Jun 11 (FT) Lankan born and Canadian finance leader Amal Ratnayake FCMA, CGMA has been named 86th President of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), the highest volunteer post of the world’s leading professional body for management accountants. In May, Ratnayake was also confirmed as Chairman of the Association of Int'l Certified Professional Accountants, global accounting organisation formed by CIMA & American Institute of CPAs more..

Jun 11 (CT) Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) saw its operating losses contracted 35% to Rs 30.4 billion in 2018 from Rs 47 billion a year ago as the agency’s expenditure reduced to Rs 269 billion while revenue rose to Rs 239 billion. According to the Finance Ministry Annual Report, CEB’s revenue during 2018 increased 6% to Rs 239 billion from Rs 226 billion a year ago. The report further highlighted that the expenditure of the agency had reduced 1.5% to Rs 269 billion from 273 billion in 2017. more..

Jun 11 (Island) Two petitions filed before the Supreme Court by activists against Emergency Regulations imposed by Prez Sirisena after the April 21 Easter Sunday bombings have been fixed for 6th July. The petitioners claim that while there is nothing wrong with imposing laws to ensure national security, emergency regulations 19 (1) and 58 are against the Constitution. These violate fundamental rights or has the potential to violate more..

Jun 11 (CT) The PHU said that they will be bringing a proposal to Parliament, to be considered by the two main parties, requesting that 15 additional Parliamentary seats be awarded on merit to the winning party at an election. PHU Leader and MP Udaya Gammanpila said that the major parties in Parliament would definitely depend on the minor parties since they are unable to gain a majority on their own. He added that this has been caused by the indefinite electoral system in Sri Lanka, more..

Jun 11 (NR) The Navy says security camps will not be removed in a manner that harms national security. Navy Media Spokesman Lieutenant Commander Isuru Sooriyabandara responded to charges that a security camp in Wilpattu was removed. Explaining the matter Lieutenant Commander Sooriyabandara said it was not a camp but a Navy plantation project. Spokesman clarified that two Navy camps have been set up in Wilpattu, specifically in Mullikulam & Silawathura. more..

Jun 11 (DM) Buddhism is the only religion that does not promote or encourage killings to propagate the religion and the main objective of Jihad is to exterminate all except those who follow Allah, Minister Champika Ranawaka said. He emphasised the need to set up a special monitoring system to fully realise and assess the goal, strategies and work plan of Muslim fundamentalist terrorists who wreaked havoc in the country. more..

Jun 11 (Island) Prez Sirisena must immediately appoint a commission to investigate the allegation that a large number of women had been sterilized without their consent during cesarean section operations, MP Ven. Aturaliye Rathana Thera said. Ratana thera added that he would not allow the Minister of Health Rajitha Senaratne or his associates to interfere with the investigations. "There is an attempt to whitewash Dr Mohamed Shafi but I think that his guilt is now obvious. more..

Jun 11 (Island) Colombo High Court Judge, Sashi Mahendran yesterday told former Chairman of Warakapola Pradesheeya Sabha Lakshman Samarasinghe, who had been imprisoned for six years and fined Rs. 40,000 on a bribery conviction, that President Maithripala Sirisena has granted him a presidential pardon. Samarasinghe was convicted of obtaining a bribe of Rs 25,000 in 1995 to award a tender for the construction of a road in the Warakapola PS area and five other charges. more..

Jun 11 (CT) JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said that the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) brought by JVP against the UNP Govt, which is to be taken for debate next month, is one of the most important events through which the irresponsible Govt could be toppled and those who are truly against the Govt could be identified through the result of the NCM. He further said that Prez, PM and the entire Govt are fully responsible for more..

Jun 11 (CG) US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is arrive in Sri Lanka later this month on a brief visit. The US State Dept said Secretary Pompeo will travel to the Indo-Pacific region on June 24th through the 30th to broaden and deepen US partnership with key countries to advance their shared goal of a free and open Indo-Pacific. The Secretary’s first stop will be in New Delhi, India. US said that Indian PM Narendra Modi’s recent election victory provides an excellent opportunity more..

Jun 11 (FT) Leading civil society organisations in Sri Lanka have urged the Speaker of the Parliament to ensure that the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the Easter Sunday attacks continues to function without any hindrance. Heads of several civil society organisations made this request when they met Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday, at the Speaker’s official residence. At the meeting, the representatives of the civic groups requested the Speaker to ensure uninterrupted continuation more..

Jun 11 (AD) The govt will render maximum support to modernize and successfully develop the carpentry industry, says PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. PM made this comment during a meeting with a group of sawmill owners and politicians held at the Temple Trees last morning. Govt wants to develop the carpentry industry in the country, hence, the assistance that is required in this regard will be provided by the govt, PM said. more..

Jun 11 (DM) The reports on the actions by politicians, including the leaders of the country and the officials responsible for national security, with regard to the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks reveal how irresponsible they had been in respect of their duties towards the country. Their actions even after the disaster leading up to now, vindicate the point. All stakeholders seem to attempt to absolve themselves of the blunders on their parts and to pass the buck. more..

