Mar 23 (SO) Two fishermen from Mirissa in the Matara district face legal action for killing dolphins. The authorities were unable to nab the hunters, for several months without evidence to prove the crime, although they were being closely watched. These killed dolphins reach the coast as chopped pieces with no sign of species identity. Sri Lanka Coast Guards personnel arrested these suspected fishermen in the seas off Mirissa more..

Mar 23 (NS) Earth is home to some 7.4 billion people and right now the survival of earth is hotly debated, literally. First, each successive year’s temperature since 2014 shattered the previous year’s record as the hottest year. Now this has come down to months. January shattered all the monthly temperature records and February broke global temperature records and warned the world of an impending climate emergency. On March 3, the temperatures of northern hemisphere marked more..

Mar 23 (Island) President Maithripala Sirisena has recently said at a gathering of judicial officers that he won’t accept foreign judges in any investigation into human rights violations here. Stating that he has his faith in local judges and judicial administrators he has stressed the need to ensure judicial independence. President Sirisena may have his faith in the judiciary. But, the question is whether the discerning public is on the same page as he on this score. more..

Mar 23 (FT) Hero Cycles Ltd has acquired a majority stake in Sri Lanka based bike exporter BSH Ventures Ltd. With this move India’s biggest bike maker Hero wants to take advantage of the benefits associated with Sri Lanka regaining the GSP+ import duty free status. This allows for Sri Lankan made bikes to be imported duty free in the EU member states, according to a report in www.bike-eu.com “We have bought a 60% stake in BSH Ventures. more..

Mar 23 (ST) When the curtain opens on the Hotel du Paradis it is to the rhythm of the first of many bouncy musical numbers complete with a swaying, pirouetting ensemble and plenty of jazz hands. In less than a week, the cast of Divorce Me Darling will take their audiences beyond the stage of the Bishop’s College Auditorium, to a different era, place and feeling. A joint production between the Past Pupils Association of Bishop’s College and the Old Boys Association of S. Thomas’ College, more..

Mar 23 (SL) The current economic climate is receiving a great deal of attention these days with one of the main topics of conversation being the tax system recently introduced by the govt. The public has been quick to voice its displeasure at the manner in which the govt has placed more burdens on the shoulders of the people. Govt for its part says they have been compelled to enforce new taxes due to the enormous debts the Rajapaksa regime more..

Mar 23 (CI) It seems Pakistan are not short of Achilles heels lately. New Zealand aimed an arrow at a rather famous one - their batting while chasing big totals - and came away the victors to become the first team to qualify for the 2016 World T20 semi-finals. Pakistan, who knew their hopes of staying alive in the World T20 depended heavily on a favourable outcome tonight, looked a chase of 181 in the eye and blinked. Sharjeel Khan's enterprising cameo had set them up. more..

Mar 23 (ST) Do not release even a drop of rainwater to the sea without first utilising it –King Parakramabahu’s wisdom of old highlights the importance of water conservation. Anyone who has been to Anuradhapura or any other area in the dry zone of Sri Lanka would understand – rain is scarce in these areas and water conservation vital for survival. Our ancient kings built tanks for this purpose so that villagers would not be denied this life-sustaining resource. more..

Mar 23 (DM) Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said the govt would discuss about the rumours behind the death of Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera and do everything needed to reveal the facts. “We will look into the claims by various people about the death of Ven. Sobitha Thera. As a govt we have nothing to conceal. We will work openly and do what is needed to reveal everything,” he said. more..

Mar 23 (Island) The newly appointed Netherlands ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Ms. Joanne Doornewaard will meet the Sri Lankan business community at a Luncheon meeting to be held on the 24th of March at the Colombo Club. The meeting which is facilitated by the Sri Lanka Benelux Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce will enable the Sri Lankan corporate executives to get to know the new Ambassador, introduce their companies to her and more..

Mar 23 (ST) Hayleys Group, on the back of a major deal which saw it buy 75% in Fentons Ltd, a leading integrated solutions provider for Building Systems and ICT infrastructure, is gearing to invest in hydro power projects in South Africa and Myanmar. “We are in discussion with firms in both these countries,” official said adding that investing in Myanmar is easy as they have already established their presence in transportation and logistics through Hayleys Advantis. more..

Mar 23 (DN) A Pakistani national who led a large scale intoxicant racket between Sri Lanka and England with the help of top officers of Colombo Central Mail Exchange (CCME) was arrested by CID officers. CID officers found 14 kilos of intoxicants in the suspect's possession. The officers busted the racket following investigations conducted at the CCME. Investigations revealed that once the intoxicants arrived at the BIA, more..

Mar 23 (DN) The contract with regard to the 65,000 houses in war-affected areas in the North and East has already sent ripples across the country’s political sphere. Although ArcelorMittal - an international company run by Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal – was recommended for the project by a Cabinet Appointment Negotiation Committee (CANC), some local contractors also wanted at least some pieces of the pie. They were the first ones to raise concerns over the mega housing project more..

