Aug 4 (PTI) 77 Tamil Nadu fishermen, arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in separate incidents this year on charges of poaching, arrived at the Karaikal port near early on Friday after their release by the island nation. Ministers D Jayakumar, O S Manian and family members and relatives of the fishermen were among those who received them at the port, official sources said. The fishermen belonged to Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, Nagapattinam & Karaikal districts. more..

Aug 4 (EN) New army chief Mahesh Senanayake vowed he will not protect any murderers in the military trying to take the cover of war heroes to avoid prosecution. In the clearest distinction between war heroes and murderes, army chief said he will not allow criminal elements taking the cover of war heroes to tanish the image of the security forces. "During the war, or thereafter, if anyone has used the military uniform and committed more..

Aug 4 (PSL) President Sirisena says the govt will provide all required facilities for school teachers so that they could have the conducive metal condition to provide good education to the students. He was speaking at the ceremony to vest the new building complex at Valisinghe Harishchandra Maha Vidyalaya in Anuradhapura with students today. He pointed out that the commitment made by the teachers to nurture the children with knowledge is not limited to their salaries. more..

Aug 4 (CT) The Voice Against Corruption (VAC) says it will submit a complaint to the Bribery Commission related to the alleged underhand deals struck by Minister Ravi Karunanayake with Arjun Aloysius of Perpetual Treasuries including the latter having allegedly supplied a luxury house to the former. Convener of VAC Wasantha Samarasinghe said VAC would also lodge a complaint with the CID regarding many other questionable investments, purchase of lands & various other purchases more..

Aug 4 (CI) India lost their centurions, one at the start of play, and the other about half an hour to lunch, in a manner that suggested Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane had heard the calls from the dressing room that they were hogging all the fun. Once they relented, a strong lower order - with an allrounder at No. 9 - took their total past 600 for the sixth time in nine months. Sri Lanka did have a few moments to celebrate, of course, but more..

Aug 4 (AD) President of SLFP Youth Front, Shantha Bandara stated that the motion of no confidence submitted against Minister Ravi Karunanayake was merely a measure taken by the Joint Opposition party to boost their popularity. He added that although the motion of no confidence was necessary, it was too early to appeal to suggest such a motion against the Minister, and that it should have been brought once the Presidential Commission has submitted their report on more..

Aug 4 (Island) Justice and Buddha Sasana Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe recently charged that Public Trustee’s Department was the most corrupt entity under the Buddha Sasana Ministry. He said former Public Trustee had complained to him that there had been a Rs. 370 million fraud in the department and it had been handed over to the FCID for investigation. The Minister said that now it had been brought under the purview of the Justice Ministry. Minister, during a special inspection tour more..

Aug 4 (NR) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe says a political solution that does not affect any race should be introduced adding it should be initiated through Parliament. Speaking during the special session in Parliament to commemorate 40 years of uninterrupted political service the PM said the govt has a responsibility to take the country forward. Premier said he would like to say whether this council exists or not the govt has more..

Aug 4 (AM) A group of senior Ministers representingSLFP have officially requested President to remove Minister Ravi Karunanayake from his Cabinet portfolio. They have informed the President that Karunanayake's conduct, as a Minister, has brought the entire govt into disrepute. SLFP Minister have already conveyed to President that they will have to support the no-confidence motion against Karunanayake, if the President does not take prompt action more..

Aug 4 (ANR) Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva says PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s political experience helped Sri Lanka achieve the GSP+ including other victories. Speaking during the debate pertaining to the PM’s 40 years in politics he said the Premier made many practical decisions in political situations. Minister said one of the many commendable qualities of PM Wickremesinghe is that he smiled in the face of all criticism levelled against him during his political career more..

Aug 4 (CT) The nexus between Minister Ravi Karunanayake and Arjun Aloysius became evident today at the Commission investigating the Bond Scam after the Attorney general read out text messages referring to the Minister. Despite Karunanayake’s denial at first, his relationship with Arjun Aloysius and then knowledge of the apartment he currently lives in, AG's Department derived clear proof of the nexus. more..

Aug 4 (USE) Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Hilton inaugurated a newly refurbished building at the Jaffna Hindu Ladies’ College on July 31, that will support reconciliation and stabilization and provide girls in Jaffna with opportunity to study in a modern facility.  Coordinating closely with the Sri Lanka Ministry of Education and Northern Province Ministry of Education, U.S. govt invested 91 million rupees to build the 3-story addition that will reach an additional 180 students. more..

Aug 4 (PHC) To support the initiative of President Maithripala Sirisena to provide clean drinking water to the people of North Central Province to prevent chronic kidney disease, Govt of Pakistan through its High Commission in Sri Lanka, gifted two water purification plants each with the capacity of 10,000 liters per day.  The Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan Dr. Sarfraz Ahmed Khan Sipra along with the MP Ishaq Rahuman, former Minister, Tissa Karaliayadda and other dignitaries more..