Jun 11 (DM) Brazen contradictions both in national politics and the exercise of the franchise as well as in civic life have marked the tragic national history of the Sri Lankan nation with vengeance during the last post-Independence 70-year span. The hartals of the late fifties with the Sinhala Only policy brought in the first taste of modern ethnic tensions. Then came the unsteady political situations of the sixties prefaced by nationalizing policies, the take over all denominational schools in 1960 creating more..

Jun 11 (DM) Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Shantha Kottegoda says that normalcy has been restored in the country following the Easter Sunday attacks, and that imminent threats and further attacks have also been destabilized. In his first interview as Defence Secretary, Gen. Kottegoda – a former Commander of the SL Army – asserted that with the immediate threat being contained, there is a need to focus on the challenges of preventing more..

Jun 11 (Island) Ministry of Education was planning to appoint registrars to all schools with over 1,000 students at a time when there were vacancies for principals in 302 out of 353 national schools, the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) said. There were 984 schools with over 1,000 students and depending on the number of students in a school, the grades of the Registrars would be determined, the union said. "For example schools with over more..

Jun 11 (CT) Former Minister Kabir Hashim stated that he has noticed that certain opportunistic and nationalistic forces have begun to spread hatred and enmity among different communities using the recent resignation of Muslim Ministers as a springboard. MP alleged that these forces are also attempting to use the recent resignation of Muslim Ministers from their posts to further suit their vested interests. more..

Jun 11 (N18) Lasith Malinga will leave the team after Sri Lanka's clash against Bangladesh on Tuesday (11) and travel to Colombo following the death of his mother-in-law, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced. Malinga will depart post the game in Bristol but is expected to return before Sri Lanka's next encounter against Australia on June 15. "The remains of late Mrs. Kanthi Perera lie at the Barney Raymond Funeral Home in Colombo more..

Jun 11 (ST) Seven weeks after the Easter Sunday suicide attacks on churches and luxury hotels by Islamic extremists, the tourism industry and related sectors continue to struggle, industry figures say. Chaminda Gamage a transport provider who rents vehicles to travel companies, said hires have fallen off, after 20 years in the business. “Our last hire ended on April 28, since then we have not had a single hire,” more..

Jun 11 (CT) MP Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has written to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya emphasising that under Clause 74 of the Constitution, Parliament does not have the authority to appoint a Select Committee regarding powers possessed by the Executive in connection with State Security. In the letter he states that he would like to focus attention on the law that is being currently enforced to punish anyone who more..

Jun 11 (DN) Sri Lanka’s corals are faced with an imminent threat of destruction due to climate change, pollution and illegal fishing methods, Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) General Manager Dr. Terney Pradeep Kumara said. Observing that 90% of corals in SL waters are already dead, he warned that the remaining 10 percent would also be lost in another 10 years. “Sri Lankans will lose the luxury of viewing more..

Jun 11 (Island) The GMOA yesterday challenged Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne for a public debate on the allegations they had levelled against him. Announcing the commencement of the GMOA’s Protest Week yesterday, its Secretary Haritha Aluthge said that Senaratne was not even attempting to respond to the allegations levelled against him. "He is known for making brash statements. Previously, he used to insult more..

Jun 11 (CT) The Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCol), probing acts of corruption and fraud that had taken place in State institutions, has stated that its Chairman has pointed out that though any Minister takes a decision to incur money for any property that does not belong to the State, it is the duty of all State officers and Secretaries in charge of such institutions to reveal the legal status of such decisions. more..

Jun 11 (AD) The University of Ruhuna is notorious for its ragging of new students, stated University’s Vice Chancellor Dr. Gamini Senanayake at a Ruhuna Uni press conference held in Matara. This issue cannot be comprehended by observing from the surface level, he said. According to the VC, the ragging period at the Ruhuna University lasts throughout a year and new students are enrolled in every rally within the year. more..

Jun 11 (CT) Yesterday this newspaper quoting PM Narendra Modi said, Attacks of this nature could never destroy SL and India is always ready to provide assistance towards the security and progress of the island nation. India will always stand by to ensure the security and betterment of the people in this country. Modi had made this statement on Sunday when he visited St. Anthony’s Church, Kochchikade, one of six sites subjected to Islamist terrorists’ suicide bomb attacks on more..

Jun 11 (FT) A Colombo taxi driver informed a customer that he was a Muslim. It sounded like an apology. His two previous hires had been cancelled after his cultural identity had been guessed. In the hill-country, a group of persons got into a heated argument with a woman who had accompanied her daughter to an interview. One of them called the police and the woman was taken in for questioning. It had nothing to do with the petty quarrel. She had a scarf draped over her head. more..

