Nov 3 (AD) Ships carrying liquefied petroleum (LP) gas have already berthed in the Colombo Port, the Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. says. The current temporary shortage of domestic LP gas is due to delays in the distribution process, the company pointed out, adding that it will take necessary measures to rectify the situation. “Due to the price increase in the landed costs since July, the supplier has requested the Company to increase the aggregate value of the current LC facility by 109% as per the terms more..

Nov 3 (TM) Agriculture Professionals Front, comprising 14 trade unions and organisations associated with the agriculture industry, claimed that the existing ban on the use of chemical fertiliser has been formulated based on the two myths about chemical fertiliser being poison and causing chronic kidney disease (CKD). “SL’s agriculture is currently battling the largest crisis it has faced since Independence. more..

Nov 3 (DM) The body that was recovered from a 40-foot-deep water tank at the Gampola Hospital was not of a COVID19 patient but instead was of a heart patient, a spokesperson of the Hospital told the Daily Mirror today. Responding to media reports which stated that the victim was a COVID-19 patient, the spokesperson of the Gampola Hospital who is a medical officer himself said the victim was admitted to the hospital following a heart attack and not with the COVID-19 virus. more..

Nov 3 (DM) Only Parliament has the power to enact laws pertaining to 'One Country One Law' and not Presidential Task Forces, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said. Wijewardene who was speaking during a special program held at Sirikotha said the responsibility of implementing the One Country One Law concept did not lie with a Presidential Taskforce. “Prez went on to establish a Taskforce for One Country One law which is a prime example of exploiting such divisions. more..

Nov 3 (TM) Promising stricter protest action, including a fast-unto-death action, the hunger strike launched by farmers belonging to 41 farmers organisations in the Elahera area in Polonnaruwa, demanding the immediate supply of chemical fertiliser and agrochemicals such as pesticides and herbicides required for the Maha cultivation season, was ended yesterday. The farmers commenced the hunger strike near more..

Nov 3 (FT) COVID-19 vaccines were administered to 74,095 persons on Monday, with a total of 13,476,941 persons having received the first two doses of a vaccine while 2,393 persons have received a booster dose as well. 15,621,332 persons have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. On Monday, the first dose of Pfizer was administered to 56,923 persons and the second dose was administered to 1,135 persons. In total, the first dose of Pfizer more..

Nov 3 (CT) Chief of the Public Service United Nurses’ Union (PSUNU), Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera has been appointed as the new Chancellor of the University of Colombo. Ven. Ananda Thera said yesterday he received an appointment letter from President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and that he would assume duties on 17 November. The Ven. Thera said, however, he would carry out his duties as President of the PSUNU despite the new appointment. more..

Nov 3 (EN) With some 60% of the population vaccinated, Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 situation is expected to remain at a manageable state in the event of fourth wave of the epidemic, a health official said. Public movement and gatherings have seen an increase after Sri Lanka relaxed a COVID-19 lockdown on October 01 followed by a lifting of a six-moth long inter-province travel ban last Sunday (31), with some health experts expressing alarm more..

Nov 3 (FT) How effective is our regulation for the capital market to prevent ineffective practices? Effective regulation establishes the foundation for investor confidence, promotes the efficient functioning of the capital market, and thus lays the foundation for economic growth. It is critical that our regulatory environment is relevant and effective, and that our securities law is tailored to market needs and international best practices. To address the rising concerns the SEC more..

Nov 3 (FT) For much of its post-independence period SL has been characterised by twin deficits: fiscal deficits and deficits in the external current account. What this implies is the country spends more than it earns and consumes more than it produces. The two deficits are linked because the deficit in the external current account reflects the sum of the deficit in private savings (where private investment is greater than private savings) and govt dissaving (where govt expenditure is greater more..

Nov 3 (EN) Germany has converted a 13 million Euro loan from the lending agency KfW to build a maternity hospital in Galle, into a grant, the Finance Ministry said. KfW had originally given the loan to Galle’s Mahamodara Maternity Hospital that was damaged by the 2004 Tsunami. “Mahamodara Maternity Hospital, which was seriously damaged due to the Tsunami disaster is being reconstructed with the financial assistance from the German Govt through its KfW Bank,” Finance Ministry said more..

Nov 3 (DM) Colombo Uni Students' Union and the Student Community unanimously expressed their displeasure over the appointment of Ven. Murutthettuwe Ananda Thera as the new Chancellor of Colombo Uni. The Uni Students' Union claims that the Chancellorship of a uni should never be a political appointment or to fulfill a political agenda. Although the Chancellor has no statutory administrative powers, the he is a symbol of Uni's honour, especially at the graduation more..

