Oct 9 (TM) Ministry of Health will continue its efforts to get more people fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as the 31 Oct expiration date on the stock of Pfizer vaccines draws closer, it is learned. According to the Ministry of Health, nearly 7 million Pfizer vaccine doses remained to be used and it is urging the public to get their respective first or second booster doses before the vaccines expire. SL purchased 18,000,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine by Jan 2022. In July, Health Ministry extended more..

Oct 9 (ST) A new anti-corruption law proposed by the Govt envisages the creation of an Independent Commission whose authorised officers may arrest without a magisterial order or a warrant any person suspected of having carried out an offence under the proposed Act. The maximum period of detention is 24 hours. Officers may also arrest those who have committed (or against whom there is a reasonable complaint, suspicion more..

Oct 9 (ST) Last Thursday’s resolution on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC will see immediate travel bans by member countries on military personnel. The first to move will be Canada which will name at least three officers, the Sunday Times learns. Others to follow suit are member-countries of the European Union. The Geneva-based UNHRC on Thursday adopted a resolution on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka. It was backed by 20 countries including the US and UK. more..

Oct 9 (ST) The Cabinet will take up tomorrow a proposal for Sri Lanka to revert from a middle-income country to a low-income country with the aim of obtaining concessionary funding from the International Development Association (IDA) — an arm of the World Bank which helps the world’s poorest and most vulnerable countries. A detailed reasoning-out for the decision is to be submitted to the Cabinet to seek approval and thereafter to be conveyed to the World Bank, officials said. more..

Oct 9 (ST) Ex-Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s continued mishandling led to the unprecedented collapse of the economy early this year. Sri Lanka is yet to recover from the hardships it has caused as a new govt introduces more new measures to enhance revenue, a heavy burden on the people. Amidst this, what has remained forgotten is a probe on how the mishandling occurred and who else was responsible. more..

Oct 10 (ST) There is a deep tragedy at the heart of SL’s constitutional, financial and legal paralysis that we must understand. Some years ago, infuriated supporters of a drug baron turned vassal of the Rajapaksas lashed out at a courageous forest officer who protested against the destruction of the environment by politicians, asking are we to eat oxygen? Now, Southern communities reduced to scraping for daily existence due to reckless decisions taken by corrupt kings on whom more..

Oct 10 (DM) Volumes have been written on her Temple Trees days but her nursery, pre-teen, adolescent and young housewife times at Ellawala Walawwa, Mahawalatenne, Horagolla, Wentworth and Tintagel are scarcely mentioned and worth looking at. Barnes Ratwatte, a scion from an aristocratic (Radala) family from Kandy, married Mahawalatenne Adhikaram’s youngest daughter, Rosalind Hilda Kumarihami. Ratwatte became a member of the State Council and Senate. more..

Oct 10 (TM) The Govt must be sincere in its approach to collective governance, political stability, and reforms or risk public backlash, SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem said. Hakeem, a veteran politician representing the minority community, called on the Govt to hold General Elections at the earliest possible opportunity to ensure a new govt could seek a public mandate to enact reforms and structural changes, more..

Oct 10 (DM) Our country, in the words of no less a person than our president, is bankrupt. To use a colloquialism, we are stone broke. Our international debt which we are unable to repay and have defaulted stands at a staggering US$ 51 billion. We have no foreign reserves to meet day-to-day expenses for basic needs, such as food, medicines, fuel or gas. Thanks to our neighbour India, we are being supplied with limited quantities of all these basics. more..

Oct 10 (CT) A few days ago, two Parliament employees were suspended, with one being charged for being in possession of 100 mg of heroin, while the other for stealing a few items, including canned milk from Parliament. The suspect who was arrested with drugs was attached to the Administrative Unit of Parliament, while the other is said to be in charge of scanners. A separate probe has also been initiated under the supervision of Serjeant-at-Arms Narendra Fernando. more..

Oct 10 (TM) Following much delay, debate, and drama, former Chairman of the COPE MP Prof. Charitha Herath has secured a place in COPE once again, but was not re-appointed as the chairman of COPE. 27 members each were nominated to COPE and the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) by the Parliament’s selection committee, with Prof. Herath being a prominent exemption from COPE. more..

Oct 10 (TM) In this time of great crisis, the majority of ordinary Sri Lankans remain exceedingly frustrated about how the country’s economic and social situations have evolved, and there is massive uncertainty about their future. Although mental health issues did not attract the attention of the majority of Sri Lankans before the crisis broke out, now, it is not only an unavoidable issue, but is also one that requires urgent attention. It is in such a context that the world commemorates more..

