Jan 22 (DM) Welcoming the statement made by President Maithripala Sirisena that death sentence will be given to those convicted of drug-related offences, Minister Ajith P. Perera yesterday said the President should turn his words into action. Minister Perera told a press conference yesterday that President Sirisena could make a start by subjecting those who are already found guilty of drug-related offences to death sentence. more..

Jan 22 (DM) Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena has won the David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year 2018 for the second time. Kumar Dharmasena was voted as Umpire of the Year by international captains and ICC Match Referees, winning the David Shepherd Trophy for the second time. Dharmasena hoped this award would inspire other Sri Lanka officials: “It has been a very satisfying year for me and more..

Jan 22 (CT) The Ministry of Agriculture has done very little to save the country’s many crops from the devastation caused by the fall armyworm, Minister Daya Gamage claimed. He said that the worm had first attacked corn crops in the country in August last year. However, next to nothing was done by the Agriculture Ministry and the Department of Agriculture to stem its progress until it had become a wrecker which had reached more..

Jan 22 (Hindu) From 10 feet away, it looked like a grin, the row of teeth stretching from ear to ear. Freshly dug out from many layers of soil, the mud-covered skeleton lay on its spine, awaiting a number. “That would be 283,” says W.R.A.S. Rajapaksa. He is standing on an elevation inside the site, located at a busy junction in Mannar. In his blue smock, Judicial Medical Officer at Mannar District General Hospital looks like a surgeon, more..

Jan 22 (SMH) Even the imposing record at the Gabba can't mask the vulnerabilities of the current Australian Test squad, with Sri Lanka taking a leaf out of the Indian book by saying the opportunity was there to upset the applecart when the first Test begins in Brisbane on Thursday. With three players potentially on debut and an historic home series loss to the Indians behind them, Australia will still start as heavy favourites more..

Jan 22 (Island) SriLankan Airlines was exploring options to sub-lease an Airbus A330-200 sitting idle at the BIA for over three months. The Oneworld carrier states that the aircraft, registered 4R-ALS (MSN 1008), was acquired in 2017 as a condition of a settlement with AerCap over its cancellation of an agreement to lease four new A350-900s, under a deal cut by the airline’s previous management team. more..

Jan 22 (Island) The Human Rights Commission has asked Minister Mangala Samaraweera to allocate funds from this year’s upcoming budget to make public buildings and transportation accessible to persons with disabilities. A letter signed by Chairperson of HRCSL, Dr N. D. Udagama addressed to Minister Samaraweera says that a majority of buildings and public transport in the country are not disability accessible. more..

Jan 22 (AD) The indictments against the seven defendants including former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa pertaining to the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum case have been read out at the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar today. The case was taken up before the Special High Court three-judge bench comprising Judges Sampath Abeykoon, Sampath Wijeratne, and Champa Janaki Rajaratne this morning. more..

Jan 22 (DM) The name United Nations (UN) was coined by US President Roosevelt and grew amid the ruins of World War II at a time the people all over the world wanted peace. UN, as we know it today, is an inter-governmental organisation tasked primarily with maintaining international peace and security and aiming to develop friendly relations among nations. Rather unfortunately in one of its first acts of the UN, whether intentionally or otherwise, was to create longest running conflict in its history. more..

Jan 22 (DM) Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa’s press release for Thai Pongal drew the attention of Jaffna District Parliamentarian Abraham Sumanthiran. The release states that Rajapaksa in his long political journey wishes to see the finding of a solution which will allow all people to live a united and peaceful life. Rajapaksa also adds in the press release that he has prioritised his duties to ensure that there would be no discrimination within the entire community. more..

Jan 22 (CT) Brigadier Priyanka Fernando, a senior officer of SL Army, has been found guilty of two of three offences under Public Order Act by signalling a death threat to Tamil protestors on Feb 4, last year. Westminster Magistrate Court issued an arrest warrant on Fernando ruling that his actions were threatening, caused harassment, and that he intended them to be so. Following this judgement an int'l arrest warrant is likely to be issued for SL’s ex defence attache Brig. Priyanka Fernando. more..

Jan 22 (Island) The Mannar Madhu Police have nabbed eight persons in the act of digging in search of gold, which is believed to have been buried there by the fleeing Tigers, during the war. The police found hi-tech ground scanning equipment and several other paraphernalia used by the suspects to search for LTTE gold. The arrest was made on a tip-off that some persons were carrying out excavations at Narikalachchan, Kunjikulam in Madhu. The suspects are between 26 and 70 yrs of age; more..

Jan 22 (AD) The committee report on the recent clashed inside the Chamber of Parliament has been handed over to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today. Accordingly, the committee had submitted the report to the Speaker at 12.20 p.m. this afternoon. The committee members had reviewed the CCTV footage available on the relevant parliamentary dates in separate pairs. They had then studied the CCTV footage together more..

