Aug 2 (Island) Several key witnesses, testifying before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Easter Sunday tragedy, have frowned on the participation of Opposition MPs at the National Security Council (NSC) meetings. One cannot but agree with them on this score. There is absolutely no need for the presence of Opposition politicians or even govt MPs, for that matter, at the NSC meetings where highly sensitive information is discussed and shared and no one other than more..

Aug 2 (Island) According to a media report, the former President, Mahinda Rajapaksa speaking during the adjournment debate on a new Constitution is reported to have stated: this country could not move forward without clearing up the confusion created by the 19th Amendment. He is stated to have added: "Once a new govt takes office we hope to obtain the support of all political parties represented in Parliament for the new Constitution". (Daily Mirror, July 27) more..

Aug 2 (CT) Minister Mangala Samaraweera said, as Buddhists, we can call Reverend Thera only those who follow the Buddhist philosophy. “One who merely uses the robe to cover the body does not become a Buddhist monk. The Buddha too has preached this,” he added. Q: How do you reflect on your 30-year political career? A: Actually, I am happy that I could serve the people of the Matara District for 30 years. more..

Aug 2 (Island) Remember legendary marathoner Lucian Rosa who held the men’s national record for more than 40 years? He had never run a marathon on Sri Lankan soil when he emerged as the brightest Olympic medal prospect since Duncan White in the 1970s after training in the USA. Like Rosa, Hiruni Wijeratne, who resides in Boulder, Colorado is yet to compete at national level despite holding multiple national records in long distance events. Hiruni who has improved national marathon record twice more..

Aug 2 (Island) Expo 2020 Dubai is a global trade exposition showcasing strengths, capabilities and innovation of over 190 countries and is set to host over 25 million visitors from across the globe. This Expo is one of the longest standing and largest international events to take place in the world and the Dubai EXPO 2020 will be the the first of its kind across Asia and Africa. Held once in every five years and lasting over a period of six months, the World Expo aims to provide a global forum for more..

Aug 2 (DN) Thrust into the one-day captaincy for the Cricket World Cup on the performance of his excellent leadership qualities displayed in the Test series in South Africa where Sri Lanka became the first team from the subcontinent to win a series 2-0, Dimuth Karunaratne now seems to have extended that arm to ODI cricket as well. On Wednesday, Karunaratne-led SL team completed a 3-0 whitewash of Bangladesh and more..

Aug 2 (Island) Policy backsliding stands in the way of bringing foreign direct investments into the country. The BOI's functioning is quite satisfactory but unwarranted delays in local govt entities, especially Pradeshiya Sabhas, prevent Sri Lanka from utilising a lot of investment opportunities coming its way, a top economist said. "Due to the institutional failure, especially at PS level, we are losing an enormous amount of investments potentially coming into the country. more..

Aug 2 (ST) National Shooting Sports Federation of Sri Lanka (NSSF) conducted an orientation programme to educate its shooters on upcoming international events and to explain its expectations from the global events. Retired Major General Kenneth Edema, a prominent former national shooter now in-charge of NSSF’s activities as Programme Coordinator, explaining the objective of the orientation programme for local national shooters, said that the whole process is to more..

Aug 2 (FT) Last week, the Attorney General’s Department of Sri Lanka permitted the Kandy High Court to proceed with a prosecution on sexual harassment of two female travellers via video conferencing which can be considered as a milestone in the legislation field of Sri Lanka. On 14 April 2016, two British girls were sexually harassed in Kandy and suspect was identified by the victims at the identification process held in more..

Aug 2 (ST) Stax Inc, a leading management consulting firm, recently bagged the prestigious 5-Star Award for the Best Office Interior in SL under the popular Asia Pacific Property Awards. Designed by one of SL’s leading fully fledged Architectural and Design practices, Stax Inc’s award-winning office interior was done by Kahawita De Silva & Associates, promoting the organisation’s work environment. “As a multinational workplace, cooperation & knowledge sharing is essential more..

