Jul 25 (Island) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya assured Parliament yesterday that in future no govt official would be allowed to act in a manner detrimental to the sovereignty of the country. He said that he had met Justice Minister, Thalatha Atukorale and the Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary regarding the issue raised in Parliament by Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, MP Dinesh Gunawardena and MP Wimal Weerawansa yesterday that the Chief Justice and High Court judges had been more..

Jul 25 (DN) SSP Shani Abeysekera, Director of the CID told the Parliament Select Committee on the Easter bombings yesterday that extensive investigations into the activities of Zahran Hashim by the CID had led them to Lactowatte, where the haul of explosives found was sufficient to make 25 or more bombs. “A phone that had been in the possession of a suspect whom we arrested in Mawanella led us to Lactowatte, more..

Jul 25 (DM) The week ending Sunday (21), marked two contrasting anniversaries. The first was on Saturday (20). It was a day of ecstasy and elation when the world celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing on a day such as this in 1969. This is how the BBC described the historic event -- On July 20, 1969, the Eagle module from Apollo 11 landed at Tranquility Base and hours later, at 21:56 CT (02:56 GMT), Neil Armstrong made history by becoming 1st person to walk on the Moon. more..

Jul 25 (DM) My friend, the oft philosophical Zalmi Fazeel, has a habit of posting wisdom-drops in social media. Some of it is not all that new, but he puts it in new ways. Makes me think. Makes my day(s). This morning’s dish came thus: ‘Tip your server. Return your shopping cart. Pick up a piece of trash. Hold the door for the person behind you. Let someone into your lane. Small acts can have a ripple effect. That’s how we change the world.’ It’s but a version of the old North American song more..

Jul 25 (CT) Retired Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama said that we have become an unsafe country. The present rulers must take responsibility for it. It's been three months since the Easter Bombing. However, the social confusion caused by the bombings, and the distrust of the ethnic groups have not been eliminated. Speaking at a Viyathmaga seminar, he said: Our country was confronted with terrorism for 30 years. more..

Jul 25 (RN) Sri Lankan Cricket is likely to make a complete revamp to their support staff after the Sports Minister called for the resignation of all the members of SL coaching staff. Chandika Hathurusingha’s tenure as Sri Lanka Cricket’s head coach was questioned at a press conference held last evening (24) in line with the SL-Bangladesh ODI series where Hathurusingha claimed he was surprised to hear that he was to be replaced. more..

Jul 25 (EN) A director of controversial Perpetual Treasuries petitioned the Court of Appeal Wednesday asking that he be dropped as a suspect in the 2015 bond scam. Ajhan Punchihewa sought court intervention to halt any proceedings against him in the Permanent Trail-at-bar in line with a request of Attorney General Dappula de Livera. Punchihewa says he was an independent non-executive director of more..

Jul 25 (Island) The UNP said that it was not in a hurry to name its Presidential candidate, which would be done at the appropriate time, by the party’s Working Committee and Parliamentary Group. President of the UNP’s Youth Front Dr. Kavinda Jayawardena when asked during a news conference, if he could clear the ongoing speculation with regard to the UNP’s candidate at the Prez Poll, said that there was no urgency to mention names, more..

Jul 25 (HT) Nalini Sriharan, a life convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, walked out of a jail in Vellore in Tamil Nadu today on a month's leave for her daughter Harithra's wedding. As she stepped out of prison in an orange and red silk saree, surrounded by policewomen, she was received by her mother, a retired nurse. Her daughter, who studies medicine in the UK, is expected to join her next week. more..

Jul 25 (ST) The importer of over 100 containers consisting of clinical waste dumped at Katunayake and part of them held at the Colombo Port is to face charges for violating environment laws including a violation of an international treaty which prevents import of waste, a senior CEA official said yesterday. Director General Hemantha Jayasinghe said that orders have been given to the importer- Hayleys Free Zone to recollect the waste more..

Jul 25 (DM) Sri Lanka fell one place in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2019, after gaining two places in last year’s index. The GII, a collaboration between Cornell University, INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organisation, placed Sri Lanka at the 89th position, out of 129 countries in its 2019 edition, down from the 88th place in 2018. The slow progress in the index rankings reflects SL’s weak political and more..

Jul 25 (AD) The Colombo High Court has ordered to remand Samarappulige Niraj Roshan alias Ali Roshan and seven others till the verdict of the case filed over alleged illegal possession of elephants is delivered, says Ada Derana reporter. The case against Ali Roshan was taken up before a three-judge bench consisting of Permanent High Court at Bar Judges Vikum Kaluarachchi, Dhammika Ganepola and more..

Jul 25 (AD) The Supreme Court today (25) issued an order preventing trial at Special High Court against Gotabaya Rajapaksa over the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum case till the 1st of October, says Ada Derana reporter. The order was delivered by the Supreme Court three-judge bench consisting of Justices Buwaneka Aluwihare, Gamini Amarasekara and S. Thurairajah considering an appeal filed by Gotabaya Rajapaksa. more..

