June 13 (AD) The initiative launched by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Maharagama to seek public assistance for the purchase of a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner, which received the support of Manusath Derana, has achieved its target of getting Rs.200 million as of today. The PET scanner is an essential requirement for the National Cancer Institute in Maharagama as it allows doctors to detect the early onset of disease before it is evident on other imaging tests. more..

June 13 (Reuters) On April 1, Sri Lankan govt paid 300 million rupees as a premium to buy its first national natural disaster cover from the country's National Insurance Trust Fund. Just six weeks later, as drenching rains swamped the country and a major landslide ripped through Aranayake region, in Kegalle District, govt made its first insurance claim, for nearly a million dollars, to provide meals and other immediate assistance to over 300,000 people hit by the disaster. more..

June 13 (CG) UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein says there needs to be inclusive and meaningful engagement of all Sri Lankans when implementing the resolution on Sri Lanka adopted by the UNHRC last year. Speaking during the opening of the 32nd session of the UNHRC in Geneva today, Zeid Al Hussein said that in SL, Govt’s efforts to implement its commitments in Resolution more..

June 14 (CT) Addressing the question of devolution undoubtedly might be the most controversial among the constitutional issues facing Sri Lanka today. There are both pull and push factors in operation dividing the people and political parties, on ethnic and other grounds. As a follow up to the previous article on Going Beyond the 13-A and Towards Cooperative Devolution (8 May) this is a further attempt to address some of the other key issues in the form of questions and answers. more..

June 14 (CT) 32nd session of the UNHRC starts this week in Geneva at which the case of Sri Lanka will be taken up. UN Human Rights Commissioner Zeid Al-Hussein will make a statement on the progress that has taken place with regard to the UNHRC resolution of October 2015 which was co-sponsored by the SL govt. The main institutional development to be presented will be the Office of Missing Persons of which the SL govt has presented draft legislation approved by the cabinet of ministers. more..

June 14 (SO) Local residents of Salawa may now be trying to pick up their lives after last week's terrifying fire storm, thankful that their battered community suffered no deaths, but a small village home in remote Medagama, near Buttala, is in shocked mourning. Wife and two children are yet to come to terms with the death of her husband and their father, combat veteran Lance Corporal Janaka Kasthuriarachchi, more..

June 14 (Island) President Maithripala Sirisena has, in a recent interview with a Sunday newspaper, reiterated that there won’t be foreign judges involved in the inquiry to be initiated into the alleged war crimes here. We thought Sri Lanka had no say in that matter! Whether President Sirisena is equal to the task of resisting moves being made by powerful groups to involve foreign judges, prosecutors et al in war crimes inquiries remains to be seen. He will be able to do so only if more..

June 14 (SL) Central Bank has introduced a contractionary monetary policy stance recently so as to rectify the economic fundamentals that had been in disarray for a long time. The relaxed monetary policy adopted hitherto propelled aggregate demand exerting severe pressures on inflation and balance of payments while reflecting high GDP growth rates. In response to the restrictive monetary policy measures, the interest rate structure has moved upward in recent weeks thereby helping to more..

June 14 (SL) JO member and Former Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said that certain rumours that were spread claiming that the joint opposition was experiencing internal disputes were a fragment of imagination of their opponents. He said that such disputes never existed. He said that the joint opposition is resolute in their determination to protect this country to the best of their ability through the challenging times ahead. more..

June 14 (NS) In about three decades, the elderly would be the highest proportion of the SL population. Among them the oldest elderly, i.e. those who are 75+ years would be the most prominent. At first glance, future demographic conditions may appear too distant to affect today’s economic concerns. Then again, today’s working age population is the elderly in the coming years. Hence, SL should have adequate policies and institutions to deal with problems of an ageing population. more..

June 14 (Island) As for the young woman: the film takes pains to locate her in a rural setting. It takes pains too to portray her as someone from an underprivileged background. Yet, in the movie, she breaks all bounds in terms of fictional verisimilitude. If we were to apply the litmus test of realism to her character, the question would be whether such a young woman from such and such a background act the way she does? In response to just such a question posed by an interviewer for Ravaya, more..

June 14 (ST) The much awaited IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of US$ 1.5 billion was approved. It could usher in external financial viability and more prudent management of the country’s finances. If the government implements the concomitant reform program, the country could move towards fiscal consolidation and an improvement in the balance of payments. These are essential for economic stability and growth. IMF’s EFF of approximately US$ 1.5 billion will be disbursed in six tranches more..

June 14 (NS) It is that time of the year again when the UNHRC meets in Geneva to discuss and analyze human rights issues in several parts of the world and ascertain the improvements made in concerns raised at previous sessions. Sri Lanka is one country which continues to be closely monitored and scrutinized by the council owing to allegations of war crimes during the final phase of the war. Ever since Sri Lanka’s former regime was embroiled in these allegations, the UNHRC was keenly more..

