New Zealand make 11 changes for Argentina Test

Rugby Championship

Rs. 44Bn defaulted bills; CEB unable to extend relief period anymore: Lokuge

CEB did not discontinue power supply due to unsettled bills. Did not charge a levy for outstanding bills

Iran approves J&J's shot as it fights fifth COVID wave

Iran’s new government has approved use of U.S. firm Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, a senior official said on Thursday, as the Islamic Republic fights a fifth wave of infections.

Lockdown further extended till Oct 1

Essential services impacting the economy allowed to function

Hooper concerned about wounded Springboks, not making history

A modest Michael Hooper yesterday downplayed becoming the most capped Wallabies skipper in history, instead focusing on how to take down world champions South Africa for the second time in six days.

Afghanistan And Sri Lanka: Whither Liberative Islam?

A world without women may be a good title for a socio-fiction movie or book. But under Taliban rulers, Afghanistan has become a country without women. You may ask where all the women have gone. They are there, but they are virtually dead.

Have They Made Use Of The Fresh ‘Life'?

Covid survivors

IPL Experience Will Boost Australia's Chances At World Cup - Maxwell

Australia’s players will benefit from taking part in the Indian Premier League (IPL) when it resumes in Dubai on Sunday and the experience will stand them in good stead for the Twenty20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell said.

Lohan Breaks His Silence: “I Stopped The Prisons From Burning Am I Stupid To Threaten The Prisoners?”

Says he never touched the Tamil prisoners | Denies going to visit the gallows with his friends | Says he had gone to Anuradhapura Prison on an inspection visit only | Says he put out the fires by halting the smuggling of drugs and gang murders | Says truth will be revealed to President and PM

Fears Of Approaching Storm As Nearly 1,300 Die In Haiti Quake

RIO DE JANEIRO (DPA), 16 AUG-Rescuers in Haiti are working fast to find the injured and dead after a devastating earthquake left nearly 1,300 people dead, with heavy rains forecast to complicate the emergency work later on Monday.

TWENTY WEIGHTLIFTERS PICKED FOR IWF MEET

The Sri Lanka Weightlifting Federation (SLWF) have submitted a 20-member contingent for Sports Minister’s approval targeting the Commonwealth Championships and the IWF World Championships, from December 7 to 17 in Uzbekistan.

Taliban Army Chief Vows To Crush Dissidents In Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD (DPA), 15 SEPT, 2021- The Taliban’s new army chief of staff, Qari Fasihuddin, has promised to crush Afghan dissidents who destabilize the country with talk of resistance, ethnic rights and democracy.

SL Will Field Best XI Against Oman, Says Shanaka

It doesn’t take a deep dive into cricket analytics to see what the biggest headache for Sri Lanka cricket is ahead of the T20 World Cup – a cursory glance at the list of top run-scorers in the recently concluded T20I series against South Africa would do. The man chastised for his slow scoring rate is also the team’s highest run-scorer, and the only batsman to have scored a half-century.

UK Court To Ensure Sexual Assault Papers Can Be Served On Prince Andrew

LONDON, SEPT 15 (REUTERS) - London’s High Court said on Wednesday it would take steps if necessary to serve papers on Britain’s Prince Andrew in a U.S. lawsuit brought by a woman who accuses him of sexually assaulting her two decades ago.

SpaceX set to make history with first all-civilian crew launched into orbit

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL A., SEPT 15 (REUTERS- The latest in a recent line of space-obsessed billionaires was set for liftoff on Wednesday with three less wealthy private citizens along for the ride aboard a SpaceX rocket ship, seeking to become the first all-civilian crew launched into Earth orbit.

Johnson demotes foreign minister in major reshuffle

LONDON, SEPT 15 (REUTERS) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson demoted his foreign secretary on Wednesday in a major reshuffle, removing his more under-fire colleagues to refocus the government on raising living standards after COVID-19.

