Jul 22 (TM) A former IT Director at the SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), who was said to have been found guilty of several charges of malpractice and corruption through a formal investigation several years ago, reportedly continues to be employed. Furthermore, the employee in question, recently filed a writ petition at the Court of Appeal, citing as respondents 25 current and former board members along with other officials of the SLTDA who were involved in investigation more..

Jul 22 (BS) SriLankan Airlines is postponing plans to launch flights to Sydney due to the Easter bombings in Colombo, which has significantly impacted inbound demand. However, the airline is maintaining its daily service to Melbourne by relying more on Melbourne-India traffic as local Melbourne-Colombo traffic has also been impacted by the bombings. Australian visitor numbers to Sri Lanka dropped by 49% in May-2019, more..

Jul 22 (ST) It will be the first time in history that a Sri Lankan will officiate a Rugby World Cup game in any capacity. Dr. Namith Sankalpana, the Chief Medical Officer of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) and a Level 3 qualified Sports Physician, will take the reigns as the Match Day Doctor in the opening game where hosts Japan take on Russia on September 20. He is one of four doctors from Asia besides the Japanese doctors. The Medical Director of the tournament will be from the United Kingdom. more..

Jul 22 (Island) The blame game is now on. The govt has decided to give the national cricket coaches the heave-ho for the country’s poor performance in the recently concluded ICC World Cup series. There is no way the trainers can absolve themselves of the blame for their team’s pathetic failure, which is the worst since the 1999 debacle though they alone cannot be held responsible for this sorry state of affairs. The blame should be apportioned to those who are above them as well. more..

Jul 22 (DN) Sri Lanka will concentrate on improving their overall ODI rankings in the 3-match one-day series against Bangladesh that commences at the R Premadasa Stadium on July 26, chairman of selectors Ashantha de Mel said. SL are currently placed eighth in the ODI rankings and Bangladesh seventh. “Our primary goal in this series will be to improve our rankings. We are no. 8 and they are no. 7. more..

Jul 22 (EN) The collapse of SL's soft-peg with the US dollar and trade controls slapped by authorities to block imports had hit Access Engineering Plc, which has interests in construction and motor vehicles, but the firm is expecting better conditions in 2019. "Introduction of higher LC margin on motor car imports, cash margin requirement on selected consumer goods imports and lowering of the loan to value ratio on motor vehicle-related financing coupled with the steep depreciation of rupee more..

Jul 22 (Island) The govt was planning to establish two more teacher training colleges to ensue that there were enough teachers, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said at an event at BMICH, recently. "I have had discussions with the Minister of Education on the importance of allowing GCE A/L students to take up science subjects. We plan to provide more science teachers to schools and we are thinking of establishing two more teacher training schools." more..

Jul 22 (Reuters) United States wants a special forces cooperation agreement with Sri Lanka to sidestep bureaucracy and has no intention of setting up a military base in the country, the American ambassador to the island nation said in a television interview. The comments represent the latest attempt by ambassador Alaina B. Teplitz to assuage concerns over U.S. involvement in the Indian Ocean island after plans to sign more..

Jul 22 (DM) Seven Superintendents of Police (SPs) including SP M.A.M. Nawaz of the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) and 15 Assistant Superintendenst of Police (ASPs) had been transferred, police said. SP Nawaz was transferred to the Police Headquarters from TID. National Police Commission approved the transfers based on service requirement. The Police said SP W.J.H. Fonseka of the Vavuniya Division has been appointed as Director of Western Province more..

Jul 22 (DN) Chathurya Nilaweera of Stafford International School clinched the under-18 boy’s singles title beating Shivendra Perera 6/1, 6/2 in the final as the 104th Colombo Championship tennis tournament continued at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) clay courts yesterday. Chathurya was in fine form and dominated the final from the beginning and grabbed victory easily in straight sets. He won the first set convincingly taking early control of the game. more..

Jul 22 (AD) A taxi driver, who assisted the security forces to avoid another possible terror attack after the Easter attacks, shared his experiences with Ada Derana. The taxi driver in question had allegedly transported the explosives that were set off at houses in Samanthurai and Nindawur in Sainthamaruthu by a team of terrorists including the father and the brother of Zahran Hashim. more..

Jul 22 (Island) Long jumpers Shreshan Dananjaya and Anjani Pulwansa were adjudged the best athletes of the meet. While Dananjaya cleared 7.57 metres in the men’s event, Pulwansa registered a feat of 5.92 metres. Schools athletes had a notable share of medals in track events at the Western Province Athletics Championship which concluded at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Sunday. How much the leading Province of the country was dependent on schools structure for its track and field more..

Jul 22 (AD) The current fate of the war heroes is very disheartening, stated the Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa. He mentioned this attending function held for a book launch in Colombo. Stating that there are many war heroes who are currently imprisoned or being sued, Rajapaksa said that these acts of revenge are done as a show to the world. When journalist inquired him about the presidential candidate, he stated that names of 5 candidates are circulating and more..

