Feb 7 (DM) The decision taken by the Sri Lanka Police and the Ministry of Defence to allocate an area for protesters to agitate in Colombo seems timely and a great need of the present times. We have seen how pedestrians and vehicle drivers are inconvenienced when protesters agitate on the road. Some of these agitations are organised without prior warning; hence those out on the street on office errands and parents visiting schools to pick up children are greatly inconvenienced. more..

Feb 7 (DM) One would wonder whether the UNP and SLFP - two parties that alternately ruled the country for decades since independence - are vying for the title of best loser at the oncoming parliamentary elections. Interestingly, it was these two groups -- led by Ranil Wickremesinghe and Maithripala Sirisena respectively -- that joined hands at prez and parliamentary elections in 2015 to oust former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa’s regime which was deemed then, by many, as invincible. more..

Feb 7 (DM) At the Daily Mirror, we believe that climate change is one of the greatest threats that we, as Sri Lankans, will face in the future. Therefore, we intend to provide our readers with local and international content with the objective to educate and inspire. We would also like to learn from our valued readers about any ongoing initiatives in making Sri Lanka a more sustainable nation. more..

Feb 7 (EN) Govt has appointed a committee to review foreign teledramas that are broadcast in SL, Media Ministry announced. Ministry said that the committee will be examining the imports. It said Minister Bandula Gunewardene made the appointments. There were no details released about the mandate of the committee. Currently, most SL channels import such teledramas and dub them in Sinhala or subtitle them. more..

Feb 7 (ST) Don’t panic, but be vigilant. Act but don’t react. Get information from credible sources, as rumour is spreading faster than the new coronavirus. Sri Lanka has put in place measures to ward off this threat. These were the key messages with regard to the 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) reiterated by health authorities, as a rational voice in the form of former Chief Epidemiologist, Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe who more..

Feb 7 (EN) United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) will help Sri Lanka to create an industrial policy to move into more innovative, higher value-added sectors, a top official said. “Sri Lanka does not have a separate industrial policy,” UNIDO India Regional Office Representative Rene van Berkel said after consultative sessions for the next country program with Sri Lanka. more..

Feb 7 (DM) River sand mining has been an illegal money-spinning business filling the pockets of politicians and many other stakeholders in related industries. However, with the new Govt’s decision to suspend the licence system for transporting sand, soil, clay and granite, the number of incidents, mainly illegal, has risen. The subsequent decision changes the process of issuing quarry permits and the Circular No more..

Feb 7 (DM) Shipments arriving from China at the Colombo Port, have taken a hit following the novel coronavirus outbreak with many local businesses unable to get through to their shippers in China while some have even re-sent their shipments back in fear after they arrived at the Colombo Port. Chinese shipments are likely to further decline in the coming weeks with local traders fearing this will create a shortage of more..

Feb 7 (FT) Two key agencies of the Govt are firming up initiatives for Sri Lanka to seize maximum benefit from the six-month-long influential global event World Expo 2020 which is slated to start in Dubai in October. SL’s participation at Expo 2020 in Dubai is being spearheaded by the Export Development Board (EDB) which, together with Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, chaired a meeting this week with all relevant stakeholders. more..

Feb 7 (Island) Senior Economic Advisor to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former CB Governor, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, has said that if, as the JVP claimed, he was responsible for losses from Treasury bond issuances to the tune of Rs. 10.4 bn, then he should be given the credit for the gains amounting to Rs. 28 billion. Cabraal said so, in a media statement, in response to allegations against him, based on BDO India’s Forensic Audit more..

Feb 7 (AD) UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake has left the Govt Analyst’s Department after carrying out a voice test as ordered by the court. UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake, who is in remand custody, has been produced before the Govt Analyst for a voice test. He was brought to the Govt Analyst’s Department in Pelawatte, Battaramulla at around 10.30 am this morning. This is with regard to the audio tapes of the series of controversial more..

Feb 7 (DM) Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar has ordered to reissue summons on former Commander of SL Navy, Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda as he failed to appear before the court for the second consecutive day today. The summons will be reissued through the Navy Commander and the Acting IGP. The order was delivered by the Special High Court’s bench consisting of Judges Champa Rajaratne, more..

Feb 7 (CT) Though it did come a bit rather late in the day as it were, Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva on Monday sounded a warning that we can be forgiven for assuming is a timely alert against computer whistleblowers from within the Armed Services, and not the Army alone, for vigilance against attempts to access digital information, calling for Integrity and confidentiality in data storage, processing transit as well as data handling within the Army itself. more..

Feb 7 (FT) Despite the Legislature and the Executive of SL being backward and corrupt, still the country could have been saved from its present state of wretchedness, provided it had a Judiciary with a proper vision on its social responsibility. Yet, unfortunately for SL, it did not inherit a Judiciary of such competence; instead it is endowed with a backward Judiciary that corresponds to the level of backwardness of the Legislature and the Executive. In this dialogue, we should not forget more..

