Oct 23 (FT) With the country’s debt piling up, Cabinet has approved a $ 3.6 billion loan from Oman to buy oil and will review a proposal for a further $ 500 million credit line from India next week as part of multiple efforts to manage the burgeoning fuel and foreign exchange crisis. Minister Udaya Gammanpila confirmed a Cabinet nod for the Oman loan in what would be the biggest credit facility for the energy sector, with the necessary more..

Oct 23 (DM) Labour Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has assured the Ceylon Bank Employees Union (CBEU) to take swift measures to safeguard the rights of the banking sector employees amidst multiple reports on their right violations by the employers. At a meeting held at the Labour Ministry recently, CBEU President Channa Dissanayake accused that some employers in the banking sector have been targeting their employees with revengeful acts in particular when it comes to more..

Oct 23 (Island) Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) was charged USD 0.22 to unload a metric tonne of fuel at China bay, but the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) had to pay USD 2.72 per tonne, Convener of the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya of the CPC, Ananda Palitha, told the media yesterday. Thus, the cost incurred by LIOC is significantly lower than that by the CPC, he said. “LIOC sheds didn’t have fuel a few days ago but there was enough fuel at their storage complex in Trincomalee. more..

Oct 23 (CT) JJB MP Vijitha Herath on Friday claimed that SL had deposited USD 1.275 million to an account of a private company, as payment for the recently imported Nano Liquid Nitrogen Fertiliser from India, violating the due process. “The treasury had requested the People’s Bank to release USD 1.275 million as payment for the import on 18 Oct. The due process for this type of transaction would be to make payments more..

Oct 23 (CT) SL recorded its first death from the Black Fungus (Mucormycosis) disease, Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, Dr. Rohan Ruwanpura said. He said a 56-year-old man from Elpitiya died while receiving treatment at the Hospital on 29 Sept. Assistant JMO Dr. Samadhi Dandeniya Arachchi, who performed the postmortem, had sent the samples to be tested by Medical Research Institute’s (MRI), Consultant Mycologist, Dr. Primali Jayasekara. more..

Oct 23 (DM) Referring to the reports of a COVID-19 death due to Black Fungus at Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, Hospital Director Dr. Shelton Perera said the death was not due to Black Fungus infection. He said that the COVID death was reported on Sept 26 and added a sample of lung tissue was sent to the Medical Research Institute after an abnormality was observed in the lungs. “Report was released yesterday (21) where it was underlined that there were black fungi in victim's lungs,” more..

Oct 23 (DM) Chinese Nationals who were recipients of both doses of the Sinopharm vaccine were given the third dose at the Port City compound today becoming SL’s first rollout of Sinopharm third-dose booster vaccination. CMC Regional Epidemiologist Dr. Dinu Guruge said the Chinese Nationals were the first to receive the Sinopharm vaccine in SL. “The vaccination drive for the Chinese will be held today and tomorrow and more..

Oct 23 (FT) Let us start by acknowledging how pointless and largely nonsensical COVID mitigation measures are. In many areas of the US there are no mask requirements now, many tens of thousands are merrily packed into arenas, dining indoors, walking through crowded indoor malls, gathering for conferences, working in offices, enjoying face to face conversations with not a face nappy in sight. However, in that same city Uber drivers require customers to wear masks, take photos more..

Oct 23 (FT) At a time when Sri Lanka is sitting on the very bottom rung of the world ladder concerning every aspect of a modern society, there is a glimmer of hope for the future, thanks to the unsung work of a group of invaluable individuals who I call the Magnificent Seven. Despite the differences in their modus operandi, they all have the same honourable goal in mind: bring back SL to its former and would-be glory through a change in personnel and the system of governance of Sri Lanka. more..

Oct 23 (DN) The attendance of teachers, Principals and students after the reopening of schools was very satisfactory, said the Minister of Education Dinesh Gunawardena. He said that 5059 schools were approved to reopen following the recommendations of the Director General of Health. On April 23, 2021, schools were forced to close due to the re-imposing of COVID travel restrictions. “This first phase included only Grades 1 to 5 in schools with a student population of less than 200. more..

Oct 23 (AD) Ministry of Health says 437 more people were tested positive for the novel coronavirus so far today. This brings the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in the country to 535,412. Reportedly, more than 18,700 virus-infected patients are undergoing treatment at the moment at hospitals, treatment centres, and undergoing home-based care. Total number of coronavirus recoveries reached 503,090 after 360 more patients in total were discharged from more..

Oct 23 (FT) Fitch Ratings said this week that it was less convinced with the Central Bank’s short-term Road Map and called for more enduring improvements, whilst downgrading its 2021 economic growth forecast to 3.3% from 3.8% previously. This assessment, as well as Fitch’s fresh concerns, has been included in its What Investors Want to Know: Emerging-Market Sovereigns – 4Q21 report. Fitch Ratings Director – more..

