Mar 1 (FT) Today, electricity shortage, power cuts, fuel shortages and the resulting supply and transport problems, ships waiting to unload pending payment arrangements, the controversy of Dollar shortage are the most widely discussed public issues. Ukraine/Russia embroil, silence of the UN due to the influence of Powers with Veto rights, is also a topic of all. MPs are engrossed in embroils over bringing of flash lights into the House, during the very limited time available to them to engage in matters more..

Mar 1 (AD) SL continues to closely monitor developments in Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry said today in a statement. Towards this end, the ministry said it is currently engaged in the evacuation of approximately 40 SL nationals, including two students in Ukraine via the Ukraine-Polish border. The process is facilitated by the SL Embassies in Warsaw and Ankara, the latter being concurrently accredited to Ukraine. The ministry has strengthened the provision of resources to more..

Mar 1 (IPS) The Russian invasion of Ukraine deepens the existing global economic woes – persistent supply chain bottlenecks and associated rising inflation – clouding the prospects of a smooth global economic recovery from the pandemic. The West, led by the US and the EU, swiftly imposed strict economic sanctions, targetting Russian banks, oligarchs, political leaders, and state-owned and private entities, generating additional more..

Mar 1 (EN) Profits at Nations Trust Bank grew 77% from a year ago to 1.6 billion rupees in the Dec 2021 quarter amid lower operating expenses and bad loans, interim accounts show. NTB group reported earnings of 5.57 rupees per share for the quarter. In the year to December the group reported earnings of 22.20 rupees per share on total profits of 6.6 billion rupees which were up 65%. In the December quarter net interest income gained 40% to 4.0 billion rupees, with interest income up 8% more..

Mar 1 (CT) A group of petroleum workers affiliated to a pro-SLPP trade union yesterday staged an agitation campaign in front of the Kolonnawa petroleum storage terminal demanding the Government to raise fuel prices. A section of the workers belonging to the Podujana Progressive Employees Union of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) demanded CEYPETCO fuel prices to be increased immediately citing that it would help CPC to overcome a situation more..

Mar 1 (AD) As the shortage of fuel required to operate the power stations is deepening in SL, the interruptions to the electricity supply will be extended to 7 hours and 30 minutes tomorrow. This was announced by the chairman of PUCSL, Janaka Ratnayake this evening. Accordingly, daytime power cuts will be imposed from 8.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. tomorrow for areas mentioned under groups E, T, U, V, and W. more..

Mar 1 (CT) Prez Rajapaksa in his Maha Shivaratri message said, the spiritual message of Maha Shivaratri would further strengthen solidarity among each other. “Maha Shivaratri is one of the major spiritual festivals in Hinduism, celebrated in honour of Lord Shiva. Hindu devotees have been worshiping Lord Shiva since time immemorial to receive blessings. “Maha Shivaratri marks the celebration of surmounting darkness and ignorance in one’s life and the world. more..

Mar 1 (FT) Minister Udaya Gammanpila yesterday said the Govt must prioritise its needs to manage the economy. “It is high time that the Govt cuts down on unnecessary spending and prioritises its needs to manage the economy. Certain items like apples, grapes, and honey are imported, while essential items such as medicines and fuel are not,” he told journalists. It was pointed out that the country spent $ 21 billion on imports last year, of which the allocation for fuel was only $ 2.8 billion. more..

Mar 1 (Island) Radical Centre founded by the late Minister Mangala Samaraweera has called on the government to stop persecution of Shani Abeysekara and for the authorities to direct their resources into apprehending the real conspirators of the Easter Sunday attack. Following is a statement issued by the Radical Centre convenors Jayani Abeysekara, Harendran Krishnasamy, Keshal Jayasinghe, C.S. Kodikara and Firo Farook: 267 innocent citizens lost their lives while more..

Mar 1 (DM) Power Minister Gamini Lokuge has once again assured of uninterrupted power supply after March 5, contradicting the CEB who say that providing an uninterrupted service this month is next to impossible. Lokuge said the President had advised him to take immediate measures to provide a continuous electricity supply. Therefore, the ministry is taking measures to get additional fuel stocks to run the thermal power plants that have already stopped, the Minister said. more..

Mar 1 (DM) Sri Lanka, once again, rejected the evidence gathering mechanism established by the UNHRC calling it unhelpful and will polarize society with adverse impact on economic development, peace and harmony. Delivering the speech during the High Level Segment of the UNHRC, Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said SL take particular objection to the use of voluntary funding which has necessary consequence more..

Mar 1 (TM) The tenure of the Presidential Task Force for One Country, One Law has been extended for a period of three months. This was announced in a special gazette notification issued by Prez Rajapaksa, in terms of the powers vested in him by Article 33 of the Constitution. The tenure of this Presidential Task Force, which was established on Oct 26, 2021, was slated to come to an end on Feb 28. However, the Prez took measures to extend its term in order for it to complete assigned tasks more..

