Jul 11 (DM) Two state banks - the Bank of Ceylon and the People’s Bank – will extend financial assistance of Rs.13.5 billion to bail out the cash-strapped SriLankan Airlines, it is learnt. Minister Lakshman Kiriella submitted the Cabinet memorandum in this regard. Earlier, the bank interests, accrued over a period of time, accounts for a bulk of the total losses of the national career. It is learnt that the two state banks will issue more..

Jul 11 (DM) Leaders of the so-called Yahapalana Govt painted a rosy picture through providing concessions to the people for a few months soon after assuming office. They also had a mini-budget the same month they came to power. However, they have since been lamenting about a huge debt burden they had inherited from the former regime led by former Prez Rajapaksa and attributing their failure in keeping their election promises to the same debts, especially the ones drawn from more..

Jul 11 (DM) Mahinda Rajapaksa has shown, if the reports are correct, that he has not changed at all; no repentance, no apologies and definitively not divorced from untruths. Following is a report as it appeared in the local news media: “Colombo: The New York Times on Tuesday said that two of its correspondents in SL have been threatened by the loyalists of the former President Rajapaksa after it published an investigative report last week on China allegedly funding his 2015 election campaign. more..

Jul 11 (DM) It seems that no matter, who writes or how often we talk about the various happenings and shortcomings and abuses in this country of ours, there is never an end to what goes on!!! Murder, rape, money laundering, travesties of justice, dictators openly challenging, and worst of all, Minister Samaraweera saying There must be a Rule of Law even for criminals!!! What does he mean by Even for criminals?! more..

Jul 11 (CI) It happened and we all missed it. They were together, but what were we doing? Too busy with our own vapid lives to notice. It was only for a few days, but through the back end of last week: Dinesh Chandimal, Faf du Plessis, Vernon Philander, and Dasun Shanaka were all within 10 kilometres of each other. Meaning, of course, that little old Colombo, with its tree-lined lanes, and bougainvilleas tumbling over garden walls, more..

Jul 11 (ST) Asian Development Bank’s proposals for the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to resume investments in Colombo’s once-tainted stock market have met with a mixed response. At a recent Labour Ministry meeting between three ADB consultants and National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) members, a white paper on a legal and operational framework for the EPF was presented by the ADB. more..

Jul 11 (LBO) Prevailing policy uncertainty created through the political uncertainty is a major deterrent which may slow down the gradual improvement of the economy and business confidence, a recent research showed. First Capital Research in its mid-year economic outlook said a major factor that is creating uncertainty in the upcoming Prez Election in late 2019. “None of the 3 major political parties have announced more..

Jul 11 (CT) A series of training programmes to develop nutritional gardens at school level was launched recently. They are an integral part of the Assisting Communities in Creating Environmental and Nutritional Development (ACCEND) project, funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by both the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and Oxfam. ADRA Programmes Director, more..

Jul 11 (DM) Presidents Counsel Hemantha Warnakulasuriya passed away this morning at the age of 74 while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo, Deputy Minister Buddhika Pathirana said. Mr Warnakulasuriya's final rights would be held at the Borella cemetery on Saturday. Mr Warnakulasuriya also served as a Director of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) from August 1, 2016. more..

Jul 11 (FT) The Presidential Investigation Unit has informed top Hajj Committee officials to appear before it tomorrow to probe alleged money laundering through Hajj pilgrims and vends quota, sources told the Daily FT. Posts, Postal Services and Muslim Religious Affairs Ministry Secretary R.M.D.B. Meegasmulla and Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs Department Director M.R.M. Malik have been summoned by more..

Jul 11 (AD) At least 153 houses were damaged within in the Colombo District due to strong winds this morning. DMC Deputy Director Pradeep Kodippili damages to houses by strong gust of winds have been reported from 8 major cities in the Colombo District. He stated that 15 houses in Dehiwala, 75 houses in Homagama, 15 houses in Maharagama, 5 homes in Piliyandala, 15 in Kesbewa, 20 houses in Ratmalana, more..

Jul 11 (CT) Deputy Minister Nalin Bandara said that the Govt will launch a programme to monitor the behaviour of prison inmates, as they were coordinating crimes on the outside, from their prison cells. He added that the Govt will also take necessary action to stop inmates from using mobile phones. “Crimes and murders are happening due to clashes among underworld gangs and sometimes due to personal issues of people, more..

Jul 11 (AD) Cabinet has approved the proposal of the special provisions bill on seeking active support of the SL Armed Forces for drug control in the country. Accordingly, certain relevant powers, recommended by the Attorney General, will be transferred to the Tri-Forces, for a fixed amount of time. This was a joint proposal by Prez Maithripala Sirisena as Defense Minister and Minister of Law & Order Ranjith Madduma Bandara. more..

Jul 11 (AD) Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake has been given a one year service extension by the President Maithripala Sirisena, stated the Army Spokesman. Lieutenant General N U M M W Senanayake was appointed as the 22nd Commander of the SL Army, effective from 27 June 2017 by the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces after he was elevated to the rank of Lieutenant General with effect from the same date. more..

