Jan 9 (NR) President Maithripala Sirisena has reportedly ruled out a snap Presidential Election. The Head of State is vested with powers to call for an early election during the last 365-day period of the five-year term. However, UPFA MP Mahinda Samarasinghe says President Sirisena has claimed that the next Presidential Election date will not be brought forward. MP said the President had indicated on several occasions that more..

Jan 9 (DM) It was revealed last month that former SL Ambassador to Washington D.C., Jaliya Wickramasuriya is facing criminal prosecution in the US, according to an indictment and supporting documents unsealed on Dec 20, 2018 in the US District Court for the District of Colombia. The indictment, filed under seal on May 1, 2018, charges Wickramasuriya with two counts of wire fraud, two counts of money laundering and more..

Jan 9 (FT) An in-depth investigation conducted by a team of private sector professionals has revealed that the Govt is losing a whopping Rs. 10-12 billion annually in Excise Duty from illicit manufacturers of alcohol. They claim that the legal beer and arrack manufacturers, Distilleries Company of SL (DCSL) & Lion Brewery, alone pay a consolidated Rs. 80 billion to State coffers annually, which accounts for 71% of total Excise Duty more..

Jan 9 (CT) The JVP yesterday, requested the Govt to review Sri Lanka’s agreement with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) as some provisions of that agreement are against national interests. JVP MP Bimal Rathnayake, participating in the debate on the Regulations under the Diplomatic Privileges Act, noted that the Govt has given diplomatic privileges to a number of organisations including the IWMI. more..

Jan 9 (CT) Every religion that exists in the world has a set of sacred scriptures which are highly revered and widely read by the followers of the religion. Tripitaka is the treasure house of Buddha’s teachings and is revered as the supreme religious scripture of Buddhism. Tripitaka, which is also known as the Pali Canon, was imparted in ancient Ceylon with the advent of Buddhism by Arhant Mahinda Thera in 3 BC. As recorded in the ancient chronicle of Ceylon, the Deepawamsa, more..

Jan 9 (FT) Why are they all here? The mournful friends and grief-stricken family. That sly fox of a phoenix-like politico. Those happy humbugs. These hysterical hyenas with their hopeful platitudes. Their hypocrisy hamstrung only by the disbelieving silence of a few die-hards stunned into aggrieved silence by their presence. But who am I to judge? I who have been here but twice in 10 years. The first time when a few faithful believers in good governance voted for the democratic-republicans we thought more..

Jan 9 (EN) Minister Mangala Samaraweera will leave for Washington on Friday (11) for talks on getting the IMF External Fund Facility (EFF) back on track. Samaraweera is expected to signal the govt's intention to continue with IMF reform program. He will be meeting Christine Lagarde, IMF Managing Director, Mitsuhiro Furusawa, Deputy Managing Director, Chanyong Rhee, Director, Asia Pacific Department, Manuel Goretti, Team Leader and other members of the IMF Sri Lanka Team. more..

Jan 9 (DN) A businessman who had cheated several people with fake Vaalampuries was arrested by a team of Police officers attached to the Special Crime Investigation Unit of the Mirihana Police Station yesterday. He was later granted bail. The businessman is alleged to be the owner of the Namo Naarayana Center in Pitakotte. The arrest was made by a team of Police officers after a complaint which lodged by one of his clients after he client was cheated by the suspect businessman more..

Jan 9 (CT) The Foreign Minister has come under increasing pressure to initiate an investigation into SL Ambassador to Russia Dayan Jayatilleka following the JVP’s revelation in Parliament yesterday on his overt political campaigning. The Foreign Affairs Ministry has pussyfooted around Jayatilleka’s appointment thus far due to the latter’s connections with President Maithripala Sirisena. It was based on Sirisena recommendation that more..

Jan 9 (EN) President Sirisena has appointed three judges to the Supreme Court, including two whose appointments were delayed following a constitutional coup. Court of Appeal President Preethi Padman Surasena, S Thurairaja and E N P G R Amarasekera were sworn in before the president, his office said. Justice Sursena replaces controversial judge Eva Wanasundra who retired in January. Constitutional Council, which has powers to veto any nominee of the president, more..

Jan 9 (AD) The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court has re-issued an open warrant on former SL Ambassador to the US, Jaliya Wickramasuriya. Wickramasuriya has been charged with allegedly accepting a commission of US$ 332,000 following a contract awarded to refurbish the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington DC while serving as the Ambassador to the US, under the previous government. The court had issues open warrants on a number of previous occasions against more..

Jan 9 (DM) The International Cricket Council (ICC) will, for the first time ever, start a two-week amnesty period for Sri Lankan cricketers and others involved in the game to come clean and tell them what they know about corruption. The 14 days will begin next week and the ICC expects all those who have been approached by bookies, but failed to report these approaches to anti-corruptions officials, to divulge details. ‘Let me make this clear, more..

