Sep 29 (Roar) When most of us read a printed page, we usually pay attention only to the content and take the presentation for granted. But there is a lot that goes into a printed document, which begins with the actual lettering or typography. This was the focus of Akurucon, an annual conference on SL typography, which was held in Colombo early this month. This year’s conference specifically focused on the shared history of more..

Sep 29 (CT) There appears to be a hue and cry in the media, social circles and by the politicians in the Opposition over the depreciation of the SL Rupee against the US dollar in recent times. Almost every day news items headlined Rupee hits all-time low or Rupee hits record low appears in news media. Presently, the rate against the dollar is above Rs 170, and indicates gravity of the economic situation in the country. It is not really an unprecedented situation as the politicians in the Opposition more..

Sep 29 (CT) SWRD Bandaranaike, fourth PM of SL (formerly Ceylon) became a victim on 25 Sept 1959, to a gunman named Talduwe Somarama at his residence in Rosmead Place, Col 7, at a public meeting. The gunman used an A45 Webley Mark VI revolver to shoot the PM at point blank range, while he prostrated to pay homage to the yellow robe of a Buddhist monk. On 26 Sept he died at the Merchant’s Ward, Colombo General Hospital. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike’s 59th death more..

Sep 29 (CT) On Tuesday (11), the Cabinet endorsed the Counter-Terrorism Bill (CTL) to be enacted by the Parliament repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act, PTA, applied during the wartime in dealing with the LTTE. The draft bill was presented to the Cabinet by Minister Tilak Marapana with Ministers Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and Champika Ranawaka, both known for their hostile mindset towards Muslims reportedly grumbling at the Cabinet meeting that the law was not tough enough! more..

Sep 29 (Island) The Sirisena-Wickremesinghe govt never misses an opportunity to brag that it has restored media freedom, which it seems to consider poor relief of sorts for journalists. The reality, however, is otherwise. There have been no organised attacks on the media not because the yahapalana politicians cherish press freedom but because they are too weak to unleash violence. When a cat is too sick to hunt, rats enjoy some freedom, don’t they? Some incidents during the last three years or so have given more..

Sep 29 (Island) Will the US State Department have a special flag of recognition for SL? Cheers Sri Lanka - keep flying the Stars and Stripes. President Trump may even raise your issues at the next Security Council session. Just now we are the loudest supporters of the Donald Trump policies on int'l affairs. We have gone beyond US allies in the West, and away from NATO, with our Prez Sirisena echoing Trump at the UNGA to call for our own patriotism against globalism. more..

Sep 29 (Island) It is stale news now, but ODI skipper Angelo Mathews has resigned. That is closer to the truth than the screaming headlines and swirling rumours which spawned from elsewhere, stating he was sacked. He wasn’t. He was requested to step down at a meeting with the selectors and the Head Coach on 21st September. This he complied with. A few days later it was revealed that he was dropped from the ODI squad on fitness concerns; a matter that has seemingly irked the burly man. more..

Sep 29 (Island) Tourism has become one of the major foreign income earners. Especially the countries which have coastal areas enjoy more fruitful results in this field. But what really matters is the attractive places in a country. The people who find new venues and destinations always look for something different. For example, the people in cold countries look forward to travel to some hot weather countries. Climate changes play a major role in this process. more..

Sep 29 (CI) From 120 for 0, they fell to 222 all out, wondering what if for part of the night and what the hell for the rest of it. Bangladesh were winning the Asia Cup... until Kedar Jadhav snatched it away from them... with his part-time offspin. what... the... hell... The pain must cut all the more deeper because they were exceptional with the ball, taking a game that had no business going down the wire all the way to the very last ball. more..

Sep 29 (DN) Home team Business Managment School (BMS) stormed into their third consecutive Red Bull Campus Cricket championship final, defeating Karachi University by eight wickets in the World Final playoff, at the SSC in Colombo. BMS had been defeated by Karachi at the round robin stage, but had several key players absent for that game, due to Mercantile cricketing commitments. Back to full strength in this knockout match, BMS’ bowlers first kept Karachi to 142 for 8, more..

Sep 29 (Island) Maradana in Colombo, a busy intersection of roads, turnpikes, traffic at all times day and night, and the voluminous movement of people, could be transformed into a neighborhood of residential tranquility when the Sky One high rise is completed by 2021. General Manager Sam Hu, addressing the press recently said real estate sector development in Colombo, particularly when located in its busiest areas, is expected to bring about an orderly situation to city life. more..

Sep 29 (FT) As a measure to control the depreciating rupee, Minister Vajira Abeygunawardene suggested giving an opportunity to expats to bring in foreign currency with no questions asked and free of taxes. “I think we should give the opportunity to those who had worked abroad for over 30 to 40 years to bring money free of taxes, no questions asked. We need to bring in foreign currency from any part of the world to control more..

Sep 29 (ST) The Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) released its annual event calendar for 2019 where 13 local tournaments and five international assignments are involved. Among the top events lined up for 2019 are the three Under-19 Division I tournaments — the League, Sevens and the Knockout. The Under-19 Division I and II Schools League has been scheduled from March to May 2019 followed by Knockout Tournament which is scheduled from mid May to June first week. more..

