Apr 12 (CT) The appointment last week of commissioners to the Office for Reparation, an independent authority created by the Office for Reparations Act passed in parliament on 9 Oct 2018, has been the second step of the transitional justice mechanisms for reconciliation process agreed upon by the govt and international community. It took place shortly after the conclusion of the UNHRC session in Geneva, and is an indication of the govt’s continued commitment more..

Apr 12 (SO) The Averihena Kudawewa wetland in Thalangama was declared an environmentally sentsitive area by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) in March 2007. However, a recent proposal by the Road Development Authority (RDA) to construct an elevated highway through the wetland, has perturbed residents and environmentalists alike. According to environmentalists this could more..

Apr 12 (DM) Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine. They were the original spin twins. They played in the 1950s, especially after helping the West Indies secure a maiden Test victory in England. They were celebrated in a calypso song that became a hit that year (1950), Those little pals of mine - Ramadhin and Valentine. Since then we had the Indian spin quartet of Erampalli Prasanna, Srinivas Venkataraghavan (both off spinners), Bhagwat Chandrasekhar (a leg spinner), more..

Apr 12 (DN) Malaysia defeated SL national team by 8 goals (48-39) to enter the final of the Tri Nation Invitation Netball tournament at the Sugathadasa Stadium. Lankan girls were in good form in the first two quarters playing extremely well to hold the Malaysians at bay. From the start Lankans got off to a flying start to gain a a slender lead in the first quarter 11-9. Second quarter saw Lankans add 11 more goals while their opponent too managed the same amount to come to equal terms to end more..

Apr 12 (FT) Darren Roos, CEO of the Sweden-headquartered global leader in enterprise software, IFS, was in SL last month. During his stay, he sat down with Daily FT for an interview where he spoke about the importance of IFS’ local office for its global growth, how delivering sensible next-generation ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solutions was making them a key differentiator against competition & IFS’ future plans more..

Apr 12 (DM) Sri Lanka Police have suddenly woken up from a Deaf Police to an Active Police in Controlling Sound Pollution by drivers of buses. March 12 was one of the Most Peaceful Days to the Public as there was no sound pollution by drivers of buses. This could be felt by public at home, on the road and at the office premises. Sound Pollution by drivers of buses is a subject the undersigned has written on many occasion as well as by numerous citizens with respect to Sound Pollution more..

Apr 12 (DN) Recently at the launch of the Colombo District Strategic City Development Plan – Taking the Farsighted Vision of SL’s Capital City towards the 21st Century - at Temple Trees, a powerful message was sent to Sri Lankans. Minister Champika Ranawaka spoke to the media that evening about the plans for change the govt has in store for SL. A crucial part of the message was about the Port City. The evening kicked off with an introduction to the Port City, more..

Apr 12 (Island) In my last article on the Air Raid on Colombo, I mentioned that the Nonstop flights from Koggala, Ceylon to Perth Australia began in 1942, But the flights started in June 1943. Here is the full story. The Consolidated Aircraft Company PBY (Patrol, Bomber and ‘Y ‘being the prefix for the Consolidated Aircraft Company) powered by two Pratt and Whitney, Twin Wasp Engines and manufactured in Dan Diego, California was first called a ‘Catalina’ by the Royal Air Force. more..

Apr 12 (Island) Colombo will soon wind down to a deserted city with little traffic, no careering private buses during the coming weekend, and much needed popular restaurants closing their doors and barring their gates as employers of these celebrate aluth avurudhu. Many a sophisticated housewife goes ballistic at this time of year, if not bananas, as her domestics all troop village-wards to celebrate the bakmaha ulele or to plain speaking Cassandra - the Sinhala and Tamil Aluth Avuruddha, more..

Apr 12 (Roar) As a young boy, Charith* was never interested in the things that were typically regarded as masculine. He didn’t understand the hype of cricket, and found himself drawn towards hobbies that were traditionally considered more feminine. “I loved to sing. My voice was much higher back then, and my singing voice was closer to a soprano, so I sang songs mostly performed by women,” he told Roar Media. more..

Apr 12 (Island) Prof. G.L. Peiris has corrected his former law student MP Dayasiri Jayasekera, who told the media, the other day, that Prez Sirisena would ask the Supreme Court when his term actually ends. Jayasekera claims that Sirisena can hold office until mid-2020. His guru has rubbished this claim quite convincingly. If Jayasekera and others had been confident of Prez Sirisena’s victory at the next presidential election, they would not have made an issue of the duration of his current term. more..

Apr 12 (ST) When the CIABOC, Director-General Sarath Jayamanne, and a Govt delegation recently visited Bhutan for an anti-corruption conference, they met the country’s PM. As tradition requires and as a token of friendship in meetings of this nature, the delegation presented the PM with a souvenir. “PM looked at us (with concern) and said, ‘If I accept this I would be charged with accepting a bribe’,” recalled Mr. Jayamanne, speaking at a recent panel discussion on Integrity vs Corruption more..