June 14 (CI) Angelo Mathews said Kusal Mendis' batting and Rangana Herath's all-round performances constituted the positives from the 2-0 Test series defeat against England. He was, however, non-committal on the struggling Lahiru Thirimanne's continued place in the Test XI. Herath claimed seven wickets at an average of 43.28, and also hit 109 runs from No. 8 in the series. Herath was superb, Mathews said. more..

June 14 (CI) Spinning allrounder Milinda Siriwardana has been left out of Sri Lanka's ODI squad for the forthcoming series against Ireland and England. Siriwardana had made a bright start to his limited-overs career in 2015, averaging 29.11 with the bat and 30.50 with the ball. He hit 66, 12 and 39 in Sri Lanka's most recent ODI series, in New Zealand. SLC had already announced the names of five players who would join the squad for the ODIs (Farveez Maharoof, Upul Tharanga, more..

June 14 (Island) National Savings Bank (NSB) will assist the govt in revamping State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in case any of these entities requires the Bank's expertise in this regard, Kithsiri Wijeyaratne, DGM Finance and Planning, NSB, said. "That is one of our key priorities for 2016. Our other priorities are; forging new business relationships for international remittances, growing fee-based banking services, enhancing corporate image through effective marketing more..

June 14 (CI) The last day of the series at Lord's had promised so much. England needed to bowl out Sri Lanka to take a 3-0 clean sweep in the series, but SL, driven ahead by a sense of grievance, were not about to relinquish the Test easily. At 32 for 0, requiring 362, they were down but far from out. Then the rain spoiled it. The clouds were so black over Lord's that one might have imagined St John's Wood had become more..

June 14 (Island) Crocodiles in Menik Ganga would be captured and released into Yala National Park to ensure the safety of the pilgrims who thronged Kataragama during the annual Esala Perahera of Maha Devale of Ruhuna, Basnayaka Nilame of Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devale D.P. Kumarage said. That measure had become essential as the crocodiles devotees were scared of bathing in Menik Ganga. Some crocodiles had already been captured and released to the national park. more..

June 14 (CT) The Mayor of Colombo, A.J.M. Muzzamil, told the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), Urban Steering Committee, that they would seek help from the Judiciary in order to confirm the legal ownership of a land, 3 roods and 34.43 perches in extent, belonging to the CMC at No. 43, Barnes Place, Colombo 7. It is said, when Chief Engineer of the CMC, Lalith Wickremaratne, went to the site on 10 June and spoke about the legality of the land, a heated situation had arisen. more..

June 14 (CI) On April 24, Dinesh Chandimal played a sweep shot in a practice match in Pallekele. It shouldn't have made the news, but that sweep went straight into the back of Kaushal Silva's head. He was taken to a hospital in Kandy, before being airlifted to a hospital in Colombo. Practice match was for Sri Lanka's tour of England; it hadn't even started and they were having trouble. On May 8, the Sri Lankans more..

June 14 (Island) "If Sri Lanka is to become a major financial hub in the region, the first thing to do is to abolish the archaic Exchange Control Act, in order to ease foreign exchange transactions in the country, Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran said. Mahendran said that in 1973, exchange control offices were made criminal offences under the law, which deterred many genuine Sri Lankns who lived abroad from bringing their money to Sri Lanka. A proposed Act will make more..

June 14 (DM) The elephant calf that had been rescued from an uncovered drain in Hambantota would not be reunited with its mother but would be raised at the Elephant Transit Home in Uda Walawe for three to four years, Wild Life Conservation Department officials said. Wild Life Health Management’ Director Dr. Tharaka Prasad rejected reports on the release of the elephant calf to a temple by the WLCD. However, Dr. Prasad said the mother elephant had refused to feed more..

June 14 (Island) Secretary Ministry of Transport, Highways and Civil Aviation (THCA) Nihal Somaweera yesterday said that errant drivers could not be caught with the help of CCTV cameras in most cases as they had bought vehicles with open papers. Somaweera said the Motor Traffic Department of the Police were in a dilemma in tracking the owners of some vehicles involved in accidents recorded on CCTV camera as more..

June 14 (ST) Nearly a decade after GoldQuest, the controversial network marketing scheme operated here, Central Bank (CB) is probing some three entities dealing in pyramid type-schemes, CB sources said. ”CB is investigating some multi-level marketing firms who are dealing in pyramid schemes,” a CB source said adding that most of these schemes are functioning in the South with one being operated in Hambantota, he added. “They are selling furniture, electronics, etc above more..

June 14 (FT) The Govt of Sri Lanka and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $2 million grant agreement to finance relief efforts in the country following the recent floods and landslides which claimed the lives of around a hundred people and damaged the homes and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands more. “Considering the scope of the damage in Sri Lanka and the Govt’s constrained resources, it is critical that we assist the people of Sri Lanka in this time of urgent need,” more..

