Mar 11 (AD) A couple was arrested with 161 kgs of heroin, several firearms and a large stock of ammunition from a safe house at Rawathawatta in Moratuwa during a raid carried out by the STF this afternoon. The heroin haul, firearms and ammunition were recovered from a house of Kelum Indika Sampath alias Kevuma -- who is currently in remand in connection with the robbery of a diamond worth more than Rs.5 billion. more..

Mar 11 (CT) Batticaloa Municipal Council passed a motion, last week, requesting the UNHRC to refer Sri Lanka to the Int'l Criminal Court (ICC). The motion, brought before the Council by Deputy Mayor K. Sathiyaseelan, was passed with 29 votes in favour and 9 neutral votes on Thursday. The motion was passed in the backdrop of the 40 UNHRC sessions in Geneva. Families across the North and East have, in recent weeks, protested against the UNHRC’s decision to grant SL more time to more..

Mar 11 (DN) Foundation stone for the construction of the oil refinery and the cement factory in Hambantota will be laid by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe on his birthday falls on March 24, Minister Sajith Premadasa said. He made this observation at the ceremony of vesting Senasiligama model in public held recently in Bandagiriya, Hambantota. Minister said with the implementation of these mega projects will provide employment opportunities for the more..

Mar 11 (CT) Police Department is to commence an islandwide operation to eliminate drunk-driving and driving under the influence of narcotics, such as Heroin and Marijuana, DIG, in- Charge of Motor Traffic, Ajith Rohana said. He added that, there are a limited number of equipment to identify persons who are driving under the influence of illicit drugs. Hence, more tools will be procured by the Police Dept at the earliest to apprehend more..

Mar 11 (NR) Lanka Private Bus Owners Association has commended steps taken by the govt through the 2019 Budget, to safeguard and upgrade the public transportation industry. Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne said decade long issues in the transportation industry, had been addressed through the Budget. He noted the Budget had several proposals for the development of both the public transport service and public transport workers. He added a proposal to start a luxury bus more..

Mar 11 (AD) The promises to the people have not been fulfilled by the recently proposed Budget for the year 2019, says General Secretary of the SLFP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara. He said that the govt is building dream castles for the public by deceiving them and raising the prices of vehicles. Although they promised of a salary hike for public servants from July, govt is unable to pay even the existing salaries, according to Jayasekara. Statement that they will provide the Samurdhi allowance more..

Mar 11 (EN) Achieving the SL govt’s deficit and debt targets set out in last week’s budget for 2019 will be challenging without a big increase in fiscal policy effectiveness and faster economic growth, Moody’s Investors Service said. The budget presented on 5 March, highlights the govt's credit-positive commitment to revenue-led fiscal consolidation and debt reduction, the rating agency said in a statement. more..

Mar 11 (CI) Kusal Perera has been ruled out of the remainder of the South Africa tour due to a hamstring tear sustained in Durban on Sunday. SLC also announced it won't be sending any replacement players. Perera had been fielding at mid-on when he dived to intercept a shot hit by Faf du Plessis in the 7th over of the ODI in Durban. Having landed awkwardly, he immediately began clutching his knee, and hobbled off the field soon after. He did not return to field, nor did he bat in SL's chase. more..

Mar 11 (EN) A logistics facility SL conglomerate John Keells Holdings is building with an investment of US$ 13.96 million will provide a range of services for businesses, from inventory management and value addition to managing returns. BoI said it signed an agreement Monday with Logipark International (Pvt) Ltd., a unit of JKH, to construct, commission and operate the logistics center. It will provide integrated logistic services, container freight station, multi country consolidation and more..

Mar 11 (DM) Current spell of hot weather will last till the end of May and disappear with the onset of the Southwest monsoon, Meteorology Dept Forecasting Directress Anusha Warnasuriya said. She said the four factors – calm wind, increase in humidity in low atmosphere that leads to sweating, loss of shade of clouds in daytime that leads to direct fall of sunlight onto the ground and wind blows from the sea – were main causes more..

