Jun 2 (CT) Ministry of Agriculture warned that it would come down hard on those who misused chemical fertilizer and the CID would be called in to investigate. Attending a meeting at the Fertilizer Secretariat, Agriculture Minister P. Harrison on 31 May warned that his Ministry would take legal action against private companies that allegedly pilfered the fertilizer imported by the Govt for their products. more..

Jun 2 (CT) An elderly woman was killed and another remains in a life-threatening condition after unidentified persons forcibly injected them with a lethal substance at a location in Matara yesterday (31). The incident took place at a private residence in Wiwanda Watte in Matara, at around 8.30 a.m. yesterday according to the Police. The two elderly women aged 73 and 66 were alone at the time of the incident since their daughter and son-in-law had left home for work. more..

Jun 2 (CB) Whatever the names on their squad list, you couldn't fault Sri Lanka for their preparation ahead of the World Cup opener. They'd seen Pakistan succumb to the short ball and spent hours working with an inclined granite slab - a Chandika Hathurusingha speciality - to sharpen their reflexes against the quick bouncer. While the batsmen were undergoing specific skill training on the evening two days out from the game, the ground authorities removed the hover cover - more..

Jun 2 (ST) A trait in Prez Sirisena, mostly unmatched by his political contemporaries, is his humility. That he is at the butt end of very heavy criticism, after the senseless Easter Sunday carnage, has not been a deterrent for him to turn the searchlight inwards. On an exceptionally hot and humid last Sunday morning, I was woken up to a call. The operator said in Sinhala that his Excellency the Prez wished to speak. more..

Jun 3 (ST) In the wake of Easter Sunday attacks, we have one (Muslim) Minister confessing to calling the Army Commander to inquire into the fate of a Muslim suspect arrested following the Easter Sunday attacks and another (Sinhala) Minister being so bold as to transport Sinhalese rioters attacking Muslim shops in Kurunegala from one police station to another where they were given bail. Both acts are equally condemnatory. But the media focus is on the first and not on the second. Why is this? more..

Jun 3 (CT) First thing first. I have no intention of white washing the infamous Dr Shafi Siyabdeen who has allegedly caused unconsented infertility in 4000 mothers. Whatever the truth of that allegation may be, it is obvious that Dr Shafi was involved in a money laundering exercise which would put a final nail on his professional life for sure. However, alternatively, in this weird country it won’t be a huge surprise if Dr Shafi was resurrected from the death of his profession and more..

Jun 3 (CT) In a concerted effort to minimise tobacco users the State insisted on having a pictorial on cigarette boxes depicting the damage cigarette smoking can cause, but all this it seems is of no avail as the number of smokers has not drastically reduced. Although a day has been dedicated as No Tobacco Day, there seems to be not much effect on smokers. Executive Director of the Alcohol and Drug information Centre more..

Jun 3 (CT) As a promotional gimmick, airlines reward their good customers, with the status of Frequent Flyer, entitling them to various facilities like airport lounges, automatic up-grades etc. With their economies for truth, and an insatiable appetite for being airborne, some of our representatives should lobby for the title of Frequent Liar. Our generation may seem to be out of step, having been taught about discipline, honesty and truthfulness. There were things that simply were not done. more..

Jun 3 (ST) For a man who declared only last week without anyone prompting him to put his foot and mouth in the dung, that Sri Lanka is not a Sinhalese Buddhist nation that the majority clan can lay claim to despite the historical antecedents that mark its origins and notch every mile post of its annals with its litany of contributions; and that the land belonged to all in equal measure, no matter from whence or when they came, to the Tamils, the Muslims, the Burgers and the Malays, more..

Jun 3 (ST) There was uproar in the Kalutara District Development Committee over the presence of Western Province Governor Azath Sally. SLPP Members walked out of the meeting, saying it was a security risk. They wanted him to leave the premises. When it did not happen, they walked out. It was Prez who had made governors of different provinces as Deputy Chairmen of different District Co-ordinating Committees. more..

Jun 3 (Island) After Narendra Modi took oaths on Thursday for a second time as India’s PM, having steered the BJP-led coalition to a landslide election victory, there was a string of announcements relating to diplomatic engagements involving SL, India, China & US. Modi will visit Sri Lanka on 9th June, President Sirisena told a press conference in Delhi, where he attended the Indian leader’s inauguration ceremony. Before that Modi will visit Maldives, his 1st overseas trip as PM. more..

Jun 3 (CT) I sometimes wonder if it is a part of human nature to fear embarrassment more than to fear being blown to giblets by a bomb. I lived through the anxious years of the Provisional IRA’s bombing campaign on the British mainland. I often visited the Tavern in the Town pub near Birmingham New Street station. The bomb that went off there on Nov 21 1974 killed nine people outright, and injured everyone in the pub-many severely; two later died of their injuries. more..

Jun 3 (SO) Amid serious differences within the Govt of Sri Lanka, about the proposed Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the US, Washington continues to pressure Colombo to arrive at a consensus within the Govt to pave the way for the new agreement. American Embassy Spokesperson Nancy Van Horn said, as democracies in the Indo-Pacific, US and SL have to build a strong partnership that enhances security for the people of the two countries and the region. more..

