June 15 (CI) They were swatted away by South Africa, and let slip a winning position against Pakistan, but Sri Lanka still gained more from the Champions Trophy than some other teams would have. That, in any case, is the conclusion head coach Graham Ford drew from a campaign in which Sri Lanka glittered in patches, though not quite for long enough to earn a place in the semi-finals. This optimism largely stems, of course, more..

June 15 (FT) Supreme Court fixed the fundamental rights petition filed by former Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara against leasing land to China in Hambantota for 30 June. The bench comprised Justices Eva Wanasundera, B.P. Aluvihara and Sisira J. De Abrew. Attorney General had on 29 May moved for time to obtain instructions from the new Minister of Ports and Shipping Mahinda Samarasinghe. The fundamental rights petition was filed by MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara more..

June 15 (Island) Sri Lanka is now enjoying visibility on the international investor radar as it is partnering with China on its One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative while also joining forces with India for economic collaboration, Steven Mayes, Managing Director- Jones Lang LaSalle Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. said. Mayes pointed out that this development would enable Sri Lanka's real estate and construction sectors to become major beneficiaries of the move towards achieving higher growth. more..

June 15 (FT) Sri Lanka has the capacity to punch above its economic weight, observed State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramaratne yesterday, pointing out the country was already well integrated with regional giants China and India, but acknowledged reforming its bureaucracy to foster investment would be an uphill battle. Delivering the keynote address at the forum titled Growing with Giants, he noted more..

June 15 (CT) Kalinga Kumarage sealed the first Gold medal for Sri Lanka at the Thailand Open Athletics Championship continued at Bangkok, yesterday. 400m runner Kumarage clocked a modest 47.55 seconds to easily seal the Gold medal. SL has now secured a gold and two silver medals at the championship. Kumarage who trains under renowned coaches Sunil and Badra Gunawardana, clocked a personal best 46.57 s two years ago, and clocked two sub 47 seconds more..

June 15 (DN) National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Sri Lanka in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee will launch the first ever debating competition under the Olympic Values Education Programme among 20 selected schools from Kandy and Colombo, commencing from August 1. The contest aims to educate and inculcate Olympic values in younger generation. The pilot project for Colombo and Kandy schools will featuring 20 teams debating on topics related to more..

June 15 (UN) Following last month's severe flooding and landslides in SL that impacted some 630,000 people, the UN and humanitarian partners launched an urgent appeal for more resources to reach those in the worst-hit parts of the country with urgent assistance. On 25 and 26 May, heavy rains triggered floods and landslides in 15 out of the island nation's 25 districts, sweeping away homes, clinics, schools, roads and water systems. more..

June 15 (DM) Relevant authorities should take stringent and immediate measures to remove waste material gathered in Colombo within four days, and for this purpose, they may seek the assistance of the tri-forces if necessary, Minister Ravi Karunanayake said today. He made this statement while addressing a ceremony held to lay the foundation stone for a new building at Kanapathi Hindu College in Kotahena. He said the tug-o-war between the Colombo Chief Minister and more..

June 15 (Island) Angelo Mathews urged media not to single out players when placing the blame for Sri Lanka team’s early exit from the Champions Trophy tournament and insisted that the whole team was responsible for the failures during the campaign in England. Sri Lankan skipper said this at a press conference held at SLC on the team’s return from England following their three-wicket defeat to Pakistan in Cardiff where fielding mishaps were largely blamed for the failure. more..

June 15 (DN) Almost two years ago in Sept 2015, Jerome Jayaratne who was then interim head coach branded the Sri Lanka team as the worst fielding side in Asia. At the time Jayaratane said, “We are now the worst fielding side in Asia, we were never behind Pakistan but now we have gone behind them. India proved that they were better than us and even Bangladesh are fielding better than us." A lot of water has passed under the bridge more..

June 15 (CT) Susanthika Jayasinghe has collected her monthly salary on Tuesday from Ministry of Sports where she acts as an advisor, which she said was withheld from April this year, Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera said. She came and collected two months' salary, he said. Minister also stated he had not met Jayasinghe and is not aware whether she had handed over reports on her monthly activities as an advisor to Ministry of Sports, which she needs to do as per her agreement with the ministry. more..

June 15 (Island) Former President Rajapaksa found fault with the govt for keeping silent over the issue of plastic rice while consumers, traders, scholars and business community were making various statements. "The govt should not forget the fact that rice is the staple food of this country and should clarify its position on plastic rice issue without leaving the general public in doubt," Rajapaksa said. "A video has gone viral on the Internet claiming that a state institution is responsible for the sale more..

June 15 (FT) SL migrant workers in Saudi Arabia who do not posses valid visas have been advised to leave the country before the declared deadline of the amnesty period, Foreign Ministry said. The general amnesty that was granted to illegal migrant workers in Saudi Arabia will reach its ultimatum on 25 June 2017. Saudi Govt has announced that any illegal migrant workers who remains in the country after declared period more..