Mar 1 (DM) Arrangements have been made for people to buy turmeric powder packets at a maximum price of Rs. 2,400 from any Lanka Sathosa outlet and Ceylon Spice Company (CSC) from today, State Minister Janaka Wakkumbura said. He said the decision was taken to make pure turmiric power available for people living in rural areas. During pandemic times, one kilogram of turmiric power was sold in the local market at Rs.8,000. more..

Mar 1 (CT) Three suspects, including the retired doctor, arrested over the discovery of a hand grenade at All Saints’ Church in Borella on 11 Jan, were remanded until 14 March, by the Colombo Additional Magistrate’s Court yesterday. State Counsel Hansa Abeyratne informed the Colombo Additional Magistrate’s Court, that AG Sanjay Rajaratnam has decided not to pursue further legal action against the retired doctor, more..

Mar 1 (AD) A foreign woman has been apprehended at the BIA in Katunayake along with a haul of cocaine worth nearly Rs. 90 million. The officers of SL Customs attached to the airport managed to intercept the narcotics consignment upon inspecting the woman in question on suspicion. Identified as an Indian national, the woman had arrived in SL from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia via Dubai in UAE. The customs officers have seized a total of 2kg and 532g of cocaine hidden inside suspect’s luggage. more..

Mar 1 (USE) U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung witnessed the signing of MOU between DFCC Bank and the U.S. govt’s Agency for International Development (USAID) Private Sector Development project to expand financial services to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in SL. “The U.S. Govt shares DFCC’s belief that lending to MSMEs will increase GDP and employment during these challenging times,” said U.S. Ambassador to SL Julie Chung. more..

Mar 1 (EN) SL will import 38,500 metric tonnes of potassium fertilizer for the upcoming paddy cultivation season and distribute to farmers under a subsidy program. About 600,000 hectares of paddy is expected to be cultivated in the upcoming Yala cultivation season. The cabinet of ministers had approved a proposal by Minister Mahindanda Aluthgamage to import 38,500 tonnes of muriate of potash (potassium chloride). International competitive bids will be called for the fertilizer. more..

Mar 1 (AD) Cabinet has decided to pay a minimum of Rs. 50,000 per hectare as an incentive to paddy farmers who suffered crop damages during the 2021 Maha Season. Previously, Cabinet had granted approval to prepare an appropriate scheme of compensation in consultation with the General Treasury to pay a compensation of Rs. 25 per one kilogram of paddy in order to secure the income level of farmers who were affected by the declining paddy harvest during Maha Season. more..

Mar 1 (TM) Against the backdrop of the submission of a report on SL by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, SL Govt tendering its response to the same, TNA Leader R. Sampanthan in a statement highlighted several matters. He notes that the panel of experts’ report states that in the course of the war, particularly in the final stages, there were credible allegations of violations of Int'l Humanitarian and Human Rights laws and more..

Mar 1 (DM) Despite the number of daily COVID-19 cases surpassing the 1,000 mark for 27 consecutive days since January 30 owing to the spread of the Omicron variant, health authorities said SL had only faced a mild impact of the variant. Dr. Samitha Ginige said SL was not badly hit by Omicron unlike other countries. “The Western countries are the highest to be battered by Omicron where over 100,000 cases were reported daily. However, SL had a minimum effect of Omicron,” he pointed out. more..

Mar 1 (TM) The All Island Farmers’ Federation and the All Island Three Wheeler Drivers’ Union yesterday raised serious concerns about how the fuel crisis is affecting their respective industries while SJB MP J.C. Alawathuwala spoke on how the fuel crisis is affecting students sitting for their GCE A/L exam this month and the fisheries industry. All Island Farmers’ Federation Chairman Namal Karunaratne stated that although farmers have now entered the crop harvesting cycle stage more..

Mar 1 (TM) Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry (SPCoI), which was established to implement the recommendations of the PCoI into incidents of political victimisation during the previous UNF-led Govt commenced its proceedings yesterday. The SPCoI met at 10 a.m. yesterday at the BMICH in Colombo under the chairmanship of President’s Counsel (PC) and SC Judge Justice Priyantha Jayawardena. more..

Mar 1 (FT) Construction of the 37 km stretch of the Central Expressway from Kadawatha to Mirigama is currently underway and about 25% of the work is nearing completion, according to project director’s office. Project Director explained that the construction of the Central Expressway near the Kadawatha Interchange on the Colombo Outer Circular Highway will be built on 23 m high pillars and 15 km on the 37 km section from Kadawatha to Mirigama will be constructed on pillars. more..

Mar 1 (CT) It was decided at the Preparatory Meeting held yesterday at the Jaffna District Secretariat in connection with the forthcoming Kachchatheevu St. Anthony's Church festival that the 100 people who would be attending the festival from both SL and Tamil Nadu should be fully vaccinated and carry their Covid-19 vaccination cards to gain access to the Island. Foreign Ministry has approved to invite 50 Sri Lankans and 50 TN devotees to attend the festival scheduled for more..

