Aug 3 (FT) Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday defended the latest round of tax increases on vehicles, insisting that even the latest hike in taxes was still below the rates imposed under the former Govt led by ex-Prez Rajapaksa. High vehicle imports over the last few months had widened the trade deficit and placed additional pressure on the rupee, Samaraweera noted, pointing out that imports in the first five months of the year had doubled from $ 316 million in 2017 to $ 666 million in 2018. more..

Aug 3 (Hindu) As China rushes to invest in more ports in Sri Lanka, India views with concern the Asian neighbour’s bid to increase its footprint in the Indo-Pacific region. China also recently gifted a naval frigate to the island nation. “Sri Lanka has started to emerge as the new battleground for the two Asian super powers, India and China. China, SLPA and India are to invest over $700 million for the development of three more..

Aug 3 (CT) Grade 5 scholarship exam will be conducted at 3,050 examination centres on 5 August, the Department of Examinations said. Commissioner General of Examinations Sanath Pujitha stated that 355,326 students will sit for the exam. The exam consists of two parts. The duration of the first paper is 45 minutes, and will start at 9:45 a.m. The duration of the second paper is 1 hour and 15 minutes, and will start at 10:45 a.m. Candidates should be in the exam hall by 9:00 a.m., more..

Aug 3 (CT) Sri Lanka Emerging team scored 69 runs for 3 wickets in reply to 216 scored by South Africa on the first day of their second 4-day match being played at MRICS Hambantota yesterday. Electing to bat first South Africa were bowled out for 216 runs in 64.2 overs. Opener Ryan Rickelton scored 51 runs in 58 balls with 6 boundaries. Nande Burger (31), Gregory Mahlokwana (29), Kagiso Rapulana (23), Raynard von Tonder (20) helped to build their innings. more..

Aug 3 (Island) The UNP accused the GMOA and the JO of working in unison to destabilise the govt. UNP MP Mujibur Rahuman alleged an influential section of the GMOA was pursuing a political agenda in support of the JO/SLPP. Rahuman said so when The Island sought the UNP reaction to GMOA demand to suspend Sri Lanka-Singapore FTA pending a PCoI probe into the circumstances under which the Unity Govt more..

Aug 3 (CT) South Africa seemed as if they were walking on a mine field when they were facing spin in the Test series. They were beaten 2-0 as Sri Lanka outplayed them in every department of the game. But things changed in the One- day series. Not having spin friendly pitches which Kagiso Rabada reckoned as Sandpits and not having the quality of Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera did not help Sri Lanka who are two down in the five match ODI series. more..

Aug 3 (CT) The SL junior coach, Nilfer Ibrahim is confident with the team that was announced yesterday, to take part in the Under-20 - Asia Rugby Sevens Series, on 10 and 11 August in Hong Kong. Sri Lanka Rugby, announced the 12-member touring squad under the captaincy of national cap Naveen Henakankanamage, for the tournament which features 8 teams. Last year’s runners-up, SL is in group B alongside China, Taipei and Singapore, while defending champions Hong Kong more..

Aug 3 (FT) Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera outlined fresh measures for the microfinance industry that include a new regulatory body for the sector and amendments to the Microfinance Act as part of Govt efforts to write off microfinance loans of 75,000 women across 12 districts and reduce levels of indebtedness countrywide. He said Govt had allocated Rs. 1 billion for the write-off, more..

Aug 3 (Island) Gamini Sugathadasa, a Four Seasons bellman and Sri Lanka native, was greeting guests following the 2009 Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon when he noticed something he found strange — medals around their necks and smiles on their faces. "I didn’t know what a marathon was," Sugathadasa said. "They started announcing people who did a half marathon — those who did a full — I asked someone what the difference was and they told me the distance for each. more..

Aug 3 (Island) Sri Lanka will lose the chance of becoming a ship-building hub in the region due to the govt's regulations pertaining to the ship-building industry and the country's tax structure. If the govt supports this sector, the country could earn a large sum of foreign exchange, Executive Vice President, Walkers CML Group, Dr. Sarath Obeysekera said. "Sri Lanka has the potential to become a small and medium size ship/vessel manufacturing hub in the region but unfortunately more..

Aug 3 (EN) SL's latest ad hoc tax hike on vehicles came following a request from the central bank, showing the cost to policy stability and the disruption to the life of ordinary citizens and their aspirations that comes from a soft-pegged exchange rate. Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that Central Bank had requested an import duty hike on vehicles with engine capacities less than 1000cc. more..

Aug 3 (FT) Nihal Sri Ameresekere has instituted action in the District Court of Colombo against Treasury Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga and C. Ramachandra, Competent Authority of Hotel Developers (Lanka) Plc, the owning company of the Hilton Colombo Hotel. District Court judge R. Rathnayake fixed 7 August as the next date. Considering the urgency of this matter, should the defendants submit statement of objections, the Court would consider fixing an earlier date more..

