Feb 20 (ST) Things nearly went a little too far in the manner succession takes place in the Asian region when a charismatic leader bids the world the last farewell. Lanka started the trend first when Sirimavo Bandaranaike was called from her Rosmead Place residence to Temple Trees to assume the premiership following the assassination of her husband SWRD. India went a step further when upon the death of her PM Jawaharlal Nehru, his daughter Indira seamlessly stepped into his more..

Feb 20 (Island) There are many instances where the constructive attempts supported and much publicized by the govt in power today are overshadowed by many practically disruptive and unsettling actions of others. The President, PM and some members of the Govt may be launching and promoting a process of reconciliation by calling upon all the citizens of Sri Lanka to a renewed awareness of justice and exhorting and encouraging all to re-establish the bonds of fraternity and more..

Feb 20 (CI) A partisan Melbourne crowd played its part in Sri Lanka's exquisite series victory, Asela Gunaratne said after his unbeaten knock of 84 from 46 balls in only his sixth T20 international propelled Sri Lanka to their 174 target in Geelong. Partisan because although the first two T20s were ostensibly away matches, Sri Lanka's limited-overs games in Melbourne have long attracted booming support from large SL population in the city. more..

Feb 20 (CI) Only one cap was presented, but there were three debuts in this match. Fast bowler Jhye Richardson was playing his first match for Australia in any format, umpire Sam Nogajski was standing in his first international fixture, and Geelong's Kardinia Park was making its maiden appearance as an international venue. And the results? Mixed. Richardson bowled with impressive pace and claimed a wicket with his third ball. Nogajski was at the centre of a strange moment when more..

Feb 20 (CI) 36: Runs Sri Lanka needed off the last two overs, which they chased down, the most by any team. Australia needed 34 off the last two overs against Pakistan in the 2010 World T20 and pulled off a similar heist. 411.11: Asela Gunaratne's strike rate of his last nine balls. He smashed 37 runs, including three fours and four sixes. He had scored 47 off his first 37 balls with three fours and a six. 1: Number of higher scores than Gunaratne's 84 not out by a batsman at No.5 or lower more..

Feb 20 (SO) In 2009, the South Asian Institute of Technology & Medicine started out as a twin-program, with one-half of its medical course conducted locally, and the rest abroad via a Russian university affiliated to the Institute. Today, the green fee levying private medical college at Malabe founded by Dr Neville Fernando, a pioneer in private medical education in SL, has turned into a simmering ground of confusion, anger, rage. more..

Feb 20 (CT) Members of the Airline Pilots Guild of Sri Lanka have voted in favour of going in for industrial action if their request for a meeting with their Chairman, Board of Directors and Minister of Public Enterprise regarding the alleged Unacceptable conduct of the Senior Management is not been granted. The vote ending yesterday was agreed to be conducted through SMS by its members when they met on the 16th of February 2017 at an emergency meeting. more..

Feb 20 (CI) England Lions set an imposing target and then took two early wickets on a rain-interrupted third day of the first unofficial Test with SL A. Having recovered from 85 for 6 to post 215, Tom Curran removed Dimuth Karunaratne with the first ball of the 4th innings and Toby Jones had Sandun Weerakkody, SL A's top-scorer first time around, lbw for 16. Tom Curran and his brother Sam had played a central role with the bat, too, having extended their 7th-wicket partnership to 62. more..

Feb 20 (FT) Outspoken business tycoon Harry Jayawardena on Saturday distilled a perfect blend for the future success of SL via privatisation of certain loss-making state enterprises that continue to be beset by political interference and mismanagement. The frank and proven advice was shared at the 25th anniversary celebrations of Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka (DCSL), which Jayawardena acquired as State Distilleries more..

Feb 20 (Island) Sri Lanka women are through to the ICC Women’s World up in England and Wales later this year as Chamari Atapattu guided her team with a fantastic batting display against Bangladesh at NCC yesterday. Atapattu scored 84 off 114 deliveries with eight fours and a six. Bangladesh, who needed a big win if they wanted to pip Sri Lanka to the last available spot for the World Cup, showed the stomach for a fight. But in the end, it mattered little as a sensible performance more..

