Jan 4 (EN) Amid skyrocketing prices and fears expressed of a looming food crisis, SL’s govt on Tuesday invited the public to grow fruits and vegetables in their home gardens for their own consumption, with the govt providing 5,000 rupees worth of agriculture inputs per 20 perches of land. Minister Dr Ramesh Pathirana told reporters on Tuesday that an allowance of 10,000 rupees will be made available for those interested per more..

Jan 4 (EN) Stocks closed at a fresh all time high on Tuesday and gained for the fourth consecutive session, crossing 12,800 ASPI benchmark as excess liquidity in the market at lower interest rates helped buying a day after the got announced 229 billion rupee relief package, brokers said. However, foreign investors sold a net 596.1 million rupees worth of shares. The bourse suffered over 50 billion rupee foreign outflow last year. A Colombo-based analyst said foreign investors had been more..

Jan 4 (TM) Laugfs Gas PLC Chairman W.K.H. Wegapitiya slammed Litro Gas Lanka Limited for partaking in an unethical industry practice of repainting yellow Laugfs gas cylinders in blue, in order for Litro Gas to resell them as their own. Wegapitiya alleged that Litro Gas is continuing this activity on a large scale. “They are doing it on a massive scale. All these problems are a result of unethical industry practices carried out by Litro. This has been going on in an organised manner more..

Jan 5 (Island) Santa has arrived late, wearing a saataka and carrying gifts only for some citizens. He seems to have got his numbers wrong and thereby left most Sri Lankans disappointed. If only he had cared to take a look at SL’s population data before embarking on his gift-distribution mission. The govt has unveiled a relief package, which will cost the state coffers as much as Rs. 229 billion. Co-Cabinet Spokesman Udaya Gammanpila has sought to deny the Opposition’s claim that more..

Jan 5 (DM) Desmond Tutu is not just one man. He is a larger than life representative of an Era. Not just a by-standing, passive representative of that Era, but a defiant, militant, protesting representative of a movement that sought to bring equality, human dignity, economic justice, reconciliation etc. to land that was afflicted with the curse of racial discrimination. He was, after Nelson Mandela, perhaps the most well-known anti-Apartheid activist, although his life’s calling was Priesthood. more..

Jan 5 (DM) The failure of respective govts since 2012 to grant legal status to the Public Utilities Commission of SL to regulate the Petroleum Industry has led to the sale of unsafe gas cylinders in the country to a great extent, it is learned. In the backdrop of the govt’s failure to find a solution to the sale of these unsafe gas cylinders, sources from Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) said that neither they nor any other govt entity more..

Jan 5 (CT) It was dubbed as the ultimate, shameful insults to public conscience when two shady leadership characters were unworthily and bestowed with the highest merit awards in their countries, as the New Year dawned. The Social media went berserk, when former British PM Tony Blair was made a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, and SL’s Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa was bestowed with the Sri Lankadheeshwara Padma Vibhushana Award by more..

Jan 5 (CT) At least 50% of the funds required from the targeted Rs 229 billion relief package, equivalent to Rs 114.5 billion, as announced by Minister Basil Rajapaksa, presumably obtained by reallocating funds already passed for Budget 2022, may be procured by reducing the Highways Ministry’s 2022 capital budget by 46 per cent. Rajapaksa, in his address to the media yesterday, in respect of the proposed relief package said that the required funds will not be obtained by raising taxes this year. more..

Jan 5 (DM) With the social, political and economic changes in the country over the last two years, specially since the spread of the Covid 19 pandemic, NPP, broader alliance of JVP, has shown impressive progress in its popularity among all section of the society. Having no faith in the two traditional political camps, specially given the repeated allegations of corruptions during both regimes, NPP claims that real progressive more..

Jan 5 (ST) In an earlier time in the history of our cherished country when politics was clean and fresh as the morning dew and so were politicians, there was a ditty that was invariably sung whenever the somewhat inebriated gathered round a piano and the more inebriated round the bottles. Unlike today when one law is for the many and no law for a few, that was a time when any excuse was good enough for a party and no excuse is even better for a celebration. more..

Jan 5 (TM) Minister Basil Rajapaksa returned to SL on 1 Jan after a weeks-long holiday abroad, and as if belatedly celebrating the SL Christmas that he missed, announced several unexpected relief measures in a late night press conference hurriedly organised and held shortly after 2022’s weekly Cabinet meeting. Rajapaksa announced a relief package worth a staggering Rs. 229 billion, through which public sector employees and pensioners will be provided a monthly allowance of Rs 5000 more..

Jan 5 (DM) Vocabulary.com describes pedophiles as persons who are sexually attracted to children. Most pedophiles also rape and molest children. Using a small sample survey, Human Rights Watch projects more than 7,200 minors are raped each year in India. There’s nothing much worse than a pedophile. While there are a many dangerous and sick types of people in the world, those who sexually assault children - pedophiles - are probably the worst of the worst. Pedophiles are looked down on, more..

