News
SriLankan Airlines to resume flights to nine Indian cities from Wednesday
BY S VENKAT NARAYAN
Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, August 28: SriLankan Airlines will resume a limited number of flights to nine cities in India from Wednesday, September 1, V Ravindran, the airline’s New Delhi-based Manager for India and Bangladesh told Sunday Island.
They are: New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Tiruchi, Madurai, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.
At present, SriLankan has a limited number of flights to Chennai, Bengaluru and Mumbai. And the traffic is limited due to Covid-19.
From September 1, the airline will restart flying to six other cities. But the number of flights per week will be limited: five flights each to Chennai and Mumbai, three to Bengaluru, two each to Delhi and Hyderabad, and one each to Tiruchi, Madurai, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.
Once the Covid-19 situation improves in the island, the airline may increase the frequency of its flights to India, the manager said.
India is a lucrative market for Sri Lankan Airlines as well as Sri Lankan tourism. Before the coronavirus pandemic disrupted life everywhere, SriLankan used to operate 118 flights to 12 Indian cities. And as many as 450,000 Indian tourists used to visit the emerald island every year. That is more than any other country.
“Indians are bored sitting at home for such a long time due to Covid-19. Now, they are flocking to places wherever tourists are welcome. I am sure they will start going to Sri Lanka in large numbers as soon as things get better,” said Subhash Goyal, Chairman, Stic Travels, SriLankan’s GSA in India for North, West and East.
He said before Covid-19 broke out, Sri Lanka has been the most preferred destination for Indian corporates for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events) because SriLankan connects most important cities in India with Colombo. So, guests could fly direct to Colombo from their respective cities. “And Sri Lanka offers good value for money,” he added.
The High Court has convicted 14 of the 24 men accused of being directly involved in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people.
The three-judge bench read out its decision on Tuesday after a five-year trial and said sentencing would take place later, the AFP news agency reported.
The charges included murder and conspiracy to commit terrorism.
Nine others were acquitted, while another defendant was found guilty of only some of the charges, the court said.
[Aljazeera]
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The ruling NPP yesterday (21) dismissed claims of a widening rift, within the government, over the proposed 22nd Amendment. Asked whether the NPP was concerned over a section of the Opposition alleging Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and two dozen MPs taking a view contrary to that of the party in this regard, authoritative party sources said some persons were propagating speculation for their own interest.
Declaring that there was absolutely no issue regarding the controversial Amendment, sources emphasised once it was tabled in Parliament, it would be passed with 2/3 majority.
Sources dismissed claims that out of its 159-member parliamentary group a section of NPPers was opposed to the government move. According to an influential Opposition activist, there are 57 JVPers and 66 NPPers in the government group and the rest contested the last parliamentary polls, having aligned with the JVP.
Ministerial sources told The Island that the government was confident of going ahead with the 22nd Amendment and Judicature (Amendment) Bills. Sources said that the NPP was not bothered about the Opposition protests in and outside Parliament.
Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne is expected to disclose the confidential ruling that he received from the Supreme Court in respect of more than 65 petitions for and against the 22nd Amendment and Judicial Amendment Bills. The enactment of the 22nd Amendment would pave the way for extending the retirement age of Supreme Court judges, from 65 to 67 years, and Court of Appeal judges, from 63 to 65 years.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Court of Appeal Judge Mayadunna Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.
The appointment has been made as President’s Counsel Nalin Rohantha Abeysuriya, who currently serves as President of the Court of Appeal, will be overseas until the 24th.
Accordingly Justice Mayadunna Corea was sworn in as Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential secretariat last morning (21).
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.
High Court convicts 14 over deadly Easter bombings
Mandhana, Shafali and Ghosh lead dominant India to Asian Games gold
Fatima Sana and Umm-e-Hani secure bronze for Pakistan in Asian Games
India bat first in Asian games womens cricket final
Showers about 100mm will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara Districts
Govt. confident of 2/3 majority despite NPP split speculation
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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