Apr 9 (Island) President Maithripala Sirisena now has another serious problem to contend with as the UNP is all out to oust the SLFP ministers who voted for the no-faith motion against PM last week. UNP Deputy General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, yesterday, said all those who had voted against PM, on April 4, would cease to be ministers when the next Cabinet reshuffle takes place before Sinhala & Tamil New Year. more..

Apr 9 (PTI) Over 2,000 Tamil Nadu fishermen were allegedly chased away and nets of around 20 boats snapped by the SL Navy while they were fishing near Katchatheevu. The fishermen from this island town had ventured into sea in 434 boats and were fishing off Katchatheevu islet last night when the Sri Lankan naval personnel reached the spot and snapped the fishing nets of 20 boats before chasing them away, Rameswaram Fishermen Association President, P Sesuraja alleged. more..

Apr 9 (AD) Minister Malik Samarawickrama says that he has resigned from the Chairmanship of the UNP. Minister stated that he handed over his letter of resignation to the party leader PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. Minister Kabir Hashim had also stepped down from the position of UNP General Secretary in order to make way for party reforms. UNP decided to appoint an advisory committee comprising 12 MPs to provide recommendations to make changes in the UNP higher ranks. more..

Apr 9 (DN) A price revision of fuel distributed by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) is in the offing, according to highly placed govt sources. The Indian oil company, Lanka IOC has already increased their prices to be on par with the world fuel price hikes. However, CPC prices have remained static for nearly a month incurring heavy losses. Weekly loss due to this has been calculated at Rs.266 million, Ministry sources said. more..

Apr 9 (DM) WHO celebrated its landmark 70th anniversary on Saturday with World Health Day events being held in almost all countries while the premier event took place at the Nelum Pokuna Hall in Colombo with Prez and PM as the chief guests, their relationship also being restored to a healthy level in the aftermath of the political showdown on last Wednesday. In a statement the WHO says at least half of the world’s population still does not have full coverage of essential health services. more..

Apr 9 (DM) The 3rd no confidence motion in the Sri Lankan legislature ended up with the Prime Minister winning , perhaps the most difficult obstacle in his political life. In that sense it was a numbing defeat for the Joint Opposition, an embarrassing situation for the President and a temporary respite for the UNP leadership. The political fall out of the whole episode is yet to be seen and it is doubtless that the repercussions will be felt across the divide. Any one watching the no confidence debate on TV more..

Apr 9 (FT) In January 2018 I arrived in Colombo and assumed office as the 21st Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka. During the last two months I widely contacted friends from all sectors, deepened my understanding of Sri Lanka and bilateral relations, and consolidated my confidence in the future of pragmatic China-SL cooperation. On the occasion of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, I sincerely convey the best wishes, more..

Apr 9 (DM) Angelo Mathews will not bowl again. To prolong his career amidst recurring leg injuries, the national cricket selectors want their best player to be a specialist batsman across all formats. This is part of a strategy cricket selectors and team management are now implementing to manage player workload and minimize burnout. Mathews is one cricketer who has paid the price of overuse. Mathews had a dream run from more..

Apr 9 (Island) The JO alleged that the recent arrest of former Army Chief of Staff and head of Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) Maj. Gen. Amal Karunasekera over his alleged involvement in the abduction and assault on The Nation Deputy Editor Keith Noyahr was connected to the TNA agreement with the UNP to save its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe from the no-faith motion moved on April 4. more..

Apr 9 (Island) JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake says PM and President are pulling in two different directions and the govt is, therefore, in crisis. He likens the yahapalana govt to a cart, pulled by a bull and a water buffalo, yoked together, with one trying to keep it on solid ground and the other striving to pull it into mud. Speaking at an event to mark the April Heroes' Day on Thursday at Tangalle, Dissanayake said: more..

Apr 9 (ST) State Minister Ajith P. Perera told Court that he witnessed an ASP and the Hq Inspector of the Hambantota Police, standing and laughing while thugs accosted a group of UNP MPs on a visit to the Hambantota port in 2014. He was giving evidence in the case filed in the Hambantota High Court (HC) over criminal intimidation of UNP MPs, then in the Opposition, during a field visit. Minister told Judge he feared for his life at more..

Apr 9 (DN) The hostel facilities for second year students studying for the Higher National Diploma at Ampara Hardy Technical College have been withdrawn due to complaints of serious ragging at the institution. Accordingly, around 450 students of the 550 second year batch have been asked to leave the college hostel. JVP MP Nalinda Jayatissa in an additional question to Minister Kabir Hashim in Parliament on April 4, more..

Apr 9 (TG) Civil Security Department has ordered teachers working at its pre-school in the Vanni region to attend 20 days of leadership training at Theravil military camp. Teachers were given military uniform with instruction to arrive at the camp tomorrow dressed in this attire. "When we joined the pre-schools to work, they assured us that no military training would take place, but now they are ordering us to attend military training under the name more..

Apr 9 (DM) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said that just as in the past when there were certain individuals that betrayed the nation for money, it was a matter for concern to see that even today there are power-hungry politicians who are willing to betray the country in their quest for power. He also said, “That is why now more than ever we are calling for national unity. When we gained independence in 1948, SL and Japan were on an equal footing more..