Feb 20 (CI) Sixteen off the last over would be a daunting enough challenge for any batsman in a Twenty20 chase. Sixteen an over for the final three overs is something else entirely. And yet Australia's captain, Aaron Finch, said he felt that while Asela Gunaratne remained at the crease, Sri Lanka still had a chance of achieving their goal, an assessment that turned out to be accurate, to the delight of thousands of Sri Lankan fans at Geelong's Kardinia Oval. more..

Feb 20 (CI) Asela Gunaratne orchestrated a remarkable heist to seal the T20 series for Sri Lanka with a match to play, stealing an outrageous victory over Australia in the first international match ever played at Geelong's Kardinia Park. For the second time in three days, Sri Lanka reached their target from the final ball of their chase, but whereas at the MCG they had needed only 18 off the last three overs, here they needed 48. more..

Feb 20 (EN) Sri Lanka is in no rush to sell a sovereign bond, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said, but cabinet approval was obtained to raise up to US$ 1.5 billion in sovereign bonds this year. He said after getting cabinet approval, the next step was to do road shows to update investors. "We just got the (cabinet) approval to do so," Karunanayake said.  "We are not running after it, we will see what the best position is to do so." He said Fitch Ratings has upgraded more..

Feb 20 (ITN) PM Ranil Wickremasinghe says that the Govt is implementing a methodology to re-pay the huge debt taken by the previous Govt. PM mentioned this while vesting in the public of a housing project built for the people affected by the landslides of Arananayaka Saama Sara Mountain The housing project was built with the assistant of Rhyno Roofing Products Company for the people in Elangapitiya and surrounding villages, affected by landslides of Saamasara Mountain. more..

Feb 20 (ENS) Factionalism within the multi-party TNA has been at the root of the on-going agitations in Kepapilavu and Puthukudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu district and the just concluded stir on the issue of disappearances in Vavuniya. Vavuniya agitation was directed by the EPRLF led by Suresh Premachandran and Sivasakthi Anandan against the current leaders of TNA, especially M.A. Sumanthiran and Charles Nirmalanathan of the ITAK, and more..

Feb 20 (Island) Minister Thalatha Athukorale recently said that the leader of the NFF and UPFA Colombo District MP Wimal Weerawansa is in remand prison because he is suspected of misusing state property. Addressing the masses at the opening of the Vilgamuwa Model Village in Matale she said when the govt is getting rid of corruption certain elements charged with corruption get hurt and feel very bad about it. She said this govt had not misused a cent from state funds. more..

Feb 20 (Island) In the wake of the Free Trade Agreement between China & Sri Lanka to be finalized in 2017 and of the recently signed Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) between the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) & Guangdong Gems and Jade Exchange (GDGJE), it’s on the cards that Sri Lankan gem exports to China, the world’s largest gem importer enjoying the lion’s share, that is, 76.8% of the world gem market - In financial terms, China’s gem imports more..

Feb 20 (FT) The rallying call for Sri Lanka’s much-needed Consumer Product Test Lab received a sudden boost when the specialised agency for public health across the world threw its support behind the initiative on 16 Feb. “This will assure the speed and high quality of market product testing and lab reports of Sri Lanka’s CAA,” said WHO Representative in SL Dr. Jacob Kumaresan on 16 Feb in Colombo, while in discussion with more..

Feb 20 (Island) Scientists backed by the National Institute of Fundamental Studies and the National Research Council have found an alternative for chemical fertilizers thereby increasing the harvest and saving the country billions in foreign exchange. "This revolutionary product, which is a world’s first from Sri Lanka, can replace up to 50% of chemical fertilizer usage in major commercial crops and increase yield by up to 20-30%. The new product known as Biofilm Biofertilizer more..

