May 2 (CT) Lester James Peries (99), film director, producer and screenwriter, will be laid to rest, today. A colossus in the island’s film industry spanning more than five decades, he was responsible for either producing and/or directing movies of the calibre of Madol Duwa, The God King, Rekava, Gamperaliya, Nidhanaya, Sandeshaya, Golu Hadawatha, Delowak Athara, Kaliyugaya, Awaragira, Yuganthaya, Maya, Ran Salu, and Wekande Walauwa, to name a few. more..

May 2 (FT) Ranasinghe Premadasa was born on 23 June 1924 in Colombo. He completed his education at St. Joseph’s College, Colombo 10. He was interested in social service for the welfare of the poor and downtrodden. He was the architect of Sri Sucharitha Movement, an organisation with the objectives of uplifting the economic, social and spiritual development of the low income people. These youth who enrolled in his development movement refrained from taking liquor and more..

May 2 (Island) Ceylon Motorcyclists Association (CMA) has received over a thousand complaints from motorcyclists, in April, alleging that police dismantled their modified silencers, Chairman of the CMA, Chirantha Amarasinghe said. He said the association had opened a hotline to receive complaints on the matter. "Some modifications like extra lights and leg guards can be considered an enhancement that increases safety of the cyclists. But for some reason police are removing more..

May 2 (CT) Could it be a list that includes the salary bill of some institutions paid for about 15 Executives drawing a handsome salary of Rs. 300,000/- each ? Well Rs. 300,000/-per month is a handsome salary according to the standards of the heavily debt burdened country ! Or could it be a little less generous emolument package covering about 30 top level Executives Grade employees, each being paid about Rs. 150,000/- per month? Does it also refer to Performance Bonus payments made to more..

May 2 (Roar) Wellawatte, in the southernmost limit of Colombo, is such a hive of activity today that it is hard to believe it was a sparsely populated place a little over a century ago. Its Sinhala meaning, I>sandy garden, itself suggests a rather deserted area. It was then dominated by a few burgher families of European origin. In fact, much of the land on the seaside is said to have been a vast coconut estate owned by a Burgher more..

May 2 (DM) While condemning the govt’s decision to lift the ban on the Glyphosate weedicide for the tea and rubber industries, MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera today said this decision was illegal. Rathana Thera said that the related authorities had taken this decision without going through an accurate procedure and added that the decision had been made without the gathering of the committee to probe into this matter. “Accordingly, the authorities cannot lift the ban on the Glyphosate for more..

May 2 (AD) Newly appointed Minister of Higher Education and Cultural Affairs, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, says that Ministry of Higher Education is responsible for the biggest injustice in his life. While expressing his contentment on receiving the ministerial portfolio, he said that it was seen that the new Cabinet appointments were done on a scientific basis and coincidently, he has always received ministerial portfolios that were selected on a scientific basis. more..

May 2 (EN) SL's tea farm managers say a ban on the popular weedicide glyphosate without using scientific evidence, which ended after the intervention of plantation minister, has caused crop losses of 25 billion rupees over two years. Planters' Association of Ceylon, which is made up of managers of large commercial tea, rubber and coconut farming companies said an estimated 15 billion rupees of crop was lost in 2015 due to more..

May 2 (LT) “Capitalism in SL can never create anything new for the masses in this country and this impotent capitalist system should be changed. This once again emphasizes the need for a new socio-economic transformation for a new Socialist society to replace the bankrupt capitalist state,” states the May Day message released by the JVP. Full text of the message: The downtrodden masses including the working people commemorate the Int'l Workers’ Day that falls on 1st May with dignity. more..

May 2 (DM) Department of Meteorology today advised the people to be watchful of the heat as the maximum heat indexes in some areas have increased currently. A spokesman for the Department of Meteorology said people in North, North Central, Uva and North Western province should be watchful as maximum heat index has increased. Maximum heat index is normally computed taking into consideration the temperature and humidity levels in the atmosphere more..

May 2 (AFP) Sri Lanka opener Dimuth Karunaratne has fractured a finger in practice, officials said Wednesday, and is in doubt for a West Indies tour starting this month. Sri Lanka's cricket board confirmed Karunaratne sustained the injury while batting in the nets on Tuesday to prepare for a limited-overs tournament. It did not comment on whether he would join the three-Test series in the West Indies, but sources said more..

May 2 (DM) President Maithripala Sirisena today rejected the claims that the ministries had not been assigned on scientific basis and that he would take into consideration the scientific basis when gazetting subjects and institutions of the ministries. He said at the swearing-in ceremony this morning that changes were made when assigning ministries by him in consultation with the Prime Minister. “Some people allege that the ministries have not been assigned on scientific basis as promised. more..

May 2 (NM) There’s another reason to visit Mysuru now – the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens is now home to two anacondas, one male and one female. The four-year-old reptiles, measuring 8-feet in length, are part of an exchange programme with the Sri Lanka National Zoo. According to C Ravishankar, the executive director of the zoo, the anacondas were flown into the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, and then were brought to Mysuru by road. more..

