May 19 (NR) Minister Wijith Wijayamuni Soysa says private medical institutes should not be a concern, if foreign students can train in local hospitals. The Minister said double standards cannot be maintained. The Minister noted his son is studying at SAITM, adding so is Rohitha Abeygunawardene’s two daughters. He said SAITM should be made a state entity and the matter must be brought to an end. The Minister said these children were admitted by the UGC. more..

May 19 (LBO) Ceylon Cold Stores said it is enhancing capacity with investments of 3.8 billion rupees in a new ice cream factory and 2.5 billion rupees in a new bottling facility for beverages. Chairman of CCS, Susantha Ratnayake said the company will continue to pro-actively cater to changing consumer needs and lifestyles, creating value for customers. Ratnayake said their fully owned subsidiary Jaykay Marketing Services Limited will also continue to rapidly expand its more..

May 19 (NR) Minister of Tourism Development John Amaratunga says he believes it is time for him to retire from active politics. Addressing media following an event, Minister said the present govt will continue to be strong for the next several years. Minister said the govt is changing the constitution adding the seat method will be re-initiated. He noted there will be another MP for the Nattandiya seat. more..

May 19 (NR) Court today issued arrest warrants against the convener of the IUSF Lahiru Weerasekara and 5 others. The warrants were issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate Lal Ranasinghe Bandara. The suspects who were charged with disturbing law and order and holding protests that caused hindrances to the public, were present in court when the case was taken up for hearing today. However the suspects did not take to the stand when their names were read out. more..

May 19 (DM) The 11-year-old girl who was severely injured during the shootout between Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) officers and drug traffickers in Piliyandala on May 9 died at the Colombo National Hospital this morning, Hospital sources said. They said the girl was transferred to the Colombo National Hospital on Wednesday (17) from the Kalubowila hospital. The victim was admitted to the Kalubowila hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with severe injuries to her head. more..

May 19 (CT) Militant monk movements such as the BBS were created by the opposition during the tenure of President Rajapaksa's Presidency and is now being fuelled by the same elements of the former opposition who are now in the govt, said UPFA MP Namal Rajapaksa. He added that it was a premeditated move meant for political agendas. Rajapaksa added that these monks who were active during Mahinda Rajapaksa's more..

May 19 (DN) Colombo Additional Magistrate J. Trotsky permitted the CID to record a statement from former Senior DIG Anura Senanayake for a period of four days in connection with the murder of former rugby player Wasim Thajudeen. Additional Magistrate made this order consequent to a request by the CID that they are expecting to record further statements from former DIG Anura Senanayake who is in remand custody over an investigation pertaining to the murder of Wasim Thajudeen. more..

May 19 (AD) Colombo High Court will be considering Yoshitha Rajapaksa’s request to go overseas on the 23 of May. When former President Rajapaksa’s son Yoshitha Rajapaksa was released on bail after being arrested on charges of money laundering, the High Court of Colombo suspended his overseas travels. However, Yoshitha made a request from the Court through his attorneys today to lift his overseas travel ban to go to Australia for two months seeking medical treatment. more..

May 19 (DN) Muslim Ministers and MPs who met this morning to discuss a common strategy to approach the President and PM on the recent attacks faced by the Muslim community, warn that they choose to sit independently in Parliament if the Leaders do not take action to rein in extremist groups in the country.  According to a post on Minister Abdul Haleem's Facebook profile, Muslim legislators met at his ministry. more..

May 19 (PSL) President Sirisena chaired a progress review meeting of independent commissions which were established under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution today (17). Chairpersons, secretaries and members of Public Service Commission, Elections Commission, National Police Commission, Audit Commission, SL Human Rights Commission, Finance Commission, Delimitation Commission and National Procurement Commotions participated in this discussion. more..

May 19 (CT) Two persons including a woman were killed in a wild elephant attack at a location in Sinharajah on Tuesday bringing the number of persons killed to 13 in recent months, officials said. Tuesday's victims were identified as 40-year-old Sandhya Lakmali a mother of five and. S.K. Ananda. The attack took place in the Rajawatte Cyprus Section of the Dolekanda Division in Kalawana, according to the officials. Sandhya Lakmali was trampled to death while more..

May 19 (PSL) President Sirisena pointed out the need of a continuous procedure to implement intellectual proposals on the future developments in the arts, culture and cinema fields. President instructed to implement that procedure through a Committee which comprised of representatives from the Ministries of Media, Culture and Education. He gave these instructions during a meeting with prominent artistes, held today. more..

May 19 (CI) The city where they were crowned IPL champions last year was the same city which wrecked their hopes this year. Sunrisers Hyderabad arrived in Bangalore late last month and saw a potential win against a struggling host slip away because of rain. Now, in the Eliminator, they were 20 minutes away from having a shot at Qualifier 2 and perhaps even defending their crown as it rained for a better part of three hours immediately after they posted 128, numbers-wise a sub-par score more..

