Sep 17 (DM) Whether elephants should be domesticated for cultural and religious purposes has been hotly debated over the recent years. Just when wild life enthusiasts thought that the jumbos would be safe the CID informed the Magistrate Court days ago that cases filed against individuals for illegally keeping elephants cannot be continued with due to a recent gazette notification. The gazette notification now allows for the registration of domesticated elephants. more..

Sep 17 (DM) Sri Lanka has lost eight leopards for 2021 and Wildlife conservationists fear whether the protected species is on a fast track towards extinction. The recent incident was reported from Maskeliya where a leopard’s remains were found floating at the Canyon Reservoir. Wildlife officials failed to arrive at a conclusion regarding the cause of its death since the carcass was five days old and was heavily bloated due to autolysis. However a majority of leopards are trapped in snares more..

Sep 17 (TM) Dealing with sexual offences requires legal proceedings to adopt an approach that is sensitive to the victims, while being able to encompass the wide range of offences that come under this category. Law is Light is a series of trilingual legal discussions to shed light on the law. The Latin maxim ignorantia legis neminem excusat translates to ignorance of the law is not an excuse. Pro Bono Committee of the Law Students’ more..

Sep 17 (TM) Often, when faced with an impossible choice, priority is given to mitigating losses, rather than maximising gains. However, when making such a choice, it is important to stand firm on whichever decision that has been made, or one risks losing on both sides. This is precisely the sort of situation SL experienced last month, in the face of a worsening pandemic, being forced to choose between sacrificing the economy to implement a lockdown, or risking public health safety by allowing more..

Sep 17 (DM) It’s Bachelet’s hour. That’s Michelle, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The second of her bi-annual Christmas-come-early party in Geneva. Time to get her kicks probably. The grave countenance, deep tone and malice disguised as concern. Yes, folks, it’s that time of year of regurgitating tired arguments based on tendentious claims made by unreliable sources with agendas that have little or nothing to do with human rights. So she’s done the usual re-hash. more..

Sep 17 (TM) Democracy in Sri Lanka is facing a multitude of issues ranging from a lack of understanding of what the rudimentary elements of democracy are, to political, social, and cultural practices that have overpowered the true nature of democracy. In order to change the status quo, which is essential for a truly democratic country, all these aspects need to be addressed, and the media, the civil society, the political leadership, as well as the citizens have a massive responsibility. more..

Sep 17 (DN) Born to a devout Buddhist family in 1864, David Hewivitarane became Anagarika Dharmapala, the leading light of the Buddhist Renaissance Movement in SL. As a child, Dharmapala was sent to Christian missionary schools, where his education, if comprehensive by European standards, showed little respect for Buddhism. By the age of 19, he had mastered the rudiments of Christian theology and knew more than half the Bible by heart, knowledge he used more..

Sep 17 (FT) The country’s manufacturing and services sector had contracted in August as per the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) compiled by the Central Bank, sparking fresh concerns over the impact of the COVID third-wave-induced lockdowns. The contraction in August is after the two sectors saw a pick-up in July. The Central Bank said the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic in Aug 2021 had slowed down more..

Sep 17 (FT) COVID-19 vaccines were administered to 113,013 persons on Wednesday, with 46,209 persons receiving the first dose of a vaccine and 66,804 persons receiving the second dose. The first dose of Sinopharm was administered to 41,387 persons and the second dose was administered to 66,094 persons. In total, the first dose of Sinopharm has been administered to 10,820,941 persons and the second dose of the vaccine has been administered to 8,875,888 persons. more..

Sep 17 (FT) All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) urged the Govt to investigate claims by Ven. Gnanasara Thero of an imminent terror attack. “It is greatly alarming to note the recent statements made by Ven. Gnanasara Thero about a possible terror attack similar to that of the Easter Attacks. These statements have been made during a live TV Discussion on the 13 Sept,” ACJU said. “During this program, the host queried the Ven. Gnanasara Thero if he possessed any knowledge about more..

Sep 17 (FT) COVID-19 detections in the country rose to 498,694 with the detection of 2,271 COVID-19 cases yesterday. Despite daily COVID-19 detections gradually dropping from 3,828 at the beginning of the month to less than 2,300 yesterday, Health Services Deputy Director said this is still too high a number of daily detections for the health system to bear. “There was a time when not a single patient was detected within the country more..

Sep 17 (Island) State Minister Lohan Ratwatte’s violent behaviour inside two prisons has drawn widespread condemnation from the civilised world—and rightly so. The govt has stooped so low as to shield him, and in so doing it has brought not only itself but also the entire country into disrepute. Popular actor turned politician Ranjan Ramanayake, given to making a melodrama out of everything in life, is serving a jail term for having said something that judiciary deemed an affront to its dignity; more..