Mar 11 (GN) Kumar Sangakkara, the legendary Sri Lankan batsman, has always been an interviewer’s delight. While his batting exploits in all formats makes him one of the modern greats, the former Sri Lankan captain’s articulate replies make him a favourite with the media — and it’s no wonder that he is now a respected commentator after his retirement. The eloquent Sangakkara was all praise for the manner in which SL raised their game to upset SA in the away Test series recently. more..

Mar 11 (AD) Thee body, which was recovered from a rubber estate in Nawagamuwa this morning, has been identified as a person who had been wanted over a murder in Sapugaskanda. The police had found a body with gunshot wounds from a rubber estate at Godellawatte in Nawagamuwa this morning. Police investigations have uncovered that the deceased is a 37-year-old named Chamila Karunaratne, who was temporarily residing in Gonawara area in Kelaniya. more..

Mar 11 (CG) Office on Missing Persons (OMP) welcomes the inclusion of its interim relief proposals in the 2019 Budget. On 5 March 2019, the Govt proposed the allocation of Rs. 500 million in the 2019 Budget, to provide Rs 6,000 monthly relief to support families of missing persons, including members of the armed forces and police identified as missing in action. As proposed in the budget, this monthly relief will be provided to more..

Mar 12 (CT) Sri Lanka has become a joke and is the laughing stock of the world. Four months ago, Sri Lanka had two PMs. Then two Leaders of Opposition. It is now fielding two teams to the 40th session of the UNHRC with two contradictory messages. This is chiefly thanks to the falling out of Laurel and Hardy of current Sri Lankan politics, President Sirisena, and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. PM’s office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dept of Govt Information, in a joint statement, more..

Mar 12 (ST) How they must dislike the Diyawanna Five. Actually some of the 225, who parade themselves as the chosen people and the inhabitants of what they call an August Assembly, must surely hate the guts of the five colleagues who decided to open their assets and liabilities declarations for all to see. They could hardly have won plaudits from fellow lawmakers and even state officials who have, over the decades, bent the rules over the years and done some fiddling more..

Mar 12 (SO) On March 3, the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment of the SL Army remembered its fallen heroes in a commemoration ceremony at its headquarters in Boyagane, Kurunegala. Despite being a particularly hot and humid day, almost 5,000 family members of the regiment’s soldiers who lost their lives during SL’s three-decade-long conflict attended the event to pay respects to their loved ones. more..

Mar 12 (ST) Lee Kwan Yu characterised Sri Lanka’s elections as an auction of non-existent resources. Sri Lanka’s budgets are the promises to give those non-existent resources. Sir Ivor Jennings observed that truckling to the multitude is a feature of electoral politics. This is clearly seen in SL’s budgets that tend to placate the electorate by extravagant promises that are beyond the means and resources of the Govt. Budgets, especially those in election years, tend to promise a host of extravagant more..

Mar 12 (DN) That there are very few role models in our public life is self-evident. The material poverty of the country is reflected in the poverty of its leadership, in as much as our twisted concepts of governance echo in the shoddiness of its delivery. So disillusioned are the people with the national leadership that whatever is said or done by a politician is examined only for its hidden motives; the man’s subjective political interests, the benefits to his family and associates, more..

Mar 12 (SO) Visiting Norwegian State Secretary Marianne Hagen says private sector development, youth welfare and the ocean industry are more attractive sectors for her govt, than playing a role in SL’s reconciliation process. The visiting envoy who travelled North to Muhamalai to see landmine clearing activities during her 3-day tour, nevertheless indicated that her Govt was closely observing what is going on with UNHRC more..

Mar 12 (CT) As indicated last week, I believe the biggest disappointment of Prez Sirisena’s Presidency was his failure to push through electoral reform. I believe he was committed to this, but he did not have the strength of mind or will to fulfil his promise not to dissolve Parliament until the electoral system had been changed. And though there have been some changes since, the current games being played by the PM indicate that he will ensure that we will continue with the pernicious system more..

