Jul 4 (TN) Noordeen Mohamed Shaheid, high commissioner of SL, said that Sri Lanka and Pakistan had defeated terrorism on their soils and both were grappling with financial crises and devaluations of their currencies owing to accumulation of excessive amounts of foreign debt. Mr Shaheid was speaking at a roundtable on Building Pakistan-Sri Lanka think tank collaboration organised by Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) here Monday. Mr Shaheid started his talk by more..

Jul 4 (FT) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday hailed the influential Lonely Planet’s reiteration that Sri Lanka is the world’s best destination for tourists despite the Easter Sunday terror attacks. “At the beginning of the year, Lonely Planet magazine named Sri Lanka as the world’s best destination to visit. However, after the Easter Sunday bomb blasts, we thought that we had lost this position.” “Many tourists fled the country. more..

Jul 4 (Island) Chameera Ginige representing Uni of Sri J'pura and Bimandee Bandara of Hillwood College, Kandy clinched the men's and women's singles titles respectively of the 72nd National Table Tennis Championships conducted by the Interim Committee of the Table Tennis Association of SL. It was the 2018 edition which concluded at Panagoda on Sunday. Over 250 table tennis players competed for different titles and the singles champions were also adjudged the most outstanding players more..

Jul 4 (DM) There was a decrease in the number of fatal accidents reported during the first 6 months of 2019 when compared to the first six months of last year, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara said. Speaking to the media at a news briefing yesterday (3) at the Police Headquarters (HQ), he said 1, 552 fatal accidents were reported during the first six months of 2018 including 1, 632 fatalities while 1, 281 fatal accidents have been reported this year with 1, 374 fatalities. more..

Jul 4 (FT) The JO called on President Sirisena to reveal the names of people responsible for the alleged death threats against him as it could be a serious breach of national security and advocated that any threats to his life should not be used for political gain. The President, on Tuesday, said he had been facing death threats as a result of his anti-drug campaign as well as due to his decision to re-introduce the death penalty. more..

Jul 4 (CI) Sri Lanka captain Chamari Atapattu will play for Loughborough Lightning at the 2019 Kia Super League (KSL). She replaces the injured New Zealand allrounder Sophie Devine, who was earlier retained by the side. Atapattu joins West Indies' Hayley Matthews and South Africa's Mignon du Preez as part of the overseas contingent. Atapattu, the 29-year-old batting allrounder, will be the fourth Asian representative at the KSL this season, alongside the Indian trio of more..

Jul 4 (IPS) Remittances make an indispensable contribution to the Sri Lankan economy. In 2018, despite experiencing a decline for the second consecutive year, the country received remittances of over USD 7 billion, accounting for 7.9% of the GDP. Often, remittances to Sri Lanka are attributed to the temporary migrant workers and viewed from a national perspective. Nevertheless, as highlighted in a recent IPS study by the author, there are more dimensions to remittances. more..

Jul 4 (FT) Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya PC yesterday appointed two Trials-at-Bar to hear the Welikada Prison riot case and an elephant trafficking case. The Trials-at-Bar were appointed on the request of Attorney General Dappula De Livera. The Judges named to the Welikada Prison riot case are Gihan Kulathunga, Pradeep Hettiarachchi, and Manjula Thilakarathna. The accused in the Welikada Prison case more..

Jul 4 (CT) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe had claimed during the pre-Cabinet briefing, that currently there were a few Cabinet Ministers who work according to the dictates of President Maithripala Sirisena, instead of doing so according to the policies put forth by the Govt and the United National Front (UNF), informed political sources said. The Premier had alleged that there were some Ministers who were going against the decisions taken by the Govt, by him as Premier and by the UNF. more..

Jul 4 (LBO) Otara Gunawardena, leading entrepreneur and environmental and animal rights advocate addressed the BOI staff at the Board’s Auditorium recently. The lecture focused on Otara’s successful career as an entrepreneur, and her creation of a well-known brand in the country from an initial US$50 to US$50 million. In addition she spoke on how she was able to assume equally well very different roles as a fashion model, entrepreneur, mother, advocate, business more..

Jul 4 (FT) Aiming to revolutionise Colombo’s transport system, the Govt yesterday launched the $2.2 billion Japanese-funded Light Railway Transit (LRT) project, which PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said is one of the key ventures by the Govt to modernise Sri Lanka. Speaking at the launch ceremony, PM praised Minister Champika Ranawaka for spearheading the venture and formulating plans at a rapid pace so more..

Jul 4 (DM) Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri today said he will make a statement on the arrest of IGP Pujith Jayasundara and Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando who are witnesses of Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks. The Deputy Speaker who is also the Chairman of the PSC told Daily Mirror that he will make a statement on it next week. “I am in Moneragala at the moment and I will make a statement on the arrest of IGP and more..

