Jun 21 (DM) Nine years into the post-war era Sri Lanka is making slow and steady progress as a developing country. However, much needs to be done to uplift the lives of the people and bring in more hope and prosperity to poverty-stricken areas of the country. Among the many countries that have allied with SL, France stands in a significant position. During a recent visit, French Senator & Vice Chair of Foreign Affairs, more..

Jun 21 (DM) Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya drew a setback on Tuesday as he failed to get the Cabinet nod to award the contract to a Chinese company for the execution of the proposed LNG power project in Kerawalapitiya. His office had decided to award the contract for GCL China for the execution of the project. However, tender procedure was shrouded in controversy as it has been offered to more..

Jun 21 (AD) The price of a number of expensive medicinal drugs (eg. cancer treatment drugs) will be reduced in July, says Minister Rajitha Senaratne. He stated that 48 essential drugs will undergo huge price cuts during the first step of this implementation, while its second stage will reduce the price of expensive drugs. Following the price reduction, the Minister has decided to revise the prices at all private hospitals. more..

Jun 21 (Island) Having had brazenly used the UNHRC to adopt an anti-Sri Lanka Resolution in Oct 2015 on the basis of unsubstantiated war crimes allegations, the US has endorsed what we have been saying with regard to the inherent bias and lack of objectivity on the part of the UN agency, former Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris says. He alleged that the Geneva body always treated Sri Lanka with preconceived notions and shuts its eyes to more..

Jun 21 (DM) The joint opposition said people should stop paying taxes to the govt, if it continues with its move to pay compensation to ex-LTTE combatants. JO member and MP Wimal Weerawansa said that no country in the world had ever paid compensation to ex-terrorists unlike what Sri Lanka was attempting to do and added that such moves would not contribute towards reconciliation. He said the govt was hoping to pay compensation to more..

Jun 21 (Island) Colombo Municipal Councillor Sharmila Gonawela has requested Mayor Rosy Senanayake to take necessary steps to appoint an Opposition Leader. The following is the text of the letter sent by Gonawela to Senanayake: "It has been the tradition from the inception of the CMC to appoint an opposition leader although it is not in accordance with the Municipal ordinance. During the last so many years the leader of more..

Jun 21 (Island) The govt would take severe action against South Eastern University lecturer who demanded sexual bribes from female students there, Higher Education Minister Dr Wijayadasa Rajapakshe told Parliament yesterday. He said so in response to a matter raised by Public Enterprise Development and Kandyan Heritage Deputy Minister Muhammad Haris, who said there were media reports about an incident more..

Jun 21 (CB) SL skipper Dinesh Chandimal, on Thursday (21), appealed against the charges laid against him on grounds of ball-tampering after the match referee Javagal Srinath arrived at the conclusion having studied the video evidence from the third day's action of the second Test against the Windies, the ICC confirmed. An interesting legal battle is now on the cards between the lawyers of SLC and ICC after more..

Jun 21 (CT) Findings from a recent World Bank (WB) study published on these pages on Tuesday (19) said, that having on board quality crèches may act as an inducement to get more women to work, therewith adding momentum to an otherwise sluggish economy that a lower middle income country like Sri Lanka is currently suffering from. It highlighted the fact that the island has a low women’s labour force participation rate (LFPR) of 36.6%. more..

Jun 21 (FT) O/L Examinations are over. Results are in. What should I be doing at A/L? Science, Commerce or Arts? And what subject combinations? This always is a burning question for some and also for parents. This question is usually answered by checking with friends and doing what everyone else is doing. Sometime neighbourhood choices too may influence the decision. At times the choice is based on what profession is considered to have the perception of its ability to earn more, more..

Jun 21 (CT) Bodu Bala Sena strongman Galagoda Atte Gnanasara can no longer be considered a Buddhist monk as per the vinaya rules elaborated recently by Rev Medagoda Abhayatissa considering the fact that all prisoners are treated equally by relevant authorities. Rev Abhayatissa said that according to the disciplinary texts, the Vinaya Pitakaya, a bikkhus who spends seven days out of the robe can lose his status as per the rule cheevara vippavaasi (residing out of the robe). more..

Jun 21 (EN) Provincial councils have employed more than 7,000 people in excess of their approved cadre, according to the 2018 first quarter report on public sector staff. Minister Gayantha Karunathileka said that according to the report by Minister of Finance Mangala Samaraweera, 9,851 new employees were recruited to the entire public sector during the first quarter 2018. The report showed that 7,555 public servants had left the public sector due to retirements, resignations, more..

Jun 21 (EN) A top Buddhist monk has asked former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to become another Hitler who is known to have killed up to six million Jews in the Holocaust. A chief priest of the Asgiriya chapter, Venduruwe Upali, blessed Rajapaksa on his 69th birthday Wednesday by encouraging him to return to power and rebuild the country even if it means establishing military. The monk, delivering a sermon at more..