May 19 (DM) Vehicular travel had been limited and police advised motorists to use alternative routes to avoid traffic congestion due to a road cave-in near Kohilawatte junction on the at Ambathale-Thotalanga road, police said. They said a side of the road near Kelani River and close to Kohilawatte cemetery had cave-in at Ambathale old junction on Avissawella road. Police informed the motorists to use the road leading to Colombo via Kotikawatta - Wellampitiya to avoid traffic. more..

May 19 (Roar) At little past eleven a.m. yesterday (18), disaster struck Wellawatta, shattering the peace of an otherwise uneventful morning. The Excellency, a popular banquet hall on the bank of the old Dutch canal on Charlemont Road, came crashing down without warning, leaving only the façade intact. The top three floors of the partially complete seven-storeyed building were still under construction at the time of the collapse. more..

May 19 (LT) Women for Rights emphasized that the government should implement a long term practical programme in which all masses could participate instead of holding pageants on the pretext of eliminating dengue. This was stated at a press conference held by Women for Rights today (17th) morning. The Asst. Secretary of Women for Rights Attorney at Law Shanika Silva, Treasurer Kanthi Hettigoda, Executive Member Prabhashini were present. more..

May 19 (DN) The final moments of when the building in Wellawatte collapsed yesterday has been recorded on CCTV camera.  The footage was recovered from the debris of the site. The footage shows ceilings caving in and doors being thrown out as people scramble to escape as the building collapsed. A seven-storey building on Charlemont Road in Wellawatte yesterday collapsed killing one and injuring 23. Rescue operations are still underway.  more..

May 19 (AD) UPFA MP Dullas Alahapperuma today charged that thousands of disabled war heroes are suffering in the country and that none of the current Cabinet Ministers remembered to even offer an almsgiving on their behalf.  However, they very eagerly gave the opportunity for the people in the North to remember their dead relatives, he said. He also condemned the alleged suppression of university students. more..

May 20 (CT) It has been eight years since Sri Lanka underwent one of the most decisive turns, if not the most decisive and epoch-changing turn, in her post-1948 history. The conclusion of the final military offensive against the LTTE, Colombo’s resounding victory, and the LTTE’s defeat, resulted in a substantive transformation of the national and regional security configurations. This was an outcome previously deemed impossible in practitioner and academic circles. more..

May 20 (CT) The polity of this country, before and after 1948, was governed by two broad movements. The first comprised of the moderates, i.e. those who believed in the status quo as a means of uplifting the nation. The second comprised of extremists or rather individuals termed as extremists, i.e. those who believed in attaining independence through self-sufficiency. Much of our post-independence, post-colonial history can be summed up in terms of the clash between these two. more..

May 20 (NS) Chairman of the SLMC Abdul Majeed speaks to The Nation on how the current political situation is perceived by the SLMC and the Muslim people. He stated that while the SLMC and the TNA shared similar sentiments on various issues pertaining to the problems faced by the minorities, there were still aspects that needed to be openly discussed. He stated that the TNA needed to consider the aspirations of Eastern Muslims more..

May 20 (CT) People in this country have read in newspapers, until their eye balls go hexagonal, listened to the Radio/TV discussions of various government officials, eminent intellectuals and Police spokesmen commenting, criticizing and suggesting ways and means of reducing road accidents and ever mounting traffic jams, until the listeners go deaf in their ears, but has there been any encouraging results except everyone getting emotional with ideas all the time? more..

May 20 (Island) As the merciful month of Ramadhan descends upon us yet again during the last week of May, we must reflect on its virtues and remind ourselves of the conditions of observance of the fast, its restrictions and constraints and prepare ourselves to benefit from it. With the advent of the new moon ushering in the lunar month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world will commence the ritual of fasting. In the context of the Islamic religion, fasting is not just a ritual. more..

May 20 (CT) The Joint Opposition is confident of capturing power in the North Central Provincial Council (NCPC) and two other PCs, encouraged by the crisis-ridden situation in the NCPC subsequent to the removal of its Health Minister. The 18 SLFP members of the NCPC decided to function as independents and submitted an affidavit to the Governor calling for the Chief Minister in whose place they want S.M. Ranjith appointed. more..

May 20 (NS) May 18 is a special day for Sri Lanka because that was the day that the guns were silenced eight years ago. Many things have happened over the years, some positive and some negative. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has also faced international pressure in terms of allegations of war crimes, to which a mechanism is yet to be formed. But even today, there are those extreme elements which look at the slightest of opportunities to trigger some sort of unrest even if it is on Facebook. more..

May 20 (NS) The meeting between General Secretary of BBS organization, Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera and Minister Mano Ganesan ruffled quite a few feathers due to certain views expressed by the former on the minorities. The meeting became a public affair thanks to social media platforms. During the meeting, the monk had expressed various concerns pertaining to the threats faced by the majority due to actions of certain segments of the minority communities. more..

May 20 (CT) On 27July 1975 the news of the assassination of former Jaffna Mayor Alfred Duraiappah had spread in the Peninsula like wildfire forecasting a darker era to unfold with untold misery. Late Alfred Duraiappah who gave Jaffna a facelift with new infrastructure facilities remained a popular Mayor despite him being considered a traitor in the Tamil political scene. Although a Christian Duraiappah, who had married a niece of another political stalwart late G.G. Ponnampalam, more..

