July 6 (DM) President Sirisena has expressed an opinion on the final accountability mechanism and both the President and the PM would look at all the available alternatives before making a final decision which will be acceptable to the majority of all stakeholders, Minister Managala Samaraweera today said. Responding to a question that statements made by President and PM seemed they have already decided about certain measures more..

July 6 (Island) DLF leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara, MP, alleged that tea smallholders hadn’t received the fertilizer subsidy. He accused the govt of failing in its duty thereby causing severe difficulties to the tea smallholders. They had been awaiting state financial assistance for several months after filling numerous forms, MP said. The MP asserted that the tea smallholders had been affected worse than the major tea growers and they were experiencing serious financial difficulties. more..

July 6 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka said on Tuesday that the only way the South China Sea issue could be resolved was through peaceful, constructive and meaningful negotiations among concerned countries. Additional Media Secretary to PM Saman Athaudahetti said that Sri Lanka firmly believed in resolving disputes through peaceful negotiations and called on all parties concerned to hold constructive talks. "We know there are some disputes and differences between some countries, more..

July 6 (DM) A day after PHU criticized the newly appointed Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajith Coomaraswamy, former MPs Tissa Vitharana and G.L.Peiris said he should not be branded as a person having links with the LTTE, just because he was employed by Raj Rajaratnam, who is alleged to have funded the LTTE. “We should not consider him as a person involved with the LTTE. It is true he worked for Rajaratnam who founded Galleon Group, more..

July 6 (CI) Asitha Fernando, who was Sri Lanka's leading wicket-taker in the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh, claimed seven wickets on first-class debut, including five in the last innings, to secure a slim victory for Sri Lanka A in Leicester. The result meant Sri Lanka A went 1-0 up in the two-match series against Pakistan A in England. Seamer Asitha returned 2 for 42 in the first innings to help bowl Pakistan A out for 277 and gain Sri Lanka A a first-innings lead of 22 runs. more..

July 6 (DM) President Maithripala Sirisena said today a decision would be taken on the revision of bus fares after the next Cabinet meeting. He said this at a meeting with Private Bus Owners Associations at President’s House this afternoon. President Sirisena said representatives of Private Bus Owners Associations would be given a chance to put forward their suggestions before the high-level committee appointed to look into the bus fare revision. more..

July 6 (CI) Sri Lanka Cricket has outlined its strong opposition to the proposed two-tier Test system, claiming that it "can't see any benefit for Sri Lankan cricket, the game, or the players". SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala also voiced concerns over the financial ramifications of a potential tiered system, and believed the current path towards full membership and Test status for Associate sides was adequate. more..

July 6 (DM) Education Ministry would soon introduce lessons on prevention of bribery and corruption into the syllabus in schools, Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said. He said this while delivering a speech at an awareness programme held at the Taj Samudra, on the series of programmes organised among students and school community regarding prevention of bribery & corruption. “CIABOC, headed by Ms. Dilrukshi Dias Wickremesinghe, has started working closely with Edu Ministry more..

July 6 (DN) The former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his Eid message today, said a certain group had created mistrust between him and the Muslim community by spreading lies and rumours: "By resorting to such actions, they created hostility between two communities, in an attempt to engineer a regime change," the former President said. Rajapaksa did not however explicitly reveal the group responsible for creating mistrust between himself and the Muslim community. more..

July 6 (Island) The COPE meeting yesterday turned tense as UNP members tried to exonerate former CB Governor Arjuna Mahendran from the Treasury bond sale scandal, while others spoke against it. Auditor General Gamini Wijesinghe and two other senior members of the AG’s Department made a presentation to the COPE members of their findings from their investigation into Treasury bond sale scandal, more..

July 7 (CT) This report is an attempt to educate the citizens of Sri Lanka how to respond to a situation where they have been assaulted with a knife, based on the experience of mine. On 25th May, I set out at 5 am and started to jog. My jogging trail is through Kawdana road to the Eagle Lake Side Hotel and then through the lake drive adjacent to the lake towards the Attidiya Road. When I reached Eagle Lake Side, I noted two individuals near a parked Honda super cup type motor cycle. more..

July 7 (CT) V Prabhakaran’s brutal violence, firing indiscriminately in all directions, went beyond the mandate of the Vadukoddai Resolution which was aimed exclusively at the Sinhalese. Prabhakaran was the first born child of the Vadukoddai Resolution which urged the Tamil youth to take up arms against the Sinhalese. But his ruthless killing of Tamils reveals how the bullets fired by the Vadukoddai Resolution ricocheted and killed best part of Tamil leadership & thousands of Tamil civilians. more..

July 7 (SO) Haro Hara, Haro Hara, HARO HARA... The humming and chanting continues and reaches a crescendo as the yellow clad men, women and children walk in utmost piety, towards Kataragama, from Jaffna, Trincomalee and Batticaloa, entering the last phase of their journey along the Kumana National Wildlife Reserve to show their ultimate and unconditional devotion to God Skanda. Seeking health, happiness and more..

