Aug 29 (SL) Profound statements made by politicians often fly over the heads of ordinary citizens which must be exasperating tothem. Ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa, last week, declared: Anybody has the right to form a party (a political party). But this profundity has escaped notice of the general public. It’s like some statements of cricket commentators who have to keep talking while the match is on and run out of words making bland and obvious statements. more..

Aug 29 (SL) The unity govt led by President Sirisena and PM Wickremesinghe was given power on Aug 17, 2015. According to Minister S.B. Dissanayake, govt has made massive strides to restore democracy, empower people and also to provide social welfare facilities. He said that despite allegations that the govt has not done enough, it has allocated rupees one million for every village for its development. more..

Aug 29 (FT) Two of the country’s largest family-owned business groups, Jinasena Ltd. and St. Anthony’s Group Ltd, recently signed a MoU that will enable them to utilise key competencies they have acquired over time in their individual industrial value chains for their mutual benefit. Both organisations, which have a rich local heritage, global outlook and cutting-edge business acumen, agreed on MoU as a strategic move and timely effort to combine their distribution networks to reach a wider more..

Aug 29 (ST) The Govt this week moved a step further in its efforts to provide relief to loved ones of thousands of persons reported missing in the country, as a result of the conflict which took place in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, or its aftermath as well, due to subversive activities, political unrest, civil disturbances and enforced disappearances. This relief will come in the way of Certificates of Absence issued in lieu of a death certificate, until the circumstances of the disappearances more..

Aug 29 (Island) Investigations into attacks on journalists under the previous govt took a dramatic turn last week with former Rivira Editor Upali Tennakoon and his wife, Dhammika, identifying a military intelligence officer who assaulted them on Jan. 23, 2009 in Gampaha. But for resistance offered by Upali and his wife courageously, the incident would have had a tragic ending. It cannot be claimed by any stretch of the imagination that the assailants including the one identified more..

Aug 29 (Island) Humans know so much. They know what they think and they know what their fellow humans think. They even know what other creatures think. And feel. One perception is as good (or bad) as another. And all creatures, large and small, articulate in languages comprehended or otherwise, are accorded importance as per these subjectivities. It’s all said in languages of imperfection, though, but perhaps we should step back and at least give ear to other perception, flawed though they may be. more..

Aug 29 (DN) CIC Holdingsfor the first time in the world has developed a technology to scan weeds in large paddy fields using battery powered drones (planes) and spray chemicals to them using the drone. The company’s research and development team has used studies and research for the past 8 years to introduce this novel technology which would also minimize the use of chemicals & minimize environmental impact. more..

Aug 29 (CI) Has Mitchell Starc been so dangerous with the new ball on this tour because Sri Lanka's openers have been dreadful? Or have they looked dreadful because Starc has been so good? If it was the chicken-or-the-egg question, the answer would be an egg-and-chicken sandwich. In other words, a bit of both. Twice in the Test series, Starc struck in the first over of an innings and he has now done so twice in the ODIs as well, first in the opening match in Colombo and now in Dambulla. more..

Aug 29 (ST) The contradiction was clear if not absurd. Even at the very moment in time that I was being sent unsolicited messages by Colombo’s non-governmental twitterati delighting in self-congratulatory chest-thumping over the turbulent passing of the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) Bill, that euphoria was distinctly missing in the Northern peninsula, among the very people for whom this piece of legislation was (primarily) intended. Let us be clear about this. more..

Aug 29 (ST) Young can write volumes about the Lankan Olympians. That is not for their achievements, but, the sick culture that they have inculcated within. We had four athletes who qualified and altogether there were nine in total. Yet, the Rio contingent totaled to at least half a plane load and most of them were freeloaders. Yet, it is said that some who really should have been were left out. We question when would this masquerade end more..

Aug 29 (ST) A former Sri Lankan woman Athlete, going great guns as an Athletic Coach and Instructor in Australia, is now in Sri Lanka, on an invitation to assist Sri Lanka’s Paralympic athletes in preparation for the 2016 Paralympics. Accepting the invitation with both hands, to serve her motherland with what she has achieved in Australia, to uplift the standards of our para-athletes, is none other than Anula Costa who hailed from Dunagaha – a small village in Divulapitiya. more..

Aug 29 (ST) A major overhaul of the entire system, is the only way out, according to Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) Vice President Ranjith Rodrigo, if Football in SL is to survive with dignity. Rodrigo, former President of FFSL and custodian of Negombo Youth Football Club, stated this as a rejoinder to former National Football Captain, E.B. Channa’s present plight. Channa, a prominent Footballer who represented Sri Lanka for 16 years, dreamed on and more..

Aug 29 (CI) There were reasons for SL fans to cheer at the 3rd ODI in Dambulla. But the result wasn't one of them. On a day when Tillakaratne Dilshan was farewelled from ODI cricket, and Dinesh Chandimal scored his fourth ODI hundred, Australia held on for a tense victory that gave them a 2-1 series lead with two to play - and gave David Warner a 100% success rate as an international captain. Not that it was all smooth sailing. more..