Jul 22 (ST) Power purchasing deal between the CEB and the Ace Power Embilipitiya Ltd owned by Aitken Spence during the periods of power crises has caused a loss of billions of rupees to state coffers, Treasury sources revealed. Power purchasing agreement with this private power provider has violated SL Electricity Act bypassing govt procurement procedures. The country has lost a staggering sum of Rs. 4.7 billion due to more..

Jul 22 (CT) SL Emerging Team were left disconsolate and dispirited as their determined chase to overtake the 331-run target set by the South Africa Emerging Team ran out of steam to fall disappointingly short of victory by 28 runs in their first unofficial Test at Potchefstroom yesterday. After scoring 241 runs in reply to South Africa’s first inning total of 382, SL turned on the pressure with left arm spinner Lasitha Embuldeniya taking control of South Africa Emerging’s second innings more..

Jul 22 (FT) Sentiment surrounding the economy improved in June with 11% of respondents to the monthly LMD-Nielsen Business Confidence Index (BCI) poll stating that it will improve, compared to only 6% in May. “Many of the economic problems witnessed are because local companies don’t produce enough and due to high taxes,” a businessperson laments. When it comes to business prospects, the outlook has improved with 25% and 28% (versus 3% & 15% in preceding month) more..

Jul 22 (Island) Presidential candidate attorney-at-law Nagananda Kodituwakku on Saturday denied being a British agent, exploiting the current political crisis to undermine democracy here. Kodituwakku said that he decided to contest the forthcoming 2019 presidential poll as he felt the two major political parties and those aligned with them as well as the JVP had pathetically failed the country. more..

Jul 22 (Island) SLPP Gampaha District Committee, yesterday, decided unanimously that former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa should be the party’s Presidential candidate, MP and the leader of SLPP in the District Prasanna Ranatunga told media. Ranatunga said that their decision would soon be conveyed to Opposition Leader, Mahinda Rajapaksa. Gampaha District Committee comprises of SLPP MPs, provincial and local councilors, representatives from unions & affiliate bodies. more..

Jul 22 (AS) An organization that assists refugees is criticizing immigration officials for singling out and discriminating against Sri Lankan nationals seeking to enter Japan by asking them if they face possible difficulties returning home. Only Sri Lankan visitors are required to answer such invasive questions, sources of an organization that helps refugees said. Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau's Narita Airport District Immigration Office asks Sri Lankans who are going through immigration more..

Jul 22 (FT) On the initiative of PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, 10,000 brick and mortar type houses are being implemented in 2019 with GOSL funding for the IDPs and Refugee Returnees in the conflict-affected Northern and Eastern Provinces. Of the 10,000 houses, 4,750 houses started in early January are nearing completion. Out of 4,750 houses 1,500 houses in Jaffna, 670 houses in Kilinochchi, 630 houses in Mullaitivu, more..

Jul 22 (CT) All workers attached to Central Mail Exchange (CME) would go on sick leave today in protest against the Govt’s failure to respond to their demands. Joint Postal Trade Union convener Chinthaka Bandara said, the strike would be for 24 hours from 12 midnight yesterday. According to Bandara, Govt has failed to approve the Cabinet paper, which Postal Services Ministry promised to address, such as recruitments, promotions and loss of salary scales for over 13 months. more..

Jul 22 (DN) A glass of fresh milk will be provided as part of a national programme for schoolchildren starting tomorrow under the patronage of Prez Sirisena at Kalawana Shathodaya Vidyalaya in Ratnapura. Under the first phase of the programme, launched with the theme Kiren Sapiri Deyak (Nation Rich with Milk), some 400,000 students in 950 primary schools will begin receiving a glass of fresh milk daily. Programme will be expanded to cover the entire country & its 1.7 mil primary students. more..

Jul 22 (Island) Civil society activist Saman Ratnapriya said that British waste material had been surreptitiously brought here in spite of SL struggling to cope with its own garbage problem. Public health worker Ratnapriya called for a wider inquiry into importation of garbage containers over a period of time. Ratnapriya, while blaming the previous Rajapaksa administration for issuing a gazette notification, in 2013, more..

Jul 22 (PTI) The St Sebastian's Church in coastal town of Negombo was reconsecrated on Sunday, three months after it was badly damaged in the Easter Sunday blasts that rocked the island nation. A monument with the names of 114 people, who died during the church attack, inscribed on it was also unveiled during the reconsecration ceremony. The head of the local Catholic church, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, attended the mass and conducted the service to consecrate the church. more..

Jul 22 (CT) Police have launched a massive hunt for five suspected members of the so-called Aava group that fled after a fatal shooting incident at Manipai-Jaffna, late Saturday. A group made up of six had arrived at a village in Inuvil, allegedly to take out a rival splinter group known as Kolin, when Police intervened and were later forced to open fire after the gang had attempted to attack the Police with sharp instruments. 22-year-old Selvarathnam Kavigajan, a resident of Kodikamam, more..

Jul 22 (AD) Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith says that the Easter bombings were a series of attacks to destabilize the country for the interests of the international community. Archbishop of SL stated this holding the service at the St. Sebastian Church in Katuwapitiya which was reopened today (21) after three months from the Easter Sunday terror attacks. Addressing the event, Cardinal stated that Muslim community is not responsible for the attacks more..

