Mar 15 (Roar) Everyone hates a late train. An over-crowded train station that prolongs your commute is a living nightmare. More often than not, this is the reality of the SL railway system: trains routinely run late, they are congested and commuters block the doorways. Amidst this commotion, a group has come together to introduce a semblance of order to the railway system. Govt Railway Passengers community is a group of more..

Mar 15 (Island) I had no idea that I would become a footnote to history. I was just a schoolgirl with a crush on the boy next door – more than a crush, really – preparing to sit the uni entrance exam. One morning, our Principal walked into our class, called me out and, with a smile on her usually stern face, said: "There is a very nice boy in my office who says he has something to tell you: something that he has to do today. He is a nice young man and I think you should listen to him in my office. more..

Mar 15 (Island) The govt is cock-a-hoop about having secured the passage of the second reading of its budget. Having been on tenterhooks for days, it was able to heave a sigh of relief, on Tuesday. The Opposition failed to muster more than 76 votes against the govt, which received 119. Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, who had bragged that the budget would be defeated and a new govt formed was left with egg on his face. UPFA has once again demonstrated that it is not equal more..

Mar 15 (DN) Sri Lanka’s disastrous performance in the ongoing five-match ODI series against South Africa where they have lost all four matches played to-date and are starring at a 5-0 whitewash have thrown their selections for the 2019 World Cup in a state of disarray and put the captaincy of Lasith Malinga on the line. The veteran fast bowler was tipped to lead his country to the 2019 World Cup in England but more..

Mar 15 (Island) Sri Lanka's women are in a constant limbo of uncertainty and open to unfettered harassment both in public and even in their homes, Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake, Chief Guest and keynote speaker at the recent National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) International Women’s Day celebrations said. In a no – holds – barred speech to a mixed audience of activists and the press, she said even in their homes domestic violence is now at horrendous levels more..

Mar 15 (Island) The national budget for 2019 presented by the Minister of Finance on the 5th of March is generally considered by many as progressive from an economic point of view, in spite of 2019 being an election year. In this context the Minister of Finance has commendably maintained a fine balance between the generation of sufficient revenue to meet crucial expenditure needs in order to focus sufficiently on the vulnerable sections of the population. more..

Mar 15 (MB) Vijitha Perera (26) had been looking forward to buying her first car. But now she had to shelve the idea, following Sri Lanka govt’s introduction of a new carbon tax that would slap a hefty premium of at least 20% on the Japanese hybrid model she hoped to get. “The govt is incentivizing electric cars which are responsible for higher levels of emissions during the manufacturing process,” Perera says, more..

Mar 15 (CT) Two leading schools in Galle, Mahinda College and Richmond College, will meet on 15 and 16 March at the Galle International Cricket Stadium for the 114th Lovers’ Quarrel. Both teams are evenly balanced and a keen tussle can be expected. 4th year player Vinura Dulsara captains Mahinda while 4th year player Ashen Kandambi will be his deputy. 4th year player and Sri Lanka youth cap Thaveesha Abhishek leads Richmond and 4th year player Adithya Siriwardhane will be his deputy. more..

Mar 15 (Island) Two of the top eight teams in the ongoing Under-19 Cricket season, St. Sebastian’s and Prince of Wales will once again vie for honours in the Battle of the Golds Big Match starting at De Soysa Park, Moratuwa on Friday (15). Prince of Wales and St. Sebastian’s were the runners-up in Group ‘B’ and ‘C’ respectively of the Under-19 Division I cricket tournament. They possess several leading batsmen and bowlers in the ongoing tournament. more..

Mar 15 (FT) Non-Cabinet Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday said dual blame should be placed on Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, as Sri Lanka’s high debt repayments were caused by increased International Sovereign Bonds (ISBs) during Rajapaksa’s tenure and funds for their repayment had to be borrowed at high prices because of the constitutional crisis last year caused by the same actors. more..

