Mar 7 (SO) Money printing is done world over by economies to stimulate economic growth and in Sri Lanka the move has not resulted in inflationary pressure so far although some have been harping that it would, said a senior official of the Central Bank (CBD) on the sidelines of the Monetary Policy media briefing last week. “As all Central Banks we too resorted to the best option given the low economic growth in the past few years as a move to stimulate growth,” the official said, more..

Mar 7 (Island) SL High Commission in India has remained without a Head of Mission for 14 months now. Veteran civil servant Austin Fernando, who was posted here as the HC, went back home in January last year. Former Minister Milinda Moragoda was appointed as the new HC with a Cabinet rank late last year, and India has accepted the appointment shortly thereafter. But Moragoda is yet to take charge. more..

Mar 7 (ST) Ending the year-long Work from Home (WFH) arrangement for public servants during the COVID-19 pandemic, all state sector employees have been instructed to report to work in their offices from tomorrow. Public Administration Ministry J.J. Rathnasiri told the Sunday Times it would be mandatory for state sector employees to report to work from tomorrow onwards and it would be the responsibility of the heads of departments to ensure a safe environment for the public & the staff. more..

Mar 7 (ST) Govt this week vested with the UDA an extent of 120 perches on Norris Canal Road to build a multistoried car park. The order was made by PM Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as Urban Development Minister. The land, located opposite the National Hospital of SL, belongs to Colombo Municipal Council & is now occupied by vendors who are expected to be relocated. A programme to build and maintain car parks using investors selected via an open competitive bidding more..

Mar 7 (TM) The United Nations (UN) Core Group of Countries on Sri Lanka will present the amended draft of the resolution on Sri Lanka to the UNHRC tomorrow for an informal dialogue, after which the draft will be studied before expressing objections, Foreign Secretary Prof. Jayanath Colombage said. The Core Group comprises the UK, Canada, Germany, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. more..

Mar 7 (Island) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa said that some of those who fear that they will be held accountable under the law for the Easter Sunday attacks are now making a big noise over the report of the PCoI into the carnage. “They know that they will be exposed. That’s why they are making a din in the belief they could escape being taken to task under the law”, he said. Meanwhile, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has declared March 7 as Black Sunday to demand justice to the victims of more..

Mar 7 (SO) Expert Committee led by Prez’s Counsel Romesh de Silva, appointed to prepare a draft of the new Constitution is expected to present its initial report this month. Justice Minister Ali Sabry said the committee had been meeting party leaders and religious leaders regularly and their interim report is expected in March. Minister Udaya Gammanpila said that the expert committee concluded collecting submissions by almost all the party leaders represented in Parliament including the ITAK more..

Mar 7 (ST) Sri Lanka will not be getting the expected balance of 1 million doses of the COVISHIELD vaccine from India’s Serum Institute in mid-March and April, the Sunday Times learns. In a surprise letter dated March 3 to the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC), the Serum Institute has informed that vaccine manufacturing plans have met an obstacle which affects its ability to supply you in the near future. more..

Mar 7 (ST) SL’s Catholic churches will observe Black Sunday today demanding justice for victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks. Parishioners who attend Sunday Services today have been asked to come dressed in black. The colour will signify the Catholic community’s deep sorrow and anguish over the failure to ensure justice for the victims of the Easter attacks even after two years and will also be an expression of the silent protest of the Catholic community, Colombo Archdioces more..

Mar 7 (TM) The committee appointed by the Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith to study the report of the PCoI into the Easter Sunday terror attacks, is studying it at present, Cardinal’s Spokesman, Rev. Fr. Camillus Fernando, said. “I cannot make further comments, as there’s no other update. The report was given to the Archbishop of Colombo. He has appointed a committee and the report is being studied,” he said. Earlier this week, the Cardinal announced that more..

Mar 7 (ST) Sri Lankans may not be too sure whether to laugh or cry at the ongoing govt efforts to contain the fallout from the highly damaging resolution against the country at the UNHRC sessions. Some of the developments, both in Geneva and in Colombo, have raised eyebrows. The strategies are not only contradictory but also raise issues over whether they are in keeping with policy decisions made by govt. more..

Mar 8 (DM) The freedom of speech and communication of ideas without hindrance is one of the pillars on which a democratic society is founded and upheld. It is in fact an indispensable and integral part of a democratic society. Diverse means of communication have been with us through the ages and today’s digital technology is the most recent form of evolution of ancient forms of social communication. The Amero-Indians (sometimes referred to as Red Indians) used more..

Mar 8 (DM) Celebrating International women’s Day 2021, the Church of Ceylon said in a statement that a nation can only flourish when all its citizens are respected and treated equally and with dignity. The full statement signed by the Right Reverend Keerthisiri Fernando, Bishop of Kurunegala and the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Ceylon and the Right Reverend Dushantha Rodrigo, Bishop of Colombo is given below: As we celebrate womanhood on this int'l Women’s Day, more..

