News

The largest single natural corundum as a single crystal (Blue Sapphire) in the world has been found in Sri Lanka.

With a weight of around 310 kilograms (1.550,000 carats), it has been named as the “Queen of Asia”.

The National Gem and Jewellery Authority says that the gemstone had been discovered in the Batugedara area and that it belongs to the Gemological Institute and Research Private Limited.

The “Queen of Asia” is currently located in Horana and was displayed to the media for the first time today (12).

Veteran film director Sunil Soma Peiris has passed away at the age of 73.

He is also known as the "King of Box Office" in Sinhala cinema.

He was a prolific director who directed the most number of films in Sri Lankan cinema with 45 commercial films in various genres to his name.

He entered Sinhala cinema with a minor uncredited role in Henry Chandrawansa's film Vanagatha Kella. Then he made group characters the films Lakseṭa Koḍiya and Vahal Dūpata. While acting in the 1973 film Thushara as a stuntman, he informed the director Yasapalitha Nanayakkara about his passion to become a filmmaker. Therefore, he was finally selected as the second assistant director of the film. After the film, Sunil Soma became the first assistant director to Yasapalitha Nanayakkara and together they made 18 movies.

In 1985, he made his debut cinema direction with Obata Diwura Kiyannam. Then within 25 years, he made forty-five films. Out of the 45 movies made by him, eight were co-directed with his son Sudesh Wasantha.

A meeting between the leader of the Bohra community, His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin Saheb, and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa took place at the President’s private residence in Mirihana this morning (December 11).

Nearly one million members of the Bohra community live in a number of countries including India, Pakistan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Sri Lanka and Australia.

His Holiness Saifuddin said he was pleased to visit Sri Lanka which is one of the countries he loves and added that he would continue to visit Sri Lanka along with his followers.

He praised the government’s Covid-19 control programme and said that he looks forward to the development of Sri Lanka.

President Rajapaksa thanked the Bohra Community Leader for his contribution made to the ‘Itukama’ Covid-19 Fund and appreciated the contribution made by the Bohra community to the Sri Lankan economy through investment and trade.

Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga and several leading members of the Bohra community were also present at the meeting.

Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa says the importation of vehicles and recruitment of public sector employees will not be carried out in 2022.

Addressing an event, the lawmaker stressed that the government will have to impose restrictions on the aforementioned. Accordingly, new vehicles will not be imported and approval will not be given for recruitment to the public sector next year, he added.

Minister Rajapaksa urged the public sector authorities not to ask for new staff members. He stated that there is not enough workspace at some divisional secretariats for the employees.

Increasing the number of staff members will not improve the efficiency, he added.

Speaking further, the finance minister said an increase in foreign reserves was observed last year, but it drastically dropped this year due to the decrease in remittances sent by the migrant workers.

The country annually sends about 230,000 migrant workers overseas, but this figure shrunk to 53,000 last year, he added. However, more than 100,000 migrant workers are sent abroad now, Minister Rajapaksa continued, adding that the government’s target is to increase this number to 300,000 next year.

Three Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs) and three Acting DIGs of Police have been transferred with immediate effect.

Accordingly, DIGs E.M.U.V Gunaratne, V.G.D.A Karunaratne, S.W.M Senaratne and Acting DIGs J.S Weerasekara, S.P Ranasinghe and H. Samudrajeewa were transferred with the approval of the Minister of Public Security and the Public Service Commission.

Accordingly, DIG in charge of Nuwara-Eliya Division, V. G. D. A. Karunaratne has been appointed as the DIG in charge of the Crimes Division.

DIG E. M. U. V. Gunaratne has been transferred to the post of DIG in charge of Community Police and Environmental Protection Division in addition to the post of DIG in charge of the Naval and Tourism Division.

Meanwhile, DIG S. W. M. Senaratne has been transferred from the post of DIG Naval and Tourism Division to the post of DIG in charge of the Matara and Hambantota Divisions.

