July 15 (AHRC) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information revealed by the young victim herself, which we wish to bring to your notice. On the 7th of July when she went to the Haputale Police station, a police woman constable, had beaten the young girl, and told her that when she is taken to the judicial medical officer, not to reveal that she had been raped by the bus driver. She had been beaten with a cane several times on her waistline and more..

July 15 (DM) Former president Rajapaksa said today the ministers who are deciding on the arrest of political opponents are the ones who should be arrested with their family members. He said this when a journalist referred to a statement made by a minister that Mr. Rajapaksa’s family should be jailed for the crimes they are alleged to have committed. “Ministers are the ones making decisions today but they and their families should be arrested,” more..

July 16 (CT) Chilcot Inquiry named after its chairman, Sir John Chilcot, also commonly known as Iraq inquiry was tasked inquire into the role of Britain in the Iraq War. The inquiry was announced on June 2009 by the then PM Gordon Brown. The committee had broad terms of reference to consider Britain’s involvement in Iraq between mid-2001 and July 2009. It covered the events leading to the conflict, the subsequent military action and more impotently its aftermath with the purpose to more..

July 16 (CT) Truck/Lorry based terrorism came to France in the form of a tragedy on Bastille Day. President Hollande who previously said he will lift the State of Emergency on July 26th had no choice but to extend it. How long this will last depends on how long Terrorists will keep blowing up bombs and killing mass numbers of civilians. This is akin to the prolonged state of emergency in SL necessitated by the long war against the LTTE. It reminds this writer of the Truck/Lorry based terrorist attacks, more..

July 16 (SO) State institutions are not upgrading fire prevention systems and safety plans often enough, placing many visiting govt offices, at great risk. Many govt institutions often overlook safety standards to regularly service and maintain fire extinguishers and other related equipment. Unlike state institutions private companies take the risk seriously and collaborate with the Fire Service Department for more..

July 16 (NS) Following several failed discussions, dissention and disagreement govt and the bus operators have finally agreed to revise the bus fares with a 6 percent increase from August 1. Revision of bus fares has long been a contentious issue because it directly affects the ordinary man’s cost of living while the services provided by the bus operators also have been of poor quality. The reasons for the poor quality are many. On one hand, the current fare structure is non-realistic more..

July 16 (NS) Time and again, this govt has been caught napping, blundering its way through key policy issues, revising crucial budget proposals, being chastised by the courts for increasing the VAT before it was sanctioned by Parliament and clumsily negotiating the appointment of a Governor to CB before finally getting it right. Now, it is stumbling yet again over the issue of foreign involvement in any inquiry that will probe alleged war crimes during the final stages of the Eelam war. more..

July 16 (FT) As an administrative professional working for SAITM and even before joining SAITM, I have been observing the SAITM saga going on for the last five to six years. I was trying my best to find some logic behind the varying arguments against SAITM but utterly failed. The following points need consideration. SAITM enrols only 75 students per batch out of approximately 500 applicants. Therefore even though the cut off more..

July 16 (CT) US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal Desai after her hectic meetings in Colombo visited Trincomalee on Thursday and worshipped at the historic Thirukoneswaram Temple. Trincomalee is the birth place of Leader of the Opposition and TNA Leader R. Sampanthan. Trincomalee which is known as one of the abodes on Lord Siva in SL and the 700 CE Hindu saint of India Thiruganasampanthan had even rendered devotional lyrics on Thirukoneswaram Temple more..

July 16 (Island) A savage terror strike on the Bastille Day has left about 100 people dead and many others injured in the southern French city of Nice. Among the dead are about a dozen children, we are told. A heavy truck driven by a brainwashed terrorist ploughed into a crowd celebrating the French Independence Day. Eyewitnesses have said he zigzagged to kill as many people as possible. The world has rightly condemned the cowardly attack unreservedly. more..