Mar 12 (Island) Adversity may make strange bedfellows, but, in politics, it does not take long for their greed for power to cause them to fall out. This may explain why the yahapalana leaders who once joined forces against the Rajapaksas, captured power and got on like house on fire, for one year or so, have since been at one another’s jugular. Dogs chewing on bones and politicians savouring power have one thing in common; they seldom agree. The govt needs no external enemies; more..

Mar 12 (CT) The anti-Tamil pogrom, also known as Black July, started on the night of July 23, 1983, which caused the mass exodus of Tamils from the island to many Western countries ,and sparked the start of a 26 year-old war that ended in May 2009. The war ended but with serious allegations of violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law being levelled. After the end of the war against Tigers, a sense of triumphalism prevailed in the country more..

Mar 12 (Island) According to The Island of March 7, the Foreign Ministry issuing a press release stated: "Sri Lanka will seek an extension of the time line of resolution 30/1 of Oct 1, 2015 through a co-sponsored roll over resolution at the ongoing 40th session of the UNHRC…. This initiative will further attest to Sri Lanka’s ownership of the implementation process…". As far as furthering the ownership of the provisions of the resolution is concerned it is absolute hogwash, more..

Mar 12 (Roar) Ashan Ranatunga* never really wanted his children to attend an international school. “There is this sort of superiority that international school kids have,” he said with a laugh. “I didn’t want to encourage that.” But when he discovered that his young son was struggling with a learning disability compounded by a partial loss of hearing, he thought that it was only at an international school that his son more..

Mar 12 (CT) Middle distance runner Shanika Lakshani hailing from Holy Cross College, Gampaha will lead the team of 13 SL athletes that departs tonight to participate in the 3rd Asian Youth Athletics Championship to be held in Hong Kong from March 15 to 17. Selections were based on a one day trial held on 19th at the Sugathadasa Stadium. Owing to the scheduling of all events within a single day and the lack of rest between events, many didn’t expect the athletes to perform at the level they did. more..

Mar 12 (Island) Since the turn of the millennium, Sri Lanka has always found a way to get into the knockout stages of every ODI World cup. In 2003, in the semi-final in Port Elizabeth, Sri Lanka were left short at 123 for 7 chasing a modest 213 when the rain interrupted and Australia were awarded the match. A mathematical possibility was there where from 76 for 7 we managed to build up a fighting partnership and there was 12 overs left to chase down the target. A tough task but more..

Mar 12 (ST) Powerlifting champion Ransilu Jayathilake urges the public to support the team as they embark on a journey to qualify for the Powerlifting World Championship that is scheduled to commence in Sweden this year. Qualifying Event for the World Championship will be held in Gold Coast, Australia from March 11 to 18. The team includes 11 athletes and they will be led by Jayathilake. more..

Mar 12 (DN) The Reid Avenue boys retained Michael Gunaratne Trophy for the third consecutive year running as Royal College Colombo beat S.Thomas College Mount lavinia by 17 points (3 tries, 1 conversion) to 10 (1 try, 1 conversion, 1 penalty) in their Singer ‘A’ Division inter-Schools league rugby first round match played at S.Thomas College grounds in Mount Lavinia yesterday. At half time the score read 10 Nil in favour of Royal. Royal opened scoring in the sixth minute of play more..

Mar 12 (SO) An event called the Defenders’ Open Badminton Tournament will be conducted by the Army Badminton Committee for the first time at their newly constructed badminton courts of international standards in Panagoda from April 2 to 8. This modern indoor stadium at the Panagoda Army cantonment consists of ten courts and matches can be conducted in all these courts at the same time. Fitted with sophisticated equipment, will be the best training centre for the sport in the future. more..