June 15 (FT) The management of SriLankan Airlines in a statement said that since the present Govt was formed, airline’s losses have been dramatically reduced. Contrary to inaccurate reports in the press, the management of SriLankan Airlines would like to point out that since the Unity Govt was formed, the airline’s losses have been dramatically reduced. Table below clearly shows this: Rs. 91.8 billion in losses between 2011 and 2015 reduced to a fraction of this colossal number by 2017.  more..

June 15 (CT) The govt has decided to question Deputy Minister of Tourism and Christian Affairs Arundika Fernando regarding a recent meeting learnt to have been held in Japan between former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Sri Lankan envoy to Russia Udayanga Weerathunga. Cabinet Spokesman Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne stated that this decision had been taken following a lengthy discussion at the Cabinet meeting held on 13 June. more..

June 15 (CT) There has not been a single attack on properties belonging to Muslims after Police arrested one of the leaders behind the attacks, in Nugegoda, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said yesterday. "When some shops in the area were attacked, I called the IGP and asked him to take action. The IGP said that there was CCTV footage and that he will send the footage to Moratuwa University to identify those who had carried out the attack. more..

June 15 (CT) Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court yesterday ordered the Borella Police to file an amended plaint against State Minister of Labour and Trade Union Relations, Ravindra Samaraweera, and one of his Secretaries, for allegedly using a vehicle with forged licence plates and an altered chassis number. Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake instructed Police to submit the plaint on 19 July and also ordered the State Minister and his Secretary M.G. Palitha to appear in Court on that date. more..

June 15 (DN) A No Confidence Motion against Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran was handed over to Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray last night with the signatures of 21 Provincial Council members, a Northern Provincial Council (NPC) member said under anonimity. Meanwhile, NPC Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran yesterday called for the resignation of two Provincial Ministers at the Council meeting over corruption and fraud allegations. more..

June 15 (DN) No audit has been conducted on Rs.4.7 trillion govt debts raised from year 2008 to 2015, the Presidential Commission probing the Treasury Bond issue was told yesterday. The said Rs. 4.7 trillion debts have been raised through direct placements issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, it was revealed as well. It was also observed that this Rs. 4.7 trillion worth transactions have taken place between 15-20 Primary Dealers more..

June 15 (DM) The spectacular victory of France’s new President Emanuel Macron’s Centrist Party in last Sunday’s first round of the general election and the humiliating set-back suffered by Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May and the Conservative Party in the June 8 general elections there, have important lessons for Sri Lanka and the world.  Extremist Right Wing populism, racist or religious, had raised its ugly head with the emergence of billionaire Donald Trump and his shocking victory more..

June 15 (DM) Tilak Dissanayake and Hilmy Sally who describe themselves as design engineers and concerned citizens have proposed a concept which they call No politician democracy (NPD) (Daily FT, June 14). It is a blueprint (in the making) of a new Sri Lanka which will be, in their words, unitary, secular and sustainable, and will have a thriving, inclusive economy affording opportunities for all its people regardless of gender, race, age, religion, caste or sexual orientation. more..

June 15 (DM) The revitalization of loss-making state institutions was a main slogan advocated by the new govt after assuming duties. In fact, it sought a mandate from people to act on this. Key among them is the plan worked out to restructure Sri Lankan Airlines which is the national flag carrier of the country in partnership with a private investor.  Govt, in fact, appointed a committee soon after it took office in 2015 to study financial position more..

June 15 (Roar) Over the last week, mobile phone owners in Sri Lanka have been sent into a tizzy by a slew of phone calls from locations outside of the country. Typically, the call would last just long enough for one ring and then cut off, leaving the recipient in an agony of curiosity, unless you are one of those people who never pick up calls anyway. Isolated incidents would have largely passed unnoticed, but over a period of more..

June 15 (SL) On prior occasions as we reported to you, the main reason that corruption at the prisons is not resolved is mainly due to the involvement of the officials. The Sunday Leader has received information with regard to corruption within the prisons and the prisons ministry’s involvement in corruption and malpractices that takes place within these institutions. The Sunday Leader has reported on many of these incidents. more..

June 15 (DM) Former national cricketer Sidath Wettimuny sent the following statement in response to the DM's interview with SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala titled Only wanted stability at ICC - Sumathipala published on June 2 on page A11, in so far as matters related to a direct reference to Mr. Wettimuny. The statement herein below is to ensure our duty as a responsible publication and is done so in the interest of our readers. more..

June 15 (ST) Residents of the capital city ranging from households to temples are demanding that the Colombo Municipal Council clear the mountains of garbage rapidly piling up on their streets and their doorsteps. People say the council officials are not even responding to calls. Since the 10-storey high Meethotamulla garbage mountain created by the CMC collapsed killing 32 and burying homes in early April, garbage collection more..