July 16 (Island) With handcuffs fast becoming the showpieces of politics, it looks like there is an opening for a whole new business in the country, which may not need any Foreign Direct Investment or support from those who offer us plenty of help, such as Nisha Desai Biswal from the US, which don’t ever seem to be real. The handcuff or manacle is the political ornament of the day. Everyone in politics who is brought to the courts on a variety of charges of fraud, corruption and crime too, more..

July 16 (FT) I am happy to learn that a well-represented private sector delegation led by a Minister and assisted by former Ambassador to China Bernard Goonatilleke will be visiting China to promote private investment in Sri Lanka. This represents a refreshing change from the attitude of this Govt immediately it took office, when it suspended work on the Port City Project and looked to the West for its external financing needs, only to be disappointed, for the West has not been as helpful as more..

July 16 (NS) Local authorities have launched a fresh crackdown on a racket masterminded by schoolboys involving the trade of nudes of schoolgirls shared via online services and mobile phone applications which have been used in the extortion and blackmail of over 70 children. Chairperson of the NCPA, Dr. Natasha Balendra informed that the NCPA would be coming up with new legislation to tackle online bullying, harassment and blackmail. more..

July 16 (EN) Charoen Pokphand group, a Thailand based conglomerate with a global reach, has bought Norfolk Foods, a unit of SL's Expolanka group for US$ 4 million with an eye to gaining a foothold in South Asia. Expolanka said in a stock exchange filing that it sold a 50% of the company for US$ 2.5 million. Thai based agro-industrial giant Charon Pokphand Foods (CPF), a listed arm of the group said it is buying another 30% of Norfolk from Habeeb Ziauddin and Hamzathul Ziauddin. more..

July 16 (Island) It was just the other day that the Chilcott report in the UK insisted that the former British PM Tony Blair dragged his country unnecessarily into the legally questionable war in Iraq in 2003 without any valid reason to justify a war. At the time of the British withdrawal of their troops in 2009, some 150,000 Iraqi civilians had died due to violence unleashed by that war, according to the same Western estimates. The long term consequences of death and destruction through car bombs, more..

July 16 (SL) Reducing the prices of essential commodities was among the key promises of Yahapalana govt during the election. Accordingly govt imposed a controlled price on 20 essential commodities under the Gazette notification published on May 20, 2015. Under the price control, the maximum retail price for white sugar was set at Rs. 87, 400g of milk powder Rs. 325 and 1kg Rs. 810, 400g of Sustagen Rs. 1,500,1kg of wheat flour Rs. 87, 1kg of green gram Rs. 265, more..

July 16 (FT) Assistant U.S. Secretaries of State Nisha Biswal and Tom Malinowski on Thursday visited the facilities of Arumbugal Foundation (Guarantee) Ltd., one of the many organisations supported by the USAID to carry out projects supporting economic growth across Sri Lanka. Provided a Rs. 18 million matching investment grant from the USAID BIZ+ program, Arumbugal Foundation provides training and employment for people with disabilities to establish tourism and transportation businesses. more..

July 16 (Island) More than a decade had gone by after Sugath Thilakaratne hung up his boots. A leading sprinter at Asian level, Thilakaratne represented Sri Lanka at two Olympics with his first, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, being the most notable of the two. There he beat the reigning world champion and the eventual gold medallist Michael Johnson in a preliminary heat of the men’s 400 metres. Today, Thilakaratne is the president of the Sri Lanka Athletics Association. more..

July 16 (DM) A wrong assessment by the Auditor General’s Department had led to the notion that a fraudulent deal had taken place when purchasing coal for the Lakwijaya power station, a govt MP said. UNP Kurunegala District MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha said that a metric ton of coal had been purchased at US $ 51 and not $58 as stated by the auditor general. Accordingly he said the govt had not lost Rs 1.8 billion as claimed by the Auditor General’s report. more..