Aug 3 (DN) The govt has a master plan to upgrade Ratmalana Airport as an efficient domestic and international Airport, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said. Under the master plan several major capital development projects including the construction of a new taxiway and overlay area, the upgrading of terminal facilities, the renovation of hangars, and to set up a new air traffic control tower will be undertaken. SL Air Force has agreed to provide 25 acres of its land for development of airport. more..

Aug 3 (DN) Police have increased rounding up and intelligence gathering operations in the North to apprehend members of sword gangs terrorising the area and STF motorcycle squads have also been deployed in Jaffna round the clock to ensure the safety of civilians, Northern Province Senior DIG Roshan Fernando said. He said this was nothing new as police have been arresting the sword gang members over the past few months. more..

Aug 3 (ST) The iconic Green Cabin restaurant on the Galle Road near Bambalapitiya is due to shut down on Tuesday, July 31 with a family dinner representing four generations. The café which opened in the 1930s and later was owned by entrepreneur Cyril Rodrigo, has been the subject of discussion among the family representing the company’s business interests. According to family circles, there has been no consensus on the way forward for the business. more..

Aug 3 (CT) Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland QC met PM Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Temple Trees to hold discussions on a range of topics. This was the first stop for the Secretary General on her first official visit to three Commonwealth member countries in South and South East Asia. The topics of the discussions were on climate, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and trade. The PM, via Twitter, expressed satisfaction on the outcome of the talks, more..

Aug 3 (Island) Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, alleged the govt did not care to do anything to bring back former CB Governor Arjuna Mahendran wanted in connection with treasury bonds scams perpetrated in 2015 and 2016. Mahendran lived overseas without any trouble, he said. The govt was trying to silence the genuine Opposition by setting up Special High Courts, former President said. more..

Aug 3 (DM) Medical specialists had decided to abstain from private practice from today against unfair taxation on medical professionals, the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) said. AMS President Dr. Sunil Wijayasinghe said that the AMS along with other medical specialist groups had decided to refrain from private practice and added this decision was reached after months of failed negotiations with relevant parties. “Contrary to Finance Minister’s repeated claims about more..

Aug 3 (DM) The JVP criticized the govt’s move to increase salaries of MPs and ministers while increasing tax on vehicles below 1000 cc mainly used by the ordinary people. JVP MP Sunil Hadunnetti told the Daily Mirror that it was surprising how the govt raised money to do so when it claimed the country was in a debt trap and the economy was in crisis. “The govt is claiming that the economy is in crisis and selling state property including ports and airports to attract investors. more..

Aug 3 (CT) National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection (NMCRP), warned that they would take legal action against the GMOA if it went ahead with the strike scheduled for today. Chairman of the NMCRP, Ranjith Withanage said that their organization would take legal action on behalf of the entire patient population in the country. He said that essential industries and services were required to inform respective managements more..

Aug 3 (DM) We all know that those who enter university must gear up to receive an education with breaks in-between. These breaks are not the ones that undergrads enjoy as vacations, but the ones that are caused through disruptions. Undergrads themselves are the ones who cause these disruptions, but there are times when outsiders show sympathy for their cause. This is one such time. Among the several issues which are bugging the university system, the key among them, more..

Aug 3 (DM) 31 years ago, the first week of August 1987 saw a huge commotion especially in and around Colombo and also in some other parts of the country, with so many people being shot dead by the Police and the Armed forces. It was a public agitation instigated by the SLFP led by former PM Sirimavo Bandaranaike and the JVP against the Indo-Lanka Accord signed on July 29, 1987. The JVP led by its founder leader Rohana Wijeweera had then been proscribed by more..

Aug 3 (DM) For once Prof. G.L has said something worth discussing. He had told media last Monday, his party, SLPP would file a petition in the Supreme Court requesting a Writ against the Elections Commission (EC) over its failure to hold elections for the dissolved Provincial Councils. The Sabaragamuwa, North Central and the Eastern Provincial Councils stand dissolved for 10 months now, since Sept 2017. more..

Aug 3 (EN) SL govt will develop Mannar as a tourism destination, building on the efforts of the Canadian govt by modernising infrastructure. Minister John Amaratunga said that he will be sending officials from SL Tourism Development Authority to Mannar to evaluate how the govt should conserve attractions and develop the district for tourism. “We want to bring investors to Mannar to open hotels, restaurants, recreation centres” more..

Aug 3 (DM) Minister Champika Ranawaka said the landmass of the Colombo Trace City project was vested with the UDA through lawful means, and therefore no another institution could stake a claim for it. He was responding to Deputy Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva who said the Trace City project initiated by former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa would be taken forward. He said nobody wanted to stop it. more..

Aug 3 (EN) An association representing Sri Lankan vehicle traders said it understood a govt duty hike to stem imports of small cars but called for a dialogue on long term policies to reduce uncertainty among industry and consumers alike. “We understand the government’s policy decision taken on the Aug 1, 2018 to increase excise duties targeting the small motor cars segment,” Ceylon Motor Traders Association more..

