Jul 5 (AD) Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) owner Arjun Aloysius and CEO Kasun Palisena, who were arrested over the Cnetral Bank treasury bond scam, have been further remanded until July 19 by the Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne. When the case was taken up today, the Attorney General’s Department today informed the court that 5 SIM cards and 3 mobile phones have been found in prison ward holding Aloysius & Palisena. more..

Jul 5 (Island) Central Provincial Council on Tuesday (03) condemned the statement by State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran calling for the revival of the LTTE to curb violence in the north. At the provincial council meeting chaired by Chairman L.D. Nimalsiri, SLPP member Gunatilake Rajapakse said the statement by Vijayakala Maheswaran as a state minister of the govt should be vehemently condemned. State Minister Maheswaran had violated the Constitution itself, more..

Jul 5 (AD) The case against Yashodha Range Bandara, who was arrested over drunk driving and misuse of public property, will be taken up on July 24th as ordered by Chilaw District Judge and Magistrate Manjula Thilakaratne today. The cab, allegedly driven by Yashodha Range Bandara, has crashed into a house near Kottapitiya junction on Chilaw-Puttalam road, on June 6. Following the accident, State Minister Palitha Range Bandara’s son was initially admitted to Chilaw Hospital more..

Jul 5 (DM) While referring to the New York Times allegation regarding threats to journalists, former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa’s media unit today said informing the public about the contribution of govt owned Sunday Observer Chief Editor to the said report, was not a case of intimidating anybody but a mere revelation of materials facts. The media unit in a statement said following Mr. Rajapaksa’s response more..

Jul 5 (NR) Ten suspects arrested for their involvement in the brutal killing of a leopard in Ambalakulam, Kilinochchi, have been released on bail. The Kilinochchi Magistrate's Court released the 10 suspects on a 5,000 rupee surety and cash bail each. Meanwhile the suspects were also requested to be present before the Kilinochchi Police every Sunday. Seven of the three suspects were arrested by Police while the other 3 appeared before Court through attorneys during the last hearing. more..

Jul 5 (EN) A pay hike demanded by stevedores unions at Colombo port after the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) reported a big profit could erode future earnings, the Finance Ministry has said. The SLPA reported a profit of Rs13.3 billion in 2017, its highest ever net profit. The main contributor to the profit has been the exchange gain from the removal of loans obtained by SLPA to build the southern Hambantota port, the finance ministry said in a report. more..

Jul 5 (DM) Outgoing US Ambassador Atul Keshap at a meeting with TNA leader R. Sampanthan today highlighted that SL will be able to attract more investors and will have more economic benefits if it adopts a new Constitution, TNA said in a media release. “Mr Sampanthan appreciated the role played by the Ambassador and his team and the US state department in the past with regard to SL and appealed that the same level of more..

Jul 5 (Island) Although Mihin Lanka was supposed to be a budget airline, it served food and gave a generous baggage allowance to its passengers and for a while competed with SriLankan, Ingrid Guruge, former Head of inflight /Ground operations at Mihin Lanka told the PCoI yesterday. "In a budget airline the passengers usually have to pay for their food and for baggage. But there are budget airlines that do offer food and give a generous baggage allowance to its passengers. more..

Jul 5 (EN) Central bank said it ws extending the suspension of Perpetual Treasuries, involved in the island's biggest securities scam, for another six months from July 05. It said in a statement the extension of the suspension was required to continue the investigations being conducted by the central bank. The regulator had in January 2018 extended the suspension of Perpetual Treasuries, connected to Arjun Aloysius, son-in-law of ex-CB Governor Arjuna Mahendran, for 6 months. more..

Jul 5 (CT) President Maithripala Sirisena has yesterday accepted his Secretary Austin Fernando‘s letter of resignation. Colombo Telegraph reported about a month ago (June 12th) that Fernando’s short stint as the Secretary to President Sirisena was set to end soon and that the latter’s aides were looking for a replacement. Sirisena appointed Fernando as a presidential adviser on 15 Jan of 2015. more..

Jul 5 (GDI) Prime Minister of Thailand Prayut Chan-o-cha will arrive at Sri Lanka on July 12th for a 2-day official visit, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.On his visit, the Thai Prime Minister is scheduled to call on President Maithripala Sirisena, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and high-ranking officials. The reason for this visit is an official invitation from the Sri Lankan govt for strengthening bilateral relation of the two countries, stated Foreign Affairs Ministry. more..

Jul 5 (DM) National Transport Commission (NTC) would launch a Google Map facility to facilitate day-to-day public transportation by the year end, NTC Chairman M.A.P. Hemachandra said. Speaking to the media at an awareness programme of entering transport data to the Google Maps App, he said the facility would be available on Google Maps and would be an additional facility to assist the general public during transportation. He pointed out that while the Google navigation app is already more..

Jul 5 (SL) A company owned by former Minister Ravi Karunanayake received a cheque for Rs 5 million from W.M Mendis, a company owned by Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) owner Arjun Aloysius in 2017. AG’s Department said that W.M. Mendis had delivered the cheque through a courier service to Chief Financial Officer of Global Transportation and Logistic Private Limited which is owned by Karunanayake’s family. more..

