Apr 30 (WE) Master travel writer John Gimlette’s journey to SL began with a modest bus ride from his home in southwest London, where nearby, he tells us, some 8,000 British Tamils live in Tooting, all originally from the town of Velvettithurai, and many of whom are members of tough urban gangs with names like the Tamil Posse or the Jaffna Boys. Unlikely as it sounds for England, these toughs had run amok on a beach in Norfolk in 2001, stabbing and beating holidaymakers. more..

Apr 30 (FT) 13-year-old A. Vinodhani a grade six student lives with her family on Meeriyabedda Tea Estate in Koslanda. She saw the devastation that was caused by the landslide that took place a few hundred metres from her home on the morning of 29 Oct 2014. She also knows that the area where her house is has been recognised as a high risk zone and that her parents have been asked to move to a safer place which more..

Apr 30 (G&M) Shajiraj Nadarajalingam arrived in Canada as a teenager, a refugee from Sri Lanka with few prospects. He found his way into the construction business and eventually created Ideal Developments, a Toronto-area home builder. Mr. Nadarajalingam kept close ties to Sri Lanka and contributed to a host of charities. About a year ago, he decided to do something more ambitious and, together with colleague Sri Nithya Omkarananda, created the Ideal Hope Foundation. more..

Apr 30 (Island) DSI announced the launch of the 16th DSI Supersport Schools Volleyball Championship. DSI has come forward, gaining the support of the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation and the School Volleyball Association of the Ministry of Education, to organize this tournament, which has a significant spot in the history book of Sri Lankan volleyball. Initiated in 1999 by DSI along with the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation and the Ministry of Education, the purpose of the championship more..

Apr 30 (ST) Recent controversies pertaining to the issue of Central Bank Treasury bonds alleging insider dealing are triggering urgent calls for more transparency in such transactions. “This is not a new issue. Even during the earlier years too there were questions raised about the manner in which bonds and other securities were traded in the primary market. Those days it was also private placements which was an absolute secret,” more..

Apr 30 (ITN) The GCE O/L Examination for this year will begin on the 6th of Dec. Department of Examinations said that the Exam will continue until the 17th of Dec. School and private candidates intending to sit the GCE O/L exam can direct their applications until the 31st of May. The related applications have already been directed to School Principals. Private candidates should prepare their applications based on a specimen published in national newspapers yesterday. more..

Apr 30 (Island) Glamour, prestige, fame-everything will be at stake when the 72nd Bradby Shield encounter kicks off in the cauldron-like atmosphere at the Royal Rugby Complex. Prior to winning (nay annihilating Trinity 49-0) last year, Royal’s last successful venture was in 2010. Royal was forced to bite the bullet, to put up with the indignity for four years until in 2015 they allowed their pent-up emotions full rein. What joy there was for the Blue and Gold Boys! 2016 is different. more..

Apr 30 (DM) French Navy said that it is time to start a solid partnership between France and SL. “This is a good time to start the partnership between our two nations,” Captain Laurent De Gramont, Commanding Officer of the French Naval Ship Aconit that arrived in Colombo on a goodwill visit stated. French Ambassador in Colombo Jean-Marin Schuh said that France was very much present in the Indian ocean. more..

Apr 30 (CI) Pakistan Cricket Board has joined Sri Lanka Cricket in agreeing in principle to a proposal from the England & Wales Cricket Board to implement a points system for their tours of England later this summer. PCB have given their blessing to the same suggestion that was put to SLC earlier this month, ahead of their own tour of England in May and June. The idea comes in the wake of the successful implementation of a similar system for the last three Women's Ashes contests. more..

Apr 30 (Island) Colombo High Court Judge, re-fixed for May 25, the trial against Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to former President Rajapaksa and Anusha Palpita, former Chairman of the TRC. They have been indicted by the Attorney General for abusing public property by spending Rs. 600 million of public funds to distribute Sil redi, in the run-up to the Jan 8, 2016 presidential election. The wrappers of the sil redi carried a picture of UPFA Presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa. more..

Apr 30 (Island) Former Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said that a controversial missive issued by newly appointed Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Secretary Nimal Bopage advising the media not to use the term Joint Opposition to denote the dissident group of the UPFA should be examined against the backdrop of the Geneva-based IPU recognising the group loyal to former President Rajapaksa. more..

Apr 30 (ST) A pensioners’ association representing retired staff of the People’s Bank (PB) has raised several strictures on the bank’s accounts urged the Auditor General to carefully scrutinize the bank’s accounts. “The financial position of the bank has to be published in a realistic way and should not be permitted to be window-dressed to display a distorted picture of reality. Such an exercise merely hides the fact of the inefficiency of the management. In the context of the present public focus more..

Apr 30 (Island) A 21-year-old Pakistani was arrested on Thursday by Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) with several small balls of heroin, some of which he swallowed before being arrested. The suspect was admitted at the National Hospital, Colombo. The foreign heroin peddler had been arrested on a tip-off while he was staying in a hotel at Kollupitiya. Another Pakistani was arrested at the BIA early this week with several kilos of heroin, which he had stashed in the false bottom of his luggage. more..

