Aug 19 (ENS) With Mahinda Rajapaksa’s return to power being thwarted in parliamentary elections, there is relief and quiet satisfaction as New Delhi will only have to deal with Ranil Wickremesinghe as the island nation’s PM. Expectation is that this would help create the right environment in meeting India’s main concerns -pushing the reconciliation process and resolving the fishermen issue. more..

Aug 19 (Island) The formation of a National govt had to be discussed with all like minded parties, the UNP said. Minister and Gampaha District UNP candidate at Monday’s General Election, John Ameratunga said last night that the UNP was confident of forging an alliance with those committed to good governance and consensual politics. Asked , if talks had already begun, Ameratunga replied that it would be handled by Prime Minister and UNP leader Ranil Wickermesinghe. more..

Aug 19 (Island) S.B.Dissanayake (UPFA-Mahanuwara), Mahinda Samarasinghe (UPFA-Kalutara), Vijith Vijithamuni Soysa (UPFA-Moneragala), Shantha Bandara (UPFA-Kurunegala), Nirupama Rajapaksa (UPFA-Hambantota), Sunil Handunetti (JVP-Matara), R. Yogarajan (UNP-Nuwara Eliya), Sarath Weerasekera (UPFA-Digamadulla). Jagath Pushpakumara (UPFA-Moneragala), Piyasena Gamage (UPFA-Galle), Lakshman Abeywardena (UPFA-Matara), more..

Aug 19 (Island) UNP-led UNFGG secured ten out of 22 electoral districts, including Colombo to obtain the largest block of seats at the Aug. 17 parliamentary polls, though it couldn’t secure a simple majority in 225-member parliament. The UNP won 106 seats, including 13 National List slots, UPFA 95 with 12 NL slots, ITAF 16 with 2 NL slots and the JVP six with two NL slots. EPDP and SLMC won one seat each and got no NL slots. more..

Aug 19 (DM) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s caretaker Govt—the United National Front for Good Governance—yesterday got a clear mandate from the people to continue the silent rainbow revolution of Jan 8. President Sirisena, the new national unity Govt, the other parties and the people need to commit themselves to the mission of climbing every mountain, searching every sea and following every rainbow until we find our dream. After a hard-fought & vigorous one-month campaign, more..

Aug 19 (DM) Driven by his passion for science, technology and innovation, Dinesh Katugampala has always been trying to find new solutions to everyday problems. Even as a student at Bomiriya National School and D.S. Senanayake College, he showed promise in the fields of science and mathematics. At Bomiriya National School he and his friends created a bio gas unit for the school cafeteria as a clean, energy saving alternative. At a science exhibition at D.S. Senanayake College, more..

Aug 19 (SL) Despite being brutally assassinated in broad daylight six years and eight months ago, investigations into the gruesome murder of the founding Editor of The Sunday Leader newspaper Lasantha Manilal Wickrematunge is yet to make headway. Wickrematunge was brutally stabbed at Attidiya, by a killer squad of eight riding in four motor cycles, whilst on his way to work on that fateful day of Jan 8, 2009. more..

Aug 19 (IE) In December 2014, Tharindu Kaushal left from his 100-year-old ancestral home to make his Test debut in New Zealand. When he returned from tour a month later, there was nothing left of it. The young off-spinner had no home to come back to. There was only rubble. The disintegration of the already-dilapidated house started with the roof caving in one night. Kaushal’s parents, father PH Dhanapala and more..

Aug 19 (PSL) President Maithripala Sirisena says he would strongly take the drug prevention program forward, obtaining the international support. He added that new technology will be greatly utilized in this campaign. The President said he would not hesitate to strictly implement legal provisions against drug dealers, irrespective of their social status. He made these remarks at the occasion to appoint Kumar Sangakkara as Brand Ambassador of more..

Aug 19 (CI) thought writing an article celebrating Kumar Sangakkara would come easily to me. I have long been a fan, and have spent countless hours arguing with detractors. Yet when it actually came to the writing, I realised that I kept writing about myself. There is a concept in literature of the author surrogate - a character based on the author, an amateurish indulgence that prioritises the author's own fantasies over more..

Aug 19 (AM) More than 30 parliamentarians from several parties lost their seats in the 2015 General Election held on August 17. They include a number of former ministers and other prominent politicians. Former Minister S.B. Dissanayake, who represented the former parliament from Kandy, was a prominent loser in the election. Eric Weerawardhana and Abdul Kader have also lost their seats from Kandy District. more..

Aug 19 (CG) European Union (EU) election observers today said that they were satisfied with the manner in which EC Mahinda Deshapriya carried out his duties during the Parliamentary election. Chief Observer Cristian Preda, a Member of the European Parliament, said that Deshapriya had particularly handled the State media in a commendable manner. Meanwhile, Ignazio Corrao, Chair of the European Parliament more..

Aug 19 (DM) Former State Minister and UNP Colombo district candidate Rosy Senanayake, who failed in her bid for re-election, said that having to confine her campaign within the Colombo West electorate was one of the reasons to have obtained only 65,320 preferential votes. She said her fellow candidates were not too happy when she visited other electorates in the Colombo district to carry out her election campaign and more..

