June 10 (CT) Deputy Minister of Women's Affairs, Vijayakala Maheswaran, said the Police failed to arrest the main suspect of the Punguduthivu rape and murder at the appropriate time. She had made all possible attempts to surrender the suspect but Police failed to take immediate action and come to the scene of the crime. "The Police officer who did the mistake will be identified soon and will be dealt with," she said. more..

June 10 (NS) Saradiel K warned journalists not to venture too close to the truth about his government’s incompetence and failure to distinguish between fact and fiction. Saradiel K went on to say that he will not allow anyone else to destroy Sri Lanka’s economy. “Bondi and I have been assigned that duty and nobody, I mean NOBODY, will take that away from us. You will have to pry that duty out of our cold dead fingers!” the thieving one said. “Only me, myself and I can remove me as PM,” claims more..

June 10 (NS) Motions and emotions: The UNP needs dissolution. Mahinda faction needs no confidence motions. Both these have become emotions to the two groups. Worst gambling: The gamblers gamble with their money or other valuables. But politicians gamble with or bet their own lives. So, politics is a gamble where the stakes are human lives. Revelation: We see innocence in the actions of children and it reveals also the innocence that exists within us. more..

June 10 (Island) "All reasonable men adapt themselves to the world. Only a few unreasonable ones persist in trying to adapt the world to themselves. All progress in the world depends on these unreasonable men and their innovative and often non-conformist action". George Bernard Shaw. During the last presidential election, among the political parties and pressure groups, professionals and intellectuals made an impact in changing and moulding public thinking and swaying public more..

June 10 (Island) Most of those who lament the deterioration of political institutions owing to the presence of social dregs and criminal elements therein and want them cleansed have been barking up the wrong tree. They blame only the electoral system, especially the preferential vote or manape, for this sorry state of affairs. Surely, there has been a pressing need for electoral reforms. The existing electoral districts are too vast and only the super rich and crooks with ill-gotten wealth more..

June 10 (IL) During the International Day of Vesak Celebrations at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Paris with the, SL Permanent Delegation to UNESCO and the support of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau staged an exhibition on the theme of Enchanting Sri Lanka - Sri Lankan Heritage. The exhibition was based around a collection of over sixty colour photographs illustrating more..

June 10 (EN) With rapid growth in the construction sector, Hayleys group plans to expand production at its aluminium extrusions subsidiary which has a dominant market share having acquired a rival. A land has been bought to enable expansion in the future of the group’s construction materials business under Alumex Group given potential for growth. Applications for aluminium extrusions in the construction sector are increasing, replacing wood as a more cost effective material, more..

June 10 (FT) Commercial Bank opened its representative office in Yangon on Monday formally launching its operations in Myanmar, initially to offer Advisory Services to Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi businesses wishing to enter that country, and to arrange banking and advisory facilities, funds transfer and encashment services. Commercial Bank is the first Sri Lankan bank to be granted a licence by the Central Bank of Myanmar to operate a Representative Office in the country. more..

June 10 (FT) Ceylon Today reliably learns that apart from five employees of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the contracts of all other employees at the sport's local ruling body are to be extended till Dec 2016, by the Sidath Wettimuny led interim committee. It has now come to light that the SLC interim committee had taken this decision following a meeting held on June 5, and among the employees whose contracts are to be terminated by more..

June 10 (CT) Sri Lanka Cricket's Coaching Department, with the help of the Strength & Conditioning / Physiotherapy Departments, conducted an educational workshop for Schools Division 1, 2 & 3 Cricket Coaches at Kettarama on 3 June on the subject Physical Training & Injury Prevention of Cricketers. The coaches present were given an insight to what is expected from a school boy cricketer with regard to a fitness regime which is seen as important and a necessity in today's more..

June 10 (DN) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed Sports and Tourism Minister Navin Dissanayake to submit a report regarding the alleged irregularities and corruption of the Sri Lanka Badminton Association (SLBA). He had taken this decision after reading a newspaper report regarding a financial fraud. The report was based on a statement made by former SLBA president Suraj Dandeniya at a press briefing held recently. PM requested the Sports Minister to inquire into more..

June 10 (CT) The Securities & Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC)'s restrain decision of the Lanka Rating Agency Ltd (LRA) from providing new ratings may adversely affect the ongoing debenture issues, market analysts warned. "There are several LRA rated listed debenture issues are in the pipeline. With this restricted scenario knowledgeable investors may get reluctant to trust their ratings, even though more..

June 10 (Island) Corporate results 2014/15 indicated that the consolidated turnover of the Hayleys Group increased 20%, Rs. 23.1 billion in 2013/14 to Rs 27 .7 billion in the current fiscal year. ‘Our efforts have delivered us a good degree of success. It has been a year in which correct processes have delivered results beyond expectations, remarks contained in the DPL annual report jointly originated by chairman A.M. Pandithage, and Managing Director, Dr. K.L.M. Ranasoma, more..

