Jan 23 (GV) 700 days is a long time for a day and night protest outside an Army camp. Since March 1, 2017, the people of Keppapulavu, located in the Mullaitheevu district in Northern Sri Lanka, have been doing just that. They have had to brave intimidation and harassment from the Army, Police and intelligence agencies, and also brave the sun, rain, heat, cold and dust. They have faced challenges in continuing their livelihoods, sending children to school and caring for their elderly. more..

Jan 23 (Island) Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana, PC, recently urged Sri Lanka Foreign Service (SLFS) to enhance the country’s image overseas through efficient and effective execution of public diplomacy, utilizing its intrinsic brands such as Buddhism, gems, tea, spices, high-end export products and the warmth of traditional Sri Lankan hospitality. Retired Attorney General was addressing officers of the 2018 intake of the SLFS at a certificate awarding ceremony on Jan 11, more..

Jan 23 (ST) How if someone suggested that, as things are, it is difficult to visualise a great show by the Lankans at the 2019 World Cup in England and must begin to focus on the picture ahead of them. At that, the one of the main ingredients could be where we want to be placed when it comes to the 2023 Cricket World Cup to be played in India. There is hardly any time to waste. We have already wasted 7 years more..

Jan 23 (CB) Sri Lanka selectors decided to ring in several changes for the limited-overs tour of South Africa as they announced a 15-member side on Tuesday (22). Uncapped Tharika Sewwandi, Anushka Sanjeewani, Imalka Mendis, Harshitha Madavi, Umesha Thimashini, Achini Kulasuriya and Inoka Ranaweera find a spot for the three ODIs and three T20Is series starting from February 1. Thimashini, however, will need to clear a fitness test to be part of the travelling party. more..

Jan 23 (CB) Travis Head and Pat Cummins have been named the new co-vice captains of Australia for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. They replace Josh Hazlewood, who's been ruled out of the series due to injury, and Mitchell Marsh, who hasn't been picked after an indifferent series against India. Australia announcing two vice-captains had raised eyebrows not so long ago, but the fact that they have had to replace one of them, thanks to poor form and not injury, raises further more..

Jan 23 (CI) Sri Lanka have never won a Test in Australia, losing 11 of their 13 encounters and many by a considerable margin. On this tour they are without the experience of Angelo Mathews while still adjusting to life after Rangana Herath. However, they may never have a better chance of success down under and here are three reasons why. Sri Lanka have toured Australia with stronger batting line-ups than this squad - in 2012 more..

Jan 23 (Island) One of our readers has questioned the JVP’s wisdom of demanding a 10,000-rupee pay hike for workers. He takes the outfit to task for making demands which are impossible to meet, in a bid to incite the working class. One cannot but agree with him. However, such populist demands are not uncommon in politics because politicians work on the assumption that the masses are asses. Having got too close to the UNP-led govt and helped further the latter’s interests, JVP is now trying to more..

Jan 23 (CT) Jaffna International Trade Fair (JITF 2019), the largest ever trade fair and international exhibition in Northern Sri Lanka, will be held for the 10th consecutive year in the capital of Northern Province, a media release stated. The annual Jaffna International Trade Fair, named the Gateway to the North, will be open from 25-27 January at the Municipal Grounds in Jaffna. The Jaffna International Trade Fair will bring together some of Sri Lanka's favourite brands and services. more..

Jan 23 (ST) The unmistakable smell of salt in the air greets you as you enter the Galle Fort. This is aside from the feeling that you’ve stepped into a different time. Rooted in its rich history, the Fort is redolent of tales of a once bustling port that was the centre of activities of the Dutch empire. This year, it shared more stories – of Racing Demons, murderers, Italian sons- in-law and the renowned James Bond himself with an eager public. more..

Jan 23 (FT) The extraordinary visionary whose unbridled optimism and trailblazing foresight has seen him etch manifold chapters in building a formidable empire, Dr Binod Chaudhary, Nepal’s first billionaire as featured in Forbes, was presented with the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award by HOTELIVATE at the Tourism, Hotel Investment & Networking Conference (THINC) in Colombo yesterday. In recognition of his two-decade journey in Sri Lanka, and for paving the way for more..

Jan 23 (Island) Facebook’s efforts to tackle misinformation, promote online safety in Sri Lanka and boost digital literacy skills were among several topics debated at a fireside chat on Saturday, held as a part of the Fairway Galle Literary Festival 2019. Speaking to an audience of authors, professionals, academics and journalists, Shelley Thakral, Facebook’s Head of Policy Programs for India, South Asia and Central Asia, took the opportunity to outline the steps Facebook has taken to more..

Jan 23 (FT) Govt yesterday announced a host of new measures to intensify the battle against the Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) attacking maize cultivations in the country, to mitigate any possibility of it spreading to other crops, allocating funds of over Rs. 300 million for compensation and mitigation activities. The Cabinet yesterday approved an allocation of Rs. 200 million for a compensation scheme paying more..