Nov 3 (EN) Recent media reports that Sri Lanka is on high alert over the A.30 strain of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is not cause for immediate concern, according to a specialist. Dr Chandima Jeewandara, of university of Sri J'pura, said the lineage has almost gone extinct. The British scientific journal Nature reported on October 25 that A.30, also termed A.VOI.V2, that was detected in several patients in Angola, more..

Nov 3 (Island) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa said the SLPP was duty bound to preserve the unity among its coalition allies who had fought for the same cause. Speaking at the SLPPs fifth National Convention at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre. PM said the size of a political party did not matter, and what really mattered was the goal. “These parties have been with us through thick and thin. They are not the crutches of SLPP. Therefore, all parties must unite, & making that happen is our responsibility.” more..

Nov 3 (DM) The number of daily cases is very likely to see a major spike by the end of December this year, Health officials forewarned. Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said the number cases had surprisingly increased in several areas. “The spread of the virus cannot be controlled or stopped unless large gatherings are avoided irrespective of the implementation of safety measures,” he stressed. “Thus, people are strongly advised not to get into events where more..

Nov 3 (DM) SL became the latest country to offer booster shots for individuals who have already been vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus on Monday. The third dose or the booster dose was administered to frontline health workers including the tri-forces, Police, health and tourism sector personnel and other selected front liners. Programme was launched at the Colombo Army Hospital, where persons who had completed more..

Nov 3 (Island) SL High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda sought to further enhance economic cooperation with New Delhi, when he met the Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister of India Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi, yesterday. Minister Sitharaman, recalling her visits to Sri Lanka, extended a warm welcome to High Commissioner Moragoda. Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister of India and the HC of SL discussed a range of issues pertaining to bilateral economic cooperation. more..

Nov 3 (FT) Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has imposed fines on three financial institutions as penalties to enforce compliance during the third quarter of 2021. The action was by virtue of the powers vested under Section 19 (1) read together with section 19 (2) of the Financial Transactions Reporting Act, No. 06 of 2006 (FTRA). It empowers FIU to impose financial penalties on institutions for non-compliance with the provisions of the FTRA. The penalty may be prescribed more..

Nov 3 (AD) The joint alliance of trade unions of electricity, ports and petroleum services has organized a series of protests to be staged today against the selling of national resources. Speaking on the matter, Convener of CEB Joint Trade Union Alliance, Ranjan Jayalal said the protests are scheduled to kick off near the CEB head office at 12 noon this afternoon. However, there will be no power outages owing to the protest, more..

Nov 3 (CT) The relatives of the 11 youths who had been abducted and since missing, staged a protest opposite the premises of the Supreme Court yesterday expressing their strong disapproval on the decision taken by AG Sanjay Rajaratnam to withdraw the indictments filed against former Navy Commander, Admiral of the Fleet, Wasantha Karannagoda. They had gathered yesterday to meet the AG and express their plight. However, when it became obvious that meeting the AG was more..

Nov 3 (CT) Nearly 600 acres which had been abandoned in the Iralkuli village, Muttur Divisional Secretariat have been released to farmers for cultivation, Trincomalee District SLPP MP and District Development Committee Co-Chair Kapila Athukorala said yesterday (2). MP Athukorala said a ceremony to commence cultivation was also held. Trincomalee District Secretary, Saman Dharshana Pandikorala was present. Athukorala said this area had been abandoned for many years. more..

Nov 3 (AD) The joint alliance of trade unions of electricity, ports and petroleum services launched a series of protests today (3) challenging the selling of national resources. The main demonstration of the protest series kicked off in front of the CEB head office in Colombo this afternoon. The trade unions are urging the govt to scrap the agreement executed with the US-based New Fortress Energy Inc. on the Yugadanavi Power Plant in Kerawalapitiya. more..

Nov 3 (DM) Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando through his legal consultants Premier Legal Consultants informed CID today that he was unable to comply with the lattet's request to give a statement as directed by the Supreme courts. Fr. Fernando was summoned to appear before CID again today to record a statement he made recently refering to intelligence officers. "We are instructed to inform that our client had already filed SC FR application 344/2021 with Supreme courts complaining that he is under imminent infringement more..

Nov 3 (AD) Court of Appeal today rejected the writ application challenging the appointment of Ajith Nivard Cabraal as Governor of Central Bank. The writ application had been filed by former Southern Province Governor Ranjith Keerthi Tennakoon, seeking a court order revoking the appointment and directing the IGP to arrest Cabraal and initiate investigations into the matter. When Appeals Court Judges Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Dhammika Ganepola took up the writ application today, more..

Nov 3 (TM) Contrary views have been expressed by the health authorities concerning the risk posed by the Covid-19 variant named “A.30”. Sri Lanka need not be worried about the A.30 Covid-19 variant as it is rare and because the vaccines developed thus far against Covid-19 have proven to be effective against all related virus strains that have evolved, according to University of Sri Jayewardenepura Allergy Immunology and Cell Biology Unit Director Dr. Chandima Jeewandara. more..

