Jan 3 (DM) While claiming that not even a peon in his ministry acts like former Wildlife Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said that the former deputy minister might have been shot dead by a wildlife officer, if the PM did not take the wise decision to remove him from the ministry. While criticizing the recent tactics of MP Thewarapperuma, Field Marshal Fonseka told the media that a minister should work within a particular code of conduct but more..

Jan 3 (DN) No international school student had been barred from sitting for the GCE A/L Exam as private candidates since the inception of international school system in Sri Lanka, Commissioner General of Examinations Sanath Pujitha said. He said that after perusing past examination results up to 2013, he found 11 students who attended international schools were among the top 10 island rankers. Pujitha, refuting the recent comments by UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardena, more..

Jan 3 (AD) Director of the Anti-Corruption Force Namal Kumara had, allegedly, submitted forged certificates to join the SL Army and Air Force. When the case of VIP assassination allegations was taken up at the court today (2), CID has informed the court that investigations have been commenced with this regard. At the court, it was revealed that Namal Kumara had submitted forged educational certificates to enter Army & Air Force; more..

Jan 3 (Island) Power and Energy Minister Ravi Karunanayake, who held the finance portfolio previously, strongly opposed a Cabinet paper, submitted by Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, yesterday, seeking approval for securing USD 1 billion from the National Savings Bank to service debt. The UNF govt had its inaugural Cabinet meeting yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat. PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and Ministers Malik Samarawickrema more..

Jan 3 (CT) The procurement process for several forensic audits related to Central Bank Treasury Bond issues since 1997 and Employees Provident Fund (EPF) investments are underway, with the audits to be conducted by entities with global practice, Central Bank (CBSL) Governor, Indrajit Coomaraswamy said. He said that therefore six forensic audits were pipelined and expected to be started next month, to be completed by the end of this year. more..

Jan 3 (Island) The GMOA is again on a collision course with Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne over what its President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya calls an attempt to form a new trade union consisting of some newly appointed doctors. Dr. Padeniya and Dr. Haritha Aluthge, Secretary, GMOA, in a brief letter to Prez Sirisena dated Dec 31, alleged that Dr. (Mrs.) Sujatha Senaratne (Wijesuriya), Dr. Upul Gunasekera and Dr. Rukshan Bellana, too, more..

Jan 3 (DM) Bribery Commission yesterday recorded a statement from UNP MP Palitha Range Bandara who had complained that certain individuals had offered him bribes to support the administration which was appointed on October 26, last year. The Commission had questioned Mr. Range Bandara for more than an hour. “I was asked to give a statement in connection with the attempt made by members connected to the administration that was appointed on Oct 26 last year to bribe me. more..

Jan 3 (AD) Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says that the economic management of a country is not an easy task. Stating that the impact on the economy during the past 51 days could be clearly seen, he says that he has already commenced to rebuild the fallen economy. PM stated this attending an opening ceremony held at the Waters Edge hotel in Battaramulla, yesterday (01). The event was attended by many high profile guests including parliamentarians. more..

Jan 3 (EN) Central Bank rejected President Sirisena’s allegation that over one thousand billion rupees had been stolen through controversial bond sales over a 14-year period ending 2016. CB senior deputy governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said he was at a meeting with President Sirisena on Dec 21 to discuss progress in investigating the alleged bond scams, but was surprised to read media reports of it more..

Jan 3 (Island) Animal lovers are shocked beyond belief that a pet dog was doused with a flammable liquid and set on fire. This cruel and shocking incident happened on the night of Dec 31st, 2018, in Negombo, and the owner of the dog, in desperation, contacted Animal SOS, via FB, to say that his dog was set on fire. Reports indicate that someone had gone to the dog’s kennel, doused the dog, named Charlie, with kerosene (police believe it could be petrol) and lit a match and set the dog on fire. more..

Jan 3 (DM) President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday agreed to place the State Banks under the purview of Public Enterprise Development Minister Lakshman Kiriella. In assigning subjects and responsibilities to the Ministers, Prez gazetted the State Banks under Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera. However, Mr. Kiriella, who held them previously, protested the move. He also said it was a revengeful act by the President. Prez told the Cabinet that he did not intend to take revenge more..

Jan 3 (FT) Picking up the threads in the New Year, Central Bank yesterday announced plans to resume raising funds to repay $2.9 billion debt, oversee a pressured exchange rate, and build reserves to maintain stable macroeconomic fundamentals, but called for support from the Govt to maintain fiscal discipline. SL’s growth for 2018 would only be about 3%, CB Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy told more..

Jan 3 (DM) Whatever religion or race, we belong to, all people are confronted by two key issues -- poverty alleviation and the battle against the global warming or climate change. In 2019 our New Year resolutions also need to focus on these issues besides others and we need to reflect deeply on how we could make a positive contribution towards resolving these. Maybe in a small way, at an individual level or as a small group, if we think beyond ourselves and work for the common more..

