July 19 (Island) Parliament of SL has come to such a pass that its members’ progeny are ashamed of identifying themselves as children of MPs. Some of the conceited MPs jealously guarding their privileges may want to charge at us for saying this. Let them be asked to hold their horses! We have only repeated what Speaker Karu Jayasuriya told a group of journalists at a workshop the other day. The worst that could happen to any parent is for his or her children to be ashamed of him or her. more..

July 19 (CI) With Zimbabwe caving come so close to winning their first Test against SL, and fallen short, there was disappointment for captain Graeme Cremer. Disappointment about missing a vital stumping chance and two catches on day five. Disappointment that a third-umpire's decision Zimbabwe felt was straightforward, went against them. And even some disappointment that their next int'l assignment is as far away as Oct, more..

July 19 (Island) Head of the SAITM Dr Neville Fernando yesterday reassured all concerned parties that the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital had been donated to the govt free of cost. Dr. Fernando said that however that since he had obtained a Rs. 3.5 Billion loan from the Bank of Ceylon (BOC) and had only paid a little over one billion rupees of it, Bank had suggested that he use the term lease in order to ensure that he met the terms of the loan and paid all his dues. more..

July 19 (ST) The Central Bank (CB) after critically evaluating six finance companies that are in the dumps are likely to liquidate them after paying off depositors, a CB official said. “We’re trying to resolve this and many discussions on this have been going on for a while now. It’s taking a toll on all concerned parties – the depositors, the CB, etc. So we will be (soon) taking a decision on these firms,” he said. According to the official, six firms have been facing tough liquidity issues. more..

July 19 (CT) On the Full Moon Poya Day in July (8), we saw a protest which was different from the usual protests in Sri Lanka. It was held in Henanigala, Maduru Oya. The vast majority of the protesters were elderly and middle-aged men. A few young men and women were also seen. All the males were bare-bodied and had long hair and beards. They looked quite poor. Their faces did not express the usual wrath of angry mobs. more..

July 19 (FT) Court of Appeals on Monday granted another date for five police officers who had been arrested in connection with the shooting of two Jaffna University students to file a counter objection on 3 August in regard to their appeal. The accused police officers are seeking the court to transfer their case out of Northern and Eastern provinces. They are also seeking the court to issue an interim order restraining the continuation of their case in the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court until more..

July 19 (EN) Sri Lankan logistics professionals are pushing for a more scientific approach to transport planning, the lack of which has led to worsening traffic jams that are acting as a drag on economic growth. “For Sri Lanka to harness its potential as a logistics hub, we have to have indigenous processes that suit our situation, developed and managed locally,” said Amal Kumarage, senior professor in the Department of Transport and Logistics Management at the University of Moratuwa. more..

July 19 (TG) For two weeks they sheltered the world’s most wanted man, ferrying Edward Snowden between tiny apartments in Hong Kong’s poorest neighborhood. Now the four refugees are at the centre of a court battle in Canada, as lawyers frantically work to bring them and their children to the country amid concerns that they face grave reprisals over their actions. “It seems like the families’ connection to more..

July 19 (FT) In the wake of losses and damages caused by the recent flood and landslides in May, Peace Winds Japan and Plan International Japan, with the financial support from Japan Platform, implemented two short-term disaster relief projects to support the affected communities in Kalutara and Ratnapura Districts.  As the first part of the projects, emergency relief items were distributed to the flood affected communities on 13 July with the participation of the Embassy of Japan, more..

July 19 (CT) On 9 July 2017, an unarmed civilian was killed when Police opened fire at a lorry that was allegedly transporting sand illegally mined. The incident took place at Manalkadu, Point Pedro. The victim was later identified as Yogarasa Dinesh who was only 25 at the time of his death. The incident shocked the residents of the area and sparked widespread protests and condemnation. Angry mobs surrounded the Point Pedro Police Station and pelted stones at it. more..

July 19 (ST) Given that planters, estate staff and workers are synonymous with the tea industry, having played a significant role in ensuring the tea industry survived for 150 years in Ceylon/SL, above is an event eagerly looked forward to by planters, staff on estates and workers who were the architects in ensuring tea plantations thrived or, more appropriately in context of SL’s industry, survived. more..

July 19 (CT) UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera claimed that several Joint Opposition (JO) MPs were sending out feelers to the Party seeking to ditch the Rajapaksa-led JO and cross over to President Sirisena's camp in the SLFP. "Many in the Joint Opposition are fed up with protesting and carrying out demonstrations. They have indicated that they want to join us," Amaraweera added. He made this observation while addressing a meeting of SLFP organizers more..

July 19 (DN) To cater to the growing industry manpower requirements in the tourism industry, Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) plans to commence a new facility in Jaffna by end 2017, SLITHM Chairman Sunil Dissanayake said. This is in addition to its existing campuses in Colombo, Anuradhapura, Kandy, Bandarawela, Ratnapura, Koggala and Kurunegala. SLITHM has already opened facilities in Hambantota, Passikudah, Negombo and Polonnaruwa. more..