Nov 3 (AD) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa held fruitful discussions with heads of state and representatives with the aim of promoting trade, tourism and education sectors. President, who is in Glasgow to attend COP-26 UN Climate Change Conference, held these discussions yesterday (Nov 2). President Rajapaksa and the Crown Prince and PM of Bahrain Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa held discussions on further strengthening the long-standing friendship between SL & Bahrain. more..

Nov 3 (EN) The ruling SLPP, juggling crises on multiple fronts amid rising tensions in the coalition it leads, has its work cut out to win back the trust that the people of SL – many of them young voters disillusioned with party politics – had placed in the five-year-old party. That seemed to be the crux of the uncharacteristically sombre speech that PM and SLPP Chairman Mahinda Rajapaksa gave at the party’s fifth anniversary convention more..

Nov 3 (CT) Indian High Commissioner Gopal Bagley said investors and pharmaceutical manufacturers in India were prepared to invest in manufacturing plants in SL. A Health Ministry official, quoting High Commissioner Bagley, during his meeting with Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, said this would enable the two countries to capture the pharmaceutical market. The official said yesterday (2) that the duo had met on Monday (1) evening, during which High Commissioner had said more..

Nov 3 (DM) SL leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has topped the bowling charts of the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings for the first time in his career after two successive three-wicket hauls against South Africa and England. He replaces South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi, who was at the top since 10 April this year. The top four bowlers in the rankings are all wrist spinners, with England’s Adil Rashid overtaking Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan to take third place with a career-best 730 rating points. more..

Nov 3 (Island) Bar Association of SL (BASL) says no useful purpose would be served by the creation and appointment of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) to facilitate the implementation of the “One Law, One Country” concept. BASL asserts that the proposed PTF would carry out the functions of many institutions established under the Constitution and the law, including Parliament and Ministry of Justice. more..

Nov 3 (EN) Sri Lanka stock index touched a fresh record closing high on Wednesday as investor sentiment was bullish on the risky assets on earning hopes after companies reported better-than-expected profits, brokers said. The gain was led by Commercial Leasing and Finance (CLC) and the day’s gain saw the company becoming the market heavyweight valued at with 452 billion rupees, surpassing Expolanka holdings, a cross-border freight forwarder. more..

Nov 3 (TM) With both Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. and Laugfs Gas PLC consumers facing gas shortages in the market this week, Morning learnt that the supplier of gas to Litro Gas Lanka is demanding an increase of the aggregate value of the current letter of credit (LC) facility by 109% as per the terms of the contract, which has led to the current shortage of gas in the market. “There is a financial hold on the cargo as the supplier is demanding an increase of the SBLC (standby letter of credit) value more..

Nov 3 (AD) Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are considering launching a cruise service between the countries to boost regional tourism. Regarding the issue, a virtual meeting was held recently by the Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) with the participation of the concerned stakeholders, said sources at the BTB. BTB Chief Executive Officer Dr Jabed Ahmed said, “We have MoU on tourism with a number of countries. more..

Nov 3 (EN) Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and the market regulator will kick start its first post-COVID investor forum in Dubai on Friday (5) to reverse outflow from the bourse and attract much needed foreign inflows from the SL diaspora, the CSE said in an invitation to Sri Lankans in Dubai. The latest move comes as SL’s 4.5 trillion rupee (US$ 22.5 billion) worth stock market has suffered a foreign outflow of around 45 billion rupees so far this year with country facing a risk of sovereign default more..

Nov 3 (Island) Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (retd.) Sarath Weerasekera yesterday said that it had taken the US 20 years to commence the legal process against the mastermind of Sept 11 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and France seven years to prosecute the mastermind of the November 2015 Paris attacks. “We started the prosecution of the mastermind of the Easter Sunday attacks within two and a half years. Almost all that has to be done by the police have been completed. more..

Nov 4 (DM) The highly anticipated United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP26 meaning Conference of the Parties has begun in the Scottish City of Glasgow attended by delegates from some 200 countries to announce how they will help the planet by cutting emissions by 2030. With the world warming because of fossil fuel emissions caused by humans, scientists warn that urgent action is needed to avoid a climate catastrophe, a BBC report says. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said more..

Nov 4 (DM) Farmers’ agitation has become an issue that weighs heavily with the govt. Rice, fruit and vegetable growers took to the streets urging the govt to provide them with fertilizer for cultivation. The fertilizer shortage, triggered by Prez Rajapaksa’s decision to ban chemical farming, is now bound to create multiple effects in the agricultural supply chain; possibly leading to a high cost of living in the end. The political cost is already visible, and the rulers themselves have felt the pinch of it. more..