Jan 15 (DM) National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has launched an investigation to locate a suspect who had allegedly abducted and sexually abused a 13-year-old girl. NCPA Chairman Prof Muditha Vidhanapathirana said the suspect, resident of Matiyagane, in Narammala had kidnapped the girl and then sexually abused her. “First, the child was kidnapped on 14th of Dec 2020 and informed to the local police. However, then complained to 1929 hotline. Child was returned home on Dec 25. more..

Jan 15 (CT) The Ferentino Tyre factory which was commissioned yesterday will inspire and incentivise other discerning investors to explore the many business opportunities that this country holds, Ferentino Tyre Corporation (Pvt) Ltd Chairman Nandana Lokuwithana said at the opening. SL’s largest manufacturing facility for tyres and radials, Ferentino Tyre Corp (Pvt) Ltd, was declared open yesterday by Prez Rajapaksa. more..

Jan 15 (Island) Sri Lanka number one Anika Seneviratne, Savini Jayasuriya and the finalist of the last edition Janali Manamperi advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s singles with victories in the quarter finals of the Tennis Nationals 2020 at Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts on Thursday. Seneviratne cruised to the last four stage when she beat Tuvini de Alwis 6-1, 6-1. Jayasuriya beat Oneli Perera 6-4, 6-1 and Manamperi scored 6-0, 6-0 to knockout Nishka Vivekanandan. more..

Jan 15 (DN) Opposition accused the Govt that by inviting the tourists from Ukraine, the spread of COVID-19 would be exacerbated and that there would be a new cluster. However we have proved the critics wrong by ensuring that despite the influx of tourists from Ukraine, there has been no such spread of the virus, Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said. “The Opposition is playing politics with the tourism industry,” he said. Minister emphasized that only 1,200 Ukrainian tourists have so far more..

Jan 15 (Island) The Tourism Ministry said that a pilot project to bring in over 2,000 Ukrainian tourists was on track in spite of the partial lockdown of Ukraine, ministry sources said. The govt in consultation with relevant authorities here and in Ukraine would continue with the high profile project, sources said, adding that in spite of some delays the flights were coming in. When The Island pointed out that int'l media reported a two-week long more..

Jan 15 (DN) The 13th Executive Council Meeting of the Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace was held with the participation of Prez Rajapaksa at Sri Sambodhi Viharaya in Colombo 7 yesterday. After World War II, Buddhist leaders focused on the need for an international Buddhist organisation aimed at promoting unity. Consequently, Buddhist laity and clergy gathered at Maha Viharaya in Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia on June 13, 1970 to hold the first meeting of the Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace. more..

Jan 15 (Island) UNP stalwart Gamini Jayawickrama Perera criticised the decision to reappoint Ranil Wickremesinghe as party leader. His appointment would only strengthen the govt, Perera said. “There is no need to talk too much about him. We cans see what Ranil has done to the party. The govt will benefit from this appointment.” Perera said that it would be extremely difficult for the UNP to make a comeback and those surrounding Wickremesinghe did not have best interest of party at heart. more..

Jan 15 (DM) The management of the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) in Malabe has posted an advertisement on a website under the Commercial Property section to sell its building and the land for a value of Rs. 3.5 billion. Under the description, it says ‘3 Acre;1 Root; 38 Perches land in Malabe ideal for uni or int'l school. Two complete, five- story building with one incomplete building with elevator facilities to more..

Jan 15 (CT) President of the GMOA, Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya and his family are currently in self-quarantine, as a Medical Officer who visited Dr. Padeniya’s house a few days ago, has tested COVID-19 positive. GMOA Secretary, Dr. Senal Fernando said the Medical Officer who tested positive for COVID-19 had visited Dr. Padeniya at his home, after completing his post intern appointment at Base Hospital, Avissawella on 7 Jan, and had dinner at his residence. more..