Apr 9 (AD) The Central Committee of the SLFP will meet today for crucial talks, with the party expected to decide on its future in the National Govt as well reach a decision on the MPs who voted during the no-confidence motion against the PM. SLFP Central Committee meeting chaired by President Maithripala Sirisena will begin at 7pm tonight, Minister Dayasiri Jaysekara said. The 16 ministers and MPs of the SLFP who voted more..

Apr 9 (DN) (LBO) Sri Lanka’s govt revenue as a share of GDP is lower than many peers, while the govt debt-to-GDP ratio is much higher, Moody’s Investors Service said in a statement. Debt-to-GDP ratio in Ethiopia, Uganda and Ghana among other countries is lower than SL even though revenue-to-GDP ratio in these countries higher than SL. Moody’s Investors Service said SL’s very large debt burden and weak debt affordability weighing more..

Apr 9 (CT) Dept of Examinations in its assessment on the performance of the GCE O/L last year has revealed that despite the total of 7,308 students, islandwide, failing in all subjects the general performance at the examination which remains the threshold to higher studies is noteworthy. Despite 7,308 students failing in all subjects islandwide at GCE O/L Exam of last year, the overall performance at the examination compared to GCE O/L of year 2016 has improved significantly. more..

Apr 9 (TS) The Bible says, A house divided against itself will not stand. With President Maithripala Sirisena of the SLFP, President of Sri Lanka, voting for the no-confidence motion against PM Ranil Wickremesinghe of the UNP along with a group of 15 SLFP Cabinet ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers representing the so-called unity govt, Parliament has become a house divided against itself and it is unlikely to complete the remaining two years of its term. more..

Apr 9 (FT) Central Bank in its second monetary policy review in 2018, released last week, has cautiously and partially relaxed the tight policy package it had introduced earlier when inflation was rearing its ugly head causing chaos to investment initiatives in the country. Accordingly, it has reduced the interest rate which it charges when cash-short commercial banks borrow from it to meet temporary cash shortages – known as Standing Lending Facility – by a quarter of a percent from more..

Apr 9 (AD) Minister Arjuna Ranatunga, says that had he voted in the favor of the no-trust motion against the PM and the govt, he would not stay in the govt anymore. Responding to the questions raised by media personnel, he also stated that the defeated no-confidence motion was a need of the joint opposition and that he doesn’t know who supported it. “But, if I had supported it, voted in favour, I would have no moral right to continue to stay in the Cabinet of Ministers.” more..

Apr 9 (CT) A ruling against the TRC by the Right to Information Commission under the RTI Act has disclosed that a much sought after spectrum telecommunication frequency had recently been allocated to Mobitel (headed by Prez Sirisena’s brother, Kumarasinghe Sirisena) without open competitive bidding and on an administrative decision. This has come to light in an appeal filed before the RTI Commission by another competitor for more..

Apr 9 (Xinhua) SL police on Monday launched search operations in the Knuckles mountain range in the central hills of the island country to locate seven trekkers who were reported missing since Sunday. Police said one of those missing had contacted his relatives on Sunday evening and informed them that the group had lost their way inside the Knuckles forest. Seven missing are residents of Homagama in the outskirts of Colombo. Police said the trekkers had entered the Knuckles range last Friday. more..

Apr 9 (AD) The seven persons who were reported missing while trekking through the forest at the Knuckles Mountain Range have been found, according to police. The were found unharmed during the search operation in the forest area near the Bambara Ella. A search operation was launched today after seven individuals, from Homagama, were reported missing while trekking in the area. The individuals in question had contacted the police emergency hotline 119 and notified more..

Apr 9 (DM) GMOA warned that it would do its best to prevent the enactment of proposed new Kotelawala Defence University Bill. Proposed bill seeks to authorise the KDU to grant affiliation status to local, foreign and private higher education institutions. GMOA Secretary Haritha Aluthge said the govt was in a hurry to pass the Bill posing a threat to the entire higher education sector. It was reported that draft Bill is to be taken up more..

Apr 9 (NR) Former Chairman of Lanka Sathosa Nalin Ruwanjeewa Fernando was today further remanded by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court. Ruwanjeewa Fernando was further remanded till the 12th of April when the case was taken up for hearing this morning. The former Chairman was arrested by the FCID for misappropriating a sum of 39 million rupees in public funds. The former Sathosa Chairman was arrested at the BIA on the 6th of April when he was attempting to leave the country. more..

Apr 9 (DM) The well-known Diyawanna member monk had the other day extended an open invitation to all member colleagues to attend a meeting to discuss the struggle he proposed to launch against the move to relax the ban on the glyphosate weedicide. He had walked into the committee room at Diyawanna complex where the meeting was to be held on time to find to his dismay that only four members had turned up to raise their voice against the practice of using poisonous substances more..