Jan 23 (DM) Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) last week announced a new leadership team with the appointment of Kiththi Perera as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and B.P. Fernandez as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) with effect from Jan 1, 2019. Perera joined SLT in 1994 and he played significant leadership roles in various departments with increasing responsibilities for nearly 24 years. He earned a Masters in Engineering from the University of Moratuwa in Electronics and more..

Jan 23 (EN) Sri Lanka's maize crop in the ongoing main (Maha) cultivation season has been hit by a outbreak of armyworm with over 2,200 hectares already infested by the pest. Sri Lanka is forecasted to produce about 240,675 metric tonnes of maize in the Maha season, which is down 12.2% from a year earlier. Sri Lanka produces most of the domestic maize in the Maha season. The minor (Yala) season brought about 32,000 metric tonnes last year, with 8,474 hectares being sown. more..

Jan 23 (FT) The country’s apex agency tasked with export development is now headless, after Prez Sirisena directed a new criteria and approval process for the appointment of heads of State sector organisations. Until recently, subject veteran Indira Malwatte was the Chairperson and Chief Executive of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board. The private sector has been in the dark over the status quo, more..

Jan 23 (CT) The Heritage of Wetland organisation claimed that due to the activities of railway maintenance labourers, the entire mangrove within 200 acres located in the proposed Akurala wetland sanctuary was destroyed due to a fire on 20 and 21 Jan. The organisation claimed that due to the haphazard actions of the railway maintenance employees of the Aluthgama maintenance unit, the destruction had occurred in the Akurala wetland, located in Hikkaduwa DS in Galle District. more..

Jan 23 (CT) Sri Lanka will see a major upgrade to its textile and handloom sector after several decades as Jacquard machines, a global technology platform used in complex patterns, is presented to local craftsmen and designers this year, a media release stated. This was revealed by Minister of Industry and Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons and Cooperative Development, Rishad Bathiudeen at a progress review of institutions under his Ministry on 17 Jan. more..

Jan 23 (FT) Newly appointed COPE Chairman Sunil Handunnetti yesterday delivered a blistering indictment of top politicians from both the SLFP and UNP, charging they were protecting those responsible for corruption and insisting it was pointless to conduct investigations unless the guilty are punished. MP Handunnetti, who was unanimously reappointed on Tuesday to be COPE Chairman for another term, wanted action more..

Jan 23 (DN) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said that the new political alliance Prajathanthravadhi Eksath Jathika Peramuna (National Democratic Front) will be formed within two or three weeks and political parties have an opportunity to join this broader alliance in the future. He said that he will never allow the country to be burdened with heaps of debt. “I am committed to rebuilding this country by paying back the existing debts running into billions & billions of dollars” more..

Jan 23 (DN) Sanmik Food Group of Companies in Australia and Sri Lanka jointly invested Rs. 700 million to open Sanmik Food and desiccated coconut dehydration unit at Ipologama in Anuradhapura. In addition to Desiccated Coconut Dehydration Unit operations, the factory will also have a special unit to dehydrate drumstick (Murunga) leaves for export purposes. Under the next phase the company will manufacture health capsules form dehydrated Murunga leaves more..

Jan 23 (PMD) President Maithripala Sirisena says necessary future steps will be taken by him as the Minister-in-Charge to make the Police Department a profession which is filled with intellectuals. President said that the National Police Academy should be elevated up to the level of degree awarding institute and he further said that if there are any obstacles in this regard, he will take steps to remove all obstacles. more..

Jan 23 (Island) Former Chief Minister of the Northern Province, CV Wigneswaran said that he did not establish the Tamil People’s Front (TPF), a political party he created last year, to create divisions in the TNA. Addressing the media in Jaffna after a meeting with the central committee members of the TPF, Wigneswaran urged the North-based political parties to join him instead of following the TNA. The TPF also elected a new 20 member central committee during the meeting. more..

Jan 23 (DN) Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris appearing for the Attorney General raised objections into the highly militarised environment around the Colombo Permanent High Court-at-Bar yesterday. Peiris appearing for the prosecution in the D. A. Rajapaksa Museum case told the Colombo Permanent High Court-at-Bar that this would adversely affect witnesses expected to testify before court in due course. Taking into consideration the facts, the Trial-at-Bar Bench comprising more..

Jan 23 (CT) To minimise parents from being hassled, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has decided to appoint an officer to answer complaints regarding unauthorised money collection from parents by National Schools. Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has instructed the authorities to take action regarding illegal money collection, as parents were constantly complaining that schools were requesting for money for more..

Jan 23 (Island) The FCID told the Fort Magistrates’ Court that it was investigating a loss amounting to Rs. 80 million the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) suffered due to Treasury Bond transactions on January 08, 2016. Rs. 8.15 billion had been used to buy Treasury bonds on that day, the FCID said. The Treasury bonds were obtained via Perpetual Treasuries Limited and three other dealers. Two senior officers of the EPF had played a major role in the deal. more..

