Jan 24 (AD) Seven students from South Eastern University have been arrested for posting photographs of themselves standing on the ruins if ancient Kiralagala stupa, the Police Spokesperson stated. A group of youths had recently taken photographs of themselves while standing on the ruins of Kiralagala stupa in Horowpathana and posted them on social media. The Buddhist Information Centre had, lodged a complaint at the Police Hq seeking an investigation more..

Jan 24 (AD) Ministry of Power, Energy and Business Development has initiated the first-ever project on artificial precipitation to minimize the problems faced in hydropower generation process during dry seasons. A MoU was signed today (23) between the Ministry of Power, Energy and Business Development and SL Air Force with regard to the first ever Cloud Seeding project in Sri Lanka. more..

Jan 24 (CI) It is almost easier to count off these teams' flaws, than their strengths. Both top orders are unsettled. SL's because Angelo Mathews has been ruled out, and because a series of batsmen have failed to nail down the second opening spot. Australia's because a debutant will play in the top six at the Gabba, following a poor batting series. Both attacks also seem to lack penetration when the ball goes soft and wicket flattens out, on top of which, both teams are nursing poor recent records. more..

Jan 24 (AD) Newly appointed District Leaders of the SLFP have received their letters of appointment, yesterday (22). The new appointments were granted under the restructuring plan of the party and the letters were awarded by Chairman of SLFP, President Maithripala Sirisena. President has also instructed the new District Leader on the forthcoming restructuring processes which will take place. New SLFP District Leaders: Badulla District – Nimal Siripala de Silva more..

Jan 24 (FT) Putting in place anti-corruption policies would assist in attracting investors to Sri Lanka and also encourage maximum use of GSP+, said the European Union Ambassador Tung-Lai Margue. Speaking at the Breakfast Meeting hosted by the European Chamber of Commerce of SL (ECCSL), he said he believed Sri Lanka has room for improvement. “There’s still too much corruption in the country, and more..

Jan 24 (AD) 71st National Day celebrations are scheduled to be celebrated on the 4th of February at the Galle Face Green, under the patronage of President Sirisena. A media briefing, headed by the Minister Vajira Abeywardena, was held yesterday to announce the preparations for the National Day. Accordingly, Kollupitiya Junction until the Lotus roundabout is slated to be temporarily closed for several days in the months of January and February, owing to National Day rehearsals. more..

Jan 24 (FT) SL Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA) on Tuesday called on authorities to negotiate for sector-specific liberalisation through the Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) to have greater access to the Indian market. “SL’s apparel industry is fully committed for a comprehensive trade relationship with India, and we as an industry even today are heavily dependent on India, not only for our inputs such as fibre, yarn, and fabric, but also on more..

Jan 24 (FT) Sri Lanka’s apparel industry has benchmarked itself at new heights, surpassing $5 billion in export earnings in 2018, and is setting its eyes on hitting $8 billion by 2025. The total earnings from export of apparel products falling under HS chapters 61, 62 and 63 amounted to $5050 million in 2018, registering an increase of 4.79% compared to the export turnover of $4819 million in 2017. more..

Jan 24 (AAP) The axing of misfiring Australian batsman Shaun Marsh has provided sweet relief for Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal. It may not have been a shock for some when Marsh was dumped for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka starting in Brisbane on Thursday. The 35-year-old averaged just 26.14 in Australia's maiden Test series loss to India on home soil this summer. Yet Chandimal couldn't hide his surprise before the pink ball first Test at the Gabba, saying more..

Jan 24 (DM) The govt is to allocate Rs. 2 billion to develop Palali airport runway in Jaffna as an initial step of using it for flight operations to regional destinations, particularly those in India, it is learnt. Northern Development Ministry is presently working out the Cabinet memorandum to be submitted for approval. The airport was widely used during the time of war to transport soldiers and military supplies. Meanwhile, India offered to modernize the airport during the period of the former govt. more..

Jan 24 (CT) The Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) noted that they may have to go before the Court of Appeal and seek a writ with regard to the report of the first Governmental committee appointed to probe the assault of prisoners at the Angunakolapelessa Prison on 22 Nov 2018. The first committee comprised a Prisons Department officer, a representative of the Ministry of Justice and more..

Jan 24 (EN) Athureliya Rathana thero, said home grown methods should be used to kill off an invasion of Fall Armyworms instead of relying on pesticides produced by multinational firms. The larvae of the Fall Armyworm moth is infesting SL's maize, sugar cane and vegetable farms, after apparently arriving from India. Thero said farmers and local experts have found many methods to kill them off. "Early in the morning ash has to be put on the infected plant," he told parliament. "Worm will choke & die." more..

Jan 24 (FT) The SriLankan Airlines recorded a significant improvement in its performance for nine months ended 31 Dec 2018 against the corresponding period in the previous year. Notable improvements were recorded in deployment of capacity, passenger and cargo revenue, market yield and unit cost. Year 2018 was a challenging year for the Airline due to the adverse impact of rising global fuel prices, rapid depreciation of local and regional currencies & political instability. more..

