Jul 8 (AD) Police officers and villagers together carried out raids on two houses in Kudagonaduwa and Thudawa areas in Moronthuduwa which were allegedly used to operate drug rackets. Over 10 suspects were arrested from the two houses during the raids last night (06) while residents of the area had behaved in a violent manner and also assaulted the woman who had rented the house. The arrested suspect were taken to the Moronthuduwa Police Station while the area residents had also more..

Jul 8 (DM) Former Auditor General Gamini Wijesinghe said that the debt burden on every citizen in the country amounts to Rs. 530,000. He said that majority of the people have not realized this situation and think that the govt was responsible for debt servicing and it was not a burden on them. “I make this statement with responsibility as a govt officer who counts a service of 35 years and three and a half years of it as the Auditor General. more..

Jul 8 (DM) In the aftermath of the Easter Sunday suicide bombings where over 250 persons lost their lives in all places of religious worship, even tourist hotels and schools have been provided security by the state in the form of armed military guards. These guards are armed with T-56 or AK-47 assault rifles, which are normally used in combat zones. On Friday, July 5, all sections of the media, from print to audio and visual led with a story of a parent -- a father -- who on being informed by more..

Jul 8 (DM) Merry days are back again! Measuring life in elections participated- another, in the offing, will add an additional notch. Same old faces in a thousand posters, same electors with a cohort of additional youths to be left derelict! Plus de change, plus c’est le meme chose (more it changes, more it is the same). A Presidential contest is not about policies: it is about personality, a coronation for the winner. Tamils, Muslims, Christians need not apply for the post. more..

Jul 8 (ST) Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) which investigated into SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka operations from 2006 to 2018, has slammed politicians for interfering with the management of the two airlines, incompetent boards that flouted the companies law, and widespread corruption among a host of other issues. It has called for the restructuring of the national carrier by floating it in the Stock Exchange more..

Jul 8 (CT) A former LTTE cadre turned fisherman, after he was assisted in a joint UNDP and Peace Winds, a Japanese NGO project to provide livelihood assistance to those living in the conflict affected area of the North and East. The first time Kopal Nilukshan went out to sea, he was only 13 years old. This was prior to the war. Born and brought up in a fishing community in Soodaikudah, Trincomalee, it seemed inevitable that more..

Jul 8 (EN) A parliament committee has accused the govt’s finance ministry of seriously underestimating and providing incorrect budget estimates on the interest cost on foreign debt, in its reports to the legislature. A parliament report in public finance said it was trying to improve the quality and decipherability of information provided to law makers by the ministry of finance (MoF). It referred to what it called more..

Jul 8 (DM) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said he will take to the streets together with landless people against those who are trying to sabotage the govt’s programme of giving ownership of land to the poor. PM expressed this sentiment at a ceremony held to distribute land deeds to landless in Ampara last morning. “Two organizations have opposed the govt programme of giving ownership of lands to the poor. more..

Jul 8 (Island) The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) wouldn’t under any circumstances agree to field its presidential candidate at the forthcoming 2019 election under a different name and symbol, JO MP Shehan Semasinghe said yesterday. Lawmaker Semasinghe said so in response to The Island query whether the JO accepted the SLFP declaration that they should field a candidate under the banner of more..

Jul 8 (DM) Even though much has been spoken about garbage segregation and the responsible disposal of garbage, many Sri Lankans continue to dump garbage in a haphazard way. This is evident for those who travel along the Dambulla-Hettipola road. Not only could one see garbage piling up, but many elephants too have become dependent on these sites. Wildlife enthusiasts complain that this is an added more..

Jul 8 (DN) UNP’s Working Committee will take the final decision on its candidate to contest the next Presidential election, Minister Lakshman Kiriella said. He said that unlike the other groups looking to contest in the presidential election, the UNP will select its candidate as a political party and not as a family clan. “Others are selecting candidates as a family. We are a political party that represents all sections in the entire country. more..

Jul 8 (AD) The govt is attempting to cover up terrorism by hiding behind racism, stated MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero. Thero pointed out that registries containing more than 3000 names linked to the lectures of the terror suspect Zahran have been discovered. According to Rathana Thero, the govt should have rehabilitated the arrested district and regional members of the National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) for more..

Jul 8 (SLN) The P 625 vessel taken over from the People's Republic of China on 05th June 2019, to increase the operational capabilities of the SL Navy, arrived at the port of Colombo this morning. The ship arrived at the Colombo harbour was warmly welcomed in compliance with time-honoured naval traditions. Ambassador of China in SL, Cheng Xueyuan, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva, more..

Jul 8 (DM) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday sought Cabinet approval to enact new legislation for the regulation of Islamic education in Sri Lanka, Daily Mirror learns. Cabinet of Ministers met yesterday (7) and discussed this proposal. The regular Cabinet meeting will not be conducted tomorrow because the President is planning to travel abroad on a private visit. According to the proposed legislation, more..