Jun 3 (Island) Chairman of National Election Commission (NEC) Mahinda Deshapriya has ruled out the possibility of the next presidential election being postponed. He is confident that it will be held before 7th Dec 2019 if what he said, in an interview with Derana TV, recently, is anything go by. Speculation, however, is rife in political circles that plans are afoot to postpone the presidential contest owing to political vicissitudes and reorientations the govt has had to contend with. more..

Jun 3 (SO) Former IGP Pujith Jayasundara has revealed in his petition to the Supreme Court that the State Intelligence Service (SIS), (although informed of a possible security threat), never highlighted the urgency of it nor any immediate action that should be taken. The SIS, according to Jayasundara, directly reports to the Prez in all intelligence related matters, and neither he, (nor any officer who was privy to the intelligence more..

Jun 3 (CB) South Africa's frustration continued at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 as they suffered their second loss, going down to Bangladesh by 21 runs at The Oval on Sunday. Set 331 and the highest chase in a World Cup game ahead of them, South Africa never really threatened to bag the game even though they got close and ended with 309 for 8. Bangladesh's highest-ever ODI total was set up by half-centuries from Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim before a clinical bowling show more..

Jun 3 (Island) India were inching towards a thumping two-nil, series win, after an all-round performance, had the second-test in their bag, despite a desperate 110 by Bhanuka Rajapaksa, at the conclusion of day three, in Hubli, India. Visitors, were still staring at another 220 to climb, and the home side needing only another three wickets to wipe-off. Hosts, resuming on their overnight score of 216, progressed on full-gear posting a 123-run partnership to start the day. more..

Jun 3 (ST) Sri Lanka’s tourism industry plans to overcome its current crisis within or less than a year’s time while looking at building up on its human resources with over thousands having lost jobs in the wake of the April 21 incident. During a public seminar held on Wednesday on the theme: 4/21 incident and its’ impact on HR in tourism and hospitality sector conducted by SL Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management more..

Jun 3 (Zee) Lahiru Thirimanne says Sri Lanka are once bitten, twice shy when it comes to the challenges they’ll face at the ICC Men’s World Cup 2019 after defeat by New Zealand. According to ICC media press release, the Black Caps pace battery were shorn of the injured Tim Southee but exploited helpful conditions to great effect, bowling Sri Lanka out for 136 at Cardiff Wales Stadium. Thirimanne says his side, basing themselves in Cardiff, can turn the 10 wicket defeat into a positive if more..

Jun 3 (Island) St. Theresa Industries (STI) Holdings, leading manufacturer of steel fabrication and accessories used for power generation, transmission and distribution in SL, announced its new partnership with the CEB to support the construction of 33kV distribution tower lines and gantries supporting the electricity supply reliability improvement project in SL, by acting as the local representative for Chinese construction company, Qingdao Huijintong Power Equipment (HTJ) more..

Jun 3 (DN) Pakistan under 19’s registered 3-1 series win against SL under 19’s at MRICS Hambantota yesterday. Pakistan under 19’s beat SL under 19’s by 7 wickets in the 4th Youth ODI match. SL Youth won the toss and elected to bat first scored 195 runs for 8 wickets in 50 overs. Right hand opener Thaveesha Abhishek scored 64 runs in 116 balls with 4 boundaries. Avishka Tharindu scored 50 runs in 79 balls with a boundary. Thaveesha Abhishek and Avishka Tharindu made 61-run stand more..

Jun 3 (EN) SL's credit to private borrowers from commercial banks turned sharply negative to 43.4 billion rupees during April 2019 amid Easter Sunday suicide blasts and an earlier collapse of a soft-peg, official data show. Private credit fell to 5,544 billion rupees in April 2019, up 9.9% from a year earlier. Credit to private borrowers turned negative for the first time in four years in Jan 2019, falling 4.3 billion rupees as credit system recovered from a collapse of the currency from 153 to 182 to US dollar. more..

Jun 3 (Island) The JHU has requested rebel MP Ven. Athureliye Rathana to engage in what it calls collective action against those who assist and sponsor terrorism instead of taking unilateral actions. JHU General Secretary and Minister Champika Ranawaka and Joint Chairman of the party, Ven Hadigalle Wimalasara, yesterday, called for a common front against terrorism. JHU was responding to Ven. Rathana’s fast more..

Jun 3 (AD) Venerable Athuraliye Rathana Thero is continuing his protest fast in front of Sri Dalada Maligawa for the third consecutive day. Rathana Thero commenced a protest fast in front of Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy on 31st May demanding the removal of Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, Eastern Province Governor M.L.A.M Hizbullah and Western Province Governor Azath Salley from their respective posts. Meanwhile, TNA MP S. Viyalendiran who also launched a protest fast more..

Jun 3 (FT) Lotus Renewable Energy Group has announced the acquisition of Hatton Plantations (HPL), a public quoted company, in a Rs. 1 billion stock market deal recently. Lotus will also acquire HPL assets and its top pool of talent and continue its practice of volume and effective management practices, along with crop rotation and management of timber assets. The business will operate under the Lotus brand. Lotus, which provides intelligent renewable energy solutions, more..

