By Buddhika SamaraweeraOnly about 25% of private buses are currently operating, despite reopening the country, the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) President Gemunu Wijeratne has claimed, and called for a formal programme to ensure the continued operation of public transport, even in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Although the country was reopened, only about 25% of private buses are operating at present and it has caused many hardships for the passengers. The Government should intervene immediately and formulate a programme to ensure that public transport services are maintained even in the prevailing Covid-19 situation,” he added. He further went on to say: “When the number of buses in operation decreases, there is a congestion in the running buses. So what needs to be done is to increase the number of buses running, not to reduce them.

The secret wealth and dealings of world leaders, politicians and billionaires has been exposed in one of the biggest leaks of financial documents, BBC reports. Some 35 current and former leaders and more than 300 public officials are featured in the files from offshore companies, dubbed the Pandora Papers. They said it was common practice for high profile individuals to purchase properties via offshore companies for privacy and security reasons. Among the other revelations in the Pandora Papers:• Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta and six members of his family secretly owned a network of offshore companies. The Pandora Papers is a leak of almost 12 million documents and files exposing the secret wealth and dealings of world leaders, politicians and billionaires.

LPL transparency at stake over questionable deals By Champika Fernando Were proper protocols followed in naming new franchise owner for Jaffna and US$ 10mn TV rights deal? View(s): View(s):Serious concerns have been raised over the transparency of the process that selects franchise owners and the broadcaster for Lanka Premier League (LPL) following recent developments. It also announced a new owner for Jaffna Stallions, the inaugural champions of the five-team tournament. However, no dispute resolution mechanism was utilised and communications from multiple lawyers of Jaffna Stallions have not been responded to. Despite this, in August, IPG has sent a term sheet which Jaffna Stallions had duly signed, agreeing to payment terms.

Tomorrow (4), the Supreme Court is to take up a fundamental rights (FR) petition that was filed by the President, Vice President, and Secretary of the United National Society of Self-Employed against the move to open liquor stores during the quarantine curfew that was in place till Friday (1) morning. The petitioners sought an interim order directed to the authorities so that the opening of liquor stores would be prevented. It was noted in the application that the opening of liquor stores was a violation under certain laws of the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance. During court proceedings last week, Counsel Eraj De Silva, who appeared for the petitioners, had pointed out that the move to open liquor stores was in violation of Article 12(1) of the Constitution. He had further urged the court to expeditiously put forward the interim orders, as it was a matter of national interest.

State Minister Wimalaweera Dissanayake had lashed out at governing Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MPs during a fiery argument that broke out between him (Dissanayake) and other SLPP MPs at a meeting held at the Dehiattakandiya Town Hall last week. Dissanayake had taken to the stand amidst hooting and had lashed out at SLPP protesters using profanity. Police Media Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa, speaking to the media, said there was a brawl at the political meeting which was quickly dispersed by the area police officer in charge. In attendance at the meeting were other SLPP MPs, including former State Minister of Prison Management and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation Lohan Ratwatte.

Governing Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary MP Sagara Kariyawasam called on youths to take a stand against obstacles to the country’s development programme. Kariyawasam had told the media last week that the youths of the country should stand against any person who obstructs the country’s development agenda and that investments were needed for the country’s development. Referring to the opposition by Buddhist monks to the construction of jogging/walking paths along reservoirs, the SLFP General Secretary had questioned whether the Buddhist monks had objected when walking paths were being built in countries like Singapore and Malaysia.

Wallabies ended the season with a comfortable 32-17 win against Los Pumas yesterday (2)Wallabies ended their season with a comfortable 32-17 win against Los Pumas yesterday (2) in Queensland, Australia. Quad Cooper scored the opening points. Then hooker Saia Fainga’a scored the opening try to set up the second, through Andrew Kellaway. The Pumas only got a three-pointer in the first and players took lemons at 15-3 in favour of the hosts. Springboks meanwhile managed to prevent New Zealand from having a clean sweep with a stunning 31-29 win yesterday.

A group of trade unions from across the political divide has called on the European Union (EU) to have a re-think on any plans to withdraw the GSP+ trading facility provided to Sri Lanka saying it would hurt the average worker and the masses. The Trade Unions made this request during a meeting with an EU delegation that is currently in the country on a fact-finding mission, at the EU Mission in Colombo on Thursday. There are certain issues that have to be addressed by the State, but at the same time it was not appropriate for such a decision even later on, the EU delegation was informed, according to Atukorale. The EU delegation told the trade unionists that they were merely on an annual fact-finding mission and that they had no mandate to implement decisions. The TU delegation comprised the Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya, Free Trade Zone Workers’ Union, Ceylon Mercantile Union, National Union of Seafarers Sri Lanka, United Federation of Labour, Estate Staffs Union, Ceylon Bank Employees Union and an activist from a Free Trade Zone.

