Jan 17 (DM) Uva Chief Minister Chamara Dasanayake said he had decided to claim compensation from the British govt for the damage caused to the Uva Province during the 1817-1818 rebellion. He said that the loans granted by the World Bank should be set off against the damage caused. “The proposal will be put forward to the Uva Provincial Council first. President Sirisena cancelled the gazette notification by the British declaring 19 national heroes as traitors. more..

Jan 17 (FT) Contrary to misinformation by the Opposition, the China Merchant Port (CMPort) led joint venture will have only around 1,200 acres of land adjacent to Hambantota Port whilst the 15,000 acre land area earmarked for industrial zones in four districts is a different and unrelated initiative. “CMPort’s discussions with Govt involve only the land already within the existing port perimeter and 5 km sq (around 1235 acres) more..

Jan 17 (DM) World Economic Forum starting today at Davos in Switzerland will be an important event where Sri Lanka could work out more public-private partnership enterprises and foreign direct investments to carry forward the National Govt’s sustainable, eco-friendly and all-inclusive development strategy.   PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister Ravi Karunanayake & Malik Samarawickrama -- playing a leading role in the economic block-busting plan -- are leading more..

Jan 17 (DM) Few institutions in this country are as vilified as the executive presidency. SLFP has been campaigning to abolish it since the very first day it was introduced under the 1978 Constitution. However, after they were elected to power, SLFP leaders did anything but abolishing the executive presidency. Chandrika Kumaratunga won a landmark election victory in 1994, promising to abolish the executive presidency within 100 days and she completed her two lukewarm terms more..

Jan 17 (CT) The Black Fort, the oldest section of the Galle Fort – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most frequented historical locations in the country by tourists – is currently in a state of disrepair and has turned into, for a lack of better words, a junk yard for those living in its locality. Zwart Bastion, better known by the title given by the British – Black Fort, was the first fortification of the Galle Fort, constructed by more..

Jan 17 (SL) After the Volkswagen Company in Germany claimed that they have not invested in an vehicle assembly plant in SL nor have any intention to do so even in future, it had now come to limelight as to how the Board of Investments (BOI) not only duped the President and PM but also the entire country to show that they were able to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for a vehicle assembling plant in Sri Lanka. more..

Jan 17 (NR) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to meet Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif in Switzerland today. PM is currently in Switzerland to participate at the 2017 World Economic Forum in Davos. The summit will look into new developments in the world economy during the event which is scheduled to conclude on the 21st of January. PM reportedly has a full agenda at Davos, including a number of bilateral more..

Jan 17 (AD) Sri Lanka has climbed one place to 82nd rank on the global index of talent competitiveness that measures how countries grow, attract and retain talent. The list is topped by Switzerland. Sri Lanka ranks above India (92), which is worst among the five BRICS countries. Last year, Sri Lanka came in at 83rd on the index. While China was ranked at the 54th place, Russia was placed at 56th, followed by South Africa at 67th more..

Jan 17 (NP) An alleged fundraiser for Tamil rebels who has been fighting deportation from Canada for more than two decades has lost a key court battle after a federal judge dismissed his appeal. Federal Court upheld the deportation of Manickavasagam Suresh on the grounds he was a member of a terrorist organization and that he was complicit in war crimes and crimes against humanity. The evidence adequately supported more..

Jan 17 (SCMP) Sri Lankan dynamo Tillakaratne Dilshan – the man behind the famous “Dilscoop” shot – will bring his brand of innovative and exciting cricket to Tin Kwong Road when he lines up for City Kaitak in the Hong Kong T20 Blitz from March 8-12. The 40-year-old former test captain is a made-for-T20 player with his aggressive batting, outstanding fielding and off spin. “I am very excited to be associated with City Kaitak and more..

Jan 17 (DM) The prevailing drought has created a fresh problem as it has resulted in sea water getting into the water lines in some areas. A spokesman from the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said sea water had flowed into some drying reservoirs. This had happened in Kalutara where sea water had contaminated Kalu Ganga and had reached the pumping station in Thebuwana. “Water coming out of the taps was salty as a result,” more..

Jan 17 (CG) Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy BMS Batagoda has written to President demanding the resignation of ýMaithri Gunaratne, Chairman of Lanka Coal Company, who had continuously opposed attempts to sign an unfavourable deal to import coal to Sri Lanka, Anti Corruption Front (ACF) said. ACF noted that a few days after an AG's report revealed that Sri Lanka lost Rs 4145.43 million more..

Jan 17 (ST) In an unprecedented move, the USA-based Trustees of Jaffna College Funds (TJCF) have slashed finances to the renowned Jaffna College in Vaddukoddai and Uduvil Girls’ College, consequent to the schools’ alleged failure to submit audited accounts for 2015. The TJCF has reduced funding for the two schools by 20% of the budgeted grant in Q1 of 2017. Bishop of the Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India, more..