Jan 22 (DN) Colombo Fort Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage yesterday, further remanded former Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) Director DIG Nalaka de Silva and Indian National Mersily Thomas till Jan 30. Nalaka de Silva has been allegedly accused of plotting to assassinate President Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and SSP Prasanna Alwis. The Magistrate announced that prison authority has informed the court that they have sufficient facilities to more..

Jan 22 (Island) Govt must focus on eradicating the Fallarmyworm (Sena) destroying cultivations in several provinces in the country, instead of passing bills that don’t benefit the people, Opposition Leader, Mahinda Rajapaksa said. "The sudden appearance and the fast spread of this creature is baffling. Govt must focus on this matter immediately because there are a large number of farmers who depend on corn and corn is also important to the poultry industry as the feed prices will go up," more..

Jan 22 (EN) Sri Lanka’s economic growth is projected to remain below potential in the near term owing to insufficient international competitiveness and vulnerability to external shocks, a new UN study said. The island has a high debt burden and heavy govt interest payments, which at almost 40% as a share of general govt revenue was the third highest among South Asian economies, U.N.’s report, World Economic Situation more..

Jan 22 (AD) A lorry carrying military personnel has collided with a train at the Wellawa railway crossing in Kurunegala, critically injuring 04 Army personnel as a result. Reportedly, the lorry had collided with the express train en route to Colombo from Trinco, early this morning. Four Army personnel including a Major have been admitted to the ICU of Kurunegala Teaching Hospital for treatment. Reportedly, the accident has caused major damages to the lorry as well as the train. more..

Jan 22 (AD) JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti has been appointed as the Chairman of the COPE. This is the third time that the JVP MP has been appointed to head the COPE. The members of the committee reached a unanimous decision to appoint Handunnetti as the Chairman. Committee is comprised of 16 members and also includes Rauff Hakeem, Ravindra Samaraweera, Sujeewa Senasinghe, Dr Harsha De Silva, Ajith P. Perera, Wasantha Aluwihare, Ranjan Ramanayake, more..

Jan 22 (DM) UNP MP Hirunika Premachandra said she had received information that there was a plan to grant a presidential pardon death row inmate Duminda Silva on Feb 4. She told parliament that a group of people were signing a petition in Kolonnawa calling for the release of Duminda Silva through a presidential pardon and it appears that Prez Sirisena had given his consent to do so. more..

Jan 22 (LBO) Board of Investment has signed an agreement with HNJ Towers private limited to build a mixed development project located at R A De Mel Mawatha, Colombo 3. Board of Investment said in a statement that when completed HNJ Towers will provide employment for 14 staff members. Total value of the project is US$ 14.82 million. The agreement was signed on behalf of the Board by Hemasiri Fernando, Chairman of the BOI and Imzaan Haqque, COO of HNJ Towers. more..

Jan 22 (Island) The Thousand Movement, a collective of unions and grassroots activists who want to increase the daily basic salary of an estate worker to Rs. 1000, will hold demonstrations in 30 locations country-wide calling on Plantation Companies to grant the just demand, Chinthaka Rajapakshe, Moderator of the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) said. The demonstrators would also request the three major estate sector unions, Lanka Jathika Estate more..

Jan 22 (AD) Brigadier Priyanka Fernando has not yet been informed on the summons issued by the Westminster Magistrate’s Court in the UK, says SL Army. He was charged for making a threatening gesture towards a group of LTTE supporters protesting in front of the SL High Commission in London on the 4th of Feb 2018 by running his forefinger across his throat. A case was filed against him before the Westminster more..

Jan 22 (AD) Court of Appeal has ordered to take up the petition, seeking Quo Warranto preventing Ranil Wickremesinghe from being a MP, on Jan 31 for confirmation of submissions. The petition, filed by Sharmila Gonawala, Co-President of Women for Justice, was taken up before Court of Appeal judge bench consisting of Justice Arjuna Obeysekara today. The petitioner states that PM Ranil Wickremesinghe is a shareholder of Lake House group and that Lake House Printers and more..

Jan 22 (DM) The US embassy said yesterday that there was no truth in reports that the US intends to establish a military base in Sri Lanka. An embassy spokesman said that these reports are categorically false. “While the US-SL military partnership has included disaster preparedness and relief, maritime security training, and exercises to enhance interoperability, a base has never been a part of the relationship nor have there ever been discussions aimed at establishing one. more..

Jan 22 (DM) Operations of the Lotus Tower is scheduled for March, the TRC said. Finishing touches for the 350m tower, the second tallest in South Asia once completed, has already begun. Project Director Shantha Gunananda, said that the finishing touches and landscaping work was nearing completion. Lotus Tower was initially expected to be completed by Oct 2017. It will house telecom antennas, offices and other leisure more..

Jan 22 (DM) On 17 Oct, the Divaina quoted Mr. Bandula Gunawardena as saying that as a result of the Sri Lanka–Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA), nearly 4,000 products can be imported with zero tariffs as per the gazette notification 2069/2. To consider the validity of his statement, we referred to gazette notification 2069/2. The gazette notification lists the existing tariff rate for 3,539 products, and the new rate under the Singapore FTA for each of these products. more..

