Jun 4 (DN) Defence Counsel appearing of behalf of former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday informed the Permanent High Court-at-Bar that his client was unable to return to the island as agreed since he requires further medical treatment in Singapore. Filing a motion in court, President’s Counsel Ali Sabry told court that his client is currently in Singapore for medical treatment and he was to return on June 2. more..

Jun 4 (CT) A Right to Information (RTI) request has revealed the National Council for Disaster Management (NCDM) has only sat 13 times since its inception in 2005, and has failed to meet its statutorily required four sittings per annum since its formation. Further, it was revealed that on the few times the NCDM had actually met, turnout of its membership had been low, and the poor attendance in the latter case had also been compounded more..

Jun 4 (DM) In an assessment of the damage caused to the economy as a result of the Easter Sunday attacks, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) put the revenue loss from VAT and NBT alone at approximately Rs.26 billion for the remaining period of the year. The CBSL said pending economic activities would slacken thereby affecting revenue collection. In an internal, classified document which Daily Mirror has seen, more..

Jun 4 (DM) The SLPP said yesterday the govt had turned a blind eye to the rise of extremism while proceeding with the witch-hunt of the Rajapaksa family. SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris said 1,680 Madrasas had been established thus far and that as many as 130 Islamic clerics been granted visas to enter the country during the first seven months of 2018. Besides, resident visas had been extended to 305 clerics, he said. more..

Jun 4 (CT) After Spring comes Fall. Winter and Summer precede it. The Govt’s winter and summer are gone. They went with the CB Bonds scam and the cover-ups, the decriminalising of crime, the foot-dragging over probes and prosecutions, the laid-back responses of Govt to widespread public perceptions of an unprecedented rot that had set in to the entire fabric of the UNP and reflected in its lack-lustre governance…even its failure to prosecute crimes laid at the door of the former regime. more..

Jun 4 (FT) Sri Lanka is in a strategic location of the Indian Ocean. Throughout the history of Sri Lanka there were foreign interventions. Sri Lanka was invaded constantly by the foreign forces from south India initially and later by European forces. In certain instances, Sinhala kings invaded south India and Parakramabahu the Great (1123-1186) had gone to the extent of invading Burma. Sinhala kings came to treaties with Pandyan kings against the Cholas. In the 17th Century during more..

Jun 4 (BP) Sri Lanka has launched a Culinary Tourism campaign to attract travellers and food enthusiasts from around the world, including Thailand, to visit a country which has been dubbed the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. The new campaign is a govt effort to restore confidence in its tourism sector following the deadly terrorist bombings on the island in April. The Sri Lankan embassy in Thailand recently held a press conference to launch its Culinary Tourism website. more..

Jun 4 (EN) Sri Lanka should attract diverse sources of investments, mainly from European countries, to prevent the formation of a mini-China in the country, an economist said. "We got to ensure that Chinese state-owned companies don’t make this a mini-China," said Ganeshan Wignaraja at a forum on Brexit and its implications organized by Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. China has become a big investor in Sri Lanka, mainly in the infrastructure sector. more..

Jun 4 (CT) Foreign debt liabilities increased significantly by six percentage points in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) terms to 41.2% of the GDP last year (2018) led by a rapid depreciation of the Rupee and low GDP growth in the review period, the Finance Ministry said. Subsequently, interest payments, the single largest recurrent or current expenditure item in the Budget, increased by 0.4 percentage points to 5.9% of GDP in 2018. more..

Jun 4 (AD) Leader of Mahason Balakaya Amith Weerasinghe, who was in remand custody, has been granted by the Colombo Additional Magistrate, said Ada Derana correspondent. The suspect was produced before the Colombo Additional Magistrate Kalani Perera this morning. Considering the submissions, the Additional Magistrate ruled that the plaintiff’s allegations against the suspect do not fall under the Public Security Ordinance. Accordingly, Weerasinghe was ordered to be released more..

Jun 4 (CT) It is the Buddhist clergy, who taught the people the religion, who have also set a bad example through their actions, President’s Secretary Udaya Seneviratne alleged yesterday. Addressing the Media at the Presidential Secretariat, Seneviratne claimed that although Poson Poya was the day on which Buddhists in the country celebrated the advent of Ven. Mahinda Thera with the Buddhist doctrine to SL, the Buddhist clergy who preached it, only set a bad example. more..

Jun 4 (FT) Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday launched an Ombudsman Office to collect public grievances from people who have been subjected to political revenge and to collect information on corruption from 2015. The Ombudsman Office will be open on every working day from 8.00am to 12.00pm at the Opposition Leader’s office. Opposition leader’ office stated an Opposition MP will be available more..

Jun 4 (GDI) Sri Lanka was nominated by acclamation to the Executive Board at the First UN Habitat Assembly held from 27-31st May 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta ceremoniously inaugurated the First UN Habitat Assembly (UNHA 1) under the theme Innovation for a Better Quality of Life in Cities and Communities, with the participation of 113 countries including 44 Ministers, 60 Mayors were among the 2,250 delegates from all over the world. more..