Jan 17 (CT) A unique religious ritual with umbrellas, to seek blessings for rain, was held at the Kanagambikai Temple, which is located in the vicinity of the Northern Province's biggest water source, the Iranaimadu Tank in Kilinochchi, on Sunday. The event was jointly organized by the farmers' association in the Kilinochchi District with the participation of TNA MP S. Sritharan, TULF leader V. Anandasangaree & NPc members. more..

Jan 17 (CT) As readers well know, the word prejudice comes from to pre-judge; to judge or form an opinion without first independently examining the evidence. Going by what I had read about this book, I confess I was prejudiced but, having gone through it, my former opinion was confirmed. Pre-judice became post-judice, an instance of postjudice confirming prejudice. (Or is the latter – consciously or subconsciously – conditioning the former? After all, as Heidegger noted, more..

Jan 17 (CT) Just days since the European Commission proposed the GSP+ concession to Sri Lanka, EU office in Colombo has already begun pressuring the Govt to ensure it sticks to its commitments. Sources said that since last week’s announcement by the European Commission, the mission in Colombo has already contacted relevant govt officials seeking details with regard to govt’s implementation of obligations, which is part of the conditions if SL to obtain GSP+ concession. more..

Jan 17 (CT) Remember that line, It's good to be king which portrayed the gloriousness of being the ruling party of a country/kingdom/monarchy? Yeah, the same cannot be said about the present days of a democratic society (HA!) with a President who is being watched, monitored, criticized from all possible directions – except during the tenure of the previous administration (you know what we are talking about – no need to spell it out). Accountability and responsibilities go hand in hand. more..

Jan 17 (AD) NFF MP Padma Udaya Shantha has arrived at the FCID to record a statement pertaining to investigations over the misuse of vehicles belonging to the Presidential Secretariat. MP Udaya Shantha arrived at the FCID following summons issued by the department. Leader of NFF Wimal Weerawansa who was arrested over the matter is currently in remand custody. Yesterday, FCID recorded a statement from NFF MP Weerakumara Dissanayake pertaining to investigation over more..

Jan 17 (DM) TNA MP for the Jaffna District M.A. Sumanthiran, shares his views on the Constitution making and the way forward. He says his party remains optimistic about a positive outcome. Q:  How optimistic are you of the Constitution making process? A: Well, this is a one’s in life opportunity. It is, in fact, once in the life of a country opportunity. This problem has been with us ever since Independence. more..

Jan 17 (MNA) Minister of Science, Technology and Research and Iran’s Vice-President for Science and Technology signed an MoU for cooperation on laboratory analysis for oil and gas. In a meeting with Sorena Sattari in Tehran on Tuesday, SL Minister Susil Premajayantha lauded Iran’s many scientific and technological achievements in spite of years of sanctions, adding “given Iran’s advances in the field of science and technology, there are various grounds for cooperation on more..

Jan 17 (Island) Two policemen were admitted to the Kalpitiya hospital after being stabbed at Battalangunduwa, where they went to hold an inquiry, on Sunday. The two constables had been detailed to probe a complaint that a son was harassing his parents. The suspect son (29) stabbed the two constables during the inquiry. Two injured policemen had been rushed to the Kalpitiya hospital and the suspect taken into custody. The condition of one of the injured was serious. more..

Jan 17 (SLC) Giving every outstanding cricketer a just and fair opportunity to represent Sri Lanka is the underlying theme of Sri Lanka Cricket’s ambitious National Development Plan for 2017. To achieve this, the current SLC administration strongly believes that the development of the provincial cricket infrastructure and proper stadium facilities will uplift the standards of the school and local club cricket. more..

Jan 17 (EN) SL poultry firm Bairaha Farms said it will have to spend an extra Rs239 million to complete a project to expand feed mill storage facilities. Work on the project, originally estimated to cost Rs1.45 billion, by Fortune Agro Industries, a joint venture feed mill company, began in June 2016, it said in a stock exchange filing. Work on the feed mill silos and installation of equipment was ongoing, it said. An extra cost of Rs239 million needs to be incurred to complete the project, more..

Jan 17 (NR) The Centre for Policy Alternatives today called on all political parties to ensure greater participation of women in politics and in decision making on public affairs. Executive Director of CPA Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu speaking during an event in Colombo today said a key element of democracy is the widest possible participation of the population in public affairs and therefore called on the need for more women’s representation in public bodies. more..

Jan 17 (AD) The price of a lottery ticket will remain at Rs. 20, as per a decision made by President Maithripala Sirisena, Finance State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said. He said the President had instructed the decision to increase the price of a lottery ticket from Rs. 20 to Rs. 30 is revoked. He said the President made this order after discussing with relevant parties and studying all aspects of the issue. more..

Jan 17 (DM) Both criminal and civil laws had been violated  by IGP Pujith Jayasundara during the Hambantota Protest and it would be brought to the notice of foreign missions in Colombo, former Minister G.L. Peiris said. He said violation of laws were carried out by the IGP out in the open and the Police clearly safeguarded the thugs and launched the attack on innocent protesters.  “The entire country knows what happened. An elderly woman who became a victim of teargas passed away more..

