June 10 (CT) A number of schools that had been severely affected by the floods, in the Sabaragamuwa Province, are likely to be relocated. This was revealed by Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam. A number of schools in the province had been affected by the recent floods and several of those, which had sustained major damage, still remain closed. "We have looked at these schools. Some of them can be repaired but some need to be relocated because they are situated in areas more..

June 10 (Island) Former Minister G.L. Peiris said that those who had accused the previous govt of interfering in judiciary should explain their position in respect of the recent revelation that the administration requested the Attorney General to reconsider a decision to arrest five officials. Prof. Peiris said the administration had intervened subsequent to some of the officers facing arrest informed the govt that they would quit posts currently held by them. more..

June 10 (CT) The COPE has issued Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran a two week ultimatum, ordering him to furnish all details in relation to the bond transactions to the Auditor General within this period. On Wednesday, COPE summoned Mahendran and his Deputy Governors, to follow up on a complaint lodged by the Auditor General that the Central Bank had refused to provide him with the relevant information on more..

June 10 (Reuters) Sri Lankan shares ended steady on Friday as positive sentiment after an IMF loan approval offset concerns over rising interest rates and foreign fund outflows. Turnover was 275.1 million rupees ($1.90 million), the lowest since March 19, and less than half of this year's daily average of around 773.2 million rupees. The benchmark Colombo stock index ended 0.04% higher at 6,530.50. It posted a weekly gain of 0.17%, snapping three straight weeks of losses. more..

June 10 (Island) Sri Lanka will participate in the International Tsunami Evacuation Drill, which is scheduled to be held in September. Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Assistant Director Early Warning Pradeep Kodippili said that the tsunami evacuation drill would cover 14 tsunami vulnerable districts in the country including Gampaha, Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Killinochchi, Jaffna, Mannar, Puttalam and Mullaitivu. more..

June 10 (DM) JVP said Govt’s deal with the Rajapaksas was clear when former president Rajapaksa kept away from yesterday’s voting on the no-confidence motion against Minister Ravi Karunanayake. JVP MP Vijitha Herath said the investigations against the Rajapaksas were going on at snail’s pace because of these deals with the Rajapaksas. He said Mr. Rajapaksa had not singed the no-confidence motion either. more..

June 10 (CM) A Sri Lankan man was remanded for six days in Paphos on Thursday in connection with an ongoing investigation into bogus medical certificates to secure work permits for foreign workers. Paphos CID spokesman said the 46-year-old had made various assertions that were being investigated. The man joins six others, including two Paphos doctors, who were remanded for seven days on June 4. The two doctors, 68 and 51, are suspected of issuing the fake certificates more..

June 10 (Island) Provincial Councils and Local Govt Ministry announced that it had completed the garbage collecting operation conducted during last nine days in the recent flood affected areas. Accordingly about 6,000 tonnes of garbage had been collected and temporarily unloaded at the Kolonnawa garbage dump. Ministry had requested the public not to dump garbage in cleaned areas and to coordinate with relevant Local Authorities to continue the daily/weekly process more..

June 10 (PSL) The President’s House in Colombo Fort was opened for the public yesterday (8) for the first time in the history, according to a concept of President Maithripala Sirisena. A large number of people including students of the schools visited the President’s House today as well. Those who came to visit the President’s House thanked President for the opportunity created for them to witness this historic heritage of the country. more..

June 10 (CT) 13 MPs leave for China today on their annual educational tour organized by the Sino-Lanka Friendship Organization. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has been selected as the group leader of the tour party. Minister said MPs were selected from among several political parties represented in Parliament. MPs taking part in the tour include MPs Mahinda Amaraweera, Ashok Abeysingha, Dullas Alahapperuma, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, J.C. Alawathuwala, Vadivel Suresh, more..

June 10 (CT) Sources said that a sum of Rs 50 million had been incurred on expenses for the opening ceremonies of three projects in Colombo. These sources said that such a whopping expenditure had been exposed after the firms which provided the services for the said projects had submitted the bills connected to the expenses. Three opening ceremonies included the inauguration of Arcadia building at Independence Square, opening of Colombo Gold Centre and more..

June 10 (DM) Indian Govt has suspended fishing by TN fishermen in Sri Lankan territorial waters for 45 days, Fisheries and Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said. He said the Sri Lankan Govt would request New Delhi to extend the fishing ban to prevent poaching by South Indian fishermen. He said he would visit New Delhi shortly to convince Indian authorities the importance of continuing the ban because Sri Lanka incurred losses of more..

June 10 (CG) TNA reiterated a demand to release Tamils arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Speaking in Parliament today, TNA leader R. Sampanthan said that the new Govt had assured that all political prisoners will be set free. However he said only a few were released while many others arrested under the draconian law continue to remain in custody. He also said that the Tamils in the North and East are yet to see real reconciliation, 7 years after the war ended. more..

