Nov 27 (FT) The emergence of China as a market economy, leaving behind the Bamboo Curtain and out from the totalitarian dictatorship regime, was welcomed by the US and Westerners at large in early 1989. The transformation to a market economy had shifted the world opinion from human rights perspective to socio-economic liberalisation where it would lead to political and personal liberalisation. At the outset, the move was seen primarily as one-way flow of ideas and goods into China, more..

Nov 27 (AD) Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has appealed to the govt not to close schools once again. His remarks came during an event held in Kegalle yesterday. “The school system had to be closed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Cardinal said adding lack of peer relations affects the children’s cognitive development. He also stressed on threats children face online in the absence of proper parental guidance. more..

Nov 27 (Island) Public shouldn’t take the work to rule campaign by the CEB Engineers Union (CEBEU) seriously, said Spokesman of the newly launched Senior Engineers Association Nandika Pathirage. Pathirage alleged that the CEBEU was trying to delay the power generation plans. Once the plans were delayed these engineers could push for emergency power purchases to enrich themselves. “The delaying of power generation plans will lead to shortage of electricity in February or so. more..

Nov 27 (AD) As the newly-detected highly mutated Covid-19 variant of concern Omicron sparked serious global worry, Sri Lanka has decided to ban the arrival of foreign travellers who have been to six countries in the African continent. Accordingly, passengers with a travel history to South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini within the last 14 days will not be allowed entry to the island nation, CAA announced. more..

Nov 27 (NR) The Women’s World Cup Qualifier match between SL and West Indies in Harare has been called off over Covid-19 fears in the region. It is also understood that the tournament itself could be postponed – though the other two games on the day, Thailand vs USA and Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, went ahead on schedule – but that a decision is yet to be taken. Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva, said “The match has been cancelled, probably due to the Covid situation in the African countries. more..

Nov 27 (ST) For more than 40 years she has helped children of Hettimulla Junior school cross the main Kandy-Colombo road. Meet 84-year-old K. Lily Violet, lovingly known as traffic aachchi by thousands of children who have come in and out of the junior school. Recalling how she started out as traffic aachchi she said, “I was born on May 5, 1938 in Kegalle. My husband S.K. Sirisena worked as an SLTB driver.” She was widowed at a very young age when her daughter was just three years old. more..

Nov 27 (EN) State-run Litro Gas Lanka Ltd’s own ongoing investigations into a series of suspected explosions linked to cooking gas have revealed that substandard regulators, clip-on valves and tubes had caused the explosions, a company official said. The latest explosion was reported in Kandegedara, Nikaweratiya, taking total explosions so far to six. Litro Gas supplies 80% of the liquid petroleum gas (LPG) more..

Nov 27 (CT) Leading SL apparel manufacturer Brandix was named Exporter of the Year for the seventh time, winning the Award for 2019/20 at the 25th Presidential Export Awards 2019/20 and 2020/21. Organised by the EDB, the event was held under the patronage of Prez Rajapaksa. The company celebrated the collective effort of its 60,000 Associates in cementing its position as the highest contributor to the national economy across all categories of exports during this period. more..

Nov 27 (ST) The story is told of how Australian cricketer Mark Waugh, trying to sledge an English batsman, Jimmy Ormond, asked him “What are you doing here? You are not good enough to play for England” only to be told in return “At least I am the best player in my family,” a snide reference to Mark’s older brother and Australian captain Steve Waugh. Gotabaya Rajapaksa will probably be the first person to acknowledge that he is not the best player of the political game in his family. more..

Nov 27 (wsws) About 130 Katukelle Estate workers on Monday rejected management demands to sign a harsh new productivity agreement before being allowed to resume work at the tea estate. The workers have been locked out since Sept 29. Katukelle, which is part of the Talawakelle Estate and managed by the Maskeliya Plantation Company, is in Nuwara Eliya district, about 130 km from Colombo. Management’s attack on the workers followed a six-day strike from August 18 to 24 over increased workloads. more..

Nov 27 (AD) The Director-General of Health Services has confirmed 20 new coronavirus-related deaths for November 26, increasing the death toll in the country due to the virus pandemic to 14,278. The new fatalities include 13 males and 07 females. Among them are 04 individuals between the ages 30-59 years. The remaining 16 are in the age group of 60 years and above. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has reported that 519 more persons have tested positive for COVID-19 today. more..

Nov 27 (BBC) Police Scotland has announced it is to end its training work with police in SL, following concern over human rights abuses in the country. The force's long-standing involvement with law enforcement in SL has been criticised by campaigners and was suspended last year. Chief Constable Iain Livingstone has said it will not seek to renew the contract after it expires in March. Scottish officers have worked with local police in SL more..