Feb 20 (ST) After five years of operations, the Vavuniya North Fruit Growers Cooperative Union continues to grow and increase profit. Over 10,000 metric tons of Red Lady papaya have already been exported and over US$2 million (Rs. 300 m) earned by farmers in export earnings, according to a media statement by ILO Colombo, the foster-father of projects to help northern farmers. In recent weeks, the cooperative achieved a major milestone by becoming the first cooperative in Sri Lanka more..

Feb 20 (DM) JVP said the local govt election should be held using the Proportional Representation System used earlier as it would be delayed further if the authorities decided to conduct it under the First Past the Post system that was proposed recently. JVP leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the Chairman of the Election Commission had informed that at least 56 amendments needed to be made to current more..

Feb 20 (ENS) India and Sri Lanka are ready to make way for better ties by resuming a ferry service from Kochi to Colombo. “The ferry service is mooted between Kochi in Kerala to Colombo. We are finalising the modalities and working out if it would be purely a passenger service. To make it economically viable, we will include freight service,” a Ministry of External Affairs official said. More than three decades ago, the shadow of the ethnic strife in the teardrop island had adversely impacted more..

Feb 20 (CT) Two more Army Corporals who were arrested in connection to the abduction, assault and illegal detainment of journalist Keith Noyahr in 2008, were remanded yesterday until 3rd March after being produced before the Mt. Lavinia Magistrate's Court. Police said that the suspects were arrested by a special investigations unit of the CID. Meanwhile, an Army Major and two Army soldiers arrested last Saturday in connection to the incident were remanded till the 23rd of this month. more..

Feb 20 (DM) Sri Lanka would overcome its foreign currency payment, which will reach a staggering USD 4.08 bn (About Rs.560 bn) by end of this year, USD 5.7 bn (Rs.570 bn) by end 2018, through Samurai Bonds and by swapping of debts, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said. A samurai bond is a yen-denominated bond issued in Tokyo by non-Japanese companies, and is subject to Japanese regulations. more..

Feb 20 (Island) Two leading experts from Geneva are in Colombo for today’s pioneering session hosted by Department of Commerce to work on one of the most technically demanding barriers for Lankan exporters, called by global trade as Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures-in simpler terms, quarantining and technical barriers. Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen under whose direction work began on Sri Lanka’s SPS measures way back in Sept 2014 in Colombo more..

Feb 20 (CT) A Sri Lankan official with the Disaster Management Ministry, who was attending a course in Hawaii, USA, has been deported after being allegedly accused of sexual harassment involving an American woman. Secretary to the ministry, S.S. Miyanawila said that after his return the official will have to face an internal investigation. Necessary legal action will be taken if he is found guilty. The annual conference at the National Disaster Preparedness Training Centre more..

Feb 20 (Island) Joint Opposition heavyweight MP Bandula Gunawardena has strongly defended the right of lawmakers to receive massive duty exemptions as well as newly introduced Rs 100,000 special allowance though the national economy was in dire straits. An irate MP Gunawardena emphasized that lawmakers shouldn’t be deprived of legitimate perks and privileges endorsed by parliament. more..

Feb 20 (DM) ON Nov 29, 1947, in its collective wisdom, the UN General Assembly via Resolution 181 planned the carving up of what was originally Palestine, into two states - the state of Israel and the State of Palestine. The partition plan allocated 55% of what then constituted Palestine to Jewish settlers who constituted around 30% of the population, and 45% to Palestinians who constituted 70%. The plan specified borders for new Arab and Jewish states and an area of Jerusalem which more..

Feb 20 (DM) Gauthama Buddha not only accepted an invitation for alms by Ambapali, but acknowledged a donation of ashram by the lady sex-worker of Vaisali. On another occasion the Buddha used a corpse of a prostitute to convey a message to those who patronised her services by spending thousands of Kahavanu for a night. He first auctioned the carcass, there were no bidders—next he offered it free, yet there was no response : perhaps they gained insight over repulsive more..

