Mar 12 (DN) For Thilak Weerasinghe, the large blue ocean was a land of opportunity and his dreams did not end at the horizon. Something told him that it was the sea that would make him figure known all over the world and his first encounter in the sea was in1982 as a sportsman and then an administrator with the Windsurfing Association with the then famous Baron De Livera. His expertise in water sports drove him to venture overseas to get qualified and when he returned he blended his more..

Mar 12 (Hindu) A visit to Sri Lanka by an Indian Prime Minister has been long overdue. The last visit to the island by Rajiv Gandhi almost ended in disaster. Requests by former Presidents Chandrika Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapaksa, and even Ranil Wickremasinghe who was then Premier, had fallen on deaf Indian ears. However, both Indian politicians and officials on several occasions gave their Sri Lankan counterparts hope of a prime ministerial visit. But the wait lasted 28 years. more..

Mar 12 (FT) Sri Lanka’s high-tech exports are projected to cross $1 b mark this year, a year before the previously forecast timeframe, and the Japanese ICT sector is highly impressed by the Lankan industry, as revealed yesterday. “We believe that this year Lanka ICT exports will hit the $1 billion mark, a year before as forecasted previously. ICT export sector of Sri Lanka has a target of increasing exports up to $ 5 billion by 2022 more..

Mar 12 (EN) Eagle Proprietary Investments Limited (EPIL), a Dubai-based investment firm has set up a legal outsourcing company in Sri Lanka, in what a senior official said was the high-end of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) market. Ironwood Legal Solutions (Pvt) Limited (ILS) signed an agreement with the BOI as the first BOI-approved Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO) company in Sri Lanka. Ironwood Legal has been launched with an anchor client in the United States and more..

Mar 12 (CT) Recovery of the US economy has been a boon to carriers, with liners informing shippers from Colombo, of freight increases ranging from between 5-6% effective from 20 March. Sri Lanka's biggest export market is the USA. Those exports are led by garments, SL's second highest foreign exchange earner after remittances. Those increases are due to increased demand from the world's largest economy. Those hikes in absolute terms amount to US$ 200 for a 40 foot container, more..

Mar 12 (Island) The newly set up Police Financial Fraud Investigation Division (FFID) has sought the instructions of the Attorney General whether they could ask for the extradition of former Minister Basil Rajapaksa from Vietnam to obtain information pertaining to alleged frauds said to have taken place in the Divi Neguma project. The FFID is in the process of listing various frauds, corruption and swindling of public funds alleged to have more..

Mar 12 (GDI) President Maithripala Sirisena who is now in Britain on an invitation extended to him by Queen Elizabeth II, visited the London Buddhist Viharaya yesterday (10). This temple was set up with the pioneering efforts of Anagarika Dharmapala in 1926. It is the most important place of worship and reverence for the British Buddhist community. Chief Incumbent Monk of the Temple Ven. Bogoda Seelawimala Thera received the President on arrival at the Vihara premises. more..

Mar 12 (FT) The visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address Sri Lanka’s top business leaders on Friday, 13 March, in Colombo. The evening event, which is organised by the country’s premier Chamber, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, will see the attendance of 400 local business leaders. This is the first time; an Indian Prime Minister is making a bilateral visit to Sri Lanka, since the last such visit made by an Indian Premier in 1987. more..

Mar 12 (Hindu) It is time the 13th Amendment was replaced with a more dynamic system of devolution of powers, according to Sri Lanka’s Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran. The former Supreme Court judge said: “[The] 13th Amendment can never be the final solution. Be that as it may, we welcome him [Mr. Modi]. We know we have a friend in him. We appreciate his concerns for us, in wanting to come to the North.” more..

Mar 12 (DN) The Power and Energy Ministry will achieve 100% electrification in the Anuradhapura district soon, Minister Champika Ranawaka said. He was expressing these views after opening an electricity project at Anamaduwa in Puttalam. Electricity projects in Anuradhapura will be completed before Sinhala and Tamil New Year, he said. Minister Ranawaka said supplying electricity to remote areas will be considered a priority within the 100 day program of the govt. more..

Mar 12 (Hindu) Kerala is looking into the possibility of creating a new tourism circuit in partnership with Sri Lanka and the Maldives to enhance tourist arrivals. Tourism Secretary G. Kamala Vardhana Rao held discussions in this regard with Sri Lankan Minister of Tourism and Sports Navin Dissanayake at the just concluded ITB Berlin. “A travel itinerary that includes three of the most popular destinations in South Asia will certainly appeal to many tourists,” said Mr. Rao. more..

Mar 12 (Island) President Maithripala Sirisena has assured British Premier David Cameron that the Sri Lankan judiciary could be moved on the findings and recommendations made by the Maxwell Paranagama Presidential Commission inquiring into missing persons as well as accountability issues. While asserting that the report could be made public in July, the President said that the now independent judiciary could be more..

Mar 12 (DN) For the first time in the world a mobile blood and kidney testing plant, Accuster, was introduced by an Indian entrepreneur, Amit Bhatnagar. This product is now being marketed in Sri Lanka by S & M imports and trading importers and suppliers of gauze products, medical disposables / equipments, textiles targeting the small and medium scale entrepreneurs. The product with a life time patent and designed by an Indian entrepreneur, who had worked with Bill Gates more..

