Jul 18 (ST) Finance Ministry is to give a wide range of tax amnesties, including writing off penalties for those who failed to disclose any taxable income or assets by March last year, and allow others who are willing to invest the amount equivalent of the undisclosed tax in other financial instruments in the country, according to a new bill gazetted by the Finance Ministry. Accordingly, if a person fails to disclose the taxable assets and is willing to immediately invest the equivalent amount more..

Jul 18 (DT) Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has sent her beautiful gift of Bangladeshi mangoes as a goodwill gesture to PM Mahinda Rajapaksa. Bangladesh High Commissioner to SL Tareq Md Ariful Islam handed over the mangoes. PM expressed his wholehearted gratitude and thanks to the Bangladesh prime minister for the gift. He hoped that it symbolizes the fruitful relationship between the two countries. Earlier, PM Hasina sent mangoes for her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. more..

Jul 18 (ST) With an economy battered by COVID-19 and shattered by a cocktail of snowballing issues, the Govt is setting the clock for later this year for a return to normalcy. General Shavendra Silva, who oversees the campaign against the deadly disease, declared it is with the planned vaccination of all under 30 years by the end of September. “Restrictions could be relaxed, and the country could be re- opened,” he announced more..

Jul 19 (CT) It is a well- known fact that govts are very much interested in reducing internal frictions as they tend to bog down systems. Particularly when the Frictions are in higher echelons the damaging effect is more. In our country we are beginning to experience a serialized dramatic display of growing controversies freely seeable. The episodes are too many to be included in an article like this. On almost all burning issues in the country we observe this phenomenon. more..

Jul 19 (CT) Once again, under Gotabaya Rajapaksa, scenic SL is becoming known in recent times for the wrong reasons around the world. Apart from racist politics and rule of law crisis, many countries are quoting this country as a bitter lesson on economic mismanagement, to be learnt – one which has fallen into an irretrievable Chinese debt trap. Interestingly, when Al Jazeera reported rural kids heading trekking miles and climbing rocks and mountains for want of internet access to follow their online classes, more..

Jul 19 (TM) Following the Covid-19 outbreak, the IMF decided to pass a new Special Drawing Rights (SDR) allocation for its member states, and according to the Govt, SL will probably gain around $ 800 million next month. SDR allocations are IMF reserve assets that are exchangeable for certain currencies such as dollars, euros, sterling, yen, and yuan. The IMF issues SDR allocations to the central banks of its member countries more..

Jul 19 (CT) Having systems and laws in place to fight trafficking is one thing, but if there is a lack of coordination, teeth, money, technology and speedy delivery of justice to effectively prosecute this crime, such efforts are a façade and a waste. US State Dept’s Global Report on Trafficking released on 1 July and covering mainly last year in respect of SL highlighted such deficiencies among others. Govt of SL is duty bound to address these weaknesses, including the lack of finance at its earliest, more..

Jul 19 (DM) On July 11 thousands of people took to the streets in cities throughout Cuba. They were demonstrating against food shortages, high prices, restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly. The protests began in the towns of San Antonio de los Baños in the west of the island, and in the city of Palma Soriano in the east. In both cases protesters numbered in the hundreds. With millions of Cubans now with mobile internet on their phones, news of the protests quickly swept to Havana. more..

Jul 19 (CT) The sea cucumber farm in the Northern Province has become a hot topic internationally. It is a joint venture between three companies, one being a Chinese company named Gui Lan (Pvt) Ltd. and two Sri Lankans. Sea cucumber farming was officially agreed upon in April 2021, according to a document obtained by Ceylon Today. It’s about the Chinese in the Northern Province who have attracted many into more..

Jul 19 (TM) Due to the disastrous and all-encompassing nature of the Covid-19 pandemic, most people have started viewing it as the biggest threat to the human race they will see in their lifetimes. Perhaps, this could actually be the biggest pandemic the world sees in this century; however, this is not even close to being the biggest threat to the human race, and the biggest threat is actually a more silent one waiting to erupt. This is none other than the threat posed by environmental more..

Jul 19 (DM) The crisis is devastating. SL is in danger of defaulting on its international loans for the first time since Independence. From the binge of importing luxuries such as sports cars the country is now cornered into banning even imported fertilizers. Cost of living is beginning to soar, day wage labouring folk are suffering and children may become malnourished. The crisis is an opportunity. The Rajapaksa regime has seized this opportunity over the last year; the 20th Amendment more..

Jul 19 (Island) The burning of the Jaffna public library in 1981 is not only a controversial subject, it is a sensitive one. Much has been written on it mainly for propaganda purposes and political advantage. It is significant that nobody who was a witness to the incident or was even present in Jaffna at the time of the incident has written anything on the subject. Having kept mum for three decades, except once in 2006 when I was compelled to come out with the truth when an admirer of Anton Balasingham, more..

Jul 19 (DM) Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, addressing the media briefing last week, used the derogatory term kalakanni, meaning cursed with bad luck, to describe the striking teachers. Slip of the tongue, a colleague defends him? However, he continued, pardon me for using it, means it was a bold & deliberate comment. Minister, who consulted, in his own words, a group of the island’s top legal luminary to discuss vital issues a week before, seemed disturbed over the leak. more..

