Apr 3 (EN) Manohari Abeyesekera, Head of Strategic Business Development at Sri Lankan conglomerate Hayleys PLC, has been chosen to take part in the Fortune-U.S. Department of State Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership in the United States this week. She joins 18 women leaders from 15 countries who will spend a month working with executives from the Fortune Most Powerful Women community to enhance their business and leadership skills, a U.S. embassy statement said. more..

Apr 3 (DM) Private Bus Association (ACPBA) Secretary Anjana Priyanjith said a fare hike would be demanded in case fuel prices increased by 4 rupees after the regular price revision on April 10. He said that the govt had increased diesel by 5 rupees a litre within the three months, but there had been no change in the minimum fare of Rs. 12. He also said there would be no change in the minimum bus fare which is now Rs.12. more..

Apr 3 (Island) Most underworld figures leave Sri Lanka from Mannar by boat, notorious criminal Najeem Imran alias Kanjipani Imran has told the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), according to a senior police officer. Imran, who was deported from Dubai, was arrested by Police, on March 28, and Colombo Additional Magistrate Kanchana Neranjana de Silva granted the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) permission to detain him for three months under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). more..

Apr 3 (AD) Mohamed Siddick Mohamed Siyam was deported from Dubai yesterday along with another suspect named Lanka Sajitha Perera and subsequently arrested by the CID upon arriving in the country. The duo, arrested in Dubai along with the notorious drug kingpin Makandure Madush at a party that involved drugs, were interrogated by the CID for over 18 hours. However, the CID had released Mohamed Siddick and decided to produce Lanka Sajith before the court. more..

Apr 3 (DM) We received information about the killing of two persons after being abducted from Rathgama while we were engaged in an investigation to unearth the truth regarding a complaint of an alleged abduction by the police. According to the information two person from Beliatta had been abducted on January 9 by some people who identified themselves as officers of the Rotumba Police. more..

Apr 4 (CT) Ardha is a Sanskrit word which means half. Post-modernist Sinhala writer and poet Shkathika Sathkumara wrote a short story captioned Ardha and posted it on his Facebook page. Now he is in remand custody charged for an offense under the ICCPR act. A creative artist relies on his mind to see, hear feel and smell. That is how writers, artists, composers create the beauties and the ugliness of the world. In medieval times creators of beauty, truth and human squalor were persecuted. more..

Apr 4 (CT) In Sept 2015, the Govt endorsed the UNHRC Resolution 30/1, and made an unprecedented commitment to transparency and accountability via a transitional justice process. It promised State-endorsed avenues to pursuing truth, justice, reparations and institutional reform, particularly in connection to the conflict. Immediately after the signing of the resolution it appeared that the transitional government was making concrete strides towards effectively dealing with more..

Apr 4 (Roar) In today’s increasingly congested world, it is difficult to imagine the absence of waste. Waste generation levels are rising — in 2016 alone, the world’s cities produced 2.01 billion tonnes of solid waste. With increasing urbanisation and population growth, annual waste generation is expected to grow by 70% in 2050. Although richer nations like the U.S.A and Japan produce more waste than countries like SL, more..

Apr 4 (CT) For the moderate TNA, it is becoming a thankless job all over again. On the one hand, they feel that the Govt that they (alone) are keeping alive is cheating the Tamil people. On the other, the otherwise forgotten LTTE is, continually, plotting to kill at least one of their leaders. Around the time the Govt, all but asked the UNHRC to take a walk on the implementation of Resolution: 30/1 on war-crimes probe and the like, Police arrested some persons, back home, for plotting to kill a TNA leader. more..

Apr 4 (CT) The threat to Sri Lanka from the UNHRC still hangs over us like the sword of Damocles. Despite Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana putting the record straight regarding the false figures that painted the military as being guilty of genocide, on the basis of the revelations of Lord Naseby that leave no doubt that the Tamil civilian deaths were about 5,500 and not 40,000, and his statement that there was no need for UNHRC Resolution 30/1, this remains operative. more..

Apr 4 (SO) Following serious allegations on the proposed $3.85 billion Oil Refinery project in Mirijjawila, Hambantota, Transparency International SL, expressed their concerns of a probable risk of the country ending up with sanctions imposed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) attached to the G20 countries in future. Executive Director of TISL, Asoka Obeysekera said that failure of the country more..

Apr 4 (Island) A former accountant of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has been sentenced to 37 years RI, fined Rs. 4 million and ordered to pay Rs. 13 million as compensation to the NWSDB for a fraud he committed while in service. The severity of his sentence, handed down by the Colombo High Court, on Tuesday, is bound to have a deterrent effect on the venal elements in the public service. If fraudsters had been made to undergo such punishment in the past, more..

Apr 4 (FT) In all democracies, whether they are matured or not, periodic elections to change govts have lost their credibility and substance in the prevailing neoliberal economic world order. In this order it is global capital represented by its corporate oligarchs that actually dictates policies and sets the agenda for political parties and their leaders to implement. These parties are nothing but agents of this global oligarchy that permits them to introduce cosmetic changes with some nationalist more..

