July 17 (DM) In caste-ridden societies, dominant castes claim privilege through birth, but as evident from recent caste conflicts in Jaffna, death provides no relief from caste, and places of cremating the dead are also sites of caste oppression. Since late last year, there have been increasing agitations against upper caste cemeteries located within oppressed caste villages. While many of these cemeteries were not used for years if not decades during the war, efforts to again more..

July 17 (DM) Tamara Kunanayakam was the recipient of Inspirational Woman of the Year Award in this year’s Top 50 Professional and Career Women Awards organized by Women in Management, in partnership with the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group. The 50 winners from Sri Lanka and the Maldives received their awards at a glittering ceremony held at Hotel Taj Samudra on Friday. more..

July 17 (DN) Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne yesterday offered a special bouquet to all media institutions for rallying around his Ministry’s call and helping in the dengue eradication programme launched by the Ministry. He said all media institutions set aside commercial gain and devoted their programmes to educate the people and rally support for the dengue eradication programme and he wished to thank them more..

July 17 (SL) Standard Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (SCAPC) spelled out its stance at a briefing to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM), to set aside five tender bidders selected for the construction of the 300 MW Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) Combined Cycle Plant at Kerawalapitiya, and was to be award it to Samsung Korea. Chairman of SCAPC, G.S. Withanage was stressing technical know-how more..

July 17 (CT) SL Navy broke into the limelight after a drama in the high seas to rescue an elephant that had been swept away by strong currents off the coast in Kokilai, Mullaithivu on Tuesday. Some 100 naval personnel were pressed into the rescue operation that lasted 10 hours before the elephant could be plucked out from a watery grave. Lt. Commander Dhanusha Perera and his men were on a routine patrol on the watch for more..

July 17 (Island) One-time UN staffer at its Colombo mission and former presidential spokesman Mohan Samaranayake said that dispensation of US funds here leading to the change of govt in Jan 2015 should be thoroughly investigated. Samaranayake underscored the need to identify those who had received funds in the run up to presidential and parliamentary polls in Jan and Aug 2015. He said that the then US Secretary of more..

July 17 (ST) The Ministry of Petroleum Resources Development is to commence discussions next week with Lanka Indian Oil Co. (LIOC) for an agreement on the use of oil tanks at the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm. Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) wants to use some of the oil tanks at the farm, which is currently under the IOC, to store fuel as its current fuel storage capacity is low, Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said. more..

July 17 (DN) The country has achieved an admirable economic growth rate of 4.7% surpassing the govt’s modest expectation of 3 to 3.5% in the wake of natural disasters and a heavy debt trap, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said. “This gives us hopes of the growth rate reaching 5% soon,” PM said. PM made this observation presiding over a meeting to review the progress of disaster relief activities in the Galle district on July 14. more..

July 17 (AD) The Colombo High Court has once again issued summons ordering President Maithripala Sirisena and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s appearance before the Court. The case filed against the General Secretary of the UNP, Tissa Attanayake who has been accused of allegedly fabricating documents was once again taken up for consideration by the Court today. Maithripala Sirisena who ran for President more..

July 17 (DN) Former Defence Secretary Gotabahya Rajapaksa has stated that he never approved the dismantling of the Kankesanturai (KKS) Cement Factory and cement company and sale of its machinery and equipment as scrap iron. He had also not seen any document granting approval for it signed by him either. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had stated this in an affidavit submitted to the PRECIFAC. more..

July 17 (Island) The UK headquartered Global Tamil Forum (GTF) has for the first time organized a medical relief operation in the south with the participation of Sarvodaya. GTF spokesman Suren Surendiran said that they had been really encouraged by the southerners response to their initiative. Under their auspices, 17 doctors from eight countries had joined local counterparts to conduct medical camps more..

July 17 (CT) The Trial-at-Bar hearing of the brutal murder of school girl Vithya Sivaloganathan in Punkuduthivu, Jaffna has led to the arrest of Senior DIG, Lalith Jayasinghe who was serving in Jaffna when the terrifying incident took place in May 2015. Police sleuths have found the Senior DIG's alleged involvement in paving the way for the prime suspect Mahalingam Sasikumar alias Swiss Kumar to leave Jaffna soon after he was placed under Police custody in connection with murder of Vithya. more..

July 17 (NR) Australia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop is scheduled to arrive in the island tomorrow. Australia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Julie Bishop will be in the island from tomorrow till the 20th of July. Bishop will meet President Maithripala Sirisena, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ravi Karunanayake and other Ministers to discuss security cooperation and explore new economic opportunities in science, resources and energy. more..

