The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has completed the initial inquiries and the recording of statements regarding the complaint filed on the fire on the container ship ‘X-Press Pearl’. The CID yesterday (May 31) recorded statements from the Captain, Chief Engineer, and the Deputy Chief Engineer of the ship. Reportedly, the Captain of the vessel was interrogated for nearly 14 hours while the Chief Engineer and the Deputy Chief Engineer were grilled for 13 and 12 hours respectively. The CID has recorded statements from 07 members of the ship’s crew so far. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Navy said that no fire or oil spill has been observed from the fire-ravaged ship so far.

One of the most reputed hardware merchants in Sri Lanka, Janatha Steels was established in 1986, as a partnership and celebrates 35 years of excellence this year. Janatha Steels has had many iconic moments within the past 35 years. Providing productive direct employment to over 700 workers and indirect employment to thousands, Janatha Steels is now a force to be reckoned with and has remained reliable for 35 years. In 2013, Janatha Steels was named as one of the ‘Most Respected Companies’ in the prestigious LMD magazine further boosting its image. Janatha Steels has also initiated multiple CSR projects as they believe in the importance of ensuring the welfare of the people.

June 1, 2021 by Mihi Perera No CommentsMinister of Trade Bandula Gunawardene today stated that there was no salt shortage in the country and the reports claiming that there is a shortage are false. He stated that he had discussed this matter with the Heads and Secretaries of the salt storages in Hambantota and Puttalam. “The Hambantota salt storage has enough salt for two oncoming years. In Puttalam, they can supply 60,000 consignments of salt weighing 30,000 metric tonnes,” he stated. He further said that private sector storages can also provide a further 100,000 metric tonnes of salt.

Solution offers added convenience for PickMe driver partners through real-time connectivity1 June, 2021, Colombo, Sri Lanka – Standard Chartered Sri Lanka announced the enhancement of its robust payment capabilities with the implementation of the country’s first ever interbank instant payment API (Application Programming Interface) connectivity solution. The interface was executed for the seamless payments of PickMe, a brand of Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka (Private) Limited. Commenting on the API solution, Roger Norton, Head of Transaction Banking Sri Lanka, said, “At Standard Chartered, we believe that innovative banking solutions are best proven when our clients are able to leap forward in their strategic business plans. The API solution also sends real-time payment updates directly to the company’s in-built payment tracking tool, allowing for a complete integration throughout the payment creation and fulfilment process. Commenting on the Bank’s real-time seamless connectivity solution for PickMe, Devaka Wijedoru, Head of Transaction Banking Implementation, Standard Chartered Sri Lanka said, “We’re delighted to be able to offer this real value addition to PickMe and their loyal driver partners.

During the quarter, Janashakthi Life honoured claims of LKR 526 Mn as at 31st March 2021. “This is the third year since we renewed our sole focus on Life Insurance in 2018, in a well-calculated strategic move. Over a span of 26 years, Janashakthi Life has continued to revolutionize the insurance industry and journeyed forward to become a leader in the Life insurance industry in Sri Lanka, delivering a service beyond Insurance to all its customers and stakeholders while remaining true to its purpose of uplifting lives and empowering dreams. Furthermore, Janashakthi Life has launched several innovative insurance solutions and pathbreaking products including Life Unlimited which provides lifelong hospitalization, Janashakthi COVID Guard – a world’s first in providing financial protection from COVID-19 among other products. Janashakthi Life offers a range of Life Insurance solutions and services that cater to different stages of the life cycle of an individual from childhood to retirement including educational needs, savings and investments, health requirements and mortgage protection.

London's Heathrow Airport will open a dedicated terminal for red list arrivals from today. Those from amber list countries can quarantine at home, and green list arrivals - nations with the least risk of exported Covid cases - don't need to isolate at all. Heathrow is the only UK airport which has dedicated a terminal to red list arrivals so far. Pictured: Heathrow AirportA Heathrow Airport spokeswoman said today: 'Red list routes will likely be a feature of UK travel for the foreseeable future as countries vaccinate their populations at different rates. However, people who are not British citizens or residents are allowed into Britain if they have been to an amber list country, which they aren't for red list nations.

Cabinet Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella claims an expert committee has recommended to administer COVID-19 vaccines, even if it is just one dose, to the maximum number of people in Sri Lanka. He stated that this was recommended by the Head of the expert committee on Covid vaccines, Dr. S. M. Arnold. Meanwhile, Rambukwella stated that the expert committee is currently investigating the possibility of only administering one dose of the Sputnik V vaccine. He said that the decision to distribute forms to receive consent to obtain one jab from people who arrived to receive the Sputnik V vaccine in Kandy was taken following the recommendation of the expert committee. He added in comparison to several countries, Sri Lanka is at the forefront in vaccinating its citizens.