Mar 8 (TM) With just months away from having to pay a debt instalment of $ 1 billion, and the economy of Sri Lanka still taking the first steps towards recovering from the downturn experienced in 2020 due to the pandemic, The Sunday Morning this week invited Dr. Harsha de Silva to the Hot Seat to seek his views on the present economic climate of the country. Dr. de Silva was seen at a ministerial-level meeting recently where more..

Mar 8 (TM) As the vaccination drive kicks in, there seems to be a notable reduction in the daily number of Covid cases being recorded, which must surely come as a relief to the Govt in general and health authorities in particular. What is, however, cause for concern is that the number of recorded deaths is now closing in on 500, averaging 90-plus deaths per month since last October and showing no signs of easing, leading to the question, are authorities gradually applying the brakes to its more..

Mar 8 (ST) Unfortunately, the SL Govt is yet to learn the lesson that statecraft is far more than bluster, bullying and ballyhoo. This is why we have got ourselves into an ugly tangle at the UNHRC even as critical forces gather strength in calling for an international inquiry into wartime abuses. And all this while our representatives in world capitals engage in tactics that are better suited for the rough and tumble of Pettah’s meaner streets rather than the corridors of a global body. more..

Mar 8 (TM) Sri Lanka seems to have retained its base vote of about 10 member states at the UNHRC, but that base vote is insufficient to prevail at a vote, said former Ambassador to Russia Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka. Dr. Jayatilleka, who served as the Permanent Representative of SL to the UN in Geneva, spoke to The Sunday Morning on the ongoing UNHRC session and the scheduled Core Group Resolution. more..

Mar 8 (TM) SL’s former Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga, who is also a close relative of the Rajapaksa family, last week aligned himself with SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa. At a time when several allied parties of the governing SLPP are critical of certain actions of the administration – in some instances expressing criticism over the conduct of SLPP seniors, especially Basil – Weeratunga last week published several posts on his Facebook page aligning more..

Mar 8 (Island) That there is no quick fix to the globally raging Covid-19 pandemic is now all too clear. Countries worldwide seek to protect their populations as best as they could by inoculating them with vaccines hurriedly developed in some of the best scientific laboratories in the world. Billions of dollars have been poured into this research effort, thankfully marked by some significant successes, and the vaccination process is ongoing in most parts of the world including this small backwater more..

Mar 8 (ST) SL’s top legal knights rode out in full force on Thursday to express serious concerns on the final report of the PCoI appointed by Prez Rajapaksa on Jan 9 last year to probe political victimisation during the previous govt’s tenure of office, Yahapalana years which spanned between Jan 9, 2015 & Nov 16, 2019. As a preliminary move of taking stock of the entire situation before firing their legal salvos at the controversial report, this elite band of eleven legal luminaries, more..

Mar 8 (FT) IFS, the global enterprise applications company, unveils a new brand identity to fuse its evolved market position and herald an industry-changing product launch that takes place on Wednesday. Forward-thinking businesses are recognising the benefits of differentiating on service and the growth opportunities presented by offering new propositions leveraging service. Now with more than half of the company’s revenue coming from customers using IFS’s technology in how more..

Mar 8 (TM) UN Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet, in her report, is determined to embarrass SL and push it into a difficult corner and diminish SL’s achievement in eliminating a ruthless terrorist group, stated SL Ambassador to China Dr. Palitha Kohona. When contacted by The Sunday Morning to get his insight on the matter, the former Permanent Representative of SL to the UN in New York said more..

Mar 8 (FT) In a major breakthroug-h NDB has signed an agreement with Norway’s development finance entity Norfund which will see the latter taking up a 9.9% stake and boosting the Lankan bank’s growth and expertise to empower the private sector. Heralding many firsts and major significance, Norfund under the deal will be making its maiden equity investment in Sri Lanka whilst it will be also the first investment in Asia in 2021. It is also NDB’s first foreign equity placement agreement. more..

Mar 8 (Island) Fast bowling is an arduous task and is doubly so in the Asian subcontinent, where docile pitches and energy-sapping heat takes their toll on those brave enough to take up the challenge. One must have a big heart, a great deal of determination and lots of skill to succeed as a fast bowler. Chaminda Vaas (CV) had plenty of these and a few more. He represented SL for over 15 long years with great distinction. He played nearly all his cricket alongside the great Murali; more..

Mar 8 (CT) The masterfully planned and executed murder, and the calm demeanour of the murderer is what makes the Hanwella murder case a crime so sinister and eerie that the public is eager to watch the story slowly unfold day-by-day. The horrific murder of the 30-year-old woman from Kuruwita in Theppennawa, with her murderer’s calm demeanour as he transported her body in a bus compact with other civilians, more..

Mar 8 (ST) The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the State Ministry of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and Covid Disease Control, affiliated to the Ministry of Health have granted permission to conduct the Rowing Nationals, according to SL Amateur Rowing Association (SLARA). The Senior and International Rowing Nationals 2021 will be held on March 12 and 13 at the Diyawanna Rowing Centre in Koswatte, Rajagiriya under strict health regulations & guidelines issued by officials, more..

