July 29 (DN) D. Samson & Sons (Pvt) Ltd recently celebrated the opening of a new showroom in Jaffna. Thusitha Rajapaksa, the Managing Director of D. Samson & Sons (Pvt) Ltd, Kaushalya Perera, the Director of D. Samson & Sons (Pvt) Ltd and other members of the organization’s senior management were present at the opening ceremony, which took place recently. Sanjeewa Dharmarathna, the DIG of Police–Jaffna Range was also present at the opening. more..

July 29 (Age) Australia will tackle an imposing run chase to win the first Test insisting there are no "demons" in the pitch after being jolted by a fighting century from an emerging Sri Lankan star. Kusal Mendis, a former schoolboy stand-out, couldn't have picked a more opportune time to deliver his maiden Test ton, ripping control of the clash at the Pallekele Int'l Cricket Stadium from the world champions. Mendis, 21, will resume day four unbeaten on 169, with the hosts, more..

July 29 (PSL) Foreign Minister of Canada Stephane Dion said that Canada would provide every possible assistance to the steps taken by the govt of President Maithripala Sirisena to strengthen democracy, the rule of law, reconciliation and economic development. President Sirisena briefed him of the steps taken in the past 18 months such as adoption of the 19th Amendment, establishment of the Constitutional Council more..

July 29 (DN) Batting legend Aravinda de Silva who was the only Sri Lankan to reach a maiden Test century with a six said that Kusal Mendis who emulated his feat at the Pallekele yesterday had the makings of a cricketer who could reach great heights in the game. “His calm aggression shows the character of the person he is. He’s got all the material to make it big,” he said after Mendis had swept spinner Nathan Lyon for six to reach his first three-figure innings in Test cricket more..

July 29 (DN) Police yesterday launched an investigation into an incident where a group of persons participating in the Paada Yathra has allegedly attacked an ambulance and damaged the vehicle near the Peradeniya police station. The road leading to Kandy had been blocked by people participating in the Pada Yatra opposite Rajapavonaramaya temple in Getambe. The vehicle came under attack as the driver switched on its sirens to disperse crowd blocking the road. more..

July 29 (Island) The academic activities including exams at all universities countrywide were disrupted yesterday due to the strike launched by their non-academic and administrative staff on Wednesday. As a result exams in several universities were postponed and all lectures cancelled as buildings remained closed. President of Inter-University Trade Union Joint Committee said that they would continue more..

July 29 (Island) Minister Lakshman Kiriella said that the participants of the pada yatra from Kandy to Colombo were the corrupt and killers. "For whose sake are those people staging the pada yatra?" Minister Kiriella asked. Those joining the walk were greedy for power, Kiriella said. He said he was thankful to the court for not allowing the pada yatra in the sacred city of Kandy. The corrupt and the killers were not allowed to desecrate sacred city of Kandy, Dalada Maligawa & devales. more..

July 29 (CT) A Supreme Court Bench, comprising Justices Priyasath Dep, Upali Abeyrathne and K.T. Chithrasena, rejected a Writ Application filed by former Minister Wimal Weerawansa, challenging the notice issued on him by the Bribery Commission. "If persons who received notice from Bribery Commission, informing them to come to commission for the process of investigation, come before SC to challenging the notice, then, very soon we have to close the Bribery Commission," more..

July 29 (Island) The academic staff of SAITM said the treatment its medical graduates received from the govt amounted to discrimination. They said the government’s indecisiveness had caused immense suffering to the SAITM medical graduates. Addressing a news conference held at the Neville Fernando Hospital, Malabe, Prof. Deepthi Samarage vehemently criticised the attitude of SLMC which she said was practising double standards. more..

July 29 (FT) A framework of ideas on new Customs legislation will be put before trade unions and civil society organisations in the next two weeks, Minister Ravi Karunanayake pledged to stakeholders yesterday, stating that there was no intention to return the institution to the Stone Age. The special meeting was to gather stakeholder views ahead of starting preparations for the new Customs Act proposed under Budget 2016. The meeting was held at the request of Customs officers, more..

July 29 (DN) The planned march from Kandy to Colombo will do nothing to break the historic partnership between the United National Party and the SLFP, led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Maithripala Sirisena respectively. If at all it is an effort to destroy the marriage that took place on January 8, 2015 between the people of this country and the idea of democracy, Minister Sagala Ratnayaka stated in a release yesterday. more..

July 29 (DM) Making all Sri Lankans proud, BitMasters, Moratuwa Uni Engineering Faculty team taking part in the world finals of Microsoft Imagine Cup 2016, won the second place under the Innovation Category. The award ceremony was held on Thursday in the Microsoft Campus in Redmond, Seattle, with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella gracing the event. Perhaps this could be the biggest win any SL team has so far more..

July 29 (PSL) Govt of Japan has expressed willingness to introduce the concept of My Number system in Japan, which increases the efficiency of the Japanese people’s day-to-day life, to Sri Lanka. This was revealed when the visiting Senior Japanese Parliamentary member, Fukuda Sensai held discussions with President Maithripala Sirisena. Under the My Number system, by using the modern technology an electronic card will be issued to each and every person which more..