Apr 4 (FT) Dear Minister – with due respect, it is the public deposits of the depositors of the ETI that are at stake here. They are not, repeat not, the private funds of the directors and the shareholders, notwithstanding that they have been fraudulently used as such! They are the legitimate funds of the public of this country, in a licensed, regulated finance company. So why then shouldn’t public funds be used to bail out these depositors, particularly where their funds have been more..

Apr 4 (Island) Today, 4th of April, marks the UN Mine Awareness Day. It provides an opportunity to focus on affected countries, such as Sri Lanka to recognize and take action to meet the needs of the affected people, and to assist them. Almost ten years after the end of the war, some areas in Sri Lanka are still contaminated with land mines and continue to be a threat to the lives of innocent civilians in those areas. It was the harmful impact of landmines on civilians and their communities more..

Apr 4 (EN) Sri Lanka's power crisis with daily blackouts has been brought to a stage where the public no longer cares at what price emergency power is purchased and larger plants can also be squeezed in without competitive bidding outside a long term plan, engineers at the state electricity utility said. Engineers at state-run CEB say the crisis did not just happen, but that it was deliberately instigated to bring to this stage as more..

Apr 4 (Island) It is not surprising for former NP Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran to be disappointed when the presumptive observation statements made by many including the TNA were exposed as false following the release of the results of the carbon dating tests conducted by a US laboratory. To call for more secure observation statements and further tests is not unusual, and recourse to the Indian medical doctor, not conversant with either soils or decomposed cadavers for a contrary view, more..

Apr 4 (SLN) Russian naval ship, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov arrived at the port of Colombo on a goodwill visit today (3). She was received by SL Navy in compliance with naval traditions at the harbour premises. Meanwhile, the Commanding Officer of the ship, Captain Mikhailovich Krokhmal is expected to call on Commander Western Naval Area, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva this evening. 136m long Russian vessel has a displacement of 5,300 tons and more..

Apr 4 (Island) SMEs and corporate entities are facing great difficulties as there is no proper schedule for power cuts, and as a result, these enterprises are unable to plan their production schedules effectively; this situation may lead to a slump in future manufacturing orders, National Chamber of Commerce warned. "Irregular power cuts cause disturbance to their production processes, and they are not in a position to more..

Apr 4 (FT) Cabinet this week granted approval to award tender to construct a 48-room hotel for Waters Edge Company to Sathuta BuildersLtd. for Rs. 13 billion. The proposal was made by Minister Champika Ranawaka, to award the construction of the small luxury hotel at Battaramulla Waters Edge Hotel premises. Headed by Sunil Rathnayake as Chairman and Managing Director, Sathuta Builders Ltd. was the one of the first construction firms in the country to obtain the CIDA gradings of more..

Apr 4 (DM) Deputy Minister Nalin Bandara said that another Singapore Company Sugih Energy International was set to invest US$ 14 billion in the second oil refinery to be started in Hambantota. He said that it was even a bigger investment than the proposed investment by the other Singaporean Company. "The first oil refinery by the Singapore Company had a production capacity of only 200,000 barrels a day but this second Company will have a capacity of 420,000 barrels a day," more..

Apr 4 (FT) Improving investor confidence to boost exports and attract investment should be the top priority of the Govt, former CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said, while faulting the Govt for failing to boost growth. “In order to get out of this low growth situation, Sri Lanka has to increase growth to at least 6.5%, but the Govt is struggling at 2%. The interest rate has to be brought down as fast as possible, so that more..

Apr 4 (CT) At the 2019 Vidudaya Ritzbury Inter-school Swimming Championship organised for the second successive year, the Overall Girls Trophy was won by Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo and St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya clinched the Overall Boys Trophy. Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Colombo emerged runner-up in the Overall Girls’ category, while the runner-up in the Overall Boys’ category was St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa. The Championship was organised more..

Apr 4 (CT) The Milo Schools Colours awards for 2016 and 2017, organised by the Ministry of Education, will be held today at the BMICH. 216 students (boys and girls) representing 30 sports will receive colours for their outstanding achievements in 2016. 269 students representing 30 sports will receive colours for their outstanding achievements in 2017. The organisers have shortlisted the following students as nominees for the most outstanding sportsman and woman for 2016. more..

Apr 4 (FT) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya urged the members of the National Police Commission to take stern action against Police personnel involved in bribery, drug dealing, and taking ransom. He made this request when he met with the members of NPC in his capacity as the Chairman of the Constitutional Council, which is responsible for the appointing members to independent Commissions, including the NPC. more..

Apr 4 (EN) Sri Lanka's govt has awarded India’s Ircon International Ltd. a contract for US$ 91.3 million to modernise part of the northern railway line, the state information office said. The Cabinet of ministers this week approved the award of the deal on a proposal by Transport and civil aviation minister Arjuna Ranatunga, a statement said. The contract is to rebuild a 128 kilometre long stretch of rail track from Mahawa to Omanthai using funds from an Indian govt loan. more..

