Jan 21 (TM) Police will continue the programme to gather information on all temporary residents within the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) area, which was initially launched from 14 to 16 Jan, according to SSP Nihal Thalduwa. Western Province Community Police Division launched a 3-day operation from 14 to 16 Jan to gather information on all temporary residents residing in places such as houses, business premises, institutions, more..

Jan 21 (Island) SL Under 19s will enter today’s final group ‘D’ encounter almost assured of their quarter-final place and fates of Australia and hosts West Indies in the ICC Under 19 World Cup in their hands. Despite leading the points table in their group the team will look forward to registering a win against the hosts. “The team will try to enter the quarter-finals unbeaten and will field a team that can counter West Indies’ strengths,” a team official told The Island from St. Kitts yesterday. more..

Jan 21 (FT) John Keells Holdings (JKH) announced the completion of the first phase of the $ 80 million private placement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The first phase amounts to the rupee equivalent of $ 50 million following the allotment of 65.04 million shares at Rs. 154.50 each on 19 Jan. Initial Placement Shares results in a post-issue dilution of 4.70% in Phase 1 of the transaction. JKH said additionally, in terms of Phase 2, it issued 39 million non-tradable/non-transferable options more..

Jan 21 (FT) Dr. Prasantha Jayamanna yesterday assumed duties as the Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) following the appointment by Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena. Prior to his new appointment, Dr. Jayamanna served as the Vice Chairman. Dr. Jayamanna is a Doctor of Business Administration, most awarded Youngest Entrepreneur in Sri Lanka, and a leadership lecturer with vast knowledge in the implementation of strategic solutions. more..

Jan 21 (FT) Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday presented to Parliament the Special Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill aimed at simplifying the existing tax structure. The Special GST will be the new composite tax payable on a number of specified goods and services, including liquor, cigarettes and vehicles (inclusive of parts for assembling of vehicles), telecom services, betting and gaming etc. The rate of tax applicable, either ad valorem or specific, more..

Jan 21 (CT) Tug-of-war between the Director General of the National Zoological Gardens and the SLPP Zoological Dept Employees’ Union has deepened, endangering the lives of the animals at the Dehiwala Zoo. It is alleged the Director General and the zookeepers are trying to get their demands met using the animals in their battle. The employees continued their protest into a third day yesterday, claiming that the veterinarians more..

Jan 21 (EN) Central Bank is bearing the 8 rupees out of a 10 rupees extra paid to expat workers for remitting US dollars Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said, making it a quasi-fiscal activity. “The total 10 rupees will be paid to the person who is receiving the remittance,” Governor Cabraal said. “Thereafter we will do a transaction between the govt and the CB, where we would claim 2 rupees and absorb the 8 rupees.” The CB is giving the extra payment to lure expat workers away from more..

Jan 21 (CT) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa queried from the Govt as to why it does not invite multibillionaire entrepreneur and business magnate Elon Musk to establish a plant in SL to manufacture electric motor vehicles. Participating in the Adjournment Debate on the President’s Policy Statement in Parliament, Premadasa said if his father the late President Ranasinghe Premadasa was alive today, he would definitely take steps to invite Musk to strike a deal with SL. more..

Jan 21 (TM) UK Minister of State Foreign Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Central and South Asia, Commonwealth, UN, Human Rights) Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, during his three-day visit to Sri Lanka, met a series of officials, including President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to discuss key issues revolving around human rights. He met Prez Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (20). more..

Jan 21 (TM) Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) Sudarshana de Silva, appearing for the Attorney General (AG), had told the Court of Appeal yesterday that he has no objection to the bail application made with the High Court on behalf of Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Hizbullah, who was arrested and remanded under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The DSG said there was no objection towards granting bail when the revision application filed by counsel Hizbullah was taken up more..

Jan 21 (DM) As Omicron is becoming the dominant variant in SL surpassing Delta, health authorities raised the importance of curtailing public movement to avert a massive outbreak in the country. Dr. Anwar Hamdani said people should be prudent at this crucial juncture and make sure they restrict their movement. “The sudden increase in number of COVID cases implies that Omicron is rapidly spreading in the country and current situation could be a sign of a major outbreak in near future. more..

Jan 21 (FT) Central Bank announced several policy measures including a raise in interest rates, checkmate runaway inflation and fresh incentives to boost foreign exchange reserves as part of overall objective of strengthening the macroeconomic stability. Monetary Board in its first meeting for the new year on Wednesday decided following: Increase standing deposit facility rate (SDFR), standing lending facility rate (SLFR) more..

Jan 21 (FT) Publication of a biography by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga as a self-expression was important news for me as one who had written a book about her. Further, the news that the keynote address at the book launch was to be delivered by Shirani Bandaranayake, a former Chief Justice, was another reason that aroused my interest. I did not get an opportunity to read the book yet, but I listened to the speech made by her at the book launch. more..

