May 11 (Island) A new Sinhala-English Science Glossary, mobile app has been launched recently by the National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS) to help students learn science more easily. NIFS Communication and Media Officer Pradeep Piyathilaka told The Island yesterday that the new mobile app included nearly 90,000 words covering all science disciplines. It was the second project launched by the Science Education and Dissemination Unit (SEDU), which developed more..

May 11 (DN) The touring SL team had their work cut out when rain on the third and final day forced them to settle for a draw against Essex here on Tuesday. Heavy rain washed out play before lunch on the third day and forced the umpires to abandon the match without a ball bowled. SL who trailed Essex on the first innings by 158 runs were 42-2 when played ended on the second day. The tourists now move to Leicester where they take on Leicestershire in another three-day game starting on Friday. more..

May 11 (Island) This year’s National Vap Magula for the Yala season organised under the three year agricultural programme titled A country sans poison will be held today at Polatagama paddy field, Jayawindagama, Yatiyantota commencing at the auspicious time 7.32 a.m. Chief Guest will be General Secretary of SLFP Duminda Dissanayake. The event to be attended by a large number of farmers will be held under the auspices of Advisor to the programme Country Sans poison more..

May 11 (LBO) Sri Lanka’s telco industry may face a threat of increasing severity arising from revenue erosion due to the impact of Over the Top (OTT) communication services, a telecom operator said. As OTT companies like Netflix, Skype, Whatsapp, and Google encroach on the telecom industry, operators need to find ways to counter the threat. Dialog Axiata CEO Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya releasing their annual report more..

May 11 (EN) Minister Ravi Karunanayake vowed to investigate all SL domiciled individuals and entities named in the leaked Panama Papers as having shell companies abroad. "We are going to write each and every person or company identified in the Panama Papers," he said. "We wil give them two weeks to respond and failing which, we will report them to FCID." FCID will be asked to find how the named individuals massed their wealth that had been stashed abroad by forming shell companies. more..

May 11 (SLN) The ceremony of laying the foundation stone for the construction of a new church in the Island of Kachchative, was presided over by the Jaffna Vicar General Rev. Fr. Joshep Das Jebarathnam along with parish priest Rev. Fr. Antony Jeyaranjan, assistant parish priest Rev. Fr. Nixon Colin and the Commander Northern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Piyal De Silva on 9th May. On completion of this year's feast, Lordship requested from Commander of the Navy, more..

May 11 (DM) Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera challenged MP Wimal Weerawansa over the statements he made to the media condemning the organisation. “I will challenge not only MP Wimal Weerawansa but also Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Manusha Nanayakkara, Dilan Perera, Rajitha Senarathne, Mangala Samaraweera and political analysts Gevindu Kumarathunga & Dayan Jayathileke more..

May 11 (AD) The cement industry, an essential building block of the nation’s construction industry, received a timely boost recently. Revolutionising sustainable transportation solutions for the local cement industry, Holcim Lanka, a member of the LafargeHolcim Group, ceremoniously inaugurated its pioneering ship-to-rail road hybrid model for the transportation of its raw materials. The inauguration took place at the China Bay station in Trincomalee with the participation of minister more..

May 11 (Island) The International Union of Nutrition Sciences (IUNS), in partnership with the Nutrition Society of Sri Lanka and Unilever, hosted a conference on 25th of April, in Colombo, to gain insights and identify key challenges in reducing salt in the diet of Sri Lankans. Reducing a person’s daily intake of salt is widely recommended by scientific and regulatory organizations the world over as an important measure in reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases. more..

May 11 (Island) In the old days when people spoke of corruption by those wielding political power, it was almost always a case of accepting commissions from the beneficiaries of contracts and deals with the govt. However after the present yahapalana govt came into power, shady deals have acquired a mind numbing complexity such as the treasury bond scam. Another scam no less complex is controversial coal tender more..

May 11 (CT) Ministry of Education will be restructured in the coming months as some officials, who are used to the administrative style of Rajapaksa regime, are not capable of changing with the times, Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said. "There are some people who are not used to following regulations and circulars. They are used to the feudal way of operating and we can't go on like this," he said. Most of the officials at the ministry have adapted to the ways of the new govt. more..

May 11 (Island) Investments made on behalf of the EPF by the previous govt in 2013/2014 in the Colombo Stock Market have diminished by billions of rupees, EPF annual report revealed. It is reported that of the total long term and short term investments amounting to Rs. 71,690,881,118 made by the Fund in 80 companies in the share market as at Dec 31, 2013, an investment of Rs. 52,092,805,864 made in 61 of these companies had diminished by Rs. 13,823,352,605 more..

