Jan 15 (CT) Four prominent figures in cricketing circles - Mohan de Silva, Kangadaran Mathivanan, Shammi Silva and Jayantha Dharmadasa - were given the green light to contest for the Presidency of Sri Lanka Cricket, which is scheduled for next month. This was disclosed by the three- member committee which was appointed to handle the nominations for the SLC elections by the Sports Minister, headed by the former AC Judge more..

Jan 15 (CT) National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) took legal action against two pharmacies in Kadawatha and Eldeniya, for retailing a drug used to treat neuropathic pain without a prescription. NMRA Chief Food and Drug Inspector, Amith Perera said that the raid had been carried out on the two pharmacies based on a tipoff, under the guidance of the Chief Executive Officer of the NMRA, Dr. Kamal Jayasinghe. He explained that a 150 milligram capsule of the drug cost Rs 24. more..

Jan 15 (ST) The dramatic rescue of a woman and three children from a burning building in Kandy highlighted several glaring shortcomings regarding fire safety. Main among them was the difficulty the Kandy Fire Brigade’s vehicles had in reaching the site. The situation is just as bad, if not worse, in Colombo. Senior officials at the Colombo Fire Brigade lamented that they face severe difficulties on a daily basis in reaching locations in the city in the event of a fire. more..

Jan 15 (Island) The govt had, in a desperate bid to attract airlines to Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l Airport, granted airlines all nine Freedoms of the Air to those who operated to Mattala via Colombo, the PCoI was told. Usually, airports across the world grant only the first four or five Freedoms of the Air to airlines. This made Mattala the most liberal airport in the world. Int'l Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that codifies the principles and more..

Jan 15 (DM) Ceylon Theatres today said that it shut down the Superior cinema hall of the Majestic Cineplex (MC) pending an investigation into complaints by patrons of bugs being found in several seats inside. Issuing a statement, Executive Director of the C.T. Holdings PLC, Sanjay Niles stated: “We refer to an incident which took place on the evening of Saturday 12th January 2019 at one of our cinemas. Upon receipt of the information on Sunday morning, Ceylon Theatres took immediate more..

Jan 15 (DN) Thanksgiving to the Sun God and expressing gratitude to the natural environment for the blessing of the harvest has been a religious practice of most of the farming communities, states PM Ranil Wickremesinghe in his Thai Pongal message. The message: ”Thai Pongal is one of the most cherished cultural festivities which involves feasting, visiting relatives and giving gifts celebrated among all the Tamil communities in the world. “The celebration that reflects the deepening more..

Jan 15 (FT) The SLPP said it rejects the Steering Committee report presented to the Constitutional Assembly (CA) and would work to defeat any vote on it in Parliament with the support of lawmakers loyal to Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa. SLPP Chairman G.L Peiris argued that the reports, which were presented to Constitutional Assembly last Friday, were tantamount to a draft Constitution even though other political parties more..

Jan 15 (PHC) A 12-member delegation of Sri Lankan Govt officers is visiting Pakistan from Jan 14 to 21, organized by the High Commission of Pakistan, Colombo in collaboration with Pakistan’s prestigious National School of Public Policy. The delegation members paid a courtesy call on High Commissioner of Pakistan, Major General (R) Dr. Shahid Ahmad Hashmat at High Commission’s premises. High Commissioner said that this visit will provide a great opportunity to SL officers to more..

Jan 15 (Island) The newly appointed Italian ambassador to Sri Lanka Ms. Rita Giuliana Mannella the ambassador for Republic of Italy in Sri Lanka was ushered by the SL Business community at the gala Members Annual Fellowship 2018 held on Dec 11 at the Hilton Colombo Residencies. The Members Annual Fellowship facilitated by the Sri Lanka Italy Business Council (SLITBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce enabled the Sri Lankan corporate executives to get to know more..

