Feb 25 (CT) Westlessness was the theme at the annual Munich Security Conference that was held last week in Germany. The annual event is in its 57th year and for the first time a sense of desperation was semi-officially identified at the conference. The desperation is due to the widely held perception that the West is losing its influence, if not hegemony, in the non-western world, and real experience that it is turning its back on its own liberalism in different countries the western world. more..

Feb 25 (CT) State Minister Shehan Semasinghe, says the Govt stopped the ad hoc development projects of the previous regime. "We noticed some development projects had been implemented in areas only where the UNP members live," he said. Q: Do you see a reduction in the popularity of the Govt among people? A: I do not think so, and I do not believe it. People elected this Govt with thousands of hopes. more..

Feb 25 (ST) What the hell is all this bloody nonsense, if you’ll pardon the lingo? Some chap called Marikkar who it is said is a UNP MP, has proposed a plan that should have US President Trump running for cover. After all what else could he do when such masterly ripostes are hurled at him by some chap he has not seen nor heard of and probably does not wish to despite all the crazy antics of good old Trump. It has all to do with the refusal of US entry visas to SL’s army commander more..

Feb 25 (SO) A year ago, UN Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet made the following observation in her report on SL (tabled on Mar 8, 2019): ‘On 29 May 2018, human skeletal remains were discovered at a construction site in Mannar. Excavations, concluded with the support of the Office on Missing Persons, revealed a mass grave from which more than 300 skeletons were recovered. It was the second mass grave found in Mannar following discovery of a site in 2014. more..

Feb 25 (CT) The incumbent Govt and its leadership are trapped in yet another round of fisticuffs as it were with human rights watchdogs; US and UNHRC. The quagmire reached another level last week when SL decided to withdraw from cosponsoring the UNHRC 30/1 Resolution following the U.S. travel ban on SL Army Commander Lt Gen Shavendra Silva and his family over alleged human violations during the last phase of the war. more..

Feb 25 (Island) About nine million or an estimated 40% of the population of SL consume alcohol and 99% of them are males. Those consuming alcohol daily amount to more than 4 million. The alcohol market includes pure alcohol such as hard liquor mainly arrack and beer and illicit liquor or kasippu. Illicit alcohol accounts for most of the alcohol consumed in the country. Studies done in 2013 reveal that illicit alcohol or kasippu accounts for as much as 65% of the total volume of alcohol more..

Feb 25 (SO) Shelinda Jansen of Gateway College showed just why she is a star in the making while bagging the overall honours as the Best Performer at last week’s Int'l Schools Athletic Championships (ISAC) at the Sugathadasa Stadium and making none other than her doting mother the proudest in the world. Most of the talented athletes who missed South Asian Games due to injury contested the ISAC meet where several new meet records in the respective events were established and more..

Feb 25 (ST) Although economic growth in 2019 was one of the lowest in recent years the IMF expects a revival in 2020. However, this recovery is dependent on an improvement in tourism & manufacturing sectors both of which are interdependent on international developments. The cautious optimism of the IMF is also dependent on appropriate policy measures and correction of fundamental weaknesses. One of the fundamental weaknesses of economy in 2019 was the fiscal slippage. more..

Feb 25 (Island) The military police have been called in to assist the traffic police in controlling traffic in Colombo, according to media reports. The traffic situation in the city has taken a turn for the worse and why the govt has adopted such a desperate measure is understandable. But the question is whether it is really a shortage of policemen that has led to traffic congestion in the city. This problem has defied a solution for a variety of reasons. Our readers, including engineers, urban planners, more..

Feb 25 (TM) The final forensic audit (FA) report carried out into the CB bond issuances has uncovered a link between former Governor of CB Ajith Nivard Cabraal and the controversial primary dealer Perpetual Treasuries. Final report, titled Examination on the Conduct of the Supervisory and Regulatory role by the Superintendent of Public Debt/Director, Supervision of Non-Bank Financial Institutions pertaining to selected Primary Dealer more..

Feb 25 (GV) The appearance of a sign designating an area near the Prez Secretariat in Colombo as an Agitation Site has had a divided reception. According to Minister Ramesh Pathirana, “For the time being, till people get used to this new agitation site, protesting outside (the agitation site) will not be considered as an immediate offence.” The insidious implication here is that perhaps soon, a time will come when other urban spaces cannot be used for voicing dissident views. more..

Feb 25 (FT) In the backdrop of challenging external environment, Seylan Bank said yesterday it recorded a profit after tax of Rs. 3.68 billion for the year ended 31 Dec 2019. Successful and oversubscribed Rights Issue made during the last quarter for Rs. 4.30 billion which followed a similarly successful debenture issue earlier in the year endorsed and demonstrated the confidence placed in the bank by the investors and shareholders. Net Interest Income (NII), the main source of more..

Feb 25 (FT) Govt promised fresh support to the crucial tourism industry which is suffering from the double whammy of the Easter Sunday attacks and the novel coronavirus outbreak. The guarantee was given by Secretary to the President Dr. P.B. Jayasundera during a very frank and positive meeting with the Tourist Hotels Association of SL, Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle, Commissioner General of Inland Revenue more..

