Feb 23 (Island) Senior and junior ranks in the Police Dept have expressed their dismay at 84 colleagues for attempting to obtain promotions and salary increments citing as reasons political victimisation under the previous govt. A senior police officer said: “The list contains names of 84 officers and men. Among them are six retired officers, including one Senior DIG, who had been interdicted for his alleged involvement in a murder case. There are many who had been interdicted on disciplinary grounds. more..

Feb 23 (PMD) The 6-member Committee appointed by Prez Rajapaksa to study the Report of the PCoI into Easter Sunday attacks has been entrusted with a wide ranging mandate. Identifying the overall process including the measures that need to be taken by various agencies and authorities such as the Parliament, judiciary, AG’s Dept, security forces, State Intelligence services and implementing recommendations as stipulated by PCoI to more..

Feb 23 (FT) A consignment of 500,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is expected on Thursday night from Serum Institute of India. The country has signed an order for 10 million doses of the vaccine with the Serum Institute of Sri Lanka and this would be the first batch of the order. Meanwhile, Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath yesterday said the vaccination program is being carried out with priority given to high-risk areas in the Western Province. more..

Feb 23 (DM) The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has turned down my request to resign from the post as Consultant bowling coach, Chaminda Vaas said. “I made a humble request to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and they turned it down. That’s all I can say at the moment. Justice will prevail!,” he tweeted. Former Sri Lanka fast bowler yesterday announced that he resigned from his post as Consultant bowling coach and will not be a part of the support staff for Sri Lanka's tour of West Indies. more..

Feb 23 (BBC) SL is facing a new UN resolution calling on it to hold human rights abusers to account and deliver justice to victims of its 26-year civil war. Britain and others have circulated a draft of the resolution among UNHRC member states. It is expected to be adopted at the end of the 4-week UNHRC spring session in Geneva, which began on Monday. SL forces and Tamil rebels were accused of atrocities during the war, more..

Feb 23 (FT) Chinese company Sinosoar-Etechwin Joint Venture, which won the project to build power projects in three northern islands, yesterday rejected allegations its involvement could create security concerns, insisting that the award was given after due process and the entire undertaking was with the supervision of the CEB. Releasing a statement Sinosoar-Etechwin JV said false information which seriously affected the consortium’s reputation and legitimate rights had been circulated and more..

Feb 23 (FT) Health authorities yesterday confirmed five COVID-19 deaths, which brought the country’s COVID-19 death toll to 450. An 83-year-old individual from Minunwagoda passed away while receiving treatment at the Colombo East Base Hospital. The cause of death is cited as COVID pneumonia and acute kidney damage. On 20 Feb, a 33-year-old individual from Dunagaha died of COVID-19 with acute diabetes and acute kidney disease while receiving treatment at more..

Feb 23 (TM) With vaccination against Covid-19 in the public phase, individuals have been influencing health workers at vaccination centres to have the vaccine administered to them disregarding priority lists and prior registrations, with a so-called Rosy Madam’s list coming in for particular criticism. It was alleged through social media yesterday that those who went to vaccinate themselves at the vaccination centre at more..

Feb 23 (Island) Police had arrested 1,165 persons for drug and alcohol offences during special raids conducted in the Western Province in the 24-hour period from 5 am Sunday to 5 am yesterday. Among them were 771 suspects arrested for various offences and another 317 individuals evading court warrants. Among the suspects arrested were 261 suspects with heroin, 147 suspects with cannabis, 208 suspects with illicit liquor and 65 suspects with crystal methamphetamine (ice) drug. more..

Feb 23 (FT) The challenge for SL at the 46th UNHRC session is about how SL has evolved since the war ended in 2009 and currently stands in relation to its environment, the world. The most important development has already taken place and that is in a crucial realm that encompasses soft power, discourse and legitimacy. It is the realm of the story, the narrative, about SL and SL’s own official narrative addressed to the world. That battle of narratives has already been joined. more..

Feb 23 (AI) Baby Shaykh was only 20 days old when his life came to a tragic end last December out of a sudden illness. Born in a Muslim family in SL, his last rites would be a burial followed by a funeral but instead, authorities cremated his body against the wishes of his parents. A rapid test for COVID-19 (an antigen test) returned positive, yet his parents, including his mother who was breast feeding him, tested negative. This has created doubts in his parents’ mind about the credibility of the test. more..

Feb 23 (AD) The Cabinet of Ministers has granted their contest for the combined resolution to publish the govt gazette on the proposed Wild Elephant Management Reserve in Hambantota. The combined resolution was tabled by the Minister of Irrigation and the Minister of Wildlife Conservation. The habitats and wildlife corridors of wild elephants and other animal species have been severely affected by the accelerated development projects that are underway in Hambantota District. more..

