Feb 15 (AD) The govt is planning to integrate non-motorized transport with the SL transport system to maximize economic and environmental benefits. The current number of active vehicles in SL is over 5 million, more than three times the year 2000 as a result of the increase in the importation of private vehicles such as cars, motorcycles and three-wheelers, a statement from the govt read. Moreover, there is a tendency to use private vehicles due to the rising income levels and difficulties more..

Feb 15 (TM) As global oil prices hit a seven-year high last week and with the CPC not being permitted by the Ministry of Finance to increase local fuel prices, Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila plans to submit a cabinet proposal for a new fuel price stabilisation fund. “I am planning to suggest that the Govt introduce a fuel price stabilisation fund again. I will give it a try. It is the decision of the Cabinet to decide how to get more..

Feb 15 (CT) A CID team from Colombo was sent to investigate stolen ancient relics from the Kotawehera Rajamaha Viharaya in Rambukkana, following orders from IGP C.D. Wickramaratne. It was reported on Saturday (12) that five gold caskets and three crystal caskets kept at the Rajamaha Viharaya were stolen. These caskets have been found during excavations carried out in 1956 and 2000. The one discovered in 1956 dates back to 250 BC, according to carbon testing. more..

Feb 15 (CT) The GMOA yesterday said the union decided to withdraw four doctors from the SL Navy Hospital in Welisara, following a complaint made by one of the doctors. GMOA alleged that the SL Navy had threatened a civilian doctor serving at the Navy Hospital; forcing her to take part in an investigation concerning a patient. GMOA General Secretary Dr. Senal Fernando stated the Navy has no authority to initiate any investigation into the matter and that only the Health Ministry is authorised more..

Feb 15 (DM) The Alumni Association of the University of Colombo which is the apex Alumni Body of the Uni of Colombo completes 40 years this year since its formation in 1982. Alumni Association of the Uni of Colombo was a special initiative of the Vice Chancellor at the time, Professor Stanley Wijesundera who believed that a formalized Alumni Body was essential for the Uni of Colombo. Given Professor Stanley Wijesundera’s interest in seeing that this Alumni body stays strong and more..

Feb 15 (EN) The govt has raised US$ 111.5 million from direct sales of SL Development Bonds sold after auctions, CB said. “The investments in SLDBs during the above period were spread across maturities ranging from 3 months to 5 years, attracting large volume as well as small ticket eligible investors,” CB said. “In collaboration with certain SL Missions, CBSL has also made contact with eligible investors in those jurisdictions to further popularise investments in SLDBs.” more..

Feb 15 (DM) The new methodology adopted by the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) will not lead to scheduled power cuts for the next three months, PUCSL Chairman Janaka Rathnayake said. While addressing the media, Chairman requested the general public, state and private institutions to conserve electricity and use it cautiously by utilising personal generators. The proposal made by the CEB for a power cut more..

Feb 15 (CT) Chairman of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Sumith Wijesinghe said the corporation’s monthly loss is Rs11 billion. Meanwhile, Lanka IOC’s monthly loss is only Rs1.2 billion. In light of the current economic crisis, CPC has asked that the Ministry of Finance provide discounts on fuel import taxes or raise fuel prices. Given the country’s existing conditions, CPC incurs a significant expense in continuing to sell petroleum at current prices, according to Min of Energy. more..

Feb 15 (TM) Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) announced the new prices at which it will be purchasing the paddy harvest of the Maha cultivation season from farmers, adding that this year’s purchase will not include any conditions so that farmers are able to sell any amount of their harvest to the PMB. A kilogramme (kg) of nadu paddy will be purchased at Rs. 90, a kg of samba paddy will be purchased at Rs. 92, and a kg of keeri samba paddy will be purchased at Rs. 95 more..

Feb 15 (DM) A course of action to mete out justice to those affected by the Easter Sunday Bomb attacks is being organized by the Sri Lankan Catholic Church together with the Vatican behind closed doors, Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said today. “A course of action is being organized by the SL Catholic Church together with the Vatican, but we will not divulge anything about it now,” more..

Feb 15 (AD) The Civil Appeals High Court of Colombo has decided to take up the petition filed by former President Maithripala Sirisena with regard to the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks, on the 09th of March. The petition was called before Judges Frank Gunawardena and Saman Weeraman earlier today. The former Prez had sought the dismissal of the cases filed against him by the victims and families of the deceased demanding compensation over the failure to prevent the carnage, more..

Feb 15 (DM) The govt is trying to introduce white van culture once again to suppress the social media activists and critics who express their opinions against the govt by using the CID and state powers, Lawyers for National Peoples' Power (NPP) said today. Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala said that the suppression was exerted by the govt as it has come under heavy criticism due to its failure in every sector. He said this suppression on freedom of speech would endanger democratic values more..