Aug 19 (AD) Discussions will be held with the party leaders and the President to reach an agreement on current matters and future party leadership matters in a bid to create a national plan, PM Ranil Wickramasinghe said. The observation was made at the UNP head-office in Kotte this morning. “A majority has mandated to continue the Jan 8 revelation,” he added. Discussions will be held with the party leaders to move forward more..

Aug 19 (EN) Fitch Ratings agency has said greater clarity on economic policy by Sri Lanka’s new govt is critical, as the regime change in January had not strengthened economic management despite progress in good governance and other reforms. “Improved economic policy credibility and coherence would strengthen Sri Lanka's resilience to growing investor uncertainty towards emerging Asia,” the rating agency said in a statement. more..

Aug 19 (DM) Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has confirmed that he would assume duties as an Opposition MP in parliament while stating that he accepts the results of the parliamentary elections with humility. The former President who contested at the parliamentary elections as a UPFA candidate from the Kurunegala district, released a media release a short while ago in which he made these remarks. more..

Aug 19 (CT) The market-friendly UNP led UNF/UNFGG coalition won the majority of seats at Monday's general election, winning 93 of the 196 seats. With a total of 29 National List seats also available, overall, on a pro rata basis the UNP should get 14 of those seats as well, taking the total number of its seats in the 225-member Parliament to 107. Still short of six seats to have a simple majority in Sri Lanka's 15th Parliament, it should cobble another seat from the SLMC with more..

Aug 19 (DM) Two airline company employees, who were attempting to smuggle into the country 75 gold biscuits worth Rs.37.50 million, were arrested by SriLankan airline security staff at the BIA this morning. Customs Spokesman Leslie Gamini said the suspects were later handed over to the Customs. “They are employees of an airline company and hired out to SriLankan airline. One of the suspects was a driver,” he said. The parcel of gold biscuits weighed 7.5 kilograms. more..

Aug 19 (EN) Former president Rajapaksa whose PM dream was shattered after Monday's election faced a new threat with at least 14 of his supporters expected to defect. A top UPFA source said several MPs elected from their party on Monday were already in talks with President Sirisena and PM-elect Ranil Wickremesinghe to join the govt. "Many who marketed Rajapaksa to get into parliament are now trying to ditch him," more..

Aug 19 (Reuters) Shares ended steady at over 7-month high as investors awaited the Ranil Wickremesinghe-led govt to announce its economic policies after the election victory. Wickremesinghe's centre-right UNP is expected to form a stable govt along with President Maithripala Sirisena's centre-left SLFP, to help pass promised reforms. Main stock index ended 0.08 points firmer, at 7,498.78, its highest close since Jan. 16. "Local investors were active on hopes of a stable govt," more..

Aug 19 (CT) Most third world dictators tenaciously cling to power and refuse to step down when their beleaguered people get fed up with them. One tell-tale sign is, they somehow get this absurd notion that the country belongs to them, and them alone and their families and future progeny and must rule forever. This delusionary belief of state ownership by dictators is often derived from the feeling that they liberated or saved their countries, from an enemy either in the form of colonial rule, separatism more..

Aug 19 (CG) China says it stands ready to work with the new govt under PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said the parliamentary election in Sri Lanka went on steadily and smoothly. She said that PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s UNP won the election and will lead to form the next govt. We want to express our congratulations and China believes that under the leadership of new more..

Aug 19 (KUNA) The UK will remain a steadfast partner for Sri Lanka as it continues on the path towards delivering reconciliation and a lasting peace across the country, the UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said. "On behalf of the British Govt, I send my warmest congratulations to Ranil Wickremesinghe on the occasion of his victory," Hammond said in a statement. "The manner in which the election was run was a credit to the Sri Lankan people. more..

Aug 19 (PTI) As a sense of unease prevailed here over defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksa in Parliamentary polls blunting Beijing's influence in the Indian Ocean region, Chinese official media asserted that China cannot be avoided because its ties with Colombo transcended partisan politics. While Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post headlined its report Sri Lanka's pro-China ex-president Rajapaksa concedes defeat, highlighting the strategic significance of the poll result, more..

Aug 19 (CG) Commonwealth election observers today said that an independent Election Commission, as outlined in the current Constitution, must be established as a matter of urgency. Former President of Malta and Chairperson of the observer group, Dr George Abela said that there is a need to promulgate a revised, consolidated Constitution that clearly demarcates constitutional powers and duties, particularly more..

Aug 19 (IANS) With the defeat of Mahinda Rajapakhsa's UPFA in the just-concluded parliamentary election, not only is the island nation likely to go through a political overhaul but its strategic implications would also influence the course of events in parts of South Asia. The UNP-led UNFGG has come out victorious in this all important election. On the eve of the election, Rajapakhsa was certain that the UPFA, of which his SLFP was a major partner, would bag upto more..

Aug 19 (FR) As former president Mahinda Rajapaksa comes to terms with his second electoral defeat in eight months, many in Sri Lanka are also predicting what once seemed unthinkable: the final political demise of a leader who, until just a year ago, seemed to hold an iron grip on their country. Mr Rajapaksa hoped yesterday's result would herald an unlikely comeback - allowing him to seize the office of PM while avenging his downfall at the hands of former party ally Maithripala Sirisena more..