Sep 29 (CT) The construction of a state-of-the-art China-Sri Lanka Joint Research and Demonstration Centre for Water Technology commenced yesterday (28), at the Peradeniya University premises. The Rs 28.3 billion project is carried out with a Chinese grant of Rs 1,950 million and Rs 880 million contribution from the Sri Lankan Govt. Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem said the Centre would be the largest drinking water testing laboratory in South Asia. more..

Sep 29 (EN) State-run SriLankan Airlines had signed a deal to pay 50.7 million rupees to a company named Via Capital which had no prior experience, to vet a business plan, with the signatory not having a name, designation or company seal, PCoI heard. Then Chairman of SriLankan Airlines Nishantha Wickremesinghe and ex-Company Secretary Mildred Peries had signed the agreement with Via Capital, Sri Lankan Airlines Head of more..

Sep 29 (EN) Although Sri Lanka’s private sector has stepped up efforts to provide relief to victims of natural disasters, lack of co-ordination with govt still results in much duplication, an official said. During disasters like floods, lots of private firms, NGOs and community leaders “come to the fore and announce lots of assistance,” said Chaminda Pathiraja, director of the National Disaster Relief Services Centre. “The major problem with this relief aid by the private sector and other agencies is that more..

Sep 29 (AD) Supreme Court today (28) ordered to postpone the hearing of appeal filed by Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran until Oct 19. The Court of Appeal recently issued an interim order, halting the decision of Wigneswaran to remove Balasubramaniam Deniswaran, former Northern Province Minister of Fisheries, Transport, Trade and Rural Development, from his ministerial portfolio. CM Wigneswaran subsequently filed an appeal before the Supreme Court, more..

Sep 29 (EN) Prez Sirisena dropped a bombshell claiming that Tamil Tigers planned a flight from neighbouring Tamil Nadu to destroy targets in Colombo as the separatist war drew to an end. He told SL expatriates in New York that he was the senior most politician in the country in May 2009 directing security forces in the absence of all other leaders. He said it was a well-guarded secret that the then prez Rajapaksa and his PM more..

Sep 29 (DM) The committee probing allegations against IGP Pujith Jayasundara will complete the investigation as soon as possible, Deputy Minister Nalin Bandara Jayamaha said. Responding to a question asked by journalists as to when investigations would be completed, he said he cannot give a time frame but it would not be delayed for any reason. Referring to a statement made by an Indian about a plot to assassinate former president Rajpaksa, the deputy minister said more..

Sep 29 (DN) The Court of Appeal yesterday fixed for inquiry on October 17, the writ petition filed by former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa challenging the FCID inquiry that the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum and Memorial in Medamulana was built using public funds amounting to Rs.33.9 million. The Court was informed that the Attorney General has already filed indictments against seven accused including Gotabhaya Rajapaksa regarding this incident. more..

Sep 29 (AD) Kamer Nizamdeen who was arrested on alleged terror plot charges in Australia, has expressed his gratitude to SL public after being released on bail. PhD student Kamer Nizamdeen, 25, arrested in August after a colleague found a notebook allegedly containing details of plans to kill Malcolm Turnbull and his former deputy Julie Bishop has been released on bail, after an expert found the sole piece of evidence couldn’t be more..

Sep 29 (ST) No all but some institutions and individuals work towards building a strong economy in the country and, among them, the National Science Foundation (NSF) provides technological grants with these stretched across multi-faceted fields – agriculture, industry, science, technology, medicine, etc. These NSF grants and their recipients have been regularly profiled in the Business Times with positive results. In the meantime, agriculture crops – tea, rubber, coconut and cinnamon – more..

Sep 29 (FT) State Minister Vasantha Senanayake visited Slovenia at the invitation of Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia Karl Erjavec to attend the 13th Bled Strategic Forum, which was held on 10 and 11 September. The theme of this year’s Forum was Bridging the Divide. State Minister Senanayake was a panellist at the panel discussion on Alone we fail: Working together for a sustainable future. The panel consisted of high level speakers drawn from different countries representing more..

Sep 29 (FT) Development Strategies and Int'l Trade Ministry dismissed all allegations made with regards to the high speed electric train manufacturing project, pointing out that at all stages the project was handled by BOI in a transparent and consistent manner as the apex body for investment promotion and facilitator of projects that benefit the country. “First of all, it is necessary to point out that either the Ministers or more..

Sep 29 (DM) SL Cashew Corporation (SLCC) will supply cashew nuts to SriLankan airlines from next month, SLCC Chairman Damsiri Karunaratne said. Quality of the cashew nuts served on SriLankan flights came up for scrutinity after Prez Sirisena remarked on the quality of the cashew nuts served to him on a Colombo-bound flight. He said SriLankan purchased cashew nuts from SLCC until 2016 but the airlines had later decided to purchase it from a Dubai-based supplier at a lower price. more..

