Jan 18 (FT) Minister Johnson Fernando said the Central Expressway second phase had earned over Rs. 2.8 million within the first 12 hours of opening. “Income generated by the new section of the Central Expressway from 12 noon to midnight on Sunday was Rs. 2,805,100. A total of 13,583 vehicles had used the expressway from Kurunegala to Mirigama within the first 12 hours, while no accidents were reported,” he said. 2nd phase of Central Expressway, also known as Ethugalpura more..

Jan 18 (ICC) The Lions came out on top in the tussle between the two previously unbeaten teams in Group D, with no Australian able to match Wellalage in Basseterre. Australia struggled to build partnerships having been put in to bat by SL, their highest stand coming between Campbell Kellaway and Nivethan Radhakrishnan as they put on 46 for the fourth wicket. Kellaway was Australia’s top scorer with 54 runs from 77 balls as the three-time champions slumped to 175 all out off final ball more..

Jan 18 (TM) Power Minister Gamini Lokuge said yesterday that the CEB will hold discussions with the Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC) today (18) about the possibility of obtaining fuel from the LIOC, amidst the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation’s (CPC) difficulty in supplying fuel to the Power Ministry to supply electricity to the country. “We are considering a number of alternative options to supply electricity at the moment. more..

Jan 18 (CT) Finance Ministry Secretary S.R. Attygalle, in a fuel-saving measure to preserve the country’s sparse foreign reserves, has cut the fuel allowances of eligible public servants by a minimum of 5 litres (3.33%) to a maximum of 25 litres (14.71%) per month. Attygalle, in a circular dated last Friday (14) and addressed to ministry secretaries, State ministry secretaries, chairmen of State-owned commercial corporations, statutory boards and Govt-owned companies, has said more..

Jan 18 (DM) Huge crowds flocking to the newly opened Colombo Port City Marina Promenade has raised fears of a Port City cluster emerging. Health authorities warned that the behavior of the public threatened to create a new Covid cluster. Sources said that crowd control at the Port City Marina Promenade must be strictly enforced. Omicron Covid variant is spreading in Sri Lanka and crowds gathering at Colombo Port City Marina Promenade could add to the number of infections. more..

Jan 18 (DM) While reaching a total tourist count of 46,942 for today, the country shows an increase in the number of tourists, AASL Chairman Upul Dharmadasa said. He said that nearly 3,000 tourists were arriving in the country daily as tourists, and nearly 22 airlines were currently operating to bring them. Mr. Dharmadasa said several more airlines have agreed to bring tourists into the country this year. In line with the tourist arrivals, charges of tourist hotels and rooms have increased, more..

Jan 18 (AD) Veteran SL singer and musician Neela Wickramasinghe has passed away at the age of 71. She has passed away in the city of Milan, Italy. Wickramasinghe was recently appointed as the Consul General of SL in Milan. Known for her popular hits such as Master Sir as well as duets sung with T.M. jayaratne, she was also a former teacher in music and had also graduated in 1974 with a Sangeeth Visharada Degree after studying North Indian Classical Music. more..

Jan 18 (Island) Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that in spite of difficulties caused by the foreign currency crisis price control on imported medicines couldn’t be done away with. Abolition of price control on drugs would heap an enormous burden on the vast majority of people, Minister Rambukwella said. Lawmaker Rambukwella said so when The Island sought his response to the SL Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry more..

Jan 18 (CT) Appointing an Acting General Manager to the CEB by violating the instructions given by the Court and the CEB traditions, has not been done with good intentions and the current CEB Chairman should take full responsibility for the crisis at the CEB, Minister Wimal Weerawansa said. Weerawansa said, “The person who has been appointed as the acting GM has several corruption allegations against him. He was also a witness of the controversial Yugadanavi Power Plant more..

Jan 18 (CT) The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) earlier said it does not need diesel for January, suddenly out of the blue it goes back on its word and requests diesel on 11 January, Energy Minister Udaya Gamannpila said yesterday (17). If imported diesel stocks are given to the CEB then there will be a diesel shortage for motor vehicles. There are no US dollars to purchase fuel for the CEB. If the CEB gives US dollars, then we can import fuel for their operations, Gammanpila said. more..

Jan 18 (Island) More than 500 engineers attached to the CEB Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) will launch a sick-note campaign today near the CEB headquarters, CEBEU President Saumya Kumarawadu said. He said that the union had been compelled to resort to such trade union after 10 years as CEB Chairman M.M.C. Ferdinando had appointed Dr. Susantha Perera the General Manager on temporary basis. more..

Jan 18 (Island) SJB lawmaker Rohini Kaviratne says nearly two months after Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa rescinded a gazette that prohibited the import of agro chemicals, the Agriculture Ministry is yet to facilitate their imports. MP said that the Finance Minister issued a fresh gazette soon after the Cabinet of Ministers cleared the way for agro chemical imports. MP said that the govt owed the farming community an apology for its pathetic failure to make available agro-chemicals. more..