Jan 24 (Island) Farmers’ Associations say that fall Army Worms (Sena) has started spreading to cabbage and nokol cultivation in certain divisional secretariat areas in the Matale District. All Ceylon Farmers Federation’s, Namal Karunaratne said that he had received reports that the worm had been found in Galewela. Although farmers had used various methods to eradicate pest, their attempts had proved futile. more..

Jan 24 (EN) UPFA MP Wimal Weerawansa alleged that an infestation of Fall Armyworm had entered Sri Lanka with imported seed from multinational companies, and not through aerial transmission as conspiracy theories took wing in parliament. Weerawansa said officials had claimed that the pest was transmitted to Sri Lanka though the North-East monsoon. "The Fall Armyworm (larvae form of Fall Armyworm moth), could not have come with the monsoon winds because it lives only 7 days" more..

Jan 24 (CT) If President Maithripala Sirisena pardons convicted BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera on 4 Feb, he can be released, Minister Vajira Abeywardena said. He said so yesterday, while addressing a press briefing about the 71st National Day. “President can give a pardon to anyone with the approval of the Attorney-General (given by way of a report) since they check the prisoner’s activities in the jail, and whether he or she has behaved,” he said. more..

Jan 24 (DM) In response to President Maithripala Sirisena’s recent comments that the files of convicted drug dealers have been withheld or disappeared from prisons, sabotaging his decision to activate death penalty on them, the Justice and Prison Reforms Ministry issued a time line on the process it adopted to implement the death penalty on death row prisoners on drug related crimes. The Ministry said a list of convicts on death row more..

Jan 24 (Island) Financial Regulations (FRs) introduced in 1992 and were being followed almost universally, had not been approved by Parliament and, therefore, lacked teeth to punish those who violated them, the PCoI was told. S.R. Attygalle, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, responding to Additional Solicitor General, Neil Unamboowe said: "Any matter related to public finance must be placed before Parliament. There are people who violate these laws and there is nothing we can do more..

Jan 24 (FT) The Cabinet this week approved an Amendment to the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act, to enable the Minister to determine and prescribe by regulation the basis for the imposition of VAT on certain goods, the Govt announced. The proposal presented by Minister Mangala Samaraweera amends the VAT Act “enabling to re-introduce the tax exemptions imposed on importation of aircrafts and accessories, sawn timber and fabrics and locally manufactured rice bran oil,” more..

Jan 24 (DN) UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has informed Westminster Magistrate’s Courts of the SL Foreign Ministry’s objections in the case filed against Brigadier Priyanka Fernando in the UK court. The Foreign Ministry has pointed out that Brigadier Fernando is no longer a resident of the UK and that during his tour of “duty in the UK, a diplomatic agent, and thus entitled to the immunities and the privileges more..

Jan 24 (DM) Major (Rtd) Ajith Niranjan Perera has seen war. He was in the first batch of the Special Forces, set up in 1985 led by Major General (Rtd) G Hettiarachchi, numbering 38 men and two officers. He has fought to ensure the security of the citizenry, safeguard the territorial integrity and continued sovereignty. Naturally, he is not pleased We were neighbours growing up and so he is Ajith Ayya to me, then and now. I remember Ajith Ayya as a man of action. more..

Jan 24 (DM) The recent fracas over a Lyceum International School student gaining first place at a local exam makes me realize how confused the public is by the International School system. The term International Schools is badly misunderstood on a regular basis and the public often do not know what comprises these International Schools. This misunderstanding extends to politicians who should know better, or at least take the trouble to find out exactly what International Schools have more..

Jan 24 (DM) Road accidents are on the rise and have come to a peak in recent times with fatal accidents causing multiple deaths being reported almost daily. On early Sunday morning six passengers were instantly killed in a road accident on the Colombo - Chilaw highway at Nainamadama when nine were travelling in a motor car at excessive speed crashed into a lorry from behind. Daily Mirror spoke to one of the top experts more..

Jan 24 (DM) It was half in jest that some of the Ministers, including the likes of Minister Arjuna Ranatunga, thanked President Maithripala Sirisena for the appointment of a Presidential Commission to probe allegations of fraud and corruption during the period between Jan 15, 2015 and Dec 31, 2018. It’s the time limit encompassing the prime period of the National Unity Govt between the UNP and the UPFA. more..

Jan 24 (Island) The NFF has protested against Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando seeking information from the Tamil Diaspora as regards alleged atrocities committed by the military during the conflict and after. NFF MP Wimal Weerawansa has made representations to President Sirisena on behalf of the JO in this regard. He said that the Defence Secretary owed an explanation as to why he had asked Diaspora to furnish more..

Jan 24 (CT) Deputy Minister Nalin Bandara alleged in Parliament that a certain group was organising a protest in Mawanella, with the participation of some Buddhist monks and this could be a deliberate attempt to spark communal tensions in the area. He made this remark while engaging in a debate between the UPFA MP Wimal Weerawansa and Minister Lakshman Kiriella over the recently discovered explosives and more..

