Jul 17 (CT) International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) this week called on the Govt to release Ukrainian ship captain Gennadiy Gavrylov who has been prevented from leaving the country for the past three years after he was arrested from the controversial Avante Garde floating armory in Galle on 23 June 2016. Captain Gavrylov, a father of two is currently out on bail after he had served remand time for some 8 months soon after more..

Jul 17 (FT) Many a voice has been raised against the carrying out of the death sentence in SL. It is inhumane, offends human rights, the State should not kill, the possibility of an error in the judicial process leading to the death of an innocent person cannot be completely ruled out, argue those who oppose Capital punishment. They also assert that there is no convincing evidence of the death sentence acting as a deterrent. In other words, a potential criminal will not be deterred by more..

Jul 17 (DM) The supremacy of the people stands as the cornerstone of any democracy and the Constitution of Sri Lanka states in its 1st Chapter that In the Republic of Sri Lanka sovereignty is in the people. In view of the current controversy over the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, the issue of supremacy of the people needs a thorough study. When the first draft of the 19th Amendment was sent to the Supreme Court to verify its constitutional compatibility, the SC ruled that more..

Jul 17 (SO) The four ceiling fans, at full speed, didn’t cool down the hot room but, from time to time, a welcome breeze would blow in through the wide-open door, ruffling the leaves of a Bo-tree that stood just outside and swaying the orange and yellow coloured tissue paper decorations that were put up for this year’s Vesak in May. A man in a white shirt and white shorts was busy stamping on pink cards next to a typewriter, and another, more..

Jul 17 (DM) Nearly three months since the Easter attacks in SL, the forward strategies and policies of preventing future terror attacks are lost in fierce political debates, elections buildup and conspiracy theories which are further fracturing the most important compound that keeps a society away from extremism; social cohesion. The lawmakers are debating new prevention of terrorism legislation, political voices are drowned by populist rhetoric, and national security seems to be a primer for more..

Jul 17 (CT) The sine qua non of political pragmatism has over the past two decades or more trashed elections laws and human rights issues where the popular vote is concerned, especially in relation to the holding of Provincial Council elections, to the extent that it has been fashioned into a fine honed tool by the current UNP-led administration for the purpose of either ensuring victory for it and its allies at PC polls or to thwart/postpone a possible likelihood of victory at such h PC polls by more..

Jul 17 (GV) One of the most contested issues in the debate around reform of the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) has been with regard to increasing the minimum age of marriage for Muslims. While legal reforms in 1995 increased the minimum age of marriage to 18 years for all citizens except Muslims, the MMDA does not stipulate an age of marriage. Contrary to popular belief, the minimum age at which a Muslim girl or boy can get married under the MMDA is not 12 years; more..

Jul 17 (SLN) Naval personnel in coordination with the officials of the Assistant Directorate of Fisheries (ADF) in Mannar apprehended a person for illegal harvesting of conch shells on 15th July. Accordingly, a group of naval personnel in coordination with the officials of ADF conducted a raid in Urumalei area, Mannar and apprehended the suspect with 3212 conch shells which are less than 70 mm in diameter. The suspect has been identified as a resident of Talaimannar, aged 31. more..

Jul 17 (EN) Sri Lanka's power regulator has teamed up with a university to promote the design of houses for low income families which will maximize the use of daylight and reduce electricity consumption. A MoU has been signed with the University of Moratuwa on July 15 to design and to research architectural housing structure with the use of maximum daylight for low income households. more..

Jul 17 (VOX) Fishing is the economic lifeline for villages in northern SL. But after a decades-long civil war, fishers returned to find their fish stocks depleted — and they pointed a finger squarely at neighboring India. As people in India developed methods to increase hauls, and crossed a maritime border that was more permeable during the war, they depleted the fish stock for both sides. Now the SL Navy is retaliating with force, making the relationship between the two communities more..

Jul 17 (DN) Samoa will compete for 13th place at the Vitality Netball World Cup in Liverpool England after they won a second consecutive match in Group E, beating Sri Lanka 65-55 .Samoan goal keeper Lenora Misa – the Player of the Match – in particular impressed, registering 11 interceptions against the obvious threat of the tournament’s top scorer Tharjini Sivalingam. Sri Lanka beat Singapore by 38 goals Monday to record their highest ever score at a World Cup – and their first win at a WC more..

Jul 17 (ST) Sri Lanka is now leapfrogging from conventional phases of development into the fourth industrial revolution phase with the Homagama Technology City project being implemented making use of emerging science and technology to serve citizens, society and the public at large. Time is opportune for the country to enter into the fourth industrial revolution phase which incorporates a wide spectrum of more..

Jul 17 (CT) Team Colombo and Team Kandy won matches on day one of the Under 19 Super Provincial 50-over Tournament yesterday. Team Colombo beat Team Dambulla by 147 runs at the Dambulla Cricket Stadium while Team Kandy beat Team Galle by 33 runs at the Pallekele Int'l Cricket Stadium. Team Colombo beat Team Dambulla by 147 runs. Team Dambulla put Team Colombo to bat after winning the toss. Team Colombo scored 283 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 50 overs. more..