Oct 23 (Island) Removing the subsidy and asking the farmers to buy their fertiliser requirement would have been the right answer to the problems created by the excessive use of chemical fertiliser, State Minister Dr. Nalaka Godahewa said. Godahewa said that he was not sure whether anyone had understood the current fertiliser issue correctly. People were talking about solutions and fighting over them without asking what was the issue in the first place. more..

Oct 23 (EN) SL-based Ceylon Fertilizer Company Limited had got a court order to block payment to Qingdao Seawin Biotech over shipment of organic fertilizer which was contaminated with bugs. “The enjoining order has prevented the People’s Bank from making any payment under a Letter of Credit opened in favour of the Chinese company, Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd,” a statement from the Prez’s office said. Colombo Commerical High Court had issued the order on Oct 22, more..

Oct 23 (AD) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who inspected a farm that has adopted entirely organic cultivation methods today (23), said he was elected to make a bigger difference in the country. “Even the past govts have attempted to do this [switch to organic farming] and this is a difficult task,” he added. Further, Prez Rajapaksa said he believes that he was not elected just to look into the prices of essential items but to make more..

Oct 23 (AD) A special meeting between the Ambassador of China to SL, Qi Zhenhong and the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa took place on Friday (22) at Office of the Leader of the Opposition in Colombo. During the discussion, the Opposition Leader has emphasized the importance of mutual cooperation between the two countries and the importance of friendly bilateral relations that protect the sovereignty of SL. Further, he requested assistance required to manage the debt more..

Oct 23 (AD) The Committee on High Posts has approved the appointments of 03 secretaries to ministries and two ambassadors, the Secretary-General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake said in a statement. The approval was given today (22) at the Committee on High Posts chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. The secretary-general stated that approval was given to Secretary to the Ministry of Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Govt J.J. Ratnasiri, Secretary to more..

Oct 23 (EN) President Secretary P B Jayasundera has urged a police probe following a media report which alleged that he had influenced a state bank to open a bank account linked to fertilizer imports from India. “Secretary to the Prez has informed the IGP to summon all relevant parties and conduct a formal and comprehensive investigation into the newspaper report immediately,” the Prez’s media office said. more..

Oct 23 (TM) About 50 prisoners are currently rioting at the Welikada Prison. Most of the rioters are inmates who are either on death row or life sentences for the crimes they have committed, The Morning learns. The protests began about a month ago when some prisoners climbed to the roof tops of the Welikada Prisons and has now progressed into riots with prison guards being called in to control the situation. Sources said that the prisoners have now reached the breaking point and more..

Oct 23 (ST) Sandamali Perera went to her local shop to replace her gas cylinder on Monday while gas prices were on the increase. The shop owner sold her a cylinder of gas for Rs. 2,750, saying the price had increased from Rs. 1,250. She had heard that the gas companies had deducted Rs. 75 from gas prices but when she asked the shop owner for the rebate she was rebuffed. “The shop owner would have known the price reduction. They increase prices even before price hikes are announced more..

Oct 23 (EN) Sri Lanka needs to work on its pre-retirement social-security systems such as unemployment benefits and wage support as COVID-19 pandemic slashed 150,000 jobs in the country affecting mostly youth and middle-skilled workers, a Colombo-based think tank said. The pandemic has reduced employment levels and worsened employment conditions in Sri Lanka, similar to the other countries. more..

Oct 23 (AD) The CID has arrested a youth in connection with the recent garlic scam, the police spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa says. The 25-year-old was apprehended for aiding and abetting the pilferage of garlic consignment weighing up to 54,000 kg by forging documents. He will be produced before the Welisara Magistrate’s Court today. The arrestee was identified as the son of the businessman from Bambalapitiya who was taken into custody on suspicion of purchasing more..

Oct 23 (EN) Rising prices will hurt the poor in SL but controls are have never worked, sent wrong signals and cannot be a part of any price stability and poverty reduction program, senior economist Sirimal Abeyratne has said. An overall reform package is needed to stabilize prices and raise incomes of the people, he said. SL’s main price control agency, the Consumer Affairs Authority abandoned controls after creating severe shortages and difficulties for consumers but National Medical Regulatory more..

Oct 23 (FT) Despite the unfair rice and sugar price increase seen in the market, the Govt has turned a deaf ear to the consumers’ cry on the ever-increasing cost of essential food items. “We have not yet taken any decision to re-impose the Maximum Retail Price (MRP),” Consumer Protection State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna told the Daily FT. Traders have increased sugar prices, ignoring stricter laws and fines brought in to enforce more..

Oct 23 (EN) Capital Alliance, a Colombo-based investment house, said investors in initial public offerings managed by the firm will be able to subscribe through an online portal. “With the IPO Portal, we are helping clients reimagine their IPO process, offering a wider investor reach to corporates seeking to raise capital in this new, increasingly contactless world,” Vishnu Balachandran – Head of Investment Banking at Capital Alliance said in a statement. more..

