Oct 4 (DM) Week after week, shortages of imported goods and rising cost of living are crippling the day-to-day lives of ordinary people. As the economic depression unfolds, the working people are squeezed by falling incomes in the informal sector and the increasing price of food. The national economy itself is in danger of grinding to a halt, as global oil prices have escalated to a three year peak further constraining the dwindling foreign reserves necessary for imports into Sri Lanka. more..

Oct 4 (CT) On 28 February the Media quoted Director General of the Department of Agriculture, Dr. Ajantha De Silva, as saying that harmful bacteria (Erwinia) was detected in the freshly submitted sample of organic fertiliser imported from Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group. Erwinia is a genus of Enterobacterales bacteria containing mostly plant pathogenic species. It contains Gramnegative bacteria related to more..

Oct 4 (DM) Children’s Day is traditionally held on Oct 1. It is a date set apart in honour of children. The observance of the date varies from country to country. In 1925, International Children’s Day was first proclaimed in Geneva during the World Conference on Child Welfare. The UN celebrates Universal Children’s Day on Nov 20. The date was established in 1954, in the aftermath of World War II. The war, in fact a battle between the imperial powers of Europe and Japan, was all about more..

Oct 4 (CT) One of the RTI Commission of SL’s final acts before leaving office was to recommend to the Govt that SL’s political parties be brought within the ambit of Public Authorities in the RTI Act, outgoing RTI Commissioner and senior attorney Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena said on the last day of the Commission’s term (30th Sept 2021). She said this while speaking at an online forum on Making the Political Establishment Accountable Through RTI hosted by the SL Press Institute (SLPI) more..

Oct 4 (TM) The new Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Act No. 19 of 2021 (the Act) has been certified by the Speaker on 21 Sept and has thus become law. It repeals and replaces the SEC Act No. 36 of 1987. The Act which has been in the pipeline for a considerable period of time contains well thought out provisions which have factored in the latest developments in securities markets around the world and adheres to more..

Oct 4 (ST) When a full time member (or its head, have it as you will) of SL’s Consumer Affairs Authority records receiving death threats following his resignation over disclosures of multiple corruption scandals at Sri Lanka Sathosa, ranging from rigged sales of garlic, flour, undu and sugar to millions spent on the consumption of tea (and cheese) by Sathosa officials, there is little to be surprised at. Let us examine this case as it is both unique and mundane at the same time, more..

Oct 4 (Island) Beggars who pester pedestrians and motorists are wary of venturing out, these days, as they run the risk of being packed off to faraway quarantine centres. But their besuited counterparts at the higher echelons of got have no such problems. Clean-cut ruling party worthies are ever ready to go cap in hand to foreigners, who must be considering them a real nuisance. Successive patriotic govts have reduced this country to penury; it therefore needs int'l assistance and more..

Oct 4 (ST) On the eve of Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s departure to New York, Army Commander Shavendra Silva announced that the President had instructed health officials to vaccinate about 50,000 children above 12 with special needs and also to vaccinate children between 15 and 18 years of age thereafter. But hours before the Amy Commander’s announcement, Dr. Hemantha Herath had already sounded his misgivings on the wisdom of vaccinating children. more..

Oct 4 (TM) Marking World Temperance Day 2021 yesterday (3), the authorities had decided to close down liquor stores islandwide. However, if we look closely, we can see that Sri Lanka’s approach for managing consumption of alcohol among its citizens is largely limited to laws and policies, and very little in the form of discourse. Even the handful of discussions we see in the country are pushing for either a complete relaxation of laws, or for the introduction of extremely strict ones. more..

Oct 4 (TM) The past few months have been distressing to consumers, and the prevailing shortage of several essential food items and price hikes continue to worsen the situation. However, discussions surrounding this situation mostly focus on hardships faced by consumers due to production and supply-related matters, and very little attention is paid to the manner in which this food is being consumed. more..

Oct 4 (FT) The world’s biggest container ship, the Ever Ace, will call at the Colombo Port tomorrow on the return of her maiden voyage. Evergreen’s Ever Ace is the first in the line’s 24,000 TEU class container ships, said local agents Hemas Holdings PLC. The A-type vessel is around 400 m in length and 61.5 m wide, has a design draft of 14.5 m and can cruise at speeds up to 22.6 knots. With a nominal carrying capacity of 23,992 TEU, Ever Ace is one of the largest container ships more..

Oct 4 (Island) In congratulating those who have brought out this volume, Muslims in post-war SL, and Shreen Saroor who spear-headed the effort, I will dwell on a historical note. An individual whose silent influence speaks through is Shreen’s late husband Qadri Ismail. Qadri devoted his intellectual life speaking truth to power in the cause of human rights and to the conviction that we are stronger together. Aneesa Firthous and her companions from Batticaloa, who challenged Zahran’s more..

