Jun 10 (FT) On 21 May, one month after the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka, the Mass for its victims was conducted at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary, the largest Cathedral in Russia, by Archbishop Paolo Pezzi, Metropolitan of the Archdiocese of the Virgin Mother in Moscow, in the presence of another Archbishop, His Grace Celestino Migliore, Apostolic Nuncio to the Russian Federation. Mass was attended by the Heads, Deputy Chief of Missions and more..

Jun 10 (FT) IT industry stakeholders have called for more Govt engagement on the proposed Cyber Security Bill, citing lack of transparency, clarity in legal definitions and problems within the institutional frameworks to establish a Cyber Security Agency under the legislation. The first round of consultations was held last week to obtain industry and stakeholder views to further improve the bill. more..

Jun 10 (AD) The STF has arrested a person at the Mahawatte area in Ja-Ela in connection with the murder of Minuwangoda Kalu Ajith. Reportedly, the suspect has been arrested at a raid conducted last night (08) at Madama road. On 5th June, Krishantha Ajith Kumara alias Minuwangoda Kalu Ajith was shot dead by unidentified gunmen who had arrived on a motor bicycle at Mahawatte area in Ja-Ela. The person who rode the relevant motorbike has been arrested in this manner. more..

Jun 10 (PTI) Air India will resume its additional flight on Delhi-Colombo route from July 15, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said. The national carrier had stopped operating the additional flight after the April 21 Easter Sunday terror attack in Sri Lanka that targeted churches and luxury hotels, killing total 258 people and injuring 500 others. In Colombo, PM Narendra Modi on Sunday pledged India's solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka as he visited the St Anthony's church, more..

Jun 10 (FT) A Govt delegation is set to hold talks with Iranian officials this week to develop a payment mechanism for Sri Lankan tea exports to Iran, Minister Navin Dissanayake said. Govt is yet to find an effective mechanism to bypass US sanctions imposed on Iran, one of Sri Lanka’s largest tea markets. The sanctions have impacted tea industry payments where direct remittances through banks were not possible. more..

Jun 10 (FT) The CT CLSA Asia Frontier Forum will open today in Colombo, with participation of foreign and local institutional investors. Overcoming extraordinary conditions in Sri Lanka post-Easter attacks, CT CLSA Securities forged ahead with hosting its flagship Frontier Markets Forum for the fourth consecutive year. CT CLSA Securities Chairman Cecilia Muttukumaru said: “We are keen to showcase Sri Lanka’s resilience and determination in these difficult times and more..

Jun 10 (SLN) An awareness programme on illegal fishing activities organized by the Sri Lanka Navy for fisheries community was held in the territorial area of Southern Naval Command on 7th June 2019. An awareness programme intended for educating the fisher folk about the disadvantages caused to the ocean and coastal belt by illegal fishing measures, is being conducted by the Navy under the directives and supervision of the Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva. more..

Jun 10 (Island) SL security forces had turned from being hunters to fishermen during the last few years and the spirit of the security forces had been crushed since 2015, expert on terrorism Rohan Gunaratna told a meeting organised by the Mahinda Rajapaksa Centre yesterday. he said that the Easter Sunday attack was not an intelligence failure but a failure of political leadership. SL forces provided the govt with accurate information, more..

Jun 10 (DN) Port of Colombo through an exclusive delegation from Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), South Asia Gateway Terminals (Pvt) Ltd. (SAGT) and Colombo Int'l Container Terminals (Ltd) (CICT) partnered in the SL Country Pavilion at the Transport and Logistics Fair in Germany. Fair was held from June 4-7 in Munich Germany. The annual event attracts more than 2,000 exhibitors and nearly 70,000 business visitors for sectors such as logistics, mobility, IT and supply chain. more..

Jun 10 (DN) Sri Lanka will soon be offering the free visa on arrival facility to foreigners, said State Minister Wasantha Senanayake. He said that this facility would be initially offered to nationals from EU countries and USA and UK. The facility was earlier planned to be offered to EU, UK, USA, SAARC countries and a few other selected countries from May 1 but was put on hold due to the Easter Sunday blasts. SL currently offers on arrival visa only to citizens of Singapore, Nepal & Maldives. more..

Jun 10 (Island) Leader of TNA Rajavarothiam Sampanthan has told Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) Michele Coninsx that the actions of the govt inhibit reconciliation. "Non-commitment to the implementation of UNHRC resolution and the resolutions passed in Parliament to introduce more..

Jun 10 (CT) Hapag-Lloyd’s luxury cruise liner Europa 2, docked at the Hambantota International Port (HIP) last week for an overnight stay. Over 200 passengers from the cruise liner took advantage of the stopover, making day trips to Yala, Bundala, Udawalawe, Kataragama, and Ella. Europa 2’s visit was the first luxury cruiser in Sri Lanka, after the Easter Sunday bombing as well as being the first time a cruise ship did an overnight stop at the port. Fact that Hapag-Lloyd had the confidence more..

