July 25 (CT) Though there is no imminent danger of Sri Lanka missing out on the 2017 Champions Trophy in England, the national team's below-par displays in the ongoing five-match series against Pakistan does not paint a rosy picture for the game here. SL who are ranked fifth in the ICC ODI table trail Pakistan 3-1 with the final game to be played on Sunday at Hambantota only being of academic interest to the home side, with the visitors seeking another facile win to wrap up the series 4-1. more..

July 25 (FT) State Minister of Defence, Ruwan Wijewardene, yesterday issued a statement condemning the recent outburst of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his campaign for the upcoming general election. “The people of this country on 17 August should take the decision to make sure that people of this calibre who make such uncivilised statements in the form of Mahinda Rajapaksa and his cohorts are permanently swept away from the political arena of this country,” more..

July 25 (DN) Supreme Court yesterday dismissed the Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed by the former UPFA govt's Monitoring MP Sajin de Vass Gunawardena challenging his arrest and detention on the charges of misuse of Presidential Secretariat vehicles. Supreme Court decided that a case has been filed before the Fort Magistrate's Court on the same charges. Therefore, arrest and detention of the petitioner does not more..

July 25 (CI) Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz has been ruled out of the two-match T20 series against Sri Lanka in Colombo. Zia-ul-Haq, another left-arm fast bowler, replaces him as the PCB had previously announced. Wahab had been included in the 15-man squad subject to a return to full fitness, but the fracture he sustained to his bowling hand during the Test series last month has not completely healed. He resumed bowling today at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore but more..

July 25 (CI) The External Affairs Ministry, in a blatant disregard for election laws, has given approval for five ambassadors to be sent to European Union countries including France just 24 days before the general election, it has been claimed. Addressing the media on Thursday former Minister Dullas Alahapperuma claimed that Minister of External Affairs Mangala Samaraweera has committed a serious election law violation by giving his approval to the appointments. more..

July 25 (NS) The longstanding intense hatred between the SLFP and the UNP prevented President Sirisena from building meaningful consensus between the two parties, Minister and General Secretary of UNFGG, Champika Ranawaka said. He said while President Sirisena became Chairman of the SLFP, his attempts to build a national consensus failed as hateful elements within the SLFP didn’t understand this style of more..

July 25 (CT) Nawagaththegama Police said that a mother of two who had been separated from her husband for a while due to a family dispute had been brought back by the husband and killed by stabbing her and that he had then swallowed poison as well. Police said that the woman who was stabbed to death Wednesday was 28 year old Kumari Weerasinghe, a resident of Nawagaththegama. Husband who had swallowed poison subject to murdering his wife more..

July 25 (AD) Police today arrested two persons and seized a vehicle with two difference number plates, including an army number plate, along with a stack of more than 4,500 election posters of a UPFA candidate in Kebithigollewa. A group of police officers on routine patrol discovered the posters, of a former Deputy Minister contesting from the Anuradhapura District, upon searching the white cab at around 2.00am this morning. Police officer inspecting the vehicle uncovered that more..

July 25 (Island) UPFA candidate Prasanna Ranatunga said that inclusion of an IRC (Island Re-convicted Criminal) in the Gampaha District UPFA nominations list wouldn’t affect the entire list. Minister John Amaratunga recently declared that the UNP would soon move court against UPFA Gampaha List over the inclusion of Thilak Waragoda of Kelaniya in it. Amaratunga asserted that list should be nullified more..

July 25 (CT) Fundamental Rights application filed by Senaka Perera stating that former President Rajapaksa is violating the fundamental rights of all the candidates contesting the coming Parliamentary Election will be heard in Supreme Court on 5 August. According to Senaka Perera's petition Mahinda Rajapaksa is contesting the parliamentary election with privileges of the massive security apparatus given to him by the State as is his entitlement as a former President. more..

July 25 (CT) Eight appointments made in the Kuchchaveli Pradeshiya Sabha, in violation of election laws, have been cancelled with immediate effect. These appointments have been cancelled on the advice of the Trincomalee Regional Assistant Elections Commissioner Sajith Welgama. It is said that several factions had lodged complaints with the Elections Commissioner regarding these eight appointments. Commissioner of Elections Mahinda Deshapriya had instructed more..

July 25 (DN) President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said he would soon appoint a Special Commission to probe the Golden Key fiasco and to ascertain whether any more individuals involved in the debacle need to be prosecuted. The President said the Commission will be headed by a retired Judge and added that he had arrived at the decision following discussions with the Prime Minister, Finance Minister and other stakeholders. more..

July 25 (PTI) Sri Lankan fishermen have reportedly warned their Indian counterparts that they would be attacked if they continued using banned fishing nets and damaged nets anchored in the Lankan sea. Justin, a leader of TN Fishermen's Association, was speaking to PTI after participating in a meeting of fishermen of two countries at Talaimannar. He said the fishermen there had decided to take matters into their own hands as they were not happy with the action taken by the SL naval men more..

