By shenali Waduge
Sri Lanka is never short of controversy. Colombo East Container Terminal is at the centre of a major national crisis which would decide the future of the current government and would decide the country's future. The issue has traversed this far partly as a result of clueless politicians, corrupt public officials, wheeler-dealer advisors and not soliciting the advice from correct quarters. First and foremost, any government elected to power by the People are duty-bound to protect the sovereignty of the nation and not its neighbor. Secondly, any decision taken has to be... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/01/21)
H. L. D. Mahindapala
In continuing last week's article on how lies manufactured and manipulated by charismatic leaders and mediocre theorists can distort the perceptions of the masses and lead societies to violence I must make a brief diversion, before I come to the local context – my main purpose -- to focus on how Donald Trump is leaving White House as the most dangerous President that ever walked out of it. He is leaving America under the darkest cloud that threatens to come down not in dismal rain but in ghastly blood. He left the White House... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/01/21)
By Rohana R. Wasala
We have all read or heard Aesop's fable ‘The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey': A man and his young son set out taking their donkey to market to sell it there. Listening to different censorious comments of a number of people they encountered on the road, they first rode the animal, then they carried it. First the man rode the horse, then the boy, then both of them together, and finally, they started carrying the donkey tied to a pole by its legs; while passing a bridge over a river, the donkey struggled... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/01/21)
ආචාර්ය සුදත් ගුණසේකර
මේ රටේ සැබෑ නිදහස් දිනය පැවැත්විය යුත්තේ මැයි මස 22 දා මිස පෙබරවාරි 4 දා නොවේ. මන්ද පළමුව 48 පෙබරවාරි 4 දා අපගේ මව්බිමට හා සිංහල ජාතියට පූර්ණ නිදහස නොලැබුණු නිසාය. දෙවනුව අර්ධවශයෙන් හෝ මේ රටට කිසියම් දේශපාලන නිදහසක් ලැබුණේ 1972 මැයි මස ජනරජයක් වශයෙන් ප්රකාශ කළ දා බැවිනි. 1972 සිට 1977 දක්වා පුරා පස් වසරක්ම රටේ නිදහස් දිනය සැමරුම් උත්සවය පැවැත්වූයේ ද මැයි මස 22 වැනි දිනය. එබැවින් මේ රටේ නිදහස් දිනය වශයෙන් ප‍්‍රකාශකොට සැමරිය යුත්තේ ජනරජයක් වශයෙන් ප්රකාශ කළ මැයි මස 22 දා මිස ජෙනිංග්ස්ගේ බිරිඳගේ උපන් දිනය සිහිකිරීම... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/01/21)
MICHAEL HUDSON AND PEPE ESCOBAR Courtesy UNZ Review
High-ended retailer Saks Fifth Avenue added private security, fencing and barbed wire ahead of a Black Lives Matter protest in New York, June 7. 2020. (Anthony Quintano, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons) Michael Hudson and Pepe Escobar last month took a hard look at rent and rent-seeking at the Henry George School of Social Science. Michael Hudson: Well, I'm honored to be here on the same show with Pepe and discuss our mutual concern. And I think you have to frame the whole issue that China... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/01/21)
මාධ්‍ය නිවේදනය විදුර වික්‍රමනායක ජාතික උරුම ප්‍රාසාංග කලා හා ග්‍රාමීය කලා ශිල්පී ප්‍රවර්ධන කටයුතු රාජ්‍ය අමාත්‍ය.
දශක ගණනාවක් පුරා ස්වර්ණමය පරිච්ඡේදයක් ඉතිහාසයට එක් කළ ජනමාධ්‍ය ලෝකය දික්විජය කළ කලාකීර්ති කලාසූරී ආචාර්ය එඩ්වින් ආරියදාස නම් වූ ඒ අසහාය යුග පුරුෂයාණන් අප අතරින් සමු ගත්තේ අපේ රටේ සියලූම දෙනාට උගත හැකි බොහෝ දේ ඉතිරි කර තබමින්. එමෙන්ම මාධ්‍ය ක්ෂේත්‍රයේ මෙන් ම විවිධ වූ ක්ෂේත්‍ර ගණනාවක් ඔස්සේ තම විශ්මිත කෞෂල්‍යයන් තුළින් රට වෙනුවෙන් මිල කළ නොහැකි සේවාවක් ඔහු ඉටු කළා. 1922 දෙසැම්බර් 03 දා දකුණු ලක උණවටුන ප්‍රදේශයේ ජන්ම ලාභය ලැබූ එඩ්වින් ආරියදාසයන්ගේ 98 වන ජන්ම දිනයේ දී හමුවීමට ලැබීම... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/01/21)