Apr 12 (EN) Sri Lanka's Central Bank has launched a Sustainable Finance Roadmap with support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), an IFC statement said. The roadmap aims to increase capital flows to activities with a positive impact on the environment, society, and governance (ESG), and also manage the risks associated with these areas. more..

Apr 12 (DN) Consultant Community Physician attached to the Family Health Bureau of the Health Ministry and the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) Secretary Dr. Kapila Jayaratne advises on necessary precautions during the current heat wave: Q: Much advice on taking precautions against the current heat wave is given in the media these days. What are your views about such advice? A: Nowadays, the media advices people on protecting themselves from the current hot weather. more..

Apr 12 (FT) Singapore-based specialist Hotel Properties Ltd. Group has announced the purchase of Lankan business tycoon Nahil Wijesuriya-owned Marriott Weligama Bay Resort & Spa for nearly Rs. 4 billion. HPL Group subsidiary HPL Properties (West Asia) Pte Ltd., has entered into Share Purchase Agreements with East West Properties PLC, Asia 2000 Investment Inc., and The Monetary Board of Central Bank for the proposed acquisition of the entire equity interest comprising more..

Apr 12 (DM) UNP MP Mujibur Rahaman in a letter addressed to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has requested action against Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinghe whom he had accused of making defamatory references on Mr. Jayasuriya and on Parliament. Mr Rahaman said in his letter that Mr. Aryasinghe had made defamatory references in his communiqué sent to heads of Sri Lankan missions abroad on November 10, 2018 just after the dissolution of Parliament. more..

Apr 12 (Island) Different, Australia, an Aussie- SL tech startup is looking to hire thirty top notch Sri Lankan software engineers, with plans to build a unique tech product which delivers property management services. Different, founded by former global head of product for Uber, Mina Radhakrishnan [who was one of the first 20 employees at Uber], and her SL born husband Ruwin Perera, an Australian who was a Softbank director and former global business strategy more..

Apr 12 (DN) The symbolic deposit of the ratification instrument of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Protocol of 2014 (P-29) to the Forced Labour Convention by the govt took place yesterday at the centenary celebrations of ILO. The event was graced by the President, Maithripala Sirisena and the Minister Ravindra Samaraweera. The ILO’s Forced Labour protocol (P-29) obliges states to criminalise and prosecute work more..

Apr 12 (DM) Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said the allowances given to senior citizens should be increased and these allowances should be sent to their homes directly. He expressed these views at an alms giving held at the Wanawaasa Kuda Vihara in Tangalle to offer alms to 200 senior citizens in the Tangalle Secretariat’s division. The alms giving was organised by the Ruhunu Karaliya Organisation in line with MP Namal Rajapaksa's birthday. more..

Apr 12 (DN) The SL Junior Golf Match-Play Championship 2019 reached the final stage with four top seeds in the Gold Boys, Gold & Silver Combined Girls, Silver Boys and Bronze divisions entering the finals apart from C. Dharaniyan, the top seed in the Copper division who was beaten by Varun Fernando 4 & 3. Varun’s comprehensive victory was no fluke when in the quarterfinal he edged out Thejas Rathis Kanth (4th seed) in a closely fought match. Varun seeded fifth meets Ayaan Gunasekera more..

Apr 12 (Island) A recent survey conducted by the Western Province Governor’s Office has revealed nearly 100 schools under its purview are in a dilapidated state. Western Province Governor Azath Salley, said that exactly 96 roofs of schools were in such a bad state they could collapse anytime. Responding to a query by The Island, Salley said that those schools were scattered in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha & Kalutara more..

Apr 12 (DN) Access Engineering which was awarded the constriction of the Central Expressway (Project Section – 2, Package – A), is progressing swiftly in their work. Central Expressway from Kadawatha – Dambulla and the link Expressway from Pothuhera – Galagedara with the Highway link to Ambepussa, is the fourth Expressway in SL which would connect major cities such as Gampaha, Veyangoda, Meerigama, Pothuhera, Kurunagala, Rideegama, Melsiripura, Galewela, more..

Apr 12 (ST) The heat, power cuts and people’s focus on the Budget have overshadowed this year’s Avurudu preparations, resulting in low sales, disappointed vendors say. Shops and stalls with garments, electric items and household goods saw little interest from customers with only five days left to go until the New Year dawns. Normally, said Ranil Chathuska, who sells imported Indian sarongs at his street stall, people came to buy his goods from early March. more..

Apr 12 (DM) The UNP is not against President’s decision to seek the opinion of Supreme Courts as to when his first term in office expires but he should do so without delay, Minister Ajith P Perera said. He said that the President has every right to seek SC opinion on important matters. “The UNP is not against the Prez’s decision to seek the opinion of the SC on the date his term ends but we are not in favour of him waiting till the new Chief Justice more..

Apr 12 (DN) A Wade vendor has been arrested by the Pindeniya Police in connection with the alleged murder of Pothukoladeniya Sri Vivekarama Viharadhipati Ven. Rotumbe Chandrananda Thera (87). 62-year old suspect, a resident of Anguruwella had allegedly committed the murder because the Bhikkhu had refused to lend him Rs.10,000 on interest, investigations revealed. The suspect had been staying at his daughter’s house at Arandana to engage in his wade business. more..