Jan 3 (DM) Justice delayed is justice denied. We’ve heard that adage often enough. We also know that justice delayed makes for buck-making. Who makes the bucks? Well, the lawyers of course. And who or what are the accessories after the fact of buck-making courtesy delays? Why, the entire judicial system including laws, procedural culture and the judges. Let us add to this the tiny matter of mandatory court vacations, originally put in place for British judges to have holidays back in more..

Jan 3 (DM) For most of us, life revolves around Planet Earth. Life includes every living being that we see and we unconsciously exclude microbes and minute particles which are not visible to the naked eye. But one would be surprised to find out that life on Earth evolved from these microbes that arrived here from space, billions of years ago. Although there are several explanations to how life began including more..

Jan 3 (ST) A 3-member fact-finding committee is investigating whether negligent provincial irrigation officials contributed towards the destructive floods that caused havoc in the Kilinochchi District last week. Set up by Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray, the committee is tasked with probing claims that the water level of the Iranamadu tank was allowed to reach 39.5 feet (3.5 feet above the stipulated maximum water level), more..

Jan 3 (DM) The New Year dawned with people exchanging well wishes. However, politically speaking, the country is poised to be riddled with more and more challenges in the months to come. The UNP, with the overt support of the TNA and the covert support of the JVP, managed to return to power after its dismissal from power on Oct 26, 2018. Back in power, the UNP has to overcome many a hurdle in the consolidation of its base more..

Jan 3 (EN) Sri Lanka will act fast to resolve finance companies that fall short of capital, Central Bank Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy said, which had led to large holes in balance sheets and collapses, ending a the practice of procrastination or regulatory forbearance. Finance companies in future will have to boost capital quickly when required. "If finance companies don't, we will have to take regulatory action. more..

Jan 3 (ST) As the New Year dawns and children go back to school next week, an early warning to look out for dengue breeding spots and clear them out goes from the Head of the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) Dr. Hasitha Tissera. “We are working in close collaboration with the Education Ministry and today and tomorrow the ministry has called in parents to help with a school clean-up programme, more..

Jan 3 (Island) Vehicle registration momentum across most categories came down in the month of Nov 2018 relative to the previous month, according to a survey. This is attributed to the measures taken by the fiscal authorities (increase of duty on small cars to a minimum of Rs 1.25 million on 1 Aug) and stringent margin requirements on car imports (100% margin from 19 Sep and 200% from 29 Sep) have finally more..

Jan 3 (Island) JVP called on Prez Sirisena to release the full report of the Presidential Commission on bond scams. JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, said that the bond commission and its report had been funded by the tax payers’ money and people had a right to know the report’s content. "The President’s reluctance to release the complete report to Parliament shows he is trying to shield the real culprits. more..

Jan 3 (CI) Martin Guptill smote a 14th career ton, Kane Williamson cruised to 76 off 74, and James Neesham clubbed 47 not out off 13 - hitting five sixes in an over - to launch NZ to a monstrous total, which despite a valiant Kusal Perera hundred, Sri Lanka fell short of by 45 runs. Thanks to the start provided by Niroshan Dickwella, who made 76 off 50, and Danushka Gunathilaka, who joined him in a 119-run opening stand, SL had foundation more..

Jan 3 (EN) Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka grew 10.3% from a year earlier to 2.3 million visitors in 2018, missing an annual target of 2.5 million amid a constitutional crisis. "Although the tourist arrivals for the year 2018 fell slightly short due to the political instability we saw post 26th October, I think in terms of earnings we have reached the US$ 3.5 billion target, Minister of Tourism, John Amaratunga said. more..

Jan 3 (AD) Police are yet to arrest any suspects in connection with the incident where a caged dog at a house in Negombo had been set on fire by unknown individuals while investigations into the ghastly act are still ongoing. The shocking incident was reported on 31st of Dec as a Labrador named Charlie had succumbed to severe burns after a certain individual had doused the dog and his kennel with a flammable liquid, more..

Jan 4 (Island) Recent political developments have brought into sharp focus the need to revisit the 19th Amendment (19A) despite the unanimous approval it had received in Parliament in May 2015, with the notable exception of one brave Naval Officer Rear Admiral MP Sarath Weerasekara. The primary aim of the 19A was to transfer power from an Executive President to a Prime Minister and a Cabinet of Ministers. The first attempt to indulge in such an exercise was in 2002. more..

Jan 4 (CT) Father Harry Miller was among the group of American missionaries who came to Ceylon in the late 1940s to serve at the Jesuit foundation of St. Michael’s Batticaloa. He was the last surviving member of the group who passed away in Batticaloa on 31st Dec 2018. The missionaries were a great strength to the people during the war years. Fr. Eugene Hebert disappeared during those tragic days in 1990 when Tamil-Muslim clashes were engineered in Batticaloa by the LTTE and more..

Jan 4 (Roar) Surfing is not a sport that is commonly associated with Sri Lankan women. The stereotypical image of a female surfer is often a hypersexualized one, featuring someone tall and blonde. Instead of looking at this lack of representation as a setback, Arugam Bay Girls Surfing Club has taken it on as a challenge. Club consists of 12 members, the majority of whom are local women from Sinna Ulla, more..