OLYMPIC LESSONS FROM TODAY'S YOUTH

International Youth Day

COUNTRY WILL REOPEN AFTER NEXT MONDAY: SUDARSHANI

The four-week lockdown was more than enough to contain the spread of the disease and that there had been a decrease in the Covid mortality rate and infections | The Minister rejected rumours that Covid vaccines would cause infertility and sexual dysfunction

Drop in COVID antibodies within four months of vaccination: Indian study

BHUBANESWAR, SEPT 14 (REUTERS)- A study of 614 fully vaccinated health workers in India found a “significant” drop in their COVID-fighting antibodies within four months of the first shot.

Foreign forces must leave Syria: Putin to al-Assad

MOSCOW (DPA), 14 SEPT, 2021-The presence of foreign troops in Syria - the ones not invited by Damascus - are hindering Syria’s revival, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Bashar al-Assad during a surprise visit to Moscow by the Syrian president.

WHITEWASHED

Openers Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks scored unbeaten half-centuries as South Africa completed a humiliating series whitewash of Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday, a result that will only compound questions ahead of the hosts’ T20 World Cup campaign next month.

Pandemic expedites transition towards digital health

WITH THE PANDEMIC HIGHLIGHTING HOW DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CAN BOOST ACCESS TO QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE, IFC IS JOINING FORCES WITH PRIVATE SECTOR PLAYERS STARTING IN SRI LANKA TO CREATE A TRANSFORMATIVE AND REPLICABLE MODEL FOR A NEW HEALTHCARE ECOSYSTEM

UNHCHR SOUNDS ALARM ON EMERGENCY REGULATIONS

Says OHCHR will closely monitor it | Raises concerns on a number of areas | Takes note of Easter Sunday bomb victims, religious leaders calling for justice

GOVT. TEMPORARILY TAKES ONE STEP FORWARD IN AGRICULTURE AFTER MANY BACKWARD STEPS

Ever since April 2021, Sri Lanka’s agriculture and plantation sectors have been beset by needless difficulties as a result of an announcement, seemingly made on a whim, that Sri Lanka would switch completely to organic agriculture – effective immediately.

FLOWER LAMENTS POOR DECISIONS, EXECUTION FROM SRI LANKA BATSMEN

Sri Lanka’s batting coach Grant Flower lamented the poor decision making and bad execution under pressure from the team’s batsmen, saying a quick improvement was necessary it they are to make it out of the first round of the T20 World Cup.

South Africa Stunned By Australia As Quade Cooper Topples The World Champions

Quade Cooper marked his return to the Wallabies’ fly-half jersey after 1,541 days of international wilderness to kick Australia to a dramatic last-second 28-26 victory over world champions South Africa yesterday.

HR Groups Urge Govt. To Welcome Refugees From Afghanistan Right Time To Offer Help

Several rights groups have urged Sri Lankan Government to provide visas for human rights defenders, journalists and others at risk in the crisis-ridden Afghanistan. Besides, the National peace council has called on the Government to be a part of the international effort to provide refuge to those who wish to leave Afghanistan, which is a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), of which Sri Lanka is a founder member.In the aftermath of this crisis the Daily Mirror contacted human rights activists and other concerned groups to obtain their opinion.

Iran Allows Iaea To Service Nuclear Monitoring Equipment

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI) of Iran reaffirmed “the spirit of cooperation,” as Iran agreed to allow IAEA inspectors access to cameras at Iranian nuclear facilities.

Pilot Error Likely Caused Fatal Air India Express Crash: Report

MUMBAI, SEPT 12 (REUTERS) - Pilot error and a failure to follow safety guidelines probably caused the Air India Express crash that killed 21 people last year, the country’s worst aviation accident in a decade, investigators said in a report on Saturday.

DOMINANT NEW ZEALAND OVERWHELM DOGGED ARGENTINA

A rampant New Zealand scored five tries as they eventually ran away to a 39-0 victory over a defensively dogged Argentina in their Rugby Championship clash at the Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast yesterday.