Jan 17 (Island) Attorney General Department told Fort Magistrate that in addition to one-time SL Ambassador in Moscow Udayanga Weeratunga allegedly involved in MiG deal, his wife, brother-in-law (Lalith Mannamperuma) and mother-in-law (Latha Mannamperuma) had received large sums of money from overseas. AG informed that several accounts maintained by them in banks here received USD. more..

Jan 17 (DM) Many have forgotten that they managed to receive ministerial portfolios because of the late Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera, Minister Sajith Premadasa said. “We should not forget that we were able to become ministers -- after remaining in the opposition for decades -- because of the late Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera. We should also remember that we were able to give concessions to people and develop the nation because of the late Thera,” Mr. Premadasa said. more..

Jan 17 (DM) TNA’s pact with the govt is an attempt to regain its lost political authority in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, MP Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said. TNA on Monday said it had come to an agreement with the govt to rename the Northern Development Ministry as the North and East Development Ministry. It also said the govt agreed to consult the TNA when making Cabinet decisions to develop the N&E. Commenting on the matter, UPFA MP said what TNA attempted more..

Jan 17 (DM) Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said he would take strict legal and administrative action against GMOA as they had even involved President Maithripala Sirisena in their malicious, vituperative and acrimonious campaign against him. The GMOA’s claim that President Sirisena told them during a discussion he had with them that a Presidential Commission would be appointed to look into the activities of more..

Jan 17 (DM) Among the world’s global powers, growing tensions are the most urgent global risk and make it harder to mobilise collective action to tackle climate change, according to a report prepared for next week’s World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland, the Guardian newspaper reported. The WEF has found that a year of extreme weather-related events meant environmental issues topped the list of concerns. The report came after a survey of around 1,000 experts & decision-makers. more..

Jan 17 (DM) Constitutional reforms is a serious business, whether it is an amendment or a new document altogether. Even ordinary bills and acts of parliament are serious affairs. Such things require lawmakers, the Attorney General’s Department, the judiciary and the general public to act with sobriety and responsibility. The basic premise of any new piece of legislation is that whatever exists is insufficient or flawed. That, however, is just one reason for attempting correction. more..

Jan 17 (DM) There were rumblings within the political combine of the UPFA, SLPP after some UPFA stalwarts – Mahinda Samarasinghe, Nimal Siripala de Silva and the like- announced that Prez Sirisena would be their presidential candidate. UPFA is now a broad political platform as opposed to the political force led by UNP. The SLPP or the UPFA segment led by Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, however, more..

Jan 17 (ST) Kandy firefighters cannot easily rush to the scene of a blaze in the overcrowded city because their trucks are blocked by heavy traffic, illegally-erected shops and parked vehicles, authorities revealed in the wake of a horrifying fire in which a man was forced to throw his children out of a third-floor window to the ground to prevent them from being burned alive. Pictures of Namanathan Ramaraj throwing his three children onto more..

Jan 17 (EN) SL has reopened tenders for the M2 off-shore block in the Mannar Basin for fossil fuel development and discovery in January, Petroleum Resources Development Secretariat said. The M2 block has two discovered natural gas wells Dorado and Barracuda and further drilling prospects. "Bidders are expected to consider both development of the discoveries and the exploration of the rest of the M2 block," more..

Jan 17 (EN) Sri Lanka’s govt should reduce taxes and scrap price controls on imported milk powder to ensure better availability and cheaper nutrition for consumers, Advocata, an independent policy think tank based in Colombo has said. The fast depreciating rupee and price controls may lead to a shortage of milk powder, taxed at 45%, as several leading importers are reported to have taken a collective decision more..

Jan 17 (Island) A doctors’ union accused Minister Rajitha Senaratne of not taking action against those shielded kidney racketeers, who tarnished the country’s image and deprived it of valuable foreign exchange. President of GMOF, Dr Rukshan Bellana, said that two and a half years back the Indian govt had reported to the SL govt that there was a kidney selling racket in operation between the two countries and both local and more..

Jan 17 (DN) SL Army, continuing to honour the pledge it has given to the Presidential Task Force is set to release 1201.88 more acres of Army-used state and private lands in the North with no impact for national security during ceremonies in Mullaittivu and the North on Monday, presided by the Prez Sirisena. The release of this acreage of land includes 972 acres of state land in Kilinochchi and 120 acres of state land in Mullaittivu more..

Jan 17 (DM) Driver Improvement Points which was known as Driver’s Demerit Points System would be added to the driver's licence by the end of this year Motor Traffic Department (DMT) said. Once the new system is introduced, the merit points exhausted automatic suspension of licence for a period of one year. Demerit points means the points assigned for traffic offences under the Motor Traffic Act in addition to any other penalties more..

Jan 17 (Island) SriLankan Airlines had spent Rs. 120 mn in 2017/18 to bring its passengers sent back from their destinations. Mahesh Nanayakkara, Senior Manager- Groups Assurances and Advisory Services said that out of Rs. 120 mn, Rs. 89.6 million had been spent on tickets. The ticket cost for the return of deportees was Rs. 37 million in the 2015/16 financial year and Rs. 49.5 million in the 2016/17 financial year. more..

