Jun 11 (Island) Two more children who were being treated at the ICU of Karapitiya Teaching Hospital for influenza, had passed away over the weekend. The infant deaths due to the viral fever in the Southern province have risen to 17. 37 other children afflicted with Influenza, were being treated at her hospital. Out of the 17 deaths 16 had occurred at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital. All of them were below two years of age and the symptoms of the disease were fever, cough, more..

Jun 11 (Island) The Secretary to the President and other officials who could release the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) report on the bond scams had sent the anti corruption activists on a wild goose chase in the hope that they would get tired and drop the issue, CaFFE Executive Director Keerthi Tennakoon said. In a letter to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Tennakoon said, on Friday, that he had been attempting to obtain the full PCoI report from January 18, 2018. more..

Jun 11 (PMD) The special ceremony to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Science College, Mount Lavinia was held under Prez Sirisena’s patronage today. Prez was warmly welcomed and escorted by the students of the college, when he arrived at the school. Building constructed for the activities of the primary section and the Suhuru classroom building under the National programme, Nearest school is the best school more..

Jun 11 (Island) General Secretary of UNFF Maithri Gunaratne has written to UNP General Secretary, Kabir Hashim, asking the latter to submit an affidavit to the effect that he did not accept money from the controversial Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) or its affiliate companies. "I made this open challenge some time ago, but Hashim has not responded. So, I sent him a letter asking him to furnish an affidavit. Last week, Minister Kabir Hashim said he was rich enough to lend money to PTL. more..

Jun 11 (NR) Private Tank Owners' Association of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation says the proposal for a reasonable revision of existing transport charges following the recent fuel price hike was approved by Minister Arjuna Ranatunga. Co Secretary of the Association Shantha De Silva said the discussions held with the subject Minister today were a success. He said Minister pointed out various errors in the proposed price mechanism adding the Association tabled an amended price mechanism today. more..

Jun 11 (NR) The Engineers Union of the CEB says the strike launched by the trade union will not be intensified following approval granted by the Public Utilities Commission to the long-term power generation plan. Chairman of the Union Saumya Kumarawadu said the work-to-rule campaign will however continue. He said the power generation plan was approved and notified through a letter by the management. more..

Jun 11 (DM) UPFA MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, who was questioned by the CID today, said that the list of 118 was first mentioned by the CaFFE. The MP said the CID had questioned him about the cheque and about the list of 118 individuals who had received funds from Mr. Aloysius. When asked if he disclosed the names of the 118 to the CID, the MP said the list was first mentioned by CaFFE. According to a 'B' report filed in Court by the prosecution in connection with the bond scam, more..

Jun 11 (AD) The traffic flow in several points of Hatton-Nuwara Eliya main road is restricted to one lane due to landslips on the road from Talawakelle to Nuwara Eliya. These landslips occur due to heavy rain that is still occurring in the western slopes of the central highlands. Police requests the motorists to be patient and careful when passing the areas blocked by landslips. RDA has already taken measures to clear the mounds of earth that had fallen on to the main road. more..

Jun 11 (NR) UPFA MP Dayasiri Jayasekara today recorded a statement at the CID for close to five hours over a cheque he allegedly received from Perpetual Treasuries Limited. MP Jayasekera arrived at the premises around 10 this morning. He was questioned by CID officials pertaining to the disclosure that MP Jayasekera received a 10 million rupee cheque from a company affiliated to Perpetual Treasuries. more..

Jun 11 (GDI) World’s No.1 authority on Intelligent Leadership and the coach of Steve Jobs, John Mattone has arrived in Sri Lanka for a Knowledge and CEO’s forum. SLIM proudly presents the coach of Steve Jobs, John Mattone in Sri Lanka for an exclusive intelligent leadership workshop on 12th and 13th June. The two-day workshop consisting of ‘The Knowledge Forum’ and CEO’s Breakfast Edition will be held at the Shangri La and the Cinnamon Grand Hotels respectively. more..

Jun 11 (SL) Sri Lanka Insurance, in celebration of its declaration of the largest Life Insurance Bonus of Rs. 6.8 billion, will be hosting the first Happiness Carnival on Saturday, June 16 at the Viharamaha Devi Park, Colombo from 10am to 7pm. The carnival is open to customers and non-customers of Sri Lanka Insurance, to relax and enjoy with their families and loved ones. Happiness Carnival will be a fun-filled event to be enjoyed by the entire family, children and adults alike. more..

Jun 11 (EN) An economic forum organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, will focus on turning around the economy after weak local growth, rising global commodity prices and uncertainty in global trade. The Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2018 is to take place on 12th – 14th Sept at Cinnamon Grand Colombo on the theme On the Fast Track to a Turnaround. SL’s economy is once again at a crucial juncture in need of a swift more..

Jun 12 (CT) Political attention at the present time is focused on two issues that are being used to create a sense of larger governmental failure. The first is that of payments made by a single business company, PTL and its subsidiaries, to a large number of parliamentarians whose number seems to be increasing by the day. Although the sums being mentioned are in the millions, which is very large by the calculations of ordinary citizens, they are nowhere near the tens and hundreds of more..

