Feb 7 (Island) Warning that the omicron variant of coronavirus was spreading rapidly in the country, medical professionals have urged the public to get vaccinated. Dr Harsha Satischandra said that there were 325 COVID-19 patients receiving treatment at the NHSL and of them 75 patients were on oxygen support. Dr. Satischandra said that the majority of patients dependent on intensive care were not fully vaccinated; they had received either one or two doses each. more..

Feb 7 (DM) The question of going to the IMF would not have arisen if there was financial discipline, one time Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake said. What should be done is to decide on the best option available and to implement it in the most effective manner, Mr Karunanayake told journalists. He said what is best for the country is not price formulas but price stability. Also he said there is a mafia in several sectors which prevent development. "The power sector crisis is brought about by this mafia. more..

Feb 7 (CT) Amidst the increasing number of Covid-19 patients in the country, over 16 State health service categories, including nurses, professions supplementary to medicine (PSM) and paramedics will launch a continuous strike from 7 a.m. today (7), on several demands. One demand is that the Health Ministry set straight the wage discrepancies which occurred through the 06/2006 Salary Circular and the revision recently more..

Feb 7 (TM) The National People’s Power (NPP) said yesterday that if the Govt intends to restructure its debt as a solution to the current debt crisis, then it must first formulate a plan before approaching the IMF. “The question is not whether we are going to the IMF or not, but whether we are going to go for a restructuring of debt or not. If they are going to restructure debt, then they must think of the terms of the restructuring, decide on a time period, and the proper economic policies. more..

Feb 7 (AD) Commissioner General of Examinations has issued a special announcement for 2021 G.C.E. A/L candidates who have tested positive for Covid-19 and those who are under quarantine. The Exams Chief says that in the event any candidates sitting for the A/L exams beginning tomorrow have tested positive for the virus or have been quarantined, special arraignments will be made for them to sit for the exams at the nearest intermediate Covid treatment centers or hospital. more..

Feb 7 (FT) LIOC has increased its retail selling prices for Diesel (Lanka Auto Diesel) by Rs. 3 per litre and Petrol (LP 92) by Rs. 7 per litre with immediate effect. It said the move was due to huge increases in int'l prices on both products. “The losses are around Rs. 42 per litre on the sale of Diesel and Rs. 10 per litre on sale of Petrol at the current international prices,” LIOC said. “However, even after this price increase in Diesel and Petrol, LIOC will still more..

Feb 7 (Island) UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardene called on govt ministers to pay a visit to super markets and check the high prices of organic food in shelves and that would enable them to realise that the majority of people cannot afford them. “This means that the majority of people cannot depend on organic agriculture alone. It also shows the shortsightedness of the govt in their so-called organic food drive,” Abeywardene said addressing a meeting of professionals at the Galle District more..

Feb 7 (AD) The Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) says that the CEB has not made any request yet for load shedding today. PUCSL chairman Janaka Ratnayake said that the electricity demand can be met today with the available capacity and that therefore they decided there is no need to go for a power cut. He further said: “We need to reduce our electricity consumption. Otherwise we will have to face a big problem in the future.” He said there will likely be no more..

Feb 7 (FT) The following article is based on the presentation at the Monthly Seminar of Jan 2022 of the SL Economic Association (SLEA), which was held on 29 January via online platform. Dr. E.A.C. Priyankara, a senior research officer at Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research Institute made the presentation on Current Food Inflation in Sri Lanka: Causes and Consequences and the discussant was Dr. Priyanga Dunusinghe, Senior Lecturer in Economics at the University of Colombo. more..

Feb 7 (FT) 43 Brigade led by MP Champika Ranawaka, known to electorate as Champika, released its manifesto of economic rescue and thrive two weeks ago in Colombo. This manifesto should be read with a detailed interview which Champika has given to Abisheka Fernando of SL VLOG recently because it is a commentary on what has been presented earlier. Given the catastrophic economic crisis which SL is facing today, it is timely that 43 Brigade has chosen to address more..

Feb 7 (DM) The Court of Appeal today ordered to release Attorney-at-law Hejaaz Hizbullah on bail after nearly two years in detention and remand custody. Accordingly, the Court of Appeal directed the Puttalam High Court to release Hejaaz Hizbullah on bail with suitable bail conditions. Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justice Menaka Wijesundera and Justice Neil Iddawala made this order taking into consideration more..

Feb 7 (AD) At least three persons are reported dead while another person has been injured and hospitalized following the collapse of an earth mound near a house at Madawala in Wattegama. The injured person has been admitted to the Kandy Hospital for treatment. Workers were digging a base pit for a house under construction when an nearby earth embarkment, around 12-feet tall, had suddenly collapsed on four workers burying them underneath the rubble. Four individuals were rescued more..