Jan 15 (FT) As dredging work in the Port City draws to a close the Govt is now looking at drawing up tripartite agreements with possible investors to develop the new addition to the country’s landmass. The legal framework for investments, still under discussion is likely to finalised by March, Ministry of Megapolis & Western Development Secretary Nihal Rupasinghe said. The 269ha land added to the country’s landmass more..

Jan 15 (DM) Power and Energy Minister Ravi Karunanayake secured Cabinet approval today (14) to open tenders for immediate power purchases. Mr. Karunanayake told Daily Mirror that he took steps to open tenders in advance rather than waiting till an emergency occurred. “In the past, there was the last minute rush in getting tenders opened for power purchases in the event of an emergency. I want to avoid it,” he said. more..

Jan 15 (DN) I am extremely happy to convey my greetings to all the Hindus across the world celebrating Thai Pongal, the festival that expresses gratitude to the Sun God, the supreme provider of light, warmth, water and wind essential for agriculture, the lifeline to human sustenance, states Prez Sirisena in in his Thai Pongal message. The release: “The prime status bestowed upon agriculture by the Tamil community denotes in the historic quote ‘We’ll worship agriculture’ of more..

Jan 15 (FT) The first ever re-settlement city for Sri Lankan displaced persons fully funded by the UAE was launched on 13 Jan in Mannar. The new facility goes beyond being a mere group of new houses to integrate many infrastructures of a small city. “UAE has been a longstanding friend of Sri Lanka. As the Minister of Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons I thank the ruler of UAE Emir Sheikh Khalifa more..

Jan 15 (Island) The Bar Association of Sri Lanka has vehemently condemned MP Wimal Weerawansa for casting aspersions on the judiciary by hiding behind parliamentary privileges, which prevent him from being dealt with for contempt. "The Bar Association of Sri Lanka unequivocally and strongly condemns the speech made by MP Wimal Weerawansa in Parliament on 10th January 2019 wherein he made derogatory remarks about the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. more..

Jan 15 (Island) Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike has asked President Maithripala Sirisena not to join political parties and groups that have been rejected by the people of the country. In a letter dated Jan 11, she has informed the President that she met a number of SLFP activists recently on their invitation. "As I informed you in my letter on January 04, I have always advised them to stay in the party and to work towards strengthening the SLFP," Bandaranaike has said in the letter. more..

Jan 15 (Reuters) SL will repay a $1 billion 5-year sovereign bond due on Monday entirely from its reserves, CB governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy said, after three of its state-run banks failed to raise funds from foreign sources. Govt is struggling to repay its foreign loans, with a record $5.9 billion due this year including $2.6 billion in first 3 months alone. Officials said a plan to raise funds through state banks for full repayment fell through more..

Jan 16 (DM) One of former Colombo Municipal Council Chief Medical Officers, Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam’s policies in his manifesto as the Podu Jana Peramuna’s candidate for Mayor of Colombo was the extension of the city to the suburbs. This, he surmised, would ease the pressure on transport and sewer systems, infrastructure and healthcare, and would attract investments to Colombo beyond the city limits. Dr. Kariyawasam did not become the Mayor of Colombo more..

Jan 16 (DM) Two more non-Cabinet ministers and a deputy minister were sworn in on Friday bringing the number of non-Cabinet ministers to five. Earlier, in the wake of Ranil Wickremesinghe being reappointed PM last month, 3 non-Cabinet ministers had been appointed. The new appointments must be a response to the grumbling by many ruling party MPs who had been sidelined when the UNF got was re-instituted last month due to the 30-member limit imposed on the Cabinet by 19th Amendment more..

Jan 16 (CT) General Secretary of SLFP, MP Dayasiri Jayasekara says the UNP threatened the Media and the Police, because they are connected to CB Bond Scam. Q: Isn’t being the General Secretary of a powerful Party like the SLFP a challenge for you? A: It is not a challenge for me. I am someone who has already accepted challenges and continued with my work. I have worked without being shaken by those things. more..

