Mar 30 (DM) Setting a palatable example to religious institutions and social justice groups, the Gangaramaya Temple last Wednesday launched a movement to provide nutritious and hygienically prepared packets of rice and curry for lunch or dinner at the affordable price of Rs. 50 a packet each. The Gangaramaya Dhansala, for which the temple’s Chief Incumbent Ven. Galaboda Gnaneswara Thera took the initiative, was declared open by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. more..

Mar 30 (DM) Institution of Parliament depends for its efficacy and indeed, its very existence, on some basic principles, without which it cannot function at all. One of these principles is the division of functions and responsibilities between Govt and Opposition. For centuries the role of the British Parliament, on which Commonwealth legislative practice is based has re-organised the fundamental distinction between more..

Mar 30 (Island) LPBOA President Gemunu Wijeratne called on the govt to reveal the names of the large-scale bus owners who had been issued with route permits illegally under the last regime. He said the New Democratic Front had clearly mentioned in its election manifesto that action would be taken to improve the private bus industry. But, so far nothing had been done for the benefit of the industry. more..

Mar 30 (SL) People belonging to religious minorities in Pakistan who had been subjected to violence, inhuman treatments and prosecution based on their religious faith had been increasingly seeking help from the UNHRC in Sri Lanka. They were hoping that the UNHCR would assist them to settle elsewhere in the world where they can breathe freely. However, despite their hope, many Pakistan asylum seekers in Sri Lanka claimed that more..

Mar 30 (DN) The Foundation for Civilian Bravery honour people who manifest human nobility, with action that are courageous and impressive, Defence Ministry Secretary B.M.U.D. Basnayake said. Addressing the gathering at the website launching ceremony of the Foundation for Civilian Bravery on Friday, Basnayake said that bravery in terms of military achievements was a component to bring freedom to the country. more..

Mar 30 (DN) The current set up of the govt is not a national govt but only a two-party govt, Attorney-at-law, Dr. Pathibha Mahanamahewa opined. He said that in order for it to be a national govt, members from all political parties represented in the Parliament should be included in the govt. Dr. Mahanamahewa added that confidence could not be placed in the Constitutional Council as constituted in the gazetted 19th Amendment Bill for more..

Mar 30 (DM) Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera says the fresh proscription imposed on the LTTE is a heavy blow against attempts of certain top leaders of the previous regime to acquire the wealth and assets amassed in the EU countries by the terrorist organisation. He said the reimposition of the ban is also a grave blow against those who attempted to revive the LTTE activities internationally. more..

Mar 30 (Island) The govt, utilizing its equity muscle through shareholdings of state-controlled entities like Employees Provident Fund, Employees Trust Fund, Insurance Corporation, National Savings Bank and Bank of Ceylon is moving to make board changes in several commercial banks quoted on the CSE. Asked about this, Minister Raving Karunanayake confirmed that "we are getting our act together." more..

Mar 30 (DN) Minister Champika Ranawaka requested to directly report to him about any group or individual that demands ransoms or commissions in the power and energy sector. Addressing a general meeting of the Petroleum Dealers’ Association to discuss problems faced by fuel filling station owners, minister stressed that there was no room for extortionists in the power and energy sector under present administration. more..

Mar 30 (ST) The Sri Lankan govt will need time to consider the six point proposal put forwarded by Indian fishermen at the latest round of Indo- Lanka fisheries talks in Chennai. Fisheries ministry secretary Nimal Hettiarachchi said a decision regarding the proposals would be taken only after the proposals were discussed on Thursday at a meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena, Northern fishermen federations, more..

Mar 30 (CG) Former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal has been questioned on the hedging deal, by the police special unit investigating allegations of financial crimes. State-run CPC in 2007 entered into a hedging agreement with five local and international banks to buy crude oil at a capped price of $130 per barrel. The deal went sour when the oil prices fell below US$ 50 in the world market and CPC stood to more..

Mar 30 (CT) New NDF Govt of SLFP leader and President Maithripala Sirisena and UNP leader and Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe were ushered in by the people of this country at the Presidential Poll to bring about good governance, regain the robbed assets of the country allegedly plundered by the previous regime and to prosecute its offenders, assist in reconciliation and establish law and order. In regard to the new govt's commitment to 'regain the robbed assets of the country more..

Mar 30 (CT) Sri Lankan political leaders from the South live with a political perversion in creating this region’s largest projects. This greedy trend is now talked of as Mahinda Rajapaksa’s giant derailment in creating white elephants. Within them, the less popular giants include a 235 acre MR National Tele Cinema Park in Ranimithenna at a cost of over Rs.200 million, a hitherto incomplete Hambantota Sports Zone with indoor and outdoor facilities, including a 18 hole golf link, more..

Mar 30 (EN) Stock market slide deepened Monday with the benchmark index slumping over one percent, extending the downward trend for the sixth straight session in thin trade. The All Share Price Index fell 91.09 points (1.33%) to close at 6,782.43 while the S&P SL 20 index, closed at 3,832.53, down 68.81 points (1.76%). Turnover was a low 459 million rupees. First Capital Equities said the bourse in early morning trade stagnated for 30 minutes and then plunged by 91 points. more..