July 7 (NS) Whilst noting that there was and is always resistance when those who have not paid tax have to start paying tax, and in this instance it was wholesalers and retailers who are grumbling about the proposed increase in VAT of up to 15%, tax consultants remarked that deemed input tax or deemed input VAT if introduced would present the simplest solution for the problem at hand. Member of the Tax Faculty of the Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and a Partner of Gajma & Company, more..

July 7 (NS) The issue of persons who were reported to have gone missing during the final stages of the war continues to be a small obstacle in the post-war scenario. The presidential commission to investigate into Complaints of Missing Persons had requested the government to extend its mandate by another year, owing to the enormous workload that was associated with the whole process. The mandate of the commission ends on July 15. Its chairman, Justice Maxwell Paranagama on more..

July 7 (CT) Deputy Minister Arundika Fernando confessed that Sri Lanka does not have monetary resources and is reliant on loans received from other countries. Emphasising the need to develop all sectors in Sri Lanka to a standard which can be promoted overseas, he noted that country albeit having the capacity to earn foreign income, has not yet explored its full potential. Govt should focus on earning foreign income to improve more..

July 7 (Island) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is dilly-dallying on presenting the Auditor General’s report on the bond scam to Parliament. He argues that since the report is confidential he does not want to release it without consulting some experts. He says he will meet the Auditor General, Attorney General and the new CB Governor before making a decision on the matter. Central Bank Governor is a political appointee. Attorney General is beholden to the govt which overlooked the senior most official more..

July 7 (DM) One belt, one road, China’s blueprint to tie together Asia and Europe into one vast trading network, could reshape geopolitics and the world economy– The Economist (UK), June 30, 2016 One gets a different perspective watching the global and national scenes, while on a hybrid trip to China with my wife -a courtesy call on an old friend in a high place in the Chinese Govt; a discussion with the Vice President of the oldest think tank in China founded, when Premier Zhou Enlai more..

July 7 (DM) Typical effects of good governance (Yahapalanaya) are slowly but surely taking root in our country. The mindset of the current Buruwa (bureau) cracy reminds one of a frightened little boy who was once caught with his hands in the candy jar. To repeat the same deed brings thoughts of punishment but the greed has retreated. A pathetic tragicomedy is playing out and the end of the first Act is nearing. But the audience is not responding in a patient and gentle way. more..

July 7 (FT) Much ink has been spilled over the alleged (we’re still COPE-ing) CBSL bond scam, the stubborn refusal to deal with an issue, power-plays around personalities and preferences rather than principles, and the value of compromise in a republic whose governors hail from a coalition. But let me add a point or six to the thickening mix. So that, well, the point will stick – in average democratic-republican minds, if not in aristocratic gubernatorial praxis! more..

July 7 (CI) SLC is looking into the possibility of having Tharindu Kaushal's doosra cleared, as the offspinner has now remodelled his action in his time away from international cricket. Kaushal was reported for a suspect action after the SSC Test against India in August last year. Although there was little doubt about the legality of his stock offbreak, his elbow was found to exceed permitted 15-degrees of flex in 9 of 18 doosras more..

July 7 (ST) The local fashion industry has taken a progressive step forward moving into the Indian subcontinent with Sri Lankan designs to flavour the swim wear appeal. Ajai Vir Singh, a pioneer of the Colombo Fashion Week is now looking at making Sri Lanka the Asian capital of swim wear by looking at grabbing the large market share of about 120 million, under 25 year-olds in the Indian cities. Line Aqua branded swim wear designed by a team of 10 Sri Lankan designers are looking at more..

July 7 (CI) Dambulla Stadium is set to become a viable day-night venue again, after SLC announced plans to beef up the ground's floodlights ahead of the ODIs against Australia in late August. The lights upgrade will cost SLC roughly 50 million rupees, and will be carried out by DIMO, the company that had also installed lights at the Khettarama and Hambantota stadiums. Dambulla had hosted day-night ODIs until 2010, but players had been critical about the lights' lack of intensity, more..

July 7 (Island) Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam recently said that teachers will need to have a content-specific licence in the future for the subject(s) they want to teach apart from their general teaching certifications because the govt places teacher-quality high on the agenda. He made these remarks at the education ministry auditorium where Singer SL came forward to boost National Home Science Education more..

July 7 (DN) Indrajith Coomaraswamy who led Sri Lanka to rugby glory when they emerged runners up at the Asian Rugby Championships in Sri Lanka in 1974, is now the new Governor of Central Bank. In the sporting field Indrajith’s memorable moments, would have been in the field of rugby where he led Sri Lanka to emerge runners to Japan in the 1974 Rugby Asiad played in Colombo. He led his club CR and FC after leading the country in (1976-1977) and became the first sevens captain more..

July 7 (EN)Cabinet has approved a proposal by the ports and shipping ministry to draft laws to enforce a new rule requiring verification of the weight of containers loaded on ships. Minister Gayantha Karunathilake said local laws were required to enforce new container weighing regulations under the international Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. All member states of the International Maritime Organization, which enforces the convention, have agreed to follow the new regulations more..

