Jul 6 (Island) The ambassador of Sri Lanka, Dr A Saj U. Mendis, met with Minister of Works, Municipalities, Urban Planning, Agriculture and Marine Resources, Eng. Essam Bin Abdulla Khalaf, in order to broach and discuss significant and decisive developments in the sphere of his vast portfolio in order to secure more skilled employment opportunities to Sri Lankan nationals. Abdulla Khalaf is one of the more senior Cabinet ministers of the govt of Bahrain and the ministry is, probably, more..

Jul 6 (DN) Maersk Line Managing Director- South Asia Steve M. Felder urged to fully liberalize the ownership on the shipping and freight forwarding agencies in Sri Lanka to bring in additional investments and benefits to the country and to achieve its strategic locational advantage. Expressing satisfaction over SL govt’s budget proposal for the removal of ban on foreign ownership of shipping and freight forwarding firms, Felder emphasised the importance of more..

Jul 6 (CT) Former Dy Speaker, MP Thilanga Sumathipala, said that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) does not need to follow what Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardane says, because it’s the SLC which made them internationally recognized players. “Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardane proposed to have 24 cricket teams from certain areas when the SLC actually has 12 and SLC rejected it” more..

Jul 6 (Island) Hettigoda Industries Pvt. Ltd. signed an MoU with Plant Materials and Herbal Products Research Center of the Uni of Sri J'pura recently. The MoU is to facilitate the collaboration on fundamental academic research related to Plant Materials, Ayurvedic and Herbal formula which are within the areas of mutual interest. The collaboration includes developing scientific activities by conducting joint research, creating and cooperating in the facilitations of publication of research. more..

Jul 6 (FT) A six-acre land has been acquired by the Ministry of Justice to establish a new court complex with 40 court rooms to ease the congestion at Hulftsdorp and to take action against the controversial 122 cases that took place during the last regime. According to Justice and Prison Reforms Minister Thalatha Athukorala, lack of officers at the Attorney General’s Department, as well as a suitable court house, are additional reasons to go for hearings. more..

Jul 6 (DM) The prices of fuel would be increased with effect from midnight, the Finance Ministry Sources said. Accordingly, the prices of fuel per litre will be increased as follows: Petrol (Octane 92) will be increased by Rs.8 to Rs.145, Petrol (Octane 95) will be increased by Rs.7 to Rs.155, One litre of Auto Diesel increased by Rs.9 to Rs.118 and One litre of Super Diesel will be increased by Rs.10 to Rs.129, however, more..

Jul 6 (DN) The Small and Medium Enterprise Board (SME Board) will be an important complement to the Enterprise Sri Lanka initiative that was launched recently with the aim of developing entrepreneurs and the SME sector of the country, said Minister of Finance and Media Mangala Samaraweera, at the launching of Empower the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Board at the BMICH yesterday. “For too long Sri Lanka has relied on a State led model of economic growth. more..

Jul 6 (FT) Commercial High Court of Colombo on 4 July issued an Interim Order against the Defendant Damro. High Court Judge Rathnapriya Gurusinghe issued this interim order pursuant to civil action initiated by the petitioners Agalawatte Plantation and others. The judge, having considered the petition, affidavit, documents and submission made by the counsel for the petitioners and the indemnity letter filed in the petition, issued this order restraining Damro from taking up any matters more..

Jul 6 (Island) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, in Parliament repudiated the recent claims made by New York Times that incumbent govt had been forced by China to hand over the Hambantota Port to them when the govt was struggling hard to settle the loans borrowed by the former govt from that country. PM said: "I state with responsibility that our govt was never pressurised by Chinese govt to hand over the port to them. more..

Jul 6 (DM) Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today restricted eight directors of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd from travelling abroad without the permission of the Court. Geoffrey Aloysius, Arjun Aloysius, Geoffrey Anton, Chitra Hulugalle, Pushya Gunawardena, Muthuraja Surendran, Ajan Punchihewa and Sanjeewa Fernando who were directors of PTL have been restricted by the Court over traveling abroad. Allowing the prosecution's request to partially ban the travel abroad, Magistrate observed more..

Jul 6 (DM) While stating that Minister Mangala Samaraweera should not be panicked over the law suits which would be filed against the media which are misinterpreting the facts, the JO said instead Minister Samaraweera should be anxious over the statements made by the govt ministers calling for the resurgence of the LTTE. While referring to the controversial NY Times report, which alleged that a Chinese company had funded the campaign of former President Rajapaksa in Jan 2015, more..

Jul 6 (DM) According to an interim report of the CBSL it was revealed that there were unusual secondary market transactions between Perpetual Treasuries Ltd (PTL) and WM Mendis & Company which were not recorded in the CBSL system. ASG Yasantha Kodagoda said those suspicious transactions may be linked with cash cheques dispersed to various outside parties by PTL as PTL’s transfer of money to WM Mendis more..