June 10 (DN) Construction Expo 2015, Sri Lanka's most comprehensive exhibition featuring each and every factor related to the construction and building industry is scheduled to be held on June 12 to 14, 2015 at BMICH. Ceylon Institute of Builders (CIOB) together with Presidential award winner Lanka Exhibitions & Conference Services will be organizing this event for the fourth consecutive year. The construction fraternity fully endorses this event as one of the premier construction and more..

June 10 (SLT) Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau announced that a formal MOU is been developed with the University of Sri Jayewardenepura- Marketing Management Unit for marketing research insights to be done by final year students which will enable the tourism industry become more competitive in the global arena which is a first in the history of Sri Lanka tourism said its Chairman Rohantha Athukorala together with more..

June 10 (DM) Firebrand MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara, who commented on the exchange of words between him and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has said it would have been better if the Prime Minister described him a rotten labu gediya instead of a rotten pumpkin. Mr. Nanayakkara had made this comment during an interview with the Deshaya newspaper. Q: What do you think of the Prime Minister describing you as a rotten pumpkin? A: I can’t understand what he meant. more..

June 10 (Island) Twelve tea factories in Deniyaya area have been struggling for some time to find business accountants from within the area to effectively carry out Financial Accounting for these establishments and up to now they have found none, CA Sri Lanka president Arjuna Herath said. "These tea factory owners have been looking to employ accounting professionals living in Deniyaya area. For obvious reasons, they don’t want to hire chartered accountants. more..

June 10 (DN) For the first time in the region, a German aeronautical company is planning to open an aeronautical engineering school in Sri Lanka. German company is also looking at using the Mattala airport for training purposes. Airport and Aviation Services, Chairman Ananda Wimalasena said German company will also invite foreign students to come to SL to follow courses. “When this Engineering School concept gets popular, more..

June 10 (FT) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has directed the Colombo Stock Exchange to defer the opening date of the subscription of the proposed debenture issue of EAP Broadcasting Company until a rating is obtained from an independent agency. EAP’s Rs. 3 billion debenture issue was scheduled to officially open on 11 June. SEC directive came following deliberations at a meeting of commissioners yesterday. SEC said there was a prima facie conflict of interest more..

June 10 (Island) Another top Customs officer attached to Bonding Division was now faced with dismissal due to an issue that arose with regard to the recent increase of customs duty on areca nut trade, Customs sources said They said 27 businessmen who imported areca nut and exported them after having obtained permits had to pay additional customs duty of Rs. 27 per kilo due to the recent increase in duties. Customs trade unionists have threatened a strike if more..

June 10 (FT) Newly-formed alliance of minor Tamil parties, Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), has expressed its opposition to the electoral system agreed upon by the Cabinet. Leader of the TPA, Mano Ganesan, said his alliance vehemently opposed the system which keeps the number of Mps at 225. Cabinet approved the electoral system proposed in the 20th Amendment by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. more..

June 10 (Island) UPFA ex-MP A.H.M. Azwer said UNP MP cum Justice Minister should immediately renounce his ministerial portfolio as he had challenged the authority of the Speaker and Parliament by saying that the present govt would not take any action on the no-confidence motion signed by 112 MPs against PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. MP Wijayadasa Rajapakshe has said, "The Opposition’s motion would not be taken up for Parliamentary debate since the UNP based govt was more..

June 10 (DM) The report of the three-member committee appointed to probe the 2012 Welikada prison riot was handed over to Justice Minister Wijayadasa Rajapakshe. Minister Rajapakshe said culprits will soon be identified and legal action will be taken to punish them with the purpose of rendering justice to the killed inmates according to the recommendations and instructions given in the report. The committee was comprised its Head High Court Judge Wimal Nambuwasam, more..

June 10 (DM) With the dynamic changes in societies all over world, it was time for Sri Lanka too to hold a discussion on gay rights with the input of community leaders, Attorney-at-Law and Human Rights Activist Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa said. He said bombarding Sri Lanka with marriage benefits for same-sex couples at this level would not be wise but a discussion on basic rights of gay people could be considered appropriate when more..

June 10 (DN) A scheduled meeting with the Central Bank Governor was cancelled by the BBS as there had been a positive response from the Governor to the letter sent to him asking permission to meet him to discus about the Shariah Banking System, Ven. Galagodatte Gnanasara Thera said. He said a BBS delegation was scheduled to visit the Central Bank on Tuesday to discuss the recent decision by banks to establish a religious based banking system called the Sharia Banking System. more..

June 10 (CG) Australian officials allegedly paid tens of thousands of dollars to people smugglers to turn a boat full of asylum seekers, including several Sri Lankans, back to Indonesia. A boat carrying 65 people from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, who were seeking asylum in New Zealand, was boarded by Australian custom officers in late May. Asylum seekers on board the boat described being kept in “jail-like conditions” on a navy ship as navy and Customs officials intercepted, more..