Feb 7 (Island) Navy had recovered more than one ton of Kerala cannabis in raids conducted countrywide from 1st Jan to 6th Feb this year, navy sources said. During a series of successful operations conducted by the Navy from 1st Jan to 5th Feb 2020, approximately 1102kg of Kerala cannabis which comprise about 890kg by Northern Naval Command, about 181kg by Northwestern Naval Command, about 15kg by Southern Naval Command and about 16kg by more..

Feb 7 (AD) The Cabinet has given clearance to Kahatagaha Graphite to seek an investor to add value to its production. Accordingly, Minister Wimal Weerawansa has proposed to call competitive bids to find a partner to add value to the mined graphite. Kahatagaha Graphite Lanka Limited is a company fully owned by the government whereas an amount of 65 – 70 metric tons of graphite per month is excavated in the Kahatagaha mine governed by the Company. more..

Feb 7 (AD) The Attorney General has directed the Acting IGP to submit an explanation before Monday with regard to the non-compliance with his advice to invoke the judicial process in interdicted High Court Judge Gihan Pilapitiya’s case. On January 23, the Attorney General had instructed the Director of the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) to obtain a warrant and arrest interdicted High Court Judge Gihan Pilapitiya more..

Feb 7 (AD) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has met with a group of protesters near the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo today (07). Workers assisting in the govt’s dengue prevention programme had engaged in a protest near the Presidential Secretariat, stating that the former govt had employed them under contract basis and that those appointments have been suspended. President Rajapaksa made a surprise visit to the site of the agitation and met with the protesters. more..

Feb 7 (AD) Orana, one of the world’s largest Denmark suppliers supplying raw materials related to fruit processed will sign an agreement with Sri Lanka’s Industrial Development Board to set up a US $1.5 million fruit processing plant in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the proposal made by the Minister of Industry and Supply Management, to provide a 02-acre block of land from Pannala Industrial Estate to implement the project, was approved by the Cabinet. Prospective investor has planned to invest more..

Feb 7 (EN) Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education and Human Resources Development yesterday decided to develop a framework which will serve as a guide for compiling future sex education textbooks. The decision was made in the wake of the controversy surrounding Hathe Ape Potha, a supplementary textbook on sex education for grade-7 students. Sectoral Oversight Committee had previously recommended to more..

Feb 7 (Island) Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance decided to request the CBSL to provide its observations on the five Forensic Audit reports on the Treasury Bond scams perpetrated in 2015 and 2016. During the committee meeting held, on Wednesday, committee chair, TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran emphasized the need for the CBSL to submit its observations at the next committee meeting. Parliament officials were instructed to ensure the participation of CBSL officers at more..

Feb 7 (DN) Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe has been appointed the Chairman of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO), Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said, addressing a press conference yesterday. Dr. Anil Jasinghe said that Minister Wanniarachchi was scheduled to be appointed to the position by the WHO but she refused to leave the country at this important juncture because SL is successfully controlling Coronavirus infections. more..

Feb 7 (AD) State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna has been unanimously re-appointed as the Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA). MP Lasantha Alagiyawanna’s name was proposed by MP Udaya Gammanpila and was seconded by MP Chandima Weerakkody. He was the COPA chairman prior to the prorogation of Parliament on the 02nd of December 2019. Ministers Pavithra Wanniarachchi, more..

Feb 7 (Island) JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, asked the govt, in Parliament, whether it had taken steps to obtain British court documents as regards the bribe given by Airbus company to Priyanka Wijenayake, wife of former SriLankan CEO, Kapila Chandrasena. Dissanayake also asked the govt when it would launch proceedings in this regard. The British media revealed the high profile case of bribery on the basis of UK court records. The lawmaker also asked who had been more..

Feb 7 (FT) The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) yesterday urged the Govt to consider extending the relief package for the tourism industry after the Easter Sunday attacks by a further period of one year as all expectations of recovery had been adversely affected by the outbreak of novel coronavirus. It said the latest global epidemic had resulted in large-scale cancellation of bookings from China and concerns and reluctance to travel by visitors from other markets. more..

Feb 7 (AD) JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti has been re-appointed as the chairman of Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE). This appointment was made during the COPE meeting held at the Parliament today. MP Handunnetti’s name was proposed by MP Ajith P. Perera and was seconded by MP Ashok Abeysinghe. He was the COPE chairman prior to the prorogation of Parliament on the 2nd of Dec 2019. more..

Feb 7 (Island) Rs. 1.2 billion had been paid as compensation to those affected by the explosion at the Salawa Army Camp, State Minister of Defence, Chamal Rajapaksa said in Parliament yesterday. Rs. 100,000 had been paid for a person who had been killed in the blast. For damaged properties compensation had been paid, on the basis of estimates given by the Valuation Department. Minister said: "One civilian and a soldier were killed and two civilians were disabled. more..