Jul 6 (DM) State Minister of Child Affairs Vijeyakala Maheswaran, who stirred controversy by making a statement about the need for an organisation like the LTTE, has not denied the fact that the Tamil people were free when the terrorist outfit operated in the north. Her statement made in Jaffna recently affirms that a rebel group like the LTTE is needed if children in the north are to attend school and later return home safely. She has not denied this part of her statement. more..

Jul 6 (DM) In the South they want a Hitler and Notherners want LTTE back! If this goes like this both will surely get leaders they deserve. The truth is that a large majority does not want Hitlers or Prabhakarans back. Both Ven. Upali Thero and Minister Wijeyakala have conveyed a message; an invaluable one homogenious with people’s notification to yahapalanaya made on Feb 10. It is a figure of speech, a metaphor, that openly refers to one thing by revealing another for rhetorical more..

Jul 6 (LBO) In a recent speech in Parliament the JO’s leading economic voice, Tharaka Balasuriya MP, offered significant constructive criticism on the National Audit Bill. The bill puts forward an independent audit commission that will have significant authority much like other independent commissions in Sri Lanka such as police, judicial etc. Balasuriya is happy about the legislation, but unhappy about important more..

Jul 6 (Roar) Cryptocurrencies are all the rage these days. Even if you aren’t tech savvy, you probably would have heard some keywords like Bitcoin and blockchain floating around the zeitgeist. If you’ve been meditating at a cave retreat or something all this time and you’ve missed all the action, here’s a short and mostly adequate explanation. Cryptocurrencies, for example Bitcoin, are digital currencies. more..

Jul 6 (ST) Piles of garbage left uncollected for days on the roadside, smoky fumes from burning rubbish, vehicles being forced to drive over the roadside dumps – these are common sights in Colombo and its outskirts. Waste disposal has been plagued by a string of problems including collection, eventual disposal, lack of equipment, shortage of staff and difficulties with garbage trucks. Wattala, Kolonnawa, Maharagama, Mt Lavinia and more..

Jul 6 (Island) The PCoI probing irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka decided to summon the Director General of the Board of Investment (BoI) to find out why BoI hadn’t monitored continuous violations of BoI agreement by Mihin Lanka. Last month Gamini Jayathilake, Director, Investments at BoI, told the PCoI that Mihin Lanka continued to enjoy tax concessions, due to its agreement with BoI, more..

Jul 6 (Island) Justice Minister Thalatha Atukorale told Parliament that the hearings of the country’s first anti-corruption High Court will commence at court room one of the Colombo High Court next week. She made the announcement responding to a question raised by JVP MP Nalinda Jayatissa, who demanded to know the progress with regard to cases concluded by the FCID and yet to be filed before courts by AG’s Department. more..

Jul 6 (Island) The JVP called on people not to have high hopes about the National Audit Bill helping end corruption as it had been watered down and was without provisions to prevent waste and corruption. JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti told Parliament that when the National Audit Bill was first drafted it had contained several provisions to prevent corruption. "There was an undue delay in presenting it to Parliament and it was stripped of certain more..

Jul 6 (DM) The Black Tiger Day had been reportedly celebrated in several areas in Jaffna and Kilinochchi Districts today by displaying the logo of the LTTE. According to the security officials in Akkarayankulam, the LTTE logo has been painted at the Skandapuram bus terminal and near a temple to mark the Black Tiger Day which falls on July 5. Paintings of the LTTE logo and Eelam map had also been found on several more..

Jul 6 (CT) Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development stressed that in order to build the Techno City of Homagama no land will be forcibly taken over by it. Ministry emphasized that through the Homagama Techno City Project (HTCP) only investments will be provided to the country and no lands will be sold to foreigners, Ministry Secretary, Nihal Rupasinghe, addressing reporters, after a protest by residents of Homagama opposed more..

Jul 6 (CT) Cabinet recently approved a proposal that the respective Boards and management staff would be held responsible if recruitment of employees to the public sector is made without the approval of the Management Services Department of the Treasury. This was said by Secretary - Ministry of Finance, Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga at a seminar for SOE Chairmen in Colombo yesterday. more..

Jul 6 (NR) President Maithripala Sirisena has instructed the Ceylon Petroleum Cooperation to reverse the fuel prices that were increased at midnight. The Head of State has instructed officials to ensure fuel is distributed according to the previous prices. The Ministry of Finance at midnight increased a litre of 92 Octane by Rs.8 to Rs.145, 95 Octane by Rs.7 to Rs.155 and a litre of Lanka Auto Diesel by Rs.9 to Rs.118. more..

Jul 6 (CT) Education is the backbone of a society or a nation. Today, education has evolved into a business, owing to the paramount importance given to it, due to the competitive environment we live in. Students today, despite being equipped with the latest technology and the ability to gain access to it, are burdened with educational activities that eat up most of their week. It has come to a point where a day in a student’s life does not start at school, but at a special class in wee hours of the morning. more..

Jul 6 (DN) Colombo district UNP MP S.M. Marikkar said yesterday that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa should make a statement in Parliament on whether he received US$7.6 million from China Harbour Company for his election campaign in 2015. Addressing a media briefing yesterday, he said that Rajapaksa’s henchmen like Wimal Weerawansa should also say whether the former President received this money from China Harbour company or not. more..