Jan 21 (FT) The ongoing controversy over the recent sovereign debt repayment has revived public awareness of the crucial role of International Financial Institutions (IFIs) such as the IMF and also of credit rating agencies for a country like Sri Lanka, reliant on access to external capital markets for its functioning while being acutely vulnerable to their borrowing conditions. In debates on whether or not to go to the IMF and how to deal with the ratings downgrades, Dr. Nishan de Mel has more..

Jan 21 (DM) Public Health Inspectors Union President Upul Rohana said that around six public health inspectors working at the airport have tested positive for COVID19. He said foreigners don’t wear masks or adhere to health guidelines and therefore more PHIs are at risk of contracting the virus. "We have informed the Public Health Inspector Union deputy director general about the lack of space in restrooms at the airport. If proper facilities are not provided we will take a decision on whether more..

Jan 21 (FT) As SL sets to include the spectrum for 5G in the upcoming frequency auction, the island will embrace 5G technology in the near future. Huawei advocates for accelerating 5G in line with Digital Economy development objectives during the first National Digital Consortia, organised by ICTA. The week-long event aims to build ties between multinational organisations, local businesses, local govt, and encourages the leading technology giants to be part of SL’s digital transformation. more..

Jan 21 (AD) South Korean Govt will support to promote employment generation, vocational training and investment opportunities, said Park Byeong-seug, the Speaker of the National Assembly of South Korea. He made these remarks when he met Prez Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat, yesterday. Mr. Park Byeong-seug is the Speaker of the 21st National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. There is ample scope for investment more..

Jan 21 (AD) Kickstarting 2022 in true winning spirit, SL’s fastest-growing life insurer Softlogic Life Insurance PLC, garnered the topmost recognition at the CMA Excellence in Integrated Reporting Awards 2021, clinching the Overall Gold Trophy for its Annual Report, themed One Lankan. This milestone made Softlogic Life the youngest SL company to be conferred with this prestigious accolade. Apart from the Overall Gold award, Softlogic Life won three other awards, including Best Integrated more..

Jan 21 (DN) The case filed against former Minister Rajitha Senaratne and another over making false allegations against the then Presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the controversial White Van Press Conference during the 2019 Prez Election was yesterday fixed for March 15 by the Colombo High Court. The former chairman of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation Mohammad Rumi is the other accused in the case. Attorney General filed indictments comprising 14 charges of more..

Jan 21 (EN) A trade union at SL’s national zoological gardens in Dehiwala, Colombo, that had threatened to stop feeding the zoo animals has ended their three-day protest after Prez Rajapaksa promised to look into their demands. The workers resumed their duties Friday (20) afternoon, a spokesman for the ruling SLPP-affiliated union said. The protest campaign began on Tuesday over three key demands: a risk allowance of more..

Jan 21 (AD) Further hearing of the case against MP Champika Ranawaka over the alleged hit-and-run in Rajagiriya in 2016 has been fixed for February 18. The lawmaker appeared before the Colombo High Court this morning. When the case was taken up last week, the SJB MP did not appear before the court as he had been admitted to a private hospital at the time. Accordingly, the Colombo High Court had ordered the Colombo Chief JMO to examine MP Ranawaka and to submit a report on his more..

Jan 21 (FT) JAT Holdings has reconfirmed commitment to its Initial Public Offering (IPO) investment priorities with the commencement of the construction of its state-of-the-art R&D centre adjoining its Head Office premises, located in Thalawathugoda this week. As per the Investment priorities set out during the IPO on 20 July 2021, proceeds from the IPO have been utilised for the company’s near term objectives of investment to create the R&D Centre - making it not only more..

Jan 21 (DM) Minister Gamini Lokuge said that the necessary fuel requirements have been fulfilled and that they are planning to provide an uninterrupted power supply. "We have received 10,000 MTs of diesel and it has been supplied to the Kelani Tissa power plant. So far there have been no breakdowns except for one or two turbines which have been fixed immediately," Lokuge said. There’s furnace oil sufficient till Jan 22. more..

Jan 21 (MFA) Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris hosted a Lunch on 20 January, 2022 in honour of the visiting Korean Delegation headed by the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, Park Byeong-Seug. During the lunch, the two sides held detailed discussions on ways and means to further enhance bilateral cooperation between Korea and SL. Extending the Govt’s deep appreciation to the Korean Govt for the enormous support extended so far with Korea’s more..

Jan 21 (Island) SLPP MP and former President Maithripala Sirisena should be thrown out of the SLFP for making the party a junior partner of the SLPP former Prez Chandrika Kumaratunga said on Wednesday night after appearing before the SPCoI appointed to implement the recommendations of the final report of the PCoI into alleged Political Victimisation. Both Sirisena and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had destroyed the SLFP, Kumaratunga alleged. more..