Aug 29 (DN) Sri Lanka proved their superiority in the Asian Schools Under 18 Seven-a-side rugby tournament when they beat top contenders and host nation Chinese Taipei by 10-5 in the Cup championship final in Chinese Taipei after trailing 5-nil at the breather. The Junior Tuskers put up an excellent performance both in attack and defence which laid the foundation for this historic victory. This is the first time in SL’s rugby history they have become overall Cup champions. more..

Aug 29 (SO) The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) recently launched the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Online Tool for the benefit of its members. The CPD Online Tool helps members to plan their CPD activities, keep track of their CPD progress and upload their individual CPD activities online. CPD is a mandatory requirement for Chartered Accountants, which helps enhance their professional competency and also help them remain relevant with changes at more..

Aug 29 (Island) It was only since last year that people have gradually become aware that the supply of coal to the Norochcholai power plant is by far the country’s biggest single tender worth more than Rs. 60 billion for a three years’ supply of 6.75 million metric tonnes. On 18 June 2014, a tender was floated to procure three years’ supply of coal. The price of coal fluctuates and in order to ensure a constant supply at a fixed price more..

Aug 29 (Island) "The Sri Lankan banking sector is performing considerably well but to penetrate the regional level, a local bank consolidation mechanism is needed, like in Singapore and Malaysia, CEO, Investment Banking Cluster, NDB Capital Holdings Vajira Kulathilaka said. "The banking sector is an important sector in the national economy and in today's context it is not easy to take a risk due to Basel compliance. However, we could use other mechanisms, like the consolidation process, more..

Aug 29 (Island) Singer Sri Lanka, the country’s premier consumer durables retailer, has stepped forward to inspire high-achieving students and thereby boost education in the country by providing the latest Singer X Series laptops to top 12 students who excelled in last year’s GCE O/L examination. The laptops were handed over to these students by His Excellency President Maithripala Sirisena at a special event organized at the Presidential Secretariat on 23rd August. more..

Aug 29 (Island) The net worth of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has decreased by Rs. 284 billion during the past one year. The net worth of the CSE was Rs. 3,076,000,000 a year ago and it has come down to Rs 2,792,000,000 as at Aug 30, this year. The daily turnover of the CSE was Rs. 1,878 million last year but as at Aug 30, this year the figure has come down by Rs. 864 million to Rs. 1,014 millions, Central Bank report states. more..

Aug 29 (FT) Savings giant NSB has posted a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs. 4.78 billion in the first half of this year, up by Rs. 3.86 billion or 24% from a year earlier. The bank said the performance was most noteworthy considering the challenges it had to face from January to June 2016. These obstacles included a weak equities market environment and mark to market losses on account of increases in interest rates on investments in Govt securities. Total assets of NSB reached Rs. 875 billion, more..

Aug 29 (FT) National Development Bank (NDB) on Friday announced key changes, including a new Chairman as well as the exit of its CEO/Director, with some linking the developments to the loss of independence while others claim they aren’t related. Ending much speculation as well as inside drama over who will be the Chairman at NDB, the bank announced that senior banker Ananda Atukorala has been appointed to the Board and Chairman subject to the approval of the Central Bank. more..

Aug 29 (Island) Both President and PM have failed to honour their promise of ensuring democratic rights of the public by depriving Kumar Gunaratnam of his, say political parties, trade unionists, artistes and civil society activists. "Depriving Gunaratnam of his rights to engage in political activities is not an isolated issue; it points to the suppresion of freedom in this country," political party leaders, trade unionists, artistes and more..

Aug 29 (Island) For the first time, two SL undergraduate students participated in the 2016 Summer Student Programme at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva, the most prominent particle physics research institute in the world. Gamage Gihan Lakmal, a graduate from the Faculty of Science of the Ruhuna University and Malinda de Silva, a final year undergraduate from the Faculty of Science of the Colombo University, completed their more..

Aug 29 (DN) A Sri Lankan woman convicted of adultery in Saudi Arabia was deported home on completion of her jail term in a prison in Dawadmi, some 400kms from the capital of Riyadh. Confirming the release and the subsequent deportation, The maid was originally sentenced to death for adultery and it was later to reduced to three years jail by a Court of Appeal in Al-Dawadmi. The married woman in her 40s, working as a maid in a Saudi household in the Kingdom, was sentenced to death more..

Aug 29 (Island) Police have commenced an investigation into a shooting incident, where an unidentified person attempted to kill the estranged wife of an army Colonel at Malabe on Saturday. Police said the assailant had arrived and waited outside a house in Malabe and shot the 43-year-old mother of three when she was in her bedroom. The shots had been fired through the window. The injured woman had returned home after having dinner with more..

