Jun 14 (Island) A top US official is reported to have said that the US expects future govts of Sri Lanka to honour the agreements the current administration has entered with it. This, we reckon, is a warning or even a veiled threat, couched in diplomatese, to those who have taken exception to the heavily lop-sided agreements—the ACSA (Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement) and SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement), which is to be signed. The US has told its critics, in no uncertain terms, more..

Jun 14 (DN) Generally, a visit by a state leader to another state is always significant and it is news. So is the news of Indian PM Narendra Modi visiting the island nation and it has deeper meanings beyond the customary diplomatic show off particularly connecting to national security concerns of the two States. The visit took place after Modi’s swearing-in as the leader of India for the second consecutive term. With this visit, Modi has become the first Prime Minister of India to visit Sri Lanka more..

Jun 14 (CT) Not many people would see any connection between President Sirisena’s April invitation from Xi Jinping and PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka over the weekend. The fact is that the latter grew out of the former. Furthermore, not many people were also aware of the fact that even while the ISIS-spawned suicide bombers were attacking churches and hotels in the country on 21 April, Easter Sunday, crews of the United States guided missile destroyer the USS Spruance, more..

Jun 14 (CI) The SL cricket board might be world leaders at something. Try not to snigger. Yes, okay, there are paper towels more robust than their domestic system. Sure, the batteries in your TV remote have had longer lives than their last four ODI captains. But there is no cricket board with a better bad-weather strategy. Year after year, SLC hosts series in months afflicted by storms that unload lakefuls of water into their stadia, and more..

Jun 14 (Island) When one laughs and cries simultaneously, one is considered soft in the head, if not bordering on insanity. Or one is hysterical. Cassandra is none of these aforementioned unfortunates. She has been crying and laughing plus being completely perplexed sequentially, so she is sane as sane could be. Those who caused these mixed emotions in her, two diametrically opposite, are the ones who acted irrationally if not insanely these last few days. more..

Jun 14 (CI) India and New Zealand took a point each and remained the only unbeaten teams in the tournament as rain prevented even a toss from happening at Trent Bridge. As things stood before the match, a result would have either further solidified New Zealand's position at the top, or helped India nudge ahead of Australia into second place with a game in hand. There were large patches of damp turf in the point and midwicket regions, results of water rolling off the covers, more..

Jun 14 (CT) Weather in England hasn’t favoured Sri Lanka in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup: their last two matches in Bristol were washed out and their training session yesterday ahead of tomorrow’s match against Australia at the Oval in London, too, moved indoors due to rain. Former skipper Angelo Mathews suggests that a win against Australia will give them belief and hope in the upcoming 5 games which are all against more..

Jun 14 (Roar) When news broke of Huawei being blacklisted by the U.S. govt due to an ever-escalating trade war between China and the U.S., there was a great deal of confusion to the ordinary user about what was going on. Hot on the heels of the blacklisting that went into effect on May 24, came Google’s suspension of business with Huawei. Being a company domiciled in the U.S., Google was left with no choice but to comply with the govt. But one of the major negative more..

Jun 14 (Island) Renowned scribe Oscar Wilde once wrote, I don’t desire to change anything in England except the weather. Well, the SL cricket team must be feeling exactly the same at the moment as inclement weather has washed out two of their World Cup fixtures and forced them to train indoors. Having cursed their luck in Bristol, the former champions were unable to train at The Oval on Wednesday and their training session yesterday was cut short as it started raining halfway through more..

Jun 14 (FT) Since the first ever heart transplant in SL back in 2017, organ transplantation has made a steady progress across the Health Service in the island nation. However, there are numerous people from several regions in SL who are still in need of organ transplants. Kidney patients in particular have been made to wait for far too long, and that is why the authorities have decided to strengthen organ donation system, more..

Jun 14 (CI) Maharashtra batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad extended his rich run of form - he fell 16 short of his third successive hundred - before rain forced the abandonment of the fourth one-dayer between India A and SL A in Hubli. Rain had delayed the start of play and later returned to end proceedings when SL A were 10 for 1 in pursuit of a revised target of 209 in 24 overs. Sent in to bat, India A had piled up 208 for 4 in 22 overs on the back of eighties from Gaikwad and No. 3 Anmolpreet Singh. more..

Jun 14 (DN) “We are going to make good system from the SL Badminton administration and focus on a 2024 Olympic medal,” said Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) president Nishantha Jayasinghe whose position is being contested by five others at the elections which was scheduled to be held today but postponed last evening on the directives of Sports Minister Harin Fernando. Objections had been raised that elections were called less than three weeks before the closing date of accepting more..

Jun 14 (FT) The Govt-directed moratorium on repayment of capital and interest of tourism sector business borrowing from banks has drawn applications worth over Rs. 60 billion by end May, with the final numbers expected to be far higher. Ministers John Amaratunga and Harsha de Silva yesterday made public the progress of Govt initiatives for a quicker revival of tourism, following Easter Sunday terror attacks on 3 churches more..