Aug 2 (DN) The construction of the Colombo North Port is aimed for the requirements of 2040 and beyond and by then the expectations of the entire Colombo Port would be 28 million TEUs, Sirimevan Ranasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Shipping told the third AGM of the Sri Lanka Association of NVOCC Agents held in Colombo recently. Ranasinghe however cautioned that sufficient strides should be taken to make Lankan ports more attractive with new additions and more..

Aug 2 (Island) ACMC leader and Vanni District MP Rishad Bathiudeen, yesterday, assured the Bishop of Mannar Most Reverend Dr. Fidelis Lionel Fernando of his fullest support to govt efforts to eradicate terrorism. Bathiudeen this week got back the portfolios he held at the time of the Easter Sunday attacks. Bathiudeen was among nine lawmakers who quit their portfolios on June 03 in the wake of ACMC leader being accused more..

Aug 2 (Island) Nalanda College, Colombo paid its highest tribute to the newly appointed 17th Commander of the Air Force and its alumni, Air Marshal Sumangala Dias, at school premises, recently, at a special assembly, in keeping with Nalanda College tradition of recognizing those who have achieved the highest degree of recognition and achievement in society. The ceremony showcased an impressive pageantry of current Nalanda College students and staff members, with more..

Aug 2 (ST) First of its kind under US Golf Schools of USA, is now here in Sri Lanka with an academy located at Shangri-La’s Hambantota Golf Resort and Spa with over 25 locations across North America, Arizona, California, Canada, Carolina, Charleston, Florida, Hilton Head, Indiana, Las Vegas, Maryland, Mississippi, Myrtle Beach, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, San Diego, Reno, Seattle, Texas and Tennessee to bring about the most effective golf lessons handled by PGA, LPGA more..

Aug 2 (DN) Deputy Solicitor General Azard Navavi testifying before the Parliament Select Committee mandated to probe the terror attacks on Easter Sunday said that it was unfortunate there was a malicious and baseless position propagated by parties with some interest that the failure of the AG’s Department to advise the Terrorist investigation Division led to the attacks on Easter Sunday which claimed over 250 lives. more..

Aug 2 (DM) Prez Sirisena said that even US President Donald Trump is re-imposing the death penalty to execute those convicted of rape and child abuse. He said this at an event held where he handed over the Aktha Pathra to the Ven. Galgodagama Sobhitha Nayaka Thera. Prez highlighted the importance of implementing the death penalty to prevent the proliferation of narcotics and said the US President Trump was implementing the death penalty after a period of 16 years. more..

Aug 2 (FT) Station Master of the Jaffna Railway Station R. Pradeepan said that two new train services from Kankesanthurai to Colombo will be operated from tomorrow morning and night. He also said that two new train services from Colombo to Kankesanthurai have already commenced this morning and tonight. These services will be available daily from today. Train number 4082 will depart from Jaffna at 06.25 am and will reach Kilinochchi at 7.43 am, Vavuniya at 9.02 am more..

Aug 2 (Island) The SLFP and UPFA emphasized that they wouldn’t, under any circumstances, be rushed in to take a stand on the SLPP 2019 presidential election candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The SLPP is now scheduled to announce as its candidate the wartime Defence Secretary, on Aug 11. UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera said that the outfit would place its agenda before the electorate on Sept 2 at the SLFP convention more..

Aug 2 (FT) The JO said they will reconsider voting to extend Emergency Regulations during the next JO group leaders meeting next week. Speaking to media at the SLPP head office, MP Kanchana Wijesekera claimed the Govt had been misusing Emergency Regulations to restrict trade union action and public protests. He noted the JO had only supported to extend Emergency Regulation to bring the country back to normalcy, but if the Govt continues to misuse the regulations more..