Jan 18 (CT) If fuel is not supplied to the Kelanitissa and Sapugaskanda Power Plants by today morning (18), a daily power cut of one-and-a-half hours from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. which are peak hours would be inevitable, CEB Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) warned. CEBEU Secretary Dhammike Wimalaratne said the fuel supplied to the Kelanitissa Power Plant, which provides 300 MW, is only sufficient until 5 p.m. today (17), while fuel for the Sapugaskanda Power Plant will only last until this morning. more..

Jan 18 (AD) The ceremonial opening of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament is scheduled to get underway this morning (18), under the patronage of Prez Rajapaksa. Head of State will subsequently present the Govt Policy Statement in Parliament at 10 a.m. in accordance with the powers vested in him by Article 33 (2) of the Constitution. On the instructions of Prez, arrangements have been made to hold the ceremony in a very simple more..

Jan 18 (FT) Asoka Handagama is famous for using art for disrupting society, which is believed to be sane, serene, and free from evil. But society is like a lake; on the surface, it is calm, eye-catching, and mind soothing. Beneath that calmness, there are all those decomposing matters that give at the end a different flavour to the waters of the lake. They are odorous, ugly, and contrasting aesthetic feelings. A romantic artiste may just portray the lake or society on what he sees on the surface, more..

Jan 18 (FT) In April 2021, the SL Govt took an unprecedented decision of banning palm oil imports and ordered the uprooting of oil palm trees to be replaced with rubber trees. The main reason cited was palm oil’s negative social and environmental impacts based on a contestable report prepared in 2018. After a few days of the order, the import of palm oil that costs Sri Lankan exchequer $ 88 million was reversed. However, the ban on oil palm cultivation continues. more..

Jan 18 (AD) Air Chief Marshal Pathman Mendis, fondly known as Paddy Mendis, has passed away at the age of 88. Mendis became the youngest Commander of the Air Force, at the age of 38 years and the youngest Commander of an Armed Service in Ceylon, with his appointment on 1st Jan 1971. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal. ACM Mendis was the fifth Ceylonese to join the RCyAF back in Aug 1951. He received his education at S. Thomas’ College Mt Lavinia. more..

Jan 18 (EN) Sri Lanka has condemned a drone attack on an oil facility in the UAE, claimed by Houthi rebels in Yemen, which killed at least three people. “The Govt of SL unequivocally condemns the terrorist attack on civilian facilities in UAE which resulted in deaths of several civilians,” Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry said in a statement. “Sri Lanka reiterates the need for continued vigilance against the ever-present and evolving threat of terrorism which harms global peace and security.” more..

Jan 18 (DM) CEB diesel and furnace oil stocks will be sufficient only until 5 p.m. this evening for electricity generation, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation's (CPC) Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya wing (JSS) Secretary Ananda Palitha said. He said that, according to the statement made by Minister Udaya Gammanpila yesterday, the whole country should be in the dark by tomorrow. “More than 2,000 metric tons of furnace oil and diesel fuel more..

Jan 18 (DM) The Anti-Death Penalty Group strongly condemned the ongoing use of the death penalty in SL while referring to the Colombo High Court Special Trial-at-Bar sentencing former Welikada Magazine Prison Superintendent Emil Ranjan Lamahewage to death. They said issuing a statement that On 12 Jan 2022, the Colombo High Court Special Trial-at-Bar sentenced former Welikada Magazine Prison Superintendent Emil Ranjan Lamahewage to death. more..

Jan 18 (TM) Out of the two sets of power generation machinery at the Sapugaskanda power plant, namely ‘A’ and ‘B’, only A side machinery is currently operational. CEB Engineers Union Spokesperson said that this is because the furnace oil required to keep B side machinery operational has run out. “We expected that the fuel supplies would come in before this happened. However, we received information a short while ago that we may receive fuel to restart B side machinery. more..

JJan 18 (Island) International and local economic experts and corporate leaders have stressed the need for a concrete, long-term and bold reform agenda for the economy as the country braces for a critical year amidst unprecedented socio-economic challenges. Speaking at the Sri Lanka Economic Outlook 2022 forum organised by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom and NextGenSL, recently, Prof. Lee. C. Buchheit, more..

Jan 18 (TC) Pakistan PM Imran Khan has appreciated the efforts of the Sialkot business community and Rajco Industries to provide aid to the widow of Priyantha Kumara who was beaten to death and burnt by a mob in Sialkot on the basis of blasphemy. In a tweet, PM said, “I want to appreciate the Sialkot business community for transferring $100,000 to the account of Priyantha Kumara’s widow and Rajco Industries for transferring monthly salary of $ 1667 to her more..

Jan 18 (TM) Minister Namal Rajapaksa, who visited the BIA on 8 January (Saturday) to welcome the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who engaged in an official visit to SL, was reportedly fooled by a decoy. While waiting to welcome Yi at the tarmac, the SL delegation led by Rajapaksa had seen a Chinese official with similar features as Yi descend from the flight. The Sri Lankan delegation had welcomed this official and was preparing to make their way to the VIP podium when more..