Jul 25 (AD) Commandant of the STF, Senior DIG M. R. Latheef, says he is still not invited to the country’s intelligence coordinating meetings and that he was invited to the National Security Council meetings only after the Easter Sunday attacks. Testifying before the Parliamentary Select Committee, Senior DIG said that he had received the state intelligence chief’s letter on April 9 warning of impending attacks, more..

Jul 25 (CT) Despite screams of protest from some crazed Opposition politicians in the pay of hidden hands, it now seems likely that the US-Sri Lanka Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) will be entered into before very long, certainly before the December elections, if not immediately. PM Ranil Wickremesinghe last week echoed in Parliament US envoy Alaina Tiplitz’ explanation that the US has relented and is negotiating adjustments in the 1995 Status Of Forces Agreement (SOFA) to more..

Jul 25 (FT) When you read the title of this article, you will probably feel disgusted with me as selling our water has been a controversial topic since a long time ago. By the way, I am talking about virtual water trade and you would be surprised to know that we are a water import country despite the immense water resources we possess. According to world average annual precipitation data, Sri Lanka is one of the countries which comparatively receives a higher rainfall. more..

Jul 25 (SLN) SL Navy apprehended 04 Indian fishermen along with a fishing trawler belonging to them for poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters today (24). The apprehension was made by a Fast Attack Craft attached to the Northern Naval Command, during a patrol conducted in the sea area off the Kovilam Lighthouse. The group of Indian fishermen had been fishing in Sri Lankan territorial waters by the time the apprehension was made. The apprehended persons and their trawler being more..

Jul 25 (EN) Tokyo Cement Plc said its blended hydraulic cement made with fly ash from SL's coal power plants has made rapid market gains and made up 35% of sales by the March 2019 quarter. "The new cement, which is not only stronger, but also contains sulphide resistance, and has more water impervious properties that ordinary Portland cement...:, Managing Director S R Gnanam said. "..[O]ver the medium term we hope to transition from Portland to the more sophisticated, more..

Jul 25 (MFA) It has been brought to my notice that last Tuesday and Wednesday several Members of the Parliament have brought up the issue of the visit of the Special Rapporteur on the freedom of assembly and of association, Mr. Clément Nyaletsossi Voulé and the action taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in conveying a request for a meeting for the Special Rapporteur with Chief Justice and Judges of Colombo High Court. more..

Jul 25 (AD) Eleven students of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Jaffna have been injured in a clash between two groups. It was reported that they were later admitted to the Kilinochchi Hospital following yesterday’s incident. The brawl resulted as a heated dispute between a group of senior students and freshmen had escalated into a brawl. According to the students of the university, several Sinhalese students were injured in the incident. more..

Jul 25 (AD) The Water Board announced that the water supply to several areas including Kolonnawa, Rajagiriya and Ethul Kotte will be suspended for a period of 14 hours from 8.00 p.m. today (25) to 10.00 a.m. tomorrow. The water cut will affect Kolonnawa Urban Council area, Rajagiriya, Moragasmulla, Ethul Kotte, Obeysekarapura, Bandaranayakepura, Nawala, Koswatte, the main road from Rajagiriya to Open University in Nawala and all connected byroads. more..

Jul 25 (AD) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a three-member committee to probe the controversial statement made by State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake on the Buddhist clergy. The committee will be headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Tilak Marapana, the PM’s office said. A number of parties have objected to a controversial statement made by State Minister Ranjana Ramanayake more..

Jul 25 (HT) Actors often accept requests of fans but actor Sonu Sood has taken the gesture to an all new level. He travelled to Sri Lanka to attend the wedding of one his fans. The actor took to Instagram to share a picture from the wedding, which he had attended and wrote: “Congratulations @madara.w.hemachandra and #tharaka. have a great life ahead.” The picture was shared online by others as well. The caption of one such a picture, read: “@Sonu_Sood’s super sweet gesture more..

Jul 25 (AD) Retiring paceman Lasith Malinga has invited fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara, who officially announced his retirement from int'l Cricket, to attend his final ODI match against Bangladesh on the 26th, even as a spectator. In a video uploaded to his Facebook account, legendary fast-bowling ace commended Kulasekara for helping him out to gain soaring recognition in the int'l cricket arena. The video comes after Kulasekara’s official announcement of retirement from int'l Cricket more..

Jul 25 (RN) Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee probing the ongoing clinical waste controversy Harshana Rajakaruna today accused Hayleys Free Zone Limited, a subsidiary of Hayleys PLC, of illegally importing 130 containers of municipal waste material which are currently lying in a hub facility operated by the company. “Although the [Exclusion of Customs] Gazette was issued in 2013, more..

Jul 25 (EN) A follower of Sri Lanka suicide bomber Zaharan Hashim, who had also given funds, has been arrested in Singapore along with another man for allegedly attempting to join Islamic State, a Pan-Nationalist extremist group based in Syria. The interior ministry said a 36-year-old money-changer, Kuthubdeen Haja Najumudeen, a 36-year old money changer had been arrested in May. Another man, a 47-year-old former delivery assistant, Suderman Samikin had been detained this month. more..