July 29 (SLA) Security Force Headquarters - Jaffna (SFHQ-J) with the noble intention of promoting the livelihood of north-based rehabilitated ex-LTTE combatants enabled 20 ex-combatants to make a living by selling lottery tickets as permanent sales assistants of the Development Lottery Board (DLB). The novel notion, initiated by Major General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander, was launched by the 521 Brigade of the SFHQ-J during a ceremony in Chavakachcheri on Monday (25). more..

July 29 (FT) Minimum room rates currently enforced in Colombo will end from the first quarter of 2017 under a new decision made by the Tourism Minister to make the industry more competitive. Minimum room rates of city hotels will be abolished with the end of the next winter season, Minister John Amaratunga said in a media statement, with the decision to be implemented from 31 March 2017. more..

July 29 (CT) Minister Lakshman Kiriella has taken steps to implement a number of programmes aimed at building reconciliation in universities, Additional Secretary of the Ministry, P.G. Jayasinghe said. He added that most of the Sinhalese students at the Jaffna University have returned and the govt has ensured their safety. The ministry says the attendance of Sinhalese students is at a satisfactory level, especially in the Medical and Engineering Faculties. more..

July 29 (ENS) As many as 77 fishermen from three districts who were arrested by SL Navy on various instances for violating the IMBL were repatriated here on Thursday. The fishermen alleged that during their prison term, they were abused and were provided unhygienic food. Murugavel, a fisherman from Akkarapettai, said, “We were fishing near the IMBL when the Lankan Navy personnel arrested us. We were lodged at Jaffna Prison and treated in an inhumane manner. more..

July 29 (FT) Commencing the much-awaited Joint Opposition Jana Satana Paada Yathrawa yesterday, its leader former President Mahinda Rajapaksa claimed the march was against the vengeful Govt that was trying to take revenge from heads of the prior Govt as well as the innocent public. Rajapaksa made the observation after paying homage at Gatambe temple on Thursday morning before the beginning of the Paada Yathrawa. more..

July 29 (DM) Ahead of Pada Yatra, the protest march from Kandy to Colombo, President Sirisena, as the leader of SLFP, convened the party’s MPs sitting with the Joint Opposition to his residence last Monday. Joint Opposition, acting under the ostensible leadership of former President Rajapaksa, organised this march against the govt comprising the UNP and a section of the SLFP loyal to President Sirisena. Upon arrival in the meeting room, President greeted the participants more..

July 29 (DM) In the aftermath of the brutal murder of a Catholic priest at a church near Normandy in France on Tuesday, Pope Francis in a spirit of mercy has gone beyond individual indoctrination or some mental imbalance to analyze the root causes of terrorism. Speaking to reporters on the plane which carried him to the World Youth Congress at Krakow in Poland, Pope Francis said what was happening was virtually a world war but not a war between religions. more..

July 29 (CI) Historically, conditions outside Asia have been the toughest for opening batsmen; in England, South Africa and New Zealand, the ball swings and seams, while Australian pitches have offered more bounce. Over the last five years, though, opening the batting in Sri Lanka has been more difficult than in any other country. In 87 innings in Tests since the beginning of 2012, the average opening partnership in SL has been 25.82, more..

July 29 (ST) State institutions in the Western Province have turned out to be the main breeding grounds for dengue mosquitoes, claiming 44 lives and making 25, 365 ill during past 7 months. Railway yards and reservations, railway quarters, govt housing complexes, old state buildings, prisons, ports and bare land belonging to state institutions have been identified as having the highest mosquito density, according to authorities. more..

July 29 (SL) Energy experts, the Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Union (CEBEU), and other stakeholders have condemned the government’s move to go all-out for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) without adequate planning and expert opinion. The CEBEU has stressed that they will not hesitate to take legal action if the proper legal process is not followed with regard to power sector policy and the generation plan. more..

July 29 (DN) Joint Opposition (JO) predicted over one million participants for the Jana Satana Paada Yatra rally, scheduled to be held in Colombo on August 1. JO Leader Dinesh Gunawardane said that Pada Yathra is a peaceful protest march against the non democratic policies of the govt. He alleged that there are many conspiracies in motion to sabotage this programme adding that none of these attempts more..

July 29 (DN) The historic Esala Pageant of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy, will be held from August 3 to 18. The pageant will commence with the Kap planting ceremony on August 3, said Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela, at a meeting held to make preparations for the event. Devale Perahera will be held from August 3 to7, Kumbal Perahera from August 8 to 12, and the Randoli Perahera from August 13 to 17. more..

July 29 (Island) The Fisheries Ministry has withdrawn the proposed Rs. 4,000 million fisheries development project in Batticaloa due to the continuous objections raised by leading politicians in the Eastern Province. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that his Ministry had planned to establish a National Aquaculture Farm at Vakarai in Batticaloa which would have generated over 10,000 new job opportunities for the residents there. more..

