Latest News
India sweep T-20 series in Super Over thriller
BY REX CLEMENTINE at Pallekele
Sri Lanka suffered another batting collapse as they surrendered early advantage in the third T-20 International against India to lose the game in the Super Over after scores were tied at Pallekele International Stadium on Tuesday.
Chasing 138 to win, Sri Lanka were well on course having reached 110 for one and needed a run a ball with nine wickets in hand. Then the collapse started. They lost nine wickets for 27 runs in dramatic fashion and this game was further evidence that the team has not addressed batting woes.
With plenty of gaps on the field, there were many options to keep rotating the strike or picking up twos, but many experienced campaigners fell trying to clear the boundary on a wicket where the spinners had a lot of assistance.
Kusal Perera was the main culprit. He has been the in form batter in the series and was cruising when he attempted to take on Rinku Singh and the all-rounder completed a return catch to start the slide. He made 46 in 34 balls.
India blundered as well but Sri Lanka outperformed their opponents when it came to blunders. Khaleel Ahmed sent down eight wides in the 18th over to reduce the equation to nine runs in the last two overs.
Rinku Singh was called up to bowl the penultimate over and he picked up two wickets to put pressure on the tail as only three runs were scored in the over.
Mohammed Siraj was ready to bowl the final over but the captain changed the plans and brought himself on with the spin bowling options exhausted. He did a terrific job. Suryakumar had never bowled in T-20 Internationals before and had to contain with just four fielders outside the 30-yard circle as India had been slow with the over rate.
He dismissed Kamindu Mendis and Maheesh Theekshana in successive balls to make it six needed in three balls. Asitha Fernando managed a single off the fourth ball, putting debutant Chamindu Wickramasinghe on strike. But he couldn’t find a boundary in the remaining two balls and scores were levelled.
Sri Lanka managed only two runs in the Super Over bowled by Washington Sundar.
Suryakumar opened batting for India with three runs needed for a whitewash. He swept the first ball by Maheesh Theekshana and the short fine leg fielder misfielded and the ball reached the boundary to sum up Sri Lanka’s miserable day.
The teams now move to Colombo for the three-match ODI series.
|
|
With the objective of enhancing the living conditions of the agricultural community and increasing the contribution of the agricultural sector to the GDP, ‘Smallholder Agribusiness Partnerships Programme’ is being implemented with the financial contribution form the government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation is
implementing the program in collaboration with the Regional Development Department of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. All recoveries from loans provided under the program shall be directed to a revolving fund titled the “Sustainable Agricultural Fund”, which shall be utilized exclusively for the provision of
agricultural loans. Using the said fund, it is proposed to implement an agricultural loan scheme titled the “Sustainable Agriculture Programme” for individuals and institutions engaged in agriculture and related activities.
It is expected that an amount of Rs. 800 million from the funds available in the Sustainable Agriculture Fund will be allocated for the implementation of the Sustainable Agriculture Program in the year 2026.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal made by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to implement the “Sustainable Agriculture Program” loan scheme through the Participatory Finance Institution as an annual program from the year 2026.
The Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education has entered into agreements with Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation General Limited to execute the Suraksha Student Insurance programme which is implemented with the objective of facilitating to maintain student education activities of students who experience disturbances to education due to numerous health issues without any interruption.
From this, approximately 40 lacks of students educated in government schools, government approved private schools, Pirivena and assisted special schools are covered under health
insurance, accident coverage, and life insurance categories.
Considering the issues recognized when implementing this programme, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the particulars furnished by the Prime Minister in her capacity in the post of the Minister of Education, Higher Education and
Vocational Education that the ‘Suraksha’ Student Insurance Programme for the year 2025 / 2026 will be implemented including the following amendments and thereby actions will be taken to issue relevant circular instructions.
• Implementation of ‘Suraksha’ Student Insurance Programme until 31.08.2026 in relation to the year 2025 / 2026
• Amendment of the annual income of low income category considered at granting parent death benefit from rupees 180,000/- to rupees 240,000/-
• Granting benefit up to rupees 75,000/- for the Scoliosis Brace which is used for correcting distortion of the spinal code and Cochlea Equipment.
• Granting benefits up to rupees Rs. 20,000/- for students those who are taking medicine for longer periods for ailments in the category of critical illness category and another 07 identified ailments.
• Adding 05 more ailments as Pneumothorax, Encephalitis, Thalassemia, Hereditary Spherocytosis and Sickle Cell Anemia which are in the critical ailment category.
• From 01.09.2025, providing opportunity to handover the claim applications for obtaining benefits to any regional office of Sri Lanka Insurance General Limited.
Latest News
Establishment of Consultancy Boards for strengthening and promoting local production industries.
20 Consultancy Boards have been established by now covering the production industries field with the objective of minimizing the policy issues in industries and entrepreneurship development.
It has been recognized the requirement of establishing consultancy committees for another 07 special industry sectors that are not covered by the aforementioned consultancy committees.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal furnished by the Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development to establish Consultancy Committees for the following industry sectors comprised of not
more than 25 members representing experts in the state institutions, commercial boards / assemblies, institutions (Universities and Research Institutions) and experts in the respective industries sector.
• Indigenous medicine and traditional / hereditary medical sector
• Confectionaries related production industries sector
• Traditional handicraft industries sector
• Chicken related industries sector
• Ornamental fish and sea weed related industries sector
• Creative craft related industries sector
• Event management sector
Implementation of the loan scheme, “Sustainable Agriculture Program”
Cabinet nod to implement ‘Suraksha’ Student Insurance Programme in the year 2025 / 26
Establishment of Consultancy Boards for strengthening and promoting local production industries.
Match fees more than doubled for women’s domestic cricketers in India
National progress can be achieved only when everyone fulfills the responsibilities entrusted to them with steadfast determination, unity of purpose and resilience in the face of any challenge – President
Indonesia’s Gede Priandana becomes first to pick five wickets in an over in T20Is
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News21 hours agoMembers of Lankan Community in Washington D.C. donates to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Flood Relief Fund
-
Midweek Review7 days agoHow massive Akuregoda defence complex was built with proceeds from sale of Galle Face land to Shangri-La
-
News6 days agoPope fires broadside: ‘The Holy See won’t be a silent bystander to the grave disparities, injustices, and fundamental human rights violations’
-
News6 days agoPakistan hands over 200 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Lanka
-
Business5 days agoUnlocking Sri Lanka’s hidden wealth: A $2 billion mineral opportunity awaits
-
News7 days agoBurnt elephant dies after delayed rescue; activists demand arrests
-
Editorial7 days agoColombo Port facing strategic neglect
-
News5 days agoArmy engineers set up new Nayaru emergency bridge