Jun 21 (NR) The owner of Perpetual Treasuries Arjun Aloysius and CEO Kasun Palisena have been further remanded till the 5th of July. The order was issued by Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne this afternoon. Fort Magistrate also issued summons to the father of Arjun Aloysius Perpetual Treasuries Group Chairman Geoffrey Aloysius to appear before Court at the next hearing on the 5th of July. During today’s hearing the representative for the Attorney General informed Court more..

Jun 21 (WN) A petition has been launched to stop a former Worcester university student from being deported after he was refused a visa. Hemaka Pathiranage, who came to the city in 2011 and has remained ever since, was refused a working visa in July 2017 after he did not finish his masters course, due to his work as vice-president of the student union at the University of Worcester. He challenged the decision but was given 28 days notice on Wednesday June 13 to make arrangements more..

Jun 21 (AD) A group of villagers have captured and killed a leopard after it had reportedly attacked and injured around 10 people at Ambalkulam, Kilinochchi. Villagers had informed Wildlife Officers after the leopard had entered the village and attacked several people, however an operation launched by the officers and villagers to capture the animal had ended in failure. The leopard had attacked a cattle herder in the forest more..

Jun 21 (Island) The PCoI probing irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka, yesterday, decided to call for an explanation from the Registrar of Companies anent the registration of thousands of companies which do not comply with section 4 of the Companies Act, no 07 of 2007. Section 4.2 of the Act says that ‘(2) A company shall have not less than two shareholders, provided that a company may have a single shareholder where such single shareholder more..

Jun 21 (CT) Govt presented a Gazette Notification to Parliament to increase postage fees. According to the Gazette Notification, issued by Minister of Postal Services Abdul Haleem, the minimum postage fee will be increased from Rs 5 to Rs 15. Furthermore, the postage fee for every 20 grams will be increased by Rs 15. Gazette Notification says that this amount will be effective up to 100 grams. Moreover, postage fees for mail which weighs between 100 grams and 250 grams will also be increased. more..

Jun 21 (EN) SL’s national inflation picked up to 2.1% in May 2018 from 1.6% in April 2018, on a year-on-year basis, mainly driven by fuel and gas price hikes. The National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) increased to 124.3 index points in May 2018 from 122.9 index points in April 2018. “The increase in the year-on-year inflation in May 2018 was mainly driven by upward price revisions to the items in the Non-food category.” more..

Jun 21 (Island) Seven Arabs, enjoying a boat ride in the Mahaweli Ganga, nearly drowned when their vessel capsized near Halloluwa Waratenna on Wednesday afternoon. The foreigners escaped by holding on to some rock outcrops. They were rescued by residents of the area and police personnel rushed there from Peradeniya, Kandy and Katugastota. The boatman from Hindagala, near Peradeniya, who was out of danger but in a state of shock had been admitted the Kandy hospital, more..

Jun 21 (CT) Foreign investments and multi-billion dollar projects have not been contributing to improve the local engineering knowledge or technology, CEO of the information services Company N*able, Peter D’Almeida said. He was delivering a special guest lecture at the official launch of the Techno Sri Lanka-2018 exhibition, which will be held on 12, 13 and 14 Oct, under the theme Engineering the Green Future, at the BMICH. It is being organized by the Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL). more..

Jun 21 (Island) Owner of the SAITM Dr. Neville Fernando did something very similar to what Perpetual Treasuries owner Arjun Aloysius had done, the JVP said yesterday. JVP MP Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, participating in the debate on General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (Special Provisions) Bill aimed at accommodating the SAITM students at the KDU said that children dreaming of becoming graduate doctors more..

Jun 21 (DM) Visiting Norwegian State Secretary for Development Cooperation, Jens Frolich Holte today appreciated the continued commitment of SL Unity Govt to strengthen democracy and promote and uphold human rights. Mr. Holte expressed these views when he called on State Minister of Foreign Affairs Vasantha Senanayake. State Minister’s media division said the bilateral discussions broadly focused on the sustainable use of oceans and management of marine litter, a shared more..

Jun 21 (AD) There is no conflict within the JO, claimed JO MP Dilum Amunugama. According to him, a certain minister has stated that a disappeared journalist was murdered, yet everyone else only knows him to only have disappeared. Therefore, the CID should immediately interrogate the said minister, says the MP Amunugama. Although the group has left the govt and is working with the JO, they still accept the leadership of the current Prez and the group of 16 still hasn’t joined us, more..

Jun 21 (DM) When the CEB was established in 1970 the total power output was 265 Megawatts. This comprised of 192 Megawatts from Hydro power and 73 Megawatts from thermal power. During this time there were only 70,644 consumers. The cost of generating one unit of electricity was cents 9 and distributed among the consumers at cents 15 a unit. In this manner the CEB continued to serve the public during a period of 25 years more..

Jun 21 (NR) Two more rounds of discussions between the govt and postal employees who are currently engaged in trade union action have ended without an agreement reached. Accordingly the Joint Postal Trade Union Collective said trade union action will continue. The postal strike that enters the 11th day today is the longest strike launched by employees in the history of the Postal Department. Trade Union Collective meanwhile noted they expect to hold a round of discussions with more..