Jan 24 (CI) Having been three for 58 at the end of the first session, Sri Lanka nosedived in the second, losing five wickets for 64 runs, before eventually crashing to a sub-par 144 not out. In response, Marcus Harris put together a 40 not out, surviving for 25 overs, as Australia scored exactly half of Sri Lanka's runs for the loss of two wickets, before stumps. The only man to cross fifty on day one was Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batsman more..

Jan 24 (EN) Ministry of Finance has invited proposals from the public for the govt’s budget for 2019 before Feb 11. Minister of Finance and Mass Media Mangala Samaraweera will present the budget in Parliament on March 5, a statement said. “The Finance ministry expects to mould the public policies in accordance with the aspirations of the community under the theme of democracy, reconciliations and development,” it said. more..

Jan 24 (ST) Environmentalists have raised concerns over the lack of clarity on how funds from the proposed carbon tax would be utilised to protect the environment. The tax came into effect from Jan 1, but will only be compulsory from 2020. Dept of Motor Traffic said that those who don’t pay the carbon tax this year will have to pay the 2019 charges along with the 2020 charges when they renew their revenue licence next year. more..

Jan 24 (AD) A motion has been filed with the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today requesting the court to name Senior Deputy Governor of the CB Nandalal Weerasinghe and former Deputy Governor Ananda Silva as suspects in the bond scam case. The motion was filed by the attorney representing the owner of Perpetual Treasuries, Arjun Aloysius, who is named as the second accused of the case pertaining to controversial CB bond issuance. more..

Jan 24 (PMD) The Govt of Singapore agreed to introduce the technical knowledge of the Govt of Singapore for the prevention of narcotic drugs and to assist the drug prevention program initiated by President Maithripala Sirisena. A meeting held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel today between Prez Sirisena and Singaporean Minister of Social and Family Development and Deputy Minister of National Development, Desmond Lee and more..

Jan 24 (DM) The cost involved in phase one and two of the Central Expressway has been overvalued in the contracts signed by the RDA with the construction companies by Rs 38.2 billion, the report of COPE which was presented to Parliament, revealed today. The report presented to the House by COPE Chairman, JVP MP Sunil Handunetti had revealed that the engineers’ estimate for section one of the project was more..

Jan 24 (CT) This newspaper, when former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa was Premier for a brief period after usurping power from Ranil Wickremesinghe, ran a lead story carrying the heading Black Friday in Parliament on its 17 Nov, 2018 edition. The article which reported Parliamentary proceedings of 16 Nov, 2018, carried a strapline, Some MPs Use Violence on Speaker, Parliamentary Staff and Opposition MPs and another which read, Chairs, Chillie Water and Copies of Constitution more..

Jan 24 (NR) The JVP highlighted that Prez Sirisena has not attended a Parliament session for over three months. Leader of the JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said as the Police Department falls under the purview of the President, he is liable to table facts before Parliament. MP said the Prez is bound to Parliament through the country’s Constitution, adding therefore as a responsible individual the Prez is expected to attend Parliament sessions at least once every three months. more..

Jan 24 (CT) President Sirisena continued his practice of taking SLFP MPs representing the opposition on overseas tours as members of his delegation. The President has taken with him two MPs of the SLFP, namely S.B. Dissanayake and Dayasiri Jayasekera to Singapore where Sirisena will attend a number of events including an environmental conference for Asia Pacific state authorities. None of the govt ministers have been included in Prez’s delegation to Singapore. more..

Jan 24 (FT) It is that time of the year when everyone, young and old is journaling their new-year resolutions, and reflecting on the past year. You might be disappointed if you are carrying forward a few resolutions from the past years. You could be thinking, what if you had a little bit more money in your bank account, or what if you had the job your friend or neighbour has, how it would have made you to feel accomplished. If you are looking for a way to get money to work for you and more..

Jan 24 (DM) Two Sri Lankan passengers were arrested with various medicines including pills said to be aphrodisiacs and with 57 live birds at the BIA, Customs Spokesman said. “Both suspects were raided while attempting to smuggle them into the country through the Green Channel,” he said. The 65-year-old SL passenger from Malaysia was arrested with various medicines including pills valued at Rs. 498,952. more..

Jan 24 (EN) SL is expected to produce about 2.55 million tonnes of rough rice in the main Maha cultivation season that is now under way, a provisional official projection said. In 2018 about 2.4 million tonnes of paddy was produced. In the 2018/2019 main cultivation season that about 828,455 hectares of rice is targeted. By November 653,441 hectares had been sown. After setting aside seed paddy 2.36 million tonnes of paddy will be available for milling. more..

Jan 24 (AD) MP Wimal Weerawansa had filed an appeal to the Supreme Court, challenging a verdict issued by the Commercial High Court of Colombo. Attorneys representing MP Weerawansa had today lodged the appeal before the Commercial High Court of Colombo to be forwarded to the Supreme Court. MP Weerawansa states that the Commercial High Court of Colombo had recently issued an order stating that he has violated the Intellectual Property Act by using documents related to JVP for more..