July 7 (FT) The Power and Energy Committee of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL), has warned that that immediate action was necessary to expedite the implementation of the coal power project in Sampur. Expert also warned that the country was in danger of going back to an era of power cuts as well as experiencing a hike in electricity prices. These issues as well as others transpired at recently organised a seminar more..

July 7 (DN) Following the meeting Isipathana College representatives had with the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) officials at Lumbini College yesterday, the SLSRFA have been forced to take the decision to hold the Milo inter-schools president trophy knockout tournament final match between Isipathana College and Royal College at a neutral. SLSRFA officials had met on Monday to take up the protest lodged by Isipathana to move the venue for the final more..

July 7 (Island) Commonwealth and South Asian Games weightlifting medalist Sudesh Peiris said that he had great expectations of representing Sri Lanka at Olympics and after being informed of the wild card selection he was feeling the pressure of the responsibility at hand. "I had great expectations that I would be selected as a wildcard entrant. There are several other weightlifters who are doing well. I think the weightlifting selectors have picked me on my performances at the last few int'l meets. more..

July 7 (DM) The dog tax was imposed by the former Minister Basil Rajapaksa and it was levied even from State sector employees, Deputy Minister Karunarathna Paranawithana said. He said that Basil Rajapaksa was the only person who imposed the real dog tax to the country. “It was during the former regime that such taxes, like the Poll tax, were imposed on people. Govt had removed all such taxes and other taxes on more..

July 7 (NZH) Murray Douglas is back from a month spent voluntarily helping SL farmers produce more and better milk from small herds, many consisting of 1-10 cows. Titoki farmer - who with his wife and sons is establishing dairy farms in Brazil - was among four volunteers recruited by Fonterra to carry out work which helps safeguard the co-operative's trade with the Indian Ocean island nation of more than 20 million people. Fonterra-owned business in SL has a turnover of over $500 million more..

July 7 (DN) The cancellation of SriLankan Airlines’ direct flights to Paris and Frankfurt by the end of the year will have grave consequences to the local travel industry, Association of Inbound Tour Operators, President, Devendra Senaratne said. This is completely going against the vision of PM who wants to stamp SL’s brand image all over the world. He said that with the pulling out, national carriers’ hoardings, advertising and all signage in both countries promoting SL will disappear. more..

July 7 (FT) Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe received Cabinet approval to present to Parliament an amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedures to provide legal aid to suspects and consolidation of key legislation including key criminal law. The proposal made by Rajapakshe to publish in the gazette and present in Parliament the drafted Code of Criminal Procedures Act, for enacting provisions enabling more..

July 7 (PTI) India and Sri Lanka have agreed to have a meeting between the ministers for fisheries of the two countries at the earliest in a bid to finding a permanent solution to the fishermen issue. This was discussed between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and visiting Sri Lankan Minister for Development Strategy and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama, sources said today. Samarawickrama was on a two-day visit to the country, starting from July 4. more..

July 7 (FT) The Supreme Court on Monday directed that pipe-line water should be supplied before 31 Dec to the villagers who are adversely affected by the Uma Oya Project and compensation should be paid to the affected farmers through the Mahaweli Authority. The Bench fixed the matter to be mentioned on 14 Sept. The Attorney General on 18 Feb informed the Supreme Court that the State would award compensation to the villagers who were adversely affected by Uma Oya Project. more..

July 7 (Island) Senior administrative officer Jinasiri Dadallage said that he had been given a punishment transfer because he was openly critical of the misdeeds of the incumbent regime. "I don’t regret what I have said and I have got this transfer because I dared speak the truth," Dadallage said. He has been transferred from Ministry of Public Administration and Management, where he served as Secretary Ministry of Post, Postal Services more..

July 7 (DM) Gatekeepers at unprotected railway crossings countrywide had decided to launch a token strike from this morning against the delay in granting them the Rs. 5,000 salary increased promised by the Govt. “We have about 2,061 gatekeepers at unprotected railway crossings countrywide and all of them will stop work,” Gatekeepers of Unprotected Railway Crossings Association President J.A.C. Premalal said. He said Deputy Minister Rohana Dissanayake more..

July 7 (FT) Cabinet yesterday approved a proposal by the Megapolis Ministry to establish an engineers’ council to regulate the profession, which also includes the registration of professionals belonging to the industry. The proposal was presented by Ministers Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and Champika Ranawaka. “Engineering professionals, who have qualified in Sri Lanka and overseas in various institutions, are experienced in various fields according to standard and more..

July 7 (FT) Under fire from rapidly increasing prices, the President and PM plan to cut costs on essential goods through a combination of efforts including appointing a special ministerial committee, gazetting fresh price controls on 10 foods and deploying 1,500 officials to enforce controls countrywide. The steep rise in prices of basic fruits and vegetables had come under discussion at the Cabinet meeting this week more..