Jul 5 (AD) Chief incumbent of the Kataragama Kiriwehera Rajamaha Viharaya Ven. Kobawaka Damminda Thero and another monk were injured and hospitalized after being shot at. The CCTV footage of the said shooting has been released to Ada Derana today. The shooting had reportedly occurred at around 10.50 pm 12th June, within the temple premises. It was carried out by three individuals who had arrived in an SUV, which was later found by police. more..

Jul 5 (AD) National Audit Bill was passed in Parliament with amendments today. It was presented to Parliament on the 03rd of April 2018 by the Chief Govt Whip on behalf of the PM and Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs. This Bill provides for the powers, duties and functions of the Audit Service Commission and the establishment of the office of the National Audit Office and the SL State Audit Service. It also specifies the role of the Auditor General over more..

Jul 5 (AFP) China vowed Thursday to keep providing financial help, including loans, to SL under its massive Belt and Road infrastructure plan despite warnings about the island nation's debt mountain. Dismissing Western media claims of a debt trap, China's embassy in Colombo also rejected a recent New York Times report about alleged corruption in Chinese projects on the island. SL last year granted Beijing a 99-year lease more..

Jul 6 (CT) Our politicians have, essentially, been exploiters; trying at every turn to fish in troubled waters. The sole objective is to find some electoral dynamic to push themselves to power or to maintain themselves in power. This is why they have failed to navigate our nation toward progressive goals of economic advancement, fiscal managment, social healing and reconciliation of the broken arms of the diverse civilian population. The latest is the Vijayakala episode. more..

Jul 6 (CT) State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran’s emotional outburst in welcoming the return of LTTE has obviously and legitimately provoked condemnation both inside and outside the parliament. This writer is equally disturbed by her thoughtless reference to a group of megalomaniacs who knew how to take up the gun but did not know when to put it down. Yet, Vijayakala’s verbal bomb blast must be contextualised. Nation is nearing a decade since LTTE was defeated and more..

Jul 6 (SO) The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has commenced investigations into the death of the suspect involved in an armed robbery, who was shot and killed while in police custody, last week. “A team of investigators has already been sent to Matara. Action will be taken to hold a fair and independent investigation on this incident,” HRCSL Chairperson, Dr Deepika Udugama, said. more..

Jul 6 (DN) During the war period in the country, the Northern fishermen lost their livelihood and the fishing activities had come to a complete standstill. However, with the end of the war in 2009, although the Northern fishermen were eager to get back to their fishing activities and rebuild their families, nine years down the line, some of them are still trying to get back on their feet. These fishermen are facing numerous difficulties ranging from the encroaching of the Indian fishermen into more..

Jul 6 (GV) On July 5, section C-350 of the Central Bank Commission of Inquiry into the Issuance and Disposal of Treasury Bonds was made publicly available at the National Archives, upon the request of the Presidential Secretariat. This section of the report contains call data records belonging to several persons of interest in the investigation, including former Governor of the Central Bank, Arjuna Mahendran and Perpetual Treasuries Limited director Arjun Aloysius. more..

Jul 6 (CT) Minister Lakshman Kiriella says that, the mechanism required to take Arjuna Mahendran into custody is underway with assistance from Interpol, and said “As at present, two other suspects have been remanded now for so many days.” Q: It is being said that, there are 118 MPs who have accepted money, from Arjun Aloysius who is now in remand accused of transactions in connection with Treasury Bonds of the CB. more..

Jul 6 (CT) What makes a city? Is it fast emerging high rises and skyscrapers? Is it traffic congested streets of commerce? Or is it the sheer number of people residing within, trying to make it in the city? A city is an entity composed of multiple actors, all operating along their own different interests and towards their own visions. Three main actors that make up a city are its People, Market and State. Their activities as they move forward to realize their visions constantly change the city. more..

Jul 6 (Island) Political issues are like mushrooms in this land like no other. They appear in troops and die out fast. The last few weeks have seen quite a few issues, the main being some MPs receiving money from the Perpetual Treasuries’ slush fund and a New York Times report that China funded Mahinda Rajapaksa’s third presidential election campaign. UNP was flogging the issue of Chinese funds very hard to gain maximum possible political mileage when State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran more..

Jul 6 (ST) Martin McDonagh’s Tony and Olivier award-winning play The Pillowman will bring a dose of dark comedy to Colombo audiences. Also known for his films – In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths and most recently the Academy award-winning Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, McDonagh has an eerie quality in his sardonic narratives that can thrill in the most sinfully pleasurable way. To be staged on July 7 and 8 at the Namel-Malini Punchi Theatre, Borella, The Pillowman is presented more..

Jul 6 (Island) There is considerable speculation within Sri Lanka as regards the impact of US withdrawal from the UNHRC. While some hope for a certain degree of letting up as a consequence of the US action, others are of the view that the US would continue to maintain its pressure regardless of whether it is in or out of the UNHRC. One compelling reason for maintaining the pressure is that a weak and defensive SL would be more pliable and accommodating when it comes to more..

