May 30 (LT) Arjun Mahendran, appointed as Governor of Central Bank after the yahapalana govt came to power, is to be reappointed to the post say reports. He was accused of a serious offence of committing a fraud when issuing Central Bank bonds in Feb, 2015 and the President had asked the PM to remove him from the post. However, the PM has protected him and until now he has remained in the post without any hindrance. The term of Arjun Mahendran as the governor more..

May 30 (LT) It is reported that the exercise by the FCID to arrest Mrs. Hema Premawardene, an Additional Secretary to the PM, last Thursday had to be abandoned due to interference by a political stalwart state reports. She held a responsible position in the tourist development process implemented under former Minister Basil Rajapaksa's Ministry of Economic Development during previous regime and was accused of more..

May 30 (AD) When preparing the list for post-internship appointments, the Minister did not interfere at all, Health Services Director General Dr. Palitha Mahipala stressed. “Since there are some 39 closed hospitals across the country, he requested us to make arrangements to sort that matter when preparing the list,” Mahipala added. He also alleged the GMOA in the first place of agreeing to go ahead with the prepared list, but later rejecting it. Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne earlier insisted more..

May 30 (EN) Credit to private sector surged in March 2016 to Rs. 87.8 billion from Rs. 53.7 billion a year earlier, on the back of money printing over two months, but credit to state enterprises fell, official data showed. In March Rs. 33.3 billion was given to the central govt from the banking system but loans to state enterprises fell Rs. 11.5 billion to Rs. 514.9 billion. Total credit from the banking system including printed money was Rs. 109.60 billion, up from up from Rs. 105.3 billion month earlier. more..

May 30 (Island) Scaling up nutrition through a multi-sector approach is a Spanish-funded project implemented jointly by Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme of the UN, according to a FAO statement. The objective of this project is to improve efficiency and effectiveness of govt investment in food security and nutrition by highlighting the gaps, opportunities and impact of current initiatives. more..

May 30 (CT) The General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Cycling Foundation and present President of the Mountain Biking Association Amal Suriyage flatly denies allegations made by the Sri Lanka Cycling Federation. They are alleging that he has been withholding funds meant to develop cycling. They say these should have been placed in the Federation's trust. Suriyage made these comments to nullify allegations that funds are not being passed on to the Federation. more..

May 30 (DM) Tourism Minister John Amaratunga said the Govt was compelled to increase vehicle prices because of the increase in the number of vehicles on the roads. He said three-wheeler prices were increased in the wake of the fast-increasing number of such vehicles and on the request by some associations. The minister said that cars should be used by high income groups but currently owning a car has become a fashion or a trend with the owners mixing up their priorities. more..

May 30 (CG) The European Union (EU), in close consultation with the Govt, is currently in the process of revising its development strategy for Sri Lanka, a Sri Lanka. Joint statement said that the Working Group on Cooperation under the framework of the European Union-Sri Lanka Joint Commission concluded its meeting in Colombo today. The meeting was held in a positive, open and constructive atmosphere. more..

May 30 (CI) In their first IPL final, Sunrisers Hyderabad showed their intent early by opting to bat against Royal Challengers Bangalore at a venue where tall scores have been chased down nonchalantly. David Warner, their captain, top-scored with a 38-ball 69, before Ben Cutting finished the innings with an unbeaten 15-ball 39 to help them post 208 for 7. Eventually, however, it was Sunrisers' bowling attack, best in the tournament, that delivered their maiden IPL title more..

May 30 (DM) The State Ministers have decided to have a meeting during the next parliamentary week, to decide on what action they should take with regard to the non-assignment of subjects to them by their respective Cabinet Ministers, it is learnt. It is learnt that only President Maithripala Sirisena, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and Minister Malik Samarawickrama have shared their Cabinet responsibilities with their State Ministers through gazette notifications. more..

May 30 (CT) The LTTE means different things to different people. To all Sri Lankans, including the LTTE political proxy, LTTE meant terror. To the Tamil expatriate community, LTTE was an intimidation with their threats, blackmailing and extortions. To India, a means to destabilize Sri Lanka. To the international community, a means to infringe on the Sri Lankan sovereignty. To other terrorist organizations, a means of support. more..

May 30 (Xinhua) China will provide 15 million yuan (US$ 2.28 million) worth of emergency supplies, including tents and folding beds, to help with flood relief in Sri Lanka. The relief supplies will be sent to Sri Lanka via charter flights. The move came after the ministry committed US$ 1.5 million in cash on Friday to help with the relief work. Continuous rain and gales have caused floods, mud-rock flows in Sri Lanka, leaving nearly 100 people dead and over 500,000 affected. more..

May 30 (AD) The Education Ministry has released the application and guidelines to admit children to Grade 01 of Govt schools. Parents/ Legal Guardians who expect to admit their children to Grade One in schools in year 2017 should forward their applications prepared in conformity with the specimen form and according to the instructions given in this notification addressed to the relevant Heads of Schools by registered post to reach them before 30th June 2016. more..