June 10 (PHC) Sri Lanka Pakistan Friendship Trade and Investment Association in collaboration with the High Commission of Pakistan in Sri Lanka organized a fun-filled Fund Raising Master Quiz Competition and a photographic exhibition by French and Pakistani Photographers in Colombo. The photographic exhibition titled See Pakistan-Love Pakistan by Bilal Javaid and Imran Chaudhry, was inaugurated by Chief Guest for the occasion, Syed Hussain, High Commissioner of Pakistan. more..

June 10 (AD) Minister Chandima Weerakkody says that SLFP’s aim is to bring the UPFA to power with the people’s mandate at the next general election and not through some underhand tactic. “We are absolutely against a split of SLFP,” he said. He stated that SLFP members have to be realistic and that the country comes before anything, and then the party. As far as the party is concerned we have to stick together, he said. more..

June 10 (DM) A tense situation prevailed at Barnes Place in Colombo 7 between a group of people and the CMC officers when they had attempted to demolish some 26 houses. Though two bulldozers were brought in by the CMC the protest had halted any work being done. The people who claimed to be the previous owners said they were forced to vacate their homes in 2013, after being threatened by certain politicians. “We were asked to leave our homes by former minister Mervyn Silva more..

June 10 (DM) Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa left for Japan this morning on a special invitation from the Sri Lankan community there, Spokesperson for former president Rohan Weliwita said. According sources Mr. Rajapaksa had left at 12.30a.m with four others including NFF Leader MP Wimal Weerawansa, his personal chief security officer and two others. He is to address several meetings in Japan and will participate in several functions at several temples, Mr. Weliwita said. more..

June 10 (CG) High Commission of India signed agreements to award work to four Implementing Agencies (IAs), viz., UN-HABITAT; International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in partnership with Sri Lanka Red Cross; National Housing Development Authority (NHDA); and Habitat for Humanity to implement the housing project in Central and Uva Provinces. more..

June 10 (AD) The Parliamentary Affairs Committed has found that there is no necessity for a No-Confidence Motion against the Secretary-General of Parliament, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said today. A No-Confidence Motion against the Secretary-General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake was handed over to the Speaker on Tuesday stating that the Secretary-General should be removed from his position due to failure to carry out the division on May 5, on Supplementary Estimate vote. more..

June 10 (DM) Former minister Basil Rajapaksa arrived at the PRECIFAC a short while ago, to give a statement over the alleged misappropriation of funds belonging to the Economic Development Ministry. A spokesman said investigations had revealed that Mr. Rajapaksa had paid Rs. 150.5 million from the Gama Neguma project to the Sri Lanka Air Force for using its planes for his private trips. Mr. Rajapaksa had also allegedly employed 150 personnel of the navy and the army for his personal work more..

June 10 (PTI) The govt should sack Central Bank chief Arjuna Mahendran if his conduct has been found undesirable, country's Petroleum Minister today demanded amid allegations that the top banker's son-in- law benefited unduly from a USD 76 million bond auction. The demand has piled pressure on President Maithripala Sirisena, who won elections in January last year on a promise to end cronyism and corruption, from his own party. more..

June 11 (CT) “I don’t want to respond to such a dirty article. If I decide to respond to “dirty articles’ I too will have to resort to dirt”, says Raththaran aka Rohitha Abeygunawardhana. According to The Daily News, which had re-published my article which was initially published on The CT, former minister Mr. Rohitha Abeygunawardhana responded to my article claiming it was dirty. It was also said that he will not condemn himself to such a low level by responding to it. more..

June 11 (NS) Supplementary estimates presented in parliament to buy expensive duty free vehicles for ministers and state ministers amidst hardships caused to people by floods and the explosion in the Army’s central armoury sparked a lot of public antipathy and generated much public discussion on the subject. Despite public criticism most parliamentarians, irrespective of their political philosophies seem to be united when it comes to their own salaries and perks. more..

June 11 (SO) Minister of Plantation Industries Navin Dissanayake talks about the present situation in the tea industry and the measures his Ministry is taking to safeguard the interests of the plantation sector. Q: Tea industry representatives say the present weather in the country would be a major issue and production would come down drastically. What are your observations? A: I think tea production this year would be negatively more..

June 11 (CT) What’s wrong? Everybody with some concern for the country asks this question. Strangely, the Joint Opposition (JO), which is in the habit of crying foul for every move taken by the govt is dead silent. Probably this silence lets the cat out of the bag. The demand for super luxury cars would have been triggered by the JO’s former buddies who are now shamelessly in govt enjoying cabinet portfolios. These guys are adept at playing hide and seek with Maitri and running into nooks more..

June 11 (NS) The recent dispute between the doctors’ trade union, the GMOA and Minister Rajitha Senaratne highlights how politicised the state run health service has become – and how that has eroded the integrity and efficiency of the sector. The GMOA, never shy to ask for its pound of flesh despite its members purportedly taking the Hippocratic Oath, staged a strike claiming that the list of post-intern appointments prepared by the Ministry had been tampered with. more..

June 11 (SL) Minister S.B. Dissanayake said that anyone who conspires against the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the country must be punished and steps must be taken against anyone who abets such an act. He pointed out that under the leadership of President Sirisena, govt is engaged in a successful campaign to rebuild relationships with the international community. It is also fostering ethnic harmony among more..