Jan 15 (DM) National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has launched an investigation to locate a suspect who had allegedly abducted and sexually abused a 13-year-old girl. NCPA Chairman Prof Muditha Vidhanapathirana said the suspect, resident of Matiyagane, in Narammala had kidnapped the girl and then sexually abused her. “First, the child was kidnapped on 14th of Dec 2020 and informed to the local police. However, then complained to 1929 hotline. Child was returned home on Dec 25. more..

Jan 15 (FT) World-renowned financier and a member of the Rothschild family, Nathaniel Rothschild who is in Sri Lanka for a brief business tour, paid a visit to the Port City – Colombo yesterday. He was accompanied by prominent SL-born British Politician and former EU Parliamentarian Niranjan Deva Aditya and corporate sector veteran Rajan Brito. Rothschild’s delegation was welcomed by Port City – Colombo more..

Jan 15 (FT) Govt, before Christmas, gave a powerful signal as to the direction it would be taking regarding foreign digital platforms operating in Sri Lanka. There is a plan to register foreign digital operators as these digital multinational conglomerates are overwhelming and alienating our local businesses by data colonisation, it said in a statement on 21 Dec. Media Minister in a subsequent interview noted that the monopoly enjoyed by these multinational giants hurts Sri Lankan businesses, more..

Jan 15 (FT) According to the above State Bank practices, there are two possibilities of misrepresentation. The first is one bank applies different criteria for the application of regulatory standards for the continuation of public sector loans classified in the performing category and the other treats the same type of lending categorised as sub-standard or doubtful. Then the combined effect gives a completely wry version. The second is in relation to the broad comparison between pvt sector more..

Jan 15 (DM) Four persons including the son of former state minister and SJB Hambantota District MP Dilip Wedaarachchi have been arrested for having assaulted a couple following an argument over an accident in Maharagama, police said. They said when the suspect was driving along the High Level Road in Maharagama, his car collided with another car on Wednesday early in the morning. It was reported that the suspects had allegedly threatened and assaulted the couple more..

Jan 15 (AD) Isolation orders on 08 Grama Niladhari Divisions in three police areas will be lifted with effect from 5 am tomorrow (January 16), the National Operation Centre for Prevention of Covid-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) announced. Accordingly, the following Grama Niladhari Divisions will no longer be isolated from tomorrow onwards: Eheliyagoda Police Area: Minnana GN Division, Bopath Ella GN Division, Wilegoda GN Division, Asgangula GN Division, Yakudagoda GN more..

Jan 15 (CI) Joe Root's first Test century since Nov 2019 has helped England tighten their grip on the second day of the first Test in Galle. Root went through 2020 without a century - the first time in his Test career he has gone through a full year without one - and dropped out of the top 10 in the ICC's batting rankings in the process. But here he has provided a demonstration of his enduring class in negating the sharply turning ball more..

Jan 15 (CI) 168* - Joe Root's score at the end of the second day in Galle. It is the highest by an England batsman in Sri Lanka, going past Kevin Pietersen's 151 in Colombo in 2012. There are only three instances of an overseas captain scoring more runs in an innings in Sri Lanka: Stephen Fleming's unbeaten knocks of 274 and 174, and Mushfiqur Rahim's 200. 2 - Test hundreds for Root in SL, making him the first England batsman to score more than one Test century in the country. more..

Jan 15 (AD) PCR tests have been carried out on another 493 persons including 16 MPs at the Parliamentary premises today. A total of 463 individuals at the Parliament Complex, including 15 MPs, were subjected to PCR tests on Wednesday as well. The results of those tests were released today and all 15 MPs, including Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, have tested negative for COVID-19. Steps had been taken to disinfect the parliamentary premises & conduct PCR more..

Jan 15 (EN) Sri Lanka’s exports were down 16.3% to US$ 819 million in Nov 2021 from a year earlier and imports were down 20.5%, US$ 1,384 million, taking the trade deficit down to US$ 565 million from 762 million. Worker remittances were up 18.7% to US$ 612 million. Sri Lanka’s credit has been picking up over the last quarter from contractions in the second quarter driving activity and imports up. more..