Jul 17 (FT) The Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance, an industry body, has decided to release two reports consisting of actionable steps that can be taken by the private sector in conjunction with the Government to reinvigorate the tourism industry post-Easter Sunday attacks. Resplendent Ceylon Managing Director Malik Fernando, sharing his views on the state of Sri Lankan tourism at an exclusive interview with Daily FT, expanded on the nature of the reports to be released. more..

Jul 17 (DN) At the centre of a uproar over claims of child monk abuse, State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake says he will file charges against the website which originally reported his interview because it had edited his controversial remarks about child monks to intentionally created a rift between him and the Buddhist clergy. He said that the Buddha’s teachings were based upon compassion, forgiveness and peace. more..

Jul 17 (DN) Anjalika Kurera of Ave Maria Convent, Negombo won the women’s singles crown beating Rukshika Wijesuriya 6/2, 6/2 in the final of the 104th Colombo Championship tennis tournament continued at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association clay courts yesterday. Anjalika has been the favourite for the title and proved her supremacy by beating Rukshika in easy straight sets in the final. Tournament has been hindered by the inclement weather and the women’s singles final more..

Jul 17 (DN) Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) seem to have woken up from their deep slumber and decided to take the bull by the horns to stop the menace of hooliganism prevalent in school rugby both on and off the field by summoning officials of the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) for a meeting today. The fate of the finals of the President's Trophy knock out tournament between Wesley and St. Peter's scheduled to be held on Saturday July 20 also hangs in the balance. more..

Jul 17 (FT) Attempts to hold the long-delayed Provincial Council Elections before 15 October could be a ploy to delay Presidential Elections, the SLPP said yesterday, faulting Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya for suggesting the timeline and describing it as an attempt to deceive the public. Deshapriya on Monday said the PC Election could be held before 15 October if President Sirisena issued more..

Jul 17 (DM) A tense situation was reported at the archeological site where the hot water springs are located in Trincomalee after a group of protesters led by TNA MPs S. Sridaran and S. Yogeshwaran attempted to forcibly enter the site in protest of a Dagabo being constructed at the site. The people who visited the hot water springs were trapped for several hours after the police closed down the entrance roads with barricades. Security in the area was strengthened with additional STF & army more..

Jul 17 (AD) Three faculties of the Uni of Ruhuna located at the Wellamadama complex are to be reopened today, says Vice Chancellor Sujeewa Amarasena. Accordingly, the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Fisheries, Marine Science & Technology and the Faculty of Graduate Studies will be reopened for academic activities. Uni of Ruhuna was closed indefinitely on the 10th of July due to a clash between the students’ union and the non-academic staff that had taken place the day before. more..

Jul 17 (OHCHR) UN Special Rapporteur Clément Nyaletsossi Voule will visit Sri Lanka from 18 to 26 July, to assess rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the country. “We have seen a commendable effort to expand civic space in Sri Lanka, the establishment of strong and independent institutions, and noticeable strides towards truth and reconciliation in the country,” Voule said. more..

Jul 17 (CT) Nepal watched the game slip away early and couldn’t recover in a 13-0 loss to Sri Lanka yesterday. Sri Lanka took the lead on a single in the first innings. Nepal struggled to put runs on the board and had a tough time, defensively containing Sri Lanka, giving up 13 runs. Sri Lanka got on the board in the first innings. Sandun Madushanka singled on a 1-0 count, scoring one run. One bright spot for Nepal was a single by Amrit Nepali in the fourth innings. more..

Jul 17 (AD) The price of wheat flour has been increased by Rs 8.00 per 1 kilogram, the distributors said. The price was with effect from midnight yesterday (15). It is reported that all the wheat flour dealers have been informed in this regard by the relevant companies. Responding to Ada Derana’s queries regarding increasing the price of wheat flour, the All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association stated that they have not been informed on the matter. more..

Jul 17 (DN) Electricity consumers, both industry and citizens, facing prospects of erratic power supply from a cash-strapped CEB, may gain some reprieve if the directors of the CPC come to the rescue of the CEB with an enhanced credit limit of up to a thumping Rs. 100 billion for fuel supplies to the Board’s thermal plants. “CPC has decided to enhance the credit limit given to CEB, but it is pending CPC director board approval,” more..

Jul 17 (DM) It is illegal to increase the price of wheat flour because gazette No:1975/68 of July 14, 2016, issued under the Consumer Affairs Authority Act No:9 of 2003, had named wheat flour as an essential commodity, National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection (NMCRP) said. Prima Ceylon (Private) Limited informed its agents that the price of a kilogramme of wheat flour had been increased by Rs.8 from today. NMCRP President Ranjith Withanage said a control price of more..

Jul 17 (CT) On Easter Sunday, the world woke up to the news of yet another devastating terrorist attack, this time on hotels and churches in Sri Lanka. Over 250 people were killed, including, heartbreakingly, many children. The target couldn't have been clearer - Christians and Westerners - but the tragedy was soon followed by another as reports emerged of retaliatory acts against SL's already persecuted Muslim minority. For the country as a whole, which was slowly getting back on its feet after more..