Nov 27 (DM) The victim who was allegedly assaulted by a group of police officers including Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Ranmal Kodituwakku recently in Kiriella has filed a Fundamental Rights petition in Supreme Court. The victim Mishara Ranasinghe, a resident of Rajagiriya is seeking an order directing the Attorney General to institute action against five police officers including Senior DIG for their illegal conduct under and in terms of the Penal Code and Torture Act. more..

Nov 27 (ST) Preparing dishes in rice cookers or curries in microwave cookers have become family favourites among some Sri Lankans who can afford to turn to electric appliances. Electric and kerosene cookers and wood stoves are fast replacing gas cookers, due to gas shortages while some depend on takeaways or eating out. Restaurants in the meantime though grateful for the increased business after a long lockdown, also face the challenge of sourcing gas to cater to their customers. more..

Nov 27 (AD) Experts say that a fuel price formula should have been looked at as a permanent solution, however, he questioned the timing of it all. Senior Professor of the Dept of Economics at the Uni of Colombo, Sirimal Abeyratne, who is an advocate against price controls, is of the view that the way forward should be the fuel pricing formula. “We have been trained to believe that the govt can control the prices, especially the prices of oil more..

Nov 27 (DM) Revealing the consequences the govt officers have to face when they institute legal action against their high ranking officers for violating Fundamental Rights, a counsel yesterday informed SC that govt officers are now reluctant to come before Court for violation of their Fundamental Rights as the senior officers start to harass them frequently. Counsel Darshana Kuruppu made these remarks when the Fundamental Rights petition filed by OIC of Mawathagama Police Station more..

Nov 27 (NR) SJB says the govt must take immediate action to provide a solution to the serious concerns that have arisen over gas cylinders. National Organiser of the party MP Tissa Attanayake said a former Director of the Consumer Affairs Authority publicly stated that the required composition of gas cylinders has been amended, and claimed that the failure to conduct an investigation endangers lives. MP said initially a shortage of gas was reported, subsequently a significant price hike and more..

Nov 28 (ST) Without much ado, the Govt appears on the verge of postponing the elections to the 340 municipal, urban and smaller local councils whose terms would lapse in April next year. They will be given an extended one year by powers vested with the minister in charge. There’s hardly a whimper of protest from the Opposition. Nobody seems that keen on elections — or the elected. At least, Govt has not planned to dissolve these elected bodies and appoint Special Commissioners as more..

Nov 28 (ST) My dear Sajith, I thought I must write to you when I saw that you and your party, the telephone chaps, had finally staged a protest against Gota maama and his pohottuwa camp. It was good to see some kind of dissent, even if it was not on the scale of the Mahinda sulanga that we saw just a few years ago. In fact, many people were complaining that there was no opposition and that Gota maama and his pohottuwa chaps seem to be getting away with almost anything without a murmur of more..

Nov 28 (ST) The religious ceremonies to unveil Sanda Hiru Seya, the newly constructed temple in Anuradhapura to mark the victory in the three decade long northern insurgency, was held last week under the patronage of Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa and PM Mahinda Rajapaksa. From the President’s office, a top official was making his way to attend an event. He was accompanied only by his driver. Somewhere midway he noticed more..

Nov 28 (ST) The low depths to which some MPs in the current Parliament have fallen was yet again in evidence this week as a female Opposition MP was subjected to verbal sexual harassment by a male Govt MP, who then escaped punishment. There were several elements to the disgraceful saga surrounding the actions of Badulla District SLPP MP Thissakutti Arachchi. His speech to Parliament on November 20 during the Budget debate was a lengthy tirade against the Opposition. more..

Nov 28 (Island) Who is winning the battle of ideas? Not the govt, it’s mired in too many crises to claim victory of any sort. The Opposition, perhaps, but it depends on what opposition you are talking about. The anti-regimists are split into two camps: those who want the party in power out, and those who want a new party in. SJB subscribes to the former strategy, the JVP to the latter. Caught in-between are the likes of Champika Ranawaka, who more or less sway between acceptance of a major more..

Nov 28 (SO) Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that the Govt’s policy towards green agriculture remains unchanged and it will only give subsidies to promote organic farming. However, a decision has been taken to permit private sector companies to import and sell chemical fertiliser. The Minister said that the Govt will not intervene or give any subsidies to import chemical fertiliser. more..

Nov 28 (SO) The most horrendous aspect of the tragedy in Kinniya is that it could have been easily prevented in one of two ways. A bridge would have been the best option. It is incomprehensible that a foundation stone has been laid for a bridge across this lagoon way back in 2017 but no one in political authority had bothered to take it forward with the same enthusiasm displayed for building roads and bridges in the main cities. Politicians in remote areas are known to promise the earth to more..