Apr 30 (DN) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe asked the new Parliamentary Reforms and Media Ministry Secretary Nimal Bopage, to show cause as to why he had sent a notice to media institutions with regard to internal affairs of Parliament. PM asked Bopage to visit Temple Trees and show cause as to why he sent a notice to media institutions beyond his realm of duties. He informed Bopage to visit Temple Trees after more..

Apr 30 (Island) Isipathana College, Colombo recorded a vital victory in their inter-school ‘A’ division league rugby match against Science College beating the latter 29 (4 tries, 3 conversions, 1 penalty) to 23 (3 tries, 1 conversion, 2 penalties) at Havelock Park, Colombo yesterday. Pathana led 21-8 at half time. Isipathana got off to a cracking start creating as many as three chances to score within the first ten minutes of the match. They however could only break the deadlock more..

Apr 30 (Island) On 29th April, the Govt of Japan announced the conferment of The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays upon Gilbert Kulatilake in recognition of his significant contribution in disseminating Japanese culture and promoting Japanese Management Systems in Sri Lanka. Kulatilake is a pioneer in enhancing multifaceted relationship between Japan and Sri Lanka over the past forty years. Kulatilake started his close relationship with Japan by joining more..

Apr 30 (DN) The intention of the Police was not to disperse students during the protest but to attack them, IUSF Convener Lahiru Weerasekara said. Medical Faculty Student Activists Committee commenced the protest opposite the Medical Faculty premises in Colombo on Thursday to mark the completion of 100 days since they launched a Satyagraha campaign against the Malabe Medical College, and the privatisations of education. more..

Apr 30 (DN) PRECIFAC postponed recording of initial evidence regarding SriLankan Airlines for May 19 as SriLankan Airlines Regional Manager for Europe Manoj Vaas Gunawardene and his lawyer were not present yesterday to give evidence as noticed. The Commission made this decisionas it was uncertain whether Gunawardene had received the notice. As such, PRECIFAC Chairman High Court Judge Preethi Surasena directed the Secretary of the Commission to re-issue more..

Apr 30 (ST) Good governance activists in Sri Lanka are taking umbrage with the govt over broken promises and lack of action against corrupt elements. “President Maithri (Maithripala Sirisena) and PM Ranil (Wickremasinghe), won on the pledge of eradication of corruption, abuse of power and radical change in the Yahapalana govt. The mafia (however) seems to be yet powerful enough to thwart all the good intentions and promises made by the Yahapalana govt,” K.C. Vignarajah, more..

Apr 30 (DM) Phone call charges will increase because of the removal of the exemption of VAT from the telecommunication services, Minister Harin Fernando said. He said that call charges could go high as a result of the recent decision to remove the exemption VAT but concessionary packages including data packages and new technology will be introduced in the future so that the burden the people will have to bear will be reduced. more..

Apr 30 (CT) The Electronic and Telecommunications Department of the Moratuwa University has made a remarkable breakthrough in introducing a Machine-Vision based intelligence surveillance system. The research project was carried out by a team of scientists comprising Dr. Ajith Pasqual, Dr. Ranga Rodrigo and Dr. Jayathu Samarawickrama of the Moratuwa University under a grant from the NRC functioning under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Research. more..

Apr 30 (DN) The intended visit of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Secretary General Martin Chungong to Sri Lanka is following an official invitation by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and not due to any complaint by the UPFA rebel group, the media spokesman of the Speaker said. He said the Speaker extended this invitation when he met the IPU Secretary General at the 134th IPU Assembly in March in Zambia. The spokesman refuted the claims by the Joint Opposition MPs that more..

Apr 30 (NS) Investigations by Police have revealed that three out of the ex-LTTE cadres who were arrested recently had been working with the Army intelligence at the time of arrest. ASP Ruwan Gunasekera added that the trio, Ram (Ampara), Nagulan (Jaffna) and Thalayan (Trincomalee), who were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the detection of suicide jackets in Chavakachcheri, had been working with military intelligence. more..

Apr 30 (DM) As politicians, trade union leaders and the workers prepare to mark what many see as Sri Lanka’s most party-politicised May Day in recent decades, it would be good to remember so that we could hopefully revive what May Day is really meant to be. Labour Day or May Day is a celebration of labourers and the working classes. It is promoted by the international labour movement, socialists, and communists though real socialism or communism which means a community life appears to more..

Apr 30 (DM) The resolution that was adopted by the NPC last Friday has opened a political can of worms, especially in the South. Many people particularly the communal elements who had kept a low profile when similar resolutions were passed during the previous regime have begun to use this as an opportunity to show off their patriotism. Nevertheless, resolution moved by Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran naturally reminds us of resolution that was moved by Varatharaja Perumal, more..