Jun 12 (CT) There are numerous media reports about the failure of good governance or Yahapalanaya since the new govt came into power in early 2015. There seems to be not only a growing disenchantment with the existing system of governance and associated political culture but also a lack of choices to use by the public next time around. How did we come to this untenable situation and what should be the way forward? Before the Presidential system of governance was more..

Jun 12 (CT) Q: Is it to activate the 20th Amendment, JVP’s sole aim, now? A: It is not our sole aim. At this moment we think that the 20th Amendment is not the only solution to the socio-economic problems. But the 20th Amendment is important to take the country to a more civilized democratic environment than what prevails today. The other matter is the abolition of the Executive Presidency which is not one of our promises. more..

Jun 12 (GV) Despite the drive for gender equality promoted at the Beijing UN World Conference on Women in 1995, the Sri Lankan State appears to have taken little responsibility for narrowing the gender gap in political representation. Savitri Goonesekere explains this as a non-recognition of the problem while Kumari Jayawardena has observed that Sri Lanka has produced a female prime minister and president without confronting the patriarchy that exists across society. more..

Jun 12 (GV) Drawing on the idea that the personal is political and challenging the notion that political empowerment can be measured solely with a seat in a legislature, this article focuses on the forms in which women who are not involved in formal politics or civil society activism, participate politically. It will examine how the family and motherhood, often central to women’s lives, define part of their informal participation; how patriarchy is negotiated through economic empowerment & female solidarity; more..

Jun 12 (Roar) What does a Toyota Coaster bus, a rabana and Facebook have in common? Nothing at all, you might say, but this group of talented go-getters managed to take elements out of all these three (rather incongruous) factors to create some pretty out-of-the-box digital content. Meet Enfection, the company behind the smoke and mirrors of some amazing digital marketing stories. They are a diverse collaboration of more..

Jun 12 (Island) A complaint has been lodged with the CIABOC against MP Dayasiri Jayasekera, who has owned up to receiving funds from PTL, as we reported. CIABOC will decide whether it could conduct a probe thereinto. Such action is welcome, but much more remains to be done. Several complaints have been made to the anti-graft commission against govt top guns and the public has a right to know who they are, whether investigations have got underway and, if not, why. more..

Jun 12 (ST) It is a troubling issue. Each time the issue of judges withdrawing from hearing a particular case and the case is postponed sometimes for several months as has recently happened, the story inevitably makes media news. Then we as laymen begin to ask ourselves what will happen next. Will such a case be heard at all or simply wither away and die? Not tutored in the law and in court procedures, there are perhaps thousands of others like me who must surely wonder why more..

Jun 12 (ST) Yahapalanaya Govt that came to power with the promise to put a stop to corruption, is now engulfed in the mother of all scandals of political corruption, by way of the Treasury Bond (TB) scam. The hornets’ nest opened by way of the Commission of Inquiry (PCI) appointed to look into the TB scam, is beginning to reveal the true extent of the nexus between the businessman at the center of the scandal, Arjun Aloysius of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd, and politicians across the political divide, more..

Jun 12 (Island) 'Most large vehicle manufacturers, such as Volvo, GM, VW, HMW, Jaguar, Toyota, Nissan, Ford and Fiat have already announced their changeover to electric for some models with companies like Volvo announcing that all models introduced in 2019 and after would be hybrid or electric. 'Air pollution is pushing not only European countries but also China and India to actively pursue electric vehicle manufacturing with a view to eradicating combustion engines by 2940, more..

Jun 12 (SO) Sri Lanka had a comprehensive law on poll campaign financing until the 1978 Constitution which uprooted this piece of important legislation in toto. The law had authority to unseat elected public representatives and even withhold their civic rights for years, preventing offenders from running for public office. The Order in Council of Sept 1946, mandated the candidates, all elected and non-elected to submit a Financial more..

Jun 12 (Island) The Court of Appeal yesterday fixed for support on November 26, the application of appeal filed by Lalith Weeratunga, the Secretary to the former President Rajapaksa and Anusha Palpita, former Chairman of the TRC. They had appealed against a Colombo High Court order which sentenced them to three years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 50 million each, for having abused Public Funds up to Rs. 600 million for the purchase of Sil Redi in the run up to more..

Jun 12 (Island) New Standing Orders numbering 143 were adopted by Parliament on April 15, 2018 significantly changing the existing order. This followed the presentation by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya last November of the report of an eight-member Committee on Standing Orders chaired by him. Standing Orders in Parliament have been enacted since the first Parliament was set up in 1948 and have been amended from time to time since their first introduction. more..

Jun 12 (CT) Imprudent acts of officials cost another possible medal at the Asian Junior Athletic Championship raising many eye brows over the conduct of so called responsible officials of the Athletics Association (AASL) and Sports Ministry. AASL decided not to send the girls’ 4x100m relay team for the Asian Junior Championship even after they clocked a record breaking 46.23 seconds to win the Gold more..