May 11 (FT) Controversial Avant Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi has been named in the Panama Papers, which were released online late Monday. Senadhipathi, known to be a close associate of former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, is one of 18 individuals registered as being domiciled in Sri Lanka that have been listed in documents leaked from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca by the ICIJ. more..

May 11 (CT) If the govt truly believes in good governance, then they should make investigations, reports of the COPE available to the media, JVP stressed. COPE Chairman MP Sunil Handunnetti said, a request has been made to Speaker to grant permission to COPE in order to take legal action against parties who have accusations against them. He also said already a request has been made to the AG, to send a representative of the AG to participate in COPE meetings. more..

May 11 (DN) The level of trade diversion or market loss for Sri Lanka due to Sri Lanka being excluded in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is expected to be around US$ 39.8 million, Preliminary estimates by the IPS shows. The TPP was signed last February bringing together 12 countries, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, US, and Vietnam. These countries accounts for more than one-third of world’s GDP, and one quarter of world trade. more..

May 11 (Island) Minister Dilan Perera said the SLFP would win the forthcoming local govt election together with party strongmen and people who gathered at Kirulapone and Galle May Day rallies. Perera said SLFPers who had attended the two May Day rallies wanted to unite former Presidents Chandrika Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Maithripala Sirisena to achieve victories at future elections. more..

May 11 (DM) Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has instructed ministry officials to conduct an investigation into the incident where Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma is alleged to have forced the Kalutara Vidyalaya Principal to enroll a child to Grade-one. The deputy minister had reportedly accompanied a child and his mother to the Kalutara Vidyalaya on Monday and is alleged to have forced the principal to enroll the child. The principal informed the minister that more..

May 11 (AD) Sri Lanka’s pioneering workforce smartcard launched to honour its apparel workforce has matured to become the first ever dual swipe card in the country-and the Minister of Commerce vows to safeguard its apparel exports from the looming Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement. “I am pleased to witness the Ransalu Pranaama smartcard program now developing to the next stage since it was launched by me in October 2013. We need to be able to carefully address more..

May 11 (Island) A UPFA MP has taken delivery of his tax free vehicle, a brand new Range Rover Sport Diesel S/Wagon released by paying Customs only Rs. 1,750 as Customs Declaration fee. He had paid about Rs. 8.9 mn as CIF for the vehicle a member of the SL Customs Unions said. The UPFA MP in the Joint Opposition was among 225 MPs entitled to import luxury vehicles after paying a pittance by way of taxes or charges more..

May 11 (DM) When the LTTE was militarily defeated certain sections called for an immediate withdrawal of the security forces from the former conflict zone. That was laughable if not preposterous. The end of the armed conflict does not necessarily mean the absolute elimination of threat nor the resolution of grievances, perceived or real, that are said to have spawned conflict in the first place. A nation that has struggled to overcome terrorism is well advised not to drop vigilance levels. more..

May 11 (DM) On to your right is the vast expanse of the deep blue sea. From the South-East tip of this island country, Arugam Bay all the way up to Point-Pedro, the northernmost point of real estate in Sri Lanka, the continuous break of wave after wave on the high waters of the Indian ocean reminds one of the relentless sagas of life represented by a ferocious ocean whose mysteries and splendour never cease to frighten the timid and charm the eternal voyager. more..

May 11 (DM) According to the Prohibition of ragging and other forms of violence in educational Institutions Act, No 20 of 1998, ragging is defined as “any act which causes or is likely to cause physical or psychological injury or mental pain or fear to a student or a member of the staff of an educational institution” and a perpetrator is liable to rigorous imprisonment for up to ten years. Despite the severe warning sounded by this act, more..

May 11 (Hindu) Even as India’s coal-fired thermal power project in Sampur of the Eastern Province is facing opposition on environmental grounds, top officials of both the countries in charge of the project are meeting here on Wednesday to discuss on the future course of action. Confirming that the Trincomalee Power Company Limited (TPCL) will be conducting a meeting of its Board of Directors, Anura Wijayapala, more..

May 11 (SL) The arrest of some former LTTE cadres, including those rehabilitated and released into society, has threatened to open up Pandora’s box with Northern politicians warning of consequences if such arrests are not halted. The arrest has also raised fears that the LTTE is attempting to regroup in the country but the govt insists there is no threat to national security. Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi more..

May 11 (ST) Sri Lanka’s loss-making national carrier, despite reporting accumulated debt of Rs. 64 billion, says it is confident of recovery under a public-private partnership, ruling out any total sale of the national carrier. The Govt will retain ownership — either part or fully — while management will change hands. A committee — comprising Treasury Secretary R.H.S. Samaratunga, Public Enterprise more..