Feb 25 (DN) The 57th Battle of Brothers, an annual cricket encounter between Thurstan and Isipathana for the Blackham Wijewardena Memorial Trophy will be played at the SSC grounds on Feb 28 and 29. The annual Thurstan-Isipathana Big Match is a much looked forward event in the schools’ sports calendar. This is a special occasion for past students of both schools to reunite, for some of them perhaps since leaving school. Thurstan College will be led by Jayavihan Mahavithana while more..

Feb 25 (Island) Commercial Bank Group ended 2019 with the performance milestone of gross income surpassing Rs 150 billion for the first time, but substantially higher impairment charges and the impact of a full year of Debt Repayment Levy (DRL) in a year the Bank describes as difficult for the Bank and the country, saw declines in profit indicators. Comprising of Commercial Bank of Ceylon, its subsidiaries and associates, Group reported top line growth of 7.94% to Rs 150.741 billion more..

Feb 25 (CT) Dr. Bandula Gunawardana is to meet Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today, to discuss payments due to be paid to contractors and suppliers who carried out various development projects during the UNF Govt, with the intention of getting Jayasuriya to explain the matter to the Opposition led by Sajith Premadasa. Dr. Gunawardana also assured that if Jayasuriya could discuss the matter with the Opposition representatives and more..

Feb 25 (CT) State Minister Arundika Fernando, along with SL Tourism Officials met with the SL Police Acting IGP, Chandana Wickramaratne last week, to strengthen the safety and security of tourists and increase the tourist police presence in the country. Considering the current situation, several recommendations were discussed; for instance, to increase the cadre of tourist police, and strengthen their presence in locations along the South Coast, Ella and Kandy, and more..

Feb 25 (EN) Nation-wide inflation measured by the National Consumer Price Index, speeded up to 7.6% in the 12-month to Jan 2020, from 6.2% in Dec 2019. NCPI price index gained 1.5% during Jan 2020, rising to 137 points from 135 points a month earlier. Index also gained 1.6% in December. Rise to 7.6% is the highest seen since Nov 2017, when the index grew 8.4%. Index showed 8% inflation for several months in 2017, as the economy recovered from a currency collapse in 2015/2016, more..

Feb 25 (AD) Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed officials to implement a program to control the rising prices of vegetables with the aim of providing relief to consumers while safeguarding farmers. During a meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and the Ministry of Trade, today (24), Prez said that the rising prices of vegetables have led to an increase in the cost of living and more..

Feb 25 (CT) Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) announced that, after following official procurement guidelines, it has signed an agreement with AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Ltd on 20 Feb 2020 to conduct a feasibility study for the proposed Colombo North Port Development Project. The project has also received the guidance of Minister of Ports and Shipping, Johnston Fernando and State Minister Kanaka Herath. The 15-month study, chiefly related to the expansion of container more..

Feb 25 (ST) SL-born Swedish showjumper Mathilda Karlsson will not accept the FEI ruling to cancel her Olympic qualification ranking points retrospectively which has derailed her chances of participating in the Tokyo Games in July. The world equestrian body has ruled that contrary to the FEI Rules, two competitions counting for the Olympic and Longines Rankings were added at each event after the respective Definite Entries deadlines, including the CSI Villeneuve-Loubet event in France more..

Feb 25 (TM) The focus of the controversial SriLankan Airlines-Airbus deal saw a shift from former Sri Lankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena to the question of whether Chandrasena alone was responsible for the corrupt deal or whether there was complicity from those within SriLankan Airlines at the time. The main focus was placed on the legal department of the national carrier and its then Chairman and then Board of Directors, more..

Feb 25 (Island) The Mannar mass grave case will be taken up at the Mannar Magistrate court today (25) for a final decision on the grave. When the case was to be taken up for hearing on Feb 13, the lawyers protested on two grounds and requested that it be postponed. The lawyers stayed out of the court, protesting that an investigation was needed to probe an incident where some unidentified persons had broken open the door of a room where the skeletal remains dug up from the grave were stored. more..

Feb 25 (FMT) On Friday, Attorney-General Tommy Thomas said he had decided to drop the charges against the 12 individuals accused of having links with LTTE as there was “no realistic prospect” for their conviction. “As public prosecutor, I must conduct myself in a manner which will maintain, promote and defend the interest of justice,” he said. Thomas said defence lawyers could also argue that the declaration of LTTE as a terrorist group could be invalid or should have been revoked after more..

Feb 25 (Island) Delegates’ Conference of the SLMC, on Sunday, adopted a resolution to renounce the proposal to completely repeal the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act. It resolved to reform it in keeping with Islamic teachings and on what had been agreed upon by Muslim MPs. The 29th Delegates’ Conference of the SLMC was held in Polgolla, Kandy on Sunday. The delegates also condemned attempts to deny more..

Feb 25 (Island) A MoU was signed between Parliament & University Grants Commission (UGC), yesterday, which gave the House access to all research and studies conducted by SL universities and their affiliated bodies. Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dassanayake and Chairman of UGC Prof. Sampath Amarathunga signed the MoU. MoU not only gives policy makers access to research but also allows MPs to seek assistance of academics where necessary. more..