Sep 29 (DM) Minister Mangala Samaraweera dismissed the criticism, over his recent response to a statement made by Colombo’s Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, saying he stood by what he said. “What I said was correct and I stand by it,” he said in response to a journalist at an event in Colombo. When asked about the joint opposition’s pledge to continue criticising the minister’s response, he said, “JO can come to Colombo again, stage a protest and show its incompetency” more..

Sep 29 (Island) Public litigation activist Nagananda Kodituwakku, said that Minister Mangala Samaraweera should explain what he really meant when he said that the super luxury vehicle imports wouldn’t be allowed next year. Kodituwakku was commenting on Samaraweera’s declaration at an event at the Royal College, that the importation of super luxury vehicles by MPs and others should be stopped forthwith. more..

Sep 29 (Island) Norwegian Ambassador Thorbjørn Gaustadsæther said that Norway, Sweden and Denmark had provided the required financial backing for the setting up of Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) in accordance with the Colombo Declaration way back in 2003. Ambassador said that Norway was proud of its strong, decades long relationship with the SLPI. The top Norwegian envoy was addressing an international conference in Colombo to mark the 20th anniversary of more..

Sep 29 (DM) The mobs operating in the North can be contained if the Army is given the necessary powers even for a limited period of time, Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake said. He said this to journalists after visiting the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy to seek blessings for the SL Army on its 69th Anniversary. Commander said the Army would fulfil its duties should the govt decide to give more powers to the army. “National security is something all citizens are entitled to. more..

Sep 29 (Island) The govt was yet to decide on temporary deployment of the army in support of law enforcement authorities in the North despite continuing attacks by violent elements in the Jaffna peninsula, security sources said. Following representations made by Security Forces Commander, Jaffna, Dharshana Hettiarachchi recently, Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake took up issue at National Security Council. more..

Sep 29 (DM) Sri Lanka celebrates World Children’s Day this weekend and on Monday (1), though other countries have their celebrations on different days ranging from June 1 to Nov 20 when the day is celebrated by the United Nations and its affiliate the UNICEF. According to UNICEF, this year the world is going blue and we need to build a world where every child is in school, safe from harm and can fulfil the child’s full potential. World Children’s Day is a day for children, by children. more..

Sep 29 (DM) Naturally everyone born in this society has to pass through a number of stages such as infancy, childhood, youth, middle age and the old age provided of course one remains alive without facing death immature. During the infancy and the feeble old age one has to depend on others for survival. Life circle is such that babies in the human world and the offspring in world of animals depend on their parents for survival. Old and feeble grandmothers and grandfathers depend on more..

Sep 29 (DM) The dengue pandemic is once again trying to penetrate our nation. However, The National Dengue Prevention Week campaign which commenced on Sept 26 is doing its utmost to eradicate and prevent the virus in Sri Lanka. The dengue prevention campaign is carried out jointly by the CMC, Health Ministry, Special Presidential Task Force, the Environment Police and the Tri-Forces. Consultant Community Physician of more..

Sep 29 (ST) With the National Eye Hospital in Colombo getting temporary possession of a Non-Mydriatic Retinal Camera, an urgent request is going out to the public to walk in and get their eyes tested for diabetic retinopathy. There is no need for an appointment, no requirement of a prior booking, there are no queues and there will be no waiting time required as eye dilation is not needed, says Consultant Physician Dr. Waruna more..

Sep 29 (ST) Fatal accidents caused by private and state-run buses have exceeded last year’s tally, even though the overall number of road traffic accidents have declined in the first eight months of the year. Data show that private buses were involved in 138 deaths last year while this year, so far, they have been responsible for killing 161 people. SLTB buses have ended the lives of 36 people last year and 47 so far this year. more..

Sep 29 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka and China inaugurated a new building for the China-Sri Lanka Joint Centre for Education and Research (CSL-CER) at the University of Ruhuna, with the aim of strengthening marine science and research in the island country, the UOR said in a statement on Saturday. The CSL-CER is handled by the UOR and the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), more..

Sep 29 (PMD) Commonwealth Secretary General, Patricia Scotland praised Sri Lanka’s progress in strengthening democracy and reconciliation. Sri Lanka’s progress in many fields are appreciable, she said. She said that Sri Lanka’s resilience was greatly evident from restoration of normalcy quickly after Tsunami disaster in 2004 and many countries could take lessons from Sri Lanka’s success story. When Patricia Scotland more..

Sep 29 (CT) The three-member committee, appointed by Minister of Public Administration and Management, and Law and Order, Ranjith Maddumabandara, to probe the allegations that the Inspector General of Police, Pujith Jayasundara, had accepted a cheque for Rs 12 million, from the Trinity College Kandy, has commenced its preliminary investigations. Sources said that Jayasundara was summoned to the Ministry and a statement more..

Sep 29 (CI) The rift that presently exists between Angelo Mathews and coach Chandika Hathurusingha must be repaired as soon as possible, so that Mathews can return to the ODI side quickly, the former Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara has said. Hathurusingha and Mathews have been at odds in the past week, with Mathews expressing surprise that Hathurusingha would play a part in removing him from the captaincy more..