Jan 5 (Island) Cricket’s headquarters seems to be slowly shifting from Maitland Place to Pedris Road and those who matter like the Sports Minister seems to have given the thumbs up for the move. The press too is not making a hue and cry like they did when the headquarters shifted to Perera Gardens in Battaramulla from Maitland Place ten years ago. Pedris Road is good news. Cricket’s intellectuals often gather there to discuss sport’s burning issues and these days they are busy interviewing more..

Jan 5 (FT) Sri Lanka aims to attract 2.3 million tourists for this year with key focus on the Indian, Middle Eastern & Russian markets, whilst hoping that the traditional markets in Europe will rebound in the latter part of 2022. “The 2.3 million tourist arrivals is a target that we want to aspire to and to generate an income of around $ 4.5 billion,” Minister Prasanna Ranatunga told int'l media covering the Expo 2020 in Dubai. more..

Jan 5 (FT) COVID-19 vaccines were administered to 40,150 persons on Monday and 28.2% of the country’s population over 20 years have received the booster dose. The second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine has been administered to 94.7% of the population over 20 years. 74.4% of the country’s total population has received the first vaccine dose and 64.41% has received the second dose. 15,994,809 persons have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, more..

Jan 5 (Island) Wishing is swishing around so much that I thought that I might switch my thoughts to wishing. (From the troubles of the world I turn to ducks …). The result might be some thoughtful wishing, which when looking back does not look completely as useless as wishful thinking. But wishing itself is literally a waste of breadth. I once worked in an office building which contained more than 1,000 workers. After festive days, most who returned to work wished the door keepers more..

Jan 5 (CT) Informed sources revealed former skippers Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Janith Perera have been left out of the 29-member Sri Lanka pool named for the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe set to commence on 16 Jan. The aforesaid trio has been rested in order to provide more opportunities to the talented youngsters knocking on the door of selection. more..

Jan 5 (Island) Ave Maria Convent, Negombo player Anjalika Kurera clinched her third title to cap her return to tennis as she joined Royal College player Thehan Wijemanne to win the mixed doubles title of the Tennis Nationals 2021 concluded at the SLTA courts on Tuesday. After receiving a walkover from Janali Manmperi and Vibuda Wijebandara in the semi-finals, Kurera and Wijemanne beat Savini Jayasuriya and Chathurya Nilaweera 6-1, 1-6, 10-8 in the doubles final yesterday. more..

Jan 5 (CI) Former fast bowler Rumesh Ratnayake has been appointed the SL men's national side's interim coach for their three-ODI series against Zimbabwe, later this month. SL have been without a head coach since Mickey Arthur's contract ended on Dec 4. Ratnayake will be assisted by former first-class batter Ruwin Peiris, who will be with the team as interim batting coach. Ratnayake has taken on the role of interim coach before, usually when team was in between permanent appointments. more..

Jan 5 (CT) SL women’s cricket team Head Coach Hashan Tillakaratne has tested positive for COVID-19 prior to the team’s departure to Malaysia to take part in the all-important World Cup Qualifier Tournament. The development is likely to force SLC to promote assistant coach Lanka Silva to the post. Earlier, six women cricketers also tested positive for COVID-19 during the women’s World Cup qualifiers last year. Hashan Tillakaratne was appointed head coach of the women’s team in June 2021, more..

Jan 5 (FT) A slight increase in daily COVID-19 detections was seen yesterday with 629 persons testing positive for COVID-19. Daily COVID-19 detections have remained below 500 since 26 Dec, when 398 COVID-19 patients were detected. 620 persons from the New Year cluster and 9 overseas arrivals tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday. On Monday, 359 persons from the New Year cluster and 6 SL overseas arrivals tested positive for COVID-19. 6,652 PCR tests, 2,050 RATs were conducted more..

Jan 5 (ST) SL’s experiments with the truth on organic farming and a severe shortage of fertilisers has led farmers down the road to the booming black market network selling chemical fertilisers & pesticides at exorbitant prices. Chemical fertilisers and pesticides have been in short supply since a ban was imposed on May 6 and even though authorities backtracked on this ban on Nov 30, SL is now saddled with a lack of money more..

Jan 5 (Island) Aiming to further strengthen friendly ties between Sri Lanka and Pakistan and enhance bilateral trade relations between the two countries, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI). MOU which was signed last month by Manjula de Silva, CEO of the Ceylon Chamber and Sohail Altaf, Group Leader of the RCCI was followed by the inking of nine agreements between more..

Jan 5 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on Monday gave the go ahead for Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa to gazette the Special Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill and submit it in Parliament for approval. The move follows the Attorney General's clearance received for the Bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman. Separately, Cabinet also approved the gazetting of the Bill to amend the Value Added Tax Act No. 14 of 2002. Budget 2021 and 2022 proposed to replace the taxes and more..