Aug 19 (PTI) DMK President M Karunanidhi today congratulated Ranil Wickremesinghe for his victory in the elections and hoped the TNA win in North and East provinces would give rise to a situation for a permanent solution to travails of Tamils. Wickremesinghe's UNP won a total of 106 seats in the 225-member Assembly, falling short of an absolute majority by 7 seats but enough to form a govt. more..

Aug 19 (DM) The leader of the NMSJ Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, who pioneered the campaign for the election of candidates with better qualities, today said that a national govt should be formed even for a brief period to make political reforms and stable national policies. Prelate requested the new govt to only appoint qualified people as Ministries and to other govt sector positions and advised it to rule the country refraining from 4-fold impediments (Sathara Agathiya). more..

Aug 19 (CI) 57.17: The minimum batting average Kumar Sangakkara could finish with assuming he gets a pair in his final Test. He is assured to be one of only six batsmen to have a career average of 57 or above among the 86 who have scored at least 5000 Test runs. Sangakkara will end up above Garry Sobers in this list if he manages to score at least 132 runs from his final Test. The following table gives the runs Sangakkara has to make in order to go past batsmen within his reach. more..

Aug 19 (CI) No matter how much he attempts to distance himself from it now, Kumar Sangakkara was once a serial sledger. He has often been asked about his verbal spats in recent interviews and has usually been quick to assert he has probably mellowed over the years. It's true. He has rarely gone looking for trouble this decade, and has only occasionally added his voice to the volleys his team-mates fire at batsmen, itself a rare more..

Aug 19 (CI) The hashtags are out, and it wouldn't take too long for #SangaSignsOff to take over the online world much as his batting did the real one. The sheer weight of runs, his remarkable consistency and a never-ending thirst to get better deserves a bright and shiny spotlight. But let us not forget there is a Test match to win. A Test series to win. And if anything, Kumar Sangakkara himself will prefer to retire as a match-winner, holding the trophy aloft. Signs towards that are strong. more..

Aug 19 (NAR) As a coalition of political parties tries to form a govt in Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, the re-elected PM, is likely to have a tough time balancing populist measures with the need to lift economic growth. In fact, demands for expensive handouts may grow louder following the election. Meanwhile, the new govt's relations with big neighbors China and India will also greatly affect Sri Lanka's economic prospects. Aug. 17 vote gave the UNP and its allies around 106 seats more..

Aug 19 (ENS) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said, that his country will have good relations with India as part of the new chapter that is being opened with the victory of the UNFGG in the parliamentary elections. "A new chapter is being opened in Sri Lanka and good relations with India is part of it," Wickremesinghe told newspersons. The previous UPFA govt led by Mahinda Rajapaksa had been wary of India and had lurched towards China more..

Aug 19 (NS) European Union who employed an observation mission (EU EOM) to observe the Parliamentary Elections says that although Sri Lanka has an active voter registration process estimated 300,000 were disenfranchised at this election. The mission issuing its preliminary report says as the Department of Elections decided to use the electoral register from 2014, youth who reached 18 years failed in franchising their vote at this election. They also added that more..

Aug 19 (CG) Germany says it will follow the upcoming formation of a new govt in Sri Lanka with great interest, and looks forward to continuing Germany’s cooperation with Sri Lanka, which was intensified at the beginning of the year. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Germany welcomes the fact that, following the presidential elections at the beginning of the year, the parliamentary elections have also proceeded peacefully and smoothly. more..

Aug 19 (ENS) Skipper Angelo Mathews today said his team will look to give retiring legend Kumar Sangakkara a winning send off when they take on India in a highly-emotional second cricket Test starting here tomorrow. Sangakkara will bid farewell to international cricket after the second Test and Mathews said it will be a highly emotional affair for his side. "It's going to be an emotional game for all of us as a great of SL cricket, more..

Aug 19 (CC) Interim-head of Sri Lanka Cricket, Sidath Wettimuny, rued the transitional phase of the team and regretted the retirement of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. “We are at a crossroads. We have lost Jayawardene and now Sangakkara and earlier [Muttiah] Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas— one of the true unsung heroes of Lankan cricket,” Wettimuny said. “We have got some really good talent and before long you’ll find them coming into this main team. more..

Aug 19 (AM) Former Minister S.B. Dissanayake was appointed the Treasurer of SLFP following his election defeat. Dissanayake was appointed to the position held by S.B. Nawinne, who defected to the UNP following the decision by the UPFA to grant nominations to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. S.B. Nawinne managed to get elected to the parliament from the Kurunegala District. S.B. Dissanayake contested from the Mahanuwara District but failed to enter parliament. more..

Aug 19 (FT) Sri Lanka’s incoming govt plans to push forward with a range of big bang reforms to open up its financial system and liberalise the rupee after triumphing in general election, country’s central bank governor has said. On Wednesday, former President Rajapaksa officially conceded defeat following parliamentary polls, paving the way for his reform-minded rival Ranil Wickramasinghe to return as PM of SL. more..