Jul 6 (Roar) We Sri Lankans are very much people of the land. We are islanders through and through. You can take us out of Sri Lanka, but you can’t take Sri Lanka out of us, and this is quite obvious when we travel abroad. And there are quite a few of us who live abroad. Wikipedia says that SL diaspora number around 3 million. If you are not willing to accept Wikipedia as absolute fact (you monster!) UNESCAP has a 2010 estimate of more..

Jul 6 (Island) Cassandra despairs each time she sees SL’s legislator’s at their favourite time wasting, physical mockery in the august House by the Diyawanna. There they are shouting profanities and ever ready to tear down to the centre aisle to descend to fisticuffs. Just the sight of many of them makes this delicate dame turn aside in disgust, her eyes and sensibilities assailed. There most of them are: in pristine white cloths and shervani style shirts, with beards trimmed in different styles, more..

Jul 6 (Island) In the context of an anemic economy and the failure of a democratic coalition to resolve the economic uncertainty and fear people felt, a proud and ancient people, turned to a former Army corporal and in a narrow win, elected the fascists to power. No, not in SL, this was Germany in the early nineteen thirties where the failures of the Weimer Republic and its weak coalition govts created an attraction for the strongman politics and ideology, loosely defined as Fascism, to become more..

Jul 6 (ST) A top bureaucrat insisted that the stalling of talks between SL and China authorities was inevitable since giving in would hurt Colombo in the long run and cited Beijing as a big bully in this respect. Export Development Board Chairperson Indira Malwatte said that They (China) will try to be a big bully as much as possible in trying to get the deal on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two nations more favourable to them. more..

Jul 6 (CT) SLC has made a mess when selecting the SLC Board XI to play South Africa in a warm-up two-day game on 7 and 8 at P. Sara Oval, by naming paceman Nisala Tharaka, who is currently in Bangladesh with the SL ‘A’ team. It appears that the Selection Committee was clueless about the availability of players when selecting the team, but when notified about Tharaka, they sent an amended list of players. The second correction which was sent as the final team had several changes. more..

Jul 6 (DN) Thisaru Disnaka who reached the qualification standard for the forthcoming 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Argentina has been reportedly neglected by the Sri Lanka Archery Association who want the athlete to participate in the trials. Only two athletes, Thisaru Disnaka and Kavisha Dalpathado participated in the world archery championships in Argentina last year and Thisaru was selected among the best sixteen archers after his performance. more..

Jul 6 (EN) Sri Lanka's new practice of giving capital allowance in place of tax holidays is good, with regional incentives, but there is too much unertainty for investors to make use of, a top businessman has said. "The package is good. There is no problem with the package but what happens to the investor if it is taken off in the next budget?," Dhammika Perera, Chairman and founder of Vallibel group said, more..

Jul 6 (CB) SL are hopeful that veteran Rangana Herath and top-order batsman Kusal Janith Perera will recover in time for the opening Test against South Africa that gets underway next week in Galle. Both players were named in a 16-member squad, but their availability is subject to fitness. Herath split the webbing between his ring and small finger on his right hand ahead of the third and final Test against WI in Barbados. The injury required five stitches and thus, ruled him out of the game. more..

Jul 6 (DN) Four SL athletes qualified for the Youth Olympic after producing their best performance at the Asian Youth Olympic Qualification trials concluded at Bangkok, Thailand on Wednesday. Asian Junior Gold medalist steeple chase runner Wasanthi Maristella clocked a sizzling 6 minutes 35.20 seconds in the Girls 2000m Steeplechase to finish first in the Youth Olympic Asian trials and seal a place in the Youth Olympic games and get number one ranking in the world event. more..

Jul 6 (DN) SL named Dinesh Chandimal as captain for the upcoming two-Test series against South Africa despite the fact that he has a charge sheet hovering above his head for refusing to take the field on the third day of the second Test against West Indies at St Lucia after the umpires had informed the team that he had been charged with ball tampering. The hearing to determine Chandimal’s punishment for more..

Jul 6 (CT) Minister of Sports Faiszer Musthapha has appointed Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake as the Chairman, of the National Selection Committee. He made this appointment at the Duncan White Auditorium of the Ministry in the presence of Heads of all Sports Associations and Members of Selection Committees. “I’m hopeful that Army Commander Lt. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake will bring much needed discipline in sports for our country,” he said. more..

Jul 6 (Island) There’s little doubt that Aiden Markram, the 23-year-old opening bat, is the next big thing in South African cricket. Markram captained South Africa to the ICC Under-19 World Cup win in 2014 and after just two ODIs under his belt early this year, was named as captain of the South African senior side for the ODI series against India. Markram during the Indian Test series became the fastest South African to score 1,000 Test runs having achieved the milestone in more..

Jul 6 (FT) State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) must mend their loss-making ways by improving governance to meet the growth demands of the SL economy, Treasury Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga said, pointing out that the return on assets of key 55 enterprises that had capital of Rs. 1.1 trillion at end 2017 was a mere 0.64%. He stressed the need to make a sea of changes in the operations of public business more..