Nov 28 (Island) Prez and his govt has swallowed some nasty stuff of their own making and finally backpedaled on what was proclaimed as an ironclad ban on the import of inorganic fertilizer. The prohibition was announced on April 26 and rescinded seven months later on Nov. 24 this year; but not without tremendous pressure by the scientific/expert lobby and widespread farmer protests. The scientists were given a platform mainly by the print media and they argued more..

Nv 28 (ST) Rugby, in SL, has a long and rich history, as one of the sports inherited by the colonials apart from cricket, football, billiards and snooker and other various sports, in which the country has achieved global recognition. Next to cricket, 7s rugby was a team sport where SL could have, at least by now, easily attained global status. Instead, Asia’s first and oldest Rugby Union, which was formed in 1879, are still travelling through that long dark tunnel with expectations of a light more..

Nv 28 (ST) Continuing their form from a fortnight, Clay Target Shooting Club of Colombo (CTSCC) dominated the NSSF Skeet National Championship 2021 all the way, but Airman Sandakalum Ranasinghe stole the show clinching the overall championship with 27 points in the final round of the two-day competition held at the Clay Target Shooting Club of Colombo’s Shotgun Range in Payagala, Kalutara. CTSCC’s Johann Fernando, with 23 points, bagged the silver medal while more..

Nv 28 (CT) Prez Rajapaksa, after declaring open the Golden Gate Kalyani, the newly constructed extradosed bridge on Wednesday (24) said that law can be enforced through an Act of Parliament against culprits revealed by the PCoI into the Easter Sunday attacks appointed by the previous Govt. He also pointed out that the PCoI has made recommendations that the then Govt, including the former President, PM and more..

Nov 28 (SO) Vaulting queen Sachini Perera once again renewed her own SL record with a leap of 3.60 metres at Army Athletics C'ship held at the Sugathadasa Stadium. Sachini, who leaped 3.57m last year renewing her own record during the National Athletics C'ship in October, was back in action at this meet where she cleared 3.60m with ease. She then attempted one chance at 3.70m without success. “It was hard to grip the pole after the heavy rain and wet conditions hence more..

Nov 28 (SO) SL football may be rising from the abyss gradually after some creditable performances in the SAFF Cup in Male and the Mahinda Rajapaksa Trophy four-nation invitation tournament at home, but the discipline of players has sunk to alarming levels, according to a former national star. Hooliganism in sport is usually associated with spectators who are fiercely loyal and tend to go overboard sometimes when they openly display their allegiance to club or in some cases country. more..

Nov 28 (CT) “It was around 7:10 in the morning when my kids kissed me goodbye and left for school. When leaving they told me that they might get onto the motor ferry with the other kids to get to school on time, since the ferry stops close to the school. I left them on the road as I usually do. As soon as I reached home I saw a neighbour, who usually travels in the ferry at the same time, coming back. When I inquired from him, more..

Nov 28 (ST) The target to make US$ 3 billion ICT industry in three years from the current $ 1.5 billion is underway with the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) incubating 450 start-ups by year-end, officials said. “In the next year, we aim to have 600 start-ups and bring it to 1000 more start-ups. Within three years we need start-ups to bring the industry to the targeted $3 billion,” Oshada Senanayake, Chairman Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRC) said. more..

Nov 28 (SO) The global travel and tourism event, World Travel Market (WTM), was launched earlier this month, as a hybrid event this year, promoting international travel. WTM was initially held at the Excel Exhibition Hall in London, which was then followed by a virtual event. SL Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) along with 20 travel and hospitality organisations participated in the event. SL HC in London extended its support to promote SL as a renowned destination in world travel. more..

Nov 28 (ST) SL women’s cricket team is officially out of next year’s ICC World Cup after Women’s World Cup qualifiers, being played in Zimbabwe, was called off yesterday owing to the introduction of travel restrictions from a number of countires, including the hosts Zimbabwe, and the breakout of a new COVID-19 variant in southern Africa. Cancellation of the qualifiers means top eight teams in the ranking along with hosts NZ more..

Nov 28 (Island) Next week, as the second Test between Sri Lanka and West Indies comes to a conclusion, Michael Tissera will be in Galle to give away Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne a trophy that bears his name and that of West Indies legend Sir Garry Sobers. Irrespective of the result of the second Test, Sri Lanka will retain the Sobers-Tissera Trophy having won the first Test. West Indies can only square the series and as the holders of the trophy, Sri Lanka will retain the title. more..

Nov 28 (ST) The US$500 million credit line for fuel from India would be received next week, officials said. Negotiations on petroleum-linked credit lines from West Asia and other regional economies are ongoing, according to senior Central Bank officials. They said that the regulator is currently arranging high-level discussions with respective Governments to secure short to medium-term govt to govt financing to buttress inflows as was mentioned in the six-month road map presented on Oct 1. more..