Jul 30 (ST) Sri Lanka has become the belle of the Asian Ball. And most certainly must take advantage of her privileged position. Opportunity, which only knocks once, now knocks twice on her door and, by all means, she should open the flap and let her in. But that does not necessarily mean she must feign to turn the blind eye and ignore the lusty winks she receives from her many suitors either. In her fallen circumstances, she cannot afford to do so. She must play ball and try her best to overcome more..

Jul 30 (CT) “Fear Allah! Do not do injustice to your own community women and girls” was the slogan of many of the women who stood near the parliament opposing the elected Muslim men discussing the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) reform report with All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU – yet another males only body) on 24th July 2018. There would have been about 30 of them, yet it was powerful, because at least a dozen of them were victims of MMDA and they were protesting for more..

Jul 30 (Island) Uni of Peradeniya has been closed due to student protests. The ongoing trouble there is consequent to a university decision to debar some students from sitting examinations as they have violated the so-called 80% attendance rule. Protesters went so far as to storm the university administrative block, demanding that the university decision be reversed, according to reports. When politically backed student groups stage demonstrations which usually turn violent, more..

Jul 30 (ST) As head of coaching, one man who was passionate about his vocation was Jerome Jayaratne. There was hardly a frill in his work style and he knew what he was doing. Jayaratne’s factory was the strip of land behind the Premadasa Stadium, where Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) conducts its daily training sessions. There, he used to tell me, “What we have here is what we call a centre of excellence? In most major cricketing centres more..

Jul 30 (DN) Gallant unbeaten St.Peters College, Bambalapitiya outfit grabbed the Singer Inter-Schools under 18 rugby Sevens title when they edged out fighting Vidyartha College Kandy team by 26 points (4 tries, 3 conversions) to 21 (3 tries, 3 conversions) in the Cup championship finals. Tournament was worked off at Royal Complex in Reid Avenue yesterday. This victory by the Peterite team is a fitting tribute to their head coach D. P. Udayasiri who inflict a superb brand of more..

Jul 30 (DN) The problems the South African senior team encountered in the two-Test series against Sri Lanka which they lost 2-0 seems to have affected their second side as well when their Emerging team suffered a four-wicket defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka Emerging team in the first 4-day unofficial test concluded at FTZ Sports Complex grounds, Katunayake yesterday. Proteas batting in the 2nd innings collapsed to the left-arm spin of Malinda Pushpakumara to be shot out for 109, more..

Jul 30 (CI) Persevered with for so long for his potential rather than his form, Thisara Perera has started to turn his game around. This, at least, is what Sri Lanka batting coach Thilan Samaraweera believed, after Thisara struck 49 off 30 balls to assist Sri Lanka's recovery after they had careened to 36 for 5. Thisara's innings was to be of little consequence - South Africa ended up sauntering to a five-wicket victory. more..

Jul 30 (Island) DFCC Bank PLC, the banking arm of the DFCC Group reported a drop in profit for the second quarter amidst a challenging business environment. The drop in profit was due to higher impairment provisions, as well as a one-off gain from the disposal of shares of Commercial Bank during the previous period. Overall, the DFCC Group, whose business covers commercial banking, investment banking, wealth management, information technology, industrial park more..

Jul 30 (CT) New Zealand govt trade and enterprise initiative has recorded almost U$ 50 million in additional business last year bringing Sri Lanka to the top among its regional peers in terms of improved bilateral trade with NZ, Consul for New Zealand Senaka Silva said. Speaking at the 23rd AGM of the SL–Aus–NZ business council (SLANZBC) last Thursday he also said that a New Zealand High Commission will be established in Colombo in the latter half of next year more..

Jul 30 (FT) Sri Lanka will see 36 new film screens opening in the next five-years with the most advanced technologies and upgraded consumer experience, a top investor in the local film industry confirmed. “Within the next five years, there is going to be 36 new screens opening in Colombo and outside the city,” Liberty Cinemas Ltd. Managing Director Imthiaz Cader said. Emphasising that most of the new Cineplexs more..

Jul 30 (ST) Tiens Group, another Chinese multinational conglomerate, is ready to set foot in Sri Lanka with a minimum investment of over Rs.2.3 billion in a major business expansion drive under the company’s flagship initiative One body-Multiple wings. This was stated by the head of this Multi-national conglomerate, Chinese billionaire businessman Li Jinyuan said. He pointed out that his company is looking at the Iranawila golf course and wellness hotel project investment positively. more..

Jul 30 (DN) With the aim of upgrading and improving the water supply to the surrounding towns in the Beruwela area, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) extended assistance to construct a Pre-Stressed Concrete Tank (PC Tank), which was opened recently. The tank was inaugurated by Minister Rauff Hakeem and Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Kenichi Suganuma. Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne also participated in the event. Others who participated were more..

Jul 30 (DM) Court of Appeal fixed for argument on Nov 13 the Writ petition filed by more than 300 retired Air Force officers complaining of the reduction of their entitlement to the total Retirement Benefit under a purported amendment. Bench comprised Justices P. Pathman Surasena (President/CA) and Arjuna Obeysekera. Petitioners cited Commander of the Air Force Kapila Jayampathi, Chief of Staff D.L.S. Dias, more..