Jul 17 (DM) Muslim politicians are reported to have agreed to amend the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) on four categories including that of increasing the marriageable age to 18, but disagreement over four other categories had hampered the process of enacting the amendments, MP Faiszer Musthapha outlined the four categories agreed upon by Muslim politicians - the legal age of marriage for the bride and groom to be 18, more..

Jul 17 (DM) Elections Commission (EC) Chairman Mahinda Desapriya said yesterday EC officials were likely to meet President Sirisena this week to discuss the steps that need be taken to clear the ground for conducting the provincial council elections. He said that the President appeared keen to meet EC offials upon his return to the country, however, the Prez had not got back to Mr. Desapriya even by last evening. Currently, a legal snag stands in the way of conducting PC elections more..

Jul 17 (AD) Four youngsters have fallen into the sea while taking selfies at Roomassala in Unawatuna, Police Media stated. The incident has taken place at around 4.00 p.m. this evening (16). Two of the youngsters have been rescued while the other two are still reported missing. The disappeared youths, aged 20-21 years, are residents of Ginimellagaha, Thelikada area. The Navy and the Police have been deployed to trace the missing youths. Habaraduwa Police is carrying out further investigations. more..

Jul 17 (DN) President Sirisena disclosed that he had personally spoken with Singapore’s PM concerning the extradition of CB bond scam suspect former CB Governor Arjuna Mahendran. President said all the respondents in the CB bond scam case have been identified and while some have been arrested, int'l arrest warrants have been issued to apprehend those who fled overseas. more..

Jul 17 (AD) Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando has given a 9-hour long statement to the CID yesterday (15). The statement was with regard to the terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday. Accordingly, the former defence secretary has recorded his statement with the CID from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. IGP Pujith Jayasundara, who is currently sent on compulsory leave, and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando were arrested recently, however, they were granted bail afterwards. more..

Jul 17 (NR) Minister of Postal Services MHA Haleem has urged postal workers to call off the strike action till Friday. Speaking at a media breifing in Kandy the Minister said he will educate the Cabinet of Ministers on Friday of the grievances of postal workers and provide suitable solutions. Postal trade unions commenced a 48 hour strike action at 4pm today at the Central Mail Exchange based on the failure by authorities to address their grievances. The distribution of mail to outstations areas, more..

Jul 17 (FT) SL Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) is rolling out an initiative to double the incentive provided for inbound tour operators to $ 10 per traveller, in a bid to encourage them to increase tourist traffic and promote the destination following the Easter Sunday setback. The promotion agency will provide $ 10 per tourist the tour operators bring into the country, which will be funded by the 2019 Budget approved for SLTPB. more..

Jul 17 (Island) Hope is said to spring eternal. National Election Commission (NEC) Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya has recently told a group of editors that the much-delayed Provincial Council (PC) polls can be held on or before Oct. 15 if certain legal issues are sorted out; he thinks it is not a difficult task. Both the PC polls and the presidential election can be held this year, if necessary, he has said. The govt must either hold the long overdue elections to the PCs while more..

Jul 17 (DM) Muslim political and religious leaders must be commended and encouraged for agreeing finally after ten long years of deliberations on the reformation of the Muslim Marriages and Divorce Act (MMDA) in spite of the agreed reforms being far short of national standards. UPFA MP Faiszer Mustapha has told media that the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice has been tasked with formulating a draft proposal on the crucial amendments to the MMDA, which are to be tabled before P'ment. more..

Jul 17 (DM) Many names have been proposed as potential candidates for the upcoming presidential election. Among some of them from major political parties are independent candidates who have made several statements from time to time. Attorney-at-law and public interest litigation activist Nagananda Kodituwakku is one of them. Mr. Kodituwakku has been instrumental in exposing frauds and illegal cases carried out by more..

Jul 17 (DM) UNP is in a predicament. Contest for its candidacy for the Presidential Election is becoming a freak show. If this sorry state of affair persists, already existing differences within the party will loom large and the UNP will lose the election even before it begins. The ambiguity in the UNP candidacy is partly amplified by the UNP leadership himself, who thinks he is smart enough to beguile all. In truth, he is not. more..

Jul 17 (ST) There had been several excess sums paid on account of charter flights by the Presidential Secretariat to Mihin. It would have been prudent to verify the amounts invoiced and also request for a breakdown, as this is all public funds. Instead, CEO of Mihin Lanka seems to have taken his designation for granted and it paved the way for CEO Sajin de Vass Gunawardena to abuse the process, the Commission noted. more..

Jul 17 (FT) The dispute complaining of unregulated development in Wilpattu under the guise of an annual religious feast was amicably settled for the time-being before the Court of Appeal. The settlement was decided on 5 July before a Bench comprising Justices Yasantha Kodagoda (President/CA) and Arjuna Obeysekere. Public interest litigant voluntary bodies Environmental Foundation and Wildlife & Nature Protection more..