May 11 (Island) Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr Mangala Dissanayake called for amending SL’s abortion laws. He said the 1883 Penal Code provisions on Abortions should be amended so that victims of rape and incest would benefit. He said the laws should also be revised to give a pregnant woman the right to have an abortion when it was evident that her baby would not be able to live after its birth. more..

May 11 (DM) Dayantha Athulathmudali, brother of late Minister Lalith Athulathmudali who was killed in April 1993, called for a fresh probe on his brother’s killing. “20 years have gone since the killing of my brother and I would like to request a probe on his killing as his killing will go down in history as a mystery just like the killings of journalists Lasantha Wickramatunga and Prageeth Ekanligoda,” Athulathmudali said more..

May 11 (DN) The govt has a responsibility to investigate the individuals connected to the govt who have been exposed in the Panama Papers scandal, NFF Spokesman Mohammed Muzammil said. According to information NFF received, Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala’s brother, former CEB Chairman Vidya Amarapala and Avant Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi are included in the list. more..

May 11 (LBO) The new Petroleum Resources Development Act is expected to bring in far-reaching changes and will be enacted soon. “The bill is currently awaiting certification from the AG’s department prior to being taken up in Cabinet and is expected to be in Parliament in the next two to three months,” Saliya Wickramasuriya, director general of Petroleum Resources Development Secretariat, said. more..

May 11 (CG) Families of those missing during and after Sri Lanka’s civil conflict staged a protest outside the UN office in Colombo on Tuesday urging authorities to halt the controversial white van abductions. The protesters, who handed over a petition to the UN, alleged that at least three people had been abducted in the country in white vans by unknown groups within the recent weeks. Protesters said that they were extremely more..

May 11 (AD) The Attorney General has filed indictment against Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka thero for the possession of an elephant calf without a permit. Venerable Uduwe Dhammaloka Thero, who was arrested and subsequently remanded for the alleged illegal possession of an elephant calf, was granted bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court earlier. Thero was arrested by CID for allegedly possessing a baby elephant more..

May 11 (CT) 26 of the 65 supposedly SL names under which huge undeclared deposits have been held in Panamanian banks as exposed by the Panama Papers, are Sinhala names. Curiously more than a few of the names are obviously of foreigners either domiciled in SL or who are on the boards of joint venture companies in SL. Other 20 names are obviously of persons belonging to the Muslim/Borah communities which are known for their high profile links to big business in the country. more..

May 11 (CT) An indigenous model for peoples’ participation in local governance, invariably will be an effective tool to make the local govt institutions to be just, equitable, transparent, accountable, responsive, inclusive, efficient and consensus oriented. It would pave the way for the emergence of a system which could well become a panacea for all ills of the nation not excluding the process of reconciliation and building a Sri Lankan identity. However, million dollar question stands tall; more..

May 11 (Island) Calling for the complete elimination of the ragging menace, Minister Lakshman Kiriella reiterated that all forms of ragging had been banned in universities and no one would be allowed to break the law. He said ragging had been reported from only one or two universities. "When freshers come to universities in other countries, they are warmly welcomed by the seniors. But, here the situation is totally different. I don’t know how ragging came into existence in our universities." more..

May 11 (Reuters) Shares rose for a fifth straight session on Wednesday and posted their highest close in four months, led by gains in diversified and beverage stocks including CTC and Nestle Lanka. However, the gains were capped as foreign investors continued to sell and on concerns that the govt's move to increase the VAT and impose new taxes, effective from May 2, would hit the bottom lines of companies. "Market was up on the positive sentiment from last few days," more..

May 11 (DM) The Deputy Director General of the Colombo National Hospital Dr. Anil Jasinghe had written to the Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya informing that a five member committee had been appointed to investigate into the reasons for not conducting a post mortem on the body of the late Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera. He had further stated that in accordance to the order made by more..

May 11 (PTI) A Sri Lankan court today extended till May 25 the judicial custody of 21 fishermen from Thangachimadam and Pamban, who were arrested last month, S Emirite, president of Rameswaram fishermen organisation said. The fishermen were arrested and three country boats seized by Sri Lankan navy personnel on April 27 off Katchatheevu islet on charges of crossing the IMBL. Katchatheevu was ceded to Sri Lanka by India by two agreements of 1974 and 1976. more..

May 11 (Hindu) Stating that the monthly assistance given to each Sri Lankan refugee family at the camp in Valayapatti in Paramathi was not given for the past two months, members blocked the Paramathi – Tiruchengode road here on Monday. Over 2,000 persons are living in the camp for many years now. Every month, the family head was given assistance of Rs. 1,000, children above 12 years were given Rs. 750 and children less than 12 years were given Rs. 400. more..