July 17 (EN) Sri Lanka's Laugfs Gas said it will will set up a cylinder manufacturing plant, and expand distribution and storage in Bangladesh. "As an energy conglomerate with a strong footprint within the region, we plan to invest significantly in Bangladesh over the next three years for capacity enhancement, expanding storage volume, setting up a cylinder manufacturing plant and expanding our distribution centres,” Laugfs Gas chief W K H Wagapitiya has said. more..

July 17 (AD) An agreement has been signed, handing over the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital to the govt under the patronage of the President, Sirisena today. Minister Rajitha Senaratne, stated that the hospital had all necessary facilities a teaching hospital should contain, including the latest pieces of medical technology.  Senaratne added that the hospital will provide a quality health service free of charge, which will be monitored by a group of board members. more..

July 17 (EN) World Bank Group is considering lending Sri Lanka $100 million to expand higher education including increasing enrollment in priority areas for economic development like science, engineering and mathematics, and promoting innovation. Loans will be from International Development Association (IDA), and International Bank for Reconstruction & Development (IBRD) of the World Bank more..

July 17 (FT) Several readers of the last week’s article in this series on the SAITM impasse had raised two issues with this writer.  One is how monopolies and oligopolies, grouping themselves into two warring factions bent on safeguarding their own interests, could be controlled in a democracy without compromising the democratic rights of the people. The other is, though it is obvious that those who receive publicly funded education are debtors of the community, more..

July 17 (DM) Allegations against ex-navy spokesman D.K.P. Dassanayake are baseless, PHU General Secretary, Udaya Gammanpila said. He said that Commodore Dassanayake was not involved in the abduction and disappearance of 11 youth and the statements made by Police Media Spokesman with regard to the allegations were false and baseless. "I challenge the police media spokesman to an open debate so that I could prove who should be arrested over the allegations more..

July 17 (CI) Graeme Cremer stuck himself into SL's flesh on the fourth day, first making a stubborn 48 from No. 9, then claiming two wickets in the third session, as Zimbabwe dismissed three SL batsmen in their defense of 388. Thanks to Cremer, Zimbabwe's dreams of a historic win against SL are alive, but even if they are chasing a target that has never successfully been pursued in SL, hosts are not quite out of the game yet. more..

July 17 (DM) Dismissing claims that visas were not being issued to foreigners arriving from some countries, Immigration and Emigration Chief Nihal Ranasinghe said today that all foreigners would be issued visas without any special test or delay irrespective of their country of origin. It was reported that visas for citizens of some countries including Syria, Nigeria and Pakistan were only being issued after a special test. Mr. Ranasinghe said according to the current procedure, more..

July 17 (Island) Members of the yahapalana govt will be reborn as animals in the Dehiwala Zoo because they are having their rivals kept behind bars unfairly, says Joint Opposition (JO) firebrand and UPFA MP Rohitha Abeygunaratne. Abeygunaratne said former Navy Spokesman Commodore D. K. P. Dassanayake’s wife and daughter had pleaded with the JO to intervene to secure the release of the senior naval officer who had fought for the country risking his life. more..

July 17 (DM) PM stressed the need to continue the national govt with the participation of the UNP and the SLFP despite the difficulties. He said this at the foundation-stone-laying-ceremony for the Viyathpura Green Professional City in Pannipitiya last morning. “Development projects such as this are not being implemented to get political advantage for the UNP or SLFP. It is a difficult task for two political parties to work together. more..

July 17 (MW) As the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe govt is short of a few months to roll on to its third year in office, Sri Lanka’s declining economy and unresolved political issues have served to erode much of the sheen that was generated in January 2015 with former President Rajapaksa’s surprise defeat and the ushering in of a new-look and promising govt. However, in this gathering gloom came a sudden and welcome whiff of fresh air with President Sirisena affirming in the clearest more..

July 17 (NR) Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan is due to arrive in Sri Lanka today for a 5 day official visit. He is expected to call on President, PM and Leader of the Opposition during his visit. He will also meet his counterpart Minister Ravi Karunanayake tomorrow for bilateral talks. He will have meetings with several other Ministers including Champika Ranawaka, Mangala Samaraweera, Malik Samarawickrama and Sagala Ratnayaka. more..

July 17 (DM) GMOA said the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital (NFTH) was acquired by the govt on a lease agreement. GMOA Secretary Haritha Aluthge told a news conference the GMOA would consider the acquisition as one carried out without any transparency. He said Dr. Fernando or Minister Rajitha Senaratne should brief the country about terms and conditions involved in the transaction. He said even though NFTH was acquired by more..

July 17 (EN) Sri Lanka is fully committed to eradicating financial crimes, and is in the process of fixing gaps identified in its anti-money laundering and terrorist financing framework, Minister Mangala Samaraweera said. Cabinet had approved a national policy overseen by the cabinet and from President Sirisena downward to dedicated bureaucrats there was strong commitment to eradicate financial crimes, he told a meeting of Asia Pacific Group on money laundering in Colombo on Monday. more..