Jun 12 (DN) Sports Minister Faiszer Musthapa has signed a bilateral agreement with the Mayor of the Japanese city of Hashima, Sathushi Matsui to help boost athletics in the country during his stay in Japan as an invitee of the 18th Asian Junior Athletics Championship. Under the theme of Ape Jathiya Ape Abhimanayai Lankan athletes will be offered a fostering system by Japanese institutions and philanthropists. The program will also focus on enhancing services related to more..

Jun 12 (FT) The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) presents a fertile but challenging opportunity for Sri Lankan businesses, HSBC Asia Pacific Commercial Banking International Markets head Tim Evans said yesterday. Addressing the Daily FT-University of Colombo MBA Alumni Association-organised and HSBC-supported CEOs Forum under the topic ASEAN: Sri Lanka’s Next Big Opportunity, Evans outlined the opportunities that existed in ASEAN. more..

Jun 12 (FT) Sri Lanka’s private sector should move swiftly to tap ASEAN investment and export opportunities, Minister Malik Samarawickrama said, calling on companies to move out of their comfort zones and have faith the Govt would protect their best interests. Addressing the Daily FT- University of Colombo MBA Alumni Association-organised CEOs Forum, under the topic ASEAN: Sri Lanka’s Next Big Opportunity, more..

Jun 12 (FT) The growing Sri Lankan economy presents an attractive investment opportunity to Finnish investors with different avenues for partnership in the future, Finnish Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs & Development Petri Peltonen said. Appreciating the country’s growing and stable economy, the visiting Deputy Minister said the geographical location is also another attractive feature to lure in new foreign investment to Sri Lanka. more..

Jun 12 (FT) Despite US protectionist fears, the world remains committed to free trade, which provides space for developing countries such as Sri Lanka to seize opportunities to reform and integrate with global value chains, a top economist said yesterday. HSBC Chief Trade Economist Douglas Lippoldt, delivering the keynote address at the Daily FT-Colombo University MBA Alumni Association organised, ASEAN: Sri Lanka’s Next Big Opportunity, more..

Jun 12 (FT) CB Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy gave assurances of a well-managed rupee, insisting the monetary authority would block unwarranted volatility in the foreign exchange rate and have zero tolerance on speculation, pledging to take all measures possible to discipline the market. He said certain allegations were made that CB is contributing to volatile Forex rate practiced by market players. more..

Jun 12 (FT) Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and SL International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCSL) last week launched Sri Lanka’s Most Admired Companies Award 2018, which is a first-of-its-kind in Sri Lanka. With the main objective of recognising companies that are first-rate in not just their financial performance but also with the value they create in a sustainable and ethical way for their employees, customers, investors and general community, more..

Jun 12 (DN) Sri Lanka Tourism is aiming for all time record revenue of US$ 4 billion from the industry for 2018, said Minister John Amaratunga. Speaking at the SL Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) 39th Graduation Ceremony at the BMICH, he said that this will better last year’s revenue of US$ 3 billion. Minister said the tourism industry is an important contributor to the national economy and it has been moving to be among the highest foreign exchange earners. more..

Jun 12 (Island) The SLPP/JO ruled out the possibility of reunification of SLFP factions under any circumstances. SLPP Chairman G.L. Peiris emphasized that the SLFP proposal to field President Maithripala Sirisena as its candidate was not acceptable to the dissident group and therefore that party shouldn’t expect their backing. SLPP announced its position on the presidential poll, at Nelum Mawatha Office, Battaramulla. more..

Jun 12 (Island) Northern Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran called for a thorough investigation into the Treasury bond scams. Addressing a rally in Vavuniya, he said that if anyone had obtained money by illegal means that person should face the consequences. Even though taking some money from a person was not a big issue, the reason for providing it was important, Wigneswaran said. He pointed out that if the money was obtained to gain political advantage it was a serious matter. more..

Jun 12 (PMD) A special discussion on the Sasya Shakthi project conducted simultaneously to Grama Shakthi program was held under President’s patronage today (11). Selecting three thousand farmer families under the Mahaweli Development Program which is the largest multipurpose national development program of the history of Sri Lanka implementing solar power water system methods over three thousand acres was launched under the first stage of Sasya Shakthi project. more..

Jun 12 (Island) Online system would be promoted for all approvals related to building construction and land in the future as a measure to prevent corruption in the process, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Champika Ranawaka said yesterday. Addressing a media briefing, he said the Urban Development Authority (UDA) had received over 9000 applications through the online based system from January to April this year. more..

Jun 12 (CT) Director of the Coastal Conservation Department Prabath Chandrakeerthi claimed that the process of removing unauthorized structures along the country’s coastline was getting delayed due to the fact that there was no rehabilitation plan involving the relocation and the provision of shelter for those who are to be removed. He also mentioned that a few of them have already been removed from certain areas such as Mirissa, Unawatuna and Tangalle. more..