Apr 29 (IPS) In the wake of the tragic event in Meethotamulla, there have been multifaceted proposals to address the immediate and long term issue of garbage disposal. However, most these suggestions are at the macro level, directed at the local govts or the relevant authorities, concerning techniques and strategies to process solid waste. It is well established that the State or local govts are responsible for providing common goods (and services) such as solid waste disposal. more..

Apr 29 (NS) Anil Jayasinghe has taken over duties as the manager assignments at the Society of Rugby Football Referees. This post has been created at a time when the referees in the island need a much needed backing.   Refereeing is a vital component in the game and this society has existed with the approval of the SLRFU. The referees’ society has dedicated members dealing with refereeing, providing match officials and training cadets who take to the whistle.  more..

Apr 29 (DN) Almost a fortnight of one-day cricket that included the cream of 60 top cricketers in the country reaches its climax when Colombo take on Galle in the final of the SLC Super Provincial tournament at the R Premadasa Stadium under lights today. With the pressure to play for places in the national team now a distant dream after the final 15 for the ICC Champions Trophy was announced on Monday players can more..

Apr 30 (CT) Sri Lanka's former Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs, Ambassador Dr. Palitha Tikiri Bandara Kohona considers that former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was always available for him to discuss Sri Lanka's burning issues, especially those involving the LTTE and the Tamil Diaspora. Ban Ki-moon was ready to listen and more than willing to offer advice which he faithfully conveyed to Colombo. more..

Apr 29 (TS) Named after a quirky poem by British author Edward Lear, the Owl and the Pussycat is Sri Lanka’s newest boutique hotel, offering guests a luxury hideaway in the southern coastal town of Thalpe, just a short tuk-tuk ride from historic Galle Fort and its surrounding Buddhist temples. Vibrant décor, lavish amenities and a lively seaside restaurant work together to create a sophisticated yet playful paradise that delivers an authentic Sri Lankan experience. more..

Apr 29 (NS) Northern Province Chief Minister, C.V. Wigneswaran said that the hartal held on Thursday was the people’s reaction to the lethargy and indifference on the part of the authorities in dealing with people’s problems. The hartal was staged by the people of the Northern Province mainly demanding a solution to the issue of those who have been reported missing. He said that the hartal was as a result of days of protest by more..

Apr 29 (NZH) Nothing prepares you for the sight at the end of the dusty Sri Lankan track. Our van emerges from trees overhanging the path and we are thrust into a scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark. A soaring cliff has been transformed into a monumental building which seems to be simultaneously escaping from the jungle while tethered by thick vines. The place is Kandalama Hotel, a masterpiece created by the acclaimed Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. more..

Apr 29 (Island) Ananda College all-rounder Ashel Sigera top-scored with 70 runs and took two wickets as Western Province North scored 53 runs victory over Southern Province in the Sri Lanka Cricket conducted Inter Provincial Under-19 tournament match at Panagoda on Friday. Chasing 278 runs to win, Southern Province were cruising at one stage as Dananjaya Lakshan (85) and Ravindu Sanjana (52) added 145 runs for the second wicket. But the rest of the batting line-up failed as more..

Apr 29 (CT) Sectoral Oversight Committee on Public Accounts has recommended that regulations proposed under the Excise Special Provisions Act, to grant tax concession to certain parties, be not approved because these proposals have been made with the aim of giving concessions to only a few selected companies. Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), MP M.A. Sumanthiran, presenting the aforementioned more..

Apr 29 (DM) The Board of investment of Sri Lanka hosted a delegation from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Beijing Chapter that was visiting Sri Lanka to study the potential for trade and investments between the two countries.   The Chinese business delegation which was led by Lin Hai, Director of CCPIT expressed interest in areas of investment in software and hardware development, manufacture of hydrogen and nitrogen based product, more..

Apr 29 (LR) Elizabeth Dowdeswell Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, representative of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen of Canada attended the 49th annual Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations and cultural show presented by Canada Sri Lanka Association (CSLA) of Toronto. “For 49 years, the Canada Sri Lankan Association has fostered cultural unity and fellowship, and shared prosperity as well. You are the oldest SL organization in Canada, and I congratulate the many staff, volunteers, more..

Apr 29 (FT) Govt expressed confidence that the country will regain the GSP plus trade concession by 15 May and called on the business community to make this a turning point in the economy to increase the country’s exports to GDP ratio over 100%. “SL overcame the biggest hurdle to secure GSP+ trade facilitation by defeating a motion to deny us the trade concession at the European parliament. more..

Apr 29 (Island) Fifteen Deacons will be ordained priests by Malcom Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, at a special service at St. Lucia’s Cathedral, Kotahena today. Deacons to be ordained are Rev. Brother Wikum Anton Kumara of Pamunugama, Rev. Bro. Suraj Jayashan of Kepungoda, Rev. Bro Marian Peiris of Marawila, Rev. Bro. Buddhika Jayamanna of Bopitiya, Rev. Bro. Dinusha Chamara of Seeduwa, Rev. Bro. Anura Dias of Nittambuwa, Rev. Bro. Janaka more..