Jun 14 (CT) One of Central Bank (CBSL) forensic auditors, KPMG India, is under scrutiny from regulators and investors in India for the role of their affiliate company, BSR & Associates, as auditors of the failed IL&FS Financial Services (IFIN) in India. However, KPMG SL Country Head and Managing Partner, Mohamed Reyaz Mihular said that such allegations against the KPMG affiliate, BSR and Associates, might not tangibly affect KPMG India’s ongoing forensic audit operations for CBSL. more..

Jun 14 (ST) Plans have been drawn by Nelna companies to set up a new fruit processing factory in Sri Lanka at an estimated cost of Rs. 1000 million with foreign participation, in the future. “We have around 80,000 mango plants in a 500 acre farm in the Ampara district,” said Nelna Group’s Founder and its Chairman W. E. Gunapala Nanayakkara addressing a media briefing on the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Nelna, group of companies at a reception and a media briefing more..

Jun 14 (DN) Sri Lanka has officially complained to the ICC for the manner in which their team is being treated in the ongoing 2019 Cricket World Cup. Team manager Ashantha de Mel said that they had written to the ICC complaining about the type of pitches prepared for the Lankan matches, the practice facilities, the hotels and the type of transport provided for the team. “This is a World Cup where the top ten countries are taking part and more..

Jun 14 (Island) Nearly 5,000 illegal promotions had been given to SLTB employees at the instance of UNP trade union JSS immediately after the restoration of the UNP administration in Dec 2018, Transport & Civil Aviation Ministry said. Ministry said that a section of the employees had resorted to legal action against those promotions. Ministry made the revelation in the wake of those who had received promotions demanding that they be paid accordingly in spite of ongoing legal action. more..

Jun 14 (EN) Sri Lanka is awaiting an assessment of domestic stocks to give maize import license for the poultry sector which has been hit by Easter Sunday bombers. "At the moment maize stocks are held by collectors," Agriculture Minister said. "They want higher prices. If they do not release stocks, we will have to issue import licenses. Otherwise eggs and other prices will go up." Maize collectors are a politically powerful and have blocked imports for years to keep domestic prices high more..

Jun 14 (DM) SLFP National Organiser Duminda Dissanayaka said he was confused as to whether the appointment of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) that summoned and questioned defence and intelligence officials, was a conspiracy hatched by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe in connivance with Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa in an attempt to embarrass President Sirisena. more..

Jun 14 (FT) Violence against women and girls is widely recognised as an international public health and human rights concern. One in three female homicides in SL are related to intimate partner violence and 69% of such incidences go unreported, according to a study done in five provinces commissioned by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). In 2018, the High Commission of Canada to SL issued a grant of CAD 900,000 to UNFPA in support of addressing sexual and gender-based more..

Jun 14 (CT) Attorney General Dappula de Livera yesterday, informed the Supreme Court that since investigations into the recent incidents in Minuwangoda had not shown that PHU Deputy Leader Madumadhawa Aravinda was in any way linked to it, there would be no reason for him to be apprehended in that connection. This was revealed to a 3-Judge Bench comprising Justices Buwaneka Aluvihare, L.T.B. Dehideniya and Preethi Padman Surasena, by Senior State Counsel more..

Jun 14 (CT) The Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Association (SMEA) has written to Prez Sirisena urging him to halt the Cabinet Paper to approve the signing of a buy-back agreement of a primary care drug allegedly harmful to patients with breast cancer. SMEA President, Sanjaya Perera said that not only would the Govt lose as much as Rs 40 billion during a 15-year period for which the contract was being signed, but more..

Jun 14 (DM) The opposition criticised both Prez and PM for leaving the country at the same time without appointing anyone to take charge of their ministerial duties. MP Keheliya Rambukwella said both leaders leaving the country at the same time cannot be approved when the country was going through a rough patch. “Twenty-one million of citizens keep silent because they are helpless. They don't have anyone to turn to. Therefore, they are compelled to bear everything on their own. more..

Jun 14 (AD) Former Postal Minister M.H.A. Haleem’s brother Faheem M. Hasheem has made a request to call him before the Parliamentary Select Committee inquiring into the Easter Sunday attacks. He says that he needs to respond to the charges of former Western Province Governor Azath Salley that he supported extremism. Hasheem who served as the private secretary of the former Minister Haleem arrived at the Ministry of Posts, Postal Services, and Muslim Religious Affairs, earlier today (13). more..

Jun 14 (FT) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed his office to seek the Attorney General’s opinion on the possibility of taking over what is referred to as the Sharia University, using the extremist views expressed by the founders as a reason. Secretary to the PM Saman Ekanayake has been advised to seek the AG’s opinion to take over the non-State education facility using Article 70 (F), following comments made by more..

Jun 14 (AD) Ada Derana has received a video of a secretive meeting held between Zahran Hashim and several members of National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ), the alleged ringleader behind the Easter Sunday attacks. The conversation between the members of the meeting indicated that the meeting was held regarding a disagreement over a lecture made by Zahran. At the beginning of the video, the persons involved in the discussion introduce themselves by stating their name & their title. more..