June 11 (Island) The govt is cock-a-hoop about defeating Thursday’s no-faith motion against Minister Ravi Karunanayake. It mustered 145 votes against the motion while the proponents thereof had to settle for only 51. Twenty eight MPs were absent including former President Rajapaksa. The govt’s jubilation is understandable. It has succeeded in not only foiling a determined bid to unsettle it but also putting up a united front against the Joint Opposition in spite of debilitating differences more..

June 11 (Island) It has to be expected that after the Kosgama explosions most Sri Lankans will wonder whether the fell hand of the LTTE was behind them. That might be irresponsible speculation, but not if it is seen in the perspective of what was revealed, prior to the explosions, in US State Department’s annual Report on terrorism. The crucially significant detail is that the LTTE has continued to get funds from its supporters in the West and elsewhere and has used those funds to purchase weapons. more..

June 11 (CT) SL Navy conducted several soccer coaching camps for the children who are in the Islands of Jaffna Peninsula from mid May 2016. The aim of the programmes was to promote soccer in the islands of Karaitivu, Eluvativu, Analativu, Nayanativu, Punkudativu, Mandativu and Delft in order to establish two soccer teams (Under 13 and 15). The programme was organized by the Northern Naval Command under the directions of the Commander of the Navy more..

June 11 (CT) The huge explosion at one of the major arsenals in the country located at Salawa Army camp in the Kosgama area last Sunday (5) had highlighted the extent of the storage of heavy weaponry and indicating the extensively militarized state the country remained for nearly three decades in the past. All sorts of arms and ammunitions stored in the Salawa arsenal exploded and destroyed all buildings in the campsite which was established in 1994. more..

June 11 (Island) "We can’t do our job without it" is the current chorus of politicians who are said to work in the August Assembly at Diyawanna Oya. "What is the job you are talking about?" – Reply is prompt: "Serving the people". "How did that become your job?" "Well, we applied for it at the nominations, were selected to contest the elections, and were chosen by the people. Isn’t that quite a task, and don’t we deserve the tools to do our work?" more..

June 11 (CI) 118.80: Jonny Bairstow's average in Tests in 2016; he has made 594 runs this year in just eight innings, including three scores of 140-plus. Bairstow's unbeaten 167 in this innings is his highest Test score, beating his previous best of 150 not out, which came in Cape Town earlier this year. Bairstow's is also the second highest score by a wicketkeeper in Tests at Lord's. He finished just one run short of Clyde Walcott's unbeaten 168 in 1950. 144: Runs added by Bairstow and more..

June 11 (Island) The ambassador of Sri Lanka, Dr Saj Mendis, called on the Second Deputy Prime Minister of Bahrain, Shaikh Mohamed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa at the Gudaibiya Palace in order to discuss closer cooperation and engagement between the two countries. Mubarak Al Khalifa, a member of the Royal Family of the Kingdom and one of the senior most political leaders, has been the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1970 to 2005, until he was appointed as 2nd Deputy PM. more..

June 11 (CI) The grip of Kaushal Silva's bat is orange. It is the colour of road cones, of warning signs, of hi-visibility vests - of proceeding with care. In a domestic system where strike rates are high, and batting averages low, Silva had beaten out more than two dozen first-class hundred before a long run in the team was his. "We have strokemakers," a team selector said. "Kaushal is there to give the innings some substance." more..

June 11 (FT) It is characteristic of our times that Nazeer Ahamed, the CM of the Eastern Province, came to national attention controversially, stridently protesting an issue of protocol; not in the general application of a pre-determined order of formalities, but taking umbrage at an unforeseen incident concerning himself; not at a State event or a Provincial Council meeting, but at a minor function held in Sampur, at a small school receiving some equipment donated by a business org. more..

June 11 (ST) Are we being taken for a ride? This was the question raised with moves favouring a Light Rail Transit (LRT) mode of transport within the proposed Megapolis meeting opposition from some experts who believe buses should remain in the picture too. A seminar on Re-Thinking Transport in the Megapolis this week threw up stiff opposition to the think tank’s belief that the best transport mode would be to use an elevated LRT as the arterial system to connect the network of more..

June 11 (CI) The highest Test score ever lodged by an England wicketkeeper in a home Test followed by a perplexing dropped catch. For Jonny Bairstow, even on the most exultant of days the debate about whether England should utilise him as a wicketkeeper or specialist batsmen is destined to ring loudly. Bairstow was left unbeaten on 167 as England were dismissed for 416, 45 minutes into the afternoon session more..

June 11 (DN) Sri Lanka is slowly but surely tapping the global cruise market, an official from the Ceylon Shipping Corporation said. The global cruise passenger market which was 19.1 million in 2010 is predicted to be 24 million by 2016 and Asia including Sri Lanka should try to attract this market. Asian cruise passenger volume nearly doubled to almost 1.4 million in 2014, from 775,000 in 2012, according to a report by the Cruise Lines International Association. more..