Feb 8 (CT) Oct 26 went down in SL history as a black day for democracy. The appointment of former Prez Rajapaksa as Premier, and the subsequent dissolution of Parliament (which the judiciary deemed unconstitutional), put the country in a pit. However, thanks to activists, civil society organisations, political parties, and concerned citizens, the fate of SL was re-written by the Supreme Court on 13 Dec. The SC ruled the decision of the Prez to dissolve Parliament more..

Feb 8 (Island) Delivering on its ambitious growth targets, Expolanka PLC announced its third quarter results showing another quarter of strong top and bottom line performance. For the third quarter of FY2018/19 (3Q19), turnover at Expolanka increased by 32% Year-on-Year (YoY) up to Rs. 27.7 billion, powered by continued consolidation of its freight forwarding and logistics business and further bolstered by the group’s growing leisure operation. Expanded turnover coupled with more..

Feb 8 (SO) The road leading to Pulasthigama, Polonnaruwa the hometown of Captain Wasantha Jayawickrama is lined with white flags and large cutouts bearing messages of condolences as a mark of respect to the fallen hero. In his village troops and people were seen hurriedly putting up tents and clearing the sides of the roads in preparation for the soldier’s final journey. At his partially constructed home, surrounded by more..

Feb 8 (Island) We once had a govt of the Rajapaksas by the Rajapaksa for the Rajapaksas. That regime crashed and its enemies captured power, promising to protect democracy and usher in good governance. Today, a situation has arisen where the guards have to be guarded. We have a govt of the UNP by the UNP for the UNP, and it is doing its damnedest to prevent itself from crashing. Faced with the prospect of losing power, its desperation knows no bounds; it is ready to more..

Feb 8 (Island) The Upali Group, its employees and sales agents islandwide have made arrangements to commemorate the 36th anniversary with religious ceremonies such as Bodhi Pooja, Alms Giving, Pahan Pooja and Blood Donation Campaigns. A special Bodhi Pooja will be held at the Kelani Rajamaha Viharaya at 6 p.m. with the blessings of Prof. Rev. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangarkkitha High Priest. On Feb 13, a blood donation campaign will take place from 8.30 am at the Kelaniya more..

Feb 8 (EN) Sri Lanka's delayed three billion rupee, three year main tourism promotional campaign is expected to get off the ground soon with the appointment of Kishu Gomes as chairman of the state promotions agency, the tourism minister said. "Now that there is a new chairman and in place at the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau, the campaign can go ahead," Minister John Amaratunga said after appointing new chairman on Feb 6. more..

Feb 8 (GUK) International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has today announced UK Export Finance (UKEF) will provide £49 million worth of support for Darlington-based firm Cleveland Bridge to construct 250 bridges for rural SL communities. This project has been designed to accelerate Sri Lanka’s development through improvements in its rural transport infrastructure. Families and businesses will benefit directly from the project, reducing the distance people need to travel to reach more..

Feb 8 (DN) Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) charged Vidanalage Juvenal Aruna Melan Soysa at Fort Magistrate’s Court on January 25, 2019 for not appearing before the SEC when he was summoned to record a statement with respect to certain transactions that has occurred in his CDS Account. Soysa has been evading the SEC without providing his statement, which compelled the SEC to file action against him in the Magistrate’s Court, Fort. When Soysa still failed to appear more..

Feb 8 (Island) If facing Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins were hard, the Sri Lankans will be given a double dose of hostile fast bowling as South Africa’s menacing four pronged attack awaits them. Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander and Duanne Olivier maybe not as threatening as Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Colin Croft but to a side whose deficiencies of playing short pitched bowling more..

Feb 8 (AD) The verdict of the case against Venerable Uduwe Dhammaloka Thero over the alleged possession of an elephant calf is to be delivered on the 1st of March. The case was taken up before Colombo High Court today (7). Both prosecution and defence concluded their oral submissions before the trial judge. The case against Thero was filed by the Attorney General for the alleged illegal retainment of an elephant calf without a valid permit at the Alan Mathiniyaramaya more..

Feb 8 (AD) The Ministry of Fisheries has taken measures to introduce GPS technology for fishing vessels and to issue an identity card for local fishermen. This decision was taken considering a request made by local fishermen on curbing drug trafficking, illegal transactions and illegal migration carried out under the guise of fishermen. Director General of the Dept of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Prasanna Ginige informed this implementation to subject Minister more..

Feb 8 (Island) The March 12 Movement has urged political parties represented in parliament not to abuse the national govt concept to increase the number of Cabinet ministers at taxpayers expense. Executive Director of PAFFREL Rohana Hettiarachchi said that those struggling to make ends meet shouldn’t be further burdened by enlarging the cabinet. He was speaking on behalf of the March 12 Movement comprising more..

Feb 8 (FT) Made in Sri Lanka products will make a fresh push to win more buyers at the world’s largest consumer goods exhibition Ambiente, which opens today in Frankfurt, Germany. Five companies fromSri Lanka will be showcasing their products at Ambiente 2019, which runs till 12 February at Messe Frankfurt. They are AMP Ceylon, Art Decoration, Dankotuwa Porcelain, Gospel House Handicrafts, and Selyn Exporters. Dankotuwa Porcelain has been participating for more than 30 years. more..