Further, Acting DIG in charge of the Kilinochchi District J. S. Weerasekera has received a transfer as the DIG in charge of the Ratnapura Division while Acing DIG S. P. Ranasinghe was appointed as the DIG in charge of the Nuwara-Eliya District from the Police Headquarters.

Acting DIG in charge of the Crime Division, H. Samudrajeewa was meanwhile transferred to the post of DIG in charge of the Kilinochchi District.

Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda has been appointed as the Governor of the North-Western Province, says the President’s Media Division (PMD).

He was sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat today (December 09).

Karannagoda has previously served as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Japan.

His new appointment came two days after the demise of Raja Collure, the Chairman of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka.

Collure served as the North-Western Province Governor until he passed away at the age of 83 while receiving treatment for COVID-19.

Short-term disruptions to the electricity supply are experienced in several areas in the country, says the Ministry of Power.

According to the ministry, the situation is caused by a breakdown of the second generator at the Lakvijaya Power Station in Norochcholai.

The spokesman of the ministry, Mr. Sulakshana Jayawardena said the second generator was removed from the system for repairs due to a water leak in the boiler.

Thereby, the power supply for parts of the island will be suspended for nearly 30 minutes, he said further.

The Director-General of Health Services has confirmed 28 more coronavirus-related deaths for December 07.

The new development has pushed the death toll in the country due to the virus pandemic to 14,533.

The Director-General of Health Services has confirmed 18 more novel coronavirus-related deaths for December 09, increasing the death toll in the country due to the virus pandemic to 14,573.

According to the figures released by the Govt. Information Department, the deaths reported today include 09 males and 09 females.

Three of the patients are between the ages 30-59 years while the remaining 15 are in the age group of 60 years and above.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry announced that another 567 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 today (Dec. 10).

Former Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Executive Director Thushan Gunawardena questions as to why the government has not taken action against the relevant gas company for endangering the public life by changing the gas composition in LP gas cylinders and reducing the percentage of the odorant mercaptan.

He asserted that the government's lack of action in the matter was rather questionable, especially since the company itself had admitted that it made a change in the gas composition.

Gunawardena further said that the company in question is a state-owned company and if an offense is committed, the law should be enforced against the culprits.

In July, the former CAA Executive Director had submitted in writing that the composition of the gas has been changed, which could have a detrimental effect on the safety of the users.

Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena had given the written notice to all responsible parties including State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna.

However, the former CAA Board member alleged that the authorities did not take appropriate action despite being informed about the issue.

CT

The third reading of the 2022 Budget was passed in parliament a short while ago (10).

At the vote, 157 members voted for the budget, while 64 opposed.

Accordingly, the third reading of the 2022 Appropriation Bill was passed with a 93-vote majority.

The Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar has released 10 defendants including former minister Ravi Karunanayake from 11 charges out of the 22 in the case filed over the Central Bank bond scam in 2016.

The case pertaining to criminal misappropriation of bonds valued at Rs. 15 billion during the Central Bank’s treasury bond auction held between March 29 and March 31, 2016 was taken up before a Trial-at-Bar comprising Amal Ranaraja, Namal Balalle, and Aditya Patabendige.

Raising preliminary objection related to the case, attorneys representing the defendants had previously stated that the relevant charges could not be pursued against the defendants and therefore requested the court to release them from these charges.

Delivering its decisions today (06) on the preliminary objections, High Court judge Aditya Patabendige stated that 11 of the charges against the defendants cannot be pursued and released them from those charges.

Appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, the Additional Solicitor General Priyantha Nawana stated that out of the 22 charges filed by the plaintiff, the court had decided to release the accused from 11 charges.

He also requested the court to provide a date to decide whether the charge sheet filed against the accused will be amended or withdrawn or if alternate legal action would be pursued.

Accordingly, the case was postponed until January 26, 2022.