Feb 23 (Island) Justice Minister President’s Counsel Ali Sabry is known in the legal fraternity as among the most brilliant lawyers this country has seen in recent times. He has embarked on an ambitious plan to reform the legal system especially in respect of addressing law delays. He is confident that he could bring about the change and that will ultimately help this country and its people to reach their true potential, Minister Sabry said more..

Feb 23 (FT) J.R. Jayewardene — the shrewdest politician in post-independent SL — made three deadliest blunders that made a far-reaching impact on his party as well as on his administration. They were the infamous referendum on extending the term of Parliament in 1982, the prohibition of the JVP and several other parties in the aftermath of the Black July in 1983 and stripping Sirimavo Bandaranaike of her civic rights in 1980. All these decisions, needless to say, more..

Feb 23 (AD) Pakistani PM Imran Khan on Tuesday arrived in Sri Lanka for a two-day official visit to island. Pakistani premier, who was invited by his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa, is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including members of the Federal Cabinet and senior officials. PM Imran Khan was given a guard of honour upon his arrival at the airport after being welcomed by PM Mahinda Rajapaksa. During his visit, PM Imran Khan will attend bilateral meetings with more..

Feb 23 (CT) The Cabinet Sub Committee, appointed by the President, to study the final report and recommendations of the PCoI into the Easter Sunday bombings in 2019, is not transparent and has no power or ability to investigate the PCoI report or its recommendations, claimed SJB MP Dr. Kavinda Jayawardena. Also, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara, former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and more..

Feb 23 (DM) Railway Department has temporarily suspended the reservation of seats in the sleeperette compartments in the night mail trains, SL Railway Station Masters' Union (SLRSMU) said. They said the maintenance of sleeperette compartments was done by the Prisons Dept. It used to clean the bed covers, pillows and mattresses in the compartments, the Union said. "Due to spreading of COVID-19 virus within the Prisons Dept, it had announced that more..

Feb 23 (EN) On a mission to make an ordinary bunch of people do extraordinary things, Hatch provides a space for innovative young-preneurs to build their businesses. True to its meaning, Hatch is all about a new beginning. It’s where some of the craziest ideas are born, innovations are nurtured and a new generation of young entrepreneurs gear up for an exciting journey of growth. Hatch has a vision, and the minds behind it are on a mission to make an ordinary bunch of people do more..

Feb 23 (CI) Upul Tharanga has announced his retirement from int'l cricket at the age of 36. Having made his debut in Aug 2005, Tharanga last turned out for Sri Lanka in an ODI in South Africa in March 2019. He played his final T20I in March the previous year and his last Test in Aug 2017. Over the course of his career, Tharanga has captained SL's limited-overs sides several times, first taking up the role in Nov 2016 more..

Feb 23 (CI) A delay in processing his transit visa to the US has meant that SL's new T20I captain Dasun Shanaka was unable to leave for the Caribbean with the remainder of the squad on Monday. Shanaka did have a proper US transit visa - valid for 5 years - on a previous passport. But as he had lost the passport containing that visa 2 years ago, visa officers for the US have told him they must do additional checks, meaning they were not able to greenlight the visa for this tour in time for him to make the flight. more..

Feb 23 (Island) Seylan Bank, the bank with a heart, is ready to relaunch Seylan Harasara, a financial product that offers a host of exclusive benefits and specialized financial solutions to senior citizens and pensioners. Understanding the importance of financial freedom and stability for senior citizens and the important role they play in society, Seylan Bank relaunched Harasara with a multitude of value-added benefits and services. Seylan Harasara is more than just a savings account, more..

Feb 23 (TM) Mohan Peiris, the Permanent Representative of SL to the UN in New York, said SL is being penalized for looking after the best interests of its own people and for making progress in moving forward. The Ambassador said this in a statement made at the 2021-ECOSOC Special Meeting on Reimagining Equality: Eliminating racism, xenophobia and discrimination for all in the decade of action more..

Feb 23 (EN) Sri Lanka has set up two committees to fast track investments and give tax breaks under under a Special Development Projects (SDP) law, Minister Keheliya Rambukwelle said. “They will decide what tax reliefs the investor should get, which time periods and they will look at the investment brought and workers to decided on the waivers,” he said. “No tender process involved for the investors, for example when they come forward to invest in a tyre factory, there is no competitiveness there more..

Feb 23 (DM) Minister Udaya Gammanpila today assured that fuel prices will not be increased within the next three months despite the increase in crude oil prices at the World Market. He told Parliament that the CPC was incurring a loss at present and said the govt was absorbing the loss to maintain a stable price for fuel. "The govt has taken a policy decision to maintain a stable price for fuel in order to maintain a stable production cost and to prevent the cost of living going up," he said. more..

Feb 23 (Island) Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday stressed the responsibility on the part of the govt to consult Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith as regards action to be taken on the basis of the PCoI report on the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide attacks. About 270 perished in six suicide attacks and one accidental blast caused by the National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) in Colombo, Katana, Batticaloa and Dehiwala. more..

