Mar 6 (Island) A strike launched by Colombo Port container drivers and assistants enters its second day today. The strikers are asking the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) to take over the container inspection outsourced to a private company in 2003 due to the security reasons that prevailed during the war. All Ceylon Container Transport Employees Union (ACCTEU) General Secretary B.I Abdeen said that the strike more..

Mar 6 (DN) Air India is expected to fly in an all women crew flight to Colombo to commemorate the International Women’s Day on March 8. A request has being made in this regard and Colombo is awaiting the conformation from Air India. Several destinations have made similar requests to the Indian airline. Meanwhile National carrier Air India has stated that it has operated a flight on the Kolkata-Dimapur-Kolkata sector yesterday with an all-women cockpit and cabin crew as part of more..

Mar 6 (DN) Indian captain Rohit Sharma played down the tag of tournament favourites and said that in a game of T20 cricket there were no favourites. “T20 is such a format that you will have to play good cricket any team can beat anyone. There are no favourites because it is such a short format the game can slip or change in a span of one or two overs,” said Sharma at a media conference held at Taj Samudra Hotel ahead of today’s Hero Nidahas trophy T20 tri-series more..

Mar 6 (FT) Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has given approval to increase the price of a 50kg bag of cement by Rs.30, in a move that has been slammed by consumer activists. Cement prices are regulated by the CAA as it is listed as an essential item. Other than cement, CAA also decides the price of LP Gas. Approval to increase prices was made by the CAA recently. National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection more..

Mar 6 (Island) The share prices of leading electric under cable manufacturer, Sierra Cables, increased by 13% or 30 cents at the CSE yesterday after it approved a Rs. 800 million contract with the CEB, stock market sources said. Therefore, Sierra Cables PLC traded heavily in the retail market. In the market initially it traded a share at Rs. 2.20 and moved up to Rs. 2.50. Accordingly, Sierra's contribution to the day's turnover in the market was foremost and reached Rs. 13.2 million. more..

Mar 6 (DM) While calling its investments in SL stocks a big bet, a top Swedish asset management firm said greater liquidity in the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) is paramount for SL to attract more foreign investor interest to the stock market. “If liquidity improves in line with CSE’s strategy to invite more foreign strategic investors and if there’s cross exchange trading, then you would have much more foreign investors here,” said Tundra Fonder AB Founder/CIO Mattias Martinsson. more..

Mar 6 (DN) All Army personnel have been restricted from posting any content in their Social Media accounts that carries information on national security or insulting remarks on politicians or public officials. A series of restrictions on using Social Media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin has been issued to all Army personnel by Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake. more..

Mar 6 (DN) Sri Lanka junior boys' tennis team went got off to a flying start recording a 3-0 win over Singapore in their opening tie of the ITF World Junior (14 & under) boys' Tennis Team Championship Asia/Oceania Group 'C' Pre-qualifiers that commenced at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts yesterday. The Lankan lads dominated all three matches of the tie winning the two singles and doubles with straight set victories. Chathurya Nilaweera won the first singles beating more..

Mar 6 (DM) Perhaps a once in a life time opportunity will come across for those who admire western classical music when the Midori Violin Studio Project comes to SL. Led by Midori, one of the world’s foremost violinists, this pioneering ten-day project around SL will include masterclasses, string workshops and concerts. Project is brought to you by Premier Sponsor, Fairway Holdings, leading patron of art & culture, and Chamber Music Society of Colombo, celebrating its 10th anniversary. more..

Mar 6 (Island) Top JO spokesman Prof. G.L. Peiris said that the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe govt owed the country an explanation as to why Lord Naseby’s revelations in the House of Lords hadn’t been made use of to defend Sri Lanka at the Geneva-based UNHRC. Prof. Peiris alleged that the govt had conveniently failed to challenge the Geneva Resolution 30/1 on the basis of wartime British High Commission dispatches. more..

Mar 6 (TN) Five men broke into an American professor’s villa and stole jewellery, electronics and Dh15,000 cash, Dubai Criminal Court heard. On July 11, the Sri Lankan men – aged between 29 and 49 – were armed with screwdrivers and broke into the man’s villa after climbing over the wall of his house. Records showed that the accused broke the locks to all the rooms inside the house and stole gold jewellery, a diamond necklace, luxury watches, electronics, an old Omani dagger and cash. more..

Mar 6 (Hindu) The city police claimed to have busted a major drug cartel with the arrest of a Sri Lankan national, who held an Indian passport, and his associate recently. Huge quantities of methamphetamine were seized from the accused. Shabudeen, 55, a Sri Lankan national, landed in a trap laid by the Fake Passport Wing of the Central Crime Branch when he arrived on Friday with the contraband called meth, also known as ice. He was holding an Indian passport. more..