Jun 4 (AD) The sea area extending from Kankasanturai to Pottuvil via Mannar, Colombo, Galle and Hambanthota can be rough at times as the wind speed can increase up to 60-65 kmph, Dept of Meteorology said. Issuing a warning, it said the other sea areas around the island can be fairly rough at times as the wind speed can increase up to 50 kmph. Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Mannar to Hambantota via Colombo & Galle. more..

Jun 4 (AD) Australian Home Affairs Minister, Peter Dutton, says that despite the recent lull in people-smuggling boats reaching Australian from SL, an uptick in activity had been observes in the last month which had caused concern. “We have seen a lull recently and we’ve just seen an uptick in activity in the last month or so which has caused us concern,” he said referring to the interception of two boats carrying Lankan asylum seekers. more..

Jun 4 (SLN) A Naval team attached to the North Central Naval Command recovered 33 parcels of Beedi leaves at Thaulpadu beach area in Mannar, at early morning today. Accordingly, a Naval team attached to the North Central Naval Command apprehended 33 parcels of Beedi leaves weighing 1011.3 kg which had washed ashore to Thaulpadu beach. Two suspicious persons associated with the parcels were also arrested by Navy. The suspects are residents of Thoddaweli and more..

Jun 4 (DM) Three-member committee comprising senior police officers has been appointed to receive complaints against former Western Province Governor Azath Salley, former Eastern Province Governor M. L. A. M. Hizbullah, and former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said. A Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and two Superintendent of Police (SPs) make up the committee. Only written complaints would be entertained by the committee more..

Jun 4 (DM) Archdiocese of Colombo condemned the tweet posted by Minister Mangala Samaraweera saying, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith had fanned the flames of hatred and communalism by visiting Athuraliye Rathana Thera who was fasting in Kandy. Council of Priests of the Archdiocese of Colombo said the minister’s tweet has given a distorted interpretation of the Cardinal's visit to Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera together with more..

Jun 4 (CT) The membership of the SL College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (SLCOG) pledged to offer professional assistance to the public in connection with the alleged infertility, caused by intentional damage to the fallopian tubes during caesarean sections, by Dr. Siyabdeen Mohamed Shafi, who was attached to the Teaching Hospital Kurunegala. President of the SLCOG, Prof. Athula Kaluarachchi and Secretary Dr. Harsha Atapattu said that any surgical procedure performed more..

Jun 4 (NR) Party leaders today decided to remove the No-Confidence Motion against MP Rishad Bathiudeen from the Parliament agenda. UPFA Parliamentarian Mahinda Amaraweera when contacted by NewsRadio said a decision was reached to debate the No-Confidence Motion put forth by the JVP against the govt on the 9th and 10th of July. The Motion against MP Bathiudeen was presented by the Joint Opposition with the signatures of 66 Opposition Parliamentarians. more..

Jun 4 (EN) Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka plunged 70% in May from a year ago after Easter Sunday’s suicide bombings but promotions and events are underway to restore the island’s image as a destination, an official said. SL Tourism Promotion Board chairman Kishu Gomes said that with security being tightened to ensure safety for visitors the number of arrivals is expected to revive. “7 travel advisories have been softened,” more..

Jun 4 (AD) Former Mayor of Colombo A.J.M. Muzammil has been appointed as the new Governor of the Western Province. He was sworn in before Prez Sirisena, at the presidential secretariat in Colombo. Muzammil was most recently the Chairman of the Central Environment Authority (CEA) and prior to that served as SL’s High Commissioner to Malaysia. Muzammil takes over from Azath Salley who tendered his resignation yesterday along with Easter Province more..

Jun 4 (AD) State Minister Eran Wickramaratne says that the resignation of all Muslim ministers in the govt is a very unfortunate incident. “When people belonging to one ethnicity resign, it shows that there is a certain division. There should never be a division based on ethnicity and religion in this country. This is a very unfortunate incident,” he said. State Minister of Finance made these comments speaking to reporters at the BIA on returning to the country following a foreign tour. more..

Jun 4 (FT) On an initiative made by Western Province Governor Azath Salley, 10 model schools will be set up to accommodate students from all faiths to enable the children to study in a conducive classroom environment supported with goodwill and understanding among them. Addressing an audience comprising Provincial Director of Education Sirilal Nonis, Secretary to the Ministry of Education T. Wijebandu, principals of schools more..

Jun 4 (UNICEF) As the world celebrates the lifechanging role of parents through the Global Day of Parents (1st June) and Father’s Day (16th June), UNICEF is drawing attention to the critical role parents play in a child’s first 5 years through early caregiving, socializing and disciplining practices, which can affect their child’s brain development for their whole lives, and even future generations. Parents play a key role in ensuring children get good nutrition, stimulation and protection, more..

Jun 4 (AD) CID today informed court that an investigation is in progress into alleged negligence by officials over the prior information received regarding the Easter Sunday attacks. Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara, said that an investigation had been launched regarding allegations of negligence on the part of officials with regard to the prior information received on the 04/21 attacks. He said that the investigation is being carried out based on the interim report of more..