Feb 23 (CT) The College of Community Physicians of SL (CCPSL), expressed its displeasure about non-adherence to the COVID-19 vaccine programme prepared according to basic scientific principles. College urged the Govt to adhere to the recommendations of National Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (NACCD) and urgently implement the scientifically -recommended vaccine priority list, rather than taking ad hoc decisions on vaccination policy. more..

Feb 23 (CT) Afghan Ambassador to SL, Ashraf Haidari, Indian High Commissioner Gopal Bagley, and staff of foreign missions in Sri Lanka were administered the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine, yesterday, General Shavendra Silva said. In addition to the MPs, vulnerable groups in the judicial service and members of the clergy were also being vaccinated against COVID-19. He said communities living in high-risk areas, which have detected a large number of COVID-19 patients in the WP more..

Feb 23 (FT) SL Tourism has kicked off the search for a reputed and competent agency to handle a planned five-year global promotion on digital platforms, to woo more visitors despite COVID-19 challenges. Tourism Ministry Standing Cabinet-appointed Procurement Committee Chairman has called for bid proposals from agencies for a Digital marketing company for social media and other forms of online & digital marketing more..

Feb 23 (TM) SL’s Ambassador to France Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama, who paid a courtesy call on the Indian Ambassador in Paris, has said that Sri Lanka sees India as their big brother. SL Embassy in Paris today said Ambassador Jawed Ashraf warmly welcomed and congratulated Ambassador-designate Hirimburegama on assuming her duties in France and expressed his willingness to work in partnership with SL. The two Ambassadors further exchanged views on their relations with France and more..

Feb 23 (TM) State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal told Parliament today that the country had sufficient stocks of vehicles for about two years and that a decision on the importation of vehicles, which is currently banned, would be considered by the end of this year. The Minister was responding to an oral question raised by Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa regarding the ban on vehicle imports. State Minister said that the Govt and the CB of SL had to alleviate the severe pressure on more..

Feb 23 (EN) PCoI on the 2019 Easter bombings has recommended that criminal proceedings be instituted against former Prez Maithripala Sirisena and others, according to sections of the CoI report shared by opposition MP Harin Fernando. No action has been recommended against former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, though the commission has faulted him for not raising the issue of not being invited to security council meetings more..

Feb 23 (FT) Hatton National Bank (HNB) said it demonstrated resilience and an unwavering focus on sustainable business performance as it posted Rs. 13.7 billion in Group Profit After Tax during 2020, a year laden with unprecedented circumstances and challenges. Bank level Profit After Taxes amounted to Rs. 11.5 billion. Commenting on the performance, HNB Chairman Dinesh Weerakkody stated: “2020 has been a year unlike any other in recent memory as the COVID-19 Pandemic transformed more..

Feb 23 (Island) Arming farmers is not a solution to the problem of crop damage caused by various animals, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera says. Amaraweera says he strongly believes that prior to making such decisions, relevant institutions should conduct a proper study on the latest scientific and traditional methods of warding off animals that damage crops. “It has been revealed that about 40% of the crops grown by farmers in our country are destroyed annually more..

Feb 23 (AD) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa and visiting Pakistani PM Imran Khan are currently holding bilateral discussions at Temple Trees, the PM’s Office said. During the cordial discussions, both leaders were able to successfully agree on several points of mutual interest to the economies of the two nations, the PM’s Office said. Attention was also directed towards investment and trade promotion, more..

Feb 23 (CT) Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage threatened to do away with the control price of paddy purchasing, if the farmers refuse to contribute to the Govt’s National Programme of Paddy Purchasing. He also said they will lose the fertiliser subsidy and the benefits from Agri Insurance granted by the Govt in the next season. Minister further said, “We have 1,041,923 farmers. However, among them, 266,291 farmers are cultivating more than one hectare of land and we will only more..

Feb 23 (CT) Many politicians who parrot about sustainable development don’t even have an idea about these words, said MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera. The inauguration of an initiative to plant 100 million trees was organised under the patronage of the Venerable Thera on behalf of the Matha Organisation. As per the UN Paris Agreement on Climate Change, Matha has planned to thrust its responsibility into the limelight, by increasing greenery to combat global warming. more..

Feb 24 (DM) The UNHRC, investigating alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka under the US-sponsored Resolution on human rights violations during the final stages of the civil war in our country is presently in session. The Commission holds no fewer than three regular sessions a year, for a total of at least ten weeks. The Council started its March sittings on the 22nd of this month and will continue for four weeks. Sessions will also be held in June (three weeks) and September (three weeks). more..

Feb 24 (ST) One man’s trash, they say, is another man’s cash. Even during these depressing COVID-19 pandemic times, sometimes an event lifts the hopes and spirits of people. Wednesday’s opening of SL’s first power plant generating electricity through garbage is one such event. The launch of the Aitken Spence backed-Western Power Company is the culmination of years of careful planning and an investment of approximately Rs. 15 billion. The waste-to-energy power plant will convert more..