Jun 3 (Island) All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) says the party is optimistic that the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against their leader Rishad Bathiudeen can be defeated. Clearing the air on Dr. Seigu Saafi (of the Kurunegala hospital, who was recently arrested), senior party members said that he (Saafi) had been removed from the ACMC some time back. The political opposition is leveling false allegations more..

Jun 3 (ICC) Batting first is always difficult in Cardiff but Sri Lanka needed to score 250 runs to be competitive. Especially in Cardiff, losing the toss and batting first is not easy. The ball was doing a little bit but the important thing was to try and bat the first 20 overs without losing too many wickets. It’s about getting through that spell, and the advantage of batting first in any scenario is putting runs on the board. You then have to get to at least that par score so your bowlers can create some pressure. more..

Jun 3 (SO) As members of the Joint Opposition continue to voice dissent over making Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) hearings on the Easter Sunday bombings open to the public, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has stressed that all similar committee hearings should by default be open to both the public and the media. “True accountability in Sri Lanka can only be guaranteed by public scrutiny,” TISL Executive Director Asoka Obeyesekere told the Sunday Observer. more..

Jun 3 (TM) Trade Unions affiliated to the SL Ports Authority have threatened to cripple operations at the Colombo Port if the Govt failed to cancel the joint MoU reached with Japan and India on the East Container Terminal (ECT). The SLPA signed the joint MoU last week to develop the ECT at the Colombo Port. SLPA stated that the new partnership would help Colombo Port to continue its growth & further improve its competitiveness more..

Jun 3 (AD) The suspect responsible for the recent shooting and killing of a Police Constable in Akuressa has been gunned down during a shootout with police in an attempt to evade arrest. On 22nd May, a 30-year-old Police Constable had been killed in a shootout with the suspect during a raid carried out to bust an illicit liquor racket. Early this morning (02), the police had launched a search operation in Urumutta, Akuressa to apprehend the suspect over the murder. more..

Jun 3 (Island) Some lawyers have refused to appear for the members of the Muslim community taken into custody over the incidents related to the Easter Sunday attacks, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has complained to the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL). In a letter addressed to the President of BASL Kalinga Indatissa, PC, Chairperson of the HRCSL Dr. Deepika Udugama says: It has been brought to our Commission’s attention that members of more..

Jun 3 (EN) SL's police chief Pujith Jayasundera, now on compulsory leave, following Easter Sunday bomb attacks, has petitioned the Supreme Court alleging he was kept out of national security council meetings after Oct 2018, and he was offered a diplomatic post if he resigned. A DIG who was head of State Intelligence was not repotting to him but the President, the police terrorist investigations department had been asked to more..

Jun 3 (DN) Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) has requested Coast Guard to commence an operation to locate the ship responsible for the oil spill in the seas off Western coast of SL. MEPA General Manager Dr. Turney Pradeep Kumara said that a layer of oil, similar to tar, was witnessed over a 1 km stretch of sea and the beach between Wellawatte and Mount-Lavinia yesterday. He requested the public to stay clear of this area until the clean-up operations are complete. more..

Jun 3 (FT) Solar Industries Association (SIA) has decided to petition against a Circular issued by the CEB refusing to accept applications for solar power projects over 50 kW in size. SIA on Friday (31) collected nearly 200 signatures for a petition they will file against the Circular issued by the CEB on 28 May, seeking the CEB to withdraw the Circular. SIA contends the CEB and officials of the Ministry of Power and Energy have taken these steps without any consultation from relevant authorities, more..

Jun 3 (TM) Govt is to suspend Phase III of the Central Expressway project and withdraw the contract offered to Japan, The Sunday Morning learnt. Phase III of the Central Expressway project involves the construction of a 32 km stretch between Pothuhera and Galagedara. Phase III had stalled after Japan placed strict conditions to fund the construction and with no consensus in sight, Govt decided to look elsewhere. more..

Jun 3 (SO) The new president is expected to be sworn in office shortly after the results of the election is announced, despite a one month transitional gap between the election of a new president and the departure of the former. With the President announcing in India on Friday that the Presidential election would be held on Dec 7, the new President is likely to be in office by mid December this year, a senior state official said. “After the Presidential election in 1988, the then Attorney General more..

Jun 3 (DM) A suspect who had been impersonating a major of the Sri Lankan Army Intelligence, has been arrested by the STF at Soysapura in Moratuwa yesterday. The suspect, Mohammad Nissar Imran, alias John Walk, had allegedly impersonated a major from the Army Intelligence. The STF recovered a mobile phone, two cameras, a WIFI drone, two laptops, a sword and three army t-shirts from the suspect. The suspect was arrested by a team of the STF Organised Crimes Unit more..

Jun 3 (CT) Silent protests and hunger strikes have been launched in several areas in support of Independent MP Athuraliye Rathana Thera, who commenced a hunger strike on 30 May, demanding that Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and Governors Azath Sally and M.L.A.M Hizbullah be removed from their posts. Ven. Rathana Thera commenced the hunger strike in front of the sacred Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. more..