June 14 (DM) PHU General Secretary Udaya Gammanpila was summoned by the Police Special Investigation Unit (SIU) to record a statement over a complaint that he had used an allegedly fraudulent Power of Attorney to sell shares of an Australian company. Mr. Gammanpila, on his way to the SIU, refuted the charges as being politically motivated and said it was a surprise that the charge comes after 18.5 years later of signing more..

June 14 (DN) Pussalla Meat Producers has been awarded European Award for Best Practices 2016 in Gold Category for their commitment, support and results in quality management strategies at the convention held last week in Brussels, Belgium. The event was organized by European Society for Quality Research (ESQR) Switzerland. The European Award for Best Practices recognizes the organizations, companies, public administration and individuals with outstanding commitments, more..

June 14 (Island) The need for capacity building to ensure an efficient public sector and meet developmental goals is imperative particularly in countries such as Sri Lanka. As an active partner in SL’s economic progress, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), supports the country’s public sector through invaluable resource building and competency skills. Through the Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship Programme (JDS), funded by govt of Japan, more..

June 14 (DN) Govt will call for expressions of interest (EOI) for the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) next month. Airport and Aviation Services Limited is awaiting cabinet approval for this. The declining of aircraft, passenger and cargo movements have prompted the govt to look at an EOI in a bid to cushion some of the financial burden. Airport which was opened in 2013 saw US$ 209 million spent on the project, more..

June 14 (CT) The second year students of the Faculty of Islamic Studies and Arabic Language of the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka has decided to refrain from involving in ragging and other untoward incidents and declared that their Faculty is free from ragging and in future they would never harass their first year students instead they would help and guide them to go ahead with their educational programmes. This declaration was made at the Auditorium of more..

June 14 (FT) A top expert, Dr. Vivek Dehejia, Resident Senior Fellow in Political Economy at IDFC Institute in India and Associate Professor of Economics at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, will speak on Improving the Ease of Doing Business in a Federal Polity: A case study of Modi’s India on 16 June at 10:30 a.m. at the Institute of Policy Studies Auditorium, in Colombo 07. The forum is organised by the IPS and the newly-set-up Agency for Development. more..

June 14 (FT) Ceylon Motor Traders Association (CMTA) has raised concerns over the recent policy changes made by the Govt in the valuation process of used and brand new vehicles, asserting the system being adopted was unfair. Noting that CMTA members represent franchise holders, they asserted that the Govt should not compare and confuse the valuation process of brand new cars with used car imports. more..

June 14 (CT) Customs has released nearly 1,000 vehicles that were held at the Hambantota Port following the controversy surrounding taxation. Ministry of Finance handed over the document containing the new tax percentages to the Customs. Thus, the 1,000 vehicles that were held at the Hambantota Port were released. Minister Ravi Karunanayake took into consideration a request, made by Vehicle Importers Association, calling for no further tax reforms on vehicle imports for more..

June 14 (Island) The construction work on the proposed Rajagiriya flyover which was officially inaugurated in last week was expected to be completed within 32 months, Higher Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella said. He said that the 534-metre long, four-lane bridge would be the longest in the country. The first phase of the project was expected to be completed by the end of next year and the second stage scheduled to be completed in late 2018, Minister said. more..

June 14 (FT) As pressure mounts for the removal of Central Bank Arjuna Mahendran when his term ends on 30 June, UNP big guns launched a staunch defence of the controversial official and insist that he would not be replaced as head of the country’s financial regulatory bank. Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella told journalists at a press briefing yesterday that Mahendran was not likely to be replaced when his term ends this month. more..

June 14 (FT) British High Commissioner to SL James Dauris visited the north and east last week. He heard about progress and challenges facing communities in these areas. He met a range of politicians, Government officials, religious leaders, civil society organisations, business leaders, resettled communities and journalists. During his visit to the east he met with Governor of the Eastern Province Austin Fernando and discussed challenges in the area and the way forward for more..

June 14 (EN) Sri Lanka's gross official forex reserves dropped to a new low of 5.62 billion US dollars in May 2015 from 6.06 billion rupees in April, a month before the IMF approved a new loan to the country's central bank. The 5.6 billion in forex reserves include US$ 1.1 billion borrowed by the monetary authority from the Reserve Bank of India and 310 million dollars borrowed from the IMF under earlier deals. The reserves after borrowings from the RBI and IMF is US$ 4.2 billion more..

June 14 (FT) Strengthening democracy, freedom and human rights and healing the wounds of war have been the key focus of the Govt’s foreign engagement over the past 18 months, President Maithripala Sirisena told participants at a somewhat controversial foreign policy discussion held yesterday. “Our Govt is criticised for betraying the country and allowing foreign powers to invade or dictate terms. But I reject all this. more..

June 14 (DM) The country faced three disasters -- two landslides in Aranayake, the worst floods in the Kelani River valley in 27 years and the explosions cum fire in the Salawa Army Camp in Kosgama -- one after the other within a month. Although the authorities were able to somewhat minimize the effects of the first two disasters the third one took a heavy toll. One natural but unacceptable phenomenon is that the one disaster is being overshadowed by another; firstly Aranayake more..