Aug 20 (DM) UNP Chairman Kabir Hashim has handed over a letter signed by 54 MPs to PM Ranil Wickremesinghe requesting him to convene the party’s working committee and the parliamentary group in order name the prez candidate within seven days. Minister Ajith P Perera said that this letter signed by 54 MPs was handed over by Mr. Hashim earlier yesterday. “We believe we can get the matter with regard to the candidature more..

Aug 20 (AD) MP M.A. Sumanthiran has deplored Prez Sirisena’s appointment of Major General Shavendra Silva as the new Commander of the SL Army. Posting a tweet on the official Twitter account of the TNA, PM said the appointment is a serious affront to the Tamil people. TNA spokesperson also stated that the new Army Commander is an individual who stands accused of grave crimes. He said several int'l reports have levelled allegations against Major General Shavendra Silva more..

Aug 20 (Island) Power, Energy and Business Development Ministry has requested Rs. 50 billion from the Treasury to settle a part of Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) debt, a top official said. CEB losses exceed Rs. 100 billion, according to officials. Ministry Secretary, Dr. Suren Batagoda, contacted for comment, said that CEB had to bear losses as electricity was subsidised. "The majority of the consumers pay between Rs. 3 and 4 per unit which costs the Board Rs. 20," he said. more..

Aug 20 (DM) In response to comments about the name of SLPP Prez Candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s name not being in the Federal Register, US Ambassador Alaina B. Teplitz said on Monday that the Federal Register could often be months behind the recording of one’s renunciation of citizenship. She said the renunciation of citizenship was an admin. process. “You follow the steps. You eventually renounce your citizenship. more..

Aug 20 (DM) Multiple realities can co-exist. They often do. Two weeks after the scrapping of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution the ensuing debate is presenting the world many layers of the reality existing in the Jammu-Kashmir region. The decision by the Narendra Modi govt to carve out a Union Territory for Buddhist Ladakh out of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, making the latter a moth-eaten region, can easily be interpreted by one as a calculated political move. more..

Aug 20 (DM) Whether the former strongman Defence Secretary and youngest of the Rajapaksa brothers, Gotabhaya could be the next president of SL is now being narrowed down to a technicality of the procedure governing the renunciation of the American citizenship. The quarterly publication of the US Inland Revenue Service of Individuals who have chosen to expatriate did not have the good name of Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. The list which was published last week contained more..

Aug 20 (DM) Her worn-down, skeletal frame flooded social media posts in a matter of seconds. Online petitions were signed, others called for justice, some called to boycott peraheras while the int'l wildlife community criticised us once again. All this was for Tikiri – a 70-year-old female elephant who was seen parading a pageant organised by the Sri Maha Vishnu Devalaya, one of the main devalayas at Sri Dalada Maligawa, more..

Aug 20 (Island) Some 39 nurses, seconded by the govt to the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital, had never worked at Castle Street Hospital, PCoI was informed. Administrative Officer attached to the Castle Street Hospital Thushara Banadara said that those nurses had never worked in his hospital. Those nurses, seconded to the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital had been placed on payroll of Castle Street Hospital more..

Aug 20 (DM) Sri Lanka is facing a garbage crisis among other crises. It’s clear that we haven’t learned any lesson from the Meethotamulla garbage dump collapse which also claimed 32 lives. While the Govt proposed the Aruwakkalu sanitary landfill project as a long-term viable option, it seems to be a threat to Puttalam, apart from the Norochcholai Power Plant and the cement factory. Although plans have been drawn to establish more..

Aug 20 (AD) A SL Army Special Force personnel has been killed in an accident during a training session at Ampara. Reportedly, the accident had occurred during a parachute training session. The deceased soldier is a 42-year-old officer at the Kudaoya Commando Army Training School. The training had taken place at the SL Air Force airbase in Ampara-Uhana at around 8 am. However, the soldier had fallen onto the ground when more..

Aug 20 (FT) JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s announcement as a Presidential candidate will eat into the UNP vote base, an official said yesterday. UPFA MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena participating at a press conference with SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris at the Opposition Leader’s office stressed that the number of votes available to the UNP will dwindle with the announcement of Dissanayake. more..

Aug 20 (AD) Every presidential candidate must explain steps they will take to resolve the existing state financial crisis in the country, states Minister Champika Ranwaka. He mentioned this speaking at Jathika Maga seminar held at the Panadura Town Hall yesterday (19). He says that all presidential candidates are moving forward without understanding the state financial crisis prevailing in the country. more..

Aug 20 (EN) SL's newspaper circulation has fallen for the second straight year in 2018, with diminishing readership across all three languages, data showed. Annual circiulation of daily national newspapers fell to 368 million in 2018, down from 398.7 million a year earlier, after reaching a historical peak of 411.8 million in 2016. Weekly newspaper circulation fell to 113.3 million in 2018 after peaking at 136.3 million in 2017. more..