Aug 2 (Island) The Cabinet got heated up, on Tuesday, as Ministers expressed their dissatisfaction over the inordinate delay in allocating funds for the completion of the Stage 11 of the Colombo-Kandy Expressway from Mirigama to Kurunegala. Prez Sirisena chaired the meeting. A number of Ministers protested against Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera delaying the release of funds for the project. Both former Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella and more..

Aug 2 (DN) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said that only the UNP can develop the country and mould the future in spite of the many challenges and problems. "We have proven that the UNP can develop the country despite many challenges,” he added. PM was addressing the gathering at the ceremony to commission 626 new modern houses and 120 fully developed shops including pre-school, gymnasium and more..

Aug 2 (FT) Gazette Extraordinary number 2133/65 of 27 July 2019, declaring railway transportation as an essential service, was presented yesterday to Parliament. According to the Gazette, this covers services of any description whatsoever necessary or required to be handled by the Department of Railways, including the transport services by rail and railway lines, their maintenance and provision of proper security measures, signalling systems and their operation, issuance of tickets, more..

Aug 2 (Island) A contingent of 7,000 police personnel would be deployed in Kandy to providing security to the procession and the devotees during the Kandy annual Esala Perahera commencing Aug 5, Police Media spokesman said. Announcement was made in the wake of Minister Lakshman Kiriella’s declaration in Parliament that there could be terror strikes in Kandy. The police personnel drawn from various parts of the country will maintain law and order during the Perahera season, more..

Aug 2 (AT) SL business chambers have failed to stand with Muslim owned SMEs at a darkest hour. “It was very sad for me to see the silence of Chamber of Commerce as the backlash on Muslim owned businesses raged” said the Minister Rishad Bathiudeen on 30 July at his Ministry office in Colombo 3. Making his first official address after re-assuming duties in the same portfolio on 30 July he added: more..

Aug 2 (DM) D.P.A. Jayasinghe & Co. Director and actress Sabeetha Perera made a two and a half-hour long statement to the police unit of the PCoI on the building rented out to the Agriculture Ministry in 2017. PCoI sources said she was asked to report to the police unit this morning but had requested permission to do so on Monday but had however reported to the police yesterday. Although the Ministry had signed an agreement with D.P.A. Jayasinghe & Company on April 11, 2016, more..

Aug 2 (Island) The Malwatte and Asgiriya representatives strongly objected, on Wednesday, to the government proposal to construct a large modern building spending the bulk of the Rs 750 million allocated for Bogambara from the 2019 budget, when the future of the former prison complex there yet remains unresolved was taken up for further discussion at a meeting held at the Department of Archeology in Colombo on Wednesday (31), authoritative sources said. more..

Aug 2 (Island) Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris found fault with the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) for waiting for instructions from Dept of Attorney General without arresting terrorists connected to the National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ). Testifying before the PSC, DSG Peiris said that the TID was empowered to arrest suspected terrorists. TID did not need to wait for instructions to proceed with their arrests. more..

Aug 2 (DM) A recent story where some Jaffna residents opposed the work of a company to set up the infrastructure and provide 5G technology exposed the backward thinking of a section of these northerners. According to a news report, these residents apposed the project fearing that the tower to be set up would cause health hazards to the people. The residents claim that the rays generated by the tower would harm pregnant mothers and also contribute to cancer. more..

Aug 2 (DM) India’s Hindu nationalist government on Tuesday criminalised the Muslim triple-talaq divorce, by adopting a landmark law. The practice is now punishable by a jail term upto three years. Most Muslim women across India celebrated the bills’ passage in Parliament. They saw it as a significant victory that ended the long suffering they were condemned to undergo as a result of Muslim religious scholars reading only the literal meaning of scripture while ignoring its spiritual meaning. more..

Aug 2 (ST) Irrigation Department asked farmers to grow short-term crops to cope better with drought but many farmers stuck stubbornly to long-term crops – now their harvest hopes are bleak. The department’s Director-General, S. Mohanarajah, said cultivation has suffered in the drought conditions. “Farmers cultivated long-term crops despite the warnings issued by the department about the lack of water in reservoirs,” more..

