Aug 11 (PMD) Sri Lanka and Cambodia should work together to spread teachings of Theravada Buddhism throughout the world, President Maithripala Sirisena said. Prez made these comments attending a religious ceremony at Wat Langka Preah Kosomaram in Phnom Penh, Cambodia today (10). In order to achieve this objective measures will be taken to strengthen diplomatic relations between two countries, more..

Aug 11 (TM) By the end of the first week of the Government’s new free visa on arrival programme, Chinese tourist arrivals witnessed the highest growth, suggesting that the former second biggest tourism source market may regain its position this month. Around 3,099 Chinese tourists entered the country from 1 to 7 August, and if the trend continues, there would be a growth rate of 70-80% from the 6,926 Chinese tourists who entered the country in July. more..

Aug 11 (ST) The Ruhunu Economic Development Corporation (REDC) is emerging as a key area of development activities in the Southern region’s resurgence of the economy in the near future with the enactment of a new law. This new bill has been drafted by the Legal Draftsman and will be presented in Parliament soon for the establishment of export oriented special economic zones attracting foreign investors and creating employment for youth in the South. more..

Aug 11 (SO) The country’s boat-building industry has an ambitious target of doubling its export revenue to reach US$ 250 million by 2022. “The industry has taken many initiatives and this will propel the growth prospects, providing an impetus for revenue generation through exports, to reach US $ 250 mn,” Managing Director, Boat Building Technology Improvement Institute, Gamini Herath said. The industry is moving forward with more..

Aug 11 (TM) In the face of mounting financial troubles exacerbated by the aftermath of the Easter Sunday attacks, small and medium-scale construction companies are on the verge of bankruptcy, unless the Government addresses their concerns swiftly. Chamber of Construction Industry SL President Ranjith Gunatilleke noted that small and medium-scale construction companies are burdened with multiple issues which could lead to these companies closing down soon. more..

Aug 11 (ST) Maker Village in Kerala, India, a start-up incubator, envisages becoming an entrepreneurial hotspot for the world, including Sri Lanka, by introducing a new toddy tapping instrument, top officials say. “The advanced prototyping design and simulation centres can be accessed by makers around the world and our goal is to become the hub for hardware in South Asia and attract companies from SL, Philippines, Vietnam, etc.,” Rohan Kalani, COO Maker Village said. more..

Aug 11 (ST) The much-delayed, scheme of affixing foolproof stickers on legally manufactured liquor bottles gets underway causing a heavy loss to state coffers owing to awarding the tender to an Indian firm at a high price, amidst allegations of malpractices. Excise Department has banned the sale of all brands of imported liquor without the foolproof sticker scheme which was launched last week. more..

Aug 11 (DM) The govt will not sign agreements with any country without seeking the Attorney General’s advice, Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament. Minister said the govt had already sought the advice of the Attorney General on extending the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) agreement. “This agreement was signed during President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s regime in 1995 while the Acquisition and Cross-Services Agreement (ACSA) was signed in 2007,” Minister said. more..

Aug 11 (AD) A joint statement issued by Sri Lanka and Cambodia yesterday stated that Prez Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Hun Sen have agreed to expedite the signing of three more documents between the two nations. The two countries will accordingly sign the Agreement on the Exemption of Visa Requirement for Holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports, the Agreement on Bilateral Air Services and the MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism in the near future. more..

Aug 11 (ST) Philippine security officials said on Saturday they were checking reports that at least two Sri Lankans had slipped into the country to train local militants on bomb-making, even as one of them claimed a family feud had led to false accusations against her. Mr Rommel Banlaoi, head of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, said that one of the Sri Lankans, Ms Victoria Sophia Sto Domingo, more..

Aug 11 (EN) Central Bank has bought US$ 129 million to peg the rupee to the US dollar with a strong side convertibility undertaking of a soft-pegged exchange rate regime, official data shows. The central bank has generally deployed a strong-side CU (prevent appreciation of the rupee) in 2019, as bank credit weakened and credibility of the peg was restored with exporters no longer holding back dollars and importers panicking, though there is some capital exits from rupee bond markets. more..

Aug 11 (Island) Ten SLFP MPs are expected to attend the maiden national convention of the SLPP in Colombo this afternoon. "I will also be attending it, together with nine other SLFP MPs", the party’s treasurer, S. B. Dissanayake said. Amongst the SLFP MPs expected to participate in the sessions are Dilan Perera, Sarath Amunugama and Dunesh Gankanda. The first-ever SLPP convention is scheduled to be held at 3.00 pm today at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. more..

Aug 11 (Hindu) The former President’s reaction is among the first from SL political leaders after New Delhi ended Jammu & Kashmir’s special status. Commenting on the prospects for power devolution to Sri Lanka’s minority Tamils, Leader of Opposition & former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa has made a reference to the current situation in Kashmir. SL Tamil daily Virakesari published a wide-ranging interview with Mr. Rajapaksa. more..