Mar 30 (AD) The Attanagalla Magistrate on Monday granted bail to ex-Minister Sarana Gunawardena. He was arrested by the CID on charges of criminal breach of trust, on 12 March. Gunawardena, who was the Deputy Minister of Petroleum Industries under the previous government, was released on five personal bails of Rs. 5 million. The complaint filed against the UFPA Parliamentarian charged him with financial frauds amounting to over Rs 9.6 million. more..

Mar 30 (DM) The motion which was signed by 58 opposition MPs supporting the nomination of MEP Leader Dinseh Gunawardane as Opposition Leader would be presented to Speaker next week, NFF Leader Wimal Weerawansa said. Some of the MPs who had earlier signed a petition in support of Nimal Sirirpala de Silva as Opposition Leader had now pledged their support to Mr. Gunawardane after submitting affidavits. more..

Mar 30 (Island) Former Mayor and member of the Kandy Municipal Council Raja Pushpakumara (UNP) told its meeting that it had been proposed to construct a motorable road through the Udawattekele forest reserve to connect Tennekumbura road at Buwelikada as an alternative to road that has been closed for vehicular traffic near Sri Dalada Maligawa. Raja Pushpakumara told the council meeting that the proposal for the construction of the road had emanated from more..

Mar 30 (CG) Officials of the Customs Air Intelligence Unit at the Cochin International airport in Kochi, India seized about 400 grams of gold, 11 cell phones and SD cards valued at Rs.15 lakh from two passengers who landed in Kochi from Colombo. The metal, in the form of eight gold bars, were concealed in their rectum. The accused, identified as Abdullah and Muhammed Hussain, both hailing from Tamil Nadu, had landed in Kochi by a Sri Lankan Airlines flight from Colombo and were intercepted more..

Mar 30 (DM) Sri Lanka Cricket which has been dissolved will be administered by an interim committee till the investigations into corrupt deals are completed, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said today. Speaking at the launch of the countrywide free Wi-Fi facilities at a ceremony, PM said Sri Lanka Cricket owed the Sate Engineering Corporation Rs.500 million and the failure to the bills should be investigated. more..

Mar 30 (Island) Anuradhapura District UPFA MP S. M. Chandrasena has accused Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva of being a puppet of the govt. He said that the Opposition Leader must not allow himself to be used as a cat’s paw of the govt. Chandrasena said that the incumbent Opposition leader was a close friend of his but the latter should not become what he call the tail of the govt. "If the Opposition Leader is ready to play the role expected of him we will back him." more..

Mar 30 (Island) The country should never forget that the peace it was enjoying today was made possible through dedication, sweat, blood and sacrifices of the valiant forces, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence BMUD Basnayake said on Saturday. Addressing a commissioning ceremony of 41 Midshipmen belonging to the 28th and the 29th Intakes of the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) held at the main parade ground of the Naval Maritime Academy in Trincomalee more..

Mar 30 (AM) A complaint was filed at the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption this morning by the Sinhala National Front (SNF) against Minister Rishad Bathiyutheen on allegedly obtaining lands in the Wilapattu National Park. The Front alleges that the minister had illegally obtained lands in the Wilapattu area to settle local and foreign individuals. The national convener of SNF Ven. Agurugalle Sri Jinananda more..

Mar 30 (Xinhua) Sri Lankan govt has sought the help of the UN and India to help evacuate Sri Lankans who are caught up in the war in Yemen, a govt official said on Monday. A spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that 120 Sri Lankan nationals who were currently employed in Yemen were being housed at a location close to the Indian Mission in the capital Sanaa and they are expected to be moved out across the border to neighboring Oman in the next few days. more..

Mar 30 (CT) A suspect in the assassination of the Rathgama Pradesheeya Sabha Chairman, who was shot on 23 March, was arrested by a special Police team yesterday. The arrest was made after a tip off that the suspect Wijayamuni Weeranga, was at the scene of the crime and had fled with the other suspects in a car. The suspect will be presented for an identification parade. Meanwhile, Police received information that another suspect, Podi Lassie, who sustained injuries in the incident, more..

Mar 30 (ICC) ICC announced the team of the World Cup 2015 with Brendon McCullum as its captain. McCullum was chosen as the captain following his aggressive, innovative and inspirational leadership during the 44-day tournament that was the cornerstone of his team’s progression to the final where it lost to Australia by seven wickets. In doing so, McCullum also scored 328 runs in nine matches with four half-centuries more..

Mar 30 (CI) The 2015 World Cup saw a paradigm shift in ODI scoring patterns, a few records broken, and a spirited display from the Associates. 3: 400-plus team totals in this World Cup. The only instance of a 400-plus total in the World Cup before this was India's 413 for 5 against Bermuda in 2007. This World Cup also saw 28 300-plus totals, almost a 65% increase from the previous highest of 17 in 2011. 24-24: Win-loss ratio of teams batting first in this World Cup; teams batting first more..