Aug 3 (NR) Speaker of House Karu Jayasuriya says a final decision has not been made pertaining to increasing salaries of MPs. Office of the Speaker issuing a statement said recommendations on the matter however have been called from the General Secretary of Parliament regarding the matter. The statement said a proposal was passed in Parliament in 2006 claiming the salaries of MPs should be in line with salaries of judges of upper Courts. more..

Aug 3 (Island) The Board of Directors, Jaffna College, yesterday, alleged that an attempt was being made to close down the premier school due to actions of a few individuals representing the Trust Fund based in Boston. The Board of Directors while alleging that the US based Trust Fund misappropriated funds vowed to seek legal redress to save the college. Bishop of Jaffna Daniel Thiagarajah on behalf of the Board of more..

Aug 3 (ST) A silent revolution is taking place ever so quietly not on the streets of Sri Lanka but within its hospitals. How this revolution, using the click of a button, is touching and saving the lives of the humblest of men, women and children and also saving funds for a cash-strapped country was seen at the Castle Street Hospital for Women in Borella just last week. One of the numerous beneficiaries of this revolution is a tiny more..

Aug 3 (EN) Sri Lanka's economy may grow may be about 4% in 2018, Central Bank Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy said, lowering an earlier forecast of around 4.0-4.5%. "It’s unlikely that growth is going to be more than 4% this year," he told reporters Friday after holding policy rates. The economy was expected to grow by about 3.4% in the first half of 2018, and will have to grow by 4.6% during the latter half of the year to reach 4%. more..

Aug 3 (CT) Legal counsel for W.M. Mendis and Company Limited yesterday, requested the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court to consider allowing the Company’s Chairperson, Arjun Aloysius to participate in the upcoming annual general meeting of the Company. Defence Attorney Kolitha Dharmawardena making his request to Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne appealed for permission from Court to allow Aloysius to address more..

Aug 3 (EN) China is on track to bail out Sri Lanka with up to US$ 1.25 billion in 2018, with a below market rate syndicated loan and smaller Panda bond planned for later this year, after coming under fire for driving the Indian Ocean island in to a debt trap. Sri Lanka is facing foreign debt repayment spikes in 2019 to 2021 period and the island changed its borrowing laws to allow extra money to be raised early to stretch repayment. more..

Aug 3 (CT) Information Technology (IT) and IT Enabled Services (ITES) exports earned US$ 786 million last year. It was also the country’s ninth largest debt free foreign exchange (FX) earner, same as in 2016, but with a year-on-year 7.89 per cent ($ 62 million) growth last year. Ahead of IT and ITES, vis-à-vis the island’s other debt free FX earners in descending order were remittances-$ 7,164 million, garments - $ 5,032 million, tourism - 3,925 million, tea - $ 1,530 million, more..

Aug 3 (FT) I am writing in much lighter vein today, having dispensed with the drug mafia last week. But don’t let that weigh heavy on your barometer or allow your windsock to flop. Since there are some smiles in the mix together with the satire. However diabolical these goings-on may seem, there’s always a cloud in the silver lining. Therefore remind yourselves that if angels can fly, it’s because they take themselves lightly. Before we get our tails caught in a crosswind, let’s rehash more..

Aug 3 (DN) An appeal filed by the Attorney General seeking a retrial into the murder of TNA former MP Nadaraja Raviraj was yesterday fixed for support by the Court of Appeal. Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justice Deepali Wijesundara and Justice Achala Wengappuli fixed the matter for support on Dec 4. On Dec 23, 2016, three Navy intelligence officers and two others, accused in the Raviraj murder, were acquitted and released after they were found not guilty by jury trial. more..

Aug 3 (DM) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe who is said to be of the opinion that excise duty hike for vehicles under 1000cc engine capacity should be confined to a specific period of time had informed the Ministry of Finance to let him know as to when it could bring down the excise duty. Sources close to PM said he had made this inquiry following the observation that had been made by finance ministry officials that the excise duty hike is an unpopular move as the govt is being criticized for the hike already. more..

Aug 3 (CT) Top corporate leader and a close associate of PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, Dinesh Weerakkody is entrusted with the task of resurrecting the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotional Bureau (SLTPB), which is currently in the doldrums. Werakkody is likely to be appointed the PM’s Point Person to the SLTPB, the institution responsible for SL’s tourism promotion overseas. The SLTPB’s priority project – more..

Aug 3 (Island) Kuma Stickers, which did most of the outdoor advertising of SriLankan Airlines, told the Airport & Aviation Services that they had signed an advertising agreement with the airline for five years though, in reality, the agreement was only for one year, the PCoI on irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka was told. SriLankan Airlines possessed only a photocopy of the document at issue, Lakshika Gunatilake, Advertising Manager of SriLankan said. more..

Aug 3 (DN) Development activities of the Mattala Airport would be carried out through a Sri Lankan company established under a partnership agreement with the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said. He was responding to a question raised by a journalist regarding an announcement by the Civil Aviation Ministry of India which claimed that there is no proposal under consideration for the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to buy more..