Aug 20 (ST) An unexpected confrontation between a group schoolboys and a salon manager last Saturday night led to the death of a man, and five youths are in police custody. They face an identification parade tomorrow. This incident is being investigated by the police under the direction of Slave Island Police OIC, Crimes Division, IP Nalaka Gunasekara. The five boys – three of them from Kandy and two brothers more..

Aug 20 (CI) Offspinner Akila Dananjaya has been reported for a suspect action for the second time in ten months, and will now have to undergo a biomechanics assessment in the next 12 days. If he fails this assessment, Dananjaya stands to be suspended for a year - the ICC's automatic penalty for bowlers who have twice failed an assessment inside a two-year period. Also reported for a suspect action following the Galle Test more..

Aug 20 (DM) The outgoing Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, has been promoted to the rank of General by President Maithripala Sirisena with effect from August 17. He was appointed as the Army Commander on July 4, 2017, and was the 22nd Commander of the Army. He was enlisted to the Sri Lanka Army on October 16, 1981, and followed the Officer Cadet Intake 16 (Long Course). more..

Aug 20 (CT) Yesterday, the US said in a media release to this paper that it is deeply concerned by the appointment of Lt General Shavendra Silva as Army Commander. The allegations of gross human rights violations against him, documented by the UN and other organisations, are serious and credible. Statement adds that "This appointment undermines SL's int'l reputation and its commitments to promote justice and accountability, especially at a time when the need for reconciliation and social unity more..

Aug 20 (FT) Whilst Sri Lanka is in election mode, the thought crossing every Sri Lankans mind is, Will the 10 February 2018 elections behaviour be repeated? given the head-start that Brand Gota has got. Whilst many are speculating who will be the fighter brand for Brand Gota, strictly from a marketing point of view to me, the most important behavioural change seen in the country in the last four years was the courage and decisiveness of the Sri Lankan voter. Even though a Sri Lankan voter more..

Aug 20 (AD) The govt projects scaremongers when an election draws near, PM Mahindananda Aluthgamage says. Joining Derana 360° political programme last night, the MP recalled President Maithripala Sirisena’s election campaign in 2015. He said then-election campaign concentrated on mega deals, highway robberies, Lamborghinis, golden horses, foreign accounts and that Thajudeen and Lasantha Wickrematunge rise from the grave when an election approaches. more..

Aug 20 (EN) Sri Lanka's Industry and Commerce Ministry had bought 108 million rupees of potatoes and buried them during a so-called 52 day period political crisis, Minister Harsha de Silva said. "I have asked for an investigation," Minister de Silva told reporters, "They bought potatoes from Welimada and put them in a paddy store. You cannot do that. The potatoes turned into worm infested piles of garbage." "Then all this was buried. The cost was 108 million rupees with transport." more..

Aug 20 (AD) Prez Sirisena says staunch peace-maker Yasushi Akashi is a loyal and trusted friend of Sri Lanka. He stated this when the Japanese peace envoy called on Prez Sirisena today. Mr Akashi was presented with the Sri Lanka Rathna, the first-ever highest national honour conferred on non-nationals in order to recognize his distinguished and exceptional service rendered towards the nation at investiture ceremony more..

Aug 20 (AD) Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri today (19) informed the Parliament that the Supreme Court has rejected 3 petitions submitted against the implementation of the death penalty. A Bill to repeal the death penalty was presented to the Parliament on the 1st of August by MP Bandula Lal Bandarigoda. The Bill was tabled as a Private Member’s Bill. On the 9th of August, the Supreme Court dismissed three petitions filed in favour of the Private Member’s Bill. more..

Aug 20 (RN) Veteran Director/Producer and founder of the Workshop Players theatre group Jerome L. de Silva was awarded the Kala Keerthi national title by President Maithripala Sirisena at the National Awards ceremony yesterday. Kala Keerthi is the highest national honour for the arts, and this is the first time in the history of the award ceremony that an individual from English theatre received this recognition. National Awards ceremony for the year 2019 at the BMICH more..

Aug 20 (RN) Facing widespread international and domestic opprobrium at the appointment of Lt General Shavendra Silva as Army Commander the SL govt is hitting back saying the move is a sovereign decision by a Head of State. The US, EU and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet have expressed serious concerns about the appointment of an officer who they point out is accused of serious more..

Aug 20 (EN) Securities and Exchange Commission had taken four stock brokers to court for manipulating shares of Radiant Gems International in 2011. The SEC had charged the stock brokers in Fort Magistrates' Court for market manipulation, conspiracy to commit market manipulation of Radiant Gems International Plc (RGEM) shares during Sept 2 and Sept 29, 2011. The offences carry punishment of up to five year and fines of between 50,000 to 10 million rupees, the SEC said. more..

Aug 20 (AD) Former Acting General Manager of Lanka Sathosa, Wimal Perera, who was sentenced to one year in prison after being found guilty on corruption charges, has been granted bail. Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne had delivered the verdict today in the case filed against the accused by the Bribery Commission regarding Rs. 4 million in losses incurred by the govt when importing rice to Lanka Sathosa in 2002. Perera was ordered sentenced to a year in prison and fined Rs more..