Aug 29 (EN) Sri Lanka's worker remittances fell 4.4% from a year earlier to US$ 572.8 million in July 2016, though inflows up to July were up 3.8% to US$ 4,185.9 million. In 2016 Sri Lanka's remittances slowed to US$ 6,980 million from 7,018 million dollars according to central bank data. Middle Eastern economies slowed in 2015 amid falling oil prices, slowing construction and other activity. Sri Lanka's unemployment has also fallen over the last few years. more..

Aug 29 (CT) SLFP members of the JO said that they will not hold a separate SLFP Convention. They thus contradicted reports which indicated otherwise. SLFP member of the JO, MP Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said the JO would reveal its stand following a meeting that was scheduled to be held late yesterday. Fellow SLFP member of the JO, Vidura Wickremenayake added, "We are not having a separate convention. Depending on the decisions taken, the Bala mandalayas of respective more..

Aug 29 (DN) Minister Rajitha Senaratne ordered a special investigation into the alleged abuse of a female patient at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital. As of the minister’s direction, Health Services Director General Dr. Palitha Maheepala had instructed Colombo South Teaching Hospital Director Dr. Asela Gunawardena to hold a proper inquiry into the incident. A 21-year-old woman who was directed to more..

Aug 29 (ITN) The solar power war will begin on the 06th of next month. Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera said that this would be a significant progressive turning point in the local power sector. He mentioned that the solar power war which is scheduled to commence on the 6th of September will be a remarkable turning point in the generation of solar power in the country. He said that this solar power war will get underway based on three strategies for the first time in the world. more..

Aug 29 (LT) It is reported that two COPE reports would be presented regarding Central Bank bond transaction. The two reports are from a section of COPE members who state the bond issue was done correctly and another report from the group that states the bond issue was not done correctly. However, the Chairman of COPE states, “There hadn’t been any such discussion so far. According to what I see it is a planted news item. From the time COPE investigations commenced on more..

Aug 29 (ST) We thank Minister Malik Samarawickrama for confirming our story. He should have announced it long before the Sunday Times broke the story. We stand-by every word in our story. While we are happy that the Minister has been forced to come out publicly about his ministry hiring a US firm to lobby, an issue that is the subject of a Presidential Commission of Inquiry for the same exercise during the previous govt, we say more..

Aug 29 (DM) The International Day against Nuclear Tests observed on August 29, was established at the 64th Session of UN General Assembly by resolution 64/35, on Dec 2, 2009 and was adopted unanimously. Each year, since then, the day has been observed by co-ordinating various activities throughout the world, such as symposiums, conferences, exhibitions, competitions, publications, media broadcasts etc. The int'l instrument to put an end to all forms of nuclear testing more..

Aug 29 (DM) While addressing an event held to mark the National Youth Day in May last year; organised by the National Youth Services Council (NYSC), just prior to the Parliamentary elections, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe called on the youth to elect peoples’ representatives who are capable of solving their problems. We have regrettably not had a consistent policy to look in to the grievances of the citizens, including the youth since 1970s. We have failed to harmonize these problems and more..

Aug 29 (ST) Govt is expediting a programme to close down all camps for IDP in the north, by offering constructed houses, land to build own houses and providing financial assistance to build houses. The moves come as UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon visits Sri Lanka next week. Resettlement and Rehabilitation Ministry Secretary, V. Sivagnanasothy said to facilitate the closure of the camps, the military is building houses or, more..

Aug 29 (CT) One of the principal planks of the govt in Opposition was to root out unprecedented corruption during the last regime. The dictatorial actions of former President Rajapaksa, also, fanned the flames of corruption in the decade of office of the previous regime. It was with such noble ideals that the FCID was established with the advent of the present regime hoping to not only to bring to book offenders of previous regime in this regard more..

Aug 29 (SL) Treasury Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga will hold a special discussion today with Treasury officials who have decided not to sit at the Director Board and Tender Board meetings until their grievances are addressed. The govt is to take a final decision on those officials following this meeting. SLASA President Ranjith Ariyaratne said that they had also written to the PM again clarifying their position that they have no intention to more..

Aug 29 (DN) A team of TNA MPs led by Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan met PM Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday to discuss matters pertaining to the people in the North and East. During the meeting Sampanthan had drawn the attention of the PM towards unauthorised constructions and resettlement taking place in N&E. “TNA delegation also raised concerns over temples and statues being erected in the area. more..

Aug 29 (DN) Minister John Amarathunga managed to lay the foundation stone for a proposed new Tamil medium school yesterday at Oliyamulla, Wattala amidst a protest launched by residents of the area. When the minister reached the Nawaloka Uddiyanapuraarea at Oliyamulla to lay the foundation stone for the proposed Tamil medium school yesterday some residents protested. They alleged that the land on which the proposed more..

Aug 29 (SL) The sand mining industry has become as lucrative as gold mining. Sand is dug out in the same manner gold is mined. The industry is operating however with very little supervision. Allegations have now been raised over a massive racket involving the sand mining industry. Sri Lanka’s largest natural sand deposit situated in Gal Oya has currently become a hot spot for sand racketeers. more..