Mar 12 (Island) Following roads would be closed or access thereto would be limited during the hours specified in view of Indian PM Narendra Modi’s visit on Friday and Saturday. On Friday (13): From 5.30 am to 6.30 am: Katunayake Expressway from the BIA, Baseline road via Kelani Bridge upto D.S. Colour Lights in Borella, Horton Place, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Liberty Roundabout, St Michael Roundabout, Galle Road from the Kollutpitiya Junction to Galle Face Green, more..

Mar 12 (SCMP) Sri Lanka's new govt is being unfair to China by unnecessarily dragging it into domestic politics, Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a rare interview after his defeat in presidential elections. "They should be thankful to China for the help they extended; instead these people are treating China like a criminal," said Rajapaksa. "But I would urge China not to take it personally. It's me they are after. They are only using China to get me. more..

Mar 12 (CT) The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) is preparing to obtain assistance from Interpol to scrutinize bank accounts of individuals, when investigating complaints involving large-scale financial frauds. Director General of CIABOC, Dilrukshi Dias Wickremasinghe, said, in addition, she expects to obtain the assistance of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), which is under the administration of Central Bank of Sri Lanka, more..

Mar 12 (Hindu) PM Narendra Modi is likely to meet the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his visit to Sri Lanka. Efforts are on to arrange a meeting in Colombo, sources told The Hindu. Refraining from commenting on a possible meeting, a source in the former President’s office said Mr. Rajapaksa was scheduled to visit Colombo on Friday. After his former Cabinet colleague Maithripala Sirisena unseated him from the presidency in the elections in January, more..

Mar 12 (Island) President Maithripala Sirisena assured that Sri Lanka would release its own war crimes dossier before the UN investigators presented their report to UNHRC in Sept 2015. President was responding to Labour and Opposition Leader Ed Miliband during a hurriedly arranged meeting. FM Mangala Samaraweera explained the ongoing domestic investigation meant to address the contentious accountability issue. more..

Mar 12 (Island) Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that he hoped bodhi poojas and other such religious activities would help make the present day rulers compassionate towards one and all. Addressing the public who attended a bodhi pooja organised by former minister T.B. Ekanayake on Monday, the former President reaffirmed his dedication to safeguarding the aspirations of Sri Lankans, especially the 5.8 million people who had voted for him at the last presidential election. more..

Mar 12 (DN) Former Director of the Blood Bank Dr. R.M. Bindusara had been interdicted, Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said. According to Minister Senaratne, she had been interdicted sometime back in connection with using outdated blood transfusion equipment. The National Blood Centre had allegedly used outdated blood transfusion kits a few years ago. The kits, each costing around Rs. 26,000 were imported from two American-based companies. more..

Mar 12 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's suspension of a project to build a glittering skyline on land reclaimed from the Indian Ocean has prompted China to defend its investment, in a test of Beijing's ambitions to fund loans and major infrastructure ventures abroad. Recently elected President Maithripala Sirisena has vowed to look again at deals between China and his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa, saying they were not more..

Mar 12 (DM) controversy is mounting among the political circles these days on the dissolution of the Parliament in April as scheduled by the 100-day programme of the NDF govt. A section within and outside the govt argue that irrespective of the implementation of constitutional reforms the President must dissolve the Parliament as scheduled while some others contend the other way around- Parliament should be dissolved only after the passage of the relevant Bills pertaining to more..

Mar 12 (DM) Loyalty to the govt is flawed at the point Sirisena is tied to a post at the SLFP headquarters. He owes Ranil a salute for selflessness that led to his victory: SLFP lost its privileges by losing portfolios. Sirisena made a catastrophic decision taking over a fallen SLFP that sacked him. As his own man was stronger, relied on the swan song before taking his former adversaries in SLFP on board. He is not dumb and probably did to please his lady trainer, the matchmaker. more..

Mar 12 (Island) Bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and India under Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has led to a significant upturn, said Assistant High Commissioner for India in Kandy Ms. Radha Venkatraman at a trade promotional business forum organised by the federation of chambers of commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka held at the Kandy Sinhala Traders Front. Ms. Venkatraman expressed her appreciation of more..

Mar 12 (AD) Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ruwan Gunasekara has been appointed as the new Police Media Spokesman. Former Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana has been transferred to Colombo North Division. ASP Gunasekara, an Attorney at Law, had served as the Acting Police Spokesman while SSP Ajith Rohana was away from the country. Ajith Rohana is expected to return to the island more..

Mar 12 (SL) Milton Marasinghe, the former Human Resource manager of the Colombo fuel bank (which provides fuel to the ships that call at the Colombo harbour), accused its former Managing Director with selling 20 tonnes of diesel from the storage facility to a private company at Rs. 7 per litre. He stated that the former Managing Director of the storage facility had fraudulently altered the documentation to show that the diesel was more..