Apr 30 (FT) A confident UNP urged the public to participate in a meaningful May Day rally which it said would amplify the fight for worker rights and avoid groups with political agendas. “The UNP’s May Day rally this year is dedicated to the committed workforce of this country. Many who don’t know history claims that the UNP is a capitalist party and that it has no right to speak about labour rights. more..

Apr 30 (DN) The red flag carried with pride by the workers around the world symbolises the centuries old history of the collective victories achieved by them and their unity and solidarity, President Maithripala Sirisena states in a message to mark May Day. The message: “May Day is the day working people commemorate the unparalleled victories accomplished with the sacrifice of their blood, tears and sweat. more..

Apr 30 (DM) On May 1st in Sri Lanka, rallies scheduled to be held would comprise festivities, colourful pageants and processions. Regrettably however, the true meaning of this International Labour Day and its connection to the interests of workers appears to have been forgotten by many and instead attention focused elsewhere. May Day is a day with deep historical roots. It grew out of the struggles of workers for more..

Apr 30 (ST) Dispute between trade unions and Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) Chairman Dhammika Ranatunga is likely to enter stormier seas in the coming week with both sides refusing to drop anchor and firing fresh salvos at each other. Joint Trade Union Front says it called off its trade union action two days before the National New Year after a meeting with PM, but now its members are being harassed by the SLPA chairman. more..

Apr 30 (ST) Gymnasiums claiming to hold the secret to quick muscle building are allegedly pumping injurious drugs into young men and women, experts in the sports industry charge. Unscrupulous gymnasium owners are liberally using anabolic steroids and testosterone banned by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) to boost their businesses. Consequently, youth who patronise gymnasiums develop muscle bulges more..

Apr 30 (DN) Sri Lanka would recommence fish exports to the European Union by June, State Minister Dilip Wedaarachchi said yesterday. He said that the fish prices would be decided according to the market demand and the fish exporters would handle the export process. The Ministry was planning to import fish from other countries which had excess fish production to control fish prices in the local market, he said. more..

Apr 30 (CG) Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, A M J Sadiq hosted a meeting of ambassadors from Asia in The Hague to highlight the work of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) and to discuss the issue of missing and disappeared persons in the region. ICMP first worked in Asia when its staff were deployed in Thailand to help identify victims of the Dec 2004 tsunami. more..

Apr 30 (ENS) For the fishermen of coastal Ramanathapuram, the sea is their mother. They know she can be as menacing as she is nourishing, yet they gamble with their lives, trusting her. The die in this high stake game was cast in 1974 when India ceded Katchatheevu, a tiny and uninhabited islet in the Bay of Bengal, to Sri Lanka, beginning an era of hide-and-seek between the Indian fishermen and the navy personnel of the Island Nation. more..

Apr 30 (SL) The govt is considering issuing shares of the Hambantota Port to the Chinese companies from whom loans were acquired for the project in order to prevent further staggering losses being incurred by the white elephant project, it is learnt. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) is currently facing the impossible task of re-paying the staggering loan obtained to construct the Hambantota Port. more..

Apr 30 (ST) Thunderstorms and heavy rain will occur round the country with more than 80mm of rain falling in many areas from 2 p.m. tomorrow. The drought-affected North, East, South and North-Western provinces will all experience rain, Met Department said. The department also warned of temporary localised strong winds during the thunderstorms. Anuradhapura, Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, Batticaloa more..

Apr 30 (CT) SL side is said to be on the mend, which was stated even before the recently completed ICC World T20. The team doesn't seem to have recovered any better up to date. It is a team still in shock and seriously lacking players with confidence to take over the reins to make a notable early come back. That may be the reason for Thirimanne to be brought back with failure after failure. Failing to compile runs and below par batting are two different situations and below par more..

Apr 30 (PSL) President Sirisena presided over a ceremony to present honorary awards to the senior medical laboratory doctors of the Sri Lanka Society for Medical Laboratory Science, held yesterday (27) at the Hotel Mount Lavinia. This awarding ceremony was organized under the theme, Improving health literacy and quality of life through Medical Laboratory Science, in line with the International Medical Laboratory Day, yesterday. Minister Rajitha Senarathne who made a specific contribution more..

Apr 30 (CT) Good governance activist and former Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Chandra Jayaratne has warned the Secretary of the Central Bank’s Monetary Board on possibility of imprisonment for as long as 10 years if a public servant is found guilty for corruption. In a letter titled The Responsibility of a Board Secretary to Advise the Chairperson, the Board & Top Management on Legal and Statutory Compliance and Risk Management to the Secretary on April 29, more..

Apr 30 (PSL) The reconstruction work of the Historical Polonnaruwa Unagala Vehera was commenced under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena, yesterday (28). The construction works are being carried out under the Project for Developent of Religious Places in the Polonnaruwa district in parallel to the Pibidemu Polonnaruwa (Awakening of Polonnaruwa) District Development Project. President participated in religious observance at the Unagala Vehera more..