Feb 16 (CT) More than a dozen countries, including the UK and the US, have urged their citizens to leave Ukraine amid warnings of an imminent invasion by Russia. The Kremlin, on the other hand, denies plans to invade, despite massing 100,000 soldiers on Ukraine’s borders. G7 Leaders say Russian military build-up on the border is a cause for grave concern and warn they are prepared to impose a huge package of economic sanctions should Moscow decide to invade its more..

Feb 16 (DM) The Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) (Amendment) Bill, a bill to amend the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, No. 48 of 1979 (PTA), has been gazetted by the order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Despite the government’s claim that the amended bill seeks to remove restrictions the Act places on civil liberties and fundamental rights, the proposed amendment remains a far cry from what has been expected and agitated for by more..

Feb 16 (TM) Although the UN Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which had 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, Sri Lanka was only able to establish its Sustainable Development Council in 2018 following the enactment of the Sustainable Development Act 19 of 2017 that came into effect in Oct 2017. According to the Sustainable Development Council, more..

Feb 16 (DM) A cursory glance at international news these days is enough to send shivers down the spine of even battle-hardened war veterans. Many a media institution would have us believe Russia and the US are looking down the barrel of each other’s guns/missiles/nuclear weapons and a battle royal between the two nuclear-armed giants (which could bring the world to a cataclysmic end) is imminent. The crux of the standoff, is the build-up of Russian troops within its (Russian) own territory more..

Feb 16 (TM) It was reported yesterday that a provision of Rs. 15,000 million has been allocated from the 2022 Budget for a programme to establish a home shop network for female entrepreneurs. The objective of this programme is creating one female entrepreneur in every village, and it will be implemented through the provision of entrepreneurship guidance and also the initial capital. One major part of this programme, according to the Cabinet decision announced yesterday, more..

Feb 16 (TM) Uninterrupted fuel supply has been ensured thus far despite increasing challenges, asserted Minister Udaya Gammanpila, admitting however that the situation was now reaching near impossible levels. He said SL needed $ 400 million a month to meet its fuel bill, with the struggle to find foreign currency to purchase petrol and diesel worsening by the day. “Frankly, day by day I now feel that the situation is getting more..

Feb 16 (ST) When the Soothsayer warned Julius Caesar to beware the Ides of March, Mighty Caesar brushed it aside haughtily. But before the day was done Caesar was done for. History tells us that the Ides of March—March 15—is not a day of ill-boding though Shakespeare and subsequent writers and film makers turned it into an inauspicious day, a bad omen. In ancient times, as journalist Martin Stezano has stated, ides meant the first new moon of a given month and usually fell between the 13th-15th. more..

Feb 16 (FT) SL’s COVID-19 detections exceeded 630,000 with the detection of 1,252 COVID-19 positive persons yesterday. All patients detected yesterday were from the New Year cluster. The previous day, 1,228 persons from the New Year cluster and three SL overseas returnees tested positive for COVID-19. 6,131 PCR tests and 1,438 rapid antigen tests were conducted on Monday. A total of 630,599 COVID-19 patients have been detected in Sri Lanka to date. more..

Feb 16 (ST) A striking feature of post-independentSri Lanka is the weakening and deterioration of the pre-conditions for the nation’s development. This is especially so in the latter decades. Looking back at the political and economic history of the country after independence, most commentators, if not all, have regretted the lower than potential economic development of the country. Last Sunday’s column focused on one of the less recognised factors for the weakening of the country’s development: more..

Feb 16 (DM) The Board of Investment (BOI) yesterday said twenty BOI enterprises recently entered into supplementary agreements collectively worth US$ 165 million to expand their existing operations. BOI Chairman Raja Edirisuriya and Director General Renuka Weerakone signed the agreements on behalf of the BOI. Aitken Spence (apparel), Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology, Bodyline, Dialog Axiata, DPL Premier, DPL Universal Glove, Drivima Lanka, more..

Feb 16 (FT) The Govt yesterday confirmed that the superannuation funds are not included in the coverage of the 25% one-off surcharge tax and expressed confidence of raising over Rs. 100 billion entirely from the private sector. Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday referred to his 2022 Budget presentation and recalled that only companies were mentioned in the proposal and not any funds pension or otherwise. more..

Feb 16 (FT) COVID-19 vaccines were administered to 35,729 persons on Monday and 78.21% of the total population has received at least one vaccine dose. 65.3% of the total population has received the second dose as well. 16,820,188 persons have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 14,040,972 persons have received the second dose of a vaccine. The booster dose has been administered to 6,175,281 persons and 27.94% of the total population has received 3rd dose. more..