Jun 11 (EN) The dairy subsidiary of SL's Sunshine Holdings Plc has escaped the curse of diseases hitting yields of imported milch cows, which is afflicting smaller farms, the firm said. Small farmers who bought imported milch cows had got into debt and cows were hit by diseases and milk production was below expectations. "Watawala Dairy was largely able to avoid these pitfalls thanks to prior preparation which included training and development for employees, the proper feed more..

Jun 11 (DN) Minister Sajith Premadasa assured Mihintale Raja Maha Viharadhipathi Ven. Walawahengunawewa Dhammarathana Nayake Thera that construction and renovation work of the main temple would be completed as much as possible, so that traditional religious observances could be held on Poson Poya. The Minister gave this assurance when Ven. Dhammarathana Nayake Thera said he wished to perform all traditional religious rituals and observances concerning more..

Jun 11 (AD) Former WP Governor Azath Salley claims that terrorist leader Zahran Hashim’s group torched 120 houses belonging to traditional Muslims in Kattankudy in the Eastern Province in 2017, however the police did nothing regarding that. He said that the people living in the area took to the streets and protested demanding the arrest of Zahran, but even then they didn’t arrest him. “They did nothing. more..

Jun 11 (FT) The autobiography of Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, The Journey – A Tale of Passion was launched on 7 June in Colombo at an event graced by former Prez Rajapaksa and a host of other dignitaries. The Journey is the third book written by Dr. Nalaka Godahewa. This book is not just a memoir. It also serves as a practical guidebook for the young generation. Parallel to his life story the author also takes trouble to explain the social, economic and political context within which more..

Jun 11 (AD) The Cabinet meeting usually held every Tuesday headed by President Maithripala Sirisena will not be held today, politically sources said. When inquired several Ministers, they stated that they had been informed that the Cabinet meeting will not be held today. However, it was reported that President Sirisena had attended the complete Cabinet meeting which was held prior to the Cabinet meeting. Prez summoned an emergency Cabinet meeting at 7.30 pm last Friday to discuss more..

Jun 11 (CI) For the second-day running, the 2019 World Cup witnessed a no-result that forced Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to walk away with one point each. This is the fifth World Cup being staged in England, and incredibly this one has already witnessed two abandonments (cancellations without toss), the most-ever in a single edition. Sri Lanka, who already endured a washout against Pakistan, now have two points courtesy rain, more..

Jun 11 (DM) An organised racket is in operation to extort money from the relatives of the suspects who are in custody over the Easter Sunday attacks, SP Ruwan Gunasekera revealed. Suspects who impersonate as Police officers approach the suspects of the Easter Sunday attacks assuring them various benefits and reliefs for financial rewards. The gang reported having called the relatives of the suspects who arrested over the attacks or during search operations. more..

Jun 11 (AD) The security situation of the country has not yet turned to normal according to UNP MP Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka. Commenting to the media following an event held in Kelaniya, Fonseka stated that the Special Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to probe the Easter Attacks is a legal Select Committee. He says that the Committee works according to an agenda and that it cannot be changed according to the whims of anyone. He also emphasized that the Prez has no legal right more..

Jun 11 (FT) The historic Catholic shrine dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua in Colombo, Kochchikade, will celebrate the 185th feast of the Saint on Thursday at 10 a.m., with a trilingual festive High Mass offered at the Shrine. Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith will be the officiating prelate. This Shrine coming down from the times of the Dutch Rule, was one of the targets of the string of bomb attacks across the island nation. more..

Jun 11 (Island) Minister Mangala Samaraweera and a large number of his supporters braved interment showers to gather near the Matara central bus stand calling for communal harmony. Addressing the gathering, Minister said that the people of Matara had stood up against racism. "The people of Matara have also stood up and even sacrificed their lives for a united Sri Lanka." he added. At a time when hatred was being spread in almost every village I am grateful to you for having more..

Jun 11 (DM) A 23-year-old police constable who was reported missing in Kokkadicholai in 2008 was found murdered and buried, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said. He said three suspects had been arrested by the CID over the killing of the police constable. The police constable Nagarasa Prashanthan who was attached to the Kokkadicholai Police was reported missing by his father on August 1, 2008. The homicide was revealed by the CID based on the investigations conducted into more..

Jun 11 (DM) The fare for the first kilometre in a three-wheeler taxi would be increased to Rs.60 from midnight today due to last night’s fuel price increase, Lanka Self-Employed Professionals' National Three-Wheeler Federation Sunil Jayawardana announced. He said the decision was taken after the Govt’s fuel price revision with effect from last night and for not consulting them in the price revision and against Govt not regulating more..

Jun 11 (CT) The Foundation for Civilian Bravery – SL stated, the National Civilian Bravery Award and the Civilian Bravery Award for Asia inspire others from schoolchildren upwards, who want to be good, do good, help others and live a principled life. In a press release issued in this connection, the Foundation noted that the awards also highlight the extraordinary yet little known acts of bravery by the ordinary citizens. ‘Civilian bravery is an act carried out by a civilian, to save the life of another more..