Feb 7 (EN) A future UNF govt formed after the upcoming parliamentary election will cooperate with Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa only when he is right, UNF MP Sarath Fonseka said. Fonseka told reporters that fully cooperating with the president upon a UNP victory would mean that the party accepts every decision he has made so far. He also alluded to two UNP MPs who had reportedly said they’re ready to form a govt with the president and work together with him following elections. more..

Feb 7 (AD) The Chairman of the COPE MP Sunil Handunneththi stated that the Committee has decided to summon the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, the National Lotteries Board and Sri Lanka Cricket for its meetings during the next parliamentary sessions the third week of this month. The next sessions of the Parliament are scheduled for the 18th 19th 20th of Feb. The chairman mentioned the above addressing more..

Feb 7 (EN) State-run SriLankan Airlines said it will sell tickets to five US cities, Spain and Cypress, through a code share on Qatar Airways, through Doha from Feb 8. The code share flights will go to Chicago’s O’Hare Int'l Airport, George Bush Int'l Airport in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth Int'l Airport, Boston Logan Int'l Airport, Dulles Int'l Airport in Washington D.C. Flights will also be offered to Madrid–Barajas Airport in Spain, and Larnaca Int'l Airport in Cyprus. more..

Feb 7 (PHC) High Commission of Pakistan organized a seminar titled Peace and Stability: An Imperative to Prosperity in South Asia at BMICH Colombo on 5th Feb. Various impediments towards regional peace and prosperity were highlighted. Eminent Panelist, Mr. Graham Jones, Ex-member of the parliament of UK, Sardar Ahmad Khan, Ex-PM of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Ms. Medha de Alwis, SL Journalist and High Commissioner of Pakistan, Major Gen (Retd) Muhammad Saad Khattak more..

Feb 7 (DM) Civil Aviation Minister Prasanna Ranatunge said today steps would be taken to obtain compensation from those involved in the SriLankan airline’s Airbus deal after obtaining legal advice. He said this in Parliament when responding to a question asked by JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the controversial Airbus deal. The minister said SriLankan airlines has complained to the Bribery Commission (BC) more..

Feb 7 (AFP) A photo of the Burj Khalifa lit up in the colours of the Sri Lankan flag has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts alongside claims that flag was displayed to commemorate Sri Lanka’s 72nd Independence Day in February 2020. This claim is misleading; the photo actually shows the Sri Lankan flag projected on Dubai's iconic skyscraper in April 2019. The flag was displayed following the Easter Sunday bombings in Colombo on April 21, 2019. more..

Feb 7 (DM) Some 142 incidents of rape, 42 of serious sexual abuse and 54 of child abuse have been reported from various police divisions in the country during the first 15 days of 2020, Parliament was informed. Chief Govt Whip Johnston Fernando said and pointed out that investigations into 78 incidents of rape, 21 of serious sexual abuse and 34 of child abuse have been completed so far. He said most of the cases of rape, serious sexual abuse and child abuse were reported from the Batticaloa more..

Feb 7 (DM) The previous govt had spent Rs.2.8 billion to purchase vehicles for the use of ministers since 2015, Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando said in parliament. He said a sum of Rs.1.6 billion had been spent on the vehicle purchase of ministers while Rs.652 million had been used to purchase vehicles for state ministers. “A sum of Rs.564 million has also been spent on the vehicle purchase of deputy ministers,” more..

Feb 8 (CT) Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in the course of his Independence Day speech made on 04 Feb stated: “I am committed to working towards fulfilling the needs of the people of this country. That is my responsibility and my duty. I do not envisage public officials, lawmakers or the judiciary to impede my implementing this commitment. I not only respect your freedom, but I will work towards improving it and guarantee the political and economic freedom in a truly democratic country.” more..

Feb 8 (CT) This refers to the article by Shyamon Jayasinghe (SJ) titled “An Indifferent God” in the Colombo Telegraph dated 5th October 2018. With due respects to the author, who was a Senior to me at the University Campus, Peradeniya, during 1959-62, I wish to express my views on it. SJ uses the English word God in a general sense as understood in Christianity and Islam, two main theistic religions. But, my views are from the standpoint of the Hindu religion. more..

Feb 8 (CT) UNP MP Ravindra Samaraweera, says during the UNF Govt there was a Cost of Living Committee. "When we realised an important commodity was in short supply, we imported it. We imported rice when the prices were escalating," he said. Q: What has happened to the Opposition? A: There are certain minor issues in the Opposition. We are now solving them and reaching a final solution. more..

Feb 8 (ST) “The territory ceded by the Dutch was from 1797 to 1802 placed under the English East India Company, and formed a part of the territory of the Govt of Madras until 1802, when Ceylon was created a Crown Colony. In 1815 the British Govt declared war on the last king of Kandy. His mis-govt had estranged his own subjects. He was able to offer but a feeble resistance, and was eventually taken prisoner. In terms of a convention held on 2nd March 1815, at Kandy, between more..