Mar 15 (DN) Battle of the Maroons, the Big Match in Kandy between Dharmaraja College and Kingswood College, for the 113th year will be played on the 15th & 16th March 2019 at the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium. It is played for the TB Tennakoon Memorial Shield presented by his Son, Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, former Rajans allround sportsman & the former Minister of Lands, now a Member of Parliament. His father was former Minister in Sirimavo Bandaranaike Cabinet. more..

Mar 15 (DN) Lasith Malinga, the Sri Lanka captain, was left frustrated after his team slipped to a fourth successive defeat against South Africa, losing the fourth one-day international at Port Elizabeth by six wickets. Sri Lanka were bowled out for a paltry total of 189 as Anrich Nortje took 3/57 before Quinton de Kock continued on his fine run of form, bringing up his fourth fifty-plus score of the series to help South Africa coast home with 17.1 overs to spare. Barring Isuru Udana's counter-attacking 67-ball 78 more..

Mar 15 (FT) Minister John Amaratunga said work is underway to implement on-arrival visa, free-of-charge for multiple countries from 1 May, to boost tourist arrivals during lean months. “We will start granting a six-month free visa period from 1 May for selected countries during our lean period to boost tourist arrivals,” he said. Cabinet in February approved proposal presented by Minister Amaratunga to grant a 6-month free visa more..

Mar 15 (FT) “The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has already upgraded the back end systems of the brokers and is in the process of upgrading the stock exchange system which is expected to be operational by 2020,” CEO, CSE, Rajeeva Bandaranaike said. He was speaking at the Capital Markets Conference organized by UTO EduConsult. “Delivery vs. Payment (DVP) is a fundamental change to the market. Though it is simple to explain there is a lot of work that has to been done,” more..

Mar 15 (CT) A senior minister pointed out that Sri Lankans should not harbour fears over job security despite various opinions regarding artificial intelligence seizing employment opportunities and posing a threat to human labour. Addressing the launch of the Future of Work in Sri Lanka report published by the International Labour Organisation to mark its centennial anniversary, Minister of Labour Ravindra Samaraweera said that, “we don’t need to be afraid about the future of work.” more..

Mar 15 (CT) Sri Lanka’s total car registrations recorded 2,347 units in the shortest 28-day month of February this year, significantly down from 3,147 units the previous month and significantly down from 5,024 units 12 months ago, Colombo-based equity research arm, JB Securities said. Amongst notable premium car registrations for the month is a Bentley Continental GT that they estimate to have a cost of Rs 75 million. more..

Mar 15 (CT) Integrity Officers are to be appointed to public institutions to improve public engagement and to prevent bribery and corruption under the second National Action Plan (NAP) of the Open Govt Partnership (OGP), said Transparency International SL Senior Manager Programmes, Sashee de Mel. She said that under the NAP, a disability-friendly online Right to Information (RTI) request portal will also be set up by the Ministry of Finance and Mass Media to increase use of RTI among public. more..

Mar 15 (DN) GMOA in a letter to Prez Sirisena said it will strike if its demands are not met in two weeks. The GMOA lamented that the Budget 2019 did not include even a single proposal forwarded by the GMOA. GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge said the Joint Committee of the Executive Officers of the public service will also launch trade union action along with the GMOA. Officers in 17 grades will take the trade union action.” It seems that public servants will never be able to obtain vehicle permits more..

Mar 15 (FT) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe challenged the Opposition assumption that the former Govt had created a golden era, insisting that it had overseen a time when Sri Lanka’s exports had reduced, its economy lost its competitiveness, and increased debt. He is unable to understand the reason for the Opposition to use the term golden era for a period full of debt and corruption. more..