Mar 23 (CT) A senior official of the Colombo National Hospital (CNH) told Ceylon Today that it has been revealed that most of the private attendants who have been employed by relatives of patients to care of those who are receiving resident treatment at the (CNH) are drug addicts. This official further said that, these attendants who are severely addicted to drugs charge a sum between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500 per day. Once a patient is admitted to the hospital, they get information of more..

Mar 23 (Island) Nearly one in every three persons owns a vehicle in Sri Lanka, according to a recent survey, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva says. He said the country had 6.3 million vehicles at present for a population of 21 million. He was addressing a seminar in Badulla organised to educate driving instructors on Monday. "One in every three persons has some kind of vehicle at present according to our surveys," more..

Mar 23 (DN) Anuradhapura Police found two bodies with several cut injuries in a farm at Corn Wewa, Eppawela yesterday morning. The deceased have been identified as the owner of the farm and his assistant. The farm owner R.A. Anthony, 62, a father of seven and his assistant David Singno, 65, were residents of Sandarasgama and Wehera Junction in Eppawela. Eppawela Police found the bodies in two separate rooms in the farm. The bodies were found following a tip-off from villagers. more..

Mar 23 (FT) Australian High Commissioner Bryce Hutchesson visited the Northern Province on 16-18 March to meet with key government interlocutors and inspect Australian-supported development projects. In Jaffna, Hutchesson had productive discussions on the political, economic and development situation in the North with Governor Reginald Cooray, Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran, Security Forces Commander, Jaffna, Major-General Mahesh Senanayake, District Secretary more..

Mar 23 (DN) 18 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in TN, will arrive in the island on March 28 under the UNHCR facilitated voluntary repatriation programme. They are scheduled to arrive here at 12.20 a.m from Chennai. Minister D.M.Swaminathan who had discussions with the UNHCR, facilitated the process and increased the baggage allowance per person with assistance of Public Enterprise Development Ministry more..

Mar 23 (CG) Richard Clayderman, the French Classical Pianist is set to perform in Sri Lanka at the Nelum Pokuna on April 8th, 2016. The concert is being organized by Hussain Shirufaz of Helix Krest Holdings (Pvt) Ltd. Event Partners have been announced as Yamaha Music and Hotel Hilton Colombo whilst Media Sponsors are Legends, Yes FM and TV1. The event is managed by Beats International and the advertising partner is Cogent. The best-selling record artist and more..

Mar 23 (DN) Labour Department will be restructured to provide a better service to the people. Arrangements have been made to collect proposals, ideas and opinion from the public, a Labour and Trade Union Relations Ministry source said. He said any Sri Lankan can now forward proposals on How the Labour Department should be reorganized to Labour Commissioner General, Labour Secretariat, Narahenpita, Colombo 5. Labour and Trade Union Relations Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne more..

Mar 23 (Hindu) In a late-evening development on Tuesday, the State govt ordered the release of Sri Lankan Tamil refugee K. Dhayabararaj’s family from the special quarantine detention camp at Mandapam in Ramanathapuram district. As the indefinite fast of the family demanding release entered the sixth day, the authorities released Udayakala and her three children amid allegations that their detention was unlawful. more..

Mar 23 (CC) After nearly two decades of studying the Cayman Islands, Central Caribbean Marine Institute President Carrie Manfrino has traveled halfway around the world for her latest scientific study, focusing on rising sea levels in the Indian Ocean. Ms. Manfrino was awarded a Fulbright grant to conduct her research study, titled Rising Sea Levels in the Indian Ocean: Evaluating Nature-based Solutions for Reducing Vulnerabilities of Sri Lanka’s Coastal Villages. more..

Mar 23 (DN) Horse Charlaton and jockey Irvan Singh from India owned by the horse loving lady Deepthika Jayakody who also became first at previous Governor's Cup race created history by winning the highest prize money event, the Royal Turf Club Premier Cup Class 1 Stakes 1600M race of the inaugural Royal Turf Club Race Meet which was worked off at the renovated, spectacular Nuwara Eliya race course on Sunday. Roswald and jockey S. D. Mahesh also owned by more..

Mar 23 (Island) National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) has warned President and PM to probe sudden demise of Ven Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera or face the consequences. Ven. Sobitha Thera had been the leader of the NMSJ at the time of his death last November. The prelate died in Singapore, while undergoing medical treatment. Ven. Thera’s successor Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya said that the Sirisena-Ranil more..

Mar 23 (Island) The Constitutional Assembly approved recently by Parliament for formulating a new constitution and a new electoral system is scheduled to meet for the first time on April 05, parliament sources said yesterday. It will meet in the Chamber of Parliament with Speaker Karu Jayasuriya presiding. Sources said a proposal for the inaugural meeting of the Constitutional Council would be presented to the party leaders’ meeting for their approval today (23). more..