Oct 10 (Island) Severed heads of some venomous snakes can still kill. They have to be disposed of carefully. This holds true for the decapitated govts as well; their leaders can remain destructive if they are provided with opportunities for political manipulations. What SL is experiencing at present is a case in point. The SLPP lost the presidency due to public protests, but its head has retained the bite reflex, and continues to sting fiercely, as evident from numerous corrupt deals, more..

Oct 10 (ST) Playing sinner at home could not have been the best possible way to woo UNHRC’s floating member states to cast their vote against the British led resolution on SL at the month long 51st session in Geneva which ended on Thursday. During this biannual pilgrimage at the UN’s Mecca of human rights from Sept 12 to Oct 6, Lankan Govt committed two unpardonable blasphemes. The first was to use the archaic Official Secrets Act and gazette ‘high security zones’ in various designated areas more..

Oct 10 (ST) Renowned cricketing personality – Roshan Mahanama – in the game alone has scaled the heights in service. Outside the game, the list only grows. Now, in his latest venture, the member of the 96 World Cup-winning team launched his philanthropic version – the Roshan Mahanama Trust (RMT) – as the latest feather in his decorated hat, early this week. Mahanama, the chairman of RMT, speaking at the event held at Jetwing Colombo-7, asserted, “From my point of view, we must more..

Oct 10 (TM) A fundamental rights (FR) petition filed at the Supreme Court (SC) seeking an order directing the relevant authorities to release and disclose the details of the agreements entered into with the IMF to the petitioners or to Parliament is scheduled to be taken up for support today. The relevant petition (FR) No. 309/22, which has been filed by health sector trade unionist Ravi Kumudesh and civil society activist more..

Oct 10 (GV) On Oct 6, UNHRC passed a resolution calling for major change after repeated abuses by the SL regime. There were 20 votes in favour with just 7 against. The result of the vote was expected as, in previous weeks, the govt continued to heap new violations while refusing to investigate past ones, harming diverse Sri Lankans. A detailed report on progress – or lack of it – is due in two years. Meanwhile there will be periodic updates and officials will continue to gather evidence more..

Oct 10 (FT) “The positive outlook of the economy has carried over from July through Augt and to Sept; and we observe a decrease once more (from 73% to 67%) of respondents to the LMD-NielsenIQ Business Confidence Index (BCI) survey carried out in the first week of September that anticipate a deterioration in the next 12 months,” said LMD, in its October edition. The magazine added: “It’s also heartening to note a substantial increase (from 12% to 22%) in businesspeople who expect more..

Oct 10 (ST) Most catastrophes and crises in the country are man- made including corruption and crimes committed by leaders of the country relating to the food industry and fertiliser and other issues affecting the less privileged and privileged segment of the society that finds it difficult to maintain the minimum quality of life that they were used before, said guest speaker N.R. Gajendran, Founder and Partner, Gajma and Co at the Sunday Times Business Club (STBC) monthly meeting more..

Oct 10 (DM) Meta, formerly known as the Facebook company, is continuing its partnership with Sarvodaya-Fusion and ICT Agency of SL to empower the country’s youth with digital skills. After completing the training of 50,000 students and youth, the partners now aim to upskill 32,000 additional students by the end of 2023. The new phase of the digital upskilling programme was announced on Oct 5, at an event in Gampaha. This initiative is part of Meta’s flagship programme more..

Oct 10 (SO) SL can recover over US $1 billion in compensation claims for maritime pollution caused by the Singapore-based cargo ship X-press Pearl, according to preliminary estimates from environmental economists and international maritime law experts. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe during his economic recovery speech in Parliament on Thursday said that when the Govt receives the compensation money from ship concerned, more..

Oct 10 (FT) Free Trade Zone Manufacturers Association (FTZMA) has written to Prez Wickremesinghe expressing its opposition to the proposed 30% tax on profit earned, warning it will have a serious impact on their survival and in luring much needed FDIs to SL. In their letter to President, FTZMA Chairman Jatinder Biala and Secretary Dhammika Fernando said the proposed 30% is an “intolerable rate” and not the concessionary rate to exporters who have to compete with more..

Oct 10 (AD) Former Prez Maithripala Sirisena says that he does not know if there are any other members of the SLFP expecting to be sworn in as cabinet ministers in the future. Former prez said this while speaking to the media after visiting Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. Asked whether he expects more party members to take up minister posts, the SLFP chairman said: “I don’t know. Some of our members left. I can’t say if there are others. We will of course not accept ministerial positions.” more..

Oct 10 (TM) Buddhist clergy suspended a protest that was planned to be carried out yesterday by turning off the lights in Buddhist temples across the island, after PUCSL agreed to provide relief regarding the electricity tariff on religious places, including Buddhist temples, which was recently increased by 555%. PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake stated that after discussions with the Chief Prelates (Mahanayakes) of more..