Jun 14 (DN) The Hotel Association of SL (THASL) and the national carrier SriLankan Airlines launched a special promotional campaign on Wednesday to attract Indian tourists. This is the first promotional campaign launched after the Easter Sunday attack. “Indian tourism market is a major component which assisted in the development of the Sri Lankan tourism industry and right now we are concentrating more on the Indian market than any other market,” said Minister John Amaratunga. more..

Jun 14 (FT) The UPFA warned plans were afoot to expedite the signing of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the US, with the upcoming visit of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and called for the document to be tabled in Parliament ahead of the visit. UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera, along with UPFA MPs Duminda Dissanayake and Weerakumara Dissanayake, told reporters that SOFA could more..

Jun 14 (DM) The much revered St.Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade was reopened to the public on June 12 (Wednesday) underscoring the fact that the Catholic community in the country was able to reap the benefits of patience, a trait which its members chose to nurture instead of hatred. The whole world seemed to have collapsed on Christians on April 21 when a series of bombings, targeting three churches, were successfully coordinated by Islamist extremists. more..

Jun 14 (DM) Given the questions posed by almost all non-Muslims, except for a few on the mass resignation by the Muslim Ministers, State Ministers and a Deputy Minister on June 3 in the wake of MP Athureliye Rathana Thera’s fast unto death, it is clear that they are not in a position to put themselves in the shoes of the Muslims. They ask why all Muslim Ministers should resign when the fasting monk’s demand was the resignation of three Muslim politicians. more..

Jun 14 (DM) Last Tuesday, Cabinet of Ministers did not meet for their weekly sessions. Reason being the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) constituted to investigate Easter Sunday attacks. President wants the PSC to stop its proceedings forthwith on grounds that such investigations by a PSC would hinder national security. Parliament is a legislative body elected by the people and has every right to investigate a national tragedy more..

Jun 14 (ST) The capital’s only seafront rendezvous area has become a desolate piece of land since the mass murders by Islamic extremists on Easter Sunday. Families, individuals, young couples, kite flyers, and tourists no longer swarm to the Galle Face Green, which borders tourist hotels and luxury apartment buildings on one side and the ocean on the other side. Evening strolls at sunset are longer appealing. more..

Jun 14 (EN) Bad loans in Sri Lanka's listed banks have surged in the first quarter of 2019, as the credit system emerged from monetary instability involving a collapse of the rupee driven by repeated liquidity shocks, published data show. Monetary instability was worsened by a political crisis in late 2018, which eroded confidence further. Bad loan ratios of some banks have surged over 150 basis points during the March 2019 quarter, more..

Jun 14 (CT) IUSF Convener Maheel Bandara Dehideniya claims that first year students will normally not receive their Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund allocation for their first 8 months after joining the Uni. Dehideniya after handing over a letter to the Chairman of Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund claimed that the govt is trying to curtail the Fund by bringing in baseless theories. more..

Jun 14 (CT) The construction of the final phase of Southern Expressway, from Matara to Hambantota, covering 96 km, at a cost of Rs 243 billion, is expected to be completed by December this year, a spokesman for the RDA said. Final phase of the project which is carried out in four stages is expected to be completed in December. Meanwhile, work on 3rd & 4th phases is expected to be complete by August this year, more..

Jun 14 (FT) The Govt has decided to amend the agriculture policy framework to be on par with modern trends and enable the sector to be climate resilient, Agriculture Ministry Secretary K.D.S. Ruwanchandra said. Speaking to media, Ruwanchandra said the existing agriculture policy was formulated in 2007 and that needed to be amended as sectors such as food safety were not covered by the existing policy. more..

Jun 14 (Hindu) One of the three cases, where the name of Zahran Hashim first emerged, was registered in Oct 2018, pertaining to a criminal conspiracy to kill some Hindu leaders of Coimbatore, the NIA said. Zahran Hashim, the Sri Lankan mastermind of the April 21 Easter attacks in Sri Lanka, has emerged as a common link in at least three Islamic State (IS) related cases, including the latest IS module busted in Coimbatore, more..

Jun 14 (AD) Leader of the NFF MP Wimal Weerawansa has called on Prez Sirisena to appoint a Presidential Commission to take action against Dr Mohamed Shafi of Teaching Hospital in Kurunegala. MP stated this addressing a letter to the Prez. He also requests the President to take necessary measures to file indictments against Dr Shafi to prevent creating more Dr Shafis in the future and to ensure justice to the victims. more..

Jun 14 (DM) Sri Lanka’s first satellite Ravana 1, designed and developed by two Sri Lankan research engineers will be released into orbit on Monday (17), Director Communication Engineering at Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies, Kavindra Jayawardena said. On Monday, June 17th, at 2.15PM SL time Raavana-1 will be deployed to the 400km orbit at an inclination of 51.6 degrees using the JAXA more..