Mar 6 (DM) Govt strongly and unequivocally condemns the recent sporadic incident of violence that had sparked off in Ampara and Digana, creating communal disharmony, where some places of worship, residences and businesses have been damaged, Govt Information Dept said in a statement. It also said; "Govt also condemned the hate and mischievous targeting the Muslim community in particular and another as well, more..

Mar 6 (DM) Former President and MP Mahinda Rajapaksa said everyone should act with responsibility to maintain law and order in Digana and said both the President and the PM should take action in this regard. Mr. Rajapaksa expressed these views in response to questions by journalists outside the Sri Sambodhi Viharaya in Colombo. The former president arrived at the temple to pay his last respects to Ven. Daranagama Kusaladhamma Thera who passed away recently. more..

Mar 6 (AJ) Sri Lanka imposed a curfew in a central town popular with tourists after days of unrest between religious communities with a Buddhist man killed and Muslim businesses set ablaze. Police said on Monday there had been riots and arson attacks since the weekend in Kandy district, while sources said the violence was spreading throughout the South Asian island nation. "The curfew was imposed to control the situation in the area," said police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera. more..

Mar 6 (Island) JO will move a no-faith motion against PM Ranil Wickremesinghe today in Parliament. Leader of PHU Udaya Gammanpila said that the draft of the no confidence motion against the PM had been completed. He said some people asked whether it was against the PM or the govt. Gammanpila said when a no-confidence motion was brought against the PM it invariably becomes one against the govt as well. more..

Mar 6 (DN) Managers will be appointed to all schools having a student population of over 1000 in future to facilitate easier administration, Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said. Addressing the gathering at the annual sports meet held at Kurunegala Maliyadeva (Boys) Vidyalaya recently, Minister said he hoped to appoint a Manager to each school having over 1000 students and a Manager and an Assistant Manager to schools with over 2000 students, after gaining Cabinet approval more..

Mar 6 (FT) Govt is to discuss the future of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management, headed by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, today at the Cabinet meeting. During last week’s cabinet meeting, President Sirisena said that the CCEM should be dismissed as it took the responsibility of informed decision-making away from the Cabinet, resulting in a heated debate between the two leaders. The discussion however ended without a final verdict as PM stood his ground, more..

Mar 6 (FT) Govt yesterday deployed 200 STF personnel and declared special area curfew in Digana in the Kandy District, after mobs attacked shops and places of religious worship in the Muslim-majority town. Some 27 Muslim-owned shops and businesses and several houses were set on fire, while at least one mosque was damaged during the overnight violence that spilled over into yesterday. 24 persons were arrested by Teldeniya police more..

Mar 6 (DM) Political parties have created a muddle in the local govt bodies by adopting a flawed law providing for female representation in them. In spite of their intention being lofty, the provision in the recently adopted Local Authorities Election Amendment Act for the 25% of female representation have led to a messy situation in local govt bodies after the Feb 10 election. The main reason for the delay in the institution of those bodies even after nearly a month is the controversy more..

Mar 6 (DM) Last week, there was a fresh round of ethnically motivated violence in Ampara. Suspicion that led to unrest was as real as black magic is. A group of drunken youth had stormed a Muslim owned eatery in the town and forced the cashier to confess selling food laced with male sterilizing chemicals. (A video of a confused man mumbling something when the aggressors asked whether the shop was mixing vandapethi with food was then posted on a social media page run by more..

Mar 6 (DM) Dr. Nalin de Silva spoke about the current political situation in the country. He has been a leading proponent of the Sinhala nationalist movement since the 1980s and been a critique of Western science and culture. Dr. de Silva has been noted for his strong push for the military defeat of the LTTE through his regular articles to the Sinhala and English newspapers through the 1990s till the ultimate ending of the war in 2009. more..

Mar 6 (DM) I dare say Sri Lanka has earned the dubious distinction to be listed by the European Union as a high risk country for money laundering subsequent to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) placing the country on its grey list reportedly from November 2017. Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy who assumed office as CBSL Governor from July 3, 2016 must bear some responsibility. more..

Mar 6 (Island) Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) accused the Minister Faiser Musthapha of being instrumental in the removal of its Commissioner V.K A. Anura on Friday. Member elect Roy Bogahawatte alleged that the CMC Commissioner had merely been informed by letter by the Secretariat of the Western Province Governor that he was being transferred to the WPC as his services were required by it. more..

Mar 6 (NR) The JVP says the unrest reported in Teldeniya and Digana could have been prevented. Party leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake requested all parties to refrain from supporting political beliefs instigated based on communal hatred. The MP stressed incidents such as the personal dispute between two groups in Moragahamulla, Teldeniya that led to one individual’s death should not be encouraged. more..

Mar 6 (Island) About 575,140 persons in the Puttalam, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Mannar and Kandy Districts have been affected by a severe drought according to the DMC. The drought victims include 216,676 people in Anamaduwa, Pallama, Nawagattegama, Puttalam, Mahakubukkadawala, Wanathawilluwa, Arachchikattuwa, Chilaw, Madampe, Karuwalagaswewa, more..