Mar 2 (DM) The war in Ukraine today enters its fifth day. The civilian death toll according to Ukraine’s Health Ministry on Feb 28, stood at 352 people; including 14 children killed. The UN estimates over 500,000 people have fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries. High-level talks between Kyiv and Moscow which commenced on February 28, ended with no agreement in sight except to keep talking. While talks to end the conflict are in progress, countries like Sweden, Finland, Germany, more..

Mar 2 (CT) “UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet reiterates her call for the Govt to apply a moratorium on the use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) until it is replaced by legislation that fully complies with the country’s international human rights obligations.”- Excerpts from Bachelet’s report titled: Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in SL to be tabled at the UN’s Human Rights Sessions at Geneva tomorrow. more..

Mar 2 (DM) The 71st anniversary of the SL Air Force falls today, with a series of activities underway to commemorate the event. Commander of SL Air Force Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana discussed current issues, challenges & opportunities ahead. Q: There were recent media reports claiming that SL is to acquire two aircraft, which caused quite a stir, given the current economic crisis. Can you explain the need for these aircraft? more..

Mar 2 (DM) Last week, Russian Prez Vladimir Putin, tore apart the de-facto - post World War II convention and invaded a sovereign democracy next door. The Russian invasion, as it is unfolding now, is the first major war in Europe since World War II - though a brutal civil war in the Balkans after the disintegration of Yugoslavia, killed as many as 140,000 and unleashed a blood-curding spree of ethnocide. For months, Putin mobilized 200,000 Russian troops at the border with Ukraine, more..

Mar 2 (CT) Positions must be derived from principles. What should be SL’s position on the invasion of Ukraine by Russia? What lesson does past practice hold for us? In 1971, the military and the power holders in West Pakistan refused to accept the results of a democratic election and unleashed repression in Bangladesh, then known as East Pakistan. On the 26th of March 1971, Sheikh Mujibur, the leader of the Awami League which had won the election, declared the independence more..

Mar 2 (CT) Last November the European Political Subdivision of the LTTE lost their battle against the LTTE being listed as an int'l terrorist organisation within Europe. General Court of the European Union, on 24 Nov 2021, dismissed their plea to repeal the Council of European Union (EU) decision to retain the LTTE on the EU List of Terrorist Organisations. EU and UK ordered the court to dismiss the action as inadmissible. more..

Mar 2 (TM) It was reported recently that Minister Prasanna Ranatunga had instructed IGP Chandana Wickramaratne to take stern action against Sri Lankans who harass and exploit tourists. This announcement comes in a context where a number of such incidents were reported during the past few months and went viral on social media platforms. Tourists being harassed and exploited by locals is not a new issue, and SL has seen plenty of discussions, plans, and programmes aimed more..

Mar 2 (Island) Former President Maithripala Sirisena has gone on record as saying that he cannot be sent to prison over the Easter Sunday terror strikes, which the yahapalana govt failed to prevent despite repeated warnings from a foreign intelligence outfit. His legal advisors may be of the view that he is safe, but the political fallout of the tragedy has become a heavy cross for him to bear. Never does he miss an opportunity to claim that he had not been warned of the impending attacks. more..

Mar 2 (GV) In Nov 2012 a massacre took place at Welikada Closed Prison in Colombo during which 27 imprisoned persons were killed. On Jan 13, 2022 one of the three persons charged, Emil Ranjan Lamahewa former Superintendent of the Magazine Remand Prison, was held accountable for the murder of one person, Malith Sameera Perera alias Konda Amila. The judgment is critical to the struggle for truth and justice for the victims of the massacre as it confirms that the massacre took place more..

Mar 2 (Island) Finally, Sri Lanka has managed to get rid of 243 containers filled with 3,000 tons of toxic waste imported from the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, the authorities are yet to take action against any of the importers. (Toxic garbage from the UK – CEA, Customs fail to take action against the importers; The Island 22 February 2022). Can we expect any action from the CEA and the Customs against the importers? I am not optimistic. Why? Let me explain. more..

Mar 2 (DM) As Russian troops continue to battle their way towards Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, naval tensions continue to escalate in the Black Sea. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, even though is an amateur in the field of politics has managed to grab the attention and sympathy from around the world. The crisis prompted the UN General Assembly to call for an emergency meeting in decades and more..

Mar 2 (ST) In the 1970s, under the United Front govt composed of the SLFP, LSSP and CP, N.M. Perera of the LSSP was appointed Finance Minister. As the coalition’s inward-looking policies triggered an economic collapse and a shortage of foreign currency and local revenue, NM was dubbed No Money Perara. On whom should this dubious No Money title be bestowed on, these days, when the country is facing a similar crisis? (Basil) Rajapaksa, (Ajit Nivard) Cabraal or even (Udaya) more..