Jan 5 (Island) Top SJB spokesperson and economic guru Dr. Harsha de Silva said the cash-strapped govt couldn’t afford to provide a Rs 229 bn relief package at the moment. In response to The Island queries, Dr. de Silva has sent us the following statement: “The govt is losing control of the economy. At this rate we will be a free fall fairly soon. Looks like they are hallucinating. The solution offered has absolutely no relevance more..

Jan 5 (DN) SL’s water resources are unique and very important for the sustainable development of SL, Ahmed Alisaik, Minister of Home Affairs of the UAE said at the SL Day celebrations of Dubai Expo. He said that around 300,000 Sri Lankans work in the UAE and that he appreciated their contribution to the development of the Emirates. The UAE is SL’s largest trading partner in the Middle East. SL’s invaluable resources and ability to adapt to them and the interest in innovation can be seen more..

Jan 5 (TM) The Wise Woman national programme was launched yesterday at the BMICH, Colombo under the patronage of Prez Rajapaksa with the intention of empowering women to fulfil their potential and increase women’s contribution to the economy. The percentage of women in the country is 52%. However, a survey has revealed that the share of female labour in the total population is as low as 30%. The objective of the programme is to provide skills development and vocational more..

Jan 5 (FT) The Cabinet of Ministers has hailed the Rs. 299 billion worth relief package to the people it approved on Monday on the recommendations of Prez Rajapaksa, PM Rajapaksa and Finance Minister Rajapaksa. “We must thank the President, the Prime Minister and Finance Minister for offering a Rs. 229 billion relief package for people at a time when such a stimulus is very challenging,” Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma told the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday. more..

Jan 5 (Island) The Govt Medical Officers Forum (GMOF) has requested Minister Keheliya Rambukwella to make public a confidential report on kidney transplant racket involving some medical doctors. In a letter dated 04 January addressed to Minister Rambukwella, GMOF President Dr. Rukshan Bellana has said that the report on the inquiry conducted by the then Director General Health Services Dr. Jayasundera Bandara in 2016 had been suppressed by interested parties. more..

Jan 5 (TM) Report of the Fact Finding Visit to Batticaloa led by a team of lawyers and human rights and women’s rights activists has found that several non-denominational Christian groups in the area face discrimination, including disruption of prayer meetings, allegedly by local govt (LG) authorities. “There are several non-denominational Christian groups in Batticaloa in the Eastern Province, many of whom team met. more..

Jan 5 (CT) Health Ministry is looking into the possibilities of administering the Pfizer-Bio NTech Covid-19 vaccine as the second dose for those who have been administered only the first dose of the Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine followed by a second dose of the same as the booster dose. While 159,110 persons had taken the first dose of the Sputnik V jab by 3 Jan, only 155,812 had taken the second dose by the same date. They said with some persons being unable to obtain 2nd dose more..

Jan 5 (Island) Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara said that it would cause severe harm to the ruling coalition if members of the parliamentary group were unable to express dissent. He said so in response to media queries on the sacking of State Minister Susil Premjayantha over his criticism of the govt. Nanayakkara said that action should have been taken following an inquiry. Claiming that he was not aware what had caused Premjayantha’s removal, Nanayakkara said that their expression of more..

Jan 5 (DM) Prez Rajapaksa has urged his ministers to stop being unethical when criticising the govt, stating ministers and state ministers should not work on personal agendas to topple the govt. Prez who was clearly angered at the recent remarks made by Susil Premajayantha, where he allegedly criticised the govt at a market, asked his cabinet of ministers on Monday night if it was ethical that while being in govt, ministers and more..

Jan 5 (Island) NPP MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said that the so-called Rs. 229 bn relief package offered by the govt was nothing but an additional burden on the economy. “This has been done with the intention of showing the people that the govt has done something for them. The govt has to borrow money or print it. “It is likely that the govt would opt for printing more money and distributing it them among the people. This would be seem a short term solution but it will not address the problems more..

Jan 5 (CT) Clarifying that no discussion took place at the Cabinet meeting on Monday (3) regarding stripping Susil Premajayantha of his State Ministerial portfolio, Cabinet Spokesman Dullas Alahapperuma said Prez Rajapaksa will announce the cause behind Premajayantha’s dismissal in the near future. Alahapperuma said Premajayantha’s firing does not signal the end of freedom of expression or that anyone who criticises the Government will be dismissed from their position. more..

Jan 5 (TM) State Minister Susil Premajayantha was removed from his state ministerial portfolio yesterday, two days after he said the Govt’s agricultural policies were a failure, a comment which he yesterday said he had made on behalf of the public. Premajayantha’s removal with immediate effect was announced early last morning by PMD, which stated removal was made by Prez in accordance with powers vested in him. more..