July 25 (CT) The SLFP's next candidate at the scheduled 2020 presidential election would be the current Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva, former Badulla District MP, Dilan Perera confirmed. Generally, although the Opposition Leader should be the next PM, a massive majority in this country wanted former President Rajapaksa to be appointed as the Prime Minister and on 18 August it will be Mahinda Rajapaksa who will be appointed as the Prime Minister. more..

July 25 (NS) Former President Rajapaksa, who is contesting the upcoming General Election as a UPFA candidate from the Kurunegala District, pledged to punish even his sons and brothers if they are found to have violated the law. When queried whether he believed the law and order situation in the country had deteriorated during his presidency, and whether this was one of the reasons he had lost his reelection bid, more..

July 25 (DM) Today is Orange Day, a day to raise awareness and take action on the crisis of violence against women and girls. As a bright and optimistic colour, orange represents a future free from such violence. This campaign observed on the 25th of every month is led by the UN and involves mainly young people. Orange Day calls upon activists, governments and UN partners to mobilize people and highlight issues relevant to preventing and ending violence against women and girls, more..

July 25 (DM) An open letter to the General Secretary of the SLFP. Dear Anura, I am sure you may be thinking of the reasons behind this open letter. Since we are friends, I should have mentioned these points to you in person. But I decided otherwise as this attempt would be more beneficial to you, than a one-on-one tête-à-tête. You have become a key figure within contemporary politics in Sri Lanka – especially with your appointment as the general secretary of the SLFP. more..

July 25 (DBS) The Nugegoda Rally demanding the return of Mahinda Rajapaksa to politics was the opening gambit in a planned series of political chess moves by the bring back Mahinda movement. It was a political experiment! The organizers had carefully selected the location. They did not dare to hold it within Colombo city regarded as the citadel of the UNP and chose to stage it elsewhere but within Colombo district for more..

July 25 (Island) Director General Health Services (DGHS), Dr. Palitha Mahipala said that over 39 million people in the world were visually impaired. That number increased by two million annually, he said. Announcing the National programme in view of World Sight Day under the Vision 2020 (V2020) programme, he said this year’s programme would have the theme, Sight for Life and the Health Ministry hoped to raise funds for more..

July 25 (NS) Several more Sri Lankan nationals are known to be fighting for the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria while the group also had some sympathizers inside the country, a senior intelligence official told The Nation. The official was responding to a query regarding activities of the intelligence community following reports that a Sri Lankan ISIS fighter had been killed in an airstrike in Syria on July 12. more..

July 25 (AFP) Sri Lanka's ruling party pledged justice for thousands of victims of the island's separatist war as it released its manifesto ahead of Aug 17 general election. UNP promised to work with the UN to ensure accountability for war crimes committed during the conflict that ended in 2009, a longstanding demand of ethnic minority Tamils. PM Ranil Wickremesinghe urged support for his party to strengthen gains more..

July 25 (CG) Australian Govt noted the assistance given by Sri Lanka in thwarting human smuggling at sea. The Australian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Robyn Mudie called on the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne at the Naval Headquarters in Colombo. She was accompanied by the Defence Adviser to the High Commission Captain Jasen Sears. They held cordial discussions on more..

July 25 (NS) Authorities insist the govt’s recent decision to promote commercial cultivation of Wallapatta (Gyrinops Walla) for export purposes will not play into the hands of smugglers. The environmentalists have expressed concern over moves to allow the possession and transportation of Wallapatta on commercial basis based on a permit issued by a respective authority. According to them, the problem with this move is that more..

July 25 (DM) The 35-year-old three wheeler driver, Hewa Chaminda of Makandura Kalahagama, who was involved in the controversial Akuressa incident of grasping the hands of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said he held his hand in admiration when he was moving towards the stage among the crowd but he couldn’t get his hand back due to the pressure exerted by the crowd gathered around him. more..

July 25 (Island) Chief of National Dangerous Drugs Control Board Dr. Nilanga Samarasinghe strongly denied accusations that he had promoted the UNP by addressing the media at party headquarters, Sirikotha. Many an eyebrow was raised when Dr. Samarasinghe joined Minister John Amaratunga & Deputy Minister Eran Wickremaratne during Thursday’s regular media briefing that dealt with forthcoming parliamentary polls. more..

July 25 (Island) The manifesto of the United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG) for the August 17 general election was at variance with President Maithripala Sirisena’s policy statement issued in the run-up to the January 08 presidential election, UPFA claimed. Former MP Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha said that he had been involved in the drafting of the Maithri manifesto and the UNP’s fivefold development programme more..

July 25 (CG) The Sri Lankan Army has maintained that its involvement in the Northern Province is limited “only to demining, construction works and infrastructure development in connection with the resettlement of people.” Responding to a questionnaire sent by The Hindu on the status of the Army’s presence in the North and East, it said: “We have almost totally disengaged [ourselves] from non-military activities.” more..