Jan 17 (LBO) President Sirisena made his first visit to the Asian Development Bank headquarters today while conducting a state visit to the Philippines and met with ADB President Takehiko Nakao. During the visit, Sirisena and Nakao have discussed development challenges faced by SL and ADB’s role in helping address them, the ADB said. They have signed three loan agreements totaling US$ 455 million more..

Jan 17 (DM) President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed a commission of inquiry to look into the alleged corruption cases and malpractices reported from 15 Jan 2015 to 31 Dec 2018. The 5-member Presidential Commission is headed by retired SC judge Upali Abeyrathne. Prez last year said a Presidential Commission of inquiry will be established to look into cases of corruption between Jan 2015 and Oct 2018. more..

Jan 17 (CT) Former SL Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) Chairman, hotelier Sunil Dissanayake, speaking to this newspaper yesterday regarding an allegation made in a recent Asian Development Bank (ADB) report which said that a stigma attached to the tourism industry acted as a drawback for women to join this sector, however said that in his over 44 years’ of service in the industry, he had not heard of a single complaint of sexual harassment by a woman hotel more..

Jan 17 (FT) Happy Pongal, Mr Sumanthiran! You and I are from two very different generations. In fact you belong to my uncle’s generation (sadly I don’t get along very well with my uncle). You are a child of the ’70s. I’m a child of the 90s. In a more textbook classification you are a Gen X and I’m a Millennial. You were born to the Dominion of Ceylon while the Queen still ruled supreme, while I was born to the free, sovereign and independent Republic of Sri Lanka. more..

Jan 17 (CT) TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran said that time had come to take the MTV/MBC media network, owned by controversial businessman R. Rajamahendran alias Killi Maharaja, to task. Speaking at an event in Jaffna, Sumanthiran said, “A few days ago they used one phrase I used in a speech out of context, and falsely reported that I had stated that with the new Constitution, a separate state would be a possibility. That is completely false and directly contradictory to what I said! more..

Jan 17 (AD) The UNP will only put forward a candidate who can win the presidential election, says Minister Navin Dissanayake. Minister Dissanayake stated this addressing the media. Responding to the queries on UNP’s official presidential candidate, the Minister stated that they would present the best candidate who is able to win the election. He added that the party has not discussed the matter yet, however, a decision in this regard would be taken soon. more..

Jan 17 (AD) The Permanent High Court Trial at Bar has decided to hear the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum case against the former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa from Jan 22. The case was taken up before the Special High Court three-judge bench comprising Judges Sampath Abeykoon, Sampath Wijeratne, and Champa Rajaratne this morning. Complying with a notice issued by the Special High Court, more..

Jan 17 (GDI) Carbon Tax, which came into effect from January this year, is applicable to all vehicles and the registered owners of every motor vehicle specified in the Act will have to pay this levy. Only the electric vehicles are exempted from the Carbon Tax, but all other vehicles including the State owned vehicles are liable for the carbon tax. Ministry of Finance wishes to emphasize that there is no truth in the news, reported in the media that all State owned vehicles are exempted from the carbon tax. more..

Jan 17 (DM) Buddha Sasana Karya Sadaka Mandalaya urged the Govt not to present in Parliament a Constitution without the blessings of the Maha Sangha and to appoint a Constitutional Making Committee comprising of Maha Sanga, if a new Constitution was required. They said in a statement that the interim reports, which had been released on Constitutional making so far had suggested alternative proposals to the 9th Clause in the Constitution, which gives priority to more..

Jan 17 (AD) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) election will be postponed by two weeks, the Ministry of Sports said. The SLC election was initially scheduled to be held on Feb 2, 2019. However, it has been postponed until February 21 (by two weeks) on the advice of the Attorney General based on existing legal necessities. The Minister of Sports has issued the relevant directive on Wednesday (16) under the powers vested in him by more..

Jan 17 (NR) Deputy Mayor of the Akkaraipattu Municipal Council Abdul Gafoor Azmeen has been arrested by the Terrorist Investigation Division. A senior official attached to the TID said the Deputy Mayor was arrested this morning following a warrant issued by Court. Several investigations were conducted following complaints that claimed Deputy Mayor Abdul Gafoor Azmeen maintains connections with a terrorist group. The TID said the Akkaraipattu Magistrate’s Court issued an arrest warrant more..

Jan 17 (CI) Sri Lanka are hoping that Kusal Mendis has escaped without a broken finger after taking a fierce blow while fielding at short leg on the opening day of the tour game against the Cricket Australia XI in Hobart. A powerful sweep from Jake Doran hit Mendis during the middle session of the day-night match and he was in considerable pain, quickly leaving the field for treatment. He spent the rest of the day icing the injury to his right ring finger and will have an x-ray in the morning to confirm more..