Oct 4 (FT) Despite criticism, concerns and questions over its findings of hoarding, the Central Bank is going ahead with tougher measures to ensure timely repatriation of export proceeds including by those engaged in export of services. Recent revelations by the CBSL that nearly $ 3 billion worth of export earnings in the first eight months of 2021 were hoarded overseas by exporters without repatriation sparked widespread rebuttal by more..

Oct 4 (Island) SL wheelchair tennis team led by Tokyo Paralympian Suresh Dharmasena concluded the World Cup campaign with a creditable sixth place finish after former World Champions Japan beat them in the fifth place match in Sardinia, Italy on Sunday. The team inclusive of Dharmasena, Lasantha Ranaweera and DM Gamini created history when they reached the knockout stage in this top 16 nation’s competition. They finished the group stage as runners up to France. more..

Oct 4 (DN) SL white-ball Captain Dasun Shanaka welcomed the appointment of Mahela Jayawardene as Consultant for the first-round of the ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE. “I believe it is a huge advantage for us to have a coach in the calibre of Mahela Jayawardene. No other coach in SL has the amount of experience that Mahela possesses at this moment,” Shanaka said before departing to Oman. “The other advantage is that Mahela is already in the UAE coaching the Mumbai Indian side in IPL” more..

Oct 4 (SLN) Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ships named KAGA – a multi-purpose operation destroyer and destroyer MURASAME arrived at the port of Colombo on an official visit today (2). Upon their arrival, the visiting ships were welcomed by SL Navy in accordance with naval traditions. KAGA is a 248m platform manned by a crew of 210 under Captain Nishida Satoshi, its Commanding Officer. MURASAME is a 151m long ship with 200 crew members. more..

Oct 4 (FT) Daily COVID-19 detections dropped to 802 cases yesterday, the lowest it has been since 25 April when 793 COVID-19 patients were detected. The patients detected yesterday include 800 persons from the New Year cluster and two overseas arrivals. According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 7,566 PCR tests were carried out yesterday. The previous day, 7,377 PCR tests and 3,123 rapid antigen tests were conducted and 855 COVID-19 patients were detected. more..

Oct 4 (CI) The owners of last year's LPL winning side - Jaffna Stallions - are incensed, after tournament organisers announced last week that the Jaffna franchise would have a new owner for the tournament's second edition. The Stallions' termination means that three of the league's five teams will have new owners for the 2nd edition of the LPL, with the Colombo & Dambulla franchises previously having been terminated. more..

Oct 4 (DM) Model Chula Padmendra who was involved in controversial incident at the Mrs. Sri Lanka pageant said that the CID recorded a statement from her on Saturday. She said that she was summoned to the CID to question about Keerthi Ratnayake, a journalist who is currently in custody. Keerthi, a defence and political analyst at Lanka e-News was arrested for allegedly giving information to the Indian Embassy in Colombo concerning a possible terrorist attack. more..

Oct 4 (DM) SJB denied reports that there are divisions within the party, but notified that issues with Chaminda Wijesiri have almost been resolved. SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said there is no move to call explanation from MP Chaminda Wijesiri who criticized SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa. Meanwhile, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella said that the issue with Mr. Wijesiri has been almost resolved. "I have spoken to Mr. Wijesiri and others in the party and more..

Oct 4 (TM) Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. has officially quit the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) Siyolit (Pvt) Ltd, which was mooted by the Treasury Department, and has instead, proposed a number of new solutions to reduce the costs incurred in the purchase of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) to the country, Litro Gas Director – Sales and Marketing Janaka Pathirathna said. “We have officially stepped back from Siyolit, more..

Oct 4 (TM) Health Ministry is yet to pay its approximately Rs. 12 billion debt to its suppliers of medical equipment and resources, which could interrupt many medical services, Academy of Health Professionals President Ravi Kumudesh said. “Last week, the oxygen supply near the A'pura Teaching Hospital was stopped by the private company supplying the resource. The Health Ministry owes Rs. 150 million to this company. Health Ministry Secretary Dr. S.H. Munasinghe is responsible more..

Oct 4 (FT) Health officials on Saturday confirmed 40 COVID-19 fatalities, raising the country’s COVID-19 death toll to 13,059. Among the COVID-19 fatalities confirmed on Saturday are 28 persons over the age of 60 and 11 persons in the 30 to 59 age group. One person below the age of 30 was also included in Saturday’s COVID-19 fatalities. The over-60 age group accounts for 76.45% of the country’s COVID-19 fatalities, while the 30 to 59 age group accounts for 22.39% of the fatalities and more..

Oct 4 (Island) Contrary to specific instructions issued by Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera on 17 Sept, the police haven’t initiated an investigation into a complaint received from the Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners into the then Prison Management State Minister Lohan Ratwatte allegedly threatening ex-LTTE cadres held at the Anuradhapura prison. The Police HQ yesterday acknowledged more..

Oct 4 (SLA) A contingent of 120 Army personnel of the Indian Army this afternoon (2) arrived at Mattala Int'l Airport to participate in the 8th consecutive iteration of the joint Exercise Mitra Shakti between SL and India. An all arms Indian contingent for Mitra Shakti, headed by Colonel Prakash Kumar, Commanding Officer was welcomed by Brigadier B. N Godellwatta, Deputy Director, Ex-Mithra Shakti, together with Captain Vikas Sood, Defence Attache in Indian High Commission at the airport. more..