Jul 22 (DM) July 23 marks the 36th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s month of shame -- the month in which the then govt of the country, permitted, aided and abetted armed mobs to attack a section of its citizens -- the Tamils. What was more shocking was that unlike other countries in the South Asia region, where the literacy rates are low, and minorities are attacked regularly and with impunity, Sri Lanka boasts of a highly literate population, with over 85% being literate. more..

Jul 22 (DM) There has been considerable public discussion in recent months about the need to find a meaningful and real alternative to the existing two mainstream political formations in Sri Lanka. Yet, the people in the country are yet to see a clear vision and a cohesive program of the proposed political alternative. In this brief article, an attempt is made to articulate a possible vision and a program to be discussed and considered by relevant parties in the next weeks and months. more..

Jul 22 (EN) Sri Lanka’s govt is willing to consider extending leases of plantations to private management companies provided they make the necessary investments needed for their long term sustenance, Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake said. Govt was concerned by lack of investments by regional plantations corporations (RPCs) in state-owned estates whose management was privatised, he said. more..

Jul 22 (ST) Failures to take timely action and even negligence in some instances have dogged the CID in its probes on April 21 Easter Sunday massacres. As the probes enter a third month, the CID, together with the TID, which functions under its purview, is holding 102 suspects in custody. Police action has also led to the remanding of more than 900 suspects for being in possession of swords, books and other suspicious items. more..

Jul 22 (Island) The All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulma (ACJU), will meet Muslim MPs today to protest against the amendments to the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA). ACJU official Ash Sheik Murshid Mullafar told The Island, last night, that they were yet to finalise their proposals. He, however, said the matter could be sorted out through talks with the Mulsim MPs. Former Western Province Governor Azath Salley said that more..

Jul 22 (CG) China is not happy with some restrictions imposed by Sri Lanka, saying it will affect Chinese tourists arriving in the country. The Chinese Ambassador to SL Cheng Xueyuan said that the number of Chinese tourists to Sri Lanka has reached nearly 300,000 annually and ranks the top among foreign tourists to Sri Lanka. However, he says this number is only a peanut while comparing with the number of Chinese tourists attracted more..

Jul 22 (FT) The armed forces said that security following the Easter Sunday coordinated bomb blasts is guaranteed for local and international tourists so they can enjoy their holidays in all parts of the country. Conducting continuous cordon and search operations in vulnerable areas together with the Police and Tri-Forces, Overall Combined Operational Command (OCOC) and Security Forces Hq of the Eastern Province more..

Jul 22 (FT) Minister Malik Samarawickrama last week gave a checklist for the private sector if they truly care about national interest. The suggestions were shared by the Minister at the launch of Sri Lanka-UK Bilateral Trade and Investment Research Report initiated by the Council for Business with Britain at Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. UK High Commissioner James Dauris and members of the Council, more..

Jul 22 (PMD) President Maithripala Sirisena said that in the fields of science, technology and research the priority should be given for innovations with the aim of the betterment of human beings but not the destruction of the society. The President made these remarks participating at the closing ceremony of the Shilpa Sena, the first ever exhibition of the science and technology in the country held at BMICH, today (21). more..

Jul 22 (DM) A leading politician has deployed 17 additional secretaries for his official duties while his successors have had services of only five or six additional secretaries, as revealed. These additional secretaries have been assigned to perform duties of supervision of several ministries and these officials are paid salaries, allowances and also provided with staff, fuel, communication and computer facilities and annual expenses of these offices are more..

Jul 22 (IBT) We have seen a flood of biopics in Bolllywood based on lives of various sportspersons. But now, Indian moviegoers are likely to see a biopic made on a legendary sportsperson from a different country. It has been reported by a news website that a movie on the life of Sri Lanka's former off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, to be called '800' - the number of wickets Murali got in his Test career, is in the works more..

Jul 22 (AD) Mathematics tutor Dinesh Nuwan Amaratunga has been remanded along with 7 others in connection with the attack on a van by a group of VIP bodyguards at Kalagedihena. He had surrendered to the court this morning. They have been remanded until the 29th of July. A video recorded on a mobile phone had been widely circulated on social media recently depicting a group of individuals, dressed in white shirts and more..

Jul 22 (NR) Chairman of the Beliatta PS held by the SLPP has been arrested on charges of assaulting a former Local govt councillor. SP Ruwan Gunasekara said the suspect was arrested after he surrendered to police over an assault incident this morning. He is scheduled to be produced before the Tangalle Magistrates’ Court today. A commotion was reported on Thursday within the council premises. During the commotion the Chairman had reportedly assaulted a former councillor. more..

Jul 22 (FT) The Sri Lanka-born economist attached to The Hague based Institute of Social Studies – Dr. Howard Nicholas – addressing a packed audience consisting of the alumni of the Postgraduate Institute of Management in Colombo last week gave a fine advice on how Sri Lanka should fast-track its economic growth. Drawing on the experiences of the recent economic development and predicted economic prospects of Vietnam, he conclusively declared that Sri Lanka’s future depends on more..