May 2 (EN) SL's power ministry has proposed to bring back coal plants to the energy mix in a bid to lower long term generation costs, amid a need to determine the optimal energy mix, the central bank has said. Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy submitted a revised version of the new National Energy Policy and Strategies to the Cabinet of Ministers for approval, which includes coal. "It is important to determine the optimal mix of more..

May 2 (DSA) IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, announced an investment of $27 million in SL’s Melwa Hotels and Resorts. The financing will help Melwa Hotels, a subsidiary of Melwire Rolling, develop three new hotels outside of Colombo, in Yala, Kosgoda, and Negombo. The hotels will be operated by Hilton Hotels. Melwa Hotels and Hilton had last year signed an agreement for the development of six Hilton-branded – 3 Hilton and 3 Doubletree by Hilton — properties in SL. more..

May 2 (DM) NFF Leader and MP Wimal Weerawansa said the recently signed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Singapore was done in an illegal manner and that it would adversely affect SL professionals. He said this treaty would provide ample room for not only Singaporean professionals but also those of India, China and Malaysia to freely enter the SL job market. “When professionals from Singapore and other Asian countries invade the SL job market, our professionals will lose more..

May 2 (DVIDS) U.S. and partner nation service members participating in Pacific Partnership 2018 (PP18) hosted both civilian and SL Navy dentists and orthodontists aboard Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) for a dental subject matter expert exchange (SMEE) symposium May 1. During this exchange, dentists and orthodontists assigned to the Mercy for PP18 and the SL Navy conducted more..

May 2 (CT) Attorney-at-Law Sugandhika Fernando said that she had documentary evidence and eyewitnesses to prove the recent allegations that she had made regarding the misconduct of certain lawyers and judicial malpractices. Speaking on the reports of a letter being sent to her by the Bar Association of SL (BASL), asking her to provide evidence within 14 days in connection with the allegations made by her, she said, “It’s a complete lie, I have not received such a letter. more..

May 2 (DM) The Golden Peacock Award Ranamayura which was conferred upon the late film-maker, legend and the father of Sri Lankan cinema Dr. Lester James Peries, was reported to have been stolen this morning from his residence, Sri Lanka National Film Corporation Chairman said. SLNFC Chairman Sitendra Senaratne said a family member had confirmed about the incident. “According to the family member of the deceased legend, the award alleged to have gone missing after 10.30 am more..

May 2 (DN) We will launch a massive protest jointly against govt’s decision to lift the ban imposed on using glyphosate weedicide for tea and rubber plantations, said GMOA Secretary Dr. Nalinda Herath. Expressing his concern on local citizen’s health he said, ‘even though this weedicide may help to gain more crops and hence gain more economic benefits to the said industries, it is very unhealthy’. more..

May 2 (NR) MP SB Dissanayake says members of the SLFP who left the govt will continue their political journey under a broad national front. Speaking to media in Kandy MP Dissanayake said the group of Parliamentarian expect to continue their journey with factions that are within the UPFA. MP Dissanayake said even though SLFP members sit in the Opposition on the 8th of May, they are still part of the SLFP and the UPFA. He stressed that their Chairman is still Maithripala Sirisena. more..

May 2 (DM) A suspect, who had been cavorting as a medical officer and had defrauded around Rs 18.1 million from several local banks, had been taken into custody in Udugampola, Gampaha by the CID yesterday. Police said the suspect had obtained loans from banks by subterfuge. The suspect was identified as Sanath Weerasooriya (56), a resident of Bandiyamulla, Gampaha. The CID officers had recovered 4 fake identity cards, 2 driving licenses and 11 passports with different names more..

May 2 (Mirror) Six elephants have died after eating PLASTIC that had been dumped at a landfill site in Sri Lanka. Rubbish from nearby areas is taken to the dump in Deegawapi but has since attracted numerous wild animals - including birds, dogs and even now the elephants. Many of these animals end up eating the toxic waste which has been left there - and so far as many as six elephants are known to have died as a result. more..

May 3 (CT) I refer to the article in the LMD Magazine of March 2018, under the caption ‘Grave Threats to Our Pluralism’ by Mr. Jehan Perera and wish to make my observations/comments. When reading the said article between the lines and behind the lines, one is inclined to believe that Jehan supports the cremation of Venerable Meegahajandure Gnanaratana’s in the Jaffna esplanade as an acceptable practice, similar to practice adopted in the south of Srilanka. more..

May 3 (CT) The demonstration that was staged by Hindu teachers of Shanmuga Hindu Ladies College in Trincomalee recently against Muslim teachers who work in the same school, urged me to write these paragraphs. First of all I emphasis that the violators of educational rules and regulations should be punished whoever it is without any discrimination and partiality. The law is for all and every citizens of this nation is equal in front of the court. According to the sources, principle of the college more..