C. Wijeyawickrema, LL.B., Ph.D.
Sweet dreams are made of this Who am I to disagree I travel the world and the seven seas Everybody's looking for something. Some of them want to use you Some of them want to get used by you Some of them want to abuse you Some of them want to be abused…. Sweet dreams are made of this Who am I… Eurythmics,1983 (written for future Ranjan/s?)” “I was sent to jail for 19 years on false charges. If you see the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/01/21)
Courtesy The Daily Mirror
Ayurvedic practitioner Dhammika Bandara said he was not responsible for Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi contracting COVID-19, as she had failed to follow his advice on taking the syrup made by him. In a Facebook post, he said when taking his herbal syrup, people should avoid smoking, consuming alcoholic liquor and avoid eating meat. “Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi did two things which I advised her to avoid. Therefore, I cannot take responsibility for she had fallen ill now,” he said in the post.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/01/21)
උපුටා ගැන්ම ලංකා සී නිව්ස්
කොරෝනා වෛරසය සඳහා තමන් විසින් හඳුන්වා දුන් ඖෂධය සෞඛ්‍ය ඇමතිනි පවිත්‍රා වන්නිආරච්චි මහත්මිය භාවිතා කළ ආකාරය වැරදෙන්නට ඇතැයි කෑගල්ලේ ධම්මික බණ්ඩාර මහතා සඳහන් කරයි. තමන් විසින් නියම කරන ලද මාත්‍රාව අනුව හරියටම ඖෂධය භාවිත කලේ නම් වෛරසය ආසාදන නොවන බවද ඔහු පවසයි. නියමානුකූල පිළිවෙතට මෙම ඖෂධය පානය කළ අය මෙතෙක් වෛරසය ආසාදන වී නැති බවද ඔහු පැවසීය. තමන් සෞඛ්‍ය ඇමතිනියට ඖෂධ ගෙනිහින් දුන් බවත් එම අවස්ථාවේ හැන්දකින් එය පානය කළද පසුව කෙසේ භාවික කලේ දැයි තමන් නොදන්නා බව ද ඔහු සඳහන් කළේ ය. සෞඛ්‍ය ඇමතිනී... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/01/21)
Courtesy Adaderana
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa says the first batch of Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines manufactured in India is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka on the 27th of January. Accordingly, Sri Lanka will be receiving the 500,000 vials of doses with the first vaccine consignment. The President’s remarks came during the ‘Gama Samaga Pilisandara’ programme held in Walallawita, Kalutara today (January 23). He noted that Covid-19 jabs will be first administered to medical officers, Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) and other health sector workers who are on the front line of coronavirus outbreak in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/01/21)
Courtesy Adaderana
Sri Lanka has reported two more coronavirus related deaths today (January 230, the Director-General of Health Services confirmed. One of the deceased is a 69-year-old male from Mount Lavinia who had passed away at the Homagama Base Hospital yesterday (January 22). He had been transferred from the Colombo National Hospital upon being diagnosed with COVID-19. The cause of his death has been determined as COVID-19 pneumonia and a kidney infection. The other victim is an 82-year-old woman from the Ranala area who succumbed to COVID-19 pneumonia and kidney disease. She had also... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/01/21)
Courtesy Adaderana
Sri Lanka’s Covid-19 numbers saw another surge today, as 371 more persons were tested positive for the virus. Department of Government Information confirmed that all 371 of the newly-identified patients are close contacts of earlier cases linked to the Peliyagoda fish market. Accordingly, a total of 724 new cases have been reported within the day. As per statistics, the total number of Covid-19 infections confirmed in the country to date now stands at 57,587. Recoveries from the virus meanwhile climbed to 49,261 earlier today, as more patients regained... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/01/21)
Courtesy Adaderana
Covid-19 positive Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi is currently receiving treatment at an intermediate hotel quarantine centre in Hikkaduwa, the minister’s media secretary said. https://youtu.be/OJGYq4pOa8o Minister Wanniarachchi was tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday (January 22) in a rapid antigen test. She is the fifth Member of Parliament to contract the virus after State Ministers Dayasiri Jayasekara and Piyal Nishantha, MP Rauff Hakeem and Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/01/21)
BBC Newsnight
Early evidence suggests the variant of coronavirus that emerged in the UK may be more deadly, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. How does this affect the road out of lockdown? However, there remains huge uncertainty around the numbers - and vaccines are still expected to work. The virus's reproduction rate is estimated to be at or below one for the first time since early December - which means the epidemic is shrinking in the UK. So what does this mean for the UK? Could we see travel restrictions imposed due to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/01/21)
BBC Newsnight
Some viewers may find this film distressing As the UK coronavirus death toll reaches record levels, Newsnight returns to Salisbury District Hospital joining the ITU staff for a full 12 hour shift as they struggle to cope with the relentless influx of patients. https://youtu.be/hHcTZ8tHKW8... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/01/21)
By shenali Waduge