Mar 23 (CT) Hollywood star Harrison Ford says he would like to return to Sri Lanka where he shot one of the Indiana Jones movies. He said this in a Q & A hosted by Entertainment Weekly on Tumblr which produced some fascinating results. The legendary actor answered a variety of questions related to his various roles, including Han Solo and Indiana Jones. He discusses his relationship with cast and crew of The Force Awakens and his character's emotional demise in the film. more..

Mar 23 (ENS) India and Sri Lanka have agreed that the Jaffna airport in North Sri Lanka should be upgraded to be an international airport without extending the runway because fresh land acquisition is being opposed by the local people. A five-member technical team of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chennai which inspected the airport recently, concluded that it could be upgraded without acquiring more land, Indian Consul more..

Mar 23 (Hindu) Even as Sri Lankan Tamil Dhayabara Raj lodged in the Special Camp here continued his fast demanding release, members of the People’s Welfare Front (PWF) staged an agitation seeking the release of the Sri Lankan Tamil. PWF, comprising the Left parties, MDMK and the VCK, had called for an agitation in front of the Tiruchi Central Prison on Tuesday demanding the release of the fasting Dhayabara Raj from the Special Camp here. more..

Mar 23 (Hindu) Face to face consultations with stakeholders throughout Sri Lanka are expected to commence early next month to design reconciliation mechanisms. Town-hall meetings, focus group discussions and structured interviews will be part of the consultation process. Manouri Muttetuwegama, chairperson of the Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms, told The Hindu that the process would go on for a few months. At present, the Task Force is seeking through its website more..

Mar 23 (Island) SLFP MPs who attended the Hyde Park rally on March 17 in defiance of a party directive would not be punished as they had not criticise the party or its leadership, UPFA General Secretary and Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said. He said they had monitored the speeches delivered at the rally, but only NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa had criticised President Sirisena. "We don’t want a split in the party more..

Mar 23 (DM) Unlike in the past, the recent countrywide power failures are still making headlines. President Maithripala Sirisena and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe have taken this matter up seriously with Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya expected to submit a special report to Parliament today on the recent happenings in the power sector. The Govt’s concern is understandable in the light of its leaders planning to attract foreign investments from more..

Mar 23 (DM) Good governance…it’s more likely that those who desire foolproof and ideological-definitions-based systems of governance are immensely disappointed at the pace at which the present Govt is going about establishing a more responsive system of governance. Placed against a backdrop of a disappointed public, who held high hopes of reverting to a more agreeable and endurable working structure of govt, a govt that is, for all ostensible reasons fair and balanced, more..

Mar 23 (DM) The imminent threats to the environment of the proposed 500 MW coal-fired thermal power plant to be established in Sampur are grave in concern and are not reversible if commenced. Amidst the vehement opposition by environmentalists and concerned area residents of Sampur, the green light has already been given by the CEA and other respective bodies to kick start the coal power project in Trincomalee. more..

Mar 23 (ST) Anger and frustration showed among small business owners, hit hardest by the power interruptions throughout this week. “We depend on electricity to do most of our work here,” said Wimalanath, 36, who works at a small laundry on the Galle Road and faces the difficult prospect of losing part of his wages as the power cuts had hit the business hard. “We start at 7.30 in the morning but these last few days more..

Mar 23 (SL) Following questions raised about Navy Lieutenant Yoshitha Kanishka Rajapaksa’s qualifications to enter the Sri Lanka Navy, it has now been revealed that Rajapaksa’s O/L and A/L education certificates have gone missing from his personal file. The questionable procedures adopted in recruiting Yoshitha Rajapaksa (NRX 2431) and selecting him for foreign training shows it is a clear deviation from more..

Mar 23 (DM) Former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been noticed to appear in the Special High Court - set up to hear cases connected to LTTE terrorist activities - on May 3 by Commissioner Irangani Perera. He has been asked to be present in Court to give evidence in the case filed against 5 LTTE suspects on charges of aiding and abetting a ex-LTTE suicide carder charged with attempting to kill Mr. Rajapaksa. more..

Mar 23 (DM) Police Chief N. K. Illangakoon who has announced his retirement from the service next month went on one week’s leave from yesterday. Mr. Illangakoon who is the 33rd Inspector General of Police in Sri Lanka will retire on April 12, in place of whom the government is yet to appoint a successor. He had decided to take his last remaining holidays until March 30 and report for duty for the last 12 days. more..

Mar 23 (CG) The Right To Information (RTI) bill has been approved by all Provincial Councils (PCs). President Sirisena however informed Speaker Karu Jayasuriya that a few PCs have sought amendments to the bill. The President submitted the proposed amendments to Parliament which met today. The RTI Bill was to be tabled in Parliament on March 8 bit it was delayed as NPC was yet to give its backing to the Bill. more..

Mar 23 (Xinhua) Pakistan and Sri Lanka have intensified engagement and undertaken substantive measures to further deepen and broaden the economic and political ties between the two countries, an envoy said here on Wednesday. Pakistan's High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Syed Shakeel Hussain, speaking at a ceremony to mark the 76th Pakistan Day, said here that Sri Lankan and Pakistan were in the process of refining more..