May 3 (CT) Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera said “We have realized how undemocratic our Party constitution is and we hope to bring it within a democratic framework and work towards strengthening this Govt as well as the Party in the future.” Q: UNPers who said they wanted complete restructuring, are now once again keeping their mouths shut in deference to their leader’s views. Actually what was done as Party reforms? more..

May 3 (CT) National Prosperity is the ultimate goal to be achieved and there is no doubt that it is the eventual result of the Inputs. When inputs are governed by the principles of free economic practices, open economy that encourages free imports, privatization that makes entrepreneurs free to take decisions without being hampered by rules and regulations in a framework where external resources are not restricted, the trading that takes place would affect balance of trade naturally more..

May 3 (CT) I was deeply saddened to learn about the demise of Reggie Fernando, on 22 April in Sri Lanka, the veteran journalist and a worthy friend from London. He commenced journalism as a staff writer at the Daily News. Subsequently, in the UK, he continued with his writing to the Daily News and Evening Observer and The Sunday Observer, and became the longest serving London Correspondent for the Associated Newspapers Group. Reggie needed no introduction in SL or in London. more..

May 3 (SO) Despite the financial challenges facing the Airline, SriLankan remains steadfast in its commitment to the country... This was how the Annual Report for Financial Year ending 31st March, 2009 concluded in which SriLankan Airlines sunk into the red reporting a loss of Rs. 9.3 billion from a profit of Rs. 4.4 billion recorded in its previous financial year. Since that financial year and up to the end of 31st Mar more..

May 3 (DN) The new Cabinet of the Yahapaalanaya govt headed by President Sirisena and PM Wickremesinghe was sworn in on May Day after a great deal of political manoeuvring and introspection from within both SLFP and UNP. Cabinet is dominated by the UNP, given that the number of SLFP parliamentarians loyal to President Sirisena has dwindled to 25 with 16 SLFP ministers and MPs leaving the govt following the unsuccessful motion of no-confidence against PM Wickremesinghe. more..

May 3 (DN) Most of the politicians in SL are not given to public service. This is because service has acquired a menial connotation. In a complex society as today’s, we cannot produce by ourselves all that we require living a normal human life. Especially today, we cannot supply all our needs by ourselves alone; we depend on the fair and dependable commitment of others to their regular work or services for us to live our lives without too many challenging difficulties. more..

May 3 (Island) It was a Sunny Sunday in Sydney and I decided to go to the city centre, places where I roamed around. Doing the usual, getting lost and finding my way back. I never use maps, instead use old world ways of asking people how to get to places. However, the helpful Australians google and gave me directions even when I told them I have a local phone with internet given by my brother Rohana. Sadly, the humankind have become slaves to a machine. more..

May 3 (ST) Ten years ago by this time – that was early 2008 -, people in the US were living happily, earning more than a quarter of the world’s total income. They were also the biggest consuming nation in the world; their household consumption alone accounted for 30% of the world total. In fact, it was much more than what they earned. They had another reason to be happy: They can print dollars or dollar-denominated assets and present to the rest of the world as collateral for loans and, more..

May 3 (Island) Increase in the Total Debt Stock due to Depreciation of the Rupee since the Yahapalanaya govt came to power, reaches a staggering Rs. 836.0 billion, which is equivalent to over six times the amount borrowed to construct the Hambantota Port. Self-proclaimed Economic Guru of the current govt who used to be greatly agitated when the SL Rupee depreciated by even 10 cents against the USD during Rajapaksa era, more..

May 3 (Island) 27 State and Dy Ministers were sworn in, yesterday, before President Sirisena, who seems to think that he can usher in good governance by reshuffling the Cabinet. Nobody knows how many more ministers will be appointed in the coming weeks. It looks as if an MP could become a minister by threatening to leave the govt or rebelling against the leaders of either SLFP or UNP. That may be the reason why some UNP backbenchers are staging protests and more..

May 3 (FT) Strategic Business Innovator Ltd. has tied up with the eminent Striders Corporation of Japan to invite Japanese investors to Sri Lanka. The company, on the heels of opening its liaison office in Sri Lanka, has shown its commitment to bringing investors to Sri Lanka by signing a partnership agreement with the Striders Corporation of Japan. Striders Corporation is a diversified investor relations company which is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under the JASDAQ market, more..

May 3 (WB) In March this year, as part of the Int'l Women’s Day #PressForProgress campaign, the World Bank office in Sri Lanka invited expression of views of Sri Lankans on priorities and opportunities to improve Female Labour Force Participation (FLFP) in Sri Lanka. Among other things, the survey* was designed to help us identify what Sri Lankans think are the main challenges keeping women out of the workplace; more..

May 3 (FT) Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama was the Chief Guest at the South African Freedom Day event held at Galle Face Hotel on 26 April. Minister Amunugama represented the Govt of Sri Lanka at this event. South African High Commissioner Robina P. Marks and many others participated at this event. Following is the speech delivered by Minister Dr. Amunugama: Your Excellency Robina P. Marks, High Commissioner of South Africa, Excellencies, members of the diplomatic corps, more..