July 19 (Island) Magistrate R.K. Dissnayaka yesterday testified as the first witness at the contempt of court proceedings against the Venerable Galabodaatte Gnanasara Thera. He was the Homagama Magistrate on Jan. 25, 2016, when the Thera committed the alleged offence. At present, he serves as the Colombo Additional Magistrate. Senior Deputy Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya led the evidence. more..

July 19 (Yahoo) The final day of Sri Lanka's Test against Zimbabwe has been marred by a highly controversial stumping decision. Sri Lanka denied Zimbabwe their first series away win in 16 years by chasing down a record 388 to win the one-off Test by four wickets in Colombo. But after the match Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer bemoaned a third umpire decision to reprieve Niroshan Dickwella, a decision that aided Sri Lanka's record chase. The decision was tough, said Cremer, more..

July 19 (FT) Three sensitisation workshops to advocate reconciliation-friendly media were organised in Colombo, Kandy and Kurunegala Districts for journalists by Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation. Over 150 journalists discussed the role of media in conflict transformation, reconciliation, and peace building. The Ministry under the direction of President has developed a Reconciliation Action Plan in which reconciliation-friendly media more..

July 19 (JDS) Police in Sri Lanka has visited a Tamil media office in Colombo twice within four days in a threatening manner which indicates renewed efforts by state intelligence to suppress journalists who expose ongoing violations. On the 13th of July two police officers in uniform claiming to be from the community division of Wellawatte police station visited the IBC TAMIL TV office in Wellawatte requesting personal details of its staff. more..

July 19 (FT) National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol has taken measures to strictly impose the banning of tobacco products in Sri Lanka in accordance with the Tobacco and Alcohol Act No. 27 of 2006 prohibiting non-smoking tobacco products. According to this regulation, no person shall manufacture, import, sell or offer for sale smokeless tobacco products, as well as any electronic cigarettes or any flavoured, coloured or sweetened cigarettes that contain tobacco. more..

July 19 (EN) Sri Lanka’s rapid development has attracted growing interest among Singaporean companies, visiting Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said. The two countries aim to conclude a Free Trade Agreement between them before the end of the year, he told a news conference after talks with Minister Ravi Karunanayake Tuesday. Balakrishnan is on an official visit to Sri Lanka from 17th -21st July and called on President Sirisena. more..

July 19 (Island) Leader o Attorney General’s Department team of lawyers, Senior Additional Solicitor General Dappula de Livera PC locked horns with Counsel Chanaka de Silva, who is leading the team of lawyers appearing for former CB Governor Arjuna Mahendran. Tempers flared up while Counsel de Silva was questioning Deputy Secretary to the Treasury S.R. Attygalle on the content of an undated letter written by more..

July 19 (Hindu) Sri Lanka police on Monday detained and questioned an Indian tourist who was wearing a dress with a print of the Buddha on it. Wearing the image of the Buddha remains a sensitive matter in the island where a majority practise Buddhism. In 2014, a British tourist was deported for sporting a tattoo of the Buddha on her arm. The 26-year-old tourist was on the island on a family holiday at a resort near Bentota, along the southern coast of Sri Lanka. more..

July 19 (ITN) PM Ranil Wickremasinghe has pointed out that attention should be directed to carrying forward the economy in the face of the climatic changes. PM made this reference joining in a programme for the distribution of water bowsers and tractors among areas plagued by the drought. PM said that this drought is not limited to SL. It is being experienced in India, Banglaldesh and several other countries. A severe drought is being experienced in certain parts of India than in Sri Lanka. more..

July 19 (Island) Commodore D.K.P. Dassanayake, remanded in connection with wartime disappearance of 11 persons, neither functioned as Director Naval Operations (DNO) nor supervised special teams, commanded by two Lt. Commanders, R.P.S Ranasinghe (since then promoted Commander) & H.M.P.C.K Hettiarachchi allegedly responsible for the disappearances during the previous administration, more..

July 19 (DM) As Indo-China border stand-off in Sikkim sector is dragged on for another week it’s worth recalling perhaps the only connection SL ever had with Sikkim, once an autonomous Buddhist land. It is this small beautiful land that gave birth to Pempa Tendupi Serky Cherin who was ordained in then Ceylon as Ven. Sikkim Mahinda or Ven. S. Mahinda and became a towering figure in the freedom struggle of his adopted land.   When Ven. S. Mahinda Thera was living in Ceylon, more..

July 19 (DM) If you say one thing and do quite another, that’s deceit. If you stick one label on something but sell quite another, then that’s fraud - a criminal act. Going by what TNA’s MP M.A. Sumanthiran has said on the record, that’s exactly what the new Constitution is intended to do. The TNA MP says that the content of the Constitutional changes will be federal but the label will not say that. TV news showed Sumanthiran speaking in Jaffna, confirming that the Interim Report of more..