July 16 (EN) Many areas of Sri Lanka will experience future changes in temperature, rainfall, evaporation and sea level rise, according to research discussed at an international conference of scientists and policymakers in Colombo. “This will affect a range of sectors, including agricultural production of important export crops,” said a statement from the conference, part of the World Bank-led South Asia Water Initiative. Surface and groundwater quality in coastal areas more..

July 16 (FT) The Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala, M.P., and Senior Members of Parliament met with the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal and Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour Tom Malinowski at a luncheon meeting held at the Parliament on 13 July. The Deputy Speaker briefed the delegation of the major decisions and achievements of the Eighth Parliament of Sri Lanka. more..

July 16 (Island) "It has been brought to our attention that certain media reports carry the headlines of a possible nationalization of SAITM by the Govt. Management of SAITM wishes to place on record that no such intimation has come from any govt source regarding such an action. In December 2015 Chairman of SAITM forwarded a proposal to President Sirisena inviting the Govt to establish a private public partnership for the Hospital of SAITM which is more..

July 16 (Island) Managing Director of Google India, Rajan Anandan will attend the SL Economic Summit 2016 as a keynote speaker of the session 5 of the event, which will focus on Sri Lanka’s talent pool. Sri Lankan born Anandan, who also heads Google’s South Asian operations has an impressive career record with holding top executive positions at globally acclaimed entities such as Microsoft, Dell and Mckinsey. Prior to Google, he was the Managing Director of Microsoft India and more..

July 16 (Island) SAP is keen to participate in the megapolis development and Digital Sri Lanka initiatives, so we are looking forward to Requests For Proposals (RFP) from the government in this regard, Ramesh Shanmuganathan, executive vice president / chief information officer, John Keells Holdings PLC told The Island Financial Review last week. He made this comment at a media briefing when SAP launched the Sri Lanka SAP User Group (SLSUG). more..

July 16 (Island) Senior administrative officer, Jinasiri Dadallage, retired from public service refusing to accept the post of Secretary to Ministry of Post, Postal Services and Muslim Religious Affairs. Dadallage received a lightning transfer from the Ministry of Public Administration and Management, where he served as Secretary to the Ministry of Post, Postal Services and Muslim Religious Affairs with effect from July 05 at more..

July 16 (FT) Minister Ravi Karunanayake has intervened in resolving a dispute between the authorities and the people who will be affected by proposed oil pipeline. During a meeting convened by Minister in his capacity as a people’s representative in parliament, Minister reiterated that the residents of the area where the proposed oil pipeline is to be laid, should be removed only after providing them with permanent shelter. A new oil pipeline has been proposed to be laid from more..

July 16 (CT) The SL Track and Field Team comprising of three junior athletes, the Coach and Manager will be off to Bydgoszcz, Poland today to compete at the IAAF World Junior Championships to be held from19-24 July. The Sri Lanka Team comprise of Greshan Dhananjaya from Joseph Vaz College Wennappuwa who will compete in both long jump and triple jump as he has qualified for the world event from both events. Dhananjaya was placed fourth in both long jump and triple jump events more..

July 16 (NS) Asgiriya Chapter whilst praising President Maithripala Sirisena for stating that he would not allow for foreign judges in a domestic mechanism into probing alleged war crimes, added that certain Ministers and MPs of the Govt were not heeding Sirisena or the clergy on the matter. Chief Secretary of the Asgiriya Chapter, Dr. Medagama Dhammananda said that there was no need for Govt to succumb to international more..

July 16 (Island) Examination Department ordered all schools which are used as centres for G.C.E. A/L and Grade 5 scholarship exams be cleaned up as dengue fever was spreading all over the country. Director General of Examinations W.M.N.J. Pushpakumara said they had already taken measures to inform all Provincial Education Directors and Zonal Education Directors of the need to keep the exam centres free from mosquitoes. He said according to their request all principals of more..