Feb 20 (Hindu) The small group of Tamils that met top Ministers in Colombo on February 9 conveyed one thing emphatically— their patience was wearing thin. All the members of the group that had travelled nearly six hours by bus from Sri Lanka’s Northern Province to Colombo have been searching for their missing relatives for many years. Their sons or daughters or spouses went missing during, and in some cases, more..

Feb 20 (CT) With the sea of information we have received through media and books about the LTTE and the 30-year-long war, the man called Mahaththaya captured the attention of all as he was given a Sinhala name unlike the rest of the Tamil Tiger fighters. While top Eastern Commander like Karuna Amman had a narrow escape from death at the hands of Prabhakaran, Mahaththaya was the only top leader who more..

Feb 20 (ST) President Sirisena’s intervention is being sought to resolve the tussle over UDA now exercising some functions of the Provincial Councils. “This has become necessary as there is a clear dispute and a solution has to be found,” Minister Faiszer Musthapa said. “As minister in charge of the subject, I do not want to deliver verdicts. However, I do want to find a solution by consulting the President,” he said. more..

Feb 20 (Island) Constituents of the Tamil People’s Council (TPC) are disturbed over the non-participation of ninety nine percent of Eastern Muslims at the Feb 10 Elugu Thamil programme organised in Batticaloa, and a prominent Muslim State Minister from the area lashed-out at the organisers saying Muslims cannot be fooled to support a North-East re-merger which is inimical to their interests. Informal discussions are being more..

Feb 20 (USE) A bipartisan delegation from the U.S. House of Representatives arrives in Colombo today for three days of meetings as part of the House Democracy Partnership (HDP).  The HDP delegation is pleased to continue the important partnership begun with the signing of a Collaboration Agreement between the U.S. House of Representatives and the Parliament of Sri Lanka on Sept 14, 2016 in Washington D.C.  more..

Feb 20 (SL) With the Court of Appeal directive on Jan 31, that there is no obstacle with the SL Medical Council to act under section 29 (2) of the Medical Ordinance to give provisionally registration to those who have completed MBBS degree from SAITM, questions have now been raised as to how many of those who have obtained the degree from the said Medical School have obtained the minimum results at more..

Feb 20 (CT) TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran, who is currently in Geneva, urged the UNHRC officials not to allow Sri Lanka to make any change in the original resolution co-sponsored with the UNHRC by the country in 2015. Sumanthiran met the UNHRC officials in Geneva on Saturday (18) morning where he briefed extensively on the failures in implementing the key aspects of the UNHRC resolution of 2015 by the SL govt. more..

Feb 20 (Island) Senior members of the GMOA in a meeting with representatives of the Joint Committee of the Faculty of Medicine Teachers’ Association have agreed to work together to solicit the support of all trade unions and other parties in their battle against the SAITM. A press release issued by the GMOA on Saturday said: A discussion was held between the GMOA and the Joint Committee of the more..

Feb 20 (Island) Constitutional affairs experts have strongly challenged the SLFP’s recent assertion that President Maithripala Sirisena is entitled for a term of six years regardless of the 19 Amendment to the Constitution. Minister Faizer Musthapa and State Minister Dilan Perera declared that the six year term secured by President Maithripala Sirisena at the Jan 2015 presidential poll wouldn’t be curtailed by 19 Amendment. more..

Feb 20 (EN) Sri Lanka's state and state-owned enterprise workers, excluding the military, grew 30% to 1.1 million from 2006 to 2016, a survey has found. Survey includes the central govt, provincial govt, statutory bodies and state enterprises. During the last regime, a bewildering array of companies were incorporated as subsidiaries and sub-subsidiaries of SOEs under the Companies Act, which analysts say would be difficult to track. more..

Feb 20 (CT) The first woman executive President of SL, Chandrika Kumaratunga who is also the Chairperson of the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation, became the first high profile politician to highlight the plight of war widows in the North and the East. Being the daughter of two Prime Ministers, former President Chandrika Kumaratunga at a very young age saw her mother, the late PM Sirimavo Bandaranaike becoming a widow following the assassination of her father, more..