Jun 3 (TM) Minister of State Ajith Nivard Cabraal claimed that all the allegations leveled against the govt by the opposition regarding money printing are false. This was stated by the Minister of State at a media briefing held at the Govt Information Dept today. “Money printing is a temporary payment made by the central bank to carry out the current programs,” he said. He stated that about 10% of the money is expected to be spent by the central bank through the country’s budget for the year. more..

Jun 3 (BBC) Hundreds of dead sea animals have washed up in SL, weeks after a cargo ship carrying dangerous chemicals caught fire and sank. The X-Press Pearl sank in early June off the coast of Colombo after it had been on fire for days. The remains of 176 turtles, 20 dolphins and four whales have washed ashore since, a court has heard. Experts fear the ship, which carried tonnes of oil in its tanks, will remain an environmental hazard for decades. The X-Press Pearl had had been carrying more..

Jun 3 (AD) Prez Rajapaksa has instructed the health sector official to vaccinate all the people aged over 30 in the Western Province before July 31st. So far, 60% of the people in this age category in Colombo, 47% in Gampaha and 34% in Kalutara Districts have been given the first dose of vaccine. Prez Rajapaksa emphasized the need to inoculate a higher percentage of people in all parts of the country before September in a systematic manner following the receipt of vaccines that have been ordered, more..

Jun 3 (CT) The Environment Ministry has given orders to file lawsuits against those guilty of environmental destruction in Loggal Oya area. Environment Secretary, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, issued the directives in response to reports of environmental destruction in the area. After hearing about this, Dr. Jasinghe dispatched officials from the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), the Mahaweli Authority, and Grama Niladhari Officers in the area to investigate the matter. more..

Jun 3 (AD) Prez Rajapaksa has agreed to immediately grant five out of the seven demands put forward by the Public Services United Nurses’ Union and to fulfill the other two demands during the next budget. The President’s Media Division said the decisions were reached during the special discussion held between the Prez and the Public Services United Nurses’ Union at the Prez Secretariat in Colombo this evening. President had agreed to provide immediate solutions to the following five demands: more..

Jul 3 (FT) The Sunday Times of 27 June says that the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has taken the unprecedented step of issuing a commemorative coin for the centenary of the Communist Party of China. This news followed ‘hot’ on the heels of the Colombo Port City bill which the Govt tried to rush through Parliament until the Supreme Court shot down a few of the clauses which could have violated our sovereignty and posed a serious threat to our country’s independence in the years to come. more..

Jul 3 (DM) Despite the civil war ending in 2009 the issues related to the northern fisherfolk underscore that the Tamil community remains harassed and marginalised. Recently we read in newspapers that northern fisherfolk have expressed their concerns over privately run aquatic seafood farms coming up close to the northern islands to farm sea cucumbers and prawns. However the problems associated with the northern fisherfolk go deeper than sea cucumber and prawn farming. more..

Jul 3 (DM) In keeping with the practice of devoting at least one article each month to a cinema-related topic, this column focuses on the popular Sinhala film actor Tony Ranasinghe this week. As an ardent aficionado of Sinhala films I have seen and savoured many of the dashing and debonair Tony Ranasinghe’s films with delight. My all-time favourite Sinhala film hero was and forever will be Gamini Fonseka. more..

Jul 3 (DM) In 1978, the JR Jayewardene govt used or misused its 5/6 majority in parliament to swallow wholesale the globalised capitalist market economic system which most independent economic analysts believe is largely responsible for the crises SL is facing today. The system enabled the rich countries and rich people to get richer while the poor or developing countries and their people became poorer. The system also led to the down grading or sidelining of SL’s co-operative movement more..

Jul 3 (GV) Parliament has been a theme of many political debates in SL since the establishment of the country’s first modern parliament in 1947. The narrative of SL’s parliament has been intertwined with the stories of modern democracy, changing constitutional architecture of the state and political agendas of different elite groups vying for state power. The chronicle of SL’s parliament is also an account of the vicissitudes of the country’s post-independence politics. more..

Jul 3 (CT) After he addressed the nation last Friday, Prez Rajapaksa was comparatively not on a tight schedule the past week. However, in the past week there were two issues that he kept his attention on. One was the measures being taken to curtail the spread of COVID-19 and the other was the efforts being made to introduce carbonic fertilizer to farmers for cultivations. Prez remained sentimental about another issue the past week and more..

Jul 3 (CT) Vaccinations are seemingly the only way out to combat COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) and its multiple variants, including its highly contagious Delta variant, according to the WHO and other experts. The Delta variant was first detected in Sri Lanka last month. In this connection the WHO said, “Vaccines are a critical tool in the battle against COVID-19 and there are clear public health and lifesaving benefits to using the tools we already have. more..