July 25 (CT) One of the former LTTE top commanders and the outfit's leader Prabhakaran's one time bodyguard V Muralitharan alias Karuna had made some startling revelations with regard to some of the atrocities committed in the past. Karuna, who claims that he was instrumental in bringing an end to the three decades of civil war by deserting the LTTE and entering the political mainstream, is furious over not being given an opportunity to take part in general election in August. more..

July 25 (Island) Utterances of Northern Province Chief Minister Wigneswaran were not favourable to promoting unity among different communities, said the Most Venerable Mahanayake of Asgiriya when TULF leader Ananda Sangari called on him on Thursday 23. The prelate stressed that the need of the hour was unity among communities. Most Venerable Galagama Sri Attadassi Thera urged the TULF leader to take every step to promote unity and co-existence in the former war zone. more..

July 25 (ENS) Without explicitly naming any political party or leader, the UK-based Global Tamil Forum (GTF), has clearly indicated its support for President Maithripala Sirisena, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and the TNA and opposition to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the run up to the crucial August 17 parliamentary elections. In a statement highlighting the vital issues at stake for all Sri Lankans, the GTF said on Saturday that more..

July 25 (CT) Can individuals see themselves through the prism of their common humanity? Looking at almost every society today this seems a far way off. Racism is a contemporary reality and it does no good but creates welts and deep wounds in the body politic. The funny irony is that racism is a myth. Living and thinking over two thousand five hundred years ago the Buddha (Vaseththa Sutta) emphatically undermined racism as a myth. “Both the Theravada as well as Mahayana schools more..

July 25 (CT) Third force has ended the age of complacency that has lasted for 67 post independence years. In the process, the JVP has promised the country something that we never realized as missing. The party that chose to abdicate armed rebellion in carefully crafted eloquence has now conceptualized what has been absent in the politics of patronage practiced since independence – a liberated citizenry. The front cover depicts a wooden ladle of rice on a background of a more..

July 25 (SL) Another attempt was made recently by the people of Panama in the Ampara District seeking access to their land that was acquired forcefully during the former regime. As a result around, 350 families were displaced and left landless, homeless, and deprived of their livelihoods. Despite the cabinet decision taken by the interim government to release some lands that were forcibly taken in the Panama area, more..

July 25 (ST) A leading agriculturist and environment specialist has warned that mother earth is facing its worst ever catastrophe unless immediate steps are taken by govts religions, other groups and individuals to cure the epidemic of pollution. Ranjith Seveviratne who worked for more than two decades as a specialist in the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome, called on all religions especially to unite in helping the world to turn around from its self-destructive course. more..

July 25 (ST) It is while the Sunday Times is on the premises that Negombo Hospital’s Medical Superintendent Dr. Champa Aluthweera does her rounds not of wards but of the construction site. This is amidst her heavy administrative workload exacerbated by the stringent pile of paperwork that has come about due to evacuations, equipment movement and also new buildings. Three times a day, she goes walk-about to ensure that everything is functioning as smoothly as possible more..

July 25 (ST) A bare area a month ago and now frenetic construction activity with two steel-framed buildings seemingly rising from scratch within the Negombo General Hospital premises. Being described as an engineering marvel, these two of four buildings opened on Thursday by President Sirisena after which the very heart of the 785-bed Negombo Hospital will beat from within them. Dubbed semi-permanent structures, more..

July 25 (CT) UNP Govt released its policy statement on Thursday, targeting the 17 August general election. It was mainly a market-oriented policy document, but scrupulously avoided speaking about privatization, because of the seeming stigma attached to that word. The policy statement also avoided the Geneva Human Rights (HR) sessions to be held in another two months' time, where the government's alleged abuse of HR during the closing stages of its war against more..

July 25 (DM) Former UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardane said he was ready to face Minister Ravi Karunanayake in court if the minister sued him over charging the govt of privatizing state owned Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. “Let him come to the courts. Also, he should have send a letter of demand to the media institution which exposed the govt’s attempt to privatize the gas company instead of sending one to me,” he said. He earlier charged the govt had given approval to privatize Litro Gas Lanka more..

July 25 (EN) In a bizarre election promise UNP has proposed to provide half a million rupees of credit to small investors to play the stock market by getting into debt. In a manifesto for upcoming parliamentary polls in August, the ruling UNP said it wanted to increase asset ownership among the public. "Small investors will be given credit facilities of 500,000 rupees to encourage them to invest in stocks," the manifesto said. more..

July 25 (Island) Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa promised to re–start all development projects which had come to a standstill since January, within one week of forming a govt after the Aug 17 general election. Speaking at a ceremony to mark the opening of the Hambantota District UPFA campaign office, he said the UNP rule since January had been a failure. Instead of fulfilling the promises given before the election the Wickremesinghe govt had been busy spreading blatant lies, more..