Jun 21 (DM) Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said today the country had to face various issues under the previous regime because of its hostile attitude towards India. He told Parliament that India, which initially supported our country at the UNHRC in matters of human rights violations, later acted against us because of the then govt's attitude. "We made enemies with India. It was a serious mistake made by the previous govt. India helped us during the war and at the UNHRC. more..

Jun 21 (EN) Raising Sri Lanka’s female labor force participation can boost growth in the long run, the IMF has said. “Sri Lanka could raise GDP by as much as 20% over the long-term by closing the gender gap in the workforce,” the IMF's executive board said in the latest assessment of its program with Sri Lanka. Key measures include labor law reforms to support flexible work arrangements such as part-time work, more..

Jun 21 (CT) The TNA has appointed a four-member committee to draft a report on alleged instances of irregular settlements in Mullaitivu and has sought an urgent meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena, before the end of this month, to submit the report. General Secretary of the TNA, Mavai Senathirajah, said that the TNA has planned to request for a meeting with the President before 30 June to hand over the report and discuss matters pertaining to the issue. more..

Jun 21 (DM) The GMOA today requested Higher Education Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe to issue a gazette notification abolishing SAITM. GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge said that the gazette notification should be issued in keeping with the Universities Act. “We urge the minister to issue the gazette notification as assured in order to solve the nine-year long issue. The observations of Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) should be put forward to solve this issue in a more fruitful manner. more..

Jun 21 (Island) It was doubtful whether the SriLankan Airlines management had taken into account extra fuel costs due to transporting large stocks of inflight duty free items, Marlon Perera, the Director of Sales and Development of Phoenix Duty Free Services, concessionaire for inflight duty free services for both SriLankan and Mihin Lanka, said yesterday. "This is a serious lapse," he said. more..

Jun 22 (CT) I was more alarmed by what I saw and heard on TV news last evening than by anything I have seen or heard in the Sri Lankan media throughout my life. What I saw and heard was the most dangerous and morally debased public statement, i.e. a statement made in public and concerning public, not private affairs, I have ever heard uttered in this country. It would be the most dangerous public statement that could be uttered in any country in the world. more..

Jun 22 (GV) In the year 2018, the divide between online and offline worlds has become increasingly blurred. Behaviour seen in digital spaces and the language used in the dissemination of content mirrors offline practice to a great extent. This is why bodies like the Association for Progressive Communication and IT for Change recognise technology-based violence as an aspect of gender-based violence Yet, this recognition is almost absent in Sri Lanka, with many institutions choosing more..

Jun 22 (SO) Generation Safe and Healthy was the slogan ringing around as the world marked the Day Against Child Labour, last week. International Labour Organization (ILO) hailed SL as a beacon of hope in the South Asian Region, recognising the country’s progress is eliminating child labour since 1999. While SL has made progress in bringing labour prevalence numbers down to 1% of the child population, more..

Jun 22 (CT) In his typically feisty style Mark Salter has taken issue with the characterization of a statement in his To End a Civil War as infantile (within an articlebased on the Lt Col Gash files). Salter’s assertion is from an UTHR report which in turn is based on appraisals provided by Tamil civilians who survived the last stages of the war. Here I address both Salter and Rajan Hoole, a friend of mine and the central figure behind the exhaustive 2009 UTHR reports. more..

Jun 22 (CT) In Aug 2016, Office of Missing Persons Bill was passed in Parliament. It was a surprise move by the Govt as the Bill was not supposed to be taken on that day. Using the confusion that resulted from the uproar, caused by the JO, for taking up this Bill unscheduled; to its advantage this Govt passed it through. In effect, the Parliament spent less than 40 minutes to debate on this Bill that threatens to usurp our judiciary. In March 2018, using the riots that erupted in Digana as more..

Jun 22 (CT) Vice President of the SLFP, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe says, the leader of the SLFP is Maithri, the one and only suitable person to contest the next Presidential Election and went onto say I stayed with Mahinda during the previous Presidential Elections, I will stay with Maithri during the next one. Q: Temporary reforms in the SLFP which were being talked about up to now were carried out. What is this temporary change? more..

Jun 22 (SO) The period between 2010 - 2015, post war urban development in Colombo and the Urban Development Authority will be remembered for the forced evictions, the military harassment and threats to the urban poor to leave their homes, lack of due process, the State propaganda machine convincing everyone that the relocations to the UDA built high-rises in North Colombo would uplift the lives of the slum and shanty dwellers. In fact, the majority did not even fall into that category and more..

Jun 22 (DN) Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is scheduled to play a T20 triangular tournament next month involving Nepal and Netherlands. The event will be held on July 29, Sunday at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground also known as the Mecca of Cricket. Meanwhile, Mahela Jayawardene, the former SL cricketer, was recently announced as the skipper of the MCC team. MCC will cross swords with the two associate nations before the pair lock horns in the last of the three T20s on the day. more..