Feb 8 (DM) No details of the arrest of notorious underworld drug kingpin Makandure Madush and several other Sri Lankans had been reported to the Foreign Ministry yet, a senior Ministry official said. He said no details had been received even relating to a person with a diplomatic passport. However, the media reported that drug kingpin Makandure Madush and several other Sri Lankans were among a group of 25 suspects arrested in Dubai during a joint raid carried out by law enforcement more..

Feb 8 (DM) The UNP yesterday rejected the remarks made by President Sirisena on Independence Day and in Parliament on Wednesday. UNP MP Mujibur Rahman said the speech made by the President on Independence Day was a political speech and added it was not suitable for such a remarkable day. “It became obvious that the President delivered the speech in order to gain political advantage rather than delivering more..

Feb 8 (DM) Chief Incumbent of the Getambe Rajopawanaramaya Ven Keppetiyagoda Siri Wimala Thera said President Sirisena should take the responsibility over the chaotic situation which has arisen in the country today. He told this to Central Province Governor Maithri Gunaratne, who called on the Thera yesterday. “A chaotic situation has arisen in the country. President should take the responsibility for all these. He cannot get away from his responsibility,” Thera said. more..

Feb 8 (FT) Ports and Shipping Minister Sagala Ratnayaka said he had given time to the new Board of Directors of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority to present their plans on the Eastern Container Terminal (ECT) project and the development of other key ports. Minister said he also expected a report from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on the matter. “I would make final decisions on the ECT and other important matters concerning the Ports sector after studying these two reports. more..

Feb 8 (CT) Yesterday’s talks between the Govt and Regional Plantation Companies on the basic wage demand of Rs 1,000 and beyond for plantation workers were deadlocked. The discussion held at PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Office, was joined by the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), who watched over the developments of the meeting. The Rs 1,000 per day basic wage demand failed when the collective agreement was signed in Jan more..

Feb 8 (FT) LMD-Nielsen Business Confidence Index (BCI) climbed 11 notches to register 101 in January, according to the latest edition of LMD. This puts the index only one basis point shy of its average of 102 for the last 12 months. Nielsen’s Managing Director Sharang Pant explains: “Following two months of uncertainty, stability seems to be returning to the SL political scenario. This has had a certain impact on [business] sentiment.” Furthermore, he notes that “the rupee continues to slide due to more..

Feb 8 (FT) President’s Counsel Ronald C. Perera has been appointed as Chairman of the State-run Bank of Ceylon (BOC) by Minister Mangala Samaraweera. Perera held the Chairmanship of the Bank before the 26 Oct constitutional crisis. Prez Sirisena dissolved the BOC Board of Directors on 17 Oct last year, including the Chairman of the Bank of Ceylon, along with the Boards of two other institutions. Minister Mangala Samaraweera again named Ronald Perera as Chairman of BOC, more..

Feb 8 (FT) SLFP breakaway fraction called for one Presidential candidate from the SLFP and SLPP, insisting both parties should have one candidate to form an alliance to compete in the Presidential Election. “The basic structure of the proposed new political alliance has been completed, and both President Sirisena and Mahinda Rajapaksa should work closely to strengthen the new alliance. The leaders of the alliance will decide more..

Feb 8 (DN) A leading UK manufacturer has gained BOI approvals to begin laying the foundation for its newest state of the art manufacturing facility in Sri Lanka. Flexicare (Group) Limited is a UK headquarted manufacturer and supplier of medical devices, with subsidiaries in over 12 countries and two manufacturing sites, providing disposable medical consumables to over 110 countries. The agreement was signed on behalf of Flexicare by Ghassem Poormand, Chairman of Flexicare. more..

Feb 8 (Hindu) The fisheries department, which launched a salvage operation of 47 fishing trawlers detained in Sri Lanka since 2015, has completed the exercise and brought back 36 vessels. After inspecting the boats anchored in Karainagar, Kiranchi, Kalpitiya, Trincomallee, Kangesanthurai and Thalaimannar, officials found that most of the 170-odd boats had suffered extensive damage and only 47 could be salvaged. Finally, 36 boats were salvaged and the last batch of four boats more..

Feb 8 (DN) Diplomatic moves are under way to bring Makandure Madush and 24 others who were arrestd by the Dubai and SL Police at a hotel party in Dubai. However, it is learnt that the Dubai Police may take at least 14 days to complete the investigation and the suspects are under interrogation. Informed sources in the UAE said that it is the practice in Dubai which have a no-tolerance over abuse of banned substances more..

Feb 8 (FT) Ports Minister Sagala Ratnayaka said that broad structural reforms within the Police service led to the successful raid in Dubai where drug kingpin Makandure Madush and his associates were arrested. He said independent commissions, including the National Police Commission, and advanced training opportunities enhanced their capacity — a pre-requisite for a comprehensive operation of this nature. The high-profile Police raid, which combined Organised Crime, more..