Opposition MP Harsha De Silva stated today (01) that despite the Sri Lankan Government’s claims that Bangladesh did not purchase the Sinopharm vaccine at US$10 per dose, a national Bangladeshi newspaper says otherwise. “Why is Sri Lanka paying US$15 per dose for 14m doses?,” he asked, adding that Sri Lanka is paying LKR14 Billion more to procure Sinopharm vaccines. He further noted in the said Facebook post that its price is still under discussion. He claimed that the Chinese Embassy in Colombo and the Beijing-based Bio-Institute of Biological Products Co. Ltd., which manufactures Sinopharm, have informed him that there is no agreement to provide the Sinopharm vaccine to Bangladesh for $ 10. He further noted in the said Facebook post that its price is still under discussion.

All licensed liquor sale outlets across the country will be remain sealed during the travel-restricted period as a precautionary measure, the Department of Excise announced today (June 01). Accordingly, the order will be in force until the travel restrictions are lifted on the 07th of June.

The iQOO Z3 announced in China in March was supposed to arrive in India in early May, but plans were changed due to the second COVID-19 wave in the country. However, with the situation getting better, the phone maker today announced it will introduce the Z3 in India on June 8. The iQOO Z3 will come with the Snapdragon 768G 5G SoC at the helm, making it India's first smartphone to be powered by Qualcomm's 7nm chipset. iQOO Z3For photography, the iQOO Z3 comes with a total of four cameras - a 16MP selfie shooter inside the notch and a triple camera setup on the back consisting of 64MP primary, 8MP ultrawide, and 2MP macro units. iQOO hasn't revealed the Z3's pricing in India, but the smartphone's base variant with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage costs CNY1,699 ($265/€220) in China, which translates to around INR19,400 at current exchange rates, so expect it to be priced in the same range in India.

A man was arrested with 129 kilograms of Kerala cannabis during a search operation carried out by the STF at a house in the Kolonnawa area in Colombo yesterday. Police Media Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana stated that the arrested person is a 37 year old resident of Dematagoda, Veluwana Road. The stock of Kerala cannabis along with the suspect has been handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau for further investigation. Meanwhile, STF personnel raided a cannabis field in the Sooriyawewa area and arrested a suspect with 3,000 cannabis plants. The suspect along with the cannabis plants were handed over to the Sevanagala Police and produced before the Embilipitiya Magistrate’s Court, the police spokesman said.

June 1, 2021 by Aazam Ameen No CommentsIn light of the recent exponential increase in Covid-19 cases in the country, the Media Bureau of Sri Dalada Maligawa stated today (01) that a purpose-built Covid-19 quarantine center specifically for the Maha Sangha has been established. This facility which is located in Kandy was officially handed over to the Ministry of Health today.

'These are areas where the variant first identified in India seem to be causing the majority of the infections spreading quickly. And if we don't handle these volcanoes carefully, they could explode and send a massive gas plume across much more of the UK.' Yesterday, one further death in the UK was recorded by the same metric and 3,383 lab-confirmed cases were confirmed. Those tested will not be expected to self-isolate while awaiting the outcome, the Kent County Council said in a statement. They include B.1.1.7, known in the UK as the Kent variant and around the world as the UK variant - but now labelled by the WHO as Alpha.

The Honor Band 6 that was announced in China last November and went on sale globally in March will debut in India soon. This confirmation comes from Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart, which set up a page for the smart band on its website. The Honor Band 6 packs a 1.47" AMOLED color touchscreen, which is 148% larger than its predecessor's display. The Honor Band 6 will be sold in Meteorite Black, Sandstone Grey, and Coral Pink colors in India, but its pricing and availability details remain unknown. In the meantime, you can read our Honor Band 6 review to learn more about it.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the construction of the new Sri Lanka Police Headquarters in Attidiya Road, Dehiwala. According to a document released by the Department of Government Information, the new Sri Lanka Police headquarters will be moved to a 14-acre land located at No. 142., Bellantota Junction in Attidiya Road. The Sri Lanka Police Headquarters is currently operating in three buildings which are more than 100 years old, connecting York Street and Chaithiya Road and has also rented buildings due to the lack of space at the premises. It added that on the 11th of July 2021 approval was granted by the cabinet to construct the Sri Lanka Police Headquarters Complex in Mirihana, however, the necessary steps were not taken in accordance with the cabinet decision.