Apr 19 (Island) Two female de-miners who received serious injuries during a demining operation due to an accidental explosion, in Muhamalai, Kilinochchi were admitted to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. They are being treated at the intensive care unit of the hospital. The women are residents of the north and attached to an international organisation engaged in humanitarian work in the area. The victims were Gunanendran Renuka (25) a mother of one and M. Mekala (26). more..

Apr 19 (AD) Supreme Court has ordered eight state institutions including ministries to provide special access to persons with special needs. The Supreme Court trial at bar issued this order, today (18), considering a petition submitted by Dr. Ajith Perera. The Court has concluded that the fundamental rights of persons with special needs have been violated by denying them the opportunity to obtain proper access to institutions. The Court ordered the institutions to act in accordance with more..

Apr 19 (Island) President Maithripala Sirisena wouldn’t under any circumstances swore in those who had been elected on the UPFA ticket at the last parliamentary election as ministers in the UNP govt, a senior SLFP official said. The official who is also a lawmaker emphasized that there was absolutely no point in even discussing a national govt with two countrywide elections—presidential later this year and more..

Apr 20 (SO) According to news reports, former Defence Secretary and Presidential aspirant Gotabaya Rajapaksa is facing two civil suits in separate cases linked to events in Sri Lanka during his term in office in the US federal district court in California. One is a suit filed by Ahimsa Wickrematunge who is seeking compensatory and punitive damages from the defendant for instigating and authorising the extrajudicial killing of her father in jury trial. more..

Apr 20 (CT) Sri Lanka’s first satellite, curiously named Râvana-1, a name that meshes religion, myth and modern science, was launched into space recently apparently marking Sri Lanka’s entry into the global space age. But what does this apparently Sri Lankan launch into space from another continent really signify? The so-called research satellite, named RAAVANA-1 was launched from the US’ Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s East Shore. more..

Apr 20 (NR) Minister Mangala Samaraweera says govt’s main message to the people through all communication campaigns and through the mechanisms and processes for truth-seeking, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-recurrence is that Development begins with Reconciliation and that Reconciliation is essential for SL to realise its vision of a stable, peaceful, reconciled & prosperous nation, for everyone. more..

Apr 20 (CT) White elephant Provincial Councils (PCs) foisted upon Colombo by Delhi in 1987 are estimated to cost the public Rs 220.71 billion this year, a year on year increase of 4.20% (Rs 8.9 billion), according to recently tabled budgetary estimates. The nine PCs in question, as at 30 June of last year, provided employment to 385,495, according to official records. This discounts PC pensioners. PC employees, like other public servants, are also entitled to pensions. more..

Apr 20 (CT) I never intended to make this note public, and I hoped I would never have to. Shanilka, it may be too late for you, but I think you would have agreed that no one should go into the hell we went into uninformed. To everyone reading this letter, all of you think the local Universities are the great shining beacons of promise for you, your sibling, your child, your friend. Let me dash your hopes at the very beginning and tell you, it’s not. Not at all. Dashing your hopes is very important more..

Apr 20 (SO) Signaling that the SLPP is ready to abandon the on-going talks if the SLFP goes ahead with their wish to postpone the Presidential Election due late this year, Chairman of the SLPP said his party will fight to the end to win back the people‘s right to vote. He said, Our purpose is to forge, as broad an anti UNP alliance as possible, but we alone cannot do that, saying that it was preposterous to seek an extension of more..

Apr 20 (DM) Thanks to the Chairman and members of the Elections Commission (EC), it is proved beyond doubt these much touted Independent Commissions are there at the expense of taxpayer money to play politics with the ruling govt. Last week before the Sinhala Hindu New Year there were reports to say the Chairman EC had written to the PM, requesting him to hand over the Review Committee Report on Delimitation. That had to be handed over to the Prez and not to the EC. more..

Apr 20 (Island) All the provincial councils, save two, are currently functioning under their Governors and apparently doing better without elected representatives. The Governors, appointed by the President, usually maintain a low profile, allowing the elected Chief Ministers to run the show so as to avoid personality clashes and unpleasant situations. Some Governors, especially in the North and the East, chose to exercise their powers fully and antagonised the Chief Ministers there. more..

Apr 20 (DM) Change as a universal phenomenon is vastly understated; its effects, specifically of short-term genre, are not felt by a great majority in the human family; its long-term effects are left for historians to pen on paper long after the said changes have taken root. Absence of change for those who enjoy dwelling in the comfort zone is as pleasurable and comfortable as a cushy bed for a sleeping baby. But if man did not embrace change as a matter of a universal constant more..

Apr 20 (Island) The annual feast of Easter celebrates what is at the core of Christianity as a religion as well as the profound spiritual experience it engenders. It concerns the transforming and revolutionary historical event of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ of Nazareth from the gloom of death and the darkness of the grave. This event marked the turning point in the life of his close disciples and followers who were inundated with fear, a sense of insecurity and sheer bewilderment when more..