Jan 15 (EN) SL Air Force said it had seed-bombed a 60 acre area in Lahugala in a reforestation bid in the fourth such operation conducted so far with material supplied by MAS Holdings, an apparel group. The mission was organized by the Command Agro Unit at SLAF Base Katunayake under Air Commodore Suharshi Fernando with the Forest Conservation Department and Uni of Peradeniya. Mission is part of efforts to boost Sri Lanka’s forest cover from 27% to 32% by 2030. more..

Jan 15 (Island) Restoration of old tanks, contracted to private companies, take a long time to complete because those entities use it as an opportunity to engage in felling trees and gem mining, Minister Chamal Rajapaksa said. He said: “It is obvious that the objectives spelt out by the govt and the expectations of the people are ignored when such individuals’ carry out important tasks. We have now taken steps to get the assistance of state agencies like the State Machinery Agency to renovate more..

Jan 15 (AD) Colombo High Court has ruled that the manner in which the Bribery Commission had filed its case against Minister Johnston Fernando, pertaining to using Sathosa employees for political activities, was unlawful. The decision was delivered by Colombo HC Judge Manjula Thilakaratne today, accepting the revision application filed by Minister Fernando. During the administration of the previous govt, more..

Jan 15 (FT) The re-opening of the country for global tourists from next week was promoted in Germany by Sri Lankan Ambassador Manori Unambuwe via a key webinar. She hosted a virtual meeting with Deutscher Reiseverband – DRV (German Travel Association) President Norbert Feibig and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau in this endeavour. Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando shared the guidelines and protocols in place with a view to welcoming tourists from Germany. more..

Jan 15 (EN) Two workers at a hotel in Dadalla, Galle, where the visiting England cricket team were quarantined have tested positive for COVID-19, according to a source at the Galle Medical Officer of Health (MOH) office. The source said that the tests were conducted in Walliwela and Kapumulla, Galle. One of the visiting cricketers tested positive for the virus earlier this week, but according to health ministry sources, no other team member or official have tested positive. more..

Jan 15 (Island) The govt is handing over 49% of the East Colombo Terminal (ECT) to India’s Adani Group due to the geopolitical pressure exerted by India, Education Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), Pubudu Jayagoda says. Jayagoda said: “When trade unions met President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday (13), he told them about the broad geopolitical factors in play. more..

Jan 15 (TM) A group of suspects who illegally maintained a calcite deposit at Pallebedda Koswetiya Kanda endangering the Samanala Wewa Reservoir had been arrested, the Ministry of Environment stated. It had been pointed out that some deep underground excavations in the Balangoda area and explosions using ammunition could cause tremors. Accordingly, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau took steps to conduct a special operation on such excavations. more..

Jan 15 (AD) The four former Directors of Edirisinghe Trust Investments (ETI) Finance Limited have been released on bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court. Former directors of ETI Finance – Nalaka Edirisinghe, Jeewaka Edirisinghe, Anjalee Edirisinghe and Asanka Edirisinghe were released on bail after being produced before the court today. They were each ordered released on a cash bail of Rs. 1 million and two personal bails of Rs. 5 million each. Imposing bail conditions, more..

Jan 15 (AF) Air Dog Unit at SLAF Base Katunayake held a Passing Out Parade today (13) for the newly inducted Air Dogs of the Unit. The event was held at Katunayake and the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana reviewed the parade as the Chief Guest. SLAF Air Dog Unit has a long history of service to the nation. Initially established on 23 Aug 1972 the Air Dog Unit was re-designated as No 48 Regiment Wing more..

Jan 15 (TM) The Asian Human Rights Commission which is based in Hong Kong today said the four years prison sentence given to Ranjan Ramanayake for contempt of court violated the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). In a statement, it said a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court found Ranjan Ramanayake as guilty of having committed the offence of contempt of court and sentenced him to four years of rigorous imprisonment. more..