June 10 (FT) TNS Lanka’s latest survey, for business magazine LMD, sheds light on the political undercurrents and key governance concerns in present-day Sri Lanka. The results of the monthly countrywide poll reveal that a majority of respondents (53%) agree that Sri Lanka should be run by a national govt, with some going so far as to suggest that the system has delivered a new beginning for the country. more..

June 10 (CT) A group called People's Media Center lodged a complaint with Police Head Quarters, alleging that there is a conspiracy to murder former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. "Attempting to release LTTE terrorists, not taking legal actions against criminals, alleged murder charges, unusual behaviour of the PM Ranil Wickramasinghe, recalling investigation officers who resided in LTTE friendly countries such as the USA and purposefully disregarding former President's security" more..

June 10 (EN) Sri Lanka has been warned about a suspected breach of an embargo on Iranian crude by involving state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. The US embassy in Colombo had written to the energy ministry saying a crude oil shipment to Sri Lanka on board the merchant ship F Whale is of Iranian origin. Report quoted the letter as saying that a Singapore flagged vessel, Vardalalima had loaded crude in December from Kharg Island which had then been transferred more..

June 10 (CNBC) Sri Lanka's finance minister has defended the pace of the country's economic recovery, as a bruising vote of no confidence in the govt looms. Minister Ravi Karunanayake, insisted that the no-confidence motion filed against PM Ranil Wickremesinghe would fail. However, political uncertainty has taken a toll on Sri Lanka's stock index. On Tuesday, the main stock index extended losses to finish at 7,067 points more..

June 10 (DM) It would bring us golden memories and oceans of tears when we hear beautiful songs such as Nina and Fredrick’s “Listen to the ocean” in which they sing in harmony about echoes of a million sea shells about the ocean that is forever in motion, moving to a rhythmic unwritten music that is played eternally. Motivational speakers or writers have also used beautiful symbolism in telling us to search every sea until we find our dream. An increasingly selfish, self-centred and greedy more..

June 10 (DM) The following is the Memorandum submitted to the Official Languages Commission by L.H. Mettananda, late Principal of Ananda College, Colombo in 1952. There are three possible aims of English Education: (1) Re-nationalization; (2) To impart English culture; (3) To impart knowledge in the field of exact science, technology and fact. The first aim is to make our population 100% English speaking. No language, however important it is, can replace the mother-tongue. more..

June 10 (SL) June marks one year since Aluthgama saw violence erupted between two groups which threatened to ignite an all out religious war. Some Muslim shops and houses were burnt, unarmed Muslims were attacked and fear of clashes spread like wildfire amongst Muslims and Buddhists throughout the country. Two people were killed and many were wounded and nearly 10000 people displaced. more..

June 10 (LBO) Govt revenues have increased 21% over the first five months of this year against the same period last year, Deputy Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva told Parliament. As per the latest data the govt has collected 492 billion rupees by May 2015 against the 406 billion rupees collected on the same period last year. During the period of January to May 2015, authorities have collected 32% of the total estimated revenue more..

June 10 (DM) Leader of the newly formed Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Mano Ganesan stated that the Alliance would focus on the Tamils in the South, mainly, and that they should not get attention from the International community at the cost of Tamils in the North. Also he stated that all Tamil political parties coming under one umbrella would be a distant reality. Furthermore he says that he wants to be the President of SL but unfortunately more..

June 10 (ST) Sri Lanka is on path to face a severe crisis in the near future due to the lack of a comprehensive plan to address the mounting garbage issue currently plaguing many of the municipalities. The increasing population is rapidly generating more solid waste than ever before that our little island is unable to absorb through available landfills. Mountains of unhealthy landfills in several major cities such as Colombo, Kandy and more..

June 10 (FT) Sri Lanka is making a fresh push this week to woo Chinese interests for greater trade and investment, with a mega delegation at the five-day China South Asia Expo in Kunming, the capital of high-potential Yunnan Province. A record participation of 123 private sector organisations and five Govt institutions facilitated by the EDB will reinforce the showcasing of Sri Lanka for greater bilateral trade with China. more..

June 10 (Island) Deputy Minister Dr Harsha de Silva said that five public sector institutions had obtained 1,987,620 million rupees from private and state banks during the previous regime. Those loans had not been settled and there was no way the funds could be recovered, he said. Rs. 1,826,191 million was due from the govt to licensed commercial banks, National Savings Bank (NSB) and the People’s Bank. more..

June 10 (CT) President Maithripala Sirisena has given the green light to Northern Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran to launch Northern Chief Minister's Fund for development activities in the Northern Province. President Sirisena convened a special meeting with Chief Ministers of all nine Provinces on Monday. During the meeting several issues of the Provinces were discussed by President with Chief Ministers more..