JJan 18 (AD) President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, delivering the govt’s policy statement in the House today, insisted that no changes have been made to the green agriculture policy implemented by his administration. The Head of State arrived at the Parliament this morning for the ceremonial opening of the second session of the 9th Parliament. “We had to face various challenges when implementing the green agriculture policy.” more..

Jan 18 (DM) SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) said stern action will be taken against tourist establishments who practice a Foreigners Only policy. In a statement, SLTDA said that they had received complaints regarding discriminatory practices followed by some tourist establishments against SL citizens. "Our Constitution affords the equal right to all citizens; where no person shall, on the grounds of race, religion, language, caste, sex, or anyone such grounds, be subjected to more..

Jan 18 (DM) A revision application filed on behalf of Attorney-at-law Hejaaz Hizbullah seeking an order to release him on bail was today fixed for January 20 by Court of Appeal. Hisbullah is seeking an order to set aside the order made by Puttlalam High Court which refused to grant bail. Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justice Menaka Wijesundera and Justice Neil Iddawala fixed the revision application to be heard on January 20. An indictment under Prevention of Terrorism Act more..

Jan 18 (CT) Project Director-in- Charge of the Health Sector Enhancement Project (HSEP), funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB), has pilfered close to Rs 45 million from the Colombo East Base Hospital (Mulleriyawa) PCR Laboratory, President College of Medical Laboratory Science SL (CMLSSL) Ravi Kumudesh alleged. He also said, the ADB allocated US$ 60 million for the HSEP of which US$ 19 million was given for more..

Jan 18 (TM) Former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe is reportedly contemplating sending a letter of demand to former SL cricketer Roshan Mahanama over some extracts in Mahanama’s recently released book. In his autobiography titled My Innings Mahanama has alleged that Wickremesinghe, as PM in 2002, had prevented then Sri Lanka Cricket Chief Hemaka Amarasuriya from attending an ICC Meeting and instead nominated Thilanga Sumathipala. more..

Jan 18 (Island) The second session of the Ninth Parliament would commence with a two-day adjournment debate on the government’s Policy Statement, beginning tomorrow at 1 pm, following its delivery by Prez Rajapaksa today, Leader of the House Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said. The first session of the Ninth Parliament had recorded gains for democracy in the country despite the effects of the pandemic obstructing the proceedings from time to time, he said. more..

Jan 18 (DM) SL had a tough time during December in defending the rupee against a probable free fall against the dollar, amid a deepening foreign exchange crisis, as the Central Bank sold over US $ 400 million in the domestic market. Central Bank sold US $ 424.71 million in December, the highest for any month, to defend the rupee pegged to the US dollar, up from the previous high of US $ 372.35 million in November. This brings to a US $ 353.55 million worth of net dollar sales from its more..

Jan 18 (CT) Election monitoring body, PAFFREL urged the Parliament Select Committee (PSC) to identify appropriate reforms to the election laws and the electoral system and to recommend necessary amendments, to consider preparing an Election Calendar. PAFFREL presented a proposal to the PSC requesting to include the suggestion in its recommendations. PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said through Election Calendar System the Election Commission more..

Jan 18 (EN) SL’s electricity utility is in last minute talks with the Finance Ministry and Central Bank and the petroleum firm to get fuel and foreign exchange, Power Minister Gamini Lokuge said amid looming prospects of 2.5 hour power cuts on Jan 19. “We expect to discuss this issue with the treasury, CPC, CBSL and Finance Ministry,” Minister Lokuge said. “We need diesel from Jan 19-22.” The CEB is expected to run out of diesel for a combined cycle plant and several reciprocal engines more..

Jan 18 (Island) A SL private investor has qualified to provide aircraft line maintenance services to foreign airlines servings SL at BIA for the first time, CAASL said. It said that the Ceylon Aeronautical Services (Pvt) Ltd (CAS) was certified by the CAASL to provide line maintenance facilities at BIA after fulfilling the necessary requirements recently. The main responsibility of line maintenance certification is to certify that the aircraft is fit to fly to its intended destinations when departing from BIA. more..

Jan 18 (CT) Recent remarks of Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith clearly indicate that the Catholic Church has lost faith in the Govt, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa claimed. Speaking during a public gathering in Hatton recently, Premadasa said it is clear that the Catholic Church has lost faith in the Govt, judging by matters raised by Cardinal Ranjith on Police investigations into the incident where a hand grenade was found in All Saints’ Church, last week. more..

Jan 18 (DM) A union attached to the National Zoological Gardens in Dehiwala, claiming themselves to be the SLPP union, has scheduled to stage a protest today, saying that they are not getting a risk allowance of Rs. 5,000, sources said. Union have claimed half of the staff were getting the Rs. 5,000 allowance and the other half were getting half that amount. The so-called union members have decided to initiate a protest demanding more..

Jan 18 (AD) Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC) has turned down the request made by the Ministry of Power for fuel supply to the CEB required for electricity generation, says Minister Gamini Lokuge. The company has stated that it does not possess extra stocks of fuel at the moment. This was conveyed during a crucial discussion held between the officials of the Power Ministry and LIOC today (18) on the possibility of obtaining fuel in order to maintain an uninterrupted power supply. more..