Jan 17 (DM) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said he would advise Higher Education and Southern Region Development Minister Rauff Hakeem to discuss with China Harbour and China Merchant Companies on changing the university curriculum to produce manpower needed for the industries coming up in areas such as Hambantota. PM said this during the inauguration of a new medical faculty at the Sabaragamuwa Uni. more..

Jan 17 (FT) Western Provincial Council (WPC) and Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) will work together to chalk out a program to eradicate drugs and garbage problems and ease traffic congestion in Colombo city. The meeting to make Colombo a better city was held when Mayor of Colombo Rosy Senanayake paid a courtesy call on the Western Province Governor Azath Salley at the Governor’s Secretariat in Colombo on Monday. Speaking to the press following the meeting, more..

Jan 17 (CI) Given the pressure on Australia's selectors at the moment, perhaps it wasn't a surprise: the four batsmen picked in the Test squad against Sri Lanka made 40 runs between them and one overlooked batsman scored 157. Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne and Matt Renshaw all fell for single-digit scores, while Will Pucovski made 23, but Kurtis Patterson, the New South Wales left-hander, shone with an attractive and increasingly aggressive hundred and 22-year-old local Jake Doran more..

Jan 17 (HRW) Sri Lanka’s political upheaval undermined stalled processes aimed at providing truth and justice for abuses from the country’s civil war, Human Rights Watch said today in releasing its World Report 2019. The crisis subsided after the Supreme Court ruled on December 13 that the president’s dissolving of parliament was unconstitutional, and Mahinda Rajapaksa stepped down as proclaimed PM. more..

Jan 17 (CT) Action will be taken to convert the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) into an independent medical council similar to the General Medical Council in the UK, Minister of Health, Rajitha Senaratne said. He was referring to the alleged politicisation of the SLMC due to two Members of the GMOA being in the Council. He also alleged that the SLMC does not take strict action against medical negligence and other wrongdoings committed by medical officers due to the same reason. more..

Jan 17 (EN) Kavan Ratnayaka, former head of tourism development, has been appointed the new chairman of the state-run Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), a statement said. Minister of Port, Shipping and Southern Development Sagala Ratnayaka said Ratnayaka brings experience in both public and private sectors to his new job. The port of Colombo has almost reached its capacity with collaborative teamwork between SLPA’s Jaya Container Terminal & private South Asia Gateway Terminals more..

Jan 17 (CT) Chairman of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) Dr. Jagath Munasingha said that they were confident of gazetting the National Physical Plan (NPP) by the end of this month as its updating had already been completed. He said that the NPP will be submitted to the approval of the President Maithripala Sirisena during next week and that the UDA has also organised the final meeting of the NPP as well. more..

Jan 17 (Xinhua) Over 260,000 Chinese tourists travelled in Sri Lanka in 2018, and the govt hopes to attract a higher number this year. 18,283 Chinese tourists visited the island country in December alone, with the entire year recording 265,965 Chinese arrivals. "This year we want to attract a higher number of tourists especially from China and India. We hope to launch mega publicity campaigns in some key cities in these two countries," Tourism Minister John Amaratunga said. more..

Jan 17 (EN) Manila-based Asian Development Bank will help build an elevated access highway to Sri Lanka with financing of 300 million US dollars, and another US$ 145 million for human resource development, the President's office said. President Maithripala Sirisena is visiting the Philippines and had talks with ADB President Takehiko Nakao. The US$ 300 million financing for the port highway will come from South Asian Sub-region Economic Cooperation (SASEC) facility. more..

Jan 17 (CT) The Plantation Labour Rights Confederation (PLRF) called on all organizations, demanding for Rs 1,000 minimum wage increase for plantation workers, to unite for a protest on 19 January in Colombo. The Confederation also requested those who cannot come to Colombo to hold the protest on their relevant estates. Central Organizer of PLRF, E. Thambiah said, “Demanding the basic wage increase of more..

Jan 17 (Island) Attempts by SriLankan Airlines management to minimise pilfering by installing CCTV cameras in the cargo holds of aircraft as lack of funds had prevented the airline from installing the cameras in all aircraft; the PCoI was informed. Mahesh Nanayakkara, Senior Manager- Groups Assurances and Advisory Services said that if CCTV cameras had been installed in all aircraft cargo holds, pilferage could have been minimized. "However, since some planes didn’t have more..

Jan 17 (Reuters) Sri Lanka will receive a loan of $1 billion from Bank of China before the end of the January-March quarter, the chief of the central bank said on Thursday, to help the country meet repayments in the coming months. Sri Lanka is struggling to repay its foreign loans, with a record $5.9 billion due this year including $2.6 billion in the first three months. Sri Lanka is a key battleground in the tussle for influence in South Asia between China and traditional regional power India. more..

Jan 17 (AP) German authorities say they have arrested a suspected member of the Tamil Tigers alleged to have been involved in the 2005 assassination of Sri Lanka’s foreign minister. Federal prosecutors said Thursday that police arrested 39-year-old Navanithan G. in southwestern Germany Wednesday and searched his home. The man, whose surname wasn’t released because of Germany privacy laws, is accused of more..