Apr 29 (FT) Sinhala Hindu New Year Festival was celebrated at the premises of SL Embassy in Beijing on 16 April with over 275 participants including Sri Lankans, Chinese and other countries. The celebration was co-organised by Embassy and China-SL Youth Forum. Ambassador Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku chaired the celebrations. The ceremony began with the hoisting of the National Flag by Dr. Kodituwakku followed by singing of National Anthem in Sinhala/Tamil, more..

Apr 29 (Island) Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has initiated an inquiry into the recent abduction of two persons, Yamillegedara Ratnayake (40) and Oshada Jayasuriya (27) by police headquarters-based special unit tasked with tackling organised crime. HRCSL launched the inquiry in the immediate aftermath of the release of Ratnayake, resident of Gampola area. Whereabouts of the other person were not known more..

Apr 29 (CT) The JVP said they have experienced difficulty in obtaining SLTB buses to transport their members from outstations to Colombo for their May Day rally to be held at the BRC Grounds. JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva stated that they had notified the SLTB, well in advance, that they require around 500 CTB buses for the May Day activities. But, Silva bemoaned the fact that when inquired of the SLTB they had been told that SLTB buses in the Southern Province (SP) more..

Apr 29 (FT) Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday noted that there needs to be unity between Sinhalese and Tamil children. Speaking at an event, Kumaratunga said that while the war was won, peace had not been achieved. She said that simply winning the war does not ensure peace and for there to be real peace the cause of the conflict must be addressed. She noted that in Colombo and Gampaha she found that hundreds of Sinhalese children have never more..

Apr 29 (Island) Justice K.T. Chithrasiri, Chairman of the Special Presidential Commission investigating the alleged bond scam, said when its proceedings resumed yesterday that the commission would examine the footnotes of the COPE report on the alleged bond scam. When former Governor of CB Dr. W.A. Wijewaedena testified, the Counsel for defendant Perpetual Treasuries, Nihal Fernando PC inquired more..

Apr 29 (NS) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is to receive a whopping Rs. 442 million every year for eight years from the ICC in keeping with its revenue distribution programme for the period 2016 to 2023. The decision was reached at the ICC’s Board and Committee meetings in Dubai this week under the revised financial model that was passed. At the meeting it was decided to let India have the lion’s share of the ICC revenue amounting to US$ 293 million over the eight-year period while more..

Apr 29 (DM) The deadline to apply for over 1,500 vacancies to the Sri Lanka Police has been extended to June 2. Police headquarters called for applications several vacancies including Police Constables (PC), Women Police Constables (WPC) and Police Constable (Drivers) for police stations spread across the island, especially in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Police Media said that Tamil speaking persons applying for jobs in police stations in the North and East, more..

Apr 29 (Island) Western Province Chief Minister Isura Devapriya has accused the powerful Cabinet Sub Committee on Economic Management for failing to take tangible measures to avert the recent Meethotamulla tragedy. Meethotamulla garbage-slide. He alleged that the committee had handed over the management of the Meethotamulla garbage dump to Megapolis and Western Development Ministry headed by more..

Apr 29 (DM) Next Wednesday, May 3 is World Press Freedom Day and the United Nations in a statement says the year’s theme is Critical Minds for Critical Times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies. Indeed a deep and significant theme which journalists need to reflect upon, especially in Sri Lanka where after January 2015 with the restoration of media freedom, we have also seen many instances of the misuse or abuse of such freedom.    more..

Apr 29 (DM) May Day was born in 1884, flagged by blood-splattered clothes of martyrs who sacrificed their lives for a worthy cause in Illinois, Chicago, USA — The Blues and Greens here in Sri Lanka with lost memories of a proletariat struggle have vandalised the consecrated concept turning it into a disgusting political extravaganza. The 1960s marked the GREEN and BLUE revolution which replaced the RED flags from May Day in Sri Lanka. Today, after 50 years, a section of more..

Apr 29 (Island) The Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) signed an aide memoire with Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) on Wednesday, marking the launch of ADB-KSP Joint Consulting to support the GoSL in drawing a blueprint for the Colombo-Trincomalee Economic Corridor (CTEC). The signing ceremony was preceded by a high-level meeting (consultation workshop) more..

Apr 29 (DN) The Colombo High Court hearing the controversial Sil Redi distribution case yesterday permitted the prosecution to screen a video footage relating to a television interview by former Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunge during the last Presidential Election campaign. The High Court recorded evidence from former Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunge as the defence witnesses in the case and he is being more..