Jan 17 (DN) “It is not the UNP but a group of SLFPers in the govt who want to put off the local govt election”, UPFA MP Dilum Amunugama said. He said that UNP wanted to hold the election as soon as possible but the SLFP group in the govt was showing reluctance for fear of imminent defeat. “The Joint Opposition will increase their struggle to force the govt to hold the local govt election this year, irrespective of which party or faction will secure victory”, he said. more..

Jan 17 (AD) The report of the delimitation committee, with the signatures of all five members, has being handed over to Minister Faiszer Musthapa. He said that the final report has been received and that it will be gazette once certain typing errors are corrected. The report was initially scheduled to be handed over to the minister on January 02, 2017. However, the process was disrupted when two of the five committee members representing more..

Jan 17 (GDI) Vavuniya, the first bus terminal built by the National Transport Commission in Northern Province was opened by the Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva yesterday (16). Built at a cost of Rs. 195 million by the NTC with all facilities, the three acre- terminal can park about 34 buses including inter-provincial services, and provincial services buses. It will also operate about 100 buses to and from Jaffna. Bus operation rooms of SLTB, and Road Passenger Transport Authority, more..

Jan 17 (GDI) Minister of Health, Dr. Rajitha Senarathna has instructed Dr. Kanthi Ariyarathne, the Director of Private Hospitals to complete report which includes the framework for regulating the private hospitals within two months. The report is being prepared by international company, KPMG. When regulating private hospitals, all sections including investigations, surgeries, OPD treatment as well as the sale of drugs will be regulated, said the minister. more..

Jan 17 (DM) Monetary rewards and politics had resulted in the SAITM earning an illegal profit more than Rs.1.2 billion, JVP said. JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said this after last morning's meeting with SL Medical Council officials including its President Prof. Carlo Fonseka. When asked by a journalist about the SLMC's response responded to the request made by the JVP for the SLMC to refrain from recognising those who more..

Jan 17 (NR) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has extended an invitation to Economist and a professor at Columbia University Joseph Stiglitz to observe and provide expert advice on Sri Lanka’s future economic development plans. PM met with Prof. Stiglitz on the sidelines of the 2017 World Economic Forum currently underway in Davos, Switzerland. Issuing a communiqué, the Office of the PM said the discussion was focused on Sri Lanka’s future economic and development plans. more..

Jan 17 (DM) A SLAF Flight Lieutenant was today arrested by Customs officers at the BIA, when attempting to smuggle eight bottles of foreign liquor into the country, Airport Customs Deputy Director Parakrama Basnayake said. He said the arrest was made at the airport tarmac when the Flt. Lieut. was on the verge of removing the bottles bypassing the Customs. Mr. Basnayake alleged that the Flt Lieut. had smuggled 40 bottles of foreign liquor on five earlier occasions. more..

Jan 17 (LeN) Following the transfer of FCID  Director DIG Anura Premashanatha due to pressures brought to bear by the corrupt and the crooks, SSP Dhammika Priyantha has taken over his duties at the FCID. Based on reports reaching Lanka e news inside information division , it is Thiru Nadesan the husband of Nirupama Rajapakse who is the key man behind the sabotage activities which are militating against FCID more..

Jan 17 (TOI) Former cricketers of Sri Lanka, Roshan Mahanama and Romesh Kaluwitharana made the Meet and Greet event organized by ReachOut Club of Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal campus on Sunday interesting. Roshan a prolific scorer, also a former ICC official, and the wicket-keeper batsman Kaluwitharana, both members of the 1996 World Cup winning team, were guests of honour, and in a question answer session they spoke of Sri Lankan cricket. more..

Jan 17 (DN) The Executive Presidency would be terminated along with the introduction of the new constitution, UNP Kurunegala district MP Nalin Bandara said. He was speaking at a media briefing at Sirikota yesterday. Bandara said confirmation of the delimitation committee report is being delayed. “But effective measures would be taken to hold the Local Govt polls soon,” he said. He also said that legal action would be taken with regard to the Bond Scam in the near future. more..

Jan 17 (NR) Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena says GSP+ tax concession will provide relief to 7,200 types of goods. Garment industry which incurred losses of US$ 782 million will largely benefit from tax concession. There are textile factories that incur losses of up to 782 million USD. He said however when GSP+ is in place all of these factories will instead be profitable adding the govt considers this a very significant matter. more..

Jan 17 (EN) Sri Lanka has to fix basic conditions that provide stability and freedom for business to invest and grow, instead of trying to pick winners bureaucratically, which may lead to crony businesses, an economist said. To pick winners, govts need technical capacity, Ganeshan Wignaraja, an economist at Asian Development Bank based in Manila, said at a forum organised by Advocata Institute, a free market think tank based in Colombo. "I think it's hard for govts to pick winners, more..

Jan 17 (PTI) At least 600,000 people in Sri Lanka have been hit by the worst drought since 2006 in nearly 13 of the 25 districts, disaster management officials said today. "They are hit by shortages of drinking water and damage to crop," Pradeep Kodippily, spokesman for the DMC, said. Most irrigation tanks in the island have run dry, the Irrigation Department said. According to the Water authorities, restrictions have to be placed on the drinking water supplies. more..