Jun 10 (AD) The President should use his executive powers to bring the whole country under one law, states UNP MP Athuraliye Rathana Thero. Thero mentioned this speaking to the media personnel in Kandy. According to him, there are many steps that the government should take regarding the Muslim extremism that is prevailing in the country. “The first step is one country, one law. One education policy. Preventing land acquisition by using arbitrary means of public power. more..

Jun 10 (AD) Three suspects who were arrested for demanding extortion money from the caretaker monk of Dambulla Raja Maha Viharaya have been remanded until the 19th of June as per the order of the Magistrate’s Court. The phone conversation of the attempt to extort money from the caretaker monk of Dambulla Raja Maha Viharaya has been released to the media. Three males were arrested over demanding more..

Jun 10 (Island) A case filed against media spokesman of LTTE, Velayutham Dayanidhi alias Daya Master under the PTA will be taken up before the Vavuniya High Court on July 08. TNA MP, M. A. Sumanthiran is appearing for Daya Master and the case is to be heard by High Court judge Ramanathan Kannan. Daya Master has been accused of aiding and abetting terrorism, justifying the conduct of the LTTE, etc. Charge sheet was handed over on June 7, 2018. more..

Jun 10 (Island) Sri Lanka Telecom will mark a special milestone in the country’s digital journey towards SMART Sri Lanka with the formal launch of the National Digital Roadmap on June 11, at Nelum Pokuna under the patronage of Prez and PM. Proposed blueprint for integrated national digitisation will be presented through a comprehensive multi-faceted nexus of 16 pillars representing areas such as Smart Govt, Smart Security, Smart Health, Smart Transportation & Mobility, more..

Jun 10 (DN) Visiting Indian PM Narendra Modi pledged Delhi’s fullest co-operation in the key areas of counter-terrorism and Sri Lanka’s post-attack economic recovery. This commitment was made during bilateral talks the Indian leader had with Prez Sirisena yesterday during his brief visit to Colombo after his state visit to The Maldives. Appreciating Prez Sirisena’s prompt invitation to visit SL made during his inauguration as PM, more..

Jun 10 (FT) Latest LMD-Nielsen Business Confidence (BCI) poll reveals that more than two-thirds of respondents consulted by Nielsen, expect the economy to worsen over the next 12 months. “The economy and the investment climate are obviously in a very poor state due to current developments in the country,” states a survey respondent. Similarly, another businessperson remarks that “given the current economic situation and now with country’s reputation also at risk, more..

Jun 10 (CT) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, snatched the Minister in Attendance post from Minister Sajith Premadasa, during the visit of Indian PM Narendra Modi. PM Ranil Wickremesinghe acted as the Minister in Attendance for Indian PM Modi’s visit from the BIA although Minister Premadasa was officially appointed by Prez Sirisena as the Minister in Attendance. Sources said that the vehicle of PM Wickremesinghe followed the vehicle of the Indian PM from the BIA to Colombo more..

Jun 10 (AD) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi holding discussions on global terrorism emphasized the collective measures which could be taken for counter-terrorism. Indian Prime Minister Modi visited the island today (9) and was welcomed by PM Wickremesinghe at the BIA. PM Modi held fruitful discussions with his Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe. more..

Jun 10 (DM) Ever since Donald Trump became the US President, as well as during his presidential campaign, he raised the spectre of an aggressive China building its military, naval and air power and the threat China pose to both US interests and the interests of neighbouring states in the region. Today we see US naval forces patrolling the South China Sea and on many occasions coming into confrontation with the Chinese Navy in what China claims are its territorial waters and more..

Jun 10 (DM) The timely intervention of the religious dignitaries of our country in the extremely burning issue regarding the proposed agreements with the USA brings in some consolation amidst the prevailing desperation. It is heartening to note that important respected clergy of the highest order were associated in this magnanimous move to settle down the volatility surrounding the suspicions hanging over. The effect of this most welcomed intervention of public interest became more..

Jun 10 (ST) Sri Lanka will seek the services of the Indian Satellite Air Navigation System (Gagan) for the development of its three proposed regional airports – Palaly, Batticaloa and Ratmalana – senior officials said. The request will be made by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe during the visit of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, which takes place today (9). He said that a request would be made to meet the expenses via an Indian credit line, more..

Jun 10 (CT) TNA leader R. Sampanthan reiterated that India should continue with its efforts to find a durable solution to the Tamil question in the Island, when he met Indian PM Narendra Modi yesterday. The meeting between the TNA MPs led by Sampanthan and Indian PM Narendra Modi took place at the India House, the residence of the Indian High Commissioner. The meeting was brief and the time allocated for more..

Jun 10 (Island) The 1000 Movement, a collective of unions and grassroots activists who are keen on increasing the daily basic salary of an estate worker to Rs. 1,000 said that they would expose a conspiracy by big companies, the estate sector unions and the govt to hide the exorbitant profits made by plantation companies and their affiliates. Chinthaka Rajapakshe, Moderator of Movement for Land & Agricultural Reform, more..

