May 18 (CI) Galle was the scene of Rangana Herath's second coming as a cricketer, but before he wrapped up Pakistan's second innings in that 2009 series, he was playing in the Staffordshire leagues. A domestic stalwart, but an undistinguished international bowler till then, Herath had begun to think of a career beyond the SL team. "In 2009 I was 31, and at the time I was only in the A team, which didn't play a lot of cricket," more..

May 18 (FT) Sri Lanka needs to tap into global value chains through sweeping reforms in human resources and State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to foster strong growth at a point when the country’s demographic advantage is in decline, a tough talking expert said. Former telecoms regulator and founding chair of LIRNEasia Professor Rohan Samarajiva delivering the keynote address at the forum titled Reforms: The Way forward for Sri Lanka pointed out that that Sri Lanka’s median age is more..

May 18 (CT) Thousands of people were affected by the continuous heavy rains over the last three days that saw a number of areas in the country go under water. At least 8 people were killed or went missing after floods and landslides. Situation has reached crisis proportions as the latest figures indicate nearly 200,000 people were affected due to the bad weather. What is most important to keep in mind is that this is not the time to play political ball game or pass responsibility to another's court. more..

May 18 (CI) Two years ago, when these sides last met, Sri Lanka were the buoyant side and England struggling. This time the roles are reversed and it will be a significant surprise if the result isn't as well. In the heady first half of 2014, Sri Lanka floated into England in the afterglow of Asia Cup and World T20 triumphs, won the limited-overs leg, then made James Anderson weep at the end of the Tests. In the doleful first half of 2014, more..

May 18 (FT) The Ceylon National Chamber of industries (CNCI) expressed its concern over an issue faced by some of their member companies since some of the leading supermarkets have requested a margin increase to compensate their increased expenses owing to the recent VAT increase by the Govt. These CNCI member companies have shown the chamber their inability to increase the margins further due to prevailing economic conditions. more..

May 18 (FT) To fine tune the next round of reforms Sri Lanka has to find its comparative advantage to narrow down its competitive edge in a tough global environment said Special Assignments Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama yesterday. “Failure to do so will be Sri Lanka’s misfortune,” cautioned Dr. Amunugama in his address as the Chief Guest at the Daily FT- Colombo MBA Alumini Association organised full day forum titled Reforms: The Way forward for Sri Lanka. more..

May 18 (DN) The grand old trees lining the streets of the Colombo city, which shade people from the harsh rays of the sun during warm weather, have now become a danger to the very people they would protect. Unable to withstand the harsh weather conditions brought about by the inter-monsoonal rains, the trees are falling over. On Monday, on Bauddhaloka Mawatha, near the UN Head Office, a tree fell over, damaging more..

May 18 (DN) Now that Sri Lanka has got over the hardest part and saved the budding cricket career of Kusal Perera the next best step to take is to get him up and running and included in the squad at least for the third and final Test against England at Lord’s. Why we say that is because there is ample time between the end of the second Test at Durham on May 31 and the start of the third Test at Lord’s on June 9 to send Perera to England and get him acclimatized to the conditions. more..

May 18 (DT) Pakistan High Commission in Sri Lanka has invited applications of Jinnah Scholarship for deserving Sri Lankan students to pursue their studies at O Levels and A Levels, according to a news release here on Tuesday. The deadline for submission of applications is May 31, 2016. The Government of Pakistan is awarding Jinnah Scholarships for Sri Lanka O/A level students for the last decade through its High Commission in Sri Lanka. more..

May 18 (PSL) The conferring of the title of the new Maha Nayaka Thero of Asgiri Chapter is a great blessing for the program initiated by the govt to build a good human society by protecting the honor of the motherland, says President Maithripala. He was speaking at the state ceremony to offer the Sannas Pathra to the newly appointed Maha Nayaka Most Venerable Varakagoda Sri Gnanasara Thero and the Anu Nayaka Ven Anamaduwe more..

May 18 (ITN) There is a risk of a spread of epidemic diseases along with the adverse weather conditions. As such, Health Services Director General Dr. Palitha Mahipala has called on the people to give due consideration in the consumption of food and using drinking water. He made this appeal joining in a special news conference held at the Health Education Bureau. He said that it is very important to draw attention to food and drinking water during rainy weather situations. more..

May 18 (FT) The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the National Platform of the Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management (A-PAD) has launched an emergency relief campaign to help thousands of people affected due to prevailing bad weather. Accordingly, the Chamber appeals to its members and the business community to come forward and support with urgent requirements to provide relief to the affected people. Among the items required ranks, dry rations, mats, bed sheets, more..

May 18 (DN) The loss of SriLankan Airlines alone had put each citizen in a debt trap of Rs.23,000, Minister Champika Ranawaka said in Parliament. “The 4% VAT increase would not support to fill the loss incurred by the SriLankan Airlines alone,” he said. Another reason for the debt trap is that the increase in commercial loans. He added that there was only one percent commercial loans in 2000 while the rest were relief loans. more..