Apr 12 (FT) Police yesterday launched a special ten-day operation ahead of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays to nab errant drivers who drive under the influence of alcohol. The operation will be carried out across the country for the next ten days until 20 April. Around 8,000 police officers have been deployed island wide to control traffic and prevent accidents during the festive season. 2400 police officers have been deployed in Colombo and suburbs to maintain road safety. more..

Apr 12 (EN) The state tourism regulator, SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has 2.9 billion rupees in assets which cannot be vouched for, Auditor General's Dept said. SLTDA has not submitted any evidence to confirm the ownership of 2.74 billion rupees of property, plant and equipment, 152.42 million rupees in receivables from debtors and 55.57 million rupees in investments, an audit of the agency's more..

Apr 12 (CT) The settlement of a Treasury sale of a maximum of US$ 135.83 million (Rs 23,756 m) to Central Bank (CB) yesterday to curb rate pressure due to Avurudu demand saw market’s net shortfall, yesterday over Wednesday’s fall by 47% (Rs 18,244 mil) to Rs 20,591 million. Conversions are based on the middle rate of the closing value of the benchmark spot as at Tuesday, which was Rs 174.90 to the US dollar. Spot trades are settled after two market days from the date of trading. more..

Apr 12 (DN) President Maithripala Sirisena said that Sri Lanka has been taking a number of fruitful measures in strengthening the rights of the working community. President was speaking at the 100 year celebrations of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre yesterday. “Sri Lanka is one of only two countries from the ILO’s 187 member states to be selected for a live 24 hour Global Tour of national celebrations to mark the ILO’s 100th anniversary. more..

Apr 12 (FT) Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has dismissed the two lawsuits filed against him as baseless and insisted that they would only motivate him and his supporters to push for political change in SL. “These lawsuits have been filed to delay the process and discourage me. I have handed the matter to my lawyers [in Los Angeles] to take care of and I’m looking ahead to what needs to be done for our country,” said Rajapaksa, more..

Apr 12 (FT) Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa will return to Sri Lanka today to a rousing welcome by his supporters. Rajapaksa’s spokesman Milinda Rajapaksha said that special arrangements had been made to receive the former Defence Secretary once he lands in Sri Lanka. Rajapaksa travelled to the US on 26 March and was served notice on two separate cases while in the US on Sunday. One case was filed by the daughter of form Editor of the Sunday Leader Lasantha more..

Apr 12 (TN) Pakistan is likely to host a Test series in its own backyard for the first in more than a decade later this year. Well-placed sources sai that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is close to securing a two-Test series against Sri Lanka at home later this year. Senior Board officials have been in talks with their Sri Lankan counterparts about the possibility of Sri Lanka’s team travelling to Pakistan to play two Tests which will be part of ICC’s World Test Championship. Though nothing is official yet, more..

Apr 12 (CT) SL’s political landscape is set to change with the dawn of the Sinhala-Tamil New Year with decisive political changes that could cause a serious impact on the current regime, sources said. According to Informed political sources, Prez Sirisena is slated to kick off these political changes by making a controversial statement along with certain political decisions. It is also said that once the investigations into the alleged plot to more..

Apr 12 (DM) On April 14, we will celebrate the Sinhala Hindu New Year and probably wish for, among other things, unity among all communities. The govt was committed to ending the war, but issues associated with the conflict have heightened the gulf between the majority Sinhalese and the Tamil community. Come New Year day there will be Tamil families living in makeshift shelters celebrating the occasion. One of the biggest grievances of Tamil people is some of the land belonging to them more..

Apr 12 (DM) This is a presidential election year and pre-campaigning has already begun. Although none of the main parties has declared who its presidential candidate would be, election mathematicians are already busy mapping out the winning probabilities of likely candidates. Like in a handicap horse race, the ruling party carries the heaviest burden of liabilities. Weighted against it are its failures, unfulfilled promises and the anti-incumbency factor. Given the ruling UNF govt’s more..

Apr 12 (DM) On April 1, award-winning author and poet Shakthika Sathkumara was arrested and remanded on contrived charges of inciting religious hatred, a move that has been decried by artists, academics and free-speech advocates as setting a dangerous precedent against the freedom of expression. Mr. Sathkumara, a 33-year-old father of two, and Development Officer at the Nikawaratiya Divisional Secretariat, was arrested by more..

Apr 12 (DM) Some 245 people had been arrested by the police across the country for driving under the influence of liquor during a 24-hour search operation carried out between 6 am yesterday to 6 am today, police said. The police have filed 10,170 cases in relation to traffic offences. Nearly 25,000 breathalyser equipment used in measuring the blood alcohol content of drivers have been imported to Sri Lanka to be distributed more..

Apr 12 (ST) CEB this week rejected allegations of favoritism in the implementation of power cuts and said it was only sparing hospitals and National Water Supply & Drainage Board from interruptions. But it also said that the Deputy General Manager of Colombo city alone was given the option of adjusting power curtailments depending on the amount of electricity being added to the grid by users of private generators. more..