Jul 4 (Island) Environmentalists have welcomed President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to strengthen the National Environment Act, which, they say, is full of loopholes. Senior Environmentalist, Jagath Gunawardana told The Island it had taken 30 years for an attempt to be made to amend the Act. Amendments to the National Environment Act were last effected in 1988. He said that he agreed with the President in principle. more..

Jul 4 (DM) Former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has told a group of MPs who visited him at a Singapore hospital yesterday that he is ready to fulfil the pledges given to the people and promised to dedicate his time and energy to make sure that this was done after he arrives in the country. Gampaha District Leader of SLPP, MP Prasanna Ranatunga said former Defense Secretary Rajapaksa had expressed more..

Jul 4 (DM) None of the trains in and out from the Fort Railway Station operated this morning due to the strike action launched from last night, Sri Lanka Freedom Railway Workers Association (SLFRWA) Secretary Nadeera Manoj said. He said several trains including night mail trains which started their journeys before midnight yesterday had reached Colombo Fort this morning. All the train stations around the country had been closed and none of the operations would be conducted, he said. more..

Jul 4 (FT) Resigned Muslim ministers are not in any hurry to return to their former ministries despite requests from Prez Sirisena & PM Wickremesinghe, MP Rishad Bathiudeen said. “Both the PM & Prez called us to return to our Ministries and take back our portfolios. I previously complained about false media statements published against me and today they called me to come and give more details about them. I have not committed any offences and despite this various people accused me,” more..

Jul 4 (DM) Minister Mangala Samaraweera said all UNP leaders, including Ranil Wickremesinghe and Karu Jayasuriya should come together and agree to make Sajith Premadasa the next President of SL. In a video shared on twitter, Minister Samaraweera said they were waiting to get a UNP President elected at the next presidential election. In order to achieve this, he said the candidate should come from the UNP more..

Jul 4 (CG) The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has recommended a set of guidelines to the Police to avoid arbitrary and illegal arrests. In a letter to the Police, the Chairperson of the HRCSL Dr. Deepika Udagama noted that while appreciating the efforts taken by the Police in the investigation process to identify persons involved in the April 21st attacks, there is a need to ensure that arrests are made only on the basis of reasonable suspicion. more..

Jul 4 (DM) The construction work of the Matara – Beliatte stretch of the Matara- Hambantota new Southern Expressway had been stalled temporarily by the Chinese Company that has undertaken the construction work due to non-payments for the work done during the past ten months. However, contractors had later agreed to recommence the work as from July 04 pending a solution by the Parliament which is to decide on this matter on July 9 after several rounds of discussions held by more..

Jul 4 (AD) The FCID has commenced an investigation with regard to Rs 55 million being credited to a personal bank account belonging to former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen’ wife, Shahabdeen Ayisha. The FCID, presenting submissions before the court on the matter, said the investigation was launched following a complaint lodged by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) on the bank accounts owned by the former minister’s wife. more..

Jul 4 (DM) To be hanged by the neck until you are dead, are the ominous and menacing words that a convicted criminal hears when the presiding Judge passes the death sentence. Whether these words are heard or registered in the mind of the convict standing in the dock amid all the confusion that must be coursing through the mind when his or her future is being determined with a finality, is too difficult to imagine. The implementation of the death penalty in Sri Lanka, though hanging more..

Jul 4 (DM) I want Dr. Seigu Shihabdeen Mohamed Shafi cleared of all charges levelled against him with respect to unethical and unwarranted sterilization. I want him cleared because I want to believe that our medical profession is made of impeccably honourable and competent people. I want to believe that those who graduate from state universities in Sri Lanka learn the relevant skills and show absolute fidelity to professional ethics. I want him cleared because it would help dial down more..

Jul 4 (ST) Office of Reparation (OR), set up by the PM’s office to compensate Easter Sunday bomb blast victims, said that Rs 283.3 million had been paid as compensation for the dead and injured. Treasury had allocated Rs 1 million per death, injury and loss of property for the year 2019. Acting Director, Ananda Wijepala said that the OR had paid Rs1 million each to 189 families of the dead who have claimed govt’s promised more..

Jul 4 (DM) Frustrated after over a decade of delays and obstructions in her quest to obtain justice for her murdered father, Ahimsa Wickrematunge has filed a civil suit against US citizen and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a United States District Court, alleging that he was responsible for ordering and covering up what she termed the extrajudicial killing of her father, Lasantha Wickrematunge. more..

Jul 4 (Island) SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera on Tuesday (2) alleged that a section of the media was hell-bent on destroying all those in politics. MP Jayasekera said that though the media had a right to be critical of politicians, a relentless campaign was being conducted by the media targeting politicians and that wasn’t acceptable. The MP said so in response to a query raised at the weekly media briefing more..

Jul 4 (DN) The tax on sweetened drinks which was removed by the 51 day govt will be re-imposed. The tax was originally imposed as a social health measure in response to calls by health and medical professionals and scientists for a cap on increasing sugar consumption by the population which has been linked to the dramatic rise in sugar related diseases like diabetes, kidney failure, cancers and heart disease. more..