Jan 16 (CT) Gotabaya Rajapaksa is a determined contender for the presidency. His trenchant lecture to activists of the Viyathmaga forum demonstrated the man’s spiritedness and impulse to act. He is a driven man. What drives him? Ancient Greeks developed the concept of thymus which they believed explained our unconscious impulses to act. It is the subconscious driving force that tells a warrior to fight. Thymus in a sense, is a synonym for passion. more..

Jan 16 (CT) A phrase that does not have much meaning with the rest of the world yet an integral part of the American political way of life. A distinct dysfunction of a working democracy in that. A default mechanism that works wholly and totally against the people. If you are a federal worker you’ll find yourself working without being paid. How can this term be associated with a working democracy? Uncle Sam supposedly the champion for people’s rights depriving lawful wages for his people, more..

Jan 16 (SO) Govt lawmakers assert that the net result of the recent political coup is a huge loss of around Rs. 21 billion being only the interest costs while the cost to the tourism industry was far above of US$ 250 million. Apart from these, there are other economic and financial setbacks such as loss of confidence, investments and the associated delays in investment plans. However, the actual losses of this constitutional coup have more..

Jan 16 (Island) President Maithripala Sirisena has got hold of something to beat his rivals with. He has torn into them for being fixated on the next presidential election without taking up the issue of much-delayed Provincial Council polls. He has said they have a duty to uphold the 13th Amendment, under which power has been devolved. It is heartening that he has awakened, at long last, to the realisation that people’s franchise needs to be respected. Better late than never! more..

Jan 16 (CT) Even as the Nation is talking about a new Constitution, forgetting the past weeks, future generations would scarce remember the former, but not forgive the latter. Rather, they would have been handed down a process of trivialisation of the Nation’s holiest of holy books, and thus a process that could deteriorate into something that the sworn democrats of today won’t know how to defend, if called to do so with retrospective effect. The sins of the present are going to visit the future, more..

Jan 16 (DN) In early November, a 35-year-old mother and her newborn died during delivery at the Chilaw Base Hospital. A month later, two more newborns died at the same hospital. The cause of death in all these cases remains a mystery to date. A special investigation has been launched over the suspicious nature of the deaths of the two infants at the Chilaw Base Hospital, Acting Director of the Chilaw Base Hospital Lalith Poddalgoda said. Though two infants passed away on Jan 2, more..

Jan 16 (Island) A key factor in the recent political events in Sri Lanka, now nearly forgotten, was the forceful intervention of foreign powers representing old empires and the new neo-colonialist global power structures. Britain, the US, Canada, Australia and Germany all sought to intervene in the local domestic political affairs giving the impression that they considered SL a dominion of theirs: they made public statements as to their expectations on how President Sirisena should act, more..

Jan 16 (SO) A significant landmark along Baseline Road is the Welikada Prison. It is a building complex at which motorists and passersby don’t care to give a second glance. Yet within its vast confines are cell blocks that house men and women. They have entered the prison for an assortment of crimes from basic theft to rape and bloody murder. Entering through the main gate of the prison head quarters I sat in the lobby. more..

Jan 16 (SLN) Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force ship Ikazuchi arrived at the port of Hambantota today (15) on a goodwill visit. The ship was welcomed by the SL Navy in accordance with naval traditions, on her arrival. Subsequently, the Mission Commander, Captain Ryoko Azuma accompanied by the Commanding Officer and a host of officers of the ship paid a courtesy call on Commander Southern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Kapila Samaraweeara at the Southern Naval more..

Jan 16 (CT) Young opener Pathum Nissanka lead the fight back for Sri Lanka A with an unbeaten 92 as Ireland A enforced a follow-on, in the second unofficial Test match in Hambantota yesterday. After starting the follow on, trailing by 205 runs, Sri Lanka top guns, including first the innings centurion, Angelo Perera, went cheaply leaving SL 180-4 still trailing by 24 runs. NCC ‘s Nissanka who was in red hot form during the domestic league, hitting an unbeaten double century followed up by more..

