Feb 2 (CT) Public Health Inspectors’ Union SL (PHIUSL) is up in arms against a decision taken to downsize the number of PHIs serving in institutions such as the BIA. A spokesman for the union accused a Deputy Director General (DDG) of forcing administrators serving under him to chop down the cadre requirement for PHIs. He said that with the Covid situation, the workload in institutions like the BIA had augmented tremendously, more..

Feb 2 (SLN) In a special operation conducted by SL Navy and Coast Guard, 02 Indian trawlers with 21 Indian fishermen were held for poaching in SL territorial waters, off Kovilan and Point Pedro Lighthouse, Jaffna on the night of 31st Janu 2022. Taking into account the impact of foreign fishermen poaching in SL waters, on the local fishing community and the sustainability of fishery resources of SL, the Navy is conducting regular patrols and operations to curb illegal fishing more..

Feb 2 (DN) The champion swimmer Akalanka Peiris returning from his recent form from entering the World’s top 50 list in the Men’s 50m and 100m Backstroke, managing to continue his supremacy by winning three first places at the recently concluded first swimming selection trials at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. In the 50m Backstroke, he clocked 26.38sec for a comfortable win while in the 100m Backstroke former Peterite swimmer Peiris clocked a 58.76 sec, taking another gold. more..

Feb 2 (Island) Wrist spin had gone out of fashion in white ball cricket but it has once again emerged as a potent weapon with captains using the leg-spinner as an attacking option. Ravi Shastri during his tenure as Indian coach reinvented the importance of leg-spin in shorter formats of the game and currently you see other international cricket teams following suit. Yesterday it was Pulina Tharanga’s turn as National Super League witnessed the best bowling performance so far. more..

Feb 2 (CT) Sadeera Samarawickrama steered Jaffna to a comfortable 6 wicket win over Colombo in the 9th Match of the National Super League Limited Over Tournament at the SSC yesterday. Batting first, Colombo posted 247 runs in their allotted 50 overs, and Jaffna reached the target in just 46.4 overs thanks to a magnificent innings from opening batter Sadeera. Chasing 248 runs, Jaffna were off to a brilliant start with Sadeera along with Lahiru Thirimanne, adding a 91 run partnership more..

Feb 2 (CT) A total of 23 Sri Lankans are among 590 cricketers to be auctioned during the IPL Player Auction 2022. The two-day mega auction will take place in Bengaluru on 12 and 13 Feb. All rounder Wanindu Hasaranga is highest listed Sri Lankan with a price tag of INR 1 crore, while all other players are in the category of INR 50 lakhs, with the lowest being INR 20 lakhs. Apart from Hasaranga, U-19 skipper Dunith Wellalage, more..

Feb 2 (AD) Nine new envoys comprising seven Ambassadors and two High Commissioners have presented credentials to Prez Rajapaksa this afternoon (1). The new ambassadors and high commissioners were appointed by Denmark, Estonia, Pakistan, Gambia, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Austria, Iceland & Israel. Pakistani High Commissioner is based in SL, while the Philippine Ambassador is based in Dhaka, Bangladesh and the other Envoys are based in New Delhi, India. more..

Feb 2 (EN) Transparency on public reporting in SL’s top 75 listed companies had marginally increased in 2021 to a moderate level with John Keells Holdings being the most transparent firm, A 2021 report said on Tuesday. Transparency in Corporate Reporting Assessment (TRAC) report, which is compiled by Transparency International SL (TISL), local arm of int'l corruption watchdog said the companies in SL have been deemed to be moderately transparent in corporate reporting. more..

Feb 2 (FT) SL was upbeat with signs of a good start in 2022, as arrivals topped the 82,000 mark in January amidst COVID-challenges. A total of 82,327 tourists arrived in January. However, January arrivals could not beat the 89,506 recorded in December – the highest for a month since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020. Despite a surge in its COVID cases, Russia continues to dominate with 16% as the top tourist source market for SL more..

Feb 2 (DN) Chameera Ginige of University of Moratuwa and Bimandee Bandara of Hillwood College Kandy emerged men’s and women’s open champions at the 16th Tibhar All Island Open Ranking Table Tennis Championship which concluded at Indoor Stadium Bandaragama over the weekend. At the men’s open singles Chameera the National rank three player created a major upset to win by defeating National rank two player Krishan Wickramaratne of Vidyartha OBA. more..

Feb 2 (EN) Sri Lanka’s central govt debt ratio had risen up to 106.7 percent of gross domestic product by September 2021 quarter, up from 101% by the end of 2020, data show, amid monetary instability and anti-austerity policies. By September the central bank’s foreign liabilities had exceeded reserves by 158 billion rupees (about 800 million dollars) taking public sector debt to 107.71% as liquidity injections led to reserve losses and the central bank borrowed from swaps. more..