Jul 3 (TM) The govts that came to power in the last seven decades following independence have done so many changes, even though the argument that they could have done far more than they did remains applicable to every govt. However, sometimes, more than the high-level changes that concern the country, people find more satisfaction in small changes that directly resonate with their lives. That is why the implementation of laws and policies, not the existence of laws and policies, more..

Jul 3 (CT) On June 24, Poson Poya day, one of the most sacred days in a SL Buddhist’s calendar, the day that Buddhism arrived on the island centuries ago, the country was inexplicably locked down in a Covid-19 curfew. On the same day, the US & Japan naval exercise CARAT—21 War Games were inaugurated at the Trinco harbour on the Eastern coast of the island. Muslims in the Eastern coastal town of Kattankudi had been already confined in Covid-19 lockdowns for a week prior to more..

Jul 3 (Island) The govt has, in its wisdom, chosen to fight on several fronts simultaneously while putting up resistance against an elusive yet formidable enemy—coronavirus. It provoked the public sector nurses into resorting to trade union action. The same is true of the ongoing farmers’ protests against the Agriculture Ministry’s failure to make fertiliser available for the current cultivation season. These agitations have become a daily occurrence. Cultivators are seen protesting on fields, more..

Jul 3 (FT) Govt said it is following a two-pronged approach with regard to the future of the EU GSP+ scheme. State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal said the Govt will address some of the issues and in parallel be ready if the EU becomes unreasonable. “The EU GSP+ is conditional and these are more political than economic conditions,” he said addressing a webinar Will the economy collapse? Will GSP+ be lost? more..

Jul 3 (TM) Foreign media quoted Singaporean authorities last week as saying: The bad news is that Covid-19 may never go away. The good news is that it is possible to live normally with it in our midst. Even though this statement came in a context where Singapore is getting ready to reopen the country for normal, day-to-day activities after vaccinating a huge portion of its population, this is the reality the entire world has been forced to come to terms with. Adapting to the concept of new normal, more..

Jul 3 (CT) Women's football is developing at different speeds all over the world, but here in Sri Lanka it’s totally upside down. Since the last South Asian Games (SAG) which ended in mid-December 2019, women footballers have been out of action and their future remains uncertain. The Federation has persistently failed to adequately recognize, properly respect and justly reward its most valuable asset: the Women’s National team. This is the state of Sri Lankan women’s football today. more..

Jul 3 (ST) Relief organisations are struggling to help low-income families, the disabled and elderly with dry rations, vegetables and prepared meals as the fuel price hike sends food prices rocketing. The charity organisation, Voice of the Voiceless, like many bodies distributing free food during the pandemic, said it has been forced to reduce the quantity of dry rations included in relief packs. more..

Jul 3 (Island) Auditor-General (AG)’s Dept issued an audit report titled Propensity to Tend Education under the Arts Stream and the Unemployment of Arts Graduates on 18 Nov, 2020. Subsequently, a series of articles by a group of academics, known as Kuppi Talk, from Faculties of Arts of the Uni of Colombo, Uni of Peradeniya, Uni of Jaffna and Open Uni of SL appeared in The Island newspaper. These academics have highlighted that they are working in an environment in which more..

Jul 3 (CT) Sri Lanka’s sovereign downgrades, by key international rating agencies, are a major concern for the country as it, together with the unfavorable Ease of doing business rankings, would dampen Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows into the country, a senior businessman said. In November last year, international rating agency Fitch Ratings downgraded Sri Lanka to ‘CCC’ citing that the country was facing an extremely challenging external-debt repayment position. more..

Jul 3 (DN) SJB National Organizer MP Tissa Attanayake said that all forces in the Opposition will be brought under a wide alliance named the Samagi Jana Bala Sandanaya. This is aimed to contest for the next Presidential election in 2025 and the UNP can also join this alliance, he said. Attanayake said that this Alliance will field a common candidate for the next Presidential election. He was addressing the media after calling on Anunayake of Chula Gandhi Parshawaya of Amarapura Nikaya more..

Jul 3 (DM) Responding to the claims made by the Public Health Inspectors’ Union that the Delta variant has spread to many areas in the country, Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said today that the Delta variant may have spread in the country. However, Dr. Herath said there is no evidence as of now to say that the Delta variant has spread to many areas in country as claimed by the PHIs. “The Health Ministry is conducting PCR tests covering every district more..

Jul 3 (CT) While nurses of three major trade unions have boycotted work for the second day on Friday, highlighting several demands including timely grade promotions and staff grade recognition, doctors warned that a Cabinet Paper to be submitted by the Health Ministry to resolve the issues will only trigger a spate of strikes across the entire Govt service. Secretary of GMOA, Dr. Senal Fernando, alleged that his outfit more..

