யாழ் திரைகடலோடி

The Colombo stock market yesterday saw Rs. 103 billion in value wiped off with the key price index plunging to a near 8-year low after external shocks-led panic-selling triggered the circuit breaker of S&P SL 20 index, forcing market halt for half an hour. In a day of heightened concern and confusion, the market opened after the Poya holiday on Monday only to suffer a 5% crash of the active S&P SL20 index within 15 minutes of trading. The crash was largely influenced by how global markets reacted on Monday, after oil prices suffered its sharpest drop since the 1991 Gulf war, following action by Saudi Arabia as well as more adverse developments on the corona…

Oil prices plunged 30% in early trading Sunday night as OPEC’s failure to strike a deal with its allies regarding production cuts sparked fears of a price war as Saudi Arabia reportedly gets set to ramp up production. International benchmark Brent crude futures plummeted 30% to $32.05 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 27% to $30.00 per barrel, its lowest level since Feb. 22, 2016. “This has turned into a scorched Earth approach by Saudi Arabia, in particular, to deal with the problem of chronic over production,” Again Capital’s John Kilduff said. “The Saudis are the lowest cost producer by far. There is a reckoning ahead for all other produ…

Security in North and East has been tightened since last Thursday following the arrest of six prominent former LTTE cadres on charges of planning to assassinate a prominent Tamil politician in the North, informed sources said. They said earlier this week, Military intelligence and Terrorist Investigations Department jointly raided a safe house in the North and found some latest communication equipment and a stock of powerful explosives. The sources said, initially, an ex-LTTE cadre who is currently holding a German passport was taken into custody and later the remaining suspects were arrested after the raid on the safe house. Preliminary investigations reve…

A large number of Tamils in Sri Lanka have died while in protest demanding the government to reveal the fate of their loved ones who are victims of enforced disappearances, the UN heard. As revealed to the global rights body in Geneva by a mother leading a continuous protest that had been continuing for more than three years in the north and east of the country, almost 70 have passed away without getting any answers. “Already, 69 mothers in our protests have died due to stress and various illnesses without finding solutions to their grievances,” General Secretary of the Association for the Relatives of the Enforced Disappearance from North and East of Sri Lanka,…

Country cannot afford any more external borrowing - Bandula If India reschedules its loan for SL, other countries will follow We will face the real debt crisis in 2025 Debt soared to Rs.13 trillion during Yahapalanaya regime There is an economic risk involved in raising foreign currency loans It is always better to opt for internal borrowings despite impact on inflation Education tourism vital as a development strategy For a year, some 20,000 Sri Lankans go abroad for higher education Sajith is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea UNP will suffer the most humiliating defeat at general election …

Corona Virus which started its spread in the city of Wuhan, China has killed more than 3000 people till now. In India, it has affected 30 people among them 3 from Kerala have recovered from the infection. Since China had its winters during the spread, will India's scorching summers control the spread of the virus outbreak? There is no confirmed evidence to suggest that warm climates will control the spread of the virus but the researches have their theories that climate also has some influence over the spread. To study this the researchers have considered the spread of MERS, SARS. SARS, which had its impact in Asia in 2002 has killed 8000 people worldwide a…

Human Rights Watch: Security agencies shutting down civic space in Sri Lanka Citing 15 Sri Lankan human rights activists working in different parts of the country, Human Rights Watch raised concern yesterday over allegations of surveillance, harassment, and threats against human rights activists and journalists. Since the election of Gotabaya Rajapaksa as president in November 2019, the rights watchdog said in a statement, there has been a “rapid closing of civic space and freedom of expression”. In its statement, HRW referred to what it called consistent accounts of increased surveillance and pressure from security agencies. “Se…

The Federal Reserve announced an emergency rate cut Tuesday of half a percentage point in response to the growing economic threat from the novel coronavirus. The move was the first such cut since the financial crisis. Markets had been widely expecting the U.S. central bank to take some type of action, with anticipation of a 50 basis point cut by the next Federal Open Market Committee meeting later this month. The move comes the same morning the G-7 announced that it would commit unspecified tools to help the global economy deal with the threat, and as Wall Street was in the midst of another market sell-off. Markets immediately turned higher on the announceme…

இந்தோனேஷியா இந்த கொரோனா வைரஸை பற்றி இவ்வளவு காலமும் ஒன்றுமே கூறவில்லை என யோசிப்பதுண்டு.. Coronavirus COVID-19 has now reached Indonesia, President Joko Widodo confirms By Alan Weedon Posted Yesterday, updated 22h hours ago President Joko Widodo confirmed the country's first cases earlier today.(AP: Achmad Ibrahim) Indonesia has recorded its first cases of COVID-19, after two nationals tested positive for the coronavirus on Monday. Key points: Two women tested positive for COVID-19 and are being treated in a Jakarta hospital President Joko Widodo says the country is well prepared for the outbreak …

Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, who is in Geneva, met UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet last afternoon and expressed government’s intention to undertake a review of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), the Foreign Relations Ministry said. Minister Gunawardena reiterated the Government of Sri Lanka’s decision to withdraw from co-sponsorship of resolution 40/1 and the basis for doing so. He recalled that, one year ago, his predecessor the former Minister of Foreign Affairs had also pointed out a number of areas in the resolution that were undeliverable. Notwithstanding the withdrawal from co-sponsorship, he emphasized the Governm…

The final days of our war: Zero or 40,000 casualties? It is Monday 25 February 2020 as I hunt-and-peck my computer keyboard at Colombo International Airport Terminal 12 awaiting my flight to New York with my wife to attend a family funeral. I had been catching up on yesterday’s ‘The Sunday Times’. It announced that the Government, with cabinet approval, will withdraw from Resolution 30/1 of the UNHRC, solemnly co-signed by our Government in 2015. The UNP’s Sajith Premadasa has also promised to back the Government, following Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who promised during the presidential elections to protect soldiers who might be charged. I cringe in fear because t…

The deadly coronavirus which has killed more than 2800 people across the world is rapidly spreading outside China. Italy, Japan, and South Korea are three major countries that are deeply affected by the virus. This spread has affected global investors as well. Mukesh Ambani, the richest man in Asia has lost 590 crores this year alone. The chairman of the Reliance Industries according to a Bloomberg report has lost about 590 crores which have made his net worth come down to $53.05 billion this year so far. The shares of Reliance Industries has fallen to 11% in the global market. The major fall has happened only in the last 15 days assuming after the widespread impact …

International Ambassador for Human Rights, Rita French delivers joint statement by the Core Group on Sri Lanka Thank you Madam President This statement is on behalf of Canada, Germany, North Macedonia, Montenegro and the UK, the Core Group on Sri Lanka. We thank the High Commissioner for her update on Sri Lanka. In 2015, Sri Lanka co-sponsored resolution 30/1, which provided a framework to address the legacy of conflict and build the foundations for sustainable and inclusive peace. Sri Lanka committed to delivering progress on accountability, reconciliation and human rights with the support of the Council and reaffirmed those commitments throu…

On February 26th, Conservative Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism and Canada-China relations Garnett Genuis challenged Prime Minister Trudeau to follow through on his promises to the Tamil community to address pressing human rights issues in Sri Lanka. Unfortunately the Prime Minister did not answer the question and has failed to take any concrete action to address the deteriorating human rights situation. During question period, Garnett Genuis asked the following question: “Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that the Prime Minister would talk about wanting to reopen the embassy in Iran, when he actually, personally, voted in favour of my motion not to do that a couple of…

UN Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet today expressed regret over the new Sri Lankan Government’s decision to withdraw from the UN Resolution 30/1 and said she was not convinced of yet another Commission of Inquiry as domestic processes have consistently failed to deliver accountability in the past. In her oral updates and introduction to country reports of the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner at the UN Human Rights Council’s 43rd Session, Ms. Bachelet said she regretted that the new Government has announced a very different approach to the commitments previously made in the resolution. “This move risks setting back efforts to advance re…

The Canadian government has put forward a bill to make medically-assisted death available to people who are not terminally ill. The bill opens the door to allowing Canadians with degenerative illnesses like cerebral palsy to seek medically-assisted death. Health minister Patty Hajdu said the proposal would protect vulnerable people while giving Canadians autonomy. It was introduced in parliament on Monday and has cross-party support. The legislation was precipitated by a 2019 Quebec Superior Court decision that struck down the requirement for patients to prove their natural death was "reasonably foreseeable" in order to seek to terminate their life. …

Australia: A woman has posted a video on social media featuring her son saying that he wants to kill himself. The video goes viral, earning support from people all over the world. Quaden, a nine-year-old kid who appears to have dwarfism is being bullied in his school because of his height. Yarraka Bayles, who had picked up her son from the school records a video and sents out a strong message on the impact of bullying over children. In the video, Quaden seems to be sobbing continuously says, "Give me a rope, I'm going to kill myself." Ms. Bayles who starts the video saying that she picked up her son from the school who witnessed bullying by other stu…