Jul 8 (CT) Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake and Netherlands Ambassador in Sri Lanka Joanne Doornewarrd have embarked on a multifaceted event to create awareness on ensuring a pollution-free Colombo city under the title `Car-Free Colombo’ and the event could be considered a timely one as far as not only ensuring a pollution-free Colombo city but also making the city dwellers to be health conscious by focusing on cycling and walking. Car-Free Colombo is primarily focused on more..

Jul 8 (FT) The World Bank, in its 2019 country classification release, has elevated Sri Lanka from a lower middle income country to an upper middle income country. This has been based on the average income of a Sri Lankan, known in economic parlance as the gross national income or GNI per capita, passing the threshold of $ 3,996 set for upper middle income countries. As at 1 July 2019, a Sri Lankan on average has earned an income of $ 4,060, a little above this threshold, more..

Jul 8 (AD) A fuller Bench comprising seven judges of the Supreme Court has been appointed to hear the petitions filed against IGP Pujith Jayasundara and former Defense Secretary claiming that they had violated fundamental rights by failing to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks. The Judge Bench headed by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya will comprise of Justices Sisira de Abrew, Buwaneka Aluvihare, Priyantha Jayawardena, Prasanna Jayawardena, L.T.B. Dehideniya and Murdu Fernando. more..

Jul 8 (AD) A Laotian national has been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while in possession of 2kg 623g of Crystal Methamphetamine also known as Ice. The contraband was reportedly hidden inside a false bottom of the suspect’s luggage. The arrest was made by the officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) attached to the BIA, SP Gunasekara said further. The 25-year-old Laotian national has arrived at the BIA from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia more..

Jul 8 (TM) Nearly 10 hotels have shut down due to the non-arrival of tourists since the Easter attacks in April, the Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) said. THASL President Sanath Ukwatte said that most hotels were facing difficulties following the terrorist attacks in April and as a result, some of the hotels had no choice but to close down but continue to pay salaries to the staff. “Even though tourists are arriving from countries more..

Jul 8 (DM) The Ministry of Defence urged the general public of the Southern Province not to panic over the bomb threat rumour. Reports said that the people in the Southern Province have been panicking as a result of some social media reports about Bomb Threat. The MoD said that the Security Forces and the Police were in full control. Ministry said they were in close collaboration with security enforcement authorities and were alert to all such information and continuously analyzing more..

Jul 8 (DM) CID will probe the remark made by Ven. Medagoda Abayathissa Thera that some 20 people had allegedly been executed under Sharia law in Sri Lanka, Police Spokesman said. He said Acting IGP C.D. Wickramaratne today instructed the CID to launch a probe in this regard. Addressing a mass rally organised by the national movement against Wahhabi extremism, he alleged there were more than 20 people who were summoned to death in the Eastern Province under Sharia law. more..

Jul 8 (TM) Govt has awarded a tender for long-term fuel supply to energy trader Vitol Asia (Pte.) Ltd., which on several occasions was purported to have supplied substandard fuel oil and diesel causing engine malfunctions to state-owned vehicles, locomotives, cranes, and power plants. The Govt Information Department late last month announced that Vitol has won the tender to supply diesel and petrol for a period of eight months from more..

Jul 8 (NR) Former Chairman of Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Ltd. Victor Samaraweera has been arrested by the CID. Samaraweera was arrested after he surrendered to the CID today. Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Ltd. falls under the purview of Avant Garde Maritime Services. The Acting IGP Chandana Wickramaratne last week informed the Senior Deputy Inspector General of the CID, to act on the advice directed by Attorney General Dappula De Livera pertaining to the eight suspects named more..

Jul 8 (EN) SL's state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation will be asked to sell aviation fuel at prices equal to Chennai airport in a bid to boost tourism after Easter Sunday blasts, state information office said. The cabinet of ministers had approved a proposal by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe to also take additional steps to boost tourism. SriLankan Airlines will also be asked to cut handling charges. A 10 dollar hike in the embarkation tax to 60 US dollar proposed by the budget will also be halted. more..

Jul 8 (DM) Popular music artist Iraj Weeraratne's Facebook fan page which was followed by over 1.1 million followers had been suspended last Friday and the singer raised concern whether his anti-govt sentiments may have led to the suspension of the page. He said he couldn’t think of any other reason to suspend his fan page other than his views which were critical of the govt. "I fear I may not be able to get the page back. more..

Jul 8 (FT) Jaffna People’s Forum for Coexistence in a statement has denounced the BBS forum in Kandy yesterday. Following is the full text of the statement: We have condemned the targeting of the Muslim community after the Easter Sunday attacks, and taken forward initiatives for coexistence. In this context, the mobilisation in Kandy organised on 7 July 2019 has created widespread fear amongst the Muslim community. The circulation of hateful discourses and riots against the Muslims more..

Jul 8 (EN) AWS Educate, a unit of Amazon Web Services (AWS), will help train 50,0000 Sri Lankan students in cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) in the next two years in collaboration with a local industry group. SL Association of Software and Service Companies (SLASSCOM) said it was collaborating with the AWS through its global AWS Educate program to train the engineering and non-engineering students by 2022. AWS Educate is Amazon’s global initiative to provide students more..