June 15 (Island) A group of residents, living close to the Muthurajawela Sanctuary, have complained to the Supreme Court in a fundamental rights violation petition against the dumping of Colombo garbage by the Colombo Municipal Council there. The petitioners have said that the dumping of garbage, filling the paddy fields and moving of the soil pollute the water channels that run through Muthurajawela Sanctuary. more..

June 15 (EN) Poorly designed regulations in Sri Lanka that allow companies effective monopolies in seed imports are hurting farmers and producers, according to a new study of difficulties faced by Sri Lankan agriculture exporters. “The guidelines issued severely undermine competition in the seed market,” said the study on Sri Lanka's Domestic Barriers to Trade: Case Studies of Agricultural Exports by Verité Research. more..

June 15 (Island) Govt’s failure to hold LG elections was the reason behind the increasing number of dengue patients countrywide, heaps of garbage being piled up on the city roads and slow disaster relief process in recent tragedies, JO MP Dinesh Gunawardene said. He said govt was intentionally delaying LG polls over two years by violating people’s right to vote and now their right to life had also been threatened due to dengue more..

June 15 (DN) Minister Rajitha Senaratne revealed that 1250 employees had been recruited to Sri Lankan Airlines during the past two and a half years without the knowledge of the Minister in charge. Issues within the national carrier have further exacerbated in recent times with the airline continuing to face losses accumulating to Rs 22 billion. Cabinet which discussed the dismal failure of the airline had the President deciding to more..

June 15 (AD) The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today issued an arrest warrant against the BBS Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thero, for failing to appear before the court. The arrest warrant was issued after he failed to appear before the court with regard to the case filed against him and seven others on 8 charges including forcefully entering and sabotaging a press conference held at a hotel in Slave Island (April 9, 2014), criminal force more..

June 15 (CT) Northern Provincial Council has made itself prominent once again with the Chief Minister, C.V. Wigneswaran, taking a strict stance against corruption within the institution itself. With opposition from his own party – ITAK – Wigneswaran's decision to take corruption at its root and accuse several members of the Council itself of corruption with the Minister's special committee appointed to inquire into the alleged corruption in the Provincial Council's activities is noteworthy. more..

June 15 (FT) This Govt has taken several important steps towards the new constitution. As the first step of the process the Govt established the Public Representations Committee on Constitutional Reform headed by Lal Wijenayake. After conducting number of sessions of public consultations the Committee issued the report in May 2016. Thereafter the Parliament met as a constitutional assembly with the powers of Parliamentary Select Committee to draft the new constitution. more..

June 15 (CT) Veteran diplomat, academic, author and columnist Mr. N.M.M. Izeth Hussain has passed away today (13). Born in 1927 and educated at St Joseph’s College, Colombo, and University of Ceylon between 1946 to 1950. Graduated with a BA (English Honours) in 1950. He held the post of Assistant Controller of Immigration and Emigration from 1951 to 1953. He was a member of the Foreign Service from 1953 to 1988. Served in diplomatic missions in the UK, Pakistan, France, Egypt, more..

June 15 (DM) President Maithripala Sirisena was of the view that those persons who had failed in their efforts to challenge his leadership since his nomination as the common candidate for the Presidency have now resorted to black magic and the country knows who the culprits are. The President made these comments at an event to celebrate the 38th anniversary of the ITN (Independent Television Network), where he also declared open a new five-storyed building more..

June 15 (Island) Colombo District UNP MP Mujibur Rahuman has alleged that about one per cent each of Sinhala and Tamil speaking extremists were trying to undermine post-war national reconciliation process. MP Rahuman said the country couldn’t afford to allow extremists to succeed under any circumstances. Emphasizing that they wouldn’t get another chance to resolve the national issue through constitutional means, more..

June 15 (AD) A prevailing tense situation has arisen after a accident in Nanu Oya had claimed the life of a school girl, earlier today (15).  The school girl had passed away after being hit by a tipper truck travelling from Nuwara Eliya to Hatton, while she was crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing. Angered by the incident, a large number of residents in the area had proceeded to set fire to the tipper truck while the driver of the truck has been arrested by the Police.  more..

June 15 (AD) The Supreme Court has postponed the hearing of the fundamental rights petition submitted by the former Secretary of Defense, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. The fundamental rights petition was submitted by the former Defense Minister seeking an interim order preventing his arrest. When the petition was called in before the Court today (15), the panel of judges led by Chief Justice Priyasad Dep postponed the hearing till October 24. more..

June 15 (DN) A writ petition filed by a public interests litigation activist seeking a Mandamus Order directing the Bribery Commission to initiate a credible and independent investigation into the abuse of the Tax-free permit scheme by 85 of Govt and Opposition MPs was today dismissed by Supreme Court on the ground that there is no basis to proceed with the petition. The petition had been filed by Attorney-at-law Nagananda more..