Jul 30 (FT) The students, parents and teachers of SriLankan School Muscat will take to the road on 31 July at 3.00 p.m. from Independence Square for a charity walk up to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital to raise proceeds for the Little Hearts project of the Cardiac and Paediatric Unit of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital in Colombo. This initiative is being held under the blessing of SL College of Paediatricians, the apex professional body of childcare in Sri Lanka, with the aim of building more..

Jul 30 (FT) The Court of Appeal allowed the intervenient petitions filed by Hayleys Advantis Ltd. and McLarens Investments Ltd. to the writ petition filed by MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara over alleged restrictive practices in the shipping industry. The bench comprised justices P.Padman Surasena (CA President) and Arjuna Obeysekera. President’s Counsel Sanjeeva Jayawardena, appearing for Hayleys Advantis Ltd, informed Court that there was a substantial question of law. more..

Jul 30 (Island) Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) condemned statements made by Ministers Kabir Hashim and Sarath Fonseka, criticizing Prez Sirisena’s decision to suspend a move to promote over 1,000 UNP supporters who claim to have been politically victimised. CTU General Secretary, Joseph Stalin said the teachers’ unions had been compelled to seek the intervention of the President because Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam more..

Jul 30 (RT) Minister Champika Ranawaka successfully concluded a visit to Paris, France recently. The Investment Forum on Megapolis Projects in Western Province of Sri Lanka with the participation of well-known French companies was held on 4 July 2018 at the French Business Confederation-MEDEF International in Paris. The forum was attended by Minister Ranawaka, Ambassador of SL to France, Buddhi Athauda, Advisor to the Minister Vidya Amarapala, more..

Jul 30 (FT) President Maithripala Sirisena participated in a religious function invoking blessings at the most sacred Roman Catholic shrine at the Madhu Church in Mannar yesterday. Mannar Bishop Emmanuel Fernando and Madhu Church Administrator Rev. Fr. Emiliyanuspillai welcomed the President accompanied by his wife and daughter. Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal. Dr. Malcolm Ranjith, led religious ceremonies and blessed the President. more..

Jul 30 (EN) Policy conflicts in SL's ruling coalition headed by headed by President Sirisena is a sign of a strong democracy, Minister Mangala Samaraweera said. "This is democracy. Except for a dictatorship, within each govt, there’s a difference in ideas. Don’t think of it as a weakness of this govt, it is a strength," Samaraweera said. He was responding to a question on SL’s policy conflicts caused by the Finance Ministry pushing for more..

Jul 30 (FT) Premier blue chip John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) has begun the 2018/19 financial year (FY) with a dip in profit, reflecting challenging economic conditions to several of its core sectors, though few others remained resilient to improve their bottom line. JKH's Group profit before tax (PBT) at Rs. 2.91 billion in the first quarter of the financial year 2018/19 was down 29% from a year earlier. The profit attributable to equity holders declined by 23% to Rs. 2.19 billion. more..

Jul 30 (DN) GlobalData has ranked Sri Lanka as the fourth fastest growing tourism market in the world. Iceland, Japan, Hungary, Sri Lanka and Chile have been listed as the top five fastest growing tourism markets in the world for the period between 2017 and 2021. GlobalData’s Tourism Potential Index” provides a ranking of 60 major developed and emerging markets around the world to assess potential growth opportunities in the tourism sector. The list is compiled using a ranking based on more..

Jul 30 (Island) Minister Champika Ranawaka says the time has come for the Sri Lankan youth to following Karl Marx and Che Guevara and start emulating the likes of Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates. Addressing a ceremony, at the Wilfred Senanayake Ground in Homagama, to mark the launch of a book on Saturday, minister said that time had come for the Lankan youth to embrace positive changes taking across the globe to more..

Jul 30 (AD) Implementation of the death penalty should be decided by a referendum, says Minister Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka. Minister made these comments in response to a question posed by media personnel following a function held in Wellawaya. He stated that death penalty should be imposed on those who are guilty of actions that lead to the detriment of the country. If the government gets in order properly, the public will also get in order, further said Minister Fonseka. more..

Jul 30 (CT) A group of 15 persons were taken into custody in connection with the alleged forced drowning of a 21-year-old youth in the Kandalama Tank at Dambulla yesterday, Police said. They said the group that had arrived from several parts in the Metropolis and elsewhere were highly intoxicated at the time they entered the tank, which is situated in a prohibited zone for bathing. Police quoted eyewitnesses as saying that a group of four persons are alleged to have lifted the victim more..

Jul 30 (DN) The National Audit Act will come in to operation from August 1, 2018, fulfilling a key pledge given by the Yahapalana govt in 2015. President Maithripala Sirisena in an Extraordinary Gazette notification announced last Thursday (26) that the National Audit Act which was passed in Parliament with amendments this month will come into effect from next Wednesday. Speaker ratified the National Audit Act on July 18. more..