May 30 (DN) The SLFP has decided to back powers of an Executive President as with its proposals on Constitutional Reforms. SLFP heavyweights yesterday, said the SLFP Committee appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena to present proposals for Constitutional Reforms has declared its party line opinion would be so. The party will support Executive Presidency and also a broader delegation of powers to Provincial Councils. more..

May 30 (AD) Govt Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has decided to stage a token strike tomorrow over alleged irregularities when preparing the list for post-internship appointments by relevant authorities. GMOA Media Spokesman Dr. Naveen de Soysa stated that the strike will be staged in all govt hospital across the country except for those in areas affected by the recent floods and landslides. The token strike will be held from 8.00 am to 12.00 pm, the Spokesman added. more..

May 30 (PSL) President Maithripala Sirisena returned to the island today (29) after completing a successful four-day State visit to Japan strengthening the foreign relations and bringing many developmental benefits to the country. President was warmly received by the Ministers and MPs at the BIA. Members of the Maha Sangha who were present at the Airport chanted Seth Pirith and blessed the President. President left for Japan on May 25 to participate in the G7 Summit more..

May 30 (BBC) A baby elephant has been dramatically rescued after apparently falling into an uncovered drain in Sri Lanka. The footage shows the calf completely stuck in the drain while seeming to cry out in distress. Port workers and wildlife officials managed to break open a bigger space in the drain then drag out the elephant by its feet and trunk. After being pulled to the surface, the elephant was loaded onto a vehicle and more..

May 30 (DM) The GMOA has today written to President Maithripala Sirisena requesting him for an immediate meeting to discuss several issues including their trade union action and their request for the Health Ministry to be placed under his purview. In the letter, GMOA President Anurudda Padeniya had said the Health Ministry had failed to harness thepositive contribution that could be provided by the GMOA because of the anti-GMOA policy adopted by Minister Rajitha Senaratne. more..

May 30 (DM) Several purohitas had fired salvoes at the top-two of the special Police unit investigating the financial crimes committed by the big shots of the previous regime when they met at the top table last week. Irate purohitas had called for the ouster of the top-two for it was obvious they were utterly inefficient or were not pulling their weight. They also had insisted that a progress report on the ongoing investigations be placed at the top table. However, the response to this request from more..

May 30 (ENS) SLMC chief and cabinet minister, Rauff Hakeem, has rebuked Eastern Province Chief Minister and party stalwart Naseer Ahamed, for publicly berating a naval officer at a function in Sampoor, an incident which triggered noisy protests by Lankan nationalist groups. Hakeem said that intemperate words such as those employed by the CM will only give a handle to communal elements in the majority Sinhalese more..

May 31 (ST) Would you believe it! Would anybody with a thinking process still in working order believe it? Well you better believe it my friend. Did you not know that Sri Lanka is under the benevolent star of yahapalanaya. So whatever happens and however inexplicable it may seem to the average mind, it is all for the good of our wondrous isle also known by other sobriquets some not entirely complimentary. Many readers have already heard the story. Still it is worth repeating just to illustrate more..

May 31 (GV) Troubled by the burgeoning demands for accountability, the erstwhile Rajapaksa-govt developed a homogenous narrative about how to respond to the cries of the war’s victims for truth and justice. Promoted as a Sri Lankan approach to transitional justice, this narrative – the construction and promotion of which was ably assisted by key actors of the country’s legal profession – emphasized the importance of restorative justice understood as giving prominence to more..

May 31 (CT) Owner of Dubai Marriot Hotel Nandana Lokuvithana says "If it is proved legally that I am having somebody else's money, I will give all my property to SL Govt." Q: Was your name mentioned in Panama papers? A: I don't have any money or account in Panama. Q: Do you take the responsibility for your statement? A: Yes. I have no money there. Also, I have no connection with depositing somebody else's money too more..

May 31 (CT) Continuing with my presentation of Motifs from within his diaries, this collection is relatively meagre, but must be placed alongside the paths depicting moderate Tamils who were caught in between the main protagonists. Since Bavinck’s political leanings were firmly with the latter, it is not surprising that there is more information on that facet of political thinking. Therefore, this post must be studied in conjunction with the one immediately following on Bavinck on Life in Jaffna, 1994-: more..

May 31 (CT) It seems no progress can be made in Sri Lanka on the attitude to murder. Murder is now regarded as normal and therefore not something to worry much about. And, this is exactly what should worry everyone. But hardly anyone seems to worry about it. We see the same thing in the proposed Office of Missing Persons. The simple fact about a missing person in Sri Lanka is that he or she is dead. Very rarely, does a missing person re-appear. As in the case of the dead, missing persons more..

May 31 (SO) Although the recent calamity in Colombo and Gampaha Districts was attributed to the torrential rains triggered by the cyclonic condition in the Bay of Bengal, the experts point out other factors which perhaps intensified the abnormal flooding and disastrous consequences. They urge the authorities to initiate a careful study of the areas inundated early this month, amidst indications that some areas normally affected more..