Aug 11 (TM) Barring a minor administrative miracle, the tourism recovery campaign, which was desperately awaited by the industry since the Easter Sunday attacks, will not be ready in time to attract winter bookings, The Sunday Morning Business learnt. The Rs. 415 million, 45-day campaign was to target Sri Lanka’s biggest tourism source markets to counter the negative perception of Sri Lanka created following the Easter Sunday attacks and to position it as a safe and attractive destination. more..

Aug 11 (AD) An article published by the Singaporean media outlet, The Strait Times, said yesterday (09) that at least two terrorists from Sri Lanka have allegedly sneaked into the Philippines to train local militants on making bombs and attacking churches and other soft targets north of the country. It is alleged that the two terrorists, who had links to the National Thowheed Jama’ath (NTJ), sneaked into the Philippines with a third terrorist acting as a financier. more..

Aug 11 (ST) This year’s prez race has assumed an unusually unique feature, the steady escalation of inter-party wars within the ruling coalition. It is ironic for it is mired by issues over the political future of the potential candidates, not their parties or other national issues. It is tragic, for these very personal factors prevented them from delivering on public pledges. An example is booking those responsible for high profile cases of bribery more..

Aug 11 (Island) Today is the day for the big Rajapaksa announcement. Let us wait to hear the full and formal announcement without rushing to rain on the long-awaited family parade. At least the Rajapaksas are ready to make a new announcement, even if it is going to be an old story, unlike the UNP folks. Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa have apparently announced to each other that each wants to be the party’s presidential candidate. more..

Aug 11 (Island) It’s a very strange decade, globally. All manner of religious extremism, racial and nationalist excesses, and political irrationalities have taken control of the human drama. First on the scene this Century was Islamist terrorism’s infamous 9/11 carnage. Then Al Qaeda festered into IS, Boko Haram and a host of avatars; demons of torture, beheading, abductions, enslavement of women, and intolerance on a scale not seen for centuries. Early 20th Century movements to cast off more..

Aug 11 (ST) Colombo’s Mayor Rosy Senanayake was breathing a sigh of relief yesterday after the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) overcame one of its most troubled issues — the dumping of garbage. Court of Appeal on Friday ordered the Wanathavillu PS and its chairman not to interfere in or obstruct the CMC from disposing garbage at the Aruwakkalu site till the case is heard completely. After Meetotamulla garbage dump collapse more..

Aug 11 (TM) A European Union (EU) delegation was in Sri Lanka last week to assess the pre-polls climate and decide if an EU elections observer team must be sent to Sri Lanka for the next presidential elections. The EU delegation had several meetings while in Sri Lanka, including with the Election Commission, Govt, Opposition, civil society and the media. Sources said that among the concerns raised during some of the meetings more..

Aug 11 (ST) A wildlife ranger was tragically killed this week when an elephant whose gunshot wound he was trying to treat suddenly turned and attacked him. Ranger B.M.C.K. Basnayake was the second wildlife officer killed by an elephant this year and the 75th ranger to die in the course of duty since the Dept of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) was established. The death occurred when a 3-member team from the Nikaweratiya veterinary unit more..

Aug 11 (EN) Investigations into the sterilization scare at Kurunegala have taken a new turn with the discovery that medical administrators colluded with law enforcement officials and even the magistrate to fabricate evidence and alter judicial records. CID reported to court that the director of Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, A.M.S. Weera Bandara, was fully aware that sterilisation allegations against Muslim doctor were untrue. more..

Aug 11 (Reuters) Sri Lankans, angered by the govt’s inability to prevent the Easter Sunday terror attacks that killed more than 250 people, want a strongman back in power who can guarantee their safety and bring back economic growth. Many are rooting for Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who despite fighting allegations of war crimes, is expected to be announced as the presidential candidate of the opposition nationalist SLPP, more..

Aug 11 (Island) Despite stiff opposition from some quarters to the much debated proposed amendments to the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA), Muslim MPs said there would be a positive change following their latest meeting with religious leaders. Further to discussions at the last meeting between SL Muslim MPs, All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) and Muslim women activists, an agreement was more..

Aug 11 (CT) Refuting recent rumours, leader of the PLOTE MP Dharmalingam Sithadthan said his Party will not break its alliance with the TNA. Sithadthan said that he led the TNA team to meet presidential hopeful Gotabaya Rajapaksa who invited them for a discussion last week. "He told us that he would assure that the 13A would be put into operation and to support him and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his prez race, more..

Aug 11 (TM) Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) will need to spend over Rs. 1 billion to transport garbage from Colombo to Aruwakkalu in Puttalam until a rail transport system in finalised. The CMC said that it will need to spend Rs. 150 million a month till next March to transport garbage to Aruwakkalu. Municipal Commissioner Palitha Nanayakkara said that the Council would have to send at least 20 tipper trucks per day more..

Aug 11 (DM) The High Posts Committee has approved the appointments of 13 persons including President’s Counsel and prominent human rights activist-lawyer J. C. Weliamuna and former Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal Kapila Jayampathy (Rtd.), nominated by Prez Sirisena, as Heads of SL Missions overseas. Accordingly, Mr. Weliamuna has been appointed as the High Commissioner of SL more..