Aug 20 (RN) The Chairman of the 2-member presidential committee that probed the Easter attacks told the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on the strikes that they would have to rely on their memory to testify as all records of their investigation are not available. Testifying today at the PSC probing into Easter attacks Justice Vijith Malalgoda said that giving answers to questions by memory would mean that they are more..

Aug 20 (CT) Former Chief Minister of the once merged North and East, Varatharaja Perumal, has pointed out that instead of accusing Sri SLPP Presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the people in the North and East must think about the ruthless crimes committed by the LTTE. Varatharaja Perumal held a Media conference in Jaffna yesterday, on the present political trend with regard to the Prez Election. Perumal, expressing his views on Rajapaksa, said that the three decades of more..

Aug 20 (DM) The govt today withdrew the State Lands (Special Provisions) Bill against which several petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court. House Leader Lakshman Kiriella informed Parliament about the withdrawal of the Bill and said the sole objective of the legislation was to provide lands to the landless. "However, the opposition has filed several petitions challenging the Bill thus preventing us from giving lands to the needy,” he said and added that more..

Aug 20 (EN) Sri Lanka’s trade deficit narrowed to US$ 316 million in June 2019 from a year ago, the lowest since Oct 2010, as imports fell sharply while export earnings grew. Export earnings grew 5.8% in June 2019 from the previous year to 1,084 million dollars, the 28th consecutive monthly rise, mainly supported by an increase in industrial exports. “Earnings from industrial exports increased in June 2019 mainly due to more..

Aug 20 (AD) The Colombo Magistrate’s Court today ordered to relax a bail condition imposed on the CEO of Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) Kasun Palisena, who is named as one of the main suspects of the Bond Scam case. When the case was taken up before the Colombo Magistrate, the defence attorneys representing Palisena requested the court to relax the bail condition on their client which mandated him to report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on every Sunday. more..

Aug 20 (RN) Questioning the suitability of former Defence Ministry Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa to run for president, the UNP said today that the Elections Commission will look into court cases filed against him in Sri Lanka and abroad. “There is a court case against Gotabaya Rajapaksa filed by a person named Rohit Manoj Kumar on 5 April 2019. In addition to that, [slain editor Lasantha Wickrematunge’s daughter] Ahimsa Wickrematunge has also filed a case against him. more..

Aug 20 (ABC) A Sri Lankan man who killed his housemate in a brutal and unprovoked attack in Adelaide's north has been sentenced to at least 23 years in jail. Ganeshamoorthy Thiyagarajah, 44, was found guilty at trial of murdering Mohammed Mansoor at their Penfield Gardens home in March 2017. South Australia's Supreme Court heard Thiyagarajah — a former child soldier — stabbed, slashed and chopped his victim more than more..

Aug 20 (PTI) Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services (Mahindra Finance) on Tuesday said it has entered into a joint venture deal with Sri Lanka's Ideal Finance to acquire up to 58.2% stake in the company for LKR 2 billion (nearly Rs 80 crore). Mahindra Finance will invest LKR 2 billion until March 2021 for up to 58.2 per cent stake in Ideal Finance. The rural and semi-urban focussed non-banking financial company (NBFC) said the joint venture (JV) will capitalise on more..

Aug 20 (LBO) The SL Association of Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs entered into a two-year agreement to foster collaboration in the ICT industry. The newly appointed Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Trine Jøranli Eskedal and Ranil Rajapakse, chairman SLASSCOM signed the agreement. The Norwegian Ambassador Trine Jøranli Eskedal said, “Norway is keen on working together with private sector partners in SL. more..

Aug 20 (HRW) SL’s Prez Maithripala Sirisena has appointed a general whose forces have been credibly accused of war crimes as the commander of the national army. The move would seem to confirm the fears of those like Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who, back in March, supported the UNHRC’s extension of its 2015 resolution on Sri Lanka. The extension, which Sirisena & other top officials openly opposed, more..

Aug 20 (AD) It is necessary to create an economic system where the wealth that is generated within the country is fairly distributed to all communities, stated the Minister of Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs. He mentioned this addressing a function held in Dimbulagala, Polonnaruwa. According to the Minister, 54% of the national income is enjoyed by the wealthy minority in the country while the poorest 20% of the country only receives 5-4% of the national income. more..

Aug 20 (EN) Sri Lanka should raise taxes on imported films and television dramas to force people to watch domestic productions, a legislator in the Indian Ocean island said taking a leaf from the economic nationalism of US President Donald Trump. "Donald Trump is raising import duties in America," Opposition legislator Vasudeva Nanayakkara said. "If such a powerful country is raising import duties, a small country like Sri Lanka should not give in to globalization." more..

Aug 20 (RN) Leader of the DPF Mano Ganesan says the patience of the alliance partners of the UNF is wearing thin because the UNP can’t make up its mind about its Prez Candidate. “We have agreed to allow them to choose the candidate, but they are taking too long,” Ganesan whose vote base is among minorities in the Colombo urban areas said. UNF partners decided to support any candidate that the UNP chooses more..