Mar 3 (FT) Premier blue chip John Keells Holdings (JKH) has got a big boost via the Govt’s move on the proposed West Container Terminal (WCT) in the Colombo Port following the Cabinet decision. Company and industry analysts said JKH is likely to have a significant stake in the joint venture with Indian giant Adani within the 85% stake offered for a SL-foreign private sector consortium. The balance 15% stake will be held by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). more..

Mar 3 (Island) Under severe pressure on the human rights front with UN Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet pushing for punitive measures against Sri Lanka, Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said that the govt wouldn’t hesitate to introduce news laws in Parliament to guarantee protection for the armed forces. He emphasized that they were even ready to provide what he called constitutional safety for the armed forces. more..

Mar 3 (FT) Vaccinations are afoot. This is somewhat bizarre here, under the circumstances. It is particularly bizarre as WHO just said there is no demonstration they stave off re-infection or transmissibility, and therefore not to create a Vaccine Passport. US fickle public health chameleon Fauci said you should still wear masks and avoid indoor dining, post vaccination. So, the vaccines, then do what? Apparently, possibly, suppress symptoms. more..

Mar 3 (DM) Four students in connection with separate incidents related to the GCE O/L exam were arrested in Mullaitheevu and Kekirawa, DIG Ajith Rohana said. He said a 27-year-old person was arrested yesterday at Silawatta school in the Mullaitheevu police area for cheating by impersonation. Police found that the impersonated person was from the Parakkulam area in Nedunkerny. He sat for the O/L exam impersonating another candidate yesterday. more..

Mar 3 (DN) The Botanical Gardens Act No. 31 of 1928 will be amended to redefine the boundaries of all botanical gardens in the country to stop illegal settlements and constructions. Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that the new Bill has already been submitted to the Legal Draftsman’s Department. “The Botanic Gardens Ordinance, which is more than 90 years old, was slightly amended in 1973 under the new Republican Constitution and no other amendments more..

Mar 3 (FT) Did or did not SL face separatist terrorism from the LTTE and other sources? Why cannot the so-called High Commissioner for Human Rights accept this truth? Why instead, does the High Commissioner’s Report directly and indirectly try to justify that separatist terrorism? It appears that the words terrorism and separatism have been taboo to the High Commissioner. However, criticisms about Buddhism, Sinhala-Buddhist ethno-nationalism and majoritarianism frequently appear in Report. more..

Mar 3 (Island) The Women MPs Caucus has submitted a motion seeking the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee to look into gender based discriminations and violations of women’s rights in the country. The motion now entered in the latest Addendum to the Order Book of Parliament says that the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus chaired by Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, has resolved the necessity of more..

Mar 3 (DN) The case filed against former Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne and former SPC Chairman Rumi Mohammed in connection with the controversial White Van Press Conference during the 2019 Presidential Election was yesterday fixed for April 28 by Colombo High Court. When the case came up before High Court Judge Damith Thotawatte, the Attorney General sought further time to tender several documents listed in the indictments to the defence. more..

Mar 3 (AD) Prez has agreed to prioritize employees of factories and the tourism sector when the next batch of COVID-19 vaccine arrives in the country, Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga stated. He said that a list of nearly 20,000 hotel employees, tour guides, and drivers registered with the Tourism Development Authority has been submitted to the Ministry of Health. He mentioned this at a special meeting held at the Ministry of Tourism today to discuss the progress of the plan to more..

Mar 3 (AD) Sri Lanka is expected to receive the first batch of COVID vaccines under the COVAX facility this weekend, says State Minister Sudarshini Fernandopulle. Her remarks came during an event held at the Chilaw Hospital today. The vaccine consignment with 264,000 doses will accordingly arrive in Sri Lanka on Sunday. Under the COVAX facility, WHO had agreed to provide Sri Lanka with 20% of the vaccine requirement more..

Mar 3 (TM) The govt has obtained loans amounting to Rs. 5,780 billion in less than two years but no explanation has been given as to how these funds were spent, SJB MP Kabir Hashim said today. He said the govt has obtained about Rs. 2,850 billion in loans in 2020 and Rs. 2,950 billion after the budget 2021 was presented. The MP accused State Minister of Capital Market Ajith Nivard Cabraal of failing to explain how the govt utilized the loans that were obtained during 2020 and 2021. more..

Mar 3 (Island) SJB heavyweight Lakshman Kiriella, MP, said that the Attorney General shouldn’t be denied access to any information pertaining to the PCoI report on the Easter carnage, as he was the chief law officer of the state. The former minister was responding to the AG’s department announcement that 22 volumes wouldn’t be released to it due to national security reasons. MP said that the refusal to hand over 22 of 87 volumes received from the PCoI had exposed incumbent govt. more..

Mar 3 (DM) Muslims in Sri Lanka will make an urgent appeal to Prez and PM, to find a suitable land for the burial of Muslim COVID-19 victims, instead of burying them in the island of Iranaitivu, in the Gulf of Mannar, stating it was not a practical solution to bury the victims there. The trustees of the Maradana mosque have written to the Director General of Health, Dr. Asela Gunawardena requesting the Kupiyawatta Muslim burial more..