July 29 (DM) The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) today said it was not certain as to when the renovation of the Hyde Park Ground would be completed so that it could release the ground to those who had reserved it including, MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara. MP Nanayakkara’s DLF has reserved the ground for August 1, the day Jana Satana Paada Yathrawa protest march is scheduled to reach Colombo from Kiribathgoda. more..

July 29 (DM) Politicisation is accepted as inevitable in almost every govt sector institution. But, generally, whether it is utilised in terms of administration or in policy making it does more harm than good. Politicisation could also have an adverse effect by demoralising officers in govt service. If politicisation is taken to extreme, it can be harmful and cause a dysfunctional environment to those who want to work independently. more..

July 29 (DM) Kegalle Magistrate Gayan Meegahage yesterday refused to grant the restraining order requested by the police seeking to prevent the paada yathrawa organised by the Joint Opposition from entering the Kegalle city limits from Karandupana. HQI Kegalle Police had filled the petition on behalf of the police and cited several reasons why the procession should not pass through the city. more..

July 29 (DN) CID is currently recording a statement from a former IGP Mahinda Balasuriya in connection with the murder of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge. IGP has arrived at the Police Headquarters to give the statement, today. Balasuriya was a former secretary to the Ministry of Law and Order as well. An army official was also taken into custody for allegedly threatening the driver of Wickrematunge on 16 July. more..

July 29 (CT) Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) started his Pada Yathra from Peradeniya to Colombo, yesterday. This was in protest of the National Unity Govt of President Maithripala Sirisena and Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe over various issues such as the VAT and the possible involvement of foreign judges to investigate alleged war crimes committed by the Govt of Sri Lanka and its allied agencies such as the security forces in the prosecution of their war against the LTTE. more..

July 29 (CT) It is a commonplace in reviews of the ethnic conflict at the popular level of web comment for the blame to be heaped on our politicians in the past, and any perusal of web-commentary would turn up criticisms of politician A or politician B, or particular temporal moments/events. This is over-simplistic. Such processes are complex and demand a multi-factorial analysis. Besides such singular criticisms tend to obscure or downplay the critical influence of two fundamental causes, more..

July 29 (CT) The native fishermen have returned to their fishing activities in Kokilai, Mullaitivu, over the weekend, braving threats from a Buddhist monk and police officers who were alleged to have threatened the fisher folk of Kokilai and Mullaitivu sources said. The fishermen of Kokilai were threatened last week and their fishing gear was destroyed by a monk and a group of his men, forcing them to flee from Kokilai. The fishermen who were intimidated had complained to Northern Provincial Councillor more..

July 29 (AD) Former MP P.H. Piyasena who was arrested by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD), has been remanded until 02 August. The former MP was remanded after being produced before the Fort Magistrate a short while ago on Friday (29). He was arrested after a statement was recorded from him over the allegation of misusing vehicles belonging to the government this morning. Piyasena elected to the Parliament at the General Election in 2010 who contested under the TNA ticket. more..

July 29 (AD) Sri Lanka can still achieve economic growth of 5% or slightly more even with the now-increased monetary policy rates, the central bank chief said. “We can still achieve 5% or bit more growth despite 50 basis point rate hike,” Governor Indrajith Coomaraswamy said. On Thursday, CB raised its main interest rates by 50 basis points each, in a surprise move aimed at curbing stubbornly high credit growth that more..

July 29 (CI) Left-arm spinner Jon Holland will join Australia's squad for the second Test against SL in Galle after a hamstring injury ruled Steve O'Keefe out of the remainder of the series. Having been chosen for Australia A off the back of an eight-wicket haul in the Sheffield Shield final, Holland is a likely inclusion for Galle opposite Nathan Lyon, as the pitch is expected to take plenty of turn. "Steve injured his right hamstring while chasing a ball in the field during the second session yesterday," more..

July 29 (DM) Former Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundara arrived at the PRECIFAC to give a statement over misappropriation of Rs. 5 billion govt funds in 2014. Dr. Jayasundara was being questioned by the Investigations Unit attached to the PRECIFAC with regard to a complaint received by the commission over an allegation of importing 100,000 metric tons of rice from an Indian Company against the Cabinet Decisions. He said govt had incurred a loss of Rs.5 bil due to transaction. more..

July 29 (CT) Canada says delays in implementing reforms, economic stability, and good governance are not in the public interest despite govt's positive engagement in implementing the UNHRC resolution and its mechanisms which was also co-sponsored by Canada. Visiting Canadian Foreign Minister Stéphane Dion urged the govt to implement what remains of the resolution to be implemented. more..

July 29 (CI) Former South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman Nic Pothas has been appointed Sri Lanka's fielding coach, and will begin the role on August 8, a board release said. Pothas had most recently been the academy director at Leicestershire County, and was the cricket director at Guernsey in the past. "Our last few outings are showing a marked improvement in the batting and bowling, however our fielding has been letting us down," SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala said. more..