Category: Breaking News

Today marks China National Day, which is celebrated on 01 October to commemorate the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.

The People’s Republic of China was inaugurated on October 1, 1949, on the day which an official victory celebration and ceremony were held in Tian’anmen Square. Mao Zedong raised the first Communist national flag of China in person amid 300,000 soldiers and other people who were gathered at the square on the day.

The Republic commemorates the National Day with a ‘Flag raising ceremony’ at Tian’anmen Square. The square is often decorated with flags and portraits.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa extended their wishes to China today (01).

Former Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former IGP Pujith Jayasundara have been indicted by the Colombo High Court on charges of criminal negligence and murder for failing to take action to prevent the terrorist attack on Easter Sunday.

When the cases were taken up before a three-judge bench comprising Namal Balalle, Aditya Patabendi and Mohamed Irshadeen today, the Attorney General handed over the indictments filed against the accused.

Deputy Solicitor General Dileep Peiris, appearing for the plaintiff, stated that 864 charges had been filed against each of the accused.

However, the Deputy Solicitor General has stated that the charges have been amended and 855 charges have been filed against each of the accused and 1,215 persons have been named as witnesses in the complaint.

The Deputy Solicitor General said that the Attorney General had informed the Chief Justice in writing about the amendment and that the Chief Justice had approved to amend the charge sheets and continue.

Accordingly, Deputy Solicitor General Dileep Peiris requested the court to set a date for the hearing.

Defendants’ attorneys asked the court to give them a date to study the indictment and explain the defendant’s position.

Accordingly, the trial will begin on November 22 and will continue until November 29.

Government of Sri Lanka’s (GoSL’s) face value money printing (FVMP) debt increased by 1.39 per cent (Rs 22,870 million) to a new record high of Rs 1,668,935.61 million (Rs 1.6689 trillion) yesterday due to a lack of revenue. GoSL’s FVMP debt has been over Rs 1 trillion for a record 50 consecutive market days to yesterday.

Meanwhile, of this Rs 22,870 million increase in GoSL’s FVMP debt, yesterday, Rs 2,608 million was demand-pull inflationary causing. In related developments, GoSL’s highest to the twenty third highest FVMP debt, has been registered in the 23 consecutive market days to yesterday though not necessarily in a particular order.

The highest, Rs 1.6689 trillion was registered yesterday, the second highest Rs 1.6545 trillion was recorded on Tuesday 28 September, the third highest Rs 1.6461 trillion on Wednesday 29 September, fourth highest Rs 1.6328 trillion on Monday 27 September, fifth highest Rs 1.6106 trillion on Thursday 23 September, sixth highest Rs 1.6074 trillion on Wednesday 22 September, seventh highest Rs 1.6071 trillion on Friday 17 September, eighth highest Rs 1.6028 trillion on Tuesday 21 September, ninth highest Rs 1.6023 trillion on Friday 24 September, tenth highest 1.5776 trillion on 16 September, eleventh highest Rs 1.5560 trillion on 14 September, twelfth highest Rs 1.5498 trillion on 15 September, thirteenth highest Rs 1.5429 trillion on 13 September, fourteenth highest Rs 1.5409 trillion on 10 September, fifteenth highest Rs 1.5324 trillion on 8 September, sixteenth highest Rs 1.5307 trillion on 7 September, seventeenth highest Rs 1.5306 trillion on 9 September, eighteenth highest Rs 1.5285 trillion on 3 September, nineteenth highest Rs 1.5279 trillion on 6 September, twentieth highest Rs 1.5118 trillion on 2 September, twenty first highest Rs 1.4991 trillion on 1 September, twenty second highest Rs 1.3658 trillion on 31 August and twenty third highest Rs 1.3177 trillion on 30 August, respectively. GoSL’s FVMP debt is equivalent to the FV of Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s (CBSL’s) Treasury (T) Bill and T Bond holdings. The only mandated authorised body to print money is CBSL.

A total of 58 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (30) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 12,964.

According to the Government Information Department, 31 females and 27 males are among the deceased.

A total of 48 people who are above 60 years of age are among the deceased while 10 of them are between 30 and 59 years of age.

No death has been reported below 30 years of age.

India’s Adani Group has signed a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) agreement with its local partner John Keells Holding s (JKH) and Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), to jointly develop the West Container Terminal (WCT) of the Colombo Port.

The agreement will be an investment exceeding USD 700 million.

In March, the WCT of the Colombo Port was approved to be developed as a Public-Private Limited Company in partnership with India’s Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ Consortium) along with its local representative John Keells Holding PLC (APSEZ Consortium), and SLPA.

The terminal is to be developed on a 35-year Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) basis with the aforementioned stakeholders.

The port terminal will have a quay length of 1,400 meters and a depth of 20 meters, making it a prime trans-shipment cargo destination to handle ultra-large container carriers, according to the filing from Adani Ports.

It will be the first-ever Indian port operator in Sri Lanka and hold 51% in the joint venture.