Jul 6 (AD) Former Hambantota District UPFA MP V.K. Indika has passed away at the age of 51. He had passed away at his Colombo residence last night. He was a former member of the Southern Provincial Council and a former Provincial Minister. He served as a Provincial Council Member from 1990 - 2003. He was the Provincial Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation from 2003 -2004, Provincial Minister of Sports, Rural Development and Youth Affairs from 2004 - 2009 and more..

Jul 6 (FT) Speech made by Gotabaya Rajapaksa earned the attention of many and it was criticised by many. Both the speeches projected a continuation of the existing market economy and there were certain emphasises made such as continuation of the system with the focus of the people while safeguarding our sovereignty and cultural heritage which is true and no one can object to it. However there were contradictions as well of the two speeches. more..

Jul 6 (AD) Mr. Udaya R. Seneviratne assumed duties as Secretary to the President this afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said. A Senior Civil Servant with more than 26 years of service, he has served in various capacities in govt ministries and departments. He has previously served as the Secretary to several ministries including the the Ministry of Mahaweli more..

Jul 6 (DM) Outgoing US Ambassador Atul Keshap called on former President Chandrika Kumaratunga today and said he was honored to have enjoyed her friendship and always-wise counsel during his tenure in Sri Lanka. “What a delight to enjoy a lively and insightful exchange of views when I paid a farewell call on President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. I am honored to have enjoyed her friendship and always-wise counsel during my tenure in Sri Lanka,” ambassador tweeted. more..

Jul 6 (SLN) Sri Lanka Navy Ship Nandimithra rescued 03 Somalian fishers stranded at sea about 115 nautical miles off Galle Lighthouse today (5). Upon receipt of distress call from the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of a Somalian fishing vessel along with 03 persons onboard lost at sea, the Naval Headquarters promptly dispatched SLNS Nandimithra with a team of Medical Assistants to the location by 5.20 p.m. yesterday (4) to rescue them. more..

Jul 6 (EN) Sri Lanka has held its main policy rate at 8.5% in June amid global jitters, which has triggered outflows from capital markets, the central bank said, with inflation ticking up slightly. "Short term interest rates increased recently responding to the prevailing deficit liquidity conditions in the domestic money market," central bank said. "Yields of short term got securities displayed mixed movements in recent past, more..

Jul 6 (AD) Posters bearing slogans supportive of former State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran, who recently resigned from her post over a controversial statement regarding the LTTE, have been posted in several parts in Jaffna today. The posters display Tamil slogans which when roughly translated reads: “Politics without any personal benefits. Maheswaran gave his life for the Tamil people then, Vijayakala gave up her ministerial post for the Tamil people today. She is our leader.” more..

Jul 6 (JT) The Tokyo District Court on Thursday made a rare order to the state to grant asylum to a Sri Lankan man who had his refugee application declined by the Justice Ministry despite an earlier successful lawsuit. The 58-year-old plaintiff, who declined to be named, is a member of the ethnic Tamil minority. He applied for refugee status in October 2006, believing his life was in danger after SL police suspected him of collaborating with a Tamil rebel group during the civil war more..

Jul 6 (AD) PM Ranil Wickremasinghe will be visiting Singapore on Sunday to attend the World Cities Summit, Singapore Int'l Water Week and Clean Environment Summit Singapore 2018. During his visit the PM is also scheduled to meet the PM of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy PM, Former PM Goh Chok Tong and High level dignitaries of Singapore Govt. more..

Jul 6 (EN) Fuel stations were pumping petrol and diesel Friday afternoon with prices unchanged while a lawmaker asked questions in parliament whether the President Sirisena had buckled a cabinet approved pricing mechanism. MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake asked in parliament Friday whether Prez had ordered a price increase decided last night had been reversed. Under the cabinet approved mechanism prices were expected to be changed on the third month after an initial hike in May. more..

Jul 6 (EN) Finance ministry said the state fuel distributor is delaying a price hike under a formula until next week, amid queries in parlaiment whether President Maithripala Sirisena had thrown a money wrench into the reform. In Sri Lanka, state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and Lanka IOC, a publicly traded company distributes fuel. The finance minsitry said a committee which is empowered to decide the price under the formula had sat on July 05, and decided on the hikes. more..

Jul 6 (PTI) More than 3,000 Sri Lankan refugees, who had been staying in India, have left for their home country since 2015, the Tamil Nadu govt said today. The largest number in this regard was reported last year, at 1520, said a policy note of the Public Department, a portfolio held by Chief Minister K Palaniswami, tabled in the state Assembly. The refugees had been repatriated with the assistance of the UNHCR, it said. more..

Jul 6 (Island) Auditor General should be given the power to audit political party funds, Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake told Parliament. Ramanayake participating in the debate on the National Audit Bill said AG should be vested with the powers to examine political party funds as none of the parties revealed the amounts they got from various persons, and how they had spent those funds. "AG should be given powers to examine where the parties get funds for their election campaigns, more..