Mar 3 (Island) There is obviously no love lost between the incumbent SL govt and the UNHRC, but the former seems to have taken a leaf out of the latter’s book. It has adopted the practice of using reports to scare and tame its political opponents. In what looks a counterattack on the political front, the Rajapaksa govt has decided to release the report of the PCoI that probed allegations of corruption and irregularities under the yahapalana govt from 14 Jan. 2015 to 31 Dec. 2018. more..

Mar 3 (Island) In an interview, Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa had conceded that every time that an Interim Committee was in place that our cricket had slumped! Now, there are few things that the Sports Minister is good at like for example playing rugby, driving fast cars and practicing law. In racing, Namal has so many tricks up his sleeve that at times he makes Ayrton Senna look ordinary. In rugby, Namal’s beloved Navy SC made the invincible Kandy SC eat humble pie. more..

Mar 3 (EN) The Indian High Commission in SL has disassociated itself with Colombo’s announcement suggesting that New Delhi was involved in approving an investment into the West Container Terminal (WCT) in Colombo port. Indian diplomats said they were by the cabinet statement that India had approved an investment in the WCT. “Approvals of investments in SL is a matter for SL authorities and not the Indian HC,” more..

Mar 3 (FT) Kuwait Airways, national carrier of the State of Kuwait yesterday hailed the SL Govt’s efforts to boost tourism and rejuvenate air travel into SL and overcoming the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Airline whose colourful history in Sri Lanka extends back over four decades and had previously resumed scheduled operations to SL from 28 Jan 2021, coinciding with the upcoming airport reopening in the country is set to ramp up its operations to Sri Lanka more..

Mar 3 (EN) Attorney General Dappula de Livera has ordered the Police to arrest all the police officers allegedly involved in the assault on law student Migara Gunaratne at the Peliyagoda Police station last week, the AG’s office said. The Public Security Minister Adm. (Ret) Sarath Weerasekara had earlier ordered the interdiction of a group of Police officers who allegedly assaulted the student who had been visiting a detainee at the Peliyagoda police station. Weerasekara announced that more..

Mar 3 (FT) Committee on Public Finance informed officials of the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) to come up with an innovative strategic plan that works in the interest of the public, calling on CBSL not to act like State or commercial banks which are profit and ratings oriented. Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance MP Anura Priyadharshana Yapa stated that the Monetary Board should fulfil its responsibilities properly more..

Mar 3 (FT) A new committee headed by the State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal will be appointed to conduct monthly reviews & fast-track implementation of 289 development projects worth over Rs. 3.5 trillion. Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the decision was taken after a quarterly review done by the Finance Ministry into Budget-funded projects begun in 2020. The report found 289 development projects each over Rs. 1 billion were implemented under 40 line ministries in 2020. more..

Mar 3 (EN) It is nearly two years since the Easter bombings killed about 115 in the St. Sebastian’s Church (Catholic) in Katuwapitiya, about 50 in the St. Anthony’s Church (Catholic) in Kochchikade, about 30 in the Zion Church in Batticaloa, and about 66 more at other locations including three big tourist hotels. Those responsible have often been identified by their ethnicity (Muslim) and religion (Islam). However, the masterminds, as well as high-level politicians and govt officials who more..

Mar 3 (MB) As SL’s Forest Department embarks on a reforestation campaign in an area previously cleared for new settlements, environmental activists and lawyers have hailed the unprecedented court ruling that ordered a top govt official to pay for the effort. Replanting in the affected 1,200-hectare (3,000-acre) part of the Wilpattu Forest Complex (WFC) has just begun, following the court order handed down last November. more..

Mar 3 (AD) Attorney at Law Hejaaz Hezbullah and principal of the controversial Madrasa school Mohamed Shakeel have been further remanded until March 18. The case was taken up before the Fort Magistrate’s Court today. Based on investigations of the CID, the AG found Hizbullah a suspect of misconduct or other means of inciting or inciting racist animosity or malicious or hostile feelings between different ethnic groups or ethnic or religious groups under Prevention of Terrorism Act. more..

Mar 3 (Island) The Sri Lanka Youth Scrabble team was placed third at the recent Gladiators World Youth Scrabble Championship which was held as the first virtual youth cup. Sri Lanka defeated Nepal, the US and Malaysia to qualify for the quarter-finals. At the quarter-finals they edged out Australia to secure a place in the semi-finals. While the Thailand Youth team won the championship, Pakistan and Sri Lanka settled for the first and second runner up positions respectively. more..

Mar 3 (EN) Residents of the island of Iranativu off the Gulf of Mannar are protesting against the decision announced yesterday by the govt to bury the remains of those who die of Covid 19 on the tiny island. Yesterday EconomyNext reported that the decision would worsen the current tensions on the island which has been held by the Sri Lanka Navy for many years. Its traditional occupants had been moved to the mainland in 1997 and more..

Mar 3 (AD) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa charges that the COVID-19 vaccination is administered out of priority list order. Speaking at an event in Dedigama, he said that the COVID-19 vaccination has now become politicized. “In other countries, the health sector comes first, then the security services that help the health sector, and then the elderly. With such a classification, there is a certain priority list.” Opposition Leader further stated that he will not receive COVID-19 vaccine. more..