Apr 20 (EN) SL Customs will halve the number of physical inspections at the border but all importers, exporters, forwarding and clearing agents must re-register in their new computer system prevent rampant fraud and identity theft that is now taking place. Officials plan to cut delays at the border slashing paper work and physical examinations. "Once everyone registers and comes online, and e-signatures are widely used, more..

Apr 20 (FT) With a view to preparing private sector partners for a possible role in initiating peace dialogues through the business community, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) initiated a program on mediation techniques and skills for ethnic conflict resolution. The United Nations office in Sri Lanka assisted in this initiative by providing Resource Persons from the Mediation Support Unit of the United Nations, for a workshop which was held in March. more..

Apr 20 (EN) Minister Mangala Samaraweera called for public private partnerships and international cooperation in achieving the UN' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). "Financial commitments are increasingly challenging for countries like mine that are subject to significant fiscal constraints," he said, addressing the UN Economic and Social Council Forum on Financing for Development during his visit to New York. "International cooperation therefore is vital more..

Apr 20 (CI) Where most teams are merely working out which of their fringe players will make the trip to the World Cup, Sri Lanka had a bigger question to answer: who will captain the team? Over the past two years, the captaincy has changed hands at a dizzying rate, with Angelo Mathews having had it in two stints, Dinesh Chandimal also helming the ship twice, Lasith Malinga getting the job in late 2018 more..

Apr 20 (Island) A healthy rivalry for supremacy in middle and long distance running commenced when they were schooling at remote Sooriyawewa and it grew into the most looked forward to battle at National Athletics Championships from the time Nimali Liyanarachchi shifted to the 800 metres from steeplechase to compete against her school alumni Gayanthika Abeyratne. This battle went a step further when they started brushing shoulders at the Asian level in the women’s 800 metres. more..

Apr 20 (Island) New ideas during crisis situation are welcomed by us Lankans, believing that it could be the cure for all ills. When our national cricket team started to lose matches to Zimbabwe at home, we turned to Chandika Hathurusinghe, the then Bangladesh Head Coach. He was universally acknowledged as a coach who knew how to get the best out of players, provided he was given a free hand. Bangladesh Cricket Board, in their wisdom, gave him a free hand and more..

Apr 20 (DM) Sports minister Harin Fernando said he was not involved in selecting the team for the 2019 World Cup and that there were selectors paid by Sri Lanka Cricket to do that job. He said in a Facebook post that when the selection process was done, it comes for approval to the minister. “The captain and the players are all picked by selectors. A minister does not get involved in selections,” he said in the Facebook post. more..

Apr 20 (CT) IM, Harshana Thilakaratne of Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala and Kaveesha Indrajith of St. Joseph’s Girl’s College, Kegalle won three medals for Sri Lanka in the Asian Youth Chess Championship 2019 held at Citrus Beach Resort, Waskaduwa recently. IM, Harshana Thilakaratne, who has the highest international rating (2417) among Sri Lankans, won the Gold medal in the Under-16 Open Blitz event and the Silver medal in the Under-18 Open Standard event. more..

Apr 20 (Island) Swarnamahal Financial Services PLC on April 9 said that the entity had failed to comply with the Corporate Governance Requirements as set out in Rule 7.10 of the CSE Listing Rules, to the extent detailed by the Company. According to Jeewaka Edirisinghe - chairman of Swarnamahal Financial Services (SFS), also the undersigned of the above declaration, the company's total liabilities had exceeded its total assets by Rs. 1,062,433,414 as in Mar 2018. more..

Apr 20 (AD) The officer-in-charge (OIC) of the 119 Police Emergency Center has been admitted to the Colombo South Teaching Hospital after allegedly being assaulted by a high-ranking police officer. OIC of the 119 Emergency Service, Chief Inspector S.A. Jayatillake, claims that he was assaulted by the Director of the IG’s Command Police Information Division. He says that the incident had taken place at around 12.30 p.m. more..

Apr 20 (AD) Minister Arjuna Ranatunga today hit out at the Sri Lanka Cricket’s Chairman of selectors for interfering with the sport in the country while also expressing his dissatisfaction with the squad selected for the upcoming World Cup. He said that people who have not even played cricket are trying to teach the country’s national level players how to play the sport. Ranatunga said that the Sports Minister should instruct the cricket administration to step aside & allow players to play the game. more..

Apr 20 (USE) U.S. Ambassador to SL Alaina B. Teplitz today inaugurated two renovated schools in the Eastern Province that will be able to serve approximately 1300 students thanks to the renovation, an increase of more than 850. U.S.-funded renovations of the An-Noor and Kariapper schools, coordinated by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), cost more than Rs. 170 million (USD 940,000). Also participating were Eastern Province Governor more..

Apr 20 (Island) From tomorrow onwards, air quality will drop to unhealthy levels for sensitive persons, such as those with asthma, especially living in the Colombo city and experts warned that air quality was gradually deteriorating to worse levels in the metropolis from present moderate level. Experts stressed that the Central Environmental Authority should act fast to activate the existing air quality monitoring machines. more..