Jul 25 (DM) The Govt should reveal to the country about the identity of an aircraft which had arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) a few days ago without any name on it, UPFA MP Thilanga Sumathipala said. He expressed these views responding to the questions raised by journalists after an event held at the Padukka Divisional Secretariat. “The relevant aircraft had arrived on an uncertain date and had left the country after spending some time at the BIA,” more..

Jul 25 (CI) While all eyes will rightfully be on Lasith Malinga ahead of his final ODI, the SL quick's swansong also brings into the focus the journey both these sides have been on over the last several years. In 14 ODIs against Bangladesh, Malinga has tasted defeat just three times, and remains probably the last member of the SL squad, barring maybe Angelo Mathews, to remember having played Bangladesh when more..

Jul 25 (AD) The Central Committee of SLFP meeting has proposed that the Provincial Council election must be held before the presidential election. The SLFP Central Committee meeting chaired by President Sirisena was held yesterday. General Secretary of SLFP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara stated that the SLFP intends to seek a Supreme Court order on holding the presidential election before the PC elections and expedite measures to hold the PC elections at the earliest possible. more..

Jul 25 (EN) Sri Lanka will give one billion rupees a year to tea farms from a levy charged on exports, to fund help fund old tea bushes with new ones, Minister Navin Dissanayake said. "We assume that in upcoming years we will be able to provide at least one billion rupees for the replanting process" Minister said July 24 at a ceremony to give award for higher performers in the industry. SL charges cess tax on exports to which goes to a fund to be used for replanting and marketing. more..

Jul 25 (RN) Dr Siyabdeen Shafi the Kurunegala doctor once accused of rendering hundreds of women infertile has been released on bail. The case against Dr Shafi was called before the Kurunegala Magistrate Sampath Hewawasam in a highly charged atmosphere. After two months in detention, Shafi was released on Rs 250,000 cash bail and four Rs. 2.5 million sureties. Shafi also has to report to the CID every Sunday between more..

Jul 25 (DN) The Ministry of primary industries and social empowerment ministry have began a program to increase the bee honey production in the country. Referring to the program minister Daya Gamage told daily news that training, production and marketing in the bee honey industry have been already in progress in Sinharaja, Ritigala, Dambulla, Anuradhapura,Matale, Ampara and Polonnaruwa areas. He pointed out that although large scale bee honey production is being promoted in more..

Jul 25 (RN) Nearly four months into the highly contested arrest of writer Shakthika Sathkumara, the allegedly selective application of the ICCPR Act repressing free expression of Sri Lankan citizens came into harsh criticism in a panel discussion held in Colombo yesterday. Organised by the citizen journalism initiative Vikalpa, the discussion centred around the sudden spike in arrests made under provisions in the controversial International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights Act. more..

Jul 25 (AD) State Intelligence Service (SIS) chief Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawarden has reportedly given a 4-hour long statement to the Parliamentary Select Committee, at a separate undisclosed location last night. Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri stated that the special select committee recorded evidence until around 11.30 p.m. last night. However, he said the proceeding was not open to the media and more..

Jul 25 (RN) Convener for the Movement for Consumer Rights, Kelum Amarasinghe said that the CEB is not paying interest for the security deposits which the consumers make when they register to obtain electricity from the board. He said that Section 28 of the SL Electricity Act no 20 of 2009 clearly says that the CEB should pay the interest to the consumers at regular intervals. The act says “where any sum of money is provided to a distribution licensee by way of security in more..

Jul 25 (AD) The assets of Dr. Neville Fernando Hospital in Malabe has not yet been taken over by the govt, says the Director-General Finance and Accounting of the Ministry of Health Hemantha Swarnathilake. Mr Swarnathilake stated this testifying before the PCoI probing fraud and corruption at state institutions from 2015 to 2018. The govt has allocated nearly Rs 182 million for the functions of the Neville Fernando Hospital so far during this year, he said further testifying. more..

Jul 25 (AD) Former IGP N.K. Illangakoon says, back in 2015 when he was still in office he had advised the current director of the State Intelligence Service on the rise of Islamic extremism in the country, although the agency was not under his purview. Illangakoon, who is also the current Advisor to the Ministry of Defence, emphasized that he informed intelligence chief in this regard at the time as he considered it a national interest. more..

Jul 26 (CT) In the recent past Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a former Defence Secretary and the brother of a past President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, announced that he would contest the Presidential Election that is due to be held in late 2019. However, now it is in dispute. Still many pundits in the Opposition believe that he is likely to win that contest. It is interesting to look at the political and social policies that will be implemented under a new Rajapaksa presidency. Efforts made by many analysts are influenced more..

Jul 26 (DN) Finally, the hour of reckoning appears to have come for the ruling UNP as it faces the prospect of contesting its first presidential election in nearly fifteen years and confronts the task of choosing a viable candidate. For many months, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe was spoken of as the obvious candidate and if there were dissenting views, these were aired only in hushed tones behind closed doors. This week however, the name of Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa was proposed as more..