Jan 16 (FT) Despite the challenging times ahead, the county’s capital market is optimistic that the progressive line-up measures will continue anticipating sizeable investments to take-off ground this year. Outlining the key elements of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) wish-list for 2019, its Chairman Ray Abeywardena said reinstating political stability, currency and fast-tracking economic growth were some of the more..

Jan 16 (Island) Sri Lanka is under fire for naming Maj. Gen. Shavendra Silva as the Chief of Staff of the Army. Various interested parties stepped up attacks on Sri Lanka in the wake of the Gajaba veteran, the wartime General Officer Commanding (GoC) of the 58 Division, receiving the due recognition. President Maithripala Sirisena elevated the officer on Jan 10, 2019. Early last year, SL earned the wrath of Yasmin Sooka, a member of 3-member UN panel that blamed SL more..

Jan 16 (Island) Performance evaluation of institutions is part and parcel of the world we live in today; rightly so, because institutions need to be accountable to those who fund them and others who seek their services. The ranking of institutions is often inevitable once performance evaluation takes place. Universities have not been exempt from these processes. The criteria for evaluation and ranking can however vary from one scheme to another. The webometrics ranking system, more..

Jan 16 (EN) An IMF team will arrive in Sri Lanka to start talks on resuming a program, Managing Director Christine Lagarde had said after meeting Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera and CB Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy. “We agreed that a strong policy mix, with effective implementation of that agenda, is key to strengthening confidence, while putting Sri Lanka on a sustainable, high-quality growth path that would benefit its people," more..

Jan 16 (DN) SL’s attempt to get spinners Akila Dananjaya and Tharindu Kaushal cleared by the ICC over their bowling actions which were reported to be illegal ahead of the 2019 World Cup only shows their desperation for wicket-taking bowlers which is affecting their performance as a one-day side. The recently concluded ODI series in New Zealand starkly revealed the problem SL has at hand. Whereas SL’s spinner Lakshan Sandakan picked up only a solitary wicket in 3 matches, more..

Jan 16 (EN) Sri Lanka has had talks with the Millennium Challenge Corporation to resume a grant that was halted during a political crisis, Minister for Economic Reform Harsha de Silva said. He said Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Treasury Secretary R H S Samaratunga had held talks were held with MCC Chief Executive Jonathan Nash. De Silva said the grant agreement was due to be signed on December 17 but was suspended amid a political crisis. more..

Jan 16 (Reuters) Sri Lanka is considering an offer from Bank of China for a loan of US$ 300 million, which could be raised to US$ 1 billion, to help it meet repayments in coming months, junior finance minister Eran Wickramaratne said. He also confirmed that Sri Lanka had started negotiations to increase the amount of a swap deal with India's central bank to US$ 1 billion, up from a previously negotiated US $400 million. more..

Jan 16 (Island) Fortude, a global technology solutions provider, in collaboration with Sandbox Consultancy, recently embarked on a team building initiative to create Sri Lanka’s largest documented sand sculpture. The structure was built by Fortude employees and labeled the 100% Zero Carbon Footprint CHIP Challenge, embodying the company’s core values; Caring, Humility, Integrity & Passion. Challenge garnered the participation of Fortude’s 200-strong team of more..

Jan 16 (Island) To improve SOEs’ performance and following many controversial appointments to state-owned enterprises in the past, President Maithripala Sirisena has issued fresh instructions on selection criteria in a bid to eliminate controversial and poorly qualified candidates. Issuing a circular to all Ministry Secretaries, President’s Secretary Udaya Seneviratne informed all Ministry Secretaries that all appointments should be first cleared from his office. The PM also has said more..

Jan 16 (CT) At present, there is a joint mechanism in place where discussions are held with the TNA prior to Cabinet decisions being taken by the Govt, TNA MP and Leader of the ITAK Mavai Senathirajah said. He made this remark while addressing a seminar on the current political situation in the country, at Veerasingam Hall, Jaffna, on 12 January. He added that according to the said mechanism, Govt should act only after more..