Feb 8 (CT) Acting Executive Director of SL Human Rights Centre Surangi Ariyawansa stated that the State sector has to be rid of the undue influence placed on it by the political leadership of the country. Ariyawansa stated that current politicians in the Govt continue to misuse the State sector thinking that the sector was full of puppets. She pointed out the most recent example of this is the haphazard removal of Customs Director General Charles, before her reinstatement after a week. more..

Feb 8 (Island) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and the UPFA clashed, in parliament, yesterday, over the former’s criticism of Prez Sirisena’s statement in the House, the previous day. President Sirisena lambasted the Constitutional Council headed by Speaker Jayasuriya as well as the Human Rights Commission of SL over handling of judges appointment and STF deployment at Angunakolapalessa prison as well as more..

Feb 8 (DM) The eight Muslim students released on Feb 5 after being found guilty of violating laws that help protect archaeological sites makes Sri Lanka seriously consider the efforts they take to instill discipline in society. What disturbs us most is that these students are undergrads of the South Eastern University’s Engineering Faculty and can be termed as being among the best brains in the country. This poses the question whether the education they received and the intelligence more..

Feb 8 (DM) Prez Sirisena has openly rejected the UNP Govt’s proposal to form a National Govt with a single member of the SLMC in Parliament. Reporting on the speech made by the President at the Independence Day celebrations, the DM Online web reported the same morning, “….it was not correct to form a National Govt just to give more Ministerial portfolios” as having been said by the President. Meanwhile, in a lame bid to shed the green shawl, TNA Spokesperson more..

Feb 8 (DM) Dr. Harshana Rambukwella is an academic with an interest in literary history, postcolonial theory and sociolinguistics. Bringing these disciplines together, he recently authoredthe book The Politics and Poetics of Authenticity (UCL Press, 2018), whichexamines the unfoldingof Sinhala nationalism through the life and work of Anagarika Dharmapala, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and Gunadasa Amarasekara. more..

Feb 8 (ST) Former Minister Rohitha Bogollagama’s defence lawyer will raise preliminary objections to the charge that his client had acted in violation of a Treasury circular with regard to foreign travel allowances, Colombo’s Chief Magistrate was informed this week. The case has been filed under the Bribery Act. Mr. Bogallagama was accused of persuading the then BOI Chairman Lakshman R Watawala to approve funds more..

Feb 8 (CT) The Surakimu (Protect) SL organisation urged President Maithripala Sirisena to enact laws to empower Police to enforce the law against noise pollution. The organisation specifically called for the Amendment of the Motor Traffic Act to include the stipulated decibel levels to be maintained concerning vehicle horns and sirens and the like, and to vest the powers afforded to the CEA with regard to noise pollution with the Police. more..

Feb 8 (DM) Minister Lakshman Kiriella was frank when he said on Wednesday that they were going to form a National Govt under the 19th Amendment in order to increase the number of Ministers of the Cabinet from 30 to 48. In a way, he had been compelled to tell the truth finally to the country after attempting to pull the wool over the eyes of the people with regard to the purpose of the National Govt, which the Govt was attempting to form. more..

Feb 8 (EN) Sri Lanka has started regulating whale watching, extending a discriminatory fee structure to tourists which is already found in other activities in the country. "I visited Mirissa recently, and we set up regulations for dolphin and whale watching because it was overcrowded," Tourism and Wildlife Minister John Amaratunga said. "Now, there is a counter from the Wildlife Department," he said. more..

Feb 8 (CT) Patient Safety National Organisation (PSNO) announced that they would introduce a user-friendly app for use by the public to make complaints regarding any injustice faced when obtaining health services. Apart from introducing a website and Facebook social media webpage in this regard, the PSNO has also decided to publish a monthly report concerning the complaints made to them by the public through more..

Feb 8 (Island) NFF MP Wimal Weerawansa, said that 12 MPs, including Dinesh Gunawardena and him had been stuck in an elevator at the parliament complex for over 15 minutes. Raising a point of order in Parliament, MP Weerawansa said that though they had made several emergency calls, it had taken more than 15 minutes for the technical staff to respond. The MP said that there was no point in the authorities apologizing later. more..

Feb 8 (DN) Dr. Roberto Lenton, one of the world’s foremost experts in water management is in Sri Lanka this week for high-level govt consultations. Dr. Lenton has just been appointed to chair the Board of Governors of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), which is a CGIAR Research Centre and has the distinction of being the only international institution headquartered in the country. more..

Feb 8 (Island) The UK govt has again dismissed Lord Naseby’s call to terminate Geneva Resolution 30/1 in 2015 and Resolution 34/1 in 2017 on the basis that the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s govt didn’t perpetrate war crimes as alleged by the UN. Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con) on Wednesday during a House of Commons debate on UNHRC Resolution declared that more..

Feb 8 (EN) Provisions for retrospective taxation in Sri Lanka’s constitution and the practice of tax changes by midnight govt gazette came in for strong criticism at an annual oration of the island’s main body of accountants. President’s Counsel K. Kanag-Isvaran said that although the constitution states that taxes can be imposed and changed only by Parliament, there were loopholes that were being used by govts to avoid such approval. more..