Mar 12 (ST) With little or no rains being received and the number of dengue patients conequently declining, doctors are requesting people to be vigilant. Kalubowila Teaching Hospital Director Dr. Asela Gunawardena said compared to the figures for the end of 2013, patient numbers are low even this time. He said in January 2015, 521 suspected dengue cases had been reported to the hospital while only 206 cases were reported in February. more..

Mar 12 (EN) Year-end earnings forecasts for listed Sri Lankan companies have been raised by a stock broker, given rising disposable incomes and lower costs of energy and other consumer goods. Consumer demand is likely to remain strong benefiting banking, manufacturing and food and beverage sectors, First Capital Equities said. "We upgrade our earnings forecast for December 2014 and March 2015E to 10-12% more..

Mar 12 (DM) Chairman of JHU, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera recently expressed his disappointment over certain actions of the govt which he worked hard to bring to power. Dailymirror spoke to Ven. Rathana Thera about his reasons for being discontented with the govt and the present political situation of the country. Q: You were at the forefront of toppling Rajapaksa regime and bringing Maithripala Sirisena to power. more..

Mar 12 (CT) The Court of Appeal yesterday stated that it has no jurisdiction to issue orders to the Commission to Investigate Allegation of Bribery or Corruption (CIABC). The Bench comprising Justices K.T. Chitrasiri and L.B.T. Dehideniya, having heard the submission of Additional Solicitor General Savindra Fernando in a case against CIABOC, came to this conclusion. Deputy Superintendent of Customs, more..

Mar 12 (CG) President Maithripala Sirisena says UN investigators will not be involved in the domestic investigation over the war. The Sri Lankan president says he hopes to set up a domestic inquiry into alleged war crimes committed during the country’s civil war within a month. But he said UN investigators would not be involved, despite international pressure. He was speaking to the BBC’s Sinhala service while more..

Mar 12 (DM) Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, who heads the National Movement for Social Justice and the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) which were instrumental in the setting up of this Govt stressed the need to put in place the promised electoral reforms before declaring a general election. They insisted that the next general elections should be held under the new electoral system even if it was held after April this year. more..

Mar 12 (AP) Indian PM Narendra Modi's official visit to Sri Lanka reflects a bounce back in bilateral relations as the South Asian power seeks to mitigate China's growing influence on its Indian Ocean neighbors. Sri Lanka is the last stop on Modi's trip after visits to Indian Ocean island states Seychelles and Mauritius. It comes after three decades of mostly rocky relations largely due to an ethnic separatist conflict in Sri Lanka. more..

Mar 12 (CT) Lead story in this newspaper's yesterday's edition was about the proposed electoral reforms. It was with regard to party leaders at Parliament agreeing to have representation in the 'lower house' on the following basis. 125 on the first past the post (FPP) system, 75 on the basis of proportional representation (PR) and the balance 25 on nomination. That makes the total count to Parliament to 225. It is the same as that which existed in the 1989 general elections. more..

Mar 12 (CT) Dear Mr Prime Minister, I join my compatriots in extending a warm welcome to you to Sri Lanka. Almost 28 years have passed since Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi (RG) visited this island. As you are well aware, his visit was shrouded with some extremely complex and unpleasant issues during the periods immediately prior to, during and after his visit. It is hoped your visit will be a prelude to a new relationship based on friendship amongst equals and mutual respect. more..

Mar 12 (NS) Despite not having set up an all party committee on January 28 to present proposals for electoral reforms as promised in the 100-day program, on Thursday (5) the govt announced that the next general elections would be held under a new electoral system. According to the 100-day program the govt has promised to replace the current preferential voting system with a mixed electoral system that ensures representation more..

Mar 12 (EN) Sri Lankan shares ended lower Thursday with turnover sinking to a six-week low in dull trade but with foreign investors continuing to buy. The All Share Price Index fell slightly by 1.12 points to end at 7,109.07 while the S&P SL 20 index, which tracks the top 20 largest and most liquid stocks, lost 1.91 points to close at 4,068.83. Turnover fell to a six week low of 492 million rupees with no crossings or off-the-floor negotiated deals, Lanka Securities said. more..

Mar 12 (Island) A help desk (hotline 1938) had been set up by the Ministry of Women's Affairs for women to obtain assistance and lodge complaints of violence, a spokesman for the Ministry said. The spokesman said victims or even those who witnessed such incidents could use the hotline. He said that the hot line had been available in the past but not many had used it. Ministry had taken steps to popularise the number in a bid to address the issue of violence against women. more..

Mar 12 (DM) National Executive Council (NEC) had no authority to decide or call for the arrest of former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa or any person, NFF said. The party that backed the ousted President Rajapaksa also questioned in what capacity the NEC took the decision. “Only the Police can decide whether to arrest a person or not. One could also be arrested following a Court Order. more..

Mar 12 (HS) For 50 years, the 78-year-old has been following and cheering his beloved Sri Lankan side across the world — well before they were given Test playing status in 1981. In fact, so devoted is Mr Abeysekera, he is widely regarded as the side’s unofficial mascot. A regular on the pitch waving the national flag when the players leave the field. Mr Abeysekera is in Tasmania for the second time to cheer on his side when it faces Scotland today. He is being hosted by fellow Sri Lankan more..