Jul 3 (CT) Govt has decided to drastically curtail the import of several luxury items, as well as other goods that are deemed non-essential, informed sources revealed. These sources stated that among the items that the Govt plans to halt importing are electronic items such as mobile phones, televisions, refrigerators, several electrical appliances, perfumes and similar items. It is said that through this measure the Govt is seriously considering strengthening the declining foreign reserves in the country more..

Jul 3 (FT) A month after recording a free fall that nearly wiped the gains witnessed this year, the LMD-NielsenIQ Business Confidence Index (BCI) remained largely unchanged in June, registering a slight drop of two basis points to 87. According to LMD, this is the second consecutive month that the index has recorded the lowest value for this year while it is also below where it was a year ago (96) and more than 20 points lower than its 12-month average. more..

Jul 3 (FT) A total of 1,823 persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday and health authorities stated that confirmation of any further detections of the Delta variant in the country can be expected over the weekend. According to Deputy Director-General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath, only five persons have thus far been confirmed to be of the Delta variant. “However, we know this variant is in the country and more..

Jul 3 (Island) The beach and the ocean are both idyllic escapes for many. It can appeal to one’s senses, from swimming in the sea to exploring sea life or pressing one’s feet against the wet beach sands. However, enjoying such pleasures becomes problematic when the beaches and ocean are polluted due to anthropogenic activities. A study submitted to the Marine Pollution Bulletin in 2020 stated that factors contributing to SL’s pervasive environmental issues stem from fisheries, more..

Jul 3 (Island) Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said that there was no evidence to prove that the the Delta variant of coronavirus had spread in the country. He made this statement responding to a question posed by a journalist about allegations made by the Public Health Inspectors’ Union that the Delta variant has spread to many areas in the country. “Health Ministry is conducting PCR tests in every district to determine whether the Delta variant has more..

Jul 3 (CT) 3-Judge Bench of the Colombo High Court on 2 July acquitted and released from the case six accused, including ex-Chairman of the SL Land Development Corporation (SLLDC), Prasad Harshan de Silva, who were charged with the alleged misappropriation of a sum of Rs 33.9 million over the construction of the D.A. Rajapaksa Memorial Museum at Medamulana, Hambantota. The case was heard by a 3-Judge Bench more..

Jul 3 (CT) SLPP Municipal Councillor Sunanda Pathirana alleges that certain persons had been vaccinated within the Colombo Municipal Council area for money. Pathirana said a large campaign had been carried out in five districts on this vaccinations issue. He has pointed out that some doctors have got together and charged sums ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000 and provided vaccines to outsiders. The Municipal Councillor said he has evidence to prove this allegation. more..

Jul 3 (CT) Till now the National Vaccination Programme (NVP) has been able to administer the COVID-19 jab to 72% of the elders residing in Elders’ homes, State Minister Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle said. She said that the govt was prioratising the vaccination to elderly population to protect them from COVID- 19. This was because a large number of those who have succumbed to the virus were the elderly. Therefore the goal of the health service was to give 100% vaccination more..

Jul 3 (CT) A controversy has arisen, after nearly 100 employees at a garment factory in Dehiattakandiya were hospitalised, when they started showing severe reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine following an immunisation programme carried out by a third party on 27 June. Ceylon Today learns that this controversial vaccination programme had been organised without the knowledge of the local MOH. When contacted Dehiattakandiya MOH more..

Jul 3 (TM) The sisters of a Sri Lankan woman who died in March at age 33 while under detention at the Nagoya Regional Immigration Services Bureau met with the prosecutor in charge of her case on July 2 and requested a swift investigation. After the meeting, the sisters addressed reporters, saying, "The prosecutor listened closely to our sorrow. We believe they will investigate the case thoroughly." Eight people including Wishma Sandamali's younger sisters Wayomi, 28, Poornima, 27, and more..

Jul 3 (CI) Shakib al Hasan, Usman Khawaja, Sherfane Rutherford and Rilee Rossouw are among the leading names to have registered to compete in the Lankan Premier League, SL's premier T20 franchise competition. LPL is scheduled to begin from July 30 this year and run for three weeks, and despite concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic derailing plans, several top T20 cricketers from around the world are set to take part. James Faulkner, Ben Cutting, Temba Bavuma, more..

Jul 3 (Island) The govt has briefed the EU on action taken to address the latter’s concerns about a range of matters, including the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The EU has, in a recently adopted resolution, expressed its serious concerns over the PTA and related human rights issues in Sri Lanka. The EU has emphasised that the GSP+ status is linked to the implementation by Sri Lanka of 27 international conventions. more..

Jul 3 (Island) Joint Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine warned that they too would be compelled to take union action from 6 July unless the Health Ministry took action to redress their grievances. The Joint Council had earlier held discussions with Ministry officials over 14 demands. “However, the Ministry has done nothing to solve our longstanding problems. Instead of addressing the issues, Ministry officials are trying to win over some members of our unions to their side. more..