Apr 9 (NR) Minister Kabir Hashim says a solution will be provided within the day for the issues surrounding university non academic staff currently engaged in a strike. He said the govt hopes to provide a permanent solution to the issues. Minister noted several rounds of discussion were held with members of the relevant trade unions. Minister stressed the issues surrounding university non academic staff initially arose prior to his more..

Apr 9 (NR) The UNP today established power at the Chilaw Urban Council with Kushan Abeysekera appointed the Mayor of the Council. Seven UNP members, six SLFP members, six SLPP members and one member of the JVP were elected to the Chilaw Urban Council at the recent Local Authorities Election. An open vote was held this morning to select a new Chairman to the Council with all UNP members and five members of SLFP voting for Kushan Abeysekera as the Mayor of Council. more..

Apr 9 (Island) TNA Jaffna MP and party spokesman M. A. Sumanthiran yannounced in Jaffna that current Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswarn wouldn't be fielded again on the TNA ticket at the next provincial council polls scheduled for the latter part of this year. The announcement was made amidst continuing differences between the top TNA leadership and Wigneswaran. Wigneswarn, contested the Northern provincial council election, on the TNA ticket, from more..

Apr 9 (PMD) President Maithripala Sirisena says the govt will take every possible action to provide facilities for the brave war heroes who fulfill their duties towards Motherland. He made these remarks participating as the Commander in Chief at the passing out parade of Maduraoya Special Forces Training School (SFTS), today. Seven officers and 189 other rankers who had successfully completed the Special Forces more..

Apr 9 (AD) A group of lawyers protested against the alleged decision to construct the Galle court complex at the Boossa Army Camp Premises having already halted construction of the court complex at Beligaha, Galle. The protest was staged during an observation visit by the Minister of Justice, Thalatha Athukorala and the Minister of Home Affairs, Vajira Abeywardena. Two Ministers inspected the halted construction site of the court complex at Beligaha yesterday. more..

Apr 9 (Island) Chilaw Additional Magistrate imposed fines amounting to Rs.140,000 on 28 traders, found guilty of selling food unfit for human consumption, last week. The 28 errant traders had been nabbed by Public Health Inspectors during a raid conducted in Chilaw, Kaakkapalliya, Munneswaram and Kokkavil areas. Food items for sale in more than 70 shops and eateries were inspected during the raid. The PHIs severely warned 21 shop owners for displaying food items in an unhygienic more..

Apr 9 (EN) President and PM have been urged to stop shuffling secretaries of ministries starting from the next cabinet re-shuffle in a bid to bring back good governance which was broken by ending permanent secretaries. SL's independent public service was broken by abolishing the intuition of permanent secretaries and a public service commission and appointing impermanent secretaries by cabinet in 1972 constitution more..

Apr 9 (CT) Hindu places of worship, in the Eastern Province, that were damaged during the separatist war are to be restored. Funds for the renovation of damaged Hindu temples, in Batticaloa and Ampara Districts, were distributed to the trustees of the temples at the Navatkuda Cultural Hall in Batticaloa on Saturday. Rs 12 million has been set apart for the renovation of 55 temples in the Batticaloa District, while Rs 2 million has been earmarked for the reconstruction of 16 temples in Ampara more..

Apr 9 (CT) Provincial Councillors in the North are set to stage a mass protest, outside the Mullaitivu District Secretariat, against creating new settlements by bringing outsiders in the Mahaweli development area of the Mullaitivu District. The protest, to create awareness on illegal settlements in the district will commence at 3p.m. tomorrow according to Northern Provincial Councillor T. Raviharan. The Provincial Councillor also said that memorandums urging to stop the illegal settlements more..

Apr 9 (EN) Tourist arrivals into Sri Lanka rose 24.1% to 233,382 in March 2018 from a year ago, despite violence against minority Moslems that prompted the govt to impose a state of emergency and led to cancellations of hotel bookings. The largest source market for tourists in March was India, followed by UK and Germany, with the number of visitors from China dropping. SL received 707,924 tourists up to 31st Mar 2018 more..

Apr 9 (DM) Continuing to support the nation’s power and energy sector, Advantis Projects announced that it had been appointed as the logistics solutions provider for COSCO Shipping Project Logistics Co., LTD who secured the total transportation of the country’s first 10MW biomass power plant project, being commissioned in Kalawaaragama, Moneragala by Green Watts (Pvt) Ltd. Advantis Projects in partnership with Chinese shipping major, COSCO Shipping, managed the movement more..

Apr 9 (AD) Five students who broke into the Vice Principal’s office at Badulla Central College and stole 10 mobile phones have been arrested with the help of the police dog Dusty, Badulla Police said. Police dog tracked the sent from the school office all the way back to the house of one of the suspects located some 2km away from the school. Upon interrogation of the student living at the house, he had revealed information regarding the other 4 members of the gang that more..

Apr 9 (DM) The SLPP today claimed that PM Ranil Wickremesinghe had made a deal with the TNA to get its support to defeat the no-confidence motion against him. It said TNA MP Selvam Adaikalanathan has revealed that the two factions had agreed to 10 conditions if the TNA was to vote against the no-confidence motion. SLPP Chairman G.L. Peiris said according to the agreement 650 acres of land occupied by more..