Was TNA created by the LTTE in 2001? Yes.Press release on 22 Oct 2001 was signed by Sampanthan for TULF, N.Kumarakuruparan for ACTC, N. Srikantha for TELO & K.Premachandran for EPRLF. Why was TNA formed by LTTE in 2001? 9/11 sparked fears of actions against terrorist movements so TNA as LTTE’s political wing came into being. TNA issued its election manifesto on 12 November 2001 ahead of the 5thDecember 2001 elections. TNA’s manifesto goes out to explain the history to the Tamil nationality covering past 52 years. TNA... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/01/21)
By shenali Waduge
The Tamil National Alliance was formed in 2001 by the LTTE and became known as LTTE’s political wing. The rationale to create a political wing was probably the outcome of 9/11 and the US steered global ‘war against terror’. The TNA has contested 2 Parliamentary elections with backing of LTTE in 2001 and 2004 while the remaining 4 elections were post-LTTE defeat (2010, 2013, 2015 and 2020). Interestingly, TNA while claiming to be the representative of the Tamils contests only in Jaffna, Vanni, Trincomalee, Batticoloa & Ampara in all the 6 elections. Why... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/01/21)
By The Sri Lanka Study Circle
https://www.msn.com/en-xl/northamerica/top-stories/why-scientists-are-more-worried-about-the-covid-19-variant-discovered-in-south-africa/ar-BB1d02fQ?ocid=msedgdhp Why scientists are more worried about the Covid-19 variant discovered in South Africa On January 15, US public health officials warned that a more contagious variant of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 could dominate infections in the United States by March. That grim warning referred to B.1.1.7, a variant that was first identified in the United Kingdom. But now, one week later, scientists are increasingly concerned about another variant that emerged in South Africa. There’s evidence from several small, and not-yet-peer-reviewed, studies that mutations... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/01/21)
Book Review Dr. Sudath Gunasekara B. A. (Hons) (Geography) Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Ph. D. (Agriculture)
Book Review Dr. Sudath Gunasekara B. A. (Hons) (Geography) Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Ph. D. (Agriculture) Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Visiting Lecture Univ. Peradeniya, Retired Permanent Secretary to Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaarnaayaka (SLAS) 21.1.2021. Ven. Dr. Rambukwelle DevanadaThera Chief incumbent of Sri Sambhodi Vihaara, Berlin, was awarded a Ph.D. (Dr. Phil) “magna cum laude” with First Class Honours by the prestigious Berlin Humboldt National University of Germany for a Dissertation written in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/01/21)
Senaka Weeraratna
Sinhala Buddhists are the most demonized ethnic group in South Asia, despite their tolerance of other races and religions. The following is an account written by an Englishman named Campbell in 1932, on his trip to Australia from Ceylon, accompanying a group of about 500 (largely Sinhalese), on the ship SS Devonshire, in 1882: " The Cingalese were a very highly civilised race...They have deep pride of the Island's historical and spiritual continuity. They burn with enthusiasm in their religious devotion and live up to it.. they are a race of primitive... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/01/21)
Dr SARATH OBEYSEKERA Ex CEO Colombo Dockyard
Colombo dockyard previously a part of the port commission was owned by Sri Lanka Ports Authority which was offered to a Japanese company called Onomichi Dockyard where 51 % ownership was transferred lot stock and barrel with two docks and fully equipped and skilled workforce with fully-fledged workshops in the eighties to a close to 3.5 million dollars by then UNP government When the share transfer took place, there was no lease agreement for the 13-acre portland with assets which was later given at 2 million Rs per month... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/01/21)
Courtesy Hiru News
Unconfirmed reports state that Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi has tested positive for COVID19. This was based on a rapid antigen test conducted. However, the minister who was subject to a PCR test is awaiting results. False negative results tend to occur more often with antigen tests than with molecular tests. This is why antigen tests are not favored as a single test for active infection. There has been no official statement made regarding the test results at present. No... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/01/21)
Courtesy Adaderana
The Government of Sri Lanka has conveyed that approval was granted for the emergency use of COVISHIELD vaccines, says the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka. In a tweet posted today (January 22), the High Commission said this clears the way to schedule the delivery of vaccines from India to the island nation. “Welcome emergency use approval of COVISHIELD vaccines by Government of Sri Lanka. This clears the way for scheduling delivery of the vaccine from India to lka. VaccineMaitri AffordableVaccine4All” COVISHIELD is the local name... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/01/21)