Jul 19 (CI) Although none of SL's batters hit a half-century in the first ODI, the team has the ability to put up scores that will challenge India - something beyond 300. This was what allrounder Chamika Karunaratne said following Sri Lanka's drubbing in the match. Karunaratne had top-scored from No. 8, hitting 43 off 35 balls, but five other Sri Lanka batters had made scores greater than 20. Karunaratne said the fact that most of more..

Jul 19 (Island) The incumbent govt leaps before thinking, and suffers painful pratfalls. In its wisdom, it had some of those who protested against the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Bill, the other day, packed off to faraway quarantine centres. Thereafter, it got cold feet and had them released before the completion of the mandatory quarantine period, thus giving the lie to its own claim that the police had only enforced quarantine laws. Now, it is clear that the govt either acted arbitrarily more..

Jul 19 (EN) John Keells Properties, a unit of publicly traded John Keells Holdings said a three tower 891-unit apartment project in Colombo’s Union Place was on track for completion in 2023 amid a Coronavirus crisis. The TRI-ZEN branded development is a joint venture between Indra Traders (Pvt) Ltd and John Keells Properties. China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd is the contractor. “The past year has been extremely challenging for everyone in Sri Lanka given more..

Jul 19 (CI) Prithvi Shaw played gloriously through the offside, debutant Ishan Kishan lit up the stadium with a thumping fifty on his birthday, and Shikhar Dhawan saw the chase through from start to finish, as India's second string served Sri Lanka a walloping first up. Chasing the hosts' half-decent (but far from daunting) 262 for 9, India galloped home with 80 balls and seven wickets remaining. more..

Jul 19 (ST) Swimmer Dimuth Peiris, 21, is one of those unlucky blokes to be cold-shouldered by authorities of SL’s sports echelon, despite having credentials and showing promise of a competitive career. Currently coached by Shehan Dias, Peiris is in the list of blacks or perhaps an un-ceremonial victim of pity politics in SL sports. Peiris, who is supposed to be the only existing swimmer based in SL with international recognition, has been perhaps the only athlete unlucky not to earn a contract more..

Jul 19 (DN) The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games organisers further strengthened their safety controls by adding a new regulation of a three-day bio-bubble from the date athletes arrive in Japan. Chef-de-Mission of the SL contingent Gamini Jayasinghe said the new guidelines will curtail the movements of the arriving competitors to the Athletes Village in the first three days. Even their training schedules could be slightly affected, unless they have already booked. more..

Jul 19 (FT) Daily vaccination numbers, which have remained above 230,000 since Monday, dropped to 167,462 on Saturday, when 166,502 persons received either the first or second dose of the Sinopharm vaccine and 960 persons received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Despite this, Our World in Data shows that SL has the highest rate of daily COVID-19 vaccine doses administered per 100 people. Data for 17 June shows that SL’s rate of vaccines per million is 1.28, more..

Jul 19 (EN) SL now has fiscal and monetary policies directed towards industry and exports like never before but businesses are not ready and are not thinking big, Kenneth de Zilwa, Chairman of Lanka Clear said. “To compete globally for once we have a very aligned macro-economic framework in place,” he told an online forum co-hosted by EconomyNext & Friedrich Naumann Foundation. “Why I say that it is aligned is if we want to compete, your cost structures need to be properly looked at. more..

Jul 19 (FT) Former Economic Reforms Minister and Opposition MP Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday defended the economic policies of the Yahapalanaya Govt and replied to allegations of economic mismanagement. The SJB MP accused the present Govt of attempting to mislead the public by misinterpreting data. He also blamed the Govt for not doing enough to reduce the impact of the economic crisis on the people. more..

Jul 19 (DM) Four animals, two chimpanzees and two orangutans were suspected to have infected with COVID virus at the Dehiwala zoo. The relevant officials have been advised to conduct further investigation to confirm whether the animals were infected with the disease. Earlier, an eleven year old lion, Thor, which was a gift from a zoo in Seoul in 2013, was found positive with COVID becoming the first known case of an animal contracting it in the country. more..

Jul 19 (AD) Traffic on Uttarananda Mawatha in Kollupitiya has been restricted to one direction only. Reportedly, the latest traffic plan will be implemented from 6 am today (19) due to a temporary road development work. Accordingly, vehicles traveling on Uttarananda Mawatha starting from Rotunda Junction can only be driven towards Abdul Markan Marker Mawatha, police said. Vehicles will not be allowed to enter Uttarananda Mawatha from Abdul Markan Marker Mawatha for any reason. more..

Jul 19 (SO) Dharmasiri Weerakoon was one of the most charismatic sporting personalities to grace the ring as a boxer and later as a referee. A former national champion who represented Ceylon as Sri Lanka was then known at the 1960 Rome Olympics along with another top Police pugilist Sumith Liyanage, Weerakoon created history at the 1988 Seoul Games as the first boxing referee from SL at the Olympics. more..

