Health Ministry urges vigilance with leprosy re-emerging  Pointing out that a re-emergence of leprosy in the country is observed at present, the Health Ministry has requested the public to seek medical attention as soon as possible if any leprosy related symptoms persist. Health Ministry Communications Director Dr. Hemantha Herath said: “Sri Lanka was able to virtually eliminate leprosy a few decades ago. However, a re-emergence of the same is observed at present, which is however not a serious situation.”  2 Pfizer doesn’t cause impotence, subfertility: Authorities Health experts have denied reports that receiving the booster third dose of the US and Germany-manufactured Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine causes impotence and subfertility. Consultant Physician Dr. Priyankara Jayawardena said: “The Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine has been given to nearly one billion people worldwide so far, but it has never been confirmed that it can cause impotence or subfertility.”  He further said that if the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine causes such conditions or any other serious side effects, developed countries would already have proven it by testing. 3 GL condemns criticism of PTA amendments Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said the criticisms against the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) (Amendment) Bill were “unfair,” adding that the Bill was due to be debated in the Parliament on 8 March.  “It is due to be debated on 8 March and there are already two petitions before the Supreme Court (SC), claiming that it is unconstitutional. If the SC deems it unconstitutional, then we just have to go back to the law as it is,” said Prof. Peiris. 4 Samurdhi beneficiaries to get 28% more relief monthly State Minister of Samurdhi, Household Economy, Micro Finance, Self-Employment and Business Development Shehan Semasinghe announced on 13 February that the Samurdhi beneficiary amount would be increased by 28% from this month.  Thus, Semasinghe said that a family receiving Rs. 3,500 will now receive Rs. 4,500, a family receiving Rs. 2, 500 will now receive Rs. 3,200, and a family receiving Rs. 1,500 will now receive Rs. 1,900.  5 Maithri’s petition for acquittal from Easter attacks charges taken up The Civil Appeals High Court of Colombo has decided to take up the petition filed by former President Maithripala Sirisena with regard to the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks, on 9 March. The former President had sought the dismissal of the cases filed against him by the victims and families of the deceased demanding compensation over the failure to prevent the carnage, despite there being sufficient intelligence of an impending attack. 6 CID records nearly 5-hour statement from Zahran’s wife The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) recorded a nearly five-hour statement from the wife of the Easter Sunday terror attacks’ ringleader Zahran Hashim on Tuesday (15). A team of CID officers, including Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Meryl Ranjan Lamahewa, has visited Abdul Cader Fatima Saadiah at the Welikada Prison. Presenting submissions to the Kuliyapitiya Magistrate’s Court on 10 February, the CID had sought permission to record statements from Zahran’s wife until 25 February. 7 Chamuditha’s house attacked A group of armed persons with their faces covered had attacked the house of popular journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrama in the Piliyandala area on 14 February, throwing stones and faeces at the house. Samarawickrama said that an armed group of four persons who had arrived in a car had carried out the attack at around 2 a.m. Samarawickrama said that the attack had been recorded on closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras. 8 New paddy purchase prices announced The Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) on 14 February announced the new prices at which it will be purchasing the paddy harvest of the Maha cultivation season from farmers. PMB Vice Chairman Duminda Priyadarshana said that a kilogramme (kg) of nadu paddy would be purchased at Rs. 90, a kg of samba paddy would be purchased at Rs. 92, and a kg of keeri samba paddy would be purchased at Rs. 95 this season – directly from farmers.  9 Committee under Basil to ensure ‘essentials’ supply  The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the appointment of a committee headed by Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa to make necessary policy recommendations and solutions to ensure the continuous supply of essential consumer goods to the market. The committee has been appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the same has been granted Cabinet approval at its meeting held on 14 February. 10  Basil to visit India again to finalise agreements Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa is expected to visit India once again within the next two weeks to finalise the agreements on the financial assistance extended by the neighbouring nation.  Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said that the Finance Minister’s recent visit to India for talks was highly successful and delivered fruitful results for the country.  He said that India has pledged $ 2.4 billion in financial assistance to Sri Lanka and that Minister Basil Rajapaksa had created the foundation for this during his last visit.   11 India hands over 40,000 MT fuel from IOC India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay on 15 February handed over a fuel consignment of 40,000 metric tonnes (MT) from the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to Sri Lanka’s Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila. He said the India-Sri Lanka partnership continues to work towards energy security of Sri Lanka. Earlier this month, Sri Lanka signed a $ 500 million credit line with India to import fuel. 12  Dayasiri slams certain CEB engineers for blocking renewables Batik, Handloom, and Local Apparel Products State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara on 16 February accused certain officials at the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) of preventing the development of renewable energy sources in order to generate electricity and called for action. “It is disappointing that there are currently more than 40 megawatts (MW) of solar panels that have been built but that the connection is not given to them,” Jayasekara claimed. 13 US Assistant Secy. to visit SL in March US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu will be visiting Sri Lanka next month, for discussions on human rights, trade, and investment. This is his first visit to Sri Lanka since being appointed to the post in September last year. Lu is expected to visit Bangladesh and Sri Lanka next month. 14 ‘Neelaka’ dies in crossfire A gangster known as ‘Neelaka’ was shot dead in crossfire with the Special Task Force of Police (STF) in Horana on Thursday (17). Police said the man had abducted his own child Wednesday night from Kandana after firing gunshots in the air. A team of the Horana STF camp launched investigations into the incident after the suspect had abducted the boy. 15 Rambukkana temple theft: Rs. 2.5 m cash prize Police announced a cash prize of Rs. 2.5 million for reliable information on the theft of a gold artefact that was placed at the Kotawehera Rajamaha Viharaya in Rambukkana. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has launched a probe into the theft of the gold artefact that was placed in the room of the Tooth Relic at the temple.  16 Speaker endorses five Bills Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has endorsed five Bills on Thursday – the certificate on the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment), Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines, Judicature (Amendment), Civil Procedure Code (Amendment), and Provincial Councils (Transfer of Stamp Duty) (Amendment) Bills. The Acts are in effect from 17 February as the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act No.2 of 2022, Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines Act No.3 of 2022, Judicature (Amendment) Act No.4 of 2022, Civil Procedure Code (Amendment) Act No.5 of 2022 and Provincial Councils (Transfer of Stamp Duty) (Amendment) Act. No.6 of 2022. 17 Xi extends congratulations to SL Communist Party of China Central Committee General Secretary Xi Jinping on Thursday sent a congratulatory letter to the China-Sri Lanka political parties’ conference commemorating the 65th anniversary of China-Sri Lanka diplomatic relations and the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Rubber-Rice Pact. 18 Former IGP Jayasundara acquitted of all Easter Attack charges Former Police IGP Pujith Jayasundara was acquitted and released last Friday (18) by the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar from all charges pertaining to the Easter Sunday attacks. The former Inspector General of Police (IGP) was charged with criminal negligence for failing to act despite receiving prior intelligence warnings in the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attack that killed nearly 270 people. 19 Hemasiri acquitted of all Easter Attack charges The Colombo High Court last Friday (18) acquitted former Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando of all charges against him for failing to prevent a terrorist attack on the Easter Sunday of 2019. The charges posed against Fernando included the failure to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks despite receiving prior information regarding an impending attack.