Mar 12 (FT) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe revealed there has been a Rs. 300 billion cash infusion to the economy following a host of recent measures taken to address the liquidity issue. Speaking at the 20th anniversary of Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE), PM said the Treasury has been requested to release Rs. 60 billion to settle part of the dues to construction contractors and more will be released. more..

Mar 12 (ST) Desperate to get its national team back to winning in the limited-over format ahead of the global showpiece, the World Cup, Sri Lanka Cricket has lined up a series of training programs to make the players ready. The 1996 champions and 2007 and 2011 runners-up, Sri Lanka, are currently in disarray with almost all positions in the 15-man squad, including captain, up for grabs following a series of defeats in limited-over formats. And with no match engagements after the current series more..

Mar 12 (Island) The President of ETI Depositors Association Anusha Damayanthi yesterday said that members of the association would surround the Central Bank if the institution failed to intervene and get their money back. She said, "We have complained to the President and the Prime Minister and all concerned to no avail and as a result 29,000 depositors were in dire straits. During the last 14 months, the company has failed to pay back the money we deposited in the company." more..

Mar 12 (CT) 54 State-Owned Business Enterprises (SOBE) incurred a total loss of Rs 42.36 billion during the first 11 months of last year, with CPC and SriLankan Airlines leading as major loss-making entities. According to the Fiscal Management report released by the Ministry of Finance, the 54 SOBEs went from a profit of Rs 59.37 billion recorded as of end-2017 to a loss of Rs 42.36 billion as of end-November last year. more..

Mar 12 (DN) The Women’s National Football Team left on Sunday to participate in the 5th SAFF Women’s Championship which will be worked off from March 12 to 22 in Nepal. Sri Lanka will compete along with the defending champions India and the Maldives in Group B, while Group A consists of Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. Women’s National team was involved in their residential training under their Head Coach Tilak Alphonso and 20 players will participate in the tournament. more..

Mar 12 (IL) The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Stockholm together with the Sweden-Sri Lanka Business Council organized two events in Luleå on 03 and 04 March to promote Sri Lanka tourism and investment opportunities. Luleå is the capital of Norrbotten County in Sweden which is home to many companies engaging in high tech research and manufacturing industries. On 03 March, the first flight of the charter flight operator TUI departed for Sri Lanka with 250 passengers. more..

Mar 12 (EN) Sri Lanka will remain on a path to fiscal consolidation despite being an election year, State Minister Eran Wickramarate said as an attempt to boost growth by an over-issue of currency triggered a currency collapse wiping out gains on the fiscal front. SL presented a budget for 2019 with a targeting a 4.4% of GDP deficit, lowest in decades, after posting a deficit of 5.3% of GDP for 2018, before currency depreciation. more..

Mar 12 (Island) JVP politburo member K.D. Lal Kantha, who was recently released on bail following an accident, took part in a meeting with the TNA yesterday at Party Headquarters. Representatives of the JVP and the TNA met to discuss the 20th Amendment. JVP proposed amendment calls for the abolition of the Presidential system. TNA leader, R. Sampanthan and party stalwarts M.A. Sumanthiran, Mavai Senathirajah, Selvam Adaikalanathan and D. Siddharthan represented the TNA, while more..

Mar 12 (DM) The govt will revoke the procedure followed when imposing an age limit for job recruitment, State Minister Eran Wickramaratne told Parliament. He said the ability for a person to perform a job was more important than the age factor. “This move will empower women to enter the national workforce. In the present context, women’s contribution to the economy is minimal. Only 6% of women were employed in 2006, but the number has risen to 36% today. more..

Mar 12 (CT) In a special raid carried out by the STF yesterday (11), state-of-the-art weapons, including a brand new automatic firearm and over 167kg of heroin, with a street value of over Rs 1,800 million, were seized from a safe house belonging to notorious drug kingpin and underworld bigwig, Makandure Madush, who is currently detained in Dubai. This safe house, located at Rawatawaththa, Moratuwa, is a two-storey building. more..