Apr 20 (DM) A vehicle parade organised by the SLPP would kick off from Trincomalee on April 26 and would arrive in Colombo on May 1 to flex muscle on the party's May Day celebrations, an MP said. MP Kanchana Wijesekara said the parade, consisting of those who are against the government, would reach Anuradhapura from Trincomalee on the first day. “We will travel from Anuradhapura to Dambulla on April 27, then to Kurunegala, to Divulapitiya and then to Orugodawatta. more..

Apr 20 (DM) Lawyers attached to the UNP want to clear some matters with regard to the appointment of President’s Counsel, party sources said. Accordingly, sources said some lawyers attached to the party have questions as to why Prez Sirisena had appointed President's Counsel twice this year. They are generally appointed once every year but he appointed 25 at the beginning of this year and 21 again this month. The legal fraternity is confused by this move, sources said. more..

Apr 20 (DM) Minister Ravi Karunanayake in a Cabinet paper has proposed to the Cabinet on April 2, 2019 that the dispute between the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) and CEB should be resolved amicably without seeking legal action. He had pointed out this fact after recalling and referring a cabinet decision taken on May 22, 2018 where it was decided to direct all Heads of Institutions under their purview, more..

Apr 20 (DM) The govt is to introduce an Emergency app through which a person who is caught up in an emergency can inform all relevant institutions concerned using a mobile phone, Minister Ajith P. Perera said. He said that the app would comprise contact numbers of various institutions concerned with disasters such as the Police, Fire Department and Ambulance services. “A person will be able to inform relevant institutions through a maximum of two touches on his mobile phone. more..

Apr 20 (DN) Easter is the most sublime feast of the Liturgical Year in which we proclaim and celebrate the victory of Jesus of Nazareth the Risen Lord Our Saviour, over sin and death. We let the words of the angels resound in our ears, Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen (Luke.24.5). By virtue of His Resurrection new hope has dawned upon us and the Risen Lord lives on and invites us to participate in the renewed life He offers, states more..

Apr 20 (AD) The rocket carrying SL’s first ever research satellite ‘RAAVANA-1’ has successfully reached int'l Space Station (ISS). RAAVANA-1 is a research satellite built by two SL engineers named Tharindu Dayaratne and Dulani Chamika, from the Uni of Peradeniya and the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies. Antares rocket carrying Cygnus cargo spacecraft carried the satellites to the ISS. more..

Apr 20 (Island) Member exporters of the National Chamber of exporters (NCE), which is the only private sector Chamber that exclusively serves Sri Lankan exporters, have expressed their concerns regarding regular street protests of University under graduates. Council Members of the NCE expressing their views regarding this phenomenon, have stated that the unacceptable behaviour of under graduates through regular street protests is of grave concern to them, because as prospective more..

Apr 20 (CT) The ITAK will, on 26 April, decide on whether to continue supporting the Govt. Meanwhile, the Party Convention is to be held in Jaffna from 26-28 April. This decision is to be taken in the light of allegations that despite the continued support extended to the Govt, it has failed to provide a solution to the problems of the Tamil people. TNA MP Sivagnanam Shritharan said his Party would take a permanent decision, regarding its future with the Govt, at the Party Convention. more..

Apr 20 (DM) Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said a political coup was about to happen but it died within the UNP itself. He told journalists this after visiting the Sri Muththu Mariamman Kovil at Hawaeliya. “A political coup was about to happen but it emerged and died within the UNP. It could have been because it was revealed too soon or for some other reason. It’s not ours. We didn’t try anything. It seems it was a result of an internal rift in more..

Apr 20 (GDI) The State Vesak Day Festival will be held from May 15-21 at the Thotagamuwa Ranpath Rajamaha Viharaya, Thelwatta in the Galle District. 200 temples and Dhamma schools will be developed concurrent to this programme with a minimum of Rs.200,000 allocated for each temple to develop sanitary facilities, buildings and Dhamma schools, District Buddhist Affairs Unit sources said. A number of programmes covering the district will be held in parallel with the State Vesak Festival where more..

Apr 20 (AM) Minister Sajith Premadasa has laid a foundation stone for a model village to honour former SL cricketer Kumar Sangakkara. Although the gesture has been appreciated by many, the name of the model village has earned ridicule on social media. The name of the village — Sadaa Loka Poojitha Kumar Sangakkaragama - translates into English as the village for world-renowned Kumar Sangakkara. Sangakkara also attended the event to lay the foundation stone for the model village more..

Apr 20 (Island) Amidst often repeated high profile accusations that China had secured control of the Hambantota port at the expense of Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, a relatively large scale joint US-SL naval exercise is now underway there with the participation of hundreds of personnel. The US-Lanka exercise, conducted in terms of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Exercise (CARAT) - 2019, is the second involving more..

Apr 21 (SO) For Christians the triumph of Easter is the triumph of an incipient religious movement over the repressive efforts of political power. Resurrection of Jesus Christ symbolises the realisation and affirmation that human death does not nullify human endeavour. Their Teacher’s arrest and execution, the scattering of His followers and the accompanying demoralisation proved to be only momentary, for “…by the third day, He rose again…”. The ensuing biblical story has more..