Feb 7 (DM) CEB United Trade Union Alliance Convener Ranjan Jayalal said yesterday he believes the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation(CPC) will increase fuel prices in the aftermath of Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) doing it. "Although the Minister's assurance is that he is not hoping to increase the prices, we will have to expect a definite price hike within the next couple of days," he said. With the unstable actions of the govt, people continue to fall into trouble day by day. more..

Feb 7 (EN) CEB, in the midst of a power crisis, said that there is no need for load shedding for the day but power outages may occur if a thermal power plant breaks down or runs out of fuel. The CEB said the predicted peak demand for Monday evening is 2,280 mega watts, while peak demand the same night is expected to be 2,680MW. For the night’s demand, however, only 1,568MW can be expected from the thermal plants while more..

Feb 7 (PT) Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram told a virtual event marking SL’s 74th independence anniversary the relationship between Islamabad and Colombo was contributing to peace and stability in the South Asian region. “Pakistan and SL enjoy relations of warmth and affection from the highest political level to the relationships between our peoples,” he said while felicitating the nation’s leadership and the people on the occasion. “The relationship between our peoples stretches more..

Feb 7 (AD) The nine suspects arrested in connection with the attack on medical faculty students in Ragama, including MP Arundika Fernando’s son, have been granted bail by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court. The suspects were ordered released on bail after being produced before the Wattala Magistrate today. A group of individuals had forcibly entered the men’s hostel of the Kelaniya University’s Faculty of Medicine in Ragama at around 3.00 a.m. on February 02 and attacked several students. more..

Feb 7 (TM) The health authorities are planning to implement the extraordinary gazette preventing unvaccinated people from entering or being in public places with effect from 30 April with the support of the Police and security officials of such places, according to Ministry of Health. Minister Keheliya Rambukwella issued an extraordinary gazette preventing those who have not obtained first, second, and third doses of the Covid-19 vaccines from entering or being in public places more..

Feb 7 (TM) Claiming that Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage has stated that the paddy harvest of the last Maha cultivating season was at a very good level, National Agrarian Union (NAU) stated that after the upcoming Sinhala and Hindu New Year season, everyone will know about last season’s paddy harvest. NAU Chairman Anuradha Tennakoon said that Aluthgamage was currently staging a drama, claiming that there was no shortage of paddy harvests caused to more..

Feb 7 (Island) Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila says the country is paying a very heavy price for failing to enhance electricity generation capacity since 2014. He stresses ongoing unannounced power cuts are likely to be a regular feature due to what he called system imbalance caused by sufficient power to meet the regular requirement. The outspoken lawmaker warned that the duration of power cuts would be further extended sooner more..

Feb 7 (CT) Only one-third of the country’s estimated canine population is vaccinated against rabies as of last year, according to Dr. L.D. Kithsiri, Director-Public Health Veterinary Service. He added that according to their records, there were three million dogs in Sri Lanka, but only one million have been vaccinated against rabies, which has been the case for several years. Dr. Kithsiri said while the percentage of vaccinated canines is lower, the death rate was also lower, amounting to 25 in 2021. more..

Feb 7 (CT) Vice Chancellor of the Ragama Medical Faculty,Prof. Nilanthi de Silva has appointed a three-member committee to investigate the incident where outsiders forced their way into the men’s dormitories at Kelaniya University’s Faculty of Medicine in Ragama. The Vice Chancellor said the committee includes two members of the Ragama Medical Faculty and one from another Faculty who will be officially named today (7). Meanwhile, investigators will visit the scene this week. more..

Feb 7 (DM) Whilst stating that the govt has completely lost control of the country's administration with private companies deciding fuel prices etc, SJB today called for an election to determine the pulse of the people. SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that the decision by the LOIC to increase fuel prices had proven that the govt has lost control of the country's administration. “It will be evident that more..

Feb 7 (AP) The border guards with the Cenad Border Crossing Point (PTF Cenad), Timisoara County, have detected, in the past days, two groups of citizens from Sri Lanka, while they were attempting to illegally exit the country, hidden in a car driven by a Romanian citizen, the Timisoara Border Police announced, through a release sent on Monday to AGERPRES. Thus, at the Cenad Border Crossing Point, on Friday, a vehicle presented in order to exit the country, driven by more..

Feb 7 (DM) The case filed against Swiss Embassy employee Ganiya Bannister Francis for allegedly making a false claim that she has been abducted and sexually harassed was today fixed for trial by Colombo High Court. HC Judge Namal Balalle fixed the case to be taken up for trial on Aug 5. Court also issued summons on the first and second witnesses in the case to appear in court next trial date. Ganiya Bannister has been accused of giving false information to embarrass the Govt and more..