July 16 (DCC) An impressive century by Ben Slater was the highlight for Derbyshire, but it wasn’t enough for the home side to secure victory over Sri Lanka A at The 3aaa County Ground on Friday evening. Slater’s century – in addition to 44 by fellow Derbyshire-born batsman Tom Wood – helped Derbyshire post 281-7 their 43 overs, after rain had delayed the start to the match. In reply, Sri Lanka A made light work of their target with openers Niroshan Dickwella and Dhananjaya de Silva more..

July 16 (NS) The govt informed that it was presently contemplating lodging complaints with the Press Complaints Commission of SL and SL Press Council against certain media institutions for the publication of alleged false and distorted reports with incorrect and inaccurate information. Director General of Govt Information, Dr. Ranga Kalansooriya said that the process of doing so was presently ongoing. more..

July 16 (CT) The increase in bus fares by private passenger transport operators effective 1 August will be followed by a hike of Rs 5 per kilometre by three-wheeler taxis too very shortly, President of the Lanka Self-Employed Persons' Association Sunil Jayawardena said yesterday. Asked for comments, Secretary to the Ministry of Transport Nihal Somaweera said members of that Association are free to make their own decisions. more..

July 16 (DN) Eastern Provincial Council should have Police and Land powers as ensured by the Provincial Councils Act of 1987, Eastern Province Chief Minister Hafiz Nazeer Ahamed said. He was speaking to US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal when she called on him on Thursday. CM Ahamed further stressed that in 1987, power was decentralised in our country under the 1978 Constitution with the establishing of Provincial Councils. more..

July 16 (DN) HIV/AIDS is the only disease that shows a gradual increase in Sri Lanka. The current prevalence rate is 0.01 percent which is still the lowest in the region, Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said. He said Sri Lanka has already eliminated many other diseases such as Polio, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping Cough and Small Fox and is also achieving success in controlling many other diseases. more..

July 16 (NS) Peoples Intellectual Assembly (PIA) criticized the Leader of the Opposition R. Sampanthan and Members of the Joint Opposition for conducting themselves in a manner anathema to democracy. Joint Secretary of the PIA, Attorney-at-Law Chrishmal Warnasuriya said that at present, there was no cogent Opposition to the hybrid governing party. Members of the JO are espousing and extolling the values of MP Mahinda Rajapaksa and are in favour of forming more..

July 16 (Island) A 57-year-old father of two was found dead inside his house at Weliweriya West on Thursday evening. The Weliweriya police probing the crime found a knife stuck on the victim’s chest. SP Ruwan Gunasekara said the victim was identified as Nayanasiri Hemantha Yasalal Ganepala. The victim and his wife had been living with one of their son and his family. All other family members had left for work around 7.30 a.m. Killer could be a person known to the victim more..

July 16 (CG) India is to invite Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera for talks to discuss the Indo-Lanka fisheries issue. Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Shri Vikas Swarup said that at the Ninth India Sri Lanka Joint Commission held in February in Colombo, both the Foreign Ministers had agreed to work towards a permanent solution to the fishermen issue. “It was also agreed that SL Minister of Fisheries will be invited by more..

July 16 (DM) Food and the rising cost of living are much in focus these days, with the Supreme Court ordering the suspension of the controversial increases in the VAT rates, and the govt imposing maximum retail prices on 15 essential items with a warning that the Consumer Affairs Authority will take tough action against sales outlets which violate the price control notification. National Govt responded positively to last Monday’s headline- hitting order by Supreme Court, much in contrast to more..

July 16 (DM) Animal rights activists have made a strong protest regarding plans to send a baby elephant to NZ’s Auckland Zoo. According to a news report, “the attorney general on July 13 undertook the maintain the status quo till August 2 till the determination of the writ petition filed against the bid to gift baby elephant Nandi to NZ.” The petitioners cite the case of Kashin, the Thai elephant which died in 2009 from chronic health conditions after living at the Auckland Zoo for 36 years. more..