Sep 17 (FT) Port City Colombo, the largest and most ambitious development project ever undertaken in Sri Lanka, proudly marks its seventh anniversary since the initial land reclamation work commenced in 2014. During this period, the project has committed $ 1.4 billion of foreign direct investment to Sri Lanka for initial reclamation and internal infrastructure development. The project is expected to attract $ 15 billion in the 25 years of its development phase. Project is expected to attract $ 15 billion more..

Sep 17 (FT) Thornton Engineering, the Nextventures-owned civil engineering company, has announced the acquisition of a 100% stake in Dane Engineering Ltd. for Rs 350 million, creating a construction business with a combined portfolio of Rs. 5.9 billion. The new entity, Thornton and Dane Engineering, expects to add new construction projects with a cumulative value of Rs. 5 billion within the current financial year, nearly doubling its project portfolio, the company said. more..

Sep 17 (FT) In a bid to boost foreign exchange earnings and help rural artisans, Laksala this week signed a fresh deal to tap prospects for Lankan handicrafts in the Middle East region. It signed a franchise agreement with Sala Global Ltd. for a Laksala outlet in the UAE, considered the mega hub for the Middle East. The initiative to sign up franchise arrangements overseas is the brainchild of State Minister of Batik, Handloom and Local Apparel Production Dayasiri Jayasekera. more..

Sep 17 (TM) Colombo International Financial Centre (CIFC), which is the first development project in Colombo Port City, was scheduled to break ground today, the seventh anniversary of the inception of the Port City Project. However, due to the prevailing pandemic situation, commencement of construction has been postponed. However, with over 50% of the population being fully vaccinated under the vaccination drive, more..

Sep 17 (DN) Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA) and the Plantation Human Development Trust (PHDT) announced major progress in their collective efforts to safeguard all residents of SL’s estate community, with over 85% of the community across 7 regions having received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 63% being fully as at September 10. Working in close partnership with the Ministry of Health (MoH), Provincial Health Authorities and PHDT, RPCs more..

Sep 17 (Island) Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that the economic and democratic cooperation between SL and India, both now and in the past, was significant. Addressing the All India Presiding Officers Conference (AIPOC), organised by the Indian Lok Sabha through video technology, the Speaker said: “Parliament of SL is the oldest parliament elected by universal adult franchise in Asia. As the largest democracy in the world how India’s legislature functions in a more..

Sep 17 (TM) Local organic fertiliser manufacturers have alleged that the authorities in charge of the agriculture sector are misleading Prez Rajapaksa, local organic fertiliser manufacturers, and farmers, in order to create a conducive environment for the importation of organic fertiliser. In a letter to Prez Rajapaksa, they have highlighted Agriculture Ministry, Agriculture Department, Promoting the Production more..

Sep 17 (CT) SL Ambassador to Myanmar, Prof. Nalin de Silva, has resigned on personal grounds and arrived in Sri Lanka on 15 Sept, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said. The MFA said Prof. de Silva had informed Prez Rajapaksa of his decision, which has been accepted officially. Prof. de Silva on his Facebook page has noted that he has not resigned out of frustration or influence, but because he had tested COVID-19 positive. He and his wife had contracted the virus in Myanmar. more..

Sep 17 (DM) In addition to the cases of Black Fungus or mucormycosis, there are two more fungal diseases namely -Aspergillosis and Candidiasis - found among people who are infected with Covid- 19, a Medical Expert said. A few patients with black fungus were detected among people infected by SARS.COV.2. Dr. Primali Jayasekera said that health authorities had observed two other fungal diseases among people who are infected with Covid-19. more..

Sep 17 (TM) Representatives of several farmers’ organisations have warned the Govt that they would refrain from cultivating paddy in the upcoming Maha season unless a guaranteed price is introduced instead of a control price for paddy, thereby preparing a programme to purchase paddy from farmers at a reasonable price. Polonnaruwa Vijayabapura Farmers’ Association Chairman Sarath Rajapaksa stated that farmers have decided more..

Sep 17 (CT) SL cricket selectors are set to take a final call regarding the T20 World Cup squad today, Ceylon Today reliably learns. The ruling out of fast bowling all-rounder Lahiru Madushanka and the injury suffered by Kusal Perera had created a headache for the selectors, only days after naming the squad. Perera could miss the World Cup after sustaining a hamstring injury during the third T20 against South Africa, while Madushanka fractured his collarbone, while fielding in same match, more..

Sep 17 (Island) Given the gravity of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries in the region must cooperate with each other sincerely, Qi Zhenhong, Chinese Ambassador to SL said. With this aim in mind China works with SL, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh to provide pandemic support, he said. “As of early September, China has provided a total of about 120 million doses of vaccines to South Asian countries through various channels. Among them, Pakistan, SL, Bangladesh, and Nepal more..

Sep 17 (Island) One-time Prisons Minister Dew Gunasekera called for an immediate police investigation into SLPP lawmaker Lohan Ratwatte’s recent wild behaviour inside the Anuradhapura prison, where he issued death threats to two LTTEers incarcerated there. Gunasekera pointed out that the minister had forcibly entered the Anuradhapura prison on 12 Sept. around 5.30 pm in the wake of the govt turning a blind eye to his earlier more..