Feb 25 (DM) Even if the SL Govt exited from the UN resolution, the United Nations should urge the Sri Lanka Govt to implement the decisions taken at the UNHRC, MP M.A Sumanthiran said addressing the media after the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) Central Committee Meeting held at Arivaham in Kilinochchi yesterday. “It was well-known that Sri Lanka would exit from the co-sponsorship, however, we are closely monitoring the Govt’s activities after the regime change,” he said. more..

Feb 25 (EN) SL’s vegetable prices have started to fall in February 2020 from a month earlier, but remains sharply elevated from last year, when monetary conditions were also tighter. Sri Lanka’s food prices generally spike in April and Dec, when the central bank also prints money to accommodate seasonal demand, pushing up excess liquidity in money markets. In early 2019, supplies were also tighter due to erratic weather more..

Feb 25 (DN) The new Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director in Sri Lanka, Chen Chen, assumed office in Colombo yesterday. “I am honored to assume the role of Country Director at ADB’s SL Resident Mission. I have had the opportunity of managing ADB’s transport sector portfolio in SL in the past, and have gathered insights about the country’s development needs,” Chen said. “I look forward to further strengthening ADB’s partnership with the country & supporting its development more..

Feb 25 (DN) A corruption case involving irregular land deals worth over Rs. 500 million has been detected in a district branch office of the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA). Authority Chairman Renuka Perera disclosed that nine officials of the NHDA’s Hambantota district branch office had been interdicted in connection with this case. The corruption case was revealed by an internal audit carried out at the branch office. Following this detection, 9 officials, including more..

Feb 25 (DM) Former Deputy Minister and LTTE's special commander for Ampara and Batticaloa Districts Vinaygamurthy Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman said that it was he who persuaded Prez and PM not to go ahead with the carving out of an Urban Council for the Sainthamaruthu region. He said that the Gazette notification on the institution of Sainthamaruthu Urban Council was issued on Feb 14, more..

Feb 25 (DM) A group of rehabilitated ex-LTTE members recently formed a new political party with the hope of contesting the General Elections this year. Party's media spokesperson M. A. Yogeshwaran said that the party which had been registered as The Vanni Tamil People Union included 13 ex-LTTE members. Many youths from universities and professionals including engineers and doctors have obtained membership of this party. He said the objective of their party was to more..

Feb 25 (DM) UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will contest the upcoming parliamentary election from the Colombo District, a senior UNP source told the Daily Mirror yesterday. Wickremesinghe has already informed his party that he will be contesting the elections, amidst reports that he may be offered a national list seat by Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa who is now leading the newly formed Samagi Jana Balawegaya Alliance, of which the UNP is the main constituent party. more..

Feb 25 (AD) The driver of MP Champika Ranawaka has admitted that he had not driven the jeep involved in the Rajagiriya hit-and-run case back in 2016. It was revealed at the court that the driver Dilum Thusitha Kumara had issued a statement admitting to this revelation. On Jan 22, second suspect of the case, driver of MP Champika Ranawaka, upon his request, gave an hour-long confidential statement to Colombo Additional Magistrate. more..

Feb 25 (DM) On Sunday March 1, UN marks Zero Discrimination Day and the 2020 theme is zero discrimination against women and girls. The UN says the day is universal in nature and does not confine itself to HIV or health related themes and aims to highlight issues related to discrimination. UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) provides generic messaging and focuses on a HIV or health-related theme when appropriate. According to the UN, discrimination and gender inequality more..

Feb 25 (DM) Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardene who leads the SL delegation to the 43rd UNHRC Sessions this week, would formerly inform the govt’s decision to withdraw its co-sponsorship of the Resolution 30/1 Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka adopted on Oct 14, 2015 and subsequent follow up resolutions of 34/1 of March 2017 and 40/1 March 2019. Cabinet last week approved the decision to withdraw the co-sponsorship of resolution. more..

Feb 25 (DM) Many Sri Lankan women travel to foreign countries to seek employment as domestic aides and do similar blue-collar jobs to send money home. But oftentimes, many of them have unpleasant stories to relate. There have been instances when some were tortured and others returned in coffins. In such a backdrop, an acknowledgement hardly comes their way. However, Panambarage Jacintha’s story is different more..

Feb 25 (DM) A series of daylight robberies – technically-termed Issue of Treasury Bonds – was committed from the beginning of the millennium at the govt banker’s coffers under the watchful eyes of its heads, both local and foreign. Ironically, in some cases, they were aided and abetted by the political authority at highest levels in successive govts (albeit 2001-2004 records gone missing?). In a highly-polluted environment more..

Feb 25 (ST) The Cabinet has approved a 300 megawatt extension to the Lakvijaya coal power plant to be constructed by China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC)–without calling for bids, even before the mandated feasibility study has been done. The Cabinet paper, sanctioned on Feb 12 and sent to line ministries, recognises that CMEC is a nominated business of the Govt of China. It states that a joint venture will be formed more..