May 31 (ST) The increase in Sri Lanka’s population to 25 million by 2042 and 25.8 million by 2062 poses serious economic and social challenges. Even at present with a population of 21 million the Island is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. With an increase in population to 25 million the population density would rise from 334 persons per square kilometre at present to 400 persons by mid century. This four million increase in population in the space of three and a half decades more..

May 31 (GV) The first EleFriendly bus in the world was launched on the 23rd of May, in a village in the Wasgamuwa National Park. The launch was held in the Pussellayaya Temple within the Wasgamuwa National Park, located in the middle of Sri Lanka. This bus will help reduce human-elephant conflict by allowing the villagers to safely cross the ancient elephant corridor in Wasgamuwa. It will also make the road less busy and more comfortable for the elephants. more..

May 31 (Island) The immediate cause of the fracas in the east involving the chief minister, governor and naval officer was personal pique. That incident has been sought to be politicized by an opposition that is ever mindful of the power of inter-ethnic mobilization of nationalism. They have warned of the undermining of the security forces of the country by the ethnic and religious minorities. The fact that it was a Muslim chief minister who spoke offensively in public to a naval officer more..

May 31 (Island) News about the recent disasters and the heavy toll they took on the country no longer receives much prominence in the media and those unfortunate events will be relegated to limbo in time to come. That’s what happens to anything tragic with the passage of time. Govt politicians make various pledges during disaster situations, the main being their much publicised undertaking to give disaster victims houses and/or parcels of land in safe areas. Successive govts have made such pledges more..

May 31 (CT) For the first time in the history of Sri Lanka the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) is to open a turtle conservation centre to take care and breed the eggs of disabled turtles in Dodanduwa. An extent of two and a half acres of land by the seashore has already been earmarked for the project and work on the turtle conservation project will commence soon," Deputy Minister Sumedha Jayasena said. more..

May 31 (FT) Board of Investment (BOI) said the decision by the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) to set up its global business services arm in Sri Lank was very significant since it reflects the growing attractiveness of Sri Lanka as a destination for FDI. It also proves that Sri Lanka has the capacity to attract investments by leading companies in the world, and particularly from the UK. The new facility will directly employ 400 personnel in high technology jobs. more..

May 31 (DN) Coral Property Developers Chairman, Dr. Praba Subramanian said that they have being awarded a Rs. 14 billion mixed development project in Hulhulemale in the Maldives. It has been branded as Y Coral Luxury Apartment and Mall. Hulhumale’ is a reclaimed island Located just 20 minutes away from Male’ on a boat. It was established to meet the existing and future housing, industrial and commercial development demands of the Male’ region. A former veterinary surgeon, he said more..

May 31 (CI) "Sri Lankan players have a lot of fight," said coach Graham Ford of the team he had been desperate to return to. "Sri Lanka generally fight hard," an England player said through the course of the series. "We fight till the last ball," Angelo Mathews occasionally used to announce when his team were struggling. Recently it has become all he says. And in a way, Sri Lanka's batsmen had been in the fight of their lives more..

May 31 (FT) Aitken Spence reported lower performance in FY2016 owing to challenging times in comparison to a year earlier. Group revenue was down by 25% to Rs. 26 billion whilst pre-tax profit was lower by 33% to Rs. 3.8 billion. Net profit attributable to equity holders was down 43% to Rs. 2 billion. “The past year has been a challenging one for the group, attributable to a number of factors including the cessation of the power agreement with the CEB, a slowdown in national economy, more..

May 31 (LR) The University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) announced the appointment of Randy Boyagoda as its new Principal and Vice President, effective July 1, 2016. Boyagoda is an accomplished writer and academic, with bylines in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times (UK) and the Globe and Mail, he has most recently served as the Director of Zone Learning at Ryerson University, an experiential learning program modeled on business incubators that more..

May 31 (ENS) Will prior permission of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) be necessary for any meeting between the TN Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and C.V. Wigneswaran, Chief Minister of Northern Province? Officials sources said, that if it is going to be an official meeting, the MEA gets involved because foreign relations come under the Central List in the division of power between the Center and the States. more..

May 31 (CI) 2002: The last time England won two matches in a Test series against Sri Lanka. This is the seventh series between the teams since the three-match series in 2002, which England won 2-0. 4: The number of consecutive Test defeats for Sri Lanka. They lost both Tests to New Zealand in December last year, and have now started this tour with two more. This is only the fourth time they have lost four or more consecutive Tests. Their worst run is five losses in a row in 1994. more..

May 31 (Island) The Passing Out Parade of the No 2 contingent of the Aviation Unit under the United Nations helicopter deployment in South Sudan (UNMISS) was held yesterday at SLAF Base Katunayake. This Heli-deployment comprising 17 Officers and 87 Airmen, is scheduled to proceed to South Sudan next month. Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Gagan Bulathsinghala took the salute at the passing out parade commanded by Wing Commander SS Dahanayake, more..