Sep 17 (CT) The construction of a jogging track near the historic Parakrama Samudraya in Polonnaruwa, which was halted due to the opposition of several including monks and farmers associations, will proceed following discussions with the said parties, State Minister Roshan Ranasinghe said. He added only a fraction of individuals have opposed the construction of a jogging track, while the farmers associations have been misinformed of the facts pertaining to the project, more..

Sep 17 (Island) GMOA Executive Committee appointed a 5-member committee to prepare an MoU to be signed between the Ministries of Defence and Health and the GMOA about the working conditions of civilian doctors attached to the Army Hospital, Narahenpita. GMOA took this decision following a discussion with the civilian doctors that are attached to the Army Hospital. “During this discussion we found that it was an unpopular station although it is in the middle of Colombo. more..

Sep 17 (DM) State Minister Lohan Ratwatte who has pushed the govt into a hot soup over allegations that he threatened a group of Tamil prisoners over the weekend, denied all accusations leveled against him saying he was not stupid to resort to such action. Breaking his silence for the first time since being forced to resign as the State Minister of Prison Reforms, Ratwatte said that he had not threatened the prisoners at more..

Sep 17 (DM) Inmates in prisons should break the bones of State Ministers if they storm into prisons and harass them by keeping pistols on their heads, SJB MP Sarath Fonseka said. He said that he would encourage prison inmates to break the bones of politicos such as Lohan Ratatte if they storm into prisons and harass them. “I would advise the prison inmates to break the bones of politicos if they come into prisons and harass them. We the Opposition MPS will stand up for the prisoners if more..

Sep 17 (DM) A UN expert has drawn a bleak picture of the human rights situation in SL, especially over the past 18 months. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence, Fabian Salvioli told the UNHRC in Geneva yesterday that SL has witnessed a profound deterioration in the human rights situation over the past 18 months. He also said that there has been insufficient progress in relation to the search for the truth, and more..

Sep 17 (TM) Prisons Department and the Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) have commenced investigations into incidents at the Welikada and A'pura Prisons which involve State Minister Lohan Ratwatte, while the CID is likely to begin its own investigation on the matter today. HRCSL Commissioner Dr. Nimal Karunasiri said that as the initial stage of this investigation, statements would be recorded from prisoners & jailors, more..

Sep 17 (FT) If a particular community, group or an individual in Sri Lanka, subjected to severe injustice and had failed to secure justice over time in the country despite persistent attempts for redress, resorts to the UN Human Rights Commission or its Committee in Geneva for its intervention for justice, it is considered a serious act of treachery and great betrayal of the nation. The Tamil people were the first to be branded with this labelling, and now the Cardinal is encountering it. more..

Sep 17 (FT) It was in 1962 that Prof. H.A. de S. Gunasekera published his book, From Dependent Currency to Central Banking in Ceylon. If someone were to write a sequel to that book today, the author may have to add at least a whole chapter with the title, From Central Banking to Presidential Banking. From the time CBSL was established in 1950 it has remained a statutorily empowered independent institution, until Prof W.D. Lakshman was handpicked by Prez GR and appointed as more..

Sep 17 (DM) Govt should clarify whether Lohan Ratwatte still functions as the State Minister in charge of Gem and Jewellery related industries, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said. “People such as Lohan Ratwatte are not fit to hold any ministerial portfolio. Therefore the govt should state whether he holds the post of State Minister in charge of gem- related industries or not,” Mr. Wijewardene said. “It is a grave offence to point a pistol at someone and threaten him or her more..

Sep 17 (NR) Another 121 coronavirus related fatalities have been confirmed in SL, raising the death toll to 11,938. All 121 deaths occurred yesterday (16). 62 males and 59 females were among the victims. 92 persons, 45 males and 47 females among the group that succumbed to the virus, were 60 years of age or above. Meanwhile, 28 individuals, 16 males and 12 females, were between 30 and 59 years of age. One male below the age of 30 years also passed away yesterday more..

Sep 17 (EN) Sri Lanka’s ongoing COVID-19 lockdown has been extended till October 01, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said. The minister tweeted Friday morning following a COVID-19 committee meeting chaired by Prez Rajapaksa that essential services will be permitted to operate during the lockdown period. He asked that the general public use the period to get the vaccinated against COVID-19. more..

Sep 17 (DN) Colombo Additional Magistrate T.J. Prabakaran told Court yesterday that the order issued to release the baby elephants to the original owners on the instructions of the Attorney General will never be revoked. Magistrate rejected a petition filed by members of an environmental organisation seeking permission to comment on the court’s decision to release the elephants. Accordingly, the order issued by the Court on Sept 6 to release the baby elephants is still valid, Magistrate said. more..