Oct 4 (ST) Ceylon Planters’ Society (CPS) has complained to the IGP about worker unrest in the upcountry tea estate sector. The most recent incident was reported this week at the Talawakelle Tea Estate, which comes under the Maskeliya Plantation Company. During the incident, workers had allegedly assaulted the estate manager and two field officers inside a muster room, where the tea leaves are measured for weight. The CPS has also requested the Govt to intensify the night army more..

Oct 4 (TM) Despite threats of harsh measures against public trade union protests made by Public Security Minister Dr. Sarath Weerasekera last Saturday, the teachers’ and principals’ trade unions have decided to hold 312 protests islandwide on 6 Oct. On Saturday, Minister Weerasekera warned that harsh measures will be taken against trade unions or other groups who protest while the country remains open during the pandemic period. more..

Oct 4 (Island) Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella, on Saturday, said that there was no split in the SJB, and the rumours being floated about the party were baseless. MP Kiriella said: “I assure you that there is no truth in the story doing the rounds that the SJB is divided. We, under the leadership of the Opposition Leader, are forging ahead as a united force. We are a new party and it is owing to the people’s trust in the Opposition Leader we won 52 seats. more..

Oct 4 (CT) India’s Foreign Secretary Harsh V. Shringla who arrived in SL on Saturday paid a visit to the Trincomalee oil farms yesterday, where he was briefed by the Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC), the Indian Oil subsidiary in SL, on the development undertaken at the Lower Tank Farms and the possibilities for further strengthening the India-SL energy partnership to enhance SL’s energy security. Indian Foreign Secretary has been holding discussions and had travelled to Jaffna. more..

Oct 4 (BBC) The secret wealth and dealings of world leaders, politicians and billionaires has been exposed in one of the biggest leaks of financial documents. Some 35 current and former leaders and more than 300 public officials are featured in the files from offshore companies, dubbed the Pandora Papers. They reveal the King of Jordan secretly amassed Ł70m of UK and US property. They also show how ex-UK PM Tony Blair and his wife more..

Oct 4 (AD) A 31-year-old woman has been murdered, allegedly by her husband over a family dispute, at Mahilur area in Kaluwanchikudy, Batticaloa. The woman in question had reportedly collapsed and fallen after being assaulted by her husband while she was subsequently rushed to hospital by neighbors. However, she had been pronounced dead on admission to the hospital, according to doctors. Police have arrested victim’s husband in connection with the incident. more..

Oct 4 (FT) COVID-19 vaccines were administered to 45,007 persons on Saturday, raising the total number of persons to receive both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to 11,853,825. The first dose of a vaccine has been administered to 14,570,141 persons and Our World in Data states that 54.99% of SL’s total population has received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Persons vaccinated on Saturday include 11,617 persons who received the first dose of Sinopharm and 27,680 persons who more..

Oct 4 (TM) Nirupama Rajapaksa, Former Minister and Cousin of Prez Rajapaksa, has been named in the Pandora Papers which is a leak of almost 12 million documents that reveal the hidden wealth of the world’s most powerful leaders. This data on Nirupama Rajapaksa was obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) in Washington DC, which has been working with more than 140 media organisations. more..

Oct 4 (FT) It has been the habit of politicians throughout the globe to find a scapegoat to blame for the follies they have committed. President Donald Trump found such a scapegoat in illegal migrants to USA and cheap Chinese goods for lack of job opportunities for Americans. PM Boris Johnson rode his pro-Brexit campaign on the wave of the inflow of workers from Eastern European countries to the UK under EU concessions for rising unemployment in the country. more..

Oct 4 (FT) Lysander Spooner is the well-known author of the book No Treason thought by some to be the most subversive thing ever written in the US. However, as a reader had commented: “The premise of No Treason is that the US is not a legally constituted govt because people can only be governed by consent and no one consented to the social contract we call the Constitution. Spooner writes, ‘The constitution not only binds nobody now, but never did bind anybody. more..

Oct 4 (Island) SL govt spends nearly USD 09 million per year on importing ingredients, such as Aralu and Bulu, required for indigenous medicine. “We do not need to import such local medicines from India. Sri Lanka can produce these ingredients in sufficient quantities and action should be taken, in consultation with the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine, to do so,” Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said, adding that a lot of foreign exchange could be saved through such action. more..

Oct 4 (EN) SL is in discussion with India and China to buy nitrogen extract as part of organic fertilizer composition for paddy farmers during their next Maha cultivation season, Minister Mahindanada Aluthgamage said. The island nation last week suspended the importation of a China-manufactured 99,000 metric tonnes of organic fertilizer worth US$ 63 million after laboratory tests proved it contained harmful bacteria. Farmers in SL are banned from using chemical fertilizer and insecticides, more..