The LMD-Nielsen Business Confidence Index (BCI) survey reveals that sentiment surrounding the economy declined in January with only 62% of respondents expecting conditions to improve in the next 12 months (versus 74% in the previous month). According to an optimistic survey respondent, “the economic climate in general looks favourable for business at present.” In contrast, 8% of those consulted by Nielsen expect the economy to deteriorate in the coming 12 months while three in 10 feel it is likely to remain the same.When it comes to the outlook for business, two-thirds of respondents say sales volumes will improve in the next 12 months compared to 79% in December. Similar…

Pariskara Pooja for 3,500 Bhikkhunis A Pariskara Pooja Maha Pinkama for 3,500 Bhikkhunis was held at Manelwatta Maha Vihara in Kelaniya today. It was held under the instructions of Manelwatta Maha Vihara Chief Incumbent Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima Thera and sponsored by resident Bhikkhunis of Chio Hua Sun Temple in Taiwan. http://www.dailymirror.lk/caption_story/Pariskara-Pooja-for-3-500-Bhikkhunis/110-183321

Jamaat-e-Islami leader on why young Muslims turn to extremism - The spread of extremist ideas cannot be controlled due to the use of social media, according to the Leader of Jamaat-e-Islami organization Moulavi Rashid Hajjul Akbar. The moulavi expressed these views at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry probing the Easter Sunday attacks. He was grilled for nearly 6 hours when he appeared before the Commission, yesterday (11). Moulavi Rashid Hajjul Akbar is the brother of Moulavi Ibrahim, who is the father of the main suspects of the case of vandalizing several Buddhist statues in Mawanella area, Saadik and Shahid. H…

No tsunami threat from earthquake in Indian Ocean south east of SL - An earthquake of magnitude 5.4 been recorded at 2.34 am today (12) in the Indian Ocean off the South East coast of Sri Lanka, says the Department of Meteorology. The Department, however, noted that there is no tsunami threat to the island owing to the earthquake which was of 10km depth. Therefore, the coastal areas of Sri Lanka have been declared safe. The Meteorology Department mentioned that this alert was issued in consultation with relevant national and international agencies. http://www.adaderana.lk/news/60743/no-tsunami-threat-from-earthq…

இந்த வழக்கை இன்று ABC Radioல் கேட்கும் வரை தெரியாது Australian Aboriginal குடிமக்களை கூட அரசாங்கத்தால் நாடு கடத்தலாம் என்று.. “Alien” Law என்பது யாருக்கு இந்த நாட்டில் பொருந்தும்? அவர்களுடைய பூமியில் இருந்து கொண்டு அவர்களையே Alien என கூறலாமா? High Court rules Aboriginal people cannot be deported for criminal convictions, cannot be 'alien' to Australia By Elizabeth Byrne and Josh Robertson Posted 11hhours ago, updated 4hhours ago Brendan Thoms reunited with this father Robert after he was released from immigration detention.(ABC News: Rachel Riga) An Aboriginal man who spent 500…

Around 60 to 70 new cancer patients are being diagnosed daily in Sri Lanka and it is the second leading cause of death globally as well as in Sri Lanka. Globally, about 1 in 6 deaths is due to cancer, a seminar was told. Consultant Community Physician Dr. Nayana De Alwis said Oral cancer and breast cancer are the commonest cancers among males and females in Sri Lanka respectively. “About one-third of the cancers can be prevented and another one third can have better health outcomes if detected and treated early,” she added. Dr. De Alwis told media personnel at a seminar held to mark the ‘World Cancer Day’ under the theme “I am I will” for the media at the Heal…

Ranjan produced before Govt. Analyst for voice test - UPDATE (12:31 PM): UNP Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake has left the Government 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 Government Analyst for a voice test. He was brought to the Government Analyst’s Department in Pelawatte, Battaramulla at around 10.30 am this morning (07), according to Ada Derana reporter. This is with regard to the audio tapes of the series of controversial phone conversations that the parliamentarian …

By the time the morning sun had crept above the city’s Soviet-era apartment blocks, the crowd-control barriers lining Suvorov Square in downtown Tiraspol were already three-deep with families dressed in their Sunday (in this case, Monday) best. Their collective excitement was almost palpable on this surprisingly warm September day; anyone would have thought a royal wedding was on the cards. But in Transnistria (also spelled Trans-Dniester), a sliver of land tracing Moldova’s border with Ukraine for 400km, the capital’s Independence Day celebrations are the highlight of the year. Never mind that the tiny Eastern European nation, formally called the Pridnestrovian Mold…