Jul 4 (DM) If you have ever purchased a lottery and have been disappointed, you’re definitely not alone. Daily, many people place a Rs. 20 bet on their luck, hoping that they would win the jackpot. It’s an everyday occurrence to see ticket sellers reaching out to you while you commute, shouting out attractive slogans such as ada adina wasanawa (luck to be drawn today), ada adina koti deke jayamalla (a twenty million super prize more..

Jul 4 (CT) The Wildlife Department together with the Puttalam District Secretariat is involved in a project to use electronic sensors to track the movement of elephants as a substitute to the electric fencing which is found to be inadequate, to mitigate Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC). The project, coordinated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), of the US, more..

Jul 4 (DM) Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s statement that Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa will be the UNP’s candidate at the presidential election is a programme which the party is planning to launch in the future, Puttalam District MP Hector Appuharmy said. MP was referring to a statement that has been made by Minister Samaraweera that UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa will be made the party’s more..

Jul 4 (FT) Tourist Hotels Association of SL (THASL) said it vehemently condemns the growing number of anti-Muslim incidents, including hate speech, and warned it could impact the tourism industry and dent SL’s reputation as a tolerant and friendly destination. THASL Prez Sanath Ukwatte in a statement said the growing number of incidents of hate speech against ethnic & religious communities in the country was deeply concerning. more..

Jul 4 (CT) Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) yesterday, warned that they would hold the Welikada Prison under siege if President Sirisena attempted to have any prisoner hanged. This warning was issued yesterday by Secretary of the Committee, Sudesh Silva, while addressing a gathering of protesters who had convened in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Station to oppose the Prez’s proposed move, more..

Jul 4 (EN) Students in Sri Lanka's education system are being ridiculed and are facing punishment for using stationary produced by a firm caught in an anti-Muslim boycott, an official said. Atlas Axillia, a top stationary and publishing company has been targeted by anti-Muslim activists following suicide attacks by an extremist Islamist group, some of whose members had apparently been in the pay of a state agency, in April. more..

Jul 4 (CT) Political stability is sine qua non for economic growth. An example to gauge the health of the economy is Sri Lanka’s employment numbers. More jobs, particularly in the private sector, mean that the economy is growing. The Department of Census and Statistics which tracks down the country’s employment data, in its latest report released on Tuesday, said, that the economy added 94,522 more jobs in the first quarter (1Q) of the year, over last year’s 4Q figures. more..

Jul 4 (FT) I am watching the high charade unfold. No matter how many important people know the difference between right and wrong – or should – it is criminal the number of times the law collars the wrong person – or the right ones for the wrong reason – it is the highest treason. There is every reason under a sullen sun to call for heads to roll for the lamentable fiasco that the establishment is pleased to call lapses in intelligence that led to 4/21. Just spread the net wide more..

Jul 4 (Island) The Peradeniya police arrested three men who had snatched the gold chain of a teenager by posing as CID sleuths. The chain was also recovered. The 17-year-old girl was with her boyfriend at the Peradeniya railway bridge when the three men approached them and wanted to search. The trio wanted to check the hand phone of the girl. When she refused one of the men snatched the gold chain and disappeared. They warned the couple not to report to police. more..

Jul 4 (AD) A person has died after being shot when he had allegedly attempted to grab the firearm of a soldier on duty at a school in Akmeemana. Police said that the individual had attempted to forcibly enter the Upananda Vidyalaya in Akmeemana this morning. When an army soldier stationed at the school prevented him from doing so, the suspect had scuffled with the soldier and tried to grab his service firearm. However, 39-year-old man was injured after being shot during the incident more..

Jul 4 (CT) While accusing the CID of acting in favour of Dr. Shafi Shihabdeen, of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, in their investigations conducted so far in connection with illegal sterilisations he is alleged to have carried out, Parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera yesterday (3), insisted on the need to conduct a separate investigation against the CID, for allegedly misleading the Courts. more..

Jul 4 (EN) A US$ 2.2 billion light rail transit project for Colombo, will ease congestion and boost economic activity, Minister Champika Ranawaka said. "We cannot continue to promote private transport, there is traffic congestion and negative fallouts," he said at an official launch ceremony Wednesday. "Already we are seeing the benefits from this projects. Land prices in areas like Battaramulla have doubled due to the confidence placed in the project." more..

Jul 4 (PTI) Five Indian fishermen and 34 fishing vessels are in SL's custody, External Affairs Ministry said, asserting that the govt regularly takes up the matter of their early release and repatriation. Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister V Muraleedharan said the issue has been discussed at high-level meetings between the two nations. "It was discussed during bilateral meetings held during the visit of Prez of SL to India from May 30-31, 2019, & visit of PM of India to SL on June 9, 2019," more..