Jan 4 (CT) And the soothsayers, when they saw the seats prepared, foretold: The earth is occupied by these (bhikkus); they will be lords upon the island. - Mahavamsa - IV:53. In the opening paragraph Bhikkhu Mahanama, Father of SL history, makes it clear that he didn’t sit down to write the Mahavamsa because he had oodles of time hanging on his hands and did not know what to do with it. He declares in no uncertain terms that his mission was to write a new history from available old more..

Jan 4 (CT) The fateful day of 26 December 2004, has been added to the history of Sri Lanka as the day of the largest natural disaster in terms of human casualties ever recorded in the Island Nation. An immensely powerful sea wave field (known as a tsunami) generated by an earthquake of 9.1 Mw, with an epicentre off the West Coast of Northern Sumatra, at a distance of about 1,600 km from the Eastern Coast of Sri Lanka, wreaked havoc in a number of Asian and African countries. more..

Jan 4 (CT) Sri Lankan migrant domestic workers still face abuse and fraud in Middle Eastern countries and steps should be taken to prevent the exploitation and abuse of domestic workers in the Middle East. The true picture is that these domestic workers go abroad searching for greener pastures but end up in deadly traps. However, the issue of domestic workers and middlemen conning sponsors for commission more..

Jan 4 (DN) The most important gift SL ever received from overseas, the message of Gauthama Buddha has introduced a unique religious philosophy together with a new culture and a way of life to the people of this country. Teachings of the Buddha or the Thervada Tripitaka was introduced by Arahath Mahinda in Pali language and it was brought forward by word of mouth for generations until it was transcribed into written text on Ola leaves in the 1st Century at Aluviharaya in Matale. more..

Jan 4 (FT) Sri Lanka is plunged into a historic situation in which its Constitution has virtually lost its spirit and the functional strength due to lack of consistency and the proper order that a Constitution ought to have. This situation has created a necessary precondition for adopting a new Constitution for the country soon. In a political sense, civilised countries never attempt to play with their Constitutions. The Constitution being the supreme law of the country, they respect it more..

Jan 4 (CT) Our customary few lines that usually accompany my New Year’s wish-list this time comes from the land of Skippy the Kangaroo and boxing day MCG cricket (sans the sand-paper of course); hence the slight delay in reaching you, my apologies! Our extensive travels and the chance to look at things from a more abstract perspective, away from the local body-politik, did once again contribute much to the thought process that preceded these words; reflecting upon more..

Jan 4 (ST) Even as the year closes down and a new year is about to dawn, a new Minister of Sports (MOS) has been appointed and in his typical ebullient way, has hit the ground running. There is no doubt that he has blue blood in his gene, been brought up in a school with an undeniable sports record; and with a distinct prowess in Rugby that has propelled his college to the forefront in recent years! As with all previous ministers, his first task was to have a go at Cricket, more..

Jan 4 (FT) SL’s merchandise and service exports in 2018 are estimated to have hit an all-time high of $ 17 billion, up 15% from a year earlier prompting the Govt to be confident of achieving the $20 billion milestone this year. EDB confirmed that the forecasted merchandise and service exports was $17 billion, falling short by $430 million from the original target. However, it was pointed out that last year’s performance more..

Jan 4 (Island) Owner of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd, Arjuna Aloysius and his CEO Kasun Palisena, held in remand custody for about 10 months, over the Treasury bond scams, have been bailed out. The court has said that it is unfair to keep them in custody indefinitely as the main suspect, former CB Governor Arjuna Mahendran, is still at large. A large number of civil society activists, university dons, religious dignitaries and trade unionists fought quite a battle to dislodge the forcibly formed more..

Jan 4 (CB) Sri Lanka's players have been fined 10 per cent of their match fee, while their captain Lasith Malinga has been slapped with a 20 per cent fine for maintaining a slow over rate during their 45-run loss to New Zealand in Mount Maunganui. The visitors were deemed to be one over short of their target, with time allowances for wickets and stoppages taken into consideration. "As such, Malinga has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee, while his players have received 10% fines. more..

Jan 4 (EN) Sri Lanka is preparing the groundwork to sell a sovereign bond at a suitable time Central Bank Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy said, though a maturing billion dollar bond in January will be repaid instead of being rolled over in 2018 after political crisis hit the island in October. Sri Lanka will get cabinet approval to sell the sovereign bond appoint managers who will then go for a bond sale at a appropriate time, he said. more..

Jan 4 (Island) Josh Bottomley, Global Head of Head of Digital, Data and Development, HSBC visited Sri Lanka on 19 and 20 Dec. The highlight of his visit was the Breakfast Briefing hosted for CEOs, CXOs and HSBC Premier clients, themed Evolving Digital Opportunities. Event was conducted in partnership with SLASSCOM, the local body representing the IT/BPO industry, one of fastest growing industries in the country. Josh shared his knowledge & sentiments on key digital trends, more..