Mar 30 (Mirror) A British woman has died in Sri Lanka - reportedly killed after falling from a train. The Foreign Office has confirmed a British national died in Payagala yesterday but has yet to provide any more details. Sri Lanka media is reporting that the victim was a 25-year-old woman who was on a train heading towards the city of Colombo at the time of the tragedy. The Sri Lankan Daily Mirror reports that she was sitting on the footboard of the train and fell to her death. more..

Mar 30 (DM) China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC) Director San Ya peng’s passport was impounded today when he was produced in Court on charges of not paying the bills submitted by a sub-contractor for work done at the Mattala Airport, Suryawewea Cricket Grounds and the Colombo Port City. Chandana Pushpa Lal of Hai Sei Construction Company complained to the CID that Directors of China Harbour Engineering more..

Mar 30 (CT) Plans are afoot to either oust Chief Minister of Western Provincial Council (WPC) Prasanna Ranatunga or to slash his powers because he is supporting ex- President Rajapakse, WPC Opposition leader Manju Sri Arangala said. President Sirisena has received several requests from UNP and SLFP seniors to remove Ranatunga. The seniors also proposed that the two WPC Ministers Upali Kodikara and Nimal Lanza, who are staunch supporters of Prasanna Ranatunga, more..

Mar 30 (EN) Sri Lanka's high level of income inequality is a cause for concern, according to a new UN report on how the island had performed in meeting the Millennium Development Goals. "Although Sri Lanka has made considerable progress in reducing poverty and improving the living conditions of its people, income inequality has remained stagnant despite sustained economic growth," it said. Income inequality barely shifted in the 22 years from 1990 to 2012. more..

Mar 30 (AFP) Sri Lanka has yet to resolve a dispute with China over a $1.4 billion development in Colombo despite a state visit to Beijing last week, a minister said Monday. New SL President Sirisena suspended the Chinese-backed construction of a port city in the capital following allegations that environmental clearances had not been obtained. Some reports had indicated the project would go ahead following Sirisena's more..

Mar 30 (GDI) Given that the Russian economy is strangling with economic embargoes that has resulted in the current depreciating by almost 100%, Sri Lanka tourism went on to invest in the market with strong brand building with focused relationship with key travel agents and tour operators at the key Russian fair MITT that was staged in Moscow last week. Chairman Sri Lanka tourism Rohantha Athukoral said that once the economy opens out, the strong relationships can respond to more..

Mar 30 (AM) Additional police protection was given to the Hathare Ela area ahead of the funeral of Priyantha Sirisena, a brother of President Maithripala Sirisena. Sirisena, also known as Weli Raju was assaulted on the back of his head with an axe on March 26, by an individual named Lakmal Saputhanthri at the latter’s residence at Hathare Ela. Sirisena later succumbed to his injuries and his funeral will be held at Polonnaruwa later in the day. Police protection was given to the area more..

Mar 30 (AM) Tharindu Nirmal Wickremasinghe of Nalanda College, Colombo, has topped the island rankings at the G.C.E Ordinary Level Examination 2014. Sanduni Nawanjana Jayawardena, a student of Holy Cross College, Gampaha, was ranked at second place. There are three students sharing the third place in the island ranks. List of the first ten ‘high flyers’ at G.C.E O/L Examination 2014 can be seen below. more..

Mar 30 (CG) Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa will return next month and make a statement over alleged fraud allegations. Lawyers appearing for Rajapaksa told the Kaduwela Magistrate today that Rajapaksa will return on April 20. A group of 20 lawyers had appeared on behalf of the former Minister before the Magistrate today. Rajapaksa had left the country following the January 8 Presidential elections which was won by President Maithripala Sirisena. more..

Mar 30 (HN) Professor Lalitha Mendis of the Colombo University has been appointed as the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University with effect from tomorrow. UGC has given approval for the appointment. Chairman of the UGC Professor Mohan De Silva stated that Dr. Kumara Hirimburegama who was the Vice Chancellor had obtained leave and his leave application was approved. Protests erupted in the recent past against VC Dr. Kumara Hirimburegama more..

Mar 30 (AD) A certain group is currently considering whether there are possibilities of taking legal action challenging the Finance Ministry ‘request’ for the heads of several private commercial banks to resign, Adaderana learns from very reliable sources. The Finance Ministry had recently informed several higher ups appointed to private commercial banks where the govt is a stakeholder to resign from their respective posts. more..

Mar 31 (ENS) President Sirisena’s 4-day visit to China was part of a delicate balancing act being executed by Colombo. Under former President Rajapaksa, SL had drifted close to China in ways that made it seem unconcerned about India’s sensitivities. There was no progress on the Tamil question. SL also hosted two Chinese submarines last year, which made New Delhi apprehensive about its security and contributed to its reservations about Chinese Maritime Silk Road project. more..

Mar 31 (ST) As the crisis in the SLFP deepens, the capitulation of its membership to the UNP-led Govt continues. Frontliners included, the once-vociferous critics of the Govt have adjusted their positions on issues, and no less than 25 SLFP MPs have accepted portfolios as ministers, state ministers and deputies. SLFP has become a stakeholder in a peculiar animal called a National Govt, whilst continuing to lay claim to the role of the Opposition and the post of Opposition Leader. more..