Mar 6 (GDI) In terms of the loan, amounts committed from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) the Korea Eximbank, Sri Lanka is ranked at fifth place among all 54 eligible countries said Colombo Chief Representative of the bank Sungsoo Jung. Holding a media brief in bank office Mr. Jung further said that from this total EDCF commitment of 785.07 million USD that 385 million USD more..

Mar 6 (DM) Though media reports said the SLPP obtained 44.65% votes at the recent LG Election, it had actually received only 40% votes, JHU General Secretary and Minister Champika Ranawaka said yesterday. He said media institutions had miscalculated the valid vote count as 11,069,417 but it should be corrected as 12,214,901 when it included the valid votes obtained by independent parties. more..

Mar 6 (DN) A cabinet paper will be presented in order to exempt all health services from VAT, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne stated. Minister Senaratne had instructed Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe yesterday, to prepare the relevant Cabinet Paper soon in order to present it to the Cabinet of Ministers. Minister Senaratne had taken a decision to exempt all health services from VAT more..

Mar 6 (NR) Police curfew has been reimposed with immediate effect in the Theldeniya and Pallekele police divisions. Police said curfew was reimposed in order to maintain law and order. Police curfew imposed in the Kandy district last afternoon was in effect till 6am due to the tense situation in several parts of Kandy District. STF has been deployed to the area for security. A personal dispute between two groups in Moragahamulla, more..

Mar 6 (AD) A decision was reached during the Cabinet Meeting held today to declare a State of Emergency in the country for a period of 10 days, Minister S.B. Dissanayake said. The relevant Gazette notification will be issued shortly, he said while speaking to reporters following a special Cabinet discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo. He stated that in the wake of the unrest in Digana & Teldeniya areas more..

Mar 6 (CT) Racial tensions are unfortunately simmering beneath the surface in many of the multi-racial communities in various parts of the country. This is particularly true in places where there is almost equal representation of Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims such as the Ampara District. That is why a vicious rumour spread that a Muslim eatery in the Ampara town was mixing pills that made people sterile with the food served to non-Muslims. That rumour fed into the urban myth in this country more..

Mar 6 (FT) It appears that the Govt is determined to proceed with the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ECTA) between India and Sri Lanka which consolidates all previous failed agreements on trade and industry. The Professional National Front (PNF) apparently out of desperation has appealed to the Indian High Commissioner demanding preventing proceeding with the negotiations until a Sri Lankan trade policy is formed as demanded by the professionals. more..

Mar 6 (EN) Sri Lanka’s govt is working with Korea’s aid agency to select investors for an advanced traffic management system in the capital Colombo which is facing increasing congestion, an aid official said. Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has helped develop an advanced traffic management system in Colombo and train staff through a technical assistance program, said Lee Dong Ku, resident representative of KOICA’s Sri Lanka office. more..

Mar 6 (AD) The Joint Opposition has decided to postpone its Nugegoda rally tomorrow due to the current situation and the funeral of Ven. Daranagama Kusaladhamma Thero. The SLPP had organised a rally and public meeting in Nugegoda tomorrow to celebrate the victory of the party at the recent LG election. The cremation ceremony of Venerable Daranagama Kusaladhamma Thero, Chief Incumbent of Sambodhi Viharaya, is to be held on Thursday at Independence Square, more..

Mar 6 (DM) House Leader Lakshman Kiriella today said that a resolution should be brought in parliament and Buddhists should apologise to the Muslims in connection with the violence in Digana and Teldeniya. He told parliament that the state intelligence services had collapsed resulting in the violence in Digana and Teldeniya. "This situation was created by some outsiders. more..

Mar 6 (EN) The United States has urged the Si Lankan govt to take action against perpetrators of sectarian violence after attacks on Muslim homes and mosques in the central hill country town of Kandy. The govt Tuesday declared a nationwide state of emergency to prevent the spread of the violence and enable tough action against the perpetrators. “Rule of law, human rights, and equality are essential for peaceful coexistence,” U.S. Embassy said in a statement. more..

Mar 6 (DM) Prez Maithripala Sirisena today assured stern action would be taken against anyone who spreads violence in the country and spreads rumours with the intention of provoking citizens. Making a special statement over the inter-communal clashes reported in several places of the country, Prez assured action against the elements which spread violence at a time when the govt was taking measures to establish political stability, peace among communities & reconciliation in SL. more..

Mar 6 (Roar) Tourism has seen an increase in SL, with the SLTDA recording 2.1 million arrivals in 2016, up 14% from the previous year’s 1,798,380. While the upward trend can be seen as an indicator that tourists are satisfied with their experience, there is some evidence, especially on user-generated websites like TripAdvisor, or on personal blogs, that some tourists are disenchanted with the price of some of the tourist sites. more..