Jul 19 (FT) Transparency International SL (TISL) has made five recommendations for the Data Protection Bill to become an effective law. It said Sri Lanka is on the verge of introducing a bill on Personal Data Protection that aims to regulate the processing of personal data while identifying and strengthening the rights of data subjects in relation to the protection of personal data. TISL has taken steps to create a legislative brief on the proposed Personal Data Protection Bill of 2021 and more..

Jul 19 (FT) Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), optimism over the possibility of securing an industry-critical extension of EU GSP+ program after its most recent round of discussions with the State Ministry of Regional Cooperation. The meeting last week was the third in a series of discussions initiated with the support of Minister Namal Rajapaksa and State Minister Balasuriya, with the goal of creating a platform for the industry to deliberate with key Govt officials over issues faced by apparel sector. more..

Jul 19 (FT) 1,420 COVID-19 positive persons were detected yesterday, raising the country’s total COVID-19 detections to 284,932. 12,477 PCR tests were carried out yesterday. The detections include 1,402 persons from the New Year cluster, expanding the Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, Prisons and New Year clusters to 276,730. The cumulative patient count includes 181,847 patients from the New Year cluster, 82,785 patients from more..

Jul 19 (FT) JAT Holdings Ltd. is before the investor community with a colourful statement – the first profit-making and specialist paint and decorative products manufacturer to have an IPO and list on the Colombo Stock Exchange to raise Rs. 2 billion to become more successful. Market leader and a big exporter, JAT’s Initial Public Offering of 16.24% stake or 82.9 million shares at Rs. 27 each will have its official opening tomorrow but it has been up for subscription for several weeks. more..

Jul 19 (CT) Tokyo Paralympic Games 2020 is scheduled to be held in Japan on completion of the Olympics from 24 Aug to 5 Sept. National Paralympic Committee of SL will be fielding a group of athletes at this event with a view to bringing honour and glory to our motherland. NPCSL will be sending nine athletes along with Coaches, Managers and Admin officials, making it a 17 strong contingent. The athletes have qualified in Track & Field, Rowing, Archery & Wheel Chair Tennis. more..

Jul 19 (TM) Chinese Embassy in SL tweeted yesterday that SL is the global leader in vaccination speed, in terms of daily doses administered per 100 people. In the Twitter message, the Embassy had also stated that within the next two to three weeks, another 5.6 million doses of China’s Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine would arrive in the country, in 3 batches. Embassy cited the global statistics website Our World in Data to back up its claim. more..

Jul 19 (ST) SL’s new urban development and planning regulations require building owners to obtain annual licences if they wish to change the use of their property from, for instance, residential to commercial activity. Urban Development Authority (UDA) Planning and Development Regulations were revised and published for the first time in 35 years. The gazette was issued earlier this month. “The previous regulations were oriented towards development control,” said Lalith Wijeratne, more..

Jul 19 (EN) SL has kicked off a Submarine Cable Protection and Resilience Framework in partnering with the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), an industry body, and the UN. In SL, the framework was developed by the Telecom Regulatory Commission of SL (TRCSL) and the Ocean Affairs, Environment and Climate Change Division of the Foreign Ministry. Technical assistance was given by ICPC UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Global Maritime Crimes Programme more..

Jul 19 (ST) Hailing the fact that the lockdown in May-June appears to have impacted on the infection numbers which are showing a downward trend, many experts however cautioned that Sri Lanka needs to be very vigilant. “The infection numbers seem to be coming down but we need to make sure that it is not a reflection of lower testing numbers. The more intensive the testing, the more cases you may see,” an expert said. more..

Jul 19 (DM) While claiming that a military institution was not a suitable place to provide higher education to civilians, the FUTA called on the govt to restructure the existing Kotelawala National Defense University to serve its intended purpose of providing higher education and training to officers of the tri-forces. The FUTA said in a statement that all academic programs currently enrolled in civilian students in the KDU should be integrated into the existing university system in the country. more..

Jul 19 (AD) A protest demanding the arrest of the perpetrators who sexually abused the teenage domestic worker at MP Rishad Bathiudeen’s private residence was held today (18). MP V. Radhakrishnan had also joined the protest carried out in Hatton. The 16-year-old had died on July 15 of burn injuries while receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital. She had been under medical care for 12 days since her admission to the hospital on July 03. more..

Jul 19 (Island) Chief Govt Whip Dinesh Gunawardena says the govt parliamentary group will defeat the no-faith motion moved by the SJB against Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila over the increasing of fuel prices on June 11. Foreign Minister Gunawardena, who is also the leader of the MEP, said that govt members wouldn’t be deceived by various strategies pursued by the SJB and other Opposition groups. more..

Jul 19 (FT) The inconvenience experienced by people when they do business, called transaction costs by economists, is a killer of an economy. That is because it imposes a cost on people but no one else within the system gains out of those costs. For instance, when we buy a loaf of bread from a seller, the price we pay is a cost to us. But we gain because we get a loaf of bread. On the other side of the coin, the seller loses his bread. But he gains because he gets money for the bread. more..