Jul 11 (CT) Public private partnerships (PPPs) are required for two reasons, when the Treasury is broke and/or due to the inefficiency of the State to engage in infrastructure development due to politicization and corruption. Sri Lanka fits the bill as far as both of those indicators are concerned. Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe speaking in Singapore on the eve of national elections here and as reported on these papers yesterday, said, More PPPs the Order of the Day. more..

Jul 11 (Island) At least 45 school buildings in the Kandy District are prone to landslides, according to the Disaster Management Centre. Assistant Director, Kandy District Disaster Management Centre Indika Ranaweera told a seminar for the media on Monday that the education authorities had been informed of the risk faced by the schools. The school buildings under threat of landslide were mainly in the Nawalapitiya, Kandy Ganagawata Korale and Udadumbara, Ranaweera said. more..

Jul 11 (FT) The agony and anxiousness that a divorce proceeding in SL inflicts on spouses is widely known and there are many who can speak to it. It is a proceeding usually faced in silence. Once it is done with, we want to forget it, we don’t want to relive it, and we want to get on with the next stage of building our lives after a divorce. As a result, these stories and experiences remain untold. While this piece was penned, Supreme Court added its voice to the state of divorce law in SL. more..

Jul 11 (CT) Dr. Susitha Senaratne, quasi Director of Sri J'epura General Hospital (SJGH) and Dr. Athula Kahandaliyanage, Chairman SJGH have been consistently scheming and manipulating the process of implementing the Court verdict CA WRIT 184/2018 in an underhanded and illegal fashion with the blessings of Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Health, Colombo Telegraph reliably learns. more..

Jul 11 (AD) Minister Rajitha Senaratne says as a principle he opposes the unanimous Cabinet decision to implement the death penalty on drug traffickers. Although, the proposal by Prez Sirisena was unanimously approved by the Cabinet, a result cannot be achieved through the implementation of such decisions, says the Minister. As the President had stated 19 individuals have been identified as of now, who were found guilty of and already imprisoned over drug rackets and more..

Jul 11 (DN) Parliament Privileges and Ethics Committee has commenced an inquiry into the alleged misconduct of JO MPs Wimal Weerawansa and Prasanna Ranaweera in Parliament on July 3. A formal complaint into the incident was made in the House by Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera on July 4 and it was referred to the Parliament Privileges and Ethics Committee the next day. Deputy Minister Perera brought to the attention of the House that the two JO MPs with their foul language and more..

Jul 11 (DM) While claiming that the Govt was attempting to find fault with former President Rajapaksa, former CB Governor said they would never find any wrong doing of the former President. He expressed these views at a news briefing held at the Western Province Aesthetic Resort where they launched a new organization called Voice for Justice with the membership of former secretary to PM Sirisena Amarasekara, more..

Jul 11 (CT) The Chief Incumbent of the Sri Sudharmaramaya Temple in Galenda, Ratnapura had allegedly strangled and killed a Police Sergeant of the Ratnapura Police yesterday (10). The Police said that the Sergeant was sent to gather information as to the whereabouts of a suspect, who happens to be the Chief Incumbent of the Temple, owing to two warrants being issued against him by the Ratnapura Magistrate’s Court, for not being present in Court. more..

Jul 11 (CT) Central Bank of SL has called for applications for forensic auditors and investigators to investigate Treasury (T) Bond issuances and subsequent transactions in the secondary market. These investigations cover T Bond issuances and subsequent secondary market transactions made even prior to the controversial 27 Feb, 2015, T Bond issuance that took place during the tenure of Former CBSL Governor Arjuna Mahendran, reliable sources who wished to remain anonymous said. more..

Jul 11 (AI) Sri Lanka must pull back from any plans to implement the death penalty and preserve its longstanding positive record on shunning this cruel and irreversible punishment, Amnesty International said today. SL President Maithripala Srisena, is reportedly pressing ahead with plans to execute 19 death row prisoners convicted of drug-related offences. “By resuming executions after more than 40 years, more..

Jul 11 (DM) According to a story that has come down the grapevine quite recently, yet another reshuffle of the big pack is around the corner. Those due to be moved around this time round are mostly the Green ones in the pack and they include one or two grey-haired ones who have failed to prove their mettle. Kala Madam who recently drew much fire for making a statement considered politically blasphemous is also slated to be moved out and a suitable replacement is being looked for, more..

Jul 11 (Island) Beleaguered UNP MP and State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran said she hadn’t called for the revival of the LTTE to incite racial hatred. When asked why she said that the LTTE should be revived, Maheswaran said that the answer to that question would be divulged once the investigations into the matter were over. Asked whether the LTTE was responsible for the death of her husband, she refused to be drawn. She said there was a God above and a solution to more..

Jul 11 (DM) The Govt should introduce a formula to increase the salaries of Public and Private Sector employees every two months, in line with the fuel price increase, as people found it difficult to manage their salaries with the escalating Cost of Living, the JVP said today. JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said that the people were unaware of the formula to increase fuel prices and urged the Govt to reveal it to the people. more..