Apr 4 (DM) Minister John Amaratunga is to seek Cabinet approval for the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the 3-year global tourism promotional campaign next week, to begin the tendering process to select a marketing agency for the campaign. The long-delayed global promotional campaign is now expected to be launched in June targeting eight key source markets. “Based on the work we have done, we believe we should be able to have the marketing agency working with us by June, more..

Apr 4 (Island) JO Leader and UPFA MP Dinesh Gunawardena said that the situation in the House could have been far worse if the JO routinely raised the absence of the required quorum. He said the top UNP leadership should accept responsibility for its failure to ensure the participation of members in House sessions. A smiling MP Gunawardena said that they refrained from raising quorum to allow the proceedings to continue. more..

Apr 4 (FT) Minister Rauff Hakeem launched a series of rural water supply schemes in the Kegalle district during the weekend. Among the projects launched included, Rs. 57 million worth Ganepola community water supply and sanitation projects, funded by the World Bank, which would benefit 457 families in 10 Grama Sevaka divisions. Minister also inaugurated Rs. 73 million World Bank-funded Hakbellawa community water supply project which is expected to cater to 486 families in 10 GS divisions. more..

Apr 4 (FT) Govt moved a supplementary estimate seeking House approval yesterday to make allocations for the defeated expenditure heads of the Ministries of Internal, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Govt and Megapolis and Western Development. On 28 March, the Opposition lawmakers defeated a part of the expenditure heads of these two Ministries. The expenditure head 260 on District Secretariat Nuwara-Eliya received 20 votes in favour and 38 against. more..

Apr 4 (ABC) Hundreds of Australian and New Zealand cattle have died in a Federal Govt-backed export deal with Sri Lanka, which local farmers say has left them broke, and in some cases, suicidal. Farmers and animal rights groups, as well as Sri Lanka's own auditor-general, want the export project stopped because they say it is poorly planned and inhumane. The scheme was devised to improve the supply of fresh milk in Sri Lanka more..

Apr 4 (TP) Tourist Corporation of Sri Lanka organised a roadshow in Qatar with a participation of more than 25 travel agents and hotel chains that flew into Qatar. Grand Mercure Hotel had more than 150 local agents meeting the visiting delegation for collaborating to promote the destination inbound and outbound sales. The delegation started their first leg of promotion in Oman before coming to Qatar and in the next leg they will visit Jordan and Lebanon. The highlight of the event was more..

Apr 4 (FT) With protestors blocking Parliament road from Polduwa junction, Prez Sirisena was forced to make a back-door entry to the Parliamentary complex yesterday afternoon. The Prez’s convoy was unable to reach Parliament’s main entrance, due to the protest organized by the IUSF, backed by the undergraduates against the alleged reduction of student intake to Sabaragamuwa Uni. Hence, his convoy detoured and entered the Parliament complex through the service entrance more..

Apr 4 (EN) SL's current electricity crisis is 65% due political failures while the regulator also shared blame, Minister Ravi Karunanayake said. "It is the inability to take political decisions that is 65% to blame for the crisis," Karunanayake told parliament. "There was no backbone. I am being asked (by ex-minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya) why I did not take emergency power. "There was two years, why did he not take power? more..

Apr 4 (DN) The involvement of the Bank of Ceylon (BoC) and Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka (MBSL) in preparing a Business Plan for Mihin Lanka despite the existing Business Plan was revealed before the PCoI yesterday. The former Mihin Lanka Commercial Head Rohan Perera testifying before the PCoI said the company obtained the support of MBSL not to prepare a new plan but to revise S.A Chandrasekara’s plan, which was in effect by that time. more..

Apr 4 (Xinhua) The SL Army on Wednesday said it would hold the largest ever military exercise in July to coincide with 10 years since the end of the island's 30-year civil conflict between govt troops and Tamil Tiger rebels. The army said the month-long military exercise will begin on July 1, with the participation of over 5,000 soldiers. The program titled, Exercise -- Western Shield, will extend from Mannar, in the north to Puttalam, in the north western province, including Kalpitiya, more..

Apr 4 (Island) Purawesi Balaya Co Convenor Gamini Viyangoda alleged that Int'l Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act had been used against award-winning writer Shakthika Sathkumara in a bid to silence him. Viyangoda claimed that the UN multilateral treaty meant to prevent inciting religious hatred had been exploited to haul Sathkumara before Polgahawela Magistrate court over posting a short story more..

Apr 4 (Island) A crowd in Kandy raised objections to a group engaged in filming a foreign couple dressed in the Udarata traditional costume at the Kandy Lake round on Tuesday. The crowd that witnessed the filming raised objections, saying that foreign couples dressed in Udarata Mul-enduma was an insult to the traditions. A SL woman responsible for the shooting of the film told the crowd that the producers of the film had obtained written permission from the cultural authorities and more..

Apr 4 (AD) A protest was held near the Mariawatte Junction on Gampola-Nawalapitiya road demanding reparation of the road running from Mariawatte area towards Udugama. The protest was launched by the by residents, earlier today (03). During the protest, one of the Buddhist monks took a phone call to Minister Lakshman Kiriella. There was heavy traffic congestion on the road by the relevant time and the monk told the minister that they intend to continue to carry on the protest. more..