Jul 8 (DM) Former Army Intelligence Officer Lalith Rajapaksa who was arrested by the CID over the assault of former Chief Editor of Rivira and Divayina newspaper Upali Tennakoon, was remanded till July 21 Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said. The suspect was remanded after he was produced before the Gampaha Magistrate's Court today. Corporal Rajapaksa was arrested at his residence in Hanwella last night. more..

Jul 8 (AD) Foreigners cannot obtain the ownership of lands in Sri Lanka as they wish, State Minister of Ruwan Wijewardene has stressed. Responding to a question raised by the media persons, state minister further said he was not aware of the fact that a delegation of US representatives arrived in Sri Lanka to inspect the lands in Jaffna, however, he had heard certain rumours in this regard. Wijewardene added that he had already informed the Defence Secretary to report to him more..

Jul 8 (Island) UNP MP Mujibur Rahman says that Muslim lawmakers are capable of addressing issues concerning their community and there is absolutely no need for UNP National List MP Ven. Athureliye Rathana Thera’s intervention. MP Rahman said that they didn't want Ven. Rathana to intervene in the contentious issue of Madrasas as well as Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act. UNPer was responding to Ven. Rathana’s call for action against Madrasas and allied matters following Easter Sun. attacks. more..

Jul 8 (AD) Permanent High Court at Bar today served indictments on the President’s former Chief of Staff I.H.K. Mahanama and the former Chairman of the State Timber Corporation (STC) Piyadasa Dissanayake who were arrested while accepting a bribe of Rs 20 million. Bribery Commission served 14 indictments against the defendants and named 46 individuals as the witnesses of the case. more..

Jul 8 (CB) Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed on Monday (July 8) that they have been given security clearance to tour the Sri Lanka for a 3-match ODI series. There were some concerns raised by BCB to travel to the island nation following the terrorist attacks in April. However, after Sri Lanka Cricket promised to provide highest security for them, BCB decided to send their own security team for inspection. 'We are happy with the security plan that they provided for the tour,' more..

Jul 8 (Xinhua) SL Airforce on Monday dispatched a Bell 212 helicopter to douse a massive forest fire which broke out in the Maragala Mountain area in Moneragala, in the Uva Province over the weekend. Till Monday noon, over 500 acres (an estimated 2.023 square km) of forest area was burnt to ashes and hundreds of fire fighters were deployed to douse the flames. Fire fighters said the fire may have erupted due to the excessive dry weather prevailing across the island country. more..

Jul 8 (EN) Sri Lanka will reduce aviation fuel prices, ground handling charges and embarkation levy to lure back airlines which cut flights after April’s suicide bombings, with the highest gains for the most frequent carriers and biggest aircraft. The ground handling charges, aviation fuel, and embarkation levy will be reduced for six months, SL Tourism Development Authority said. Aviation-related discounts aim to encourage airlines to more..

Jul 8 (CT) A group of 12 youngsters was taken into custody along with an assortment of narcotics during a raid on a facebook party, at a night club in the Thalawathugoda area, late Saturday, Excise officials said yesterday. The raid was carried out on a tip-off from the general public, they said. They added that those arrested were all below the age 25 and had gathered at the night club through facebook contacts. The group was later produced before the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court & released bail. more..

Jul 8 (AD) Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa states that, currently, the people in the country are living with a fear of terrorism. He mentioned this attending an event held in Wariyapola, Kurunegala. He says that bombs went off even during his tenure; however, the people had not lived in fear. Even before 10 years have passed since 30-year fear subsided, the people have to live in fear, stated Rajapaksa. He further said that a govt that cannot ensure national security more..

Jul 8 (AFP) Chandika Hathurusingha insisted Monday he would remain SL's cricket coach despite pressure to step down after their World Cup exit, but ocial sources said a shake-up was planned. Sri Lanka started the tournament as outsiders and nished sixth of the nine teams, registering one of their three wins against the world's top-ranked ODI side, hosts England. Local media reported that Sports minister Harin Fernando was unhappy more..

Jul 9 (CT) As his presidential term draws to its close President Maithripala Sirisena is making it clear that he is not ready to quit the political centre stage without a fight. The president’s thinking appears to be more in accord with the words of the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas who wrote, “Do not go gentle into that good night…” The president is reported to be on the verge of asking the Supreme Court for an advisory opinion regarding when his term of office actually ends. more..

Jul 9 (Island) Every year, for close upon two decades, on Christmas Day, I watch Love Actually. There is a scene in it where Hugh Grant, playing the British PM, takes on the American President, played by Billy Bob Thornton. The trans-Atlantic relationship between the UK and US, in the film, is strained by the American Prez’s lewd remarks on and sexual harassment of a member of the British PM’s staff. And while today, life not just imitates art, but is stranger & more violent than what film depicts more..