Jul 30 (CT) Election Commission says that at least 60,000 voters in Colombo District have not registered in voter register for year 2018/19. A senior officer at the EC said this would be a turning point in upcoming Provincial Council and Prez Elections. He said, “When we look at the statistics of previous elections, it is clear that the winning party and candidates had gained power by a narrow margin. In a situation like this, 60,000 voters in Colombo District not being eligible to cast more..

Jul 30 (FT) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday announced that a mega development plan would be implemented with the objective of uplifting rural areas over the next two years. PM made these remarks while participating in the opening ceremony of the newly-built Manmunai Pattu Divisional Secretariat building in Batticaloa. Speaking at the occasion, PM said that necessary steps had been taken to develop the tourism industry in the Eastern Province. more..

Jul 30 (PTI) Former Sri Lanka Cricket president Thilanga Sumathipala on Sunday made the allegation that 1996 World Cup winners Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva were the first players from the country to be named for alleged match-fixing. "Arjuna and Aravinda were the names mentioned, they were alleged to have taken 15,000 dollars from someone named Gupta," Sumathipala told reporters. more..

Jul 30 (DM) Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Saturday emerged the single largest party in Pakistan’s 2018 general elections. The party won 116 seats, just short of simple majority (137) needed for a simple majority. And Imran Khan - Pakistan’s former cricket captain turned politician -- is set to lead Pakistan yet again... this time as its Prime Minister. The election result marks the culmination of a political struggle begun 22 years ago when he traded his popularity in the field of sports more..

Jul 30 (DM) “Some may think that the death penalty is too harsh a penalty. I do not think so. Many countries have come to the stage where they accept the death penalty” (Ranil Wickremesinghe, 1984). PM stated the above during the parliamentary debate on the Poisons Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance of 1929 Amendment Bill on March 22, 1984. At the time, he was the Minister of Education who endorsed Prez JR Jayewardene’s proposal to introduce the death sentence for drug more..

Jul 30 (CT) Among Homo Sapiens one could witness children who are disabled at birth and surviving the ordeal however, this is a rare occurrence among off spring in the animal kingdom. One of the reasons for disabled animals not being seen is because very often as soon as they are born, they die or live for just a few days. This is nature’s way of sorting the issue out. Animals are unable to sustain their offspring if they are more..

Jul 30 (CT) The death penalty is the talk of the country since Prez Sirisena stated that he would willingly sign the execution orders for those leading the drug trade from behind jail cells, earlier this month. Statement by the Prez was made as the country was rocked by a series of drug busts, amounting to several million in street value. It is not a mistake to say that the drug trade has gone unchecked in the recent years and allowed to grow & prosper. more..

Jul 30 (Roar) July 28th is World Hepatitis Day, and will be observed worldwide under the theme Finding The Missing Millions, a nod to the 290 million men, women and children globally that live with viral hepatitis without even knowing it. Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver that can be described as either acute or chronic. Acute hepatitis often resolves on its own, but chronic hepatitis can lead to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), more..

Jul 30 (ST) Tiny-tots all in white going in perahera around the hall set off the right chord for an annual general meeting (AGM) that has been held for 96 years. As the members, all female and one male, of the Mallika Nivasa Samithiya (Society) Ltd., arrive right on time for the 97th AGM on Thursday, the little children and the elderly women walking around in the garden depict what this stalwart society established in 1920 is all about. more..

Jul 30 (Island) The CEB has paid Rs. 840 million to ACE Power Embilipitiya, without approval from the Public Utilities Commission of SL to extend an agreement. On April 05, 2018, the CEB extended its short term power purchase agreement with ACE Power Embilipitiya, originally signed in 2017, for another three years. The payment was made after Secretary to the Ministry of Power Dr. Suren Batagoda had instructed the Chairman more..

Jul 30 (Island) SL Navy will take delivery of a 378-foot High Endurance Cutter Sherman from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in August this year. A section of the crew assigned to the vessel is receiving training on board the vessel at USCG base Honolulu. USCG decommissioned the 50-year-old ship in March this year. A senior naval official said that larger vessels were required for post-war responsibilities. more..

Jul 30 (CT) Leader of the JO Dinesh Gunawardena alleged that there was a crisis in the Steering Committee on Constitutional Reforms, as some of the Clauses which were included in the Draft were never discussed at the Committee level. He said that the Clauses which were said to be included in the new Draft, such as the possibilities of impeaching the President on grounds of unsound mind, recommended by the PM more..

Jul 30 (DM) MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera said that he will not act as a Presidential Advisor from now on as there has been no advice sought from him so far and claimed he feels ashamed about holding the title. “I have a title before my name which reads President’s Advisor though there no advice has been sought from me so far. I only feel shame when my name is mentioned with the title President’s Advisor put in front. more..

Jul 30 (Island) It has been revealed that a drug baron, known as Susei, who was found to run his criminal operations by using mobile phones while in jail, had been kept on an upper floor of the Welikada Prison so that he could see the officers who came to check prison cells, Minister of Justice and Prison Reforms, Thalatha Atukorale said. Atukorale has instructed prison officers to transfer Susei to a prison cell on the ground floor. more..