Mar 3 (DM) Governor of Sabaragamauwa Province Tikiri Kobbekaduwa was ordered by Ratnapura High Court Judge Lanka Jayaratne to reinstate Chairman of the Balangoda Urban Council who had been suspended from his post and restrained the relevant Gazette notification. The High Court made that order after considering a petition filed by Chairman of the UC Chamika Jayamini Wimalasena (UNP). Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, Vice Chairman of the UC- M.T.M. Rumy, Retired High Court Judge more..

Mar 3 (TM) A programme to reforest part of the Wilpattu Forest at a cost of Rs. 1 billion, following the Court of Appeal ruling that ordered former Minister and incumbent MP Rishad Bathiudeen to pay for engaging in deforestation for resettlement activities, is yet to get off the ground. Forest Dept Deputy Conservator Nishantha Edirisinghe said that the Department is ready to implement a reforestation programme but is awaiting SC decision. more..

Mar 3 (DM) Two individuals from the Gampaha District have died two days after being vaccinated and the Health Ministry is investigating as to whether it could be attributed to the vaccine, Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said. He said there is a particular procedure to find out whether it had any link to the vaccine. “We are currently investigating to ascertain whether these deaths were due to the vaccination,” Dr. Herath said. Divulapitiya police said a 57-year-old person more..

Mar 3 (AD) Court of Appeal has directed the Attorney General to examine and submit a report on the alleged illegal construction and development projects at the Muthurajawela Wetlands on March 9. The petitions filed by Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and the Center for Environmental Justice seeking an injunction suspending illegal construction and development activities in the Muthurajawela Wetland Zone were taken up today before Justices more..

Mar 3 (DM) While saying that the guidelines with regard to the burial of COVID-19 victims have been finalized and the relevant circular will be issued today, Director-General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena said today the decision to select Iranaithivu Island to bury COVID victims was temporary and preliminary. He told media that the decision would be temporary until the committee comprising of Provincial Councils more..

Mar 4 (DM) The govt’s ongoing vaccination programme, which is the main topic of concern and conversation these days, appears to have hit a snag with the GMOA sounding alarm bells that it would soon collapse if no proper mechanism was in place. GMOA Committee Member Dr. Prasad Colombage said on Monday that the COVISHIELD vaccination programme was expected to continue smoothly as was seen during its initial phase when frontline workers were inoculated. more..

Mar 4 (DM) If you are not with me, I will assume that you are against me, is a prudent rule of thumb, but only in certain situations. Not all questions can be answered with either yes or no. Complex realities don’t often offer such luxurious indulgences. This is true of people, it is true of nations and whenever there are multiple factors in play. There are costs and there are benefits, always and therefore decisions are based on assessing marginal benefits and marginal costs. more..

Mar 4 (DM) After more than 300 days since cremation was made mandatory for the COVID- 19 deceased, Govt reversed the decision through Gazette 2216/38 on Feb 25, by allowing the burial of those who succumbed to COVID- 19. Further to the decision to allow burials, on March 2, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella stated that Iranaithivu island was chosen as a place to bury the COVID-19 deceased. more..

Mar 4 (Island) The vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 organism that causes COVID-19 disease are now being rolled out with great enthusiasm in many countries. Any vaccine, by definition, is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease. All vaccines help the normal defence mechanisms of the human body to fight infective organisms. A vaccine typically contains an organic preparation from disease-causing microorganism, more..

Mar 4 (FT) Uber Eats presented delivery partners with a variety of home appliances such as TVs, micro-waves, refrigerators, washing machines and even a motorcycle to recognise their efforts for keeping vital supply lines open through the pandemic. The top award of a brand-new motorcycle at the Uber Eats Delivery Bonanza was won by Neil De Lille from Colombo based on the number of trips and customer service he provided. Six awards were won by female Diviyata Diriya delivery more..

Mar 4 (CT) A few months ago, Sri Lanka had little or no hope of obtaining a vaccine for its citizens, despite a majority in the world being hopeful of gaining access to a vaccine against COVID-19 developed by the UK, China, Russia or India. Therefore, not only its common citizenry, but even those who were considered as belonging to the so-called elite groups, were seen chasing after concoctions made by witchdoctors and more..

Mar 4 (ST) Most of the adults know what inflation is, because they have experienced it as a real-life situation. They may explain this to their children: “Those days, we took money in the wallet and brought our purchases in a basket; nowadays, we have to take money in a basket to bring the purchases in the pocket.” That is exactly, what we mean by inflation. Those days are, however, gone now. It is not surprising nowadays, even if students learning economics have a difficulty in more..

Mar 4 (GV) Every day in Sri Lanka, newspapers, television and social media platforms cite examples of ecocide, a terrible crime that spells doom to the future of all life, human and otherwise. Senior representatives of the govt encourage ecocide in the name of supposed social justice while the real benefactors of this wanton destruction are their financial allies, corporate entities who wish to exploit as much as they can from the land, as soon as they can, and with little care for more..