Mar 8 (FT) Ceylon Motor Traders Association (CMTA) voiced its concerns over the new Standard Operations Procedure (SOP) proposed by the Ministry of Industries on local assembly and local value addition of motor vehicles. CMTA, SL’s only Ceylon Chamber of Commerce-affiliated automotive trade body with a 100-year history, points out key areas of concern in the backdrop of the SOP to be launched in March, first of which is that this policy was created without input from global more..

Mar 8 (TM) The hot topic going round the cricket circles here in Colombo, as sun set on Saturday, was that Minister Namal Rajapaksa is to appoint an interim committee on Monday for cricket by ousting the existing SLC executive committee, under President Shammi Silva. The appointment was to be made, it is said, with the Auditor General’s intervention on cricket board’s recent accounts. more..

Mar 8 (CT) Ragama CC skipper Ishan Jayarathne’s hat-trick helped his team to claim a thrilling 2-wicket win against Tamil Union at the ongoing Major Club T20 Cricket Tournament 2020/21 conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). Bowling the 17th over, Ishan snared Dilruwan Perera for 3, bowled Sachindu Colombage for a golden duck, and returned in the 19 over to complete his hat-trick when he bowled Shiran Fernando (0) to bowl out Tamil Union for 118 runs and spark wild celebrations. more..

Mar 8 (Island) Antigua is one of the finest tourist attractions in the world with some 300 beaches to boast about. Although the Europeans pick Barbados as their favourite Caribbean destination, Antigua is equally good and slightly less expensive. Barbados only has a population of 250,000. Antigua is even less – 90,000 people. Barbados has produced the finest players from the Caribbean, from the Three Ws, Sir Garry Sobers, Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall and all the other stars. more..

Mar 8 (FT) A group of long-term equity investors yesterday expressed optimism of improved outlook for the Colombo stock market as well as the economy following a meeting with State Minister Nivard Cabraal on Saturday. “We had a very positive discussion,” one of the investors said, adding that lot of ideas were exchanged as to how the market can be developed further along with improved investor sentiments. more..

Mar 8 (DN) Royal Turf Club (RTC) made a rousing launch to their upcoming Horse Racing Festival 2021 with the Mock Race at the Race Course in Nuwara Eliya, where the Fearless Stables and Stud Farm made an impressive warm-up leading up to the three-race event. Fearless Stables and Stud Farm runners Honourius and Spirited Touch, both ridden by jockey K. Sanjeewan, were placed first in the second and third races, while Santos, ridden by S.D. Janaka & owned by Edwards Stables, more..

Mar 8 (MoD) We will be able to vest the Mihindu Maha Seya, one of the oldest Stupas in the country, to the worshippers on completion of the restoration by October this year, said the Defence Secretary Gen. Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) today (6). While recalling the inauguration of the Mihindu Maha Stupa restoration process recently under the aegis of His Excellency the Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Defence Secretary said the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) has been entrusted with the restoration work. more..

Mar 8 (DM) If the present economic crisis continues, the people of Sri Lanka will have to forego one meal a day while it will lose everything it gained after the introduction of the open economy, former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said. Mr. Wickremesinghe said it will take a decade for the SL economy to bounce back. “The businesses lay off their staff as they have begun running at a loss. This will continue in 2022 as well. more..

Mar 8 (FT) Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said that 24 bodies of those who died due to the coronavirus infection that were in the cold storage have been buried after the Govt has given approval to bury the infected corpses. The Army Commander, who is also the head of the NOCPCO, said all the bodies were kept in cold storage subject to approval by the Ministry of Health. The bodies of 17 people who died due to corona infection have been buried in Ottamawadi area in Batticaloa. more..

Mar 8 (FT) Sri Lanka’s death toll of COVID-19 crossed the 500 mark yesterday with health authorities confirming five more fatalities. Two of the deaths occurred yesterday. They include that of an 82-year-old individual from Nugegoda who tested positive for COVID-19 while receiving treatment at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital. He was then admitted to the IDH, where he died of a kidney infection with COVID-19. An individual from Barawardena Oya also died yesterday, more..

Mar 8 (FT) A total of 735 persons tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend, including 359 patients detected yesterday. The patients detected yesterday include 321 associates of the Peliyagoda cluster and 16 persons from the Prisons cluster. Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons clusters have thus increased to 81,430. On Saturday, 376 persons tested positive for COVID-19, of which 83 were from Gampaha, 55 from Ratnapura, more..

Mar 8 (ST) Sri Lanka’s electricity shortage has become increasingly severe with declining hydro-power output owing to a prevailing drought combined with an over 18-month break-down at the 154 MW Kelanitissa Combined Cycle Power Plant causing a massive loss of over Rs.25 billion to the state. The CEB is still grappling to repair the power generator since 2019 due to a mechanical fault which occurred when hurriedly installing some necessary spare parts imported from India, more..

Mar 8 (CT) Saying that approximately 7,600 suspects have been arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday bombings, Public Security Minister, Rear Admiral (retired) Sarath Weerasekara added nearly 300 of them have been identified as being directly or indirectly responsible for the bombings. According to him, 32 of them have already been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and 241 are being held on detention orders, on charges of indirectly aiding and abetting the bombers. more..