Jan 21 (EN) Sri Lanka has sought a million tonnes of rice as a gift from China govt ministers says which is expected to make good an expected crop loss from during the main Maha cultivation season from a chemical fertilizer ban. Sri Lanka had sought the million tonnes of rice as a gift as a way mark a 30 year long barter agreement between the People’s Republic and Ceylon which ran from 1953 to 1982. more..

Jan 21 (Island) The country had been plunged into darkness with power cuts within four hours of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa vowing to allow the importation of electric vehicles, SJB Matale District MP Rohini Kumari Wijeratne said in Parliament yesterday. “Since then, we have been experiencing intermittent power cuts daily,” MP Wijeratne said, participating in an adjournment debate on President Rajapaksa’s policy statement on Tuesday to commence a new session of parliament. more..

Jan 21 (DM) MP Daina Gamage proposed that a motion should be passed with a two-thirds majority in Parliament to extend the term of the Prez by two more years claiming that the Prez had lost two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. She told Parliament that the term of the Parliament should also be extended by two years. Speaking during the adjournment debate on the Prez's policy statement, she said Expressway network in the country could have been completed unless the two years more..

Jan 21 (NW) The first conviction in the Priyantha Kumara lynching case has come from the anti-terrorism court (ATC) where a suspect has been awarded one-year imprisonment, ARY NEWS reported. The suspect identified as Adnan justified the lynching of Priyantha Kumara at the Sialkot factory on social media and later confessed to his crime before the court. A case was registered against him at Rang Pura police station in Sialkot under charges of collaboration in a crime. more..

Jan 21 (SLN) Special operations conducted by the Navy in Mannar and Erakkandi on 17th and 20th Jan led to the seizure of 11 water gel sticks, a type of commercial explosive, and several other explosive items made ready to be used for illegal fishing. Blast fishing, which is carried out by a handful of fishermen using explosives, causes great damage to the coral ecosystem and spawning grounds. Therefore, use of explosives for fishing will have a major impact not only on marine ecosystem more..

Jan 21 (DM) Claiming that the govt is using the Covid-19 pandemic to cover up its failures, NPP said today that the people are not prepared to believe such lame excuses any more. NPP MP Vijitha Herath told Parliament that the govts in the past used the war to cover up their failures and inability to perform. He said the President's policy statement was mainly on his failures during the last two years and pledges to deliver during more..

Jan 21 (DM) PM Narendra Modi has topped the global rating amongst world leaders with an approval rating of 71%. On the list of the 13 world leaders, US president Joe Biden is ranked at number six with a 43% rating. Biden is followed by Canadian President Justin Trudeau also at 43% and Australian PM Scott Morrison at 41%. Even in November 2021, PM Modi had topped the list of the most popular world leaders. Morning Consult Political Intelligence is currently tracking the approval ratings of more..

Jan 21 (CT) Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena yesterday nominated Twenty MPs as members of the Committee on Parliamentary Business. The MPs had been nominated in terms of the provisions of Standing Order 115 and the motion agreed to, in Parliament. Accordingly, the Committee comprises the Speaker as the Chair, Deputy Speaker, Deputy Chairperson of Committees, Leader of the House, Leader of the Opposition, Chief Government Whip & Chief Opposition Whip & 21 other members. more..

Jan 21 (Island) The total output of tea plantations had increased in 2021, compared to 2020, Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said at the opening of a multi-purpose building at the Batahena Dharmagaveshi Temple. “Tea harvest in the year 2020 was 279 million kilos and it was 305 million kilos in 2021. We are also thinking about providing a subsidy for chemical fertilizers or to reduce the price of fertilizers within more..

Jan 21 (CT) The Japanese Govt is committed to supporting the employment of SL skilled people in Japan in two fields, nursing care and food service industries, the Japanese Embassy in SL said. In this connection, Japanese Ambassador in SL Hideaki Mizukoshi attended an event held at the Foreign Employment Bureau (FEB), Battaramulla on Tuesday (18). It was in regard to the launch of a newly introduced status of residence, Specified Skilled Worker for the people of SL in Japan. more..

Jan 21 (CT) During a recent visit to Batticaloa District, Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr Asela Gunawardena visited the opening of a new improved ICU at Valaichchenai Base Hospital. Dr. Thayalini Sasikumar, Medical Superintendent of the Valaichchenai Base Hospital, presided over a ceremony to mark the opening of this unit. A.R.M. Thowfeek, Director of Health Services Eastern Province, N. Mayooran, Regional Director of Health Services Batticaloa, more..

Jan 21 (DM) Former CID Director Shani Abeysekara has filed a writ petition against the PCoI on Political Victimisation for allegedly violating an undertaking given to the Court of Appeal. Shani Abaysekara is seeking a writ of certiorari quashing the decision taken by the PCoI to submit a report to the Prez dated 24.11.2020 which contains recommendations against the petitioner. The petitioner has cited Chairman of PCoI more..