Aug 2 (DN) Senior State Counsel Lakmini Girihagama appearing on behalf of the CID informed the Mount Lavinia Additional Magistrate that former Nation Deputy Editor Keith Noyahr has agreed to an identification parade via video technology. Girihagama made this remark when the magisterial inquiry into the abduction and assault of senior journalist Keith Noyahr was taken up before the Mount Lavinia Additional more..

Aug 2 (HRW) Sri Lankan authorities have failed to bring to justice those responsible for the execution-style killing of 17 aid workers 13 years ago, Human Right Watch said today. On August 4, 2006, alleged Sri Lankan security forces murdered local staff members from the Paris-based Action Contre La Faim (Action Against Hunger, ACF) at their compound in the town of Muttur, in eastern Trincomalee district. more..

Aug 2 (CT) Doctors of Apeksha Hospital for cancer patients, appealed to the Health Ministry to ensure the continuous supply of costly, yet essential drugs for patients. Branch Union President of the GMOA, Dr. Sarada Kannangara said there was a shortage of about 35 essential drugs. They include not only chemotherapy drugs but also supportive drugs for patients undergoing surgery or treatment at the Hospital. more..

Aug 2 (FT) Sri Lanka has seen a rise in prices of rice since the latter part of 2013, with small and medium scale rice mills closing down and the Govt having to import around two million metric tons of rice (2013-2018) to stabilise prices and maintain supply. The skyrocketing rice prices were traced back to large scale millers holding an oligopoly of trade, the said rice millers continuing to push down the purchase price of paddy from more..

Aug 2 (AD) The Chief of International Organization of Migration (IOM) Sarat Dash called on Governor of Northern Province Dr. Suren Raghavan today at the Governor’s Secretariat. The case of SL refugees living in India has been discussed at length and attention was also given to the measures to bring them back to the island. Sarat Dash has said that IOM could spend Rs 6.5 million to bring the Sri Lankan Tamils more..

Aug 2 (Island) Ministry of Education said that former acting Commissioner of Education Publications, I.M.K.B. Ilangasinghe had not been transferred because his testimony before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI), was unfavourable to Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasaml, contrary to General Secretary of Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) Joseph Stalin’s claim: Commenting on The Island story on more..

Aug 2 (RN) The National Police Commission (NPC) will inform the Acting IGP Chandana Wickremeratne today that they have approved the transfer of two top Police officers from the Kurunegala area because they are allegedly interfering in the investigations into the Shafi case. Wickremeratne made a strong case for the transfer of the officers, the Acting Secretary to the Commission Nishantha Weerasinghe said. more..

Aug 2 (EN) Members of UNP is to submit amendments to a draft constitution to govern a proposed broad alliance after thwarting an attempt by its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe tried to push through undemocratic document, political sources said. Wickremesinghe had attempted to pass the draft document at a meeting of the UNP working committee but had faced stiff opposition. Several senior UNPers had demanded that more..

Aug 2 (AD) Mayor of Hambantota Eraj Fernando has been sentenced to 5 years imprisonment by the Hambantota High Court. He was sentenced over the case filed against him for threatening several UNP MPs with a pistol during their visit to the Hambantota Harbour on Apr 17, 2014. Mayor had gained notoriety when he chased away UNP MPs who were conducting an inspection tour to Mattala Airport more..

Aug 2 (FT) Sri Lanka can be compared to a patient in a critical condition requiring immediate surgery for its survival. But the attention of all politicians in the country is focused not on the patient or the condition of the patient. Instead, they are concerned about the forthcoming Presidential Election. This situation will distract the attention on the patient and inevitably worsen the sickness of the patient. Whoever wins the forthcoming Presidential Election, it will not be a remedy for the sickness of more..