July 17 (CT) In an interesting turn of events, a group of parents, of students studying at the SAITM, met the Medical Faculty Parents' Union (MFPU) yesterday and discussed issues concerning the medical facility. Ceylon Today learns that the meeting was fruitful and the discussions focused on the future of medical students as well as those who study at SAITM. "The discussions went well. We are hoping to meet again in another week," a parent who participated at the meeting said. more..

July 17 (NR) The govt says the jobs of employees of the Neville Fernando Hospital will not be jeopardized by the govt taking over the hospital. Addressing the takeover event Minister Rajitha Senarathne said private medical universities are vital in the quest to provide the public an efficient healthcare service. Minister said the country needs more private medical universities in this country if it is are to provide an efficient more..

July 17 (CT) At least 21 temples, some with great historic value, in Bandarawela, Ella and Welimada have been damaged owing to the construction of the controversial Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon, Executive Director of CaFFE said. "However, neither the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Department of Buddhist Affairs, nor the Department of Archeology has paid any attention to protect them," he said. Tennakoon added that among the temples more..

July 17 (AD) Environmentalist Nayanaka Ranwela stated that if the waste generated by the people was left to be managed by the people as well, then a govt is not required. He further added that the govt does not fully understand the extent of the problem. He went onto say that the government is having trouble separating and disposing the waste, while the environmentally friendly waste containment plan proposed by Champika Ranawaka in fact is not environmentally friendly. more..

July 17 (AD) Leader of the PHU, MP Udaya Gammanpila says that in the face of the country’s prevalent issues, the Govt’s priority must not be to solve Neville Fernando’s personal problems. He then proceeded to urge the govt to abandon their mission to solve random people’s personal problems, and instead focus their attention on prevailing issues such as dengue, waste management, cost of living, and tax burdens, more..

July 17 (Island) Some MPs have stooped so low that people detest them as a bunch of crooks living off the public without rendering any service, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya says. "We know there are some MPs’ children who hesitate to mention in public that their parents are MPs," Speaker said, addressing the opening ceremony of a capacity development programme for journalists covering parliament. He said some MPs’ failure to maintain decorum had tarnished the image of all lawmakers. more..

July 17 (CT) A group of intellectuals affiliated to the Joint Opposition (JO) has issued an ultimatum demanding that participants in the Constitutional Reform Committees immediately leave their positions. But if the JO still wants to remain in the Constitutional Reform Council, there is no difference between them and the Govt; National University Teachers' Association (NUTA) General Secretary Dr. Channa Jayasumana lashed out. Jayasumana stressed the JO, in being a part of more..

July 17 (PSL) President Sirisena says the Govt is committed to strengthen the national economy by ensuring purity and transparency of financial management. President made these remarks addressing the inauguration ceremony of the 20th Annual Meeting of the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering, commenced in Colombo, today. 2017 APG annual meeting and technical assistance and training forum more..

July 18 (CT) Although belatedly, let me extend my sincere appreciation of your appointment as the Governor of the Northern Province, as I have known you for a long period, since your undergraduate days. It is also because of my confidence in you, that I make this appeal for your intervention on this matter. As the Colombo Telegraph has revealed yesterday (16), police summons has been issued to a Tamil Journalist based in Jaffna in Sinhala on the 12th July by the Achchuveli police. more..

July 18 (CT) The visit of UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism Ben Emmerson to Sri Lanka and his public comments indicate a visible toughening of the stance of the international community with regard to delivering on its promises on the reconciliation process to the UNHRC. He said Sri Lanka could face a range of measures, including a referral to the UN Security Council, if it fails to meet commitments it made under the UNHRC resolution of 2015. more..

July 18 (SO) A team of researchers from the Centre has successfully tested a drug that can be used on dengue patients. If the rest of the clinical trials prove to be as promising as the first clinical trial conducted recently at Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Angoda, team says, the drug can be effectively used before long to control the spread of this deadly vector borne disease. SL has recorded 90,865 dengue patients so far more..

July 18 (ST) There is widespread disappointment with the country’s economic performance. Economic growth declined since 2015 and grew by only 3.8% in the first quarter of this year. The economy is expected to perform better in the second half of the year, if export growth gains momentum to stimulate the economy. In contrast to growth of 5.3% in the first quarter of 2016, the economy grew by only 3.8% in the first quarter of this year. While Industry grew by 6.3% and services grew by 3.5%, more..

July 18 (NS) Along with constitutional and social reforms promised by the national unity govt are all important economic reforms. They are necessary for the country to face the future successfully in the context of current global and regional developments. One important aspect of economic reforms is the need for converting the loss-making state-owned enterprises (SOEs) into either profitable or some sort of manageable institutions reducing the colossal burden on the state coffers. more..