Jan 23 (PMD) Prez Sirisena has given instructions to the relevant authorities to fulfill their respective duties with great commitment and an efficient manner with a war footing to control the Fall Army (Sena) caterpillar, which poses a massive threat to the agricultural crops. The President further instructed to jointly implement a program to spray pesticide with the assistance of the public as well as the private sector and launch such a national programme with a time frame. more..

Jan 23 (Island) Amidst a renewed controversy over the resumption of death penalty in respect of those who had been found guilty of narcotic offences, the police yesterday arrested five persons, including two US passport holders with over 100 kilos of heroin with a street value of approximately Rs 6,000,000 a kilo. The STF and PNB, in a joint operation, carried out in Colombo, made the arrests. more..

Jan 23 (DM) The terms of office of three councils in the Eastern, North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces have lapsed in Sept and Oct 2017, and those of another three councils in the Central, Northern and North western Provinces expired in Sept last year. All six councils are now under the respective governors rendering the purpose of the institution of PCs null and void, especially in respect of the Northern and Eastern Councils for which the very PC system was established. more..

Jan 23 (DM) The latest challenge to man’s existence comes in the form of Lethal Autonomous Weapons (LAWS) also referred to as killer robots, which attack the target without human assistance. Critics say that the use of LAWs is a blatant disregard and disrespect of international law. They reason that algorithmic programming cannot achieve ethical, moral and discriminate decision making. LAWs may operate in the air, on land, on water, under water or in space. So far 28 states have sought to more..

Jan 23 (DM) The highly venerated Sabarimala Temple in Kerala recently made headlines when two women made their way into its premises. Kanaka Durga and Bindu are part of a larger women brigade who were fighting for justice. Members of the Bhumata Ranragini Brigade, founded by Trupti Desai, who identify themselves as a gender activist, have thus far succeeded in making their entry into the Haji more..

Jan 23 (Nikkei) A decade ago, it would have been almost inconceivable that Lonely Planet, the world's best-selling guide book, would choose the country as its top global tourism destination. With its violent politics and bloody insurgency, Sri Lanka was then very much a lonely country, with most of the northern and eastern regions inaccessible due to fighting. But Lonely Planet has now bestowed this honor on SL for 2019 more..

Jan 23 (ST) Indian fishermen are back, poaching in Sri Lankan waters in large numbers after keeping away for months, this time emerging from the Mannar side in the North-West. On the night of January 12 and early morning of the next day, the Navy spotted multiple clusters of Indian trawlers – an estimated 500 – in SL waters, said Navy Spokesman Isuru Sooriyabandara. The largest collection was between Delft & Iranativu, more..

Jan 23 (FT) SLPP yesterday called on the Govt to adopt a multi-pronged approach for developing the economy by promoting investment, import substitution, and reducing losses of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to reign in public expenditure. Focusing on the economic challenges before Sri Lanka, including moderate growth and high debt repayments in 2019, UPFA MPs Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and more..

Jan 23 (CI) No one has been able to breach the Gabba fortress since West Indies in 1988, and Sri Lanka's winless record in Australia does not suggest they can be the team. The visiting captain Dinesh Chandimal, however, hopes for a miracle as he chases his dream of securing a Test victory in the country. Sri Lanka have lost 11 of their 13 Tests in Australia but the vibe around the team is that they will never have a better chance of breaking more..

Jan 23 (EN) State-run SriLankan Airlines had lost 135 million US dollars (40 billion rupees) up from 66 million US dollars (11 billion rupees) in the 9-months ending December 31, amid a steep fall in currency, the airline said. SriLankan had also paid 23 million US dollars to the govt as withholding tax on lease payments on aircraft. The govt had already proposed a waiver of the tax. Interest cost for the nine months were 47 million US dollars, more..

Jan 23 (DM) Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri said simply suspending MPs who misbehaved in Parliament in November last year would be useless if no legal action was taken against them. He said the report on the incident would be useless if the MPs were simply suspended without taking action against them. The report on the incident was handed over to the Speaker yesterday. He said that none of the MPs identity or more..

Jan 23 (Island) Had the recommendations of the Batalanda Commission been implemented properly PM Ranil Wickremesinghe would have been deprived of his civic rights, UPFA MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara told Parliament. He said that Batalanda Commission recommendations had not been implemented to the letter. "If those recommendations had been implemented, the incumbent PM would have more..

Jan 23 (GDI) President Maithripala Sirisena left for Singapore today to attend the Third Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific. President Sirisena, who is also the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, will deliver the keynote speech at the meeting. The Third Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific, jointly organized by the Singapore Ministry of the Environment and more..

Jan 23 (AD) Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva has been ordered to appear before the Supreme Court on Feb 7 over Contempt of Court charges. The petition filed against the former Chief Justice was taken up before the Supreme Court judge bench consisting of Justices Vijith Malalgoda, Murdu Fernando and S.Thurairajah this morning. Representing former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva more..