Jan 15 (Island) The reconstruction of the Deegawapiya Stupa would require 23 million bricks, 3,977 cubes of river sand, 30,167 bags of cement besides other raw materials, Defence Secretary Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne told the media on Wednesday (13). He said so at an event to mark the launch of the Deegawapiya donation account. Gunaratne said Deegawapiya Stupa would be renovated in three years. “We have opened this account with parliamentary approval”. more..

Jan 15 (AD) Supreme Court has fixed dates for the arguments of 12 Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions, which were filed over the failure to act on the forewarnings to prevent the Easter Sunday terror attacks. The petitions were called before CJ Jayantha Jayasuriya and Supreme Court judges Buwaneka Aluvihare, Sisira de Abrew, Priyantha Jayawardena, L.T.B. Dehideniya, Murdu Fernando & Preethi Padman Surasena this morning. more..

Jan 15 (TM) The school cut-off marks of the Grade 5 Scholarship Exam 2020 have been released by the Ministry of Education. Exam was held on the 11th of October last year amidst the new wave of Covid-19 pandemic sweeping across the country. Ministry of Education had made necessary arrangements to conduct the examination under the health and safety protocols. In addition, special examination centres were set up in Gampaha district where the quarantine curfew was in place at the time. more..

Jan 15 (LBO) SriLankan Airlines has been awarded the Platinum Standard status by APEX Health Safety powered by SimpliFlying following a full independent audit for our efforts in ensuring the highest standards for passenger safety and wellbeing during air travel, post-Covid. This status recognizes airlines that go above and beyond minimum standards required to rebuild traveller confidence and confirms our commitment to the safety of both our passengers and staff. more..

Jan 15 (TM) While questioning the Govt’s inconsistent policy towards allowing people to enter the country, UNP today said the England Cricket tour resulted in Japan banning SL Travelers. In a statement, the UNP said the lack of accountability and clear direction has resulted in the new strain of the COVID-19 virus entering SL. “Over 40 countries, including France and Germany, closed their borders to the UK on Dec 21 following the outbreak more..

Jan 15 (DM) Prez Gotabhaya Rajapaksa today inaugurated the first phase of the Park & Ride bus service at the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Center in Kottawa. The aim of the project is to reduce the number of vehicles traveling to Colombo and suburbs by providing a comfortable, safe public transport bus service for motorists and motorcyclists. Only luxury buses are to be used to carry passengers according to the number of seats. The fare is double the normal bus fare. more..

Jan 15 (CT) Minister of Highways Johnston Fernando said, steps would be taken to cancel the contract agreements of contractors who do not show the expected level of refinement in the coming week. He made this comment during a meeting with officials of local contractors and consulting firms on the progress of the construction on the second phase of the Central Expressway from Mirigama to Pothuhera. The Minister was informed by the contractors that due to the prevailing situation more..

Jan 15 (CT) SJB MP Dr. Kavinda Jayawardena asked why the PCoI, probing the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks, did not summon the suspects who were recently charged by the US for those attacks, before the PCoI to testify. “Not summoning them to testify before the PCoI is highly questionable,” he said. Suspects named Mohamed Naufar aka Naufer Moulavi who is believed to be the mastermind behind the bombings, more..

Jan 15 (AD) The All Share Price Index (ASPI) of the Colombo Stock Exchange gained 291.34 points today, marking the highest daily points gain in its history. The ASPI closed at 7,734.57 points - the highest since Feb 28, 2011 - gaining 3.91% from the previous day of trading. Previous highest daily points gain in the ASPI was recorded on Feb 15, 2011 when the index gained 255 points within a single day. S&P SL20 closed at 2,902.98 points today, with a gain of 120.81 (4.34%) more..

Jan 15 (TM) Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party of UK, said the current situation in SL is of great concern to many of the Tamils. In his Thai Pongal message yesterday, Starmer said, “This is also a time for us to reflect on the ongoing struggle for peace and justice in Sri Lanka. The current situation there is of great concern to many of you.” Extending wishes for the Thai Pongal, British MP said he also would like to express gratitude for the huge contribution the Tamil community more..