Jan 9 (AD) Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar today heard the case against former Prez’s Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath and three others for allegedly misappropriating Rs 500 million in funds belong to Litro Gas. The case was taken up before the Special High Court three-judge bench comprising Justices Sampath Abeykoon, Sampath Wijeratne, and Champa Rajaratne. Recording statements from the 9th witness of the case Menaka Rajakaruna, accountant of Canvil Holdings was concluded more..

Jan 9 (Island) The decision taken by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to name former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the opposition leader was correct, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Dharmalingam Siddarthan told journalists in Jaffna. He said that the Speaker has awarded the post of opposition leader to the MP who commanded the support of highest number of opposition MPs in Parliament. The TNA did not command the support of the majority of opposition MPs, Siddarthan told journalists. more..

Jan 9 (AD) Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa says there is a clear danger of a breakdown in governmental mechanism of the country, due to the irrational provisions of the 19th Amendment. Issuing a statement, he claimed that Sri Lanka faces three major dangers as we complete four years since the change of govt on 9 Jan 2015. The first among them, he said, is the danger of the economy collapsing at any moment. more..

Jan 9 (DM) Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) yesterday revealed that a 28-year-old suspect known as Pappa, who was in custody, had been wanted over several recent shooting incidents in the Maligawatte and Grandpass areas. They said the suspect, Bamunu Arachchige Duminda, who goes under the alias Mohammed Salman Rilvan (Pappa), was arrested with 5.3 grammes of heroin in Maligawatte last week. He was detained for seven days for further questioning after being more..

Jan 9 (NR) Cabinet has approved a proposal to increase privileges granted to school students through the Suraksha Insurance scheme. Accordingly steps have been taken to increase the per-day cover of Rs.1000 granted for hospitalisation at a state run hospital to Rs.3000. Ministry of Education said the Rs. 10,000 cover for outpatient treatments will be increased to Rs.20,000. Meanwhile the hospitalisation cover granted for govt & private hospitals will remain at Rs.200,000. more..

Jan 9 (AD) Major General Shavendra Silva has been appointed as the new Chief of Staff of the SL Army. Silva is currently serving as the Adjutant General of Sri Lanka Army. He was the former Director of Operations, SL Army and the General Officer Commanding, 58th Division during the civil war. He has received some of the highest medals in the Sri Lankan armed forces, which includes the Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya, more..

Jan 9 (DM) It is a known fact that there have been war crimes and violation of human rights in Sri Lanka but the local judiciary has proved that it is fully capable of dealing with those, JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake said yesterday. Speaking in Parliament Mr. Ratnayake said the way Sri Lankan judiciary has acted during the recent political crisis has clearly shown that Sri Lanka does not need international judges to look into war crimes and violation of human rights. more..

Jan 9 (DN) Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri today tabled the names of members appointed to Parliament committees including the COPA, Public Finance Committee, Committee on Standing Orders, House Committee and the Committee on Ethics and Privileges. The Committee on Public Accounts includes MPs Niroshan Wickremeratne, Ali Zahir Mawulana, Budhdhika Pathirana, Wasudeva Nanayakkara, Duminda Dissanayake, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Udaya Gammanpila, more..

Jan 9 (DN) While exempting electric cars, a Carbon Tax will be imposed on directly fossil-fueled vehicles including petrol cars from Jan 1, DMT Commissioner General A.H.K. Jagath Chandrasiri said. The carbon tax will be based on the fuel consumption of vehicles. "The tax will be charged under the 2018 financial Act and under three categories -- manufacturing year of the vehicles of less than 5 years, between more..

Jan 9 (DM) This businessman from the neighbouring country came here eyeing a big Ministry contract. As per the prior arrangement, he met a political authority from the upcountry and having the deal wrapped he offered a wad of greenbacks to the latter. Waving off the money, he told the businessman: “It is my acolyte who is going to handle the entire job on my behalf. Therefore, you had better give this money to him!” The politico had already briefed the acolyte on his role more..

Jan 9 (DM) Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said today he did not accept the report of the Prez Commission to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) because it was presented with political bias. He said this in parliament in response to a statement made by Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who said that the PRECIFAC report had held Mr. Rajapaksa and several others responsible of more..

Jan 9 (CT) A group of Navy officers who had been apprehended on charges of deserting the Force due to various reasons as well as another group of Navy officers who had been nabbed for having allegedly flouted rules and regulations, are being allegedly held at a Detention Barrack at the Welisara Navy Camp without basic facilities, Ceylon Today reliably learns. A Navy officer who freed himself from Detention more..

Jan 9 (AD) Former Northern Province Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran says that he is pleased with the appointment of Suren Ragawan as the new Governor of the Northern Province. Wigneswaran said that he is glad that as this the first time the Northern Province has received a Tamil person as the Governor. A Tamil person has an understanding of the issues of the Tamil community and it is important to think as a Tamil when working with Tamil people’s issues, he pointed out. more..