Aug 4 (DM) Minister Ravi Karunanayake's daughter Onella has made an impassioned plea on her Facebook page asking why it was only her father to blame in such a huge Govt?. Just ask yourself? Why only one man’s name comes up all the time in such a huge govt? she asked, making comparison to her father's testimony. Minister Karunanayake while testifying at the Bond Commission also asked the same question more..

Aug 4 (DM) A former purohita who calls himself a direct descendant of King Dutugemunu is poised for yet another political somersault, they say. The man from Ruhuna cut his political teeth as a Blue party activist. He later turned Green and again jumped back to the Blue party at the most opportune moment. His posture as a die-hard loyalist of the former strongman soon paid dividends when the man was elevated to the top team level. His shenanigans while functioning as more..

Aug 4 (DM) Rakna Arakshaka Lanka's former chairman (Rtd) Major General Palitha Fernando and Avant Garde's former chairman (Rtd) Major Nissanka Senadhipathy were indicted on 47 counts by the Bribery Commission in the Colombo High Court today. They face charges of soliciting and accepting Rs.35.5 million as a gratification to transfer Maritime Protection Services from SL Army to Rakna Lanka Ltd. Accused were indicted under Sections 17 19, 21 and 25 of the Bribery Act. more..

Aug 4 (AD) The five day anti-SAITM protest march organized by Inter-University Students’ Action Committee will be reaching Colombo today. Acting Convener of the Committee, Sanath Bandara stated that the group had yesterday started their journey from Nittambuwa and arrived at Kadawatha in the evening. They will be recommencing their journey from Kadawatha today morning, and arriving in Colombo more..

Aug 5 (CT) Even though it is admirable that you took it upon yourself to be the savior of your beleaguered family, you have failed miserably in your attempt to white wash a man that is clearly beyond redemption. As a daughter I do feel for you but as a citizen of this beautiful country, I am shocked and amazed how you and your father both think that the voters of this country are imbeciles. Let me elaborate to you why I came into this conclusion. You have mentioned in your statement that more..

Aug 5 (CT) Onella Karunanayake has asked a valid question: Why only my father’s name comes up all the time in such a huge govt? The father is of course Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of External Affairs. Karunanayake’s name has come up, to use Onella’s words because of his close friendship with Arjun Aloysius, the man at the centre of the Central Bank Bond Issue fiasco. Karunanayake is a target because a) he was at the time the Minister of Finance, b) Aloysius’ father-in-law, more..

Aug 5 (NS) Q: What are your duties and activities as the PM’s Spokesperson and the Deputy Head of the PM’s Office? A: Through this, I get to serve thousands of people per day. All those who cannot directly connect with the PM come and meet me and expect solutions to their problems. I am very happy about it. Not just individuals but trade unions and various organizations come and discuss with me. more..

Aug 5 (SL) If anyone thought that the new parliamentary legislation banning bottom-trawling by Sri Lankan fishers will end the continuing consternation of, and conflict with Indian counterparts in the Palk Bay especially, it is not to be. With or without the new law, what the Governments in India, at the Centre and in the southern State of Tamil Nadu, require, instead, is time for putting their on-going plans for deep-sea fishing work on the ground. more..

Aug 5 (SL) There appears to be a situation where the CEB does not seem to agree with the generation proposal put forward by the Public Utilities Commission Sri Lanka (PUCSL). Readers will recall when the Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Union (CEBEU) met the President Maithripala Sirisena about a month back and he approved the Least Cost, Long Term Generation Plan (LCLTGP) where coal generation was included. Strangely the present news item says more..

Aug 5 (CI) square drive like honey from a jungle hive; a pull so languid he is still playing the shot after the ball has been fetched from the boundary. And then, suddenly, wafts outside the off stump, bizarre dismissals when the team is in a tough spot - all of which indicate that after 12 yrs & 29 full Tests, we still don't really have an answer. Where does the bad luck end, and where does Tharanga begin? Take his dismissal today. more..

Aug 5 (Island) Various groups and individuals have raised their voices for and against SAITM creating much heat and less light. The SAITM issue has brought out some important questions regarding state funded/private higher education in this country. It assumes importance since it is an institution providing private medical degrees. In this regard the following questions need to be addressed: 1 Do we need private medical degree awarding institutions? 2 Is it possible to provide adequate training more..

Aug 5 (Island) All signs are that there won’t be any elections in the foreseeable future and at this rate disuse atrophy is likely to affect our right to exercise franchise. Time was when there were no elections in some areas under direct LTTE control. Thankfully, the Tigers were militarily neutralised eight years ago and democracy was rekindled in those parts of the country. But, today, thanks to yahapalana leaders the entire country is without elections! Polls phobia is to politicians what hydrophobia is to more..

Aug 5 (CI) Ajinkya Rahane has revealed that India have made a conscious effort to attack the spinners on their tour of SL, and in particular use their feet against Rangana Herath, the prime threat. As a result they have piled on successive 600-plus first-innings totals, and have all but neutralised the threat of Herath, whose average against India since fashioning the Galle win in 2015 is 53.61, and economy rate 3.58. In all, India's batsmen have left the crease 84 times when facing Herath more..