Jan 22 (DN) The case against two accused including Avant-Garde Maritime Services (Pvt) Ltd Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi was yesterday fixed for trial on February 28 by the Colombo High Court. The Bribery Commission had filed indictments against Avant-Garde Maritime Services (Pvt) Ltd Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi and Maj. Gen. Palitha Fernando for allegedly offering a bribe of Rs.35.5 million regarding the Avant-Garde floating armory transaction. more..

Jan 22 (CT) CEB engineers accused the Govt of obstructing the construction of major power plants, in order to purchase emergency power on a short-term basis, at very high prices, from the beginning of the drought season every year. They also alleged that the Ministry of Power, Energy and Business Development is not granting approval for the five 100 MW and 24 x 4 MW Diesel Power Plants which have been proposed as more..

Jan 22 (GDI) India and Sri Lanka signed a MoU to provide modern infrastructural facilities to the Swami Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies, Eastern University in the Batticaloa District. MoU was signed by High Commissioner of India, Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Secretary to the Minister of City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education M.M.P.K. Mayadunne, in the presence of City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education Minister Rauff Hakeem and senior officals. more..

Jan 22 (DN) Cabinet approval has been granted to the proposal made by Agriculture Minister P Harrison to compensate farmers whose crops are affected by the Fall Armyworm (FAW- Sena caterpillar) menace. Accordingly, an amount of Rs 250 million will be allocated to provide the compensations. PM has also instructed relevant authorities to implement a proper island wide campaign to curb this menace. During a meeting of UNP MPs held on Monday at Temple Trees, more..

Jan 22 (AD) Five suspects including two US nationals and an Afghan national had been arrested with over 90 kgs of heroin worth more than Rs. 1080 million, at a luxury housing scheme in Kollupitiya this afternoon. Two Sri Lankans aged 39 and 41 from Hikkaduwa, were among the arrested. He said the STF and PNB officers arrested the suspects during a raid at an apartment on the first floor of the housing complex. more..

Jan 23 (CT) The latest Report issued by the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs on Poverty Indicators is both questionable and outrageous. This Ministry is under the responsibility of the PM, Ranil Wickremesinghe. Most of the statistics and calculations are based on the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) in 2016. It is not so much the Survey HIES which is questionable, but the Govt’s Official Poverty Line (OPL) and some of the calculations and statements more..

Jan 23 (ST) The 2019 budget to be presented on Feb 5 would have far reaching impacts on the country’s economic stability and development. The central issue is whether the govt’s foremost interest would be its popularity in the run-up to elections or ensuring economic stability and long-term economic development. Reconciling these two objectives is a tough task. Minister Mangala Samaraweera has said the forthcoming budget would ensure that the fiscal deficit would be contained at 4% of GDP and more..

Jan 23 (SO) Several senior police and law enforcement officers went into panic on the night of last Thursday January 17, as word began spreading that the head of the FCID, Senior DIG Ravindra Waidyalankara, had allegedly taken copies of highly sensitive investigative material to travel to Singapore on a personal visit. IGP Pujith Jayasundera confirmed the rumours to Sunday Observer. more..

Jan 23 (ST) So this is what we have come to. Our budding (and some budded) diplomats will, over the coming years, be let loose in the capitals of the world to tell whoever is willing to listen that Sri Lanka is a country like no other. In some ways it is truly a country like no other. The way some of our politicians conduct affairs and still others have their hands dipped in even more dubious deals leave more than a lasting stench in the civic nostril. When one heard the other day about more..

Jan 23 (CT) SL President Maithripala Sirisena made a historic visit to the Philippines. A five-day state visit that’s supposed undertake negotiations with his counterpart President Rodrigo Duterte. The two leaders to hold bilateral talks on areas of mutual interest, including political, economic, cultural and people-to-people engagement. This is certainly a historic visit. President Sirisena’s visit to Manila is the first by a Sri Lankan president serving as both head of state and govt. more..

Jan 23 (CT) Minister Vajira Abeywardhana, says the Media cannot do what they want in this country and that the Media should behave according to people’s requirements. Q: Why is the govt suppressing Media and making a strong impact on the Media at this time? A: No such suppression is being carried out. The media is engaged in their work. Q: The most recent incident, when groups dressed in black protested more..

Jan 23 (Island) Reference Saving Sri Lanka!/The Island/Jan 17, 2019 by Fr J.C. Pieris. It is a response to certain critical comments that I made in The Island of January 9 on a previous article published in the same paper on January 2 by T. M. Premawardana (translated by Fr. Pieris). The Reverend Father cannot disown Premawardana by saying ‘I am only the translator.’ As can be understood by anyone, he translated the latter’s essay in order to make it available to more..

Jan 23 (DN) We find scarce little to celebrate in a sullied land, marking our days remembering the tragedies that tell our blood soaked history. In the troubled decades preceding, many, from the highest in the land to average citizens, have met with violent ends at the hands of assassins. The reason for their deaths is attributed to direct, indirect or even borderline connections to the internecine conflicts that scar our post-independence evolution. Not all were war makers. more..