May 18 (ITN) The autopsy of the mother of three children Nathan Pappu, the last woman to be murdered in Kotakethana, was submitted to Courts. Report says that the death has occurred as a result of injuries caused to the head. The judiciary had on several occasion ordered the Ratnapura JMO to present this postmortem. The three suspects including the chief suspect Neil Lakshman in the murder of seven women at Kotakethana in Kahawatte were again produced in more..

May 18 (FT) Deputy Foreign Minister of Italy Senator Benedetto Della Vedova, is undertaking an official visit to Sri Lanka from 17-19 May 2016. This is the first high-level visit from Italy since the last visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy in 2006. The visit to Sri Lanka will contribute towards renewing the longstanding bilateral relations between the two countries and open new avenues for increased trade cooperation. Visiting Minister is scheduled to have meetings with Minister of Foreign Affairs, more..

May 18 (NYT) On a small wooden table at the doorway to this bright-turquoise house in Kilinochchi, the town that Tamil militants claimed as their capital during SL’s bloody civil war, stands a framed photograph of a 12-year-old girl wearing a pink tunic. Next to it, in a smaller frame, is a photograph of her uncle and aunt and their two children. All of the people in the pictures, members of extended Ramasamy family, were killed more..

May 18 (EN) Sri Lanka’s rupee is fairly valued at the moment but the central bank was watching how currencies of competitor countries change to determine the rate, Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran said. The currency this year has held almost steady against the US dollar after weakening 9 percent in 2015, he said. “I think we are fairly valued. But the external environment is important,” he told a forum organised by the Shippers’ Academy Colombo. more..

May 18 (Hindu) Fishermen associations in the State have planned a series of protests if the Central govt does not stop Sri Lanka’s move to construct a new church on Katchatheevu islet in the Palk Bay. Though the islet was handed over to Sri Lanka after an agreement, people from both India and Sri Lanka visit the annual festival of St. Antony Shrine. Fishermen from India are also allowed to dry fish and nets. M. Ilango, chairperson, National Fishworkers’ Forum, said that more..

May 18 (Island) A four-member committee appointed to investigate the disputed outcome of a vote on a supplementary estimate on May 05 has informed the Speaker that the officially declared result was wrong. The committee comprised Opposition Leader R Sampanthan, former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, Minister Wijayadasa Rajapakshe and Minister Rauff Hakeem. more..

May 18 (CT) The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has refused to issue fuel to SriLankan Airlines unless the national carrier takes steps to pay US$ 94 million owed to the CPC by 20 May. CPC Chairman T.G. Jayasinghe told Ceylon Today the administrative authorities of SriLankan Airlines have already been informed of this decision in writing on 9 May. However, he added, the administrative authorities of SriLankan Airlines have so far not responded to the letter. more..

May 18 (DN) Sri Lanka Air Force personnel rescued a group of eight trapped in the Thabbowa area and sent them to the safe locations yesterday. Puttalam District Secretary N.H.M. Chithrananda said 220 individuals belonging to 68 families of the Thabbowa Number 1 village were trapped due to heavy floods. The special rescue teams of the Sri Lanka Army, Navy and Air Force were deployed in the rescue operations to move the persons trapped in the Thabbowa area by the floods to safety. more..

May 18 (DN) A Cabinet Paper submitted by three Ministers seeking details of the progress of ongoing investigations into the alleged charges of corruption by the top brass of previous govt has reportedly been rejected. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that President agreed to discuss this issue at a different forum. “President was of the view that Cabinet is not the suitable place to discuss this issue and he agreed to discuss it at more..

May 18 (DN) A group of Colombo Municipal Councillors today handed over a petition to Western Province Governor K. C. Logeswaran urging him to remove Municipal Commissioner V. K. A. Anura. Out of 53 councilors, 47 - govt and opposition councilors - signed the petition putting aside party differences. Municipal Councilor Sunil Vithanage (UNP) said the media has highlighted many of the Commissioner’s malpractices and arbitrary acts alleged to have taken place in the recent past. more..

May 18 (FT) The Board of Directors of The Lanka Hospitals Corporation were paid Rs.23.37 million last two years for attending meetings. Persons who functioned as the members of the Board of Directors of Lanka Hospitals in the year 2014 included former Secretary of Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Prof. D.P.A. Fernando, Rishini Cabral, P.A. Lionel, Dr. G.W.K. Wickremasinghe, Malvinder Mohan Singh, Shivinder Mohan Singh, Dr. N.N.A.P.B. Wijesririwardena, more..

May 18 (Reuters) A landslide in Sri Lanka, triggered by more than three days of rain, buried three villages in a central district and the death toll is yet to be determined, govt officials and area residents said on Tuesday. Torrential rains have forced more than 137,000 people from their homes so far and killed at least 11. Rohan Dias, a DIG, said rescue operations at the villages in the central district of Kegalle was continuing in the night. more..

May 18 (DM) With weather patterns changing furiously during the past few months because of global warming, SL has experienced a prolonged drought and the highest temperatures in recorded history. But the weather changed dramatically from midnight on Saturday and heavy rain during the past few days has left several districts heavily flooded. Several rivers, canals and reservoirs are overflowing, sluice gates have been opened and millions of litres of water is going waste. more..