Feb 16 (ST) It was that day, four times a month when Karthelis – the fishmonger, would come along on his motorbike with a box full of fish. The fish is fresh and Karthelis is a very reliable trader; thus he has brisk sales in the neighbourhood. Parked outside our gate,( Karthelis was weighing a kilo of ‘salayo’ when he was asked by Kussi Amma Sera: “Karthelis, oyata puluwanda oyage pavula balaganna ethiwenna salli humba-karanna maalu vikunala (Karthelis, are you able to make more..

Feb 16 (CT) Members of Magen Ratata (From me to the country) have joined five other organisations to protest against the Central Bank of SL (CBSL), banks and non-bank financial institutions, particularly leasing companies, that have imposed draconian leasing and moratorium policies on SL’s Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector. They claim the CBSL’s Parate Act Nos. 3 and 4 of 1990 harm consumers and more..

Feb 16 (FT) The Honorary Latvian Consulate of Sri Lanka was declared reopen for consulate work on 11 February by Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia for the Republic of India Artis Bertulis. Dr. Manil Fernando ceremoniously took office as Honorary Consul, during the event held at the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Latvia for Sri Lanka, located at No. 6, Flower Terrace, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka. Dr. Fernando takes over from outgoing Honorary Consul Thomas Daetwyler. more..

Feb 16 (FT) The Govt yesterday announced a raft of new relief measures to ease the cost of living with food inflation on the rise. New moves include offering Rs. 2,000 worth essential food packs to lowest income families and wheat flour at a concessionary rate to estate worker families. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved on Monday to provide 15 kg of wheat flour monthly at a concessionary rate to 115,867 beneficiary families working in the estate sector. more..

Feb 16 (FT) The Govt this week took a key step towards empowering women via entrepreneurship with the Cabinet of Ministers approving the home shops initiative in all 14,025 Grama Sevaka divisions. The Govt said it intends to establish one woman entrepreneur to one village, to inculcate entrepreneurship skills. The beneficiary women will be supported with the initial capital, infrastructure and guidance. It is a 2022 Budget proposal where Rs. 15 billion has been allocated under more..

Feb 16 (DM) Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) today urged the govt to submit the report issued by UN Human Right Ambassador Michelle Bachelet on Sri Lanka’s human rights situation to Parliament and to allow a debate on it. “We believe that SL has received the report by UN Human Rights' Ambassador Michelle Bachelet and we request that it be submitted to Parliament and the MPs allowed to debate on it,” SJB MP Mayantha Dissanayake said at a press conference yesterday. more..

Feb 16 (TM) Treasury rejected the recent allegations made by certain parties that a cabinet paper has been prepared, under which the Govt of SL is selling 20,000 acres belonging to the Kantale sugar factory to a Singaporean company in order to establish the largest alcohol distillery in Asia. Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle stated that this agreement involving a Singporeon investor referred to by these critics more..

Feb 16 (FT) The Paddy Marketing Board (PMD) said there is a better harvest from the Maha season despite the fertiliser crisis and the forecast. “The 2021/22 Maha season commenced while facing several challenges. However, there is a bigger harvest than we expected for the season,” PMB Vice Chairman Duminda Priyadarshana told journalists on Monday. Based on the data from the Department of Agriculture over 70% of the expected harvest has been reaped thus far. more..

Feb 16 (FT) UDA launched a new investment project called the Logistic Park in Ekala, Ja-Ela on Monday. A 36-acre undeveloped land belonging to the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation at Ekala, Ja-Ela has been selected for the commencement of this new project and the land is currently owned by the UDA. The project was initiated on the instructions of PM Rajapaksa in his capacity as Urban Development & Housing Minister under patronage of State Minister Nalaka Godahewa. more..

Feb 16 (CT) Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila, while assuring the availability of necessary stocks of fuel including diesel, said any institution that requires fuel can purchase any amount by paying the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) in cash. Explaining further, Minister Gammanpila said at present the CPC is in a crisis as they sell diesel at lower prices incurring a loss and giving fuel to various parties on credit. more..

Feb 16 (DN) Veteran journalist and lyricist Saman Chandranath Weerasinghe passed away in Colombo yesterday morning. He was 75. Weerasinghe, who left an indelible imprint in journalism, he was a hugely respected journalist whose work ranged from news and feature writing to the art of writing lyrics that he went on to specialize in. He was a remarkably talented and versatile journalist who possessed a vast knowledge of many subjects and built his own identity in the field. more..

Feb 16 (FT) High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to South Africa Siresena Amarasekara recently held several meetings with Govt officials of South Africa and envoys of countries accredited to South Africa to discuss the achievements made by Sri Lanka in matters on human rights. The meetings were ahead of the upcoming UNHCR sessions and recognising the importance of the African region where the countries have emerged as a cohesive group of nations. more..