July 19 (SL) the initial shock at the response of a high ranking minister to comments made by a citizen on a recent talk show, soon shifted to the realisation of its seriousness. During the show Lakshan Dias presented some data on violence against some Christians and their places of worship. He named the source that had documented these incidents; many of which were on record at police stations where complaints had been made. more..

July 19 (DM) In the backdrop of a crisis at the Northern Provincial Council (NPC), its Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran, during an interview with the Daily Mirror, spoke about the current status of politics and the way forward. The crisis emerged after a team of members belonging to his own party placed a no confidence motion against him. Later, it was withdrawn following consultations with everyone concerned. more..

July 19 (EN) The govt is planning another round of liberalization in the next budget, making doing business easier but companies need to share a bigger part of the gains with workers, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said. Companies will be made more competitive with the proposed free trade agreements Sri Lanka plans to sign with big markets like China, Japan and India, apart from GSP+ deal giving duty free access to EU. more..

July 19 (ST) With Sri Lanka’s first heart transplant being successfully performed to international standards at the Kandy Teaching Hospital on July 7, sights are now being set to initiate lung transplants. The heart-recipient, Pushpa Kumari, 37, from Dolahela in Anuradhapura is doing fine, having been weaned off the ventilator this week, while four more critically-ill patients with end-stage heart failure await donor hearts. more..

July 19 (DM) The Leader of EPDP MP Douglas Devananda, speaks about the current status of politics in the north and the country as a whole. Q: In the wake of political crisis in the NPC, what will be the future of politics there? A: Tamil people of this beautiful country always visualised Mother Lanka as a mother with two eyes, namely Tamil & Sinhala languages and with four limbs namely Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam & Christianity. more..

July 19 (DN) Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said that had the SLFP not assisted the UNP to form unity govt, minor parties including the TNA, which would have assisted to form this Govt, may ask for a lion’s share. He said the unity govt obstructed the bargaining power of the minority parties. “There is political stability in the country owing to forming this unity govt. The political stability helps attract foreign investments,” he added. more..

July 19 (AD) Leader of the TNA, R. Sampanthan states that the continuation of the coalition govt is crucial to conduct a successful Constitution-making process. He stated this upon meeting with the visiting Singaporean Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in Colombo. TNA leader had apprised the Singaporean Foreign Minister of the current political situation related to the Constitution-making process during the meeting. more..

July 19 (DM) While expressing the need for maintaining some control over foreign travel by ministers and ministry officials, President Maithripala Sirisena said some those who leave the country to attend conferences overseas fail to return even after the conferences were concluded. He urged ministry secretaries to control this situation and implement a programme to train all officers, instead of the same officer travelling overseas annually. more..

July 19 (Island) Former Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris asked whether it was fair to blame ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa for all the monumental blunders of the present govt. Prof. Peiris said "Robert Blake blames MR and branded him a "spoiler" with regard to the reconciliation process. This is entirely unjustified. The reason for lack of progress is the total absence of any strategy, any sense of purpose or commitment. more..

July 19 (DN) The five MPs of NFF informed the Speaker that they will be leaving the Constitutional Assembly, today. Five NFF MPs who were elected to  parliament after contesting under the UPFA  handed over their letter to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya.  MPs who will be leaving are Wimal Weearawansa, Weerakumara Dissanayake, Jayantha Samaraweera, Udayashantha Gunasekara and Niroshan Premaratne. more..

July 19 (CT) Sri Lanka is under the scrutiny of the world community as to how it's handling alleged corruption issues during the Rajapaksa regime. This adds on to the current human rights abuse which also allegedly existed during that regime and which the world community in the form of the Geneva based Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is investigating in conjunction with Colombo. Nonetheless, to a question asked by this newspaper from the Paris based more..

July 19 (DN) Three individuals were killed and another sustained injuries after being hit by trains in two locations yesterday. A twenty-two-year-old man died after being hit by the Kandy-Colombo train in Kelaniya. The deceased, Duminda Priyankara was a resident in Kalvanna. Post-mortem examinations will be conducted today. Peliyagoda Police is investigating. The other two individuals were killed and another individual sustained injuries after being hit by the Colombo Fort–Kalutara train more..

July 19 (FT) Trade in Sri Lanka – a classic small open economy in the Indian Ocean – is under scrutiny in difficult economic times. The country faces a myriad of issues. A persistent balance of trade deficit is straining scarce foreign exchange reserves.  Exports are concentrated in tea and clothing. Large firms dominate export activities. SL is also confronting an uncertain external economic environment. World trade has slowed since the global financial crisis more..

July 19 (DM) UN Under Secretary General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman arrived in Sri Lanka on a three-day visit today to hold talks with Sri Lankan leaders on the peace building process. Feltman arrived in Sri Lanka, to follow up on his 2015 visit, to take stock of progress in the country and engage national stakeholders on the peace building process. He held discussions with Minister Ravi Karunanayake today after which he is expected to meet with govt officials and more..