Oct 10 (ANI) India has seen a great revival of Buddhism in the country under PM Narendra Modi-led govt, said a SL Buddhist monk as the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) celebrates Abhidhamma Day today. Abhidhamma Day, a Theravada Buddhist tradition which celebrates Gautama Buddha's descent from heaven after teaching his mother the Abhidhamma, will take place today. Some prominent monks from SL, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan will assemble in more..

Oct 10 (DN) Avishka Madonza of Sri Lanka Army and Anne Shenali Perera of SL Navy emerged champions in the 47th National Games men’s and women’s Cycling event, respectively, which concluded at Gampaha yesterday. The Sports Ministry and Sports Development Dept conducted the event along with the marathon starting from Asgiriya (new road near the temple) while cyclists and working athletes representing all provinces participated in this event which was held more..

Oct 10 (CT) CEB was deprived of enhancing its electricity generation profits by Rs Rs 1.28 billion in the 10 consecutive days to Thursday (7), due to the breakdown of at least one of three of the Chinese built 3X300 mW Norochcholai Coal Fired Power Plant’s (NCFPP’s) machines since last Tuesday (27 Sept), CEB’s Friday’s (7) data showed. NCFPP was built during the Mahinda Rajapaksa era at a cost of US$ 1.35 billion sans international tender call with each of the three machines comprising it, more..

Oct 10 (FT) MTI Consulting says Sri Lanka is facing a Perfect Storm, a concurrence of multiple socio-economic challenges that has dealt an unprecedented blow to the country. “This is also a great opportunity to dismantle incremental legacy strategies. Instead, go Ground Zero and approach it as building an entirely new economic model,” said MTI Consulting CEO Hilmy Cader. Inspiration could be taken from Winston Churchill who said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” more..

Oct 10 (ST) The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) lost more than USD 90 million from March to September this year due to the purchase of unsuitable stocks of crude oil and an incorrect pricing methodology, according to an analysis submitted to the govt. The analysis has found that two refined shipments of oil could be bought for the overall amount that has been lost. Analysis deals with the purchase of crude more..

Oct 10 (DM) SLPP MP Namal Rajapakse has been appointed as the chairman of the National Council Sub-Committee for Identifying Priorities in Formulating Short, Medium and Long Term Policies recommended by the SLPP. His nomination to this legislative council as the chairman has been proposed by the General Secretary of the party, MP, Sagara Kariyawasam and seconded by MP, Ali Sabri Raheem. The members of the sub-committee have presented their opinions and suggestions on more..

Oct 10 (DM) Tourism industry stakeholders are in full gear to host the overflow of fans coming into the FIFA World Cup 2022 that will take place in Doha in November. Tourism Minister Harin Fernando met with Negombo Hotel Owners on Friday (7) to initiate the planning of converting the city into a carnival to lure spectators of the world cup in between matches. Mirror Business learns that a committee has been appointed by the minister to take the lead in the effort so that destination SL is pitched more..

Oct 10 (Hindu) A 24-year-old Sri Lankan Tamil man swam about seven nautical miles in the Palk Strait and reached Dhanushkodi on Sunday. The man, identified as Hassan Khan alias Ajay alias Khan of Mannar district, jumped into the sea after the Sri Lankan Navy fired at a boat ferrying him and a family of five illegally to Tamil Nadu. Following information from the fishermen, the marine police picked him up for interrogation. Senior officers of the Central agencies were questioning him. more..

Oct 10 (AD) Several persons were reportedly arrested during an Aragalaya commemoration event and a protest held the Galle Face Green in Colombo today (09). The police had proceeded to remove the people who had gathered at Galle Face grounds at around 5.45 pm to commemorate the people who had lost their lives due to various reasons while being involved in the Aragalaya protest movement while a protest was also held at the location. Several people also arrested during the event. more..

Oct 10 (AD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe said that a referendum will be called to decide on the parliamentary electoral system if the Select Committee which is proposed to be established fails to reach a decision on the matter by July next year. He made this observation during a discussion with a group of professionals held at Prez Secretariat. Prez said that desired changes to the political system should be brought about more..

Oct 10 (TM) Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga has been appointed Senior Advisor to the National Combined Mechanism for Food Security and Nutrition, which is headed by Secretary to the Prez Saman Ekanayake. The first meeting of the programme was held on 6 October at the BMICH in Colombo, under the Chairmanship of the Secretary to the Prez, which Kumaratunga attended in her capacity as Senior Advisor. The former Prez said that she, at the invitation of govt, more..

Oct 10 (DM) Dept of Immigration and Emigration has issued 700,733 passports in the first nine months of this year, Deputy Controller of Immigration and Emigration Piyumi Bandara said. She said passports were issued to 409,919 men and 290,814 women since Jan to Sept this year. The highest number of passports, which is 115,286, were issued in August, she said. She said the number of applicants who visit the department to obtain passports too has increased significantly this year. more..