Jun 4 (EN) Sri Lanka is using a UN sponsored law to oppress minority Muslims, slamming pregnant women in jail for half covering their faces, and others for wearing pictures of ship helms, an opposition legislator charged. JVP legislator Bimal Ratnayake said under emergency law and a UN sponsored ICCPR law, minority Muslims were targeted after an extremist Islamic group suicide bombed 3 churches & hotels more..

Jun 6 (CT) The tragic events of 21/4 Easter bombings destroyed the peace that prevailed since the end of the Eelam war in May 2009. Exactly a decade later, it was not the Tamils who had regrouped to launch the biggest ever terrorist attack on civilians in SL, but a bunch of well educated, misled rich Muslim youth who had no specific demand from the SL State. Their motive is still a mystery and the Muslim community as well as the families of terrorists came forward to assist more..

Jun 6 (CT) When a dozen suicide bombers massacred 260 innocents on Easter Sunday, the nation was stunned. The attack had come out of nowhere. Within hours, Prez, PM, State Minister for Defence and the Opposition Leader all emphatically announced that they had had no warning from anybody about the impending calamity. The top brass of the armed forces also seemed all at sea. But that story is fast falling apart and into the realms of children’s fairytales, now isn’t it? more..

Jun 6 (SO) The Easter Sunday suicide bomb blasts and the riots targeting the Muslim community which happened in some areas in the North Western Province and Gampaha District after three weeks, are not as much assaults on minority communities but attacks on the poorest of the poor, said the Sri Lanka Inventors’ Commissioner, and Civil Engineering Professor of the University of Moratuwa, Prof. Rangika Halwatura. more..

Jun 6 (GV) After the Easter Sunday attacks, there has been a reinvigorated interest in education reform. Yet disappointingly, the sway of this discourse is too clouded by political gaffe for it to catapult towards any meaningful change. First, the controversial Sharia-law university came under fire in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. Amidst the subsequent Islamophobic blather, oscillated a new camp of objective academics and activists calling to secularise education, more..

Jun 6 (DN) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya was the chief guest at the 75th death anniversary commemoration of late Sir D. B. Jayatilaka held at the Public Trustee’s Department (former Thurburn House donated by him) in Colombo last week. The event was organised as a tribute to Sir D.B. while raising awareness among the public on the service rendered by this great son of mother Lanka. “We have walked backward as a country in the 71 years since Independence. more..

Jun 6 (DN) The recent Easter Sunday terror attacks have focused attention on the loopholes in SL’s security system and exposed SL’s vulnerability to today’s threats. Minister Champika Ranawaka explains SL’s security vulnerabilities and the threats we face in the present era. He said anyone could understand who carried out the attacks, but when a situation is politically diluted, various factors come in and try to cover it up. more..

Jun 6 (DN) When a govt begins to help racial or religious emotionalism merely because it is a harsh and loud-noised demand made on it, and then obstruct in the management and enforcement of law and order for the benefit of its favourites or to win the praise of a crowd, however out of management it may be, adversity is certain. Buddha declared that extreme fasting runs contrary to the Dhamma or Buddhist path. While relatively short- term, controlled fasts are sometimes undertaken as more..

Jun 6 (GV) As multi-coloured Buddhist flags fluttered in the breeze and perennially catchy tunes on the nobleness of the Gautama Buddha wafted in the air, rows of houses and shops belonging mainly to Muslims in Minuwangoda, Gampaha, Chilaw and Kuliyapitiya lay in ruins in the light of the Wesak Full Moon. For a seasoned photographer the images of those damaged structures creating a backdrop to the fluttering flags would have been a mouth-watering prospect for a headline-making more..

Jun 5 (Island) As this article is being written MP and presidential advisor, Ven. Ratna Thera’s fast in Kandy, has entered its fourth day and consequently resulted in his key demand being met, that of the governors of the Eastern and Western provinces, M.L.A.M Hizbulla and Azath Salley, handing in their resignations to Prez Sirisena, their appointing authority. It is rather ironic that a presidential advisor, takes up a fast in protest against two of the President’s key Muslim allies. more..

Jun 5 (Roar) It was a little over a month ago that Thilina Harshani Apuhamy (34) attended Easter Sunday mass at the Katuwapitiya church in Negombo. At the time, her family and friends often described her as being energetic. She was also a well-known dancer in her area, having trained in the discipline during her time at Ave Maria Convent, a prominent girls’ school in Negombo. She was also a mother to three healthy children. more..

Jun 5 (CI) Two teams, both doing a lot of things wrong. In the end, Sri Lanka did just about enough right and got on the points table with a 34-run (DLS method) win, preventing Afghanistan from recording their first World Cup win over a full-member nation. In the process, they also ensured that Lasith Malinga finally figured in an ODI win after July 6, 2017 - he had been part of 21 losses and one no-result in between. more..