, and Achala Vengappuli today. The petition was filed by 32 Senior Superintendents of Police (SSP), more..

Feb 16 (EN) The Govt and the Opposition must work together when representing the country’s foreign policy internationally, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said. Speaking at the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Foreign Ministry held at Parliament last week, the minister said even though the country’s foreign policy may have debates within the country, everyone must unite under one voice when representing the country internationally. He said that many countries including more..

Feb 16 (MFA) Foreign Ministry having taken into account the concerns of the Sri Lankans living in Italy, will be reintroducing the online appointment system to the SL public at the Consulate General of SL in Milan. Consular Mobile services will also be conducted in selected locations outside Rome and Milan, with the mitigation of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic situation and adhering to necessary health precautions. SL Missions in Italy have continuously provided services to more..

Feb 16 (DM) Dr. Gunaratna said that the UN’s unsubstantiated and oft-repeated allegation that 40,000 civilians were killed by the SL armed forces in the last phase of the war continues to be made even twelve years after the war ended in May 2009. The baseless figure of 40,000 and other charges of war crimes are based on dubious, anonymous and unidentified sources, and blithely passed off as credible evidence to provide a basis for more..