Feb 7 (Island) An influential section of the civil society has criticised the Foreign Ministry over a statement it issued as regards representations made recently by human rights lawyer Ambika Satkunanathan at the hearing of the European Parliament’s sub-committee on human rights. Forty seven organizations and 161 individuals in a statement issued over the weekend frowned on what they called an attempt by Foreign Min more..

Feb 7 (CT) Minister Dinesh Gunewardena, said the construction industry should consider innovative and advanced methods rather than following the system of 75 years ago. He was present at the awarding of research grants to Uni Professors who had submitted innovative and industry-relevant competitive research proposals as part of the ADB-funded Science and Technology Human Resources Development Project (STHRD) and stated that this was a milestone consistent with Prez’s vision. more..

Feb 7 (CT) Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said the Ministry of Education is in discussions with other authorities to commemorate World Poetry Day next month. He was speaking while awarding honorary titles on 5 February in Magammana, Homagama. The event was organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Thammenna Poetry Federation of IndigenoU.S. Agriculture. Minister Gunawaradena, Minister of Water Supply, presided over the ceremony. more..

Feb 7 (CT) Highways Minister Johnston Fernando claimed the sporadic power outages were the result of yet another conspiracy by those determined to sabotage Prez Rajapaksa’s Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour programme. He said the goal of these saboteurs is to thwart Prez’s plan to develop the country, adding that, there is a clear conspiracy at work here. He was speaking at the launch of the Kurunegala District's more..

Feb 7 (KH) Embassy of SL in Nepal and the Export Development Board of SL (EDB) jointly organized a virtual meeting for SL Construction Companies to interact with the Nepal Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT) and learn about procedures and regulations applicable to foreign investors, including for joint ventures. Er. Keshab Kumar Sharma, Joint Secretary of the Development Assistance Coordination and Quality Division of the MoPIT provided more..

Feb 7 (TM) Nuwara Eliya District Disaster Management Co-ordinating Unit said that they suspect that the arson of forest areas around the Nuwara Eliya District is carried out by a group of organised individuals annually. “Watawala area in Nuwara Eliya District, Nuwara Eliya pradeshiya sabha area, the Devon Ella forest reserves, and the Hatton area annually fall victim to arsonists. We believe that it is the same group who organise themselves each yr to do this destructive act” more..

Feb 7 (HRW) Sri Lankan govt is using the discredited Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to commit prolonged arbitrary detention and torture, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The European Union, other trading partners, and donors, should press for time-bound action to repeal the abusive law and reject the govt’s proposed amendments, which would not end widespread abuses. The 59-page report, more..

Feb 7 (EN) Prez Rajapaksa has appointed Renuka Weerakone as the acting Director General of the state-owned Board of Investment (BOI), days after previous DG resigned. Letter of Appointment was handed over to the new acting DG by the State Minister D V Chanaka. Weerakone has been with the Board of Investment for over 27 years, having held senior roles across a number of key departments, most recently as Executive Director Project Monitoring, and previously as more..

Feb 7 (AD) Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris who is on a two-day official visit to India met with his Indian counterpart Dr. S. Jaishankar for bilateral talks at the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi today. The two dignitaries discussed a wide range of issues pertaining to the bilateral relationship during the talks. Foreign Minister Peiris was joined by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Milinda Moragoda and senior officials of the High Commission of SL in Delhi & Foreign Ministry. more..

Feb 8 (TM) Foreign Ministry’s response to former Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) and human rights lawyer and advocate Ambika Satkunanathan’s testimony to the European Parliament’s Sub-Committee on Human Rights has attracted widespread criticism from multiple parties including human rights defenders, and raised a question as to how open the Govt is to criticism. Satkunanathan, in her submission at the hearing of the European Parliament’s Sub-Committee more..

Feb 8 (CT) Prez Rajapaksa, in his Vistas of Prosperity & Splendour election manifesto on health, titled Health First, to quote excerpts, said, “Healthcare will be delivered throughout the country in accordance with the National Health Policy.” In the current context of the strike in the health sector, though, not by doctors, but certainly nurses, where is the implementation of his promised, Health First policy to the masses of this country? According to latest WHO data, In 2017, more..

Feb 8 (DM) Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella is one of the most senior politicians in the House with a vast knowledge on Standing Orders and Parliamentary etiquette. He is an authority on Parliamentary law. Mr. Kiriella, a lawyer by profession, has been elected as an MP uninterrupted for 32 years since 1989 and was the Leader of the House under the Yahapalana govt. The Daily Mirror sat with him to discuss more..

Feb 8 (CT) The reach of the modern media is limitless; lifting the cloak on institutions which for centuries had remained inviolable, its light flashing into each nook and corner, challenging long-held beliefs, remaking our opinions on every man and matter. Circulating on the internet recently were some pictures/videos of a supposed Buddhist priest with a female companion, allegedly his mistress. Found in a compromising situation, they were surrounded by angry devotees of his temple, more..