May 20 (Island) Republican billionaire Donald Trump’s anti-establishment outlook and rhetoric helped him secure the much-coveted US presidency. He was derisively described by his political rivals prior to the polls as an anti-establishment outsider surrounded by some like-minded wags. That label stuck. Paradoxical as it may sound, such criticism stood him in good stead thanks to the disillusionment of many Americans with the establishment which had thrown up more..

May 20 (CI) When they talk about the best players - the very best players - achievements, accolades and statistics only go so far. Kumar Sangakkara, scorer of 38 Test hundreds for SL, approaching 20,000 runs in first-class cricket and an impressive humanitarian for good measure, finally has his hook. Some have statues, others have busts but the only fitting Sangakkara tribute could come via a brush rather than a hammer & chisel. more..

May 20 (ST) The main venue of the 43rd National Sports Festival maybe changed from Ratnapura to Matara. The final decision will be taken on May 16 by the Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera. Sports Minister too has agreed that it may be a problem to stage the National Sports Festival in Ratnapura. A special discussion will take place on May 16 between the Sports Minister and Province Sports Ministers. It was planned to stage nine sports at the Ratnapura Public ground & adjoining venues. more..

May 20 (Island) For Trinity, today’s Bradby game has a lot riding on the outcome? Winning it will give them the early confidence and momentum to win back the Bradby which they lost in 2015. Last year, the scores in the two legs were 22-17 (to Royal and 13-18 to Trinity). This match is part of a double-header. It is akin to killing two birds with one stone. If Trinity wins today, they will be the League champions of 2017. This feat was achieved last in 1987, when Tyrrel Rajapakse’s formidable more..

May 20 (Hindu) Sri Lanka’s central bank will study the growing indebtedness in Tamil-majority north and east, its Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy said. “We are concerned about the rise in household debt,” the governor said, referring to a prevalent post-war challenge facing families that are rebuilding their lives. Following the study and its analysis, the apex institution will take necessary steps, Dr. Coomaraswamy said. more..

May 20 (FT) The LMD-Nielsen Business Confidence Index (BCI) moved up by five basis points (to 117) in April. However, the index remains lower than both its 12-month (132) and all-time (130) averages, and way short of where it stood (154) a year ago. The respondents’ marginally more positive sentiment on the economy could be an early indicator of growing trust in Government policies among the business community and how they are readjusting their plans accordingly. more..

May 20 (ST) Tug-O-War Federation of Sri Lanka (TOWFSL) earnestly appeals through the National Olympic Committee (NOC), to include Tug-O-War (TOW) at the 2019 South Asian Games (SAG) in Bangladesh. TOWFSL officially commenced in 2005. and it is quite popular islandwide. It has also been entered into the National Sports Festival  organised by the Ministry of Sports. Though, TOW is popular in Sri Lanka as well as in most parts of the world, it is not included in the SAG. more..

May 20 (FT) Asia Pacific tourism’s industry grouping is forecasting a much lower tourist arrivals in SL over the next five years than the more optimistic estimate of the Govt though the island nation will be among top performers.  Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) shared its forecast for 2017-2021 at a top gathering of tourism leaders from the region in Negombo though subject Minister John Amaratunga sounded confident. more..

May 20 (NS) The 2013 ICC Champions Trophy was a One Day International cricket tournament held in England and Wales between 6 and 23 June 2013. Three cities hosted the tournament’s matches: London (at The Oval), Birmingham (at Edgbaston) and Cardiff (at the SWALEC Stadium, known as Cardiff Wales Stadium for the tournament). India won the competition, beating England by five runs in the finals after overcoming South Africa, the West Indies and Pakistan in the group stage, more..

May 20 (Island) As the Chinese President Xi quoted in his inaugural address to the Belt and Road forum in Beijing on Sunday (14), the Chinese often say, The beginning is the most difficult part. He said, "A solid first step has been taken in pursuing the Belt and Road Initiative. We should build on the sound momentum generated to steer the Belt and Road Initiative toward greater success …" In pursuing this endeavor, he outlined several guiding principles. Twenty nine heads of state and govts, more..

May 20 (AD) A recent report has placed Sri Lanka above India, Pakistan and other South Asian countries in terms of healthcare. Sri Lanka has scored 72.8 points in the Healthcare Access and Quality index published in The Lancet report whereas India has just 44.8 points. “Highly standardised cause of death and risk factor estimates generated through the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study more..

May 20 (Island) Dipped Products Group posted Rs. 24 billion turnover during the financial year 2016-17, 11 percent increase from a year ago. Group Profit Before Tax (PBT) for the year was Rs. 1.06 billion, 53 percent increase from Rs. 691 million recorded for the previous year. The Hand Protection segment contributed Rs. 14 billion to revenue, 12% higher than the previous year. Contribution to PBT from the segment was at Rs. 785 million, 32% increase from a year ago. more..