Feb 2 (FT) Companies in SL are deemed to be moderately transparent in corporate reporting as per a study published by Transparency International SL (TISL). The Transparency in Corporate Reporting Assessment (TRAC) 2021 report assesses the top 75 Public Limited Companies on the Colombo Stock Exchange (as per market capitalisation on 1 June 2021) on the level of transparency in the disclosure of information. The assessment, which is being conducted for the second consecutive year, more..

Feb 2 (DM) With more tourists now arriving in the country, Minister Johnston Fernando has expedited the development of all access roads to the airports. As the first phase, development work along Ratmalana Airport access Road has commenced. Minister said Rs. 99.3 mil will be spent to develop 1.6 km road leading to Ratmalana Airport. Another Rs. 20.4 mil will be spent for the construction of sidewalks and Rs. 24.8 mil for the installation of street lights on either side of the road. more..

Feb 2 (Island) Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris during a 3-day visit to Jaffna that ended up with a pow-wow with civil society activists at the Jaffna DS on Monday repeatedly urged the Northern community to integrate with the South. Twice Minister Prof. Peiris who is also the Chairman of the ruling SLPP emphasised the responsibility on the part of the govt as well as all communities to achieve genuine post-war national reconciliation. more..

Feb 2 (Island) Ven. Cappitiyagoda Siriwimala Thera, chief incumbent of Getambe Rajopavanaramaya has said that the govt is now on a different path, having forgotten those who worked hard to bring the SLPP to power. The Ven Thera said that a small section of the ruling coalition was running the govt. The thera said so when Kandy District organisers of the National Freedom Front D. M. Nandaratna and D.U. Senarath on Monday (31) presented a book launched by the party on Islamic extremism. more..

Feb 2 (DM) Claiming that the egg attack on JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake was a criminal offence committed by an organised gang, the Lawyers for NPP alleged that the police had not recorded even a statement from the two suspects arrested in connection with the incident. Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala told a news conference that there was a person or a group of persons who aided and abetted the attack and that investigations should be conducted to ascertain chain of evidence more..

Feb 2 (TM) The CEB said that Unit Three of the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant was stopped yesterday, following which power cuts were reported from a number of areas around the country. “Unit Three has been stopped in order to replace the pressure regulating valve in the sealing oil pressure line,” a CEB spokesperson said. The 300 megawatts (MW) of the Norochcholai Power Plant’s Unit Three were added to national power grid on 31 Jan, more..

Feb 2 (TM) The SL Railway Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU) has claimed that eight out of 10 locomotives which were imported from time to time since 2019 have now been abandoned on the railway yards as they are not fit to be operational on the existing railways, which has caused losses to the Railways Department to the tune of millions of rupees. SLRSMU General Secretary Kasun Chamara emphasised that the Railways Department should take action against the officials more..

Feb 2 (FT) Govt reiterated it was open for discussion with all multilateral and bilateral organisations to restructure debt, whilst confirming it has been in talks with the IMF as well. “Govt has been in discussion with the IMF for a certain period of time to restructure the debt of the country. We are open to all institutions and ideas,” Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said. Although, there was no decision taken yet to seek support from the IMF, he said the option to seek support had been discussed more..

Feb 2 (TM) Despite the Govt’s need to purchase emergency power from private power stations, President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has asked Power Minister Gamini Lokuge to renegotiate the duration of the power purchasing agreements to be signed between the two parties, with the power stations keen on signing for three years. “We reached a policy agreement on purchasing power privately for emergencies. more..

Feb 2 (FT) SL has been a sovereign State which has exercised self-governance since 1948. SL celebrates its 74th year of being such a State on 4 Feb. Serious questions however need to be raised as to how truly independent the country is and how in dependent it is after 73 years. In the context of its dependence, one could argue that it is a State that is opposite to an independent State. SL is hugely in debt, with its govt debt said to be 101.5% of its GDP with foreign debt component exceeding 62%. more..

Feb 2 (FT) Current debate on economic recovery centred on the foreign reserves of the country is heavily patronised by business magnates and economists. Politicos of all sorts too are offering their expedients and fantasias as they please to come into the fray with others to portray their identity. In the meantime, a few astute people with a history of talent and experience are expressing their views unbiasedly adding their share to the blah-blah. We the onlookers behold ongoing play on stage, more..

Feb 2 (AD) All grades of govt schools and govt-approved private schools will be given holidays starting from Feb 7 to hold 2021 (2022) G.C.E. A/L examination, Ministry of Education announced today. Accordingly, the schools will resume academic activities from March 07. The A/L exam is scheduled to be held from Feb 7 to March 5 at 2,438 centres. A total of 345,242 candidates are expected to sit for the exam this time. Conducting and organizing tuition classes, seminars, workshops, more..

Feb 2 (DM) A corruption case filed against Minister Wimal Weerawansa was today fixed for trial by Colombo High Court. High Court Judge Nawaratne Marasinghe fixed the case to be taken up for trial on July 17. Defence Counsel appeared on behalf of Minister Weerawansa and sought a further date since his senior counsel was unable to attend court today. The Director-General of the CIABOC had filed indictments against Wimal Weerawansa for the alleged unlawful acquisition of money and more..