Courtesy Adaderana
Sri Lanka’s Covid-19 numbers saw another surge today (January 22), as 441 more persons were tested positive for the virus. Department of Government Information confirmed that 438 of the newly-identified patients are close contacts of earlier cases linked to the Peliyagoda cluster. The remaining 03 were identified as arrivals from foreign countries; 02 from Tunisia and 01 from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Accordingly, a total of 787 new cases have been reported within the day. As per statistics, the total number of Covid-19 infections confirmed in the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/01/21)
Courtesy Adaderana
Two more Covid-19 related fatalities have been confirmed in Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Health says. Following the new development, total lives claimed by the novel coronavirus outbreak in the country has reached 278. One of the victims was identified as an 82-year-old man from Colombo 08. He had been transferred to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) after testing positive for the virus while receiving treatment a private hospital in Colombo. He was suffering from Covid-19 pneumonia at the time of his passing earlier today (January 22). In... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/01/21)
By shenali Waduge
There is much ado about the claims that the 1956 Official Language Act was responsible for the present ‘ethnic conflict’. The advocate of this notion must explain how ITAK formed in 1949 sought to create a Tamil Nation as per translation of its name? They must also explain how grievance over Sinhala language could be solved by giving into a demand for ‘federalism’ as sought via Bandaranaike-Chelvanagayam Pact. What does Sinhala language have to do with federalism? Let us simply ask some questions, find the answers and think about the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/01/21)
Sunil Wimalawansa Professor of Medicine
Why such has not been adopted or implemented in Sri Lanka and other counties? This is very similar to what Professor Wimalawansa recommended to the SLGo in mid-March 2020 to effectively control COVID? A great example is summarized int the following website by one of our colleagues, from the U.K., Dr David Grimes. http://www.drdavidgrimes.com/2021/01/covid-19-and-vitamin-d-miracle-in.html If implemented S/L would have carried out normal functions and economic activities, with no loss of jobs, no excess deaths, disruption of the supply chain, and avoid near bankruptcy. The country... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/01/21)
Ranjith Soysa
The US Ambassador patronizingly speaks of 1955 UDHR and advise Sri Lanka to respect the dead. But, in USA the black living are subjected to ridicule and at times violence as screened to the world especially during the last 12 months Black Lives Matter demos. It was reported in December 2020 how a black US doctor died due to alleged racist hospital care. Dr Moore who died due to the racism said “ this is how black people get killed. When you send them home and they do not know how to fight... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/01/21)
Courtesy The Daily Mirror
While saying that attempts are made by certain private sector hospitals to carry out PCR and antigen tests at regional testing places and mini laboratories without the authorization from the Health Ministry, General Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Army said testing methodology has been twisted in some private Hospitals. He expressed this during a meeting held with representatives of private sector laboratory technicians to discuss the possibility of implementing a common regulatory mechanism to conduct antigen and PCR tests. "Only 30 technically-equipped such laboratories are authorized by the Health Department... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/01/21)
Sri Lanka news
Sri Lanka decided to use an Indian vaccine COVAXIN™ made by Indian vaccine maker Bharat Biotech for Sri Lanka while the AstraZeneca vaccine developed by Oxford University and manufactured locally in India under British license will not available for export to Sri Lanka. Indian regulators gave the nod for emergency use to two vaccines earlier this month: the AstraZeneca vaccine and another one by Indian vaccine maker Bharat Biotech. COVAXIN™, India's indigenous COVID-19 vaccine by Bharat Biotech is developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/01/21)
Courtesy Adaderana
The Health Ministry says that 536 new cases of coronavirus have been reported increasing the today’s tally of positive cases to 873. Seven new cases reported today are from the prisons cluster while the remaining are all close contacts of patients from the Peliyagoda cluster. This brings the total number of cases from the Minuwangoda, Peliyagoda and prisons clusters to 52,202. Meanwhile the total number of novel coronavirus cases reported in the country thus far has increased to 56,076. Total recoveries stand at 47,984 while the number of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/01/21)
Courtesy Adaderana