Jun 10 (CT) Following the deadly Easter Sunday terror attacks, which killed more than 250 people, many topics have been widely discussed in SL society by both citizens and the legislators. Many people demand to establish a common law for all the citizens, irrespective of their religions and communities. One such topic is the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act of 1951 (MMDA). In late May, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe reportedly had told more..

Jun 10 (CT) Minister Sajith Premadasa said that he will contest the Presidential Election after fulfilling the aspirations of the people. He said this at a gathering, on Saturday, at Shrawasthipura in A'pura. He added that the power of the people was on the increase while the power of the politicians were decreasing each day and therefore any decision should be taken by the people. Minister requested the gathering to more..

Jun 10 (AD) Acting Ministers have been appointed to the ministerial portfolios made vacant following the resignation of Muslim ministers a short while ago. The acting ministers took oath before President Maithripala Sirisena at the President’s House. Accordingly, Deputy Minister Buddhika Pathirana has been appointed as the Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, Co-operative Development, Vocational Training more..

Jun 10 (AD) There are doubts concerning the investigations into the terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday, says His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith. Cardinal stated that these attacks were not a sudden series of events but the result of long-term planning. “Murders happen but no actions are taken against them and this has now become a tradition’ of the country. This has happened continuously for the past 40-50 years,” more..

Jun 10 (NF) The Sunday Times political editor says ACSA backer Kariyawasam is now a paid employee of the US govt.” The Sunday Times today (9) reported that former Sri Lanka diplomat and foreign secretary who allegedly pressurised the Defence Ministry to rush through the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) between Sri Lanka and the United States is now a US federal govt employee. more..

Jun 10 (DM) A move is underway within a section of the UNP to promote Minister Lakshman Kiriella, as the presidential candidate of the party; it is learnt, with a section of the Kandy-based Buddhist clergy particularly keen on Minister Kiriella as the candidate. He yesterday participated in a ceremony to mark the ground-breaking for the construction of a Dharmasala at a temple in Pussellewa, Kandy. more..

Jun 10 (DM) The Muslims are a minority only in this country, but a majority globally and nobody should think that they could subjugate us, former Eastern Province Governor Dr. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah. He said so at the Kattankudy Periya Jumma Mosque, on Saturday. "Muslims should live with their heads up. I wish to make it clear that only in this country that we are minorities, but in this whole world, we are in a majority. more..

Jun 10 (FT) Sri Lanka is hailed by many, mainly by those who are ethnically Sinhalese and religion-wise Buddhists, as a Sinhala-Buddhist country. This is not an arrangement which it has got under its Constitution. Constitutionally, it is a secular state though the State has pledged to protect and promote Buddhism, while ensuring freedom for all to practice a faith of their choice. The designation that SL is a Sinhala-Buddhist country does not make SL different from other countries in the world. more..

Jun 10 (CT) Indian PM Narendra Modi arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday to express his solidarity with the Island Nation towards defeating terrorism. PM Narendra Modi is the third Indian PM after late Indian PMs Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi to retain power for a second term with full majority following his landslide victory at the Indian Parliamentary election last month. Modi landed in Sri Lanka after a hard hitting speech he delivered last Saturday in the Maldivian Parliament on more..

Jun 10 (CG) Former Foreign Secretary Prasad Kariyawasam has denied claims he is an employee of the US Federal Government. Kariyawasam said his contractual employment with the Parliament of Sri Lanka and the Speaker as his Adviser on International Affairs has been misrepresented by some media. “I am not an employee of the US Federal Govt as claimed in the Report, and never have been,” he said in response to a media report. Kariyawasam was a former SL Ambassador more..

Jun 10 (FT) The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York hosted a traditional ifthar (breaking Ramadan fast) on Wednesday, 30 May at the Mission for members of the Sri Lankan Muslim expatriates community living in the New York Tri-State area. The event began with a Qirath recitation by Aadil Aslam, a young member from the community, which was followed by welcome remarks by Ambassador and Permanent Representative of SL Dr. Rohan Perera. more..

Jun 10 (DN) An ombudsman or an information centre should be made available for the relatives of the persons who were taken into custody over jihadist terrorist activities following the Easter Sunday terror attacks, Minister Champika Ranawaka said. He said there have been around 2,500 arrests and the relatives of those arrested have the right to receive information on them. “A serious issue has arisen with regard to more..

Jun 10 (EN) Cruise ships have begun calling at Sri Lanka's ports as security improved and travel advisories are being lifted as authorities quickly arrested and shut down an Islamist terror network that had carried out the attack. Aitken Spence Maritime, agents for Hapag-Lloyd, said the shipping groups MS Europa 2 cruise ship called at Sri Lanka's Colombo and Hambantota ports on from June 05 to June 08. The vessel had 309 passengers and 356 crew onboard. more..

Jun 10 (Island) Environmentalists are of the view that introducing flat rates net metering and net accounting would badly hit renewable energy particularly solar power and allow coal and diesel plants to mushroom, causing millions of dollars in losses, untold harm to the environment and the people’s health. Centre for Environmental Justice, Executive Director Hemantha Withanage asks what the benefits will be when millions of dollars are pumped into cutting down emissions while more..