Oct 23 (AD) Director-General of Health Services today issued preventive measures at religious places during the pandemic in a bid to protect the clergy, staff, worshippers and others from COVID-19 infection. In a communiqué issued to all deputy director generals, provincial and regional directors of health services and other relevant health officials, Dr. Asela Gunawardena stated that there should not be overcrowding outside and inside of places of worship, entrance, lobbies, waiting areas, more..

Oct 23 (ST) For several weeks, a popular photo print shop in Union Place was teeming with people who stood in long lines to get their passport and visa requirements sorted. This rush was to meet the application deadline for the US Green Card Lottery. In general, however, visa inquiries have doubled after lockdown was lifted, said Sanjeewa Nanayakkara, the shop’s manager. In recent months, there is growing discussion more..

Oct 23 (TM) With the Covid-19 restrictions being relaxed and the irresponsible behaviour of the people in society, a re-bound in the pandemic has been projected by the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS). This was mentioned in a media release by the expert committee yesterday (23). Whilst commending the President and other active participants of COVID control efforts for their untiring efforts in steering Sri Lanka to achieve a common goal of a COVID free Sri Lanka, more..

Oct 23 (CT) Ven. Ithalwetunuwewe Gnanathilaka Thera, Chancellor of the Rajarata University and the Chief Incumbent of the Mirisawetiya Rajamaha Viharaya, explained to High Commissioner of Canada David McKinnon that although some politicians in SL are racist, the SL Govt is not racist. The Canadian High Commissioner arrived in Anuradhapura on Friday (15), to pay a courtesy call on Ven. Gnanathilaka Thera. He also called on Atamasthanadhipati Dr. Pallegama Sirinivasa more..

Oct 24 (Island) From Tidbinbilla to rain forests, red wines to thelijja, cappaccino to kurumba, five-stars to homestay…. Just when I thought I had touched every nook and cranny of SL, it sprung yet another surprise. An old Uni friend suggested ‘why not visit the unusual and weird landscape called Ussangoda—the place in Hindu Mythology where King Ravana landed his air machine, dandu-monara? And off came another nugget! He said a batchmate of ours lived in a century-old house in a village more..

Oct 24 (SO) The UnN turns 76 today. On Oct, 24, the world marks the anniversary of the day in 1945 when the UN Charter entered into force. The Second World War that ended in 1945 was a wake-up call for all countries that war had no purpose. Millions of people were killed in that war and the world risked further wars. After seeing the horrors of the war, many nations wanted to come together to achieve peace and prevent war. Their efforts resulted in the UN, a gathering of 193 countries more..

Oct 24 (Island) The schools will fully reopen on Monday. The trade unions, parents and children will certainly consider this a special day for education in SL. It’s best not to think too much about the last two days, with very low presence of children and teachers in most of the smallest schools in the country. What is facing the country today is the need for proper education—not about principals, teachers and students, but more..

Oct 24 (Island) The prohibition of cattle slaughter which has been bruited around for many moons was announced last week with our stablemate, The Island reporting on its front page that the govt had approved a ban on cattle slaughter. This subject also made news some weeks ago but was laid by, possibly out of concern of hurting Muslim sentiments. Muslims generally are beef eaters and for as long as living memory serves, and probably much longer, they have controlled the beef more..

Oct 24 (Island) Opening the newspapers these days is a hazardous exercise, one never knows from which page the Coronavirus will attack you, from a variety of angles and views that are factual, theoretical or speculative. For there it is, lurking furtively to pounce on the reader. And it is all so unutterably boring! Is there nothing else to talk about? I wondered, so many interesting and entertaining things going on around us, like the acrobatic antics of our politicians and BIG more..

Oct 24 (TM) Although grades one through five of nearly 3,000 schools with under 200 students were reopened last Thursday (21), on-ground observations at schools revealed there was a lack of enthusiasm by both teachers and students to return. The absence of teachers and principals in many schools was attributed to the strike action that was announced by the Teachers-Principals Trade Union Alliance (TPTUA). more..

Oct 24 (GV) Professor G.L. Peiris has announced that the drafting process of the Constitution is over and that the text is ready. He said that it was to be presented to the Parliament in January next year. Prez Rajapaksa, in a televised speech, referred to the Constitution being drafted within the course of next year. This should be alarming news for all citizens who are concerned about their lives and their Constitutional rights. Under the Constitution of Sri Lanka, the people are sovereign. more..

Oct 24 (CT) Low ownership of labour-saving household durables such as washing machines, refrigerators and non-biomass cooking stoves coupled with low access to water such as the non-availability of tap water and other household infrastructure, increase the opportunity cost of women’s time and could constrain their labour force participation (LFP), the World Bank (WB) warned. The WB in a publication titled SL Poverty Update said that low female LFP, at around 35%, more..