The Director General of Health Services today confirmed two more COVID-19 related deaths, increasing the death toll in the country due to the virus to 276. One of the deceased is a 71-year-old woman from Peliyagoda who had been transferred from Colombo National Hospital to Mulleriyawa Base Hospital after being identified as Covid-19 positive. She had passed away at that hospital on January 20 due to acute diabetes pneumonia. The other patient is a 46-year-old from Athurugiriya who was also identified as Covid-19 positive while being treated at the Colombo... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/01/21)
Courtesy Adaderana
The Director General of Health Services says that necessary documents have been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for legal approval to obtain Covid-19 vaccines from India. India on Wednesday began supplying Covid-19 vaccines to six neighbouring and key partner countries. Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles are the first recipients to acquire the India-manufactured vaccines. However, India had said it is still awaiting the confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India had said the country has... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/01/21)
Courtesy Adaderana
The individual who spat at health officials in Atulugama has been sentenced to 6 years rigorous imprisonment by the Panadura Magistrate’s Court and also imposed a fine of Rs. 10,000. The incident was reported on December 02, 2020 in Atulugama police area when two Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) and two public servants had visited the area to perform their duties. https://youtu.be/hExZrhv0aS0 However, they were obstructed by a person, who had been identified as Covid-19 infected, who had proceeded to spit on the face of one of the PHIs. ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/01/21)
Courtesy Adaderana
Steps have been taken to reinstate the interdicted Embilipitiya High Court Judge Gihan Pilapitiya, sources say. Reportedly, the Judicial Service Commission is due to issue a letter regarding his reinstatement. While he is reinstated to his duties, Pilapitiya will still be subjected to an investigation, according to sources. Embilipitiya High Court Judge Gihan Pilapitiya was interdicted on January 22, 2020, over a controversial phone conversation he had with Ranjan Ramanayake who is currently subjected to 4-years of rigorous imprisonment. Subsequently, the Attorney General instructed the Colombo Crime Division... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/01/21)
Courtesy Adaderana
The All Share Price Index (ASPI) of the Colombo Stock Exchange has surpassed the 8,000 points mark for the first time in history. The ASPI closed 8,131.25 points at the end of trading today (January 21), gaining 246.80 points from the previous day or 3.13%. The ASPI had reportedly crossed the 8,000 points mark during trading on several previous occasions, however this is the first time that it crossed the mark at the end of trading. The Colombo Stock Exchange’s turnover for the day was Rs. 14.20 billion, the highest... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/01/21)
Courtesy Adaderana
Two players of the Sri Lanka Cricket team have tested positive for COVID-19 infection, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) stated. Bowlers Binura Fernando and Chamika Karunaratne have been diagnosed with the virus, according to SLC.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/01/21)
Courtesy Hiru News
The syrup produced by Dhammika Bandara of Kegalle was distributed to the public before the clinical study has been completed. It is reported that arrangements have been made to distribute 5,000 bottles of syrup at his residence in Udukumbura, Kegalle. https://youtu.be/JjHZtBpV0Aw However, the clinical work of the syrup produced by Dhammika Bandara is currently being carried out at the Methsiri Sevana Treatment Center attached to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital as well as at the Nochchiyagama Regional Hospital. Accordingly, the syrup will be given to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/01/21)
By shenali Waduge
There is much hue and cry over allegations of post-independent Sri Lanka disenfranchising Indian Tamils. Let us therefore address this question directly. Sri Lanka was illegally invaded and occupied by 3 western European countries from 1505 – the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British. These colonial invaders followed a policy of divide and rule – dividing the natives so they were kept busy while the colonials plundered our wealth. The colonial invaders began many plantation projects and when the natives were too proud to work on... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/01/21)
By shenali Waduge
The Attorney General of Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan government’s chief legal adviser, TheAttorney General has now declared that the MCC Compact and the Program Implementation Agreement & Articles of Association of MCA are inconsistent with the written laws & the Constitution of Sri Lanka. This is a complete reversal of the AG’s legal opinion given on 10 October 2018 to the MCC Chief Operating Officer which the US Embassy has been using to justify the MCC Compact. This change in stand has severely impacted diplomatic relations, it has unnecessarily caused friction between... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/01/21)