The Observer-SLT Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer contest, Sri Lanka’s oldest and premier school cricket awards show, is now on for the 43rd year. Winning a title at the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer has been the cherished dream of every schoolboy cricketer for over four decades. It all began in 1978/79 when the then captain of Royal College, Ranjan Madugalle was chosen the first ever Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year. The Observer Schoolboy Cricketer has produced a galaxy of stars who have marked Sri Lanka’s position prominently on the world cricketing map. Sri Lanka’s World Cup winning captain Ranatunga was the first player to win the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award on two occasions.

Various trade unions have been responding to our call to get back to teaching online and report to work once the schools re-open. Q: Some of the trade unions are adamant that they have not received a favourable solution to their longstanding salary issue. Q: But the trade unions claim that the Rs.5,000 allowance was not paid along with their September salary? Once the schools re-open, schools will be guided to make their own plans to catch up what the children have lost. The education authorities are discussing a special arrangement – to cover syllabi- for GCE Ordinary Level and Advanced Level students.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harin Fernando was last week re-admitted to hospital due to aheart ailment and underwent an eight-hour surgery to rectify the medical condition. The surgery went without complications, it is learnt. Several tests conducted on Fernando had revealed that the heart procedure he underwent a few months ago had not resolved his medical condition. Fernando was hospitalised for a few weeks when he first underwent the surgical procedure where several stents were placed to clear several blocks. However, follow-up tests had revealed that the initial procedure had not resolved the blocks and that Fernando was likely to undergo bypass surgery.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Agriculture Minister says that Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd. , a Chinese Organic Fertilizer Company, will be sending fresh batch of fertilizer to Sri Lanka, after a harmful pathogen was detected in samples. On September 29th, Sri Lanka’s Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has announced the suspension of organic fertilizer imports from China. According to the Agriculture Ministry, this decision was reached after laboratory tests revealed the presence of harmful bacteria in the organic fertilizer samples. Harmful Bacteria was detected in a fresh sample of Chinese Organic Fertilizer, said the Director-General of Agriculture Dr. Ajantha De Silva on 28th September. “We cannot confirm the presence of Erwinia, but we can confirm the presence of harmful bacteria in this new sample,” he added.

By Our Political EditorThe Government of Sri Lanka is to reach an agreement with the Government of Oman to secure a funding line of $ 3.6 billion to finance Sri Lanka’s oil procurements, The Sunday Morning learnt. The terms of the agreement would provide the Government of Sri Lanka a five-year grace period and a repayment period spanning 20 years. “The $ 3.6 billion will provide funds for us to purchase fuel for a period of 12 months,” the source added. “These steps would ensure that the country would receive a steady supply of fuel,” the source observed. When contacted by The Sunday Morning, Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila did not deny the government-to-government (G2G) agreement to be reached between Sri Lanka and Oman.

Our most recent Covid-19 outbreak placed us on the UK’s red list of places to travel to. 27 September marked World Tourism Day, a day designated by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) to celebrate tourism all around the world. For tourism, inclusivity, sustainability, and conservation go hand in hand to create a profitable and viable industry for Sri Lanka’s long-term benefit and development. Brunch chatted with Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance Co-Chair and luxury hotel group Resplendent Ceylon Managing Director Malik J. Fernando for his thoughts on inclusive tourism, the future, and the role conservation and ecotourism should play in that future. With global campaigns being kicked off in 2022, finally, all tourism stakeholders and operations will see the benefits of increased demand.

One such conversation to do with this post-colonial hangover is the use of the title of “Ceylon” when referring to Sri Lanka. We also spoke to a number of business owners in Sri Lanka who currently operate businesses with large export components and maintain the title of “Ceylon” in their brand identity. Spa Ceylon Ayurveda Wellness Founder Shalin Balasuriya shared his thoughts on the use of “Ceylon” for his own brand. “When we first conceptualised the brand, we did look at both Sri Lanka and Ceylon, and to be honest, the reality is that while the word Ceylon may have its colonial origins, what pops into one’s head when they think of Ceylon is not contentious colonial times, but rather the best things our country has to offer – Ceylon sapphires, Ceylon tea, Ceylon spices, etc. Ceylon Condiment Central Co-Founder Sachin AnandaHe said that while Sri Lanka has the civil conflict attached to its name, Ceylon remains romantic, representative of an island of beauty.