Feb 2 (FT) Khettarama R. Premadasa stadium is still SL’s largest international cricketing arena. What makes it truly special is its genesis. It was built in 1985-86, with no foreign funding or expertise. The idea came from then PM Ranasinghe Premadasa; implementation was by Mayor Sirisena Cooray and the Colombo Municipal Council. As Sirisena Cooray recalled in his memoirs, President Premadasa and I: Our Story, “At that time more..

Feb 2 (DM) The order regarding a bail application filed on behalf of Attorney-at-law Hejaaz Hizbullah was today reserved for Feb 7 by the Court of Appeal. Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justice Menaka Wijesundera and Justice Neil Iddawala announced that the order on whether bail would be granted or not to Hejaaz Hizbullah will be delivered next Monday (7). Meanwhile, Additional Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya appearing for Attorney General informed Court of Appeal more..

Feb 2 (EN) The govt of SL signed a 500 million US dollar fuel credit line with the Export Import (EXIM) Bank of India for the purchase of petroleum products, the Indian High Commission in SL said. The agreement was signed in the presence of SL’s Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa and the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay. The Agreement was signed by Treasury Secretary, S R Attygalle from the SL side and Chief General Manager of EXIM Bank Gaurav Bhandari more..

Feb 2 (AD) Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekara has directed the IGP to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack on Medical Faculty students in Ragama. He also said that two police teams have already been deployed to carry out investigations. Minister said that a complaint has been received that a group of outsiders had forcibly entered the premises of the Medical Faculty in Ragama last night and more..

Feb 2 (EN) SL’s Export Development Board said 28 companies were given cash grants under programs to build brands and access global markets. The grants were offered under three programs and were given out by the trade minister Bandula Gunawardhana at an event held on January 28. “…{T}he entire nation should become an export zone for the country to achieve economic prosperity,” Gunawardhana has said at the event. Under the EDB’s National Export Brands more..

Feb 2 (Island) The No 05 Fighter Squadron known as the Black Drongos celebrated its 31st Anniversary yesterday. SL acquired four F 7 BS fighters, one FT 7 B trainer and two FT 5 trainers from China in early 1991. The aircraft arrived in SL on Feb 1, 1991 and this gave birth to the No 5 Fighter Squadron. Squadron Leader H.D. Abeywickrema was appointed as its first Commanding Officer. The present Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana more..

Feb 2 (DM) While expanding the luxury bus service from Makumbura Multi-modal Transport Centre (MTC) to the expressway, 25 inter-provincial luxury bus services on 17 routes were launched from the MTC. While inaugraing the event, Transport Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said earlier that the luxury bus service was operated only to Galle and Matara. Accordingly, luxury bus services operate up to Monaragala, Badulla, Embilipitiya, Ampara, Akkaraipattu, Kandy, Mullaitivu, A'pura, more..

Feb 2 (EN) Cabinet of ministers has approved the promotion of several traditional and rural industry projects that were inaugurated last year. The govt has allocated one billion rupees in the 2022 budget proposals as well as another 150 million rupees from budget estimations for the state ministry handling traditional and rural industries. The funds will be used for the improvement of traditional domestic industries such as rattan, clay, brass, lacquer, masks, coconut shells, gold, stone carvings, more..

Feb 2 (DM) Ape Janabala Party today informed Supreme Court that it has taken a decision to withdraw the letter issued expelling Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera from party membership. President's Counsel Farman Cassim appearing for the Ape Janabala Party informed that the letter of expulsion will be withdrawn reserving rights to file a fresh inquiry. However, President's Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena appearing for more..

Feb 2 (CT) The suspect who is alleged to have provided a hand grenade to the retired doctor, who is alleged to have placed it at the All Saints Church in Borella, provided a 90-minute-long confidential statement to Colombo Additional Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya yesterday. Thus, three suspects, connected to the incident and a witness, have provided confidential statements before Court, so far. Suspect, Ruwansiri Premachandra, a resident of the Ranna area in Hambantota District, more..

Feb 2 (DM) A 34-year-old man has been arrested by the STF with four kilos of hashish valued at Rs. 4 million during a raid at Mahawatta in Grandpass. Following a tip off received by SSP Sylvester Wijesinghe under the supervision of STF Commandant DIG Waruna Jayasundara, a team of officers of the Special Raid Unit raided a house. The stock of hashish was subtly hidden in a secret bunker of the suspect’s house. The suspect and seized hashish were handed over to Police more..

Feb 2 (EN) SL can experience a growing incidence of child mortality from Omicron Coronavirus variant unless extra care is taken to protect children, who are not yet vaccinated and remaining population fast-tracks the third dose, officials said. About 16,000 SL children could be at risk based on global trends. Omicron waves in many countries had seen higher levels of child hospitalization and deaths than some earlier variants. more..