Aug 11 (ST) President Sirisena has asked the govt to approve a proposal to pay Rs. 4.4 billion in outstanding bills accrued during the tenure of President Rajapaksa’s govt. Among the unpaid bills are Rs. 2 billion due to the Customs for items imported by the Prez Secretariat, Rs. 113 million also due by Prez Secretariat to SriLankan Airlines, Rs. 10 million to Ganga Catering Services for a function at Carlton House, more..

Aug 12 (ST) In Sri Lanka, injustice takes manifestly queer twists and turns. A State signs an international convention on the solemn understanding that it will conform to those obligations. It passes a Constitution or enacts a law consequent to a pact entered into with citizens promising that narrow interests of one specific power bloc or agitators will not be privileged. After all, the law is the fundamental protector, keeping the balance between powerful State & (largely powerless) citizens, more..

Aug 12 (CT) Tyrants rule through fraud and force. When fraud is exposed, the tyrant relies exclusively on force. At a press briefing on Thursday, Basil Rajapaksa has confidently claimed that there is no need to be afraid of Gotabaya. Instead, Gota would be a leader who would act as a terminator who would eradicate fraud and corruption. Exuding the cherubic charm of a medieval potentate after a splendid feast, the supreme and super strategist of Pohottu party vouched that brother Gotabaya more..

Aug 12 (SO) The time was 4.45pm on July 25. The message on her phone read, Bail order at 5.45pm. No reason for bail refusal. Let’s hope for the best. But the clock ticked by and there was not much news. At 6.14pm the message read, Magistrate yet to come to the bench. Heavy security around court premises. Again at 6.28pm, it read, Make Dua. That was what Dr. Imara Shafi has been doing since the arrest of her husband more..

Aug 13 (CT) All Presidential Candidates, before seeking nominations, must transparently declare publicly, all relevant personal details, including the following; · Date of Birth and National Identity Card number; · Highest educational attainment; · Citizenship; · A core capability statement, setting out descriptively their knowledge, skills, attitudes and values; · Core Personal Characteristics, setting out in addition, their Strengths and Weaknesses (the ones the candidate can observe more..

Aug 12 (ST) My dear Uncle Sam, What a pleasant surprise it was to receive your letter this week after a gap of about four months when you wrote me last and advised me in your strict usual tones not to travel about and stay put at home for safety’s sake soon after the Easter tragedy. Rest assured, I followed your stricture to the letter and hardly ventured out but whenever I did dare to brave the risk to buy the bare necessities at the nearest food store, never did I leave the home door more..

Aug 12 (CT) Transportation of garbage collected from the Colombo Municipal area to Aruwakkalu, Puttalam commenced on 9 August, as the Kerawalapitiya yard refused to accept garbage anymore. Garbage collected from Colombo city was taken to the Kerawalapitiya exchange centre and then transported to Aruwakkalu in nearly 14 lorries. The Aruwakkalu sanitary landfill was built by the Megapolis Ministry and Rs 19 billion more..

Aug 12 (ST) The phone rang. It was my jolly-mood economist friend, Sammiya (short for Samson), on the line wanting to discuss corporate governance issues. Hi my friend, said Sammiya. Hi there, I replied. “There is a lot of talk these days about corporate governance and the roles of the chairman and the CEO of a company,” he said, adding that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was preparing guidelines on the role of a chairman and a CEO. “There are serious governance issues more..

Aug 12 (SO) In less than two months, the Elections Commission will be calling for nominations from political parties to contest the upcoming presidential elections. The presidential poll, on Jan 8, 2015, was a watershed moment in the country’s history. This one will be no less decisive than the one before it. The stakes are no less than the very survival of the freedoms and democratic foundations that have been restored over the last five years. There is no question that this govt has made mistakes. more..

Aug 13 (Island) SL lost a great statesman 14 years ago today. Lakshman Kadirgamar (LK) was his name. When great oaks fall, the voids they create remain unfilled for centuries. The loss of LK will be felt for a long time to come. The country is poorer without him as seen from the monumental bungling we have witnessed on the diplomatic front during the last several years. LK was Sri Lankan to the core and proud of his roots; he, once, famously said referring to himself, upon being honoured more..

Aug 13 (Island) Fourteen years ago this month, a suspected LTTE assassin snuffed out the life of Sri Lanka’s best known and widely admired Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar. The media reported recently that authorities in Germany had arrested a suspect connected to this crime. This news brings into sharp relief the sorry state of accountability in our country. Even after fourteen long years, we have not yet been able to conclusively investigate and prosecute more..

Aug 13 (ST) Roshen Silva, an elegant right-handed batsman, who has scored five half centuries and a century in his short international career has been nursing from a knee injury for a while and has been away from cricket since March this year. “It’s been a frustrating few months for me,” said the 30-year-old former Josephian cricketer. Injured Silva is hopeful of making a strong comeback for the Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan more..