May 18 (DM) It is now seven years since the end of the war and the onset of a post-war situation. In that time the roots of conflict were not addressed but sustained and even reproduced. In the North and East, people observed that things may have looked better, but felt worse. There and throughout the country, rights were at best irrelevant and at worst subversive. Then, sixteen months ago there was an election that promised to change everything. In order to do that though, some things had to be more..

May 18 (SL) As the country, this week, celebrates seven years since the end of the war the govt has fresh challenges ahead. One key challenge is convincing the UNHRC that the accountability process is moving forward. The UNHRC will meet next month for its 32nd session and Sri Lanka will be on the agenda. The council will be briefed on the state of the progress made so far by the govt to meet its commitments to the resolution on more..

May 18 (DM) Daily Mirror interviewed well-renowned Sri Lankan Canadian writer Shyam Selvadurai regarding this concern. He was the first Sri Lankan writer to address issues concerning LGBT rights. The theme of sexual identity can be blatantly observed in his first novel, Funny Boy (1994), which won the Books in Canada First Novel Award and the Lambda Literary Award in the US. His most recent novel, Hungry Ghost also more..

May 18 (ST) Authorities claim the two-week general amnesty announced by the Defence Ministry for the surrender of illegal firearms ended in a resounding success last week. While it was estimated that 300-400 firearms would be handed in, the actual figure was more than 400. According to statistics, 423 firearms were handed in by 4 p.m. on May 6, half an hour before the two-week general amnesty officially ended. more..

May 18 (Island) Ven Athuraleiye Ratana Thera said that his organisation Pivithuru Hetak would urge the govt to bring in legislation to ban the use of harmful agro chemicals within two years. Thera said, a multinational mafia had hoodwinked the masses by promoting their products, which included poisonous chemicals. "The objective of the multinationals is to make massive profits at any cost and destroy the country." more..

May 18 (Island) Directors of the Lanka Hospitals had received a total of Rs. 13.6 million in allowances for the year 2015 for attending 19 board meetings. Minister Eran Wickremeratne said Members of the Board in 2015 include former Secretary of Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Dr. Sarath Paranavitana, Ven. Thiniyawala Palitha Thera, Damien Fernando, Prof. Dilani Lokuhetti, Dr. Rohan Wijesundara and 25 others. more..

May 18 (CT) Following major criticisms which flared up on the passing of the Resolution in the Northern Province, Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran, a former Supreme Court Judge, said every proposal to amend a Constitution is by definition unconstitutional and that does not mean that the people who propose changes to a Constitution are engaging in unconstitutional activity. more..

May 18 (Island) Against the backdrop of the govt calling off Victory Day Parade held annually to celebrate Sri Lanka’s triumph over the LTTE, Minister Champika Ranawaka has organised a war heroes’ commemoration at Panagoda Army Cantonment tomorrow at 3.15 pm. Minister will make a special statement at the Bodhirajarama temple in the cantonment. He will explain the circumstances leading to cancellation of Victory Day Parade more..

May 18 (DM) Believe it or not! There is a bigwig in yahapalanaya holding a credit card with a limit of Rs. 6 million. This big shot known for his extravagant lifestyle was on such a spending spree during a recent visit to a foreign land that he had exceeded the credit limit. Unruffled, our worthy had contacted the relevant authorities back home and got the credit limit raised, they say. Inquisitive ones from the govt side itself have also made more..

May 18 (Island) Communist Party (CP) leader D.E.W. Gunasekera urged President Maithripala Sirisena not to extend the term of the Central Bank (CB) Governor Arjuna Mahendran, which is scheduled to end in June, without a thorough investigation into alleged bond scams during his tenure. Former Chairman of the COPE Gunasekera said that the appointment of the CBSL Governor was the President’s prerogative. more..

May 18 (CT) Minister of Disaster Management Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said, "We have already given instructions to all the Govt Agents of the districts affected by the heavy rains, and also we have disbursed money; from one million rupees up to two million to each district, through the GAs to be spent on the people who have been affected by the floods". Yapa reassured necessary measures will be taken to contain its adverse effects more..

May 18 (Island) The UNP and the JVP continue to trade fire over a government decision to acquire two vehicles for the PM. Why anyone should make an issue of measures being adopted to ensure a govt leader’s protection defies comprehension. The LTTE’s military muscle was neutralised seven years ago, but political leaders are not without threats to their lives. Else, the Prime Ministerial Security Division would not have recommended the purchase of bombproof vehicles. more..

May 18 (CT) Civil Society breathed a sigh of relief post Jan 8th 2015 Change and looked forward to commitments of Transparency, Good Governance, Rule of Law and Ethical Conduct of Leaders, returning, being respected and strictly complied with in governance. The resignation midterm of the last Governor was indeed good news. The expectations were high upon the new appointee to serve the balance term being an ex- Central Banker, with requisite experience to give leadership to more..