Apr 29 (ST) The astrologer who raised concerns about auspicious times released by the Cultural Ministry before the Sinhala and Tamil New Year insisted that his calculations were correct. Controversy erupted when astrologers blamed faulty auspicious times for the collapse of the Meethotamulla garbage dump, which buried dozens of innocents. However the astrologers in the panel that prepared the official times insisted that more..

Apr 29 (ST) Amid efforts to control rabies, reports of dog bites have risen to a record 1,000 every day across Sri Lanka. According to ministry data, every year 300,000 people are treated for rabies in the country, while 30,000 people were treated at the National Hospital Colombo last year alone. The WHO estimates that almost 60,000 people die of rabies every year, with more than 95% of those deaths occurring in Asia and Africa. more..

Apr 29 (ST) A replica of the Sakya kingdom of ancient India will be constructed to coincide with the 14th UN Vesak Day to be celebrated for the first time in SL. Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said the kingdom would be built on 78 acres of land in Kahapola, Piliyandala to mark the international event that will be celebrated from May 12 to14, under the theme, Buddhist Teachings for Social Justice & Sustainable Peace. more..

Apr 29 (NS) In a move to fast track the much needed investment programme and ease financial decision-making at all levels of the administration, govt will replace the archaic Financial Regulations (FR). The reforms will also include laws and guidelines with regard to public private partnerships (PPPs), electronic procurement (e-procurement). The FR was put in place by the British, with revisions in 1992 and 1996. more..

Apr 29 (DM) UNP's former general secretary Tissa Attanayake said the UNP is not looking after the elephants which laboured for the party, but only serving the elephants which adorn the perahera. He said this during a visit to the Kandy Mawilmada Watapuluwa Bodhi Malu Viharaya to pay homage to the Temple's Chief Incumbent the Ven. Mahaupadya Udawatte Nanda Thera. Mr. Attanayake said as a life-long UNPer he was more..

Apr 29 (GDI) The water supply charges should be revised soon for the economic stability of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB), Minister Rauff Hakeem said. A liter of bottled drinking water is sold at Rs. 60 while the NWSDB is providing 1,000 liters to the people at a price of Rs.12. NWSDB bears a huge cost for purification and distribution of water, so it is impossible to provide water at such a low price, he added. more..

Apr 29 (SL) A latest study reveals some toys here in Sri Lanka contain toxic chemicals. The study was conducted by the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) along with renowned global partners. The new global survey finds that recycling plastics containing toxic flame retardant chemicals found in electronic waste results in contamination of the world’s best-selling toy along with other children’s products. more..

Apr 29 (SL) A top businessman has come forward to fund the May Day rally of the Joint Opposition (JO). A leading businessman involved in the gas industry has donated at least Rs. 10 million to the JO led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the May Day rally to be staged at Galle Face Green. JO member Basil Rajapaksa said that the public, including some businessmen are disheartened with the actions of the govt and more..

Apr 29 (CT) The recent story of Tharjini Sivalingam's success playing in Australia might have the chance to be the next valuable national treasure to move to greener pastures to become a loss to Sri Lanka because of official bungling. Sri Lanka officials in charge of the netball in the country could not have noticed this 6'10" tallest netballer in the world and her capabilities and get the real value from her skills as a netball player. Even after being the player to be selected as more..

Apr 29 (CT) The credibility of Sri Lanka in relation to the settlement of the 60 year old ethnic problem of Tamils can be judged from the fate of several pacts, agreements and undertakings which were made from 1956 to 2009 and the SL Govts unwillingness to comply with the implementation of its own undertakings:- LLRC recommendations: The August 1 2015 UNHRC Resolution 30/1 and its delaying tactics in implementing the recent similar Resolution in March 2017. more..

Apr 29 (NR) Two Colombo-based UN delegates recently met the Chief of Staff Major General Mahesh Senanayake at his office with a view to extending greetings to his new appointment and receiving an update on the follow-up to the projects he had earlier carried out in the Jaffna peninsula as the Commander, Security Forces – Jaffna (SF-J) before he took his new post. Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Crisanthe De Silva, on a directive made by the Ministry of Defence, more..

Apr 29 (DM) The boats of Indian fisherman which are now in SL custody will only be released with the consent of the fisheries associations in the North, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said. He recently said the govt had not decided to discuss on the release of these boats during Indian PM Narendra Modi’s visit to SL. “We have paid attention to release some of these boats in future since the Indian govt has taken reasonable steps to solve this issue. There is nothing wrong in doing so,” more..

Apr 29 (Island) This writer’s last article Israel and Sri Lankan Islamophobia provoked a great many replies in the CT including of course from Backlash, one of the two chief propagandists against this writer. He came out on April 23 with a spectacular revelation that merits dissemination on a national scale. He wrote Israel’s contribution to the good of mankind, then and now, is unmatched in the annals of man’s history. That of course is mind-boggling for its hyperbole. more..