Aug 5 (DN) It seems like Sri Lanka and India are playing on two different types of pitches at the SSC - venue of the second cricket Test of the series. Whereas the Lankan bowlers struggled to gain purchase off the second day pitch toiling for the best part of 68 overs to capture six Indian wickets for 278 runs, it was a totally different story when the Indian bowlers came on. India for the second successive occasion topped 600 runs batting first and scoring 622-9 declared. more..

Aug 5 (CI) Dimuth Karunaratne has become the latest player to advocate for a stronger first-class competition in Sri Lanka, suggesting that India's comparatively sturdy domestic infrastructure has seen them thrive in Test cricket. The number of players - both former and present - who have called for drastic change in first-class cricket now represents a consensus. Sangakkara and Mahela have been the most more..

Aug 5 (CT) After the demise of former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl recently, news about his survival out of the killer tsunami in 2004 December surfaced once again. Kohl was 74 at the time. His escape from the tsunami in SL had been described in diverse forms, both in German media and AP at the time, with a slight variance. Kohl had travelled to Sri Lanka with some friends during Christmas vacations and decided to stay in a down South tourist hotel, especially for Ayurveda therapy. more..

Aug 5 (Island) When we carefully examine our isolated personal life or our community life we would observe that dishonesty even in little things messes up our life to some extent; honesty in everything even when no one observes us, enhances our life and bring us much serenity and peace, fulfillment, happiness and an absolute inner freedom. We learn genuine trust and reliable dependence from our good parents who have shown us that their true happiness and joy comes from our growing more..

Aug 5 (Island) If there is one lesson that the Perpetual Penthouse Minister has given us all, it is the value of ignorance. Not knowing is the path to progress, which is shown so well by his having been chosen as the Best Finance Minister of Asia Pacific. He must have displayed to the judges in that selection game that he knew nothing of national budgeting and even less on matters of finance. Just now he must be ignorant of anything to do more..

Aug 5 (NS) The biggest challenge the government currently faces is the risk of sustaining the trust of the people. Every govt pledges many things to its people before it comes to power. The people elect them based on their pledges, and their credentials, and sometimes because they simply want to do away with the govt in power. SL’s current govt, too, laid out many pledges to its people during election campaigns. Whether they have been fulfilled is something that the govt needs to ask itself. more..

Aug 5 (FT) Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) is hosting an Organic Pavilion at the ongoing ProFood, ProPack 2017 exhibition, which is being held at the BMICH, in order to promote Sri Lanka’s organically certified agricultural products to the European market.  ProFood ProPack, which is Sri Lanka’s largest food, beverage and packaging exhibition and organized by the Sri Lanka Food Processors Association (SLFPA), will be ongoing until Sunday, 6 Aug. more..

Aug 5 (NS) Minister Mano Ganesan said the gangs in the North have no political agenda. He made this observation in response to claims made by the IGP attempts by the LTTE to remerge should be foiled. Is there such an attempted resurgence. “There is the Aava group. They are very country type robbers, rouges and thieves. There is no political agenda in their actions,” he said. He pointed out that IGP had the responsibility to more..

Aug 5 (Island) Sri Lanka Under-20 team dominated the proceedings in the Asia Under-20 Rugby Championship which kicked off at King’s Park Hong Kong yesterday. They won all three games played on the opening day and will meet Chinese Taipei today. Sri Lanka got off to a fine start in the first game against Philippines when Avishka Lee gave them the lead in the fifth minute latching on to loose ball before going over for the opening try. Chamod Fernando made conversion to take 7-0 lead. more..

Aug 5 (IPS) There has been renewed interest among policy makers to get more women to enter the workforce. Most solutions for encouraging women to enter the labour market look at helping women balance home and market activities through initiatives such as expanding access to day care facilities, and providing more flexible work opportunities. Labour force participation of women differs considerably across education levels. Labour force participation of highly skilled women more..

Aug 5 (NS) The Ministry of Health’s National STD / AIDS  Control Programme and the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board commenced a national, island-wide survey to assess the patterns of drug users. The rapid assessment is to inform risk reduction interventions for persons who use drugs (PWUD) and people who inject drugs’ (PWID) and in turn lead to the revisiting of existing policies & services in place for them. more..

Aug 5 (Hindu) The Madras High Court Bench here on Friday directed the Ramanathapuram police to complete within six months the investigation into the death of Rameswaram fisherman K. Britjo, who was shot dead in the high seas allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy on March 6. It sought a final report to be filed before the lower court. A Division Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Sathish Kumar passed the order while disposing of a public interest litigation petition filed by more..

Aug 5 (Island) Police nabbed six persons including two policemen attached to the Pesalai Police Station for their alleged involvement in robbing gold biscuits worth more than ten million rupees. Police have also recovered gold biscuits worth around nine million rupees and a stock of jewellery made from some of the biscuits robbed by the suspects. The two suspect policemen allegedly robbed 16 gold biscuits from a businessmen engaged in exporting gold to India on July 23 at Pesalai. more..