Jan 9 (NR) Minister of Finance Mangala Samaraweera says the Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to amend the Inland Revenue Act No.24 of 2017. Accordingly the govt has decided to exempt several taxes imposed on the general public. He said foreign earnings remitted to SL through a bank, have been exempted from income tax from the 15th of Nov 2018. Furthermore interest income of NRFC and RFC account holders have also been exempted from 15th of Nov last year. more..

Jan 9 (EN) SL's Central Bank says it will get US$ 400 million from a swap arrangement with the Reserve Bank of India, while a request for a further US$ 1 billion is under consideration. The Reserve Bank of India—the central bank of that country—has agreed to provide the funds under its SAARC Swap Facility. "RBI’s very rapid and timely assistance will serve to boost investor confidence by supporting Sri Lanka to maintain an adequate level of more..

Jan 10 (CT) When I published an earlier piece on this topic on 30 Dec 2018, I did not intend to add another part to it. However, what happened in the court when one of the culprits was produced before the magistrate has compelled me to add another. In the first part, I drew attention to the mytho-historic mindset that produces such despicable acts. I also provided evidence that such acts were contrary to the cosmopolitan worldliness that Muslims evinced during their High Noon in Baghdad, Cordova more..

Jan 10 (DN) Fourth anniversary of the Unity Govt’s election is an opportune time to consider the recent evolution of SL’s foreign policy. Evident changes to SL’s foreign policy since Jan 8, 2015, include SL’s engagement with a wider range of international partners, as well as its willingness to undertake necessary commitments to address the country’s post-conflict concerns. These well-known changes have been pursued within a new and overarching foreign policy framework that is perhaps more..

Jan 10 (Roar) It is a rainy morning in Jaffna when we set off in a rickety three-wheeler to find 32-year-old Amarasingham Narthanan, a carpenter and woodcarver devoted to creating colourful chariots used in religious processions by Hindu kovils. The road to Araly winds along the coast of Jaffna. Strong gusts of salt-sprayed air whip through the open sides of the taxi as it teeters on its three wheels trying to more..

Jan 10 (CT) The greed for political power involving the selective recalling of democratic governance played out mainly as a Colombo phenomenon has papered over the hugely economically damaging year-long money laundering label affixed to Sri Lanka by the European Union (EU). The EU which considers Sri Lanka high-risk for money laundering issued the blacklist subsequent to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) placing the country on its grey list from November 2017. more..

Jan 10 (Island) For the fourth time since Independence a new Constitution is in the making. As in the past it should not be a rulers’ constitution framed by the rulers planning their continuing in power even at the cost of the well-being of the people. The despicable policy of ‘divide and rule’ attributed to the colonialists was continued by the brown sahibs who covered themselves in national attire that people called the kapati suit because of the political hypocrites who more..

Jan 10 (DN) Strengthening the independence of the Judiciary in the country following the 2015 January Presidential Election victory by President Maithripala Sirisena took precedence over many other matters and today, it is a matter to be reckoned with in the long haul. The smooth functioning of the Judiciary by ensuring its independence and the dignity of judges should be commended, especially during last 4 years. more..

Jan 10 (GV) The first thing to catch my eye in Sandya Eknaligoda’s home was a comic book. It was an illustrated copy of Sherlock Holmes. Peeking out underneath was a leaflet bearing a familiar face – disappeared journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda. The image was immediately poignant. I raised my camera and snapped a photo. Tacked to the walls around us were posters, each marking a milestone in Sandya’s long, tireless struggle for answers about her husband’s disappearance. more..

Jan 10 (SO) This Tuesday marks the fourth anniversary of the election of Prez Sirisena to office as President of SL and the beginning of the Yahapaalanaya govt. Sadly, the Yahapaalanaya govt is no more with the UPFA having pulled out of it in October. Tuesday also marks the birthday of Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike (SWRD to most), the founder of the SLFP, the party which President Sirisena leads and the party which is at a critical crossroads right now. more..

Jan 10 (DN) SL’s R.A. Rohana, Asian Games Silver Medalist in 2002, has being flying the Lankan Flag with pride as a leading professional golfer on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) and the Asian Golf Tour, ever since! Anura Rohana Ranked #2 on the PGTI 2018 rankings, played more in the Asian Tour in 2018, but once again made his mark in the Bengaluru Open Golf Championship 2018 played at the Karnataka Golf Association Course, with an impressive field of 125 top professionals more..

Jan 10 (CT) The doctrine of separation of powers applies to the three principal organs of a constitutional govt, namely, the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary. The use of the word separation should not be understood to mean that each of these organs is absolute in its own right to the total exclusion of the others. It is not so, especially, in the context of the evolution of law, politics, and govt over the years. Today, the use of this 18th century Montesquieu Doctrine is more..

Jan 10 (Island) Last week’s piece headlined CB bond scams mother of all problems discussed how 2015 Feb and 2016 March transactions caused rapid deterioration of yahapalana relationship, finally leading to the collapse of the UNP-SLFP arrangement, on Oct 26, 2018. On the instructions of Prez Sirisena, UPFA General Secretary, Mahinda Amaraweera, on behalf of the grouping, requested for the termination of the coalition. more..