Jul 11 (EN) Sri Lanka needs to ensure transparency in its project tenders, Ambassador of the European Union Tun Lai Margue said. The issue was one of the matters discussed at the 6th EU- Sri Lanka investor dialogue held at the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade recently. Many of the earlier outstanding matters had been resolved through dialogue and the joint efforts of the Sri Lanka and EU authorities, a Board of Investment statement said. more..

Jul 11 (EN) A US Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft has located a missing fishing vessel in the Indian Ocean, after joining search efforts at the request of the SL Navy. The US Embassy said in a statement the vessel was located by an aircraft from the “Pelicans” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 45 assigned to U.S. 7th Fleet and flew out of Naval Support Facility in Diego Garcia. The 40-foot vessel and crew of six went missing the morning of July 8 near Dondra Head, Sri Lanka. more..

Jul 11 (DM) Meters with the capability of issuing printed bills would be compulsory from August 1, the National Council for Road Safety (NCRF) said. NCRF Chairman Dr Sisira Kodagoda told the Daily Mirror that all three-wheelers used for passenger transport should have meters. “After August 1, the regulation would be strictly implemented and stern legal action will be taken against the passenger transport more..

Jul 11 (NR) Joint Opposition today announced that a broad alliance will be formed with the support of all anti-govt forces. Speaking during a media briefing, UPFA MP Dallas Alahapperuma said several rounds of discussions will be held before launching the alliance under the symbol of the flower bud. MP Alahapperuma added they decided to form a broad alliance claiming several proposals have been tabled at present. He said the group is notdivided nor do they have separate groups. more..

Jul 11 (IANS) Indian Railways is all set to establish its footprint in Sri Lanka with the export of six DMU (diesel multiple units) train sets consisting of 78 modern coaches worth Rs 600 crore. The first DMU train set comprising 13 coaches will be shipped out to the island nation in September while the rest will follow by year-end, as per the delivery schedule finalised by the two countries. DMU train sets do not require separate locomotives as the engines are incorporated into one or more of its coaches. more..

Jul 11 (AD) A project to establish a protection center to translocate the two rare elephants in the Sinharaja forest Reserve is in progress. Minister Sarath Fonseka has proposed the exaction of 62 hectares of land from the Parugala area in Dolekanda Grama Niladhari division of Kalawana, which consists of adaptable environmental conditions for the two elephants. The proposal has also received the Cabinet approval. more..

Jul 11 (CI) To get your mind around exactly how ridiculous South Africa's pace gifts are at present, consider this: Dale Steyn, almost certainly the greatest fast bowler of his generation, has the worst average among the frontline quicks in his squad. His 419 wickets have come at 22.32; Vernon Philander averages 21.46, Kagiso Rabada, 21.59, and Lungi Ngidi, 16.42. What makes the presence of these riches more incredible, is that Morne Morkel, one of South Africa's best ever, more..

Jul 11 (Reuters) Central bank is concerned about the dollar hoarding and market manipulation that’s exacerbating the rupee’s weakness and has the tools to correct any misalignment in the exchange rate, its governor said. The rupee has been falling steadily since April and is on course to retest recent historic lows. It could fall as much as 8% for the full year against the dollar in 2018 as exporters hold back on converting their dollar earnings into the local currency, traders and analysts said. more..

Jul 11 (CI) At first glance, perhaps this is not the most enticing of match-ups. At first glance at recent history, it definitely isn't. The last time South Africa played Sri Lanka - in the summer of 2016-17 in South Africa - they beat the visitors 3-0 on pitches that seamed and spat and rendered SL's batsmen no more than mannequins. But the last time SA played in SL, two enthralling Tests saw them win a series on the island for only the 2nd time, and more..

Jul 12 (CT) We have been talking about Turkey’s Erdogan who recently won electoral support to be the country’s first Executive President. At the elections, Turkey began digging its grave. The country abandoned the Parliamentary system according to which decision-making is participatory and collaborative. Under the Parliamentary system there is a PM but the latter is subject to Parliamentary support. By this simple mechanism the Prime Minister is someone watched. more..

Jul 12 (CT) The timing of these two, ill-thought-out and irresponsible, or perhaps, misspoken statements, and the stark difference between the public and political responses to them, are evidence of the harsh and uncomfortable realities of this country. The statements are an indictment of the yahapalanaya (good governance) regime for failing to fulfill its promises. Desperation and anxiety about this failure run deep in a society so morally bankrupt and intellectually and politically paralyzed, more..

Jul 12 (SO) The names Lido, Sally, Emma, Rocky, Ben, Bravo, Daisy, Debbie, Ruby, Bullet and Bingo are not normally found in a naval camp. These are the names of some adorable and intelligent dogs who are the pride of the Navy Kennels Unit located at SLNS Gemunu, Welisara. The kennels are situated in a serene part of the base giving the dogs and their handlers loads of space to train and enjoy each other’s more..