Mar 15 (Island) PCoI will summon former CEO of national carrier Suren Ratwatte to question him on the cancellation of Airbus A350-900 leases in 2016. Chairperson of the PCoI Anil Gooneratne made this announcement after Yasantha Dissanayake, Head of Financial Management at SriLankan stated that he was not fully aware of the particulars of the cancellation. "I wasn’t even privy to the minutes of board meetings until this PCoI started. So, I don’t know the thought process of this," he said. more..

Mar 15 (DM) With reference to the recent inspection carried out at the Calorie Counter, Ward Place Colombo 7 outlet by Public Health Inspectors of the CMC, the Calorie Counter management in a statement said that they rectified all measures highlighted by the PHI’s within 3 hours and its storage facilities were cleared and revamped as per required standards by them. Duaine Peiris & the Team at Calorie Counter in a statement to the patrons, stakeholders, investors and more..

Mar 15 (Island) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe objected to a request made by UPFA MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara, to include a report prepared by former CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal on the CB Treasury Bond scam in the Hansard. Nanayakkara during the Committee Stage Debate of the Appropriation Bill 2019 on ministerial portfolios that comes under Wickremesinghe presented a set of questions for the latter, more..

Mar 15 (FT) With an eye on achieving the targeted three million tourist arrivals this year, a newly constituted Tourism Advisory Committee has been appointed by Minister John Amaratunga. The 14- member Committee comprises the cream of private sector tourism stakeholders and is headed by business magnate Harry Jayawardena. The other members of the Tourism Advisory Committee are: Dammika Perera (Hayleys), Merril Fernando (Dilmah), Abbas Esufally (Hemas), more..

Mar 15 (Island) Royal Australian Navy has started the annual Indo-Pacific Endeavour 19 (IPE 19) in Western Australia (WA) to contribute enhanced regional security and stability. South Asian region will be the focus of IPE 19, which is the third Indo-Pacific Endeavour event aimed at improving Australia’s engagement and partnerships with regional security forces. SL (Colombo & Trinco harbours) has been included in the exercise with Aust. forces expected here next weekend. more..

Mar 15 (DM) Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa urged the govt to withdraw from the proposed resolution co-sponsored by SL to be presented at the 40th session of UNHRC. He told parliament that the govt should consider the true information and observations revealed by Lord Naseby of the British parliament and withdraw from it. He said even the US had withdrawn from the UNHRC claiming that it was politicised. more..

Mar 15 (DM) TNA complains bitterly that the Budget allocations for the North and East aren’t sufficient. However the TNA offered its support to the Govt a few days ago when the second reading of the Budget was made in Parliament. TNA has been a Govt ally since the Wickremasinghe regime took over administration in the country. But the representatives of the collective of many political parities have had to face the criticisms of the Tamil people because not enough has been done more..

Mar 15 (DM) Finally, President Sirisena and the UNF govt headed by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe have averted a ridiculous situation that was to arise at the 40th Regular Session of the UNHRC by agreeing to send a unified group to Geneva this month. Earlier, in fact, a few days ago, the two leaders seemed to have prepared for a showdown in Geneva by pursuing two different approaches at the council. PM was planning to co-sponsor another resolution at the council whereas more..

Mar 15 (DM) What is a collection of fantasies called? Fantasy is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as ….Imagining impossible or improbable things. But what is a collection of such imaginations called? Here in Sri Lanka it simply is a Budget. The latest budget for 2019 now debated in Parliament proposes to give full scholarships to fourteen (14) students who come on top at the A/L examination this year. more..

Mar 15 (FT) The first round of talks between the SSLFP and SLPP ended successfully yesterday, with both sides finding common ground to form a broader political alliance against the UNP. The discussion commenced at the Opposition Leader’s Office with the participation of representatives of both parties and a no-strings-attached approach to discussions. The discussion was held for more than one hour while more..

Mar 15 (EN) Sri Lanka’s military has only partially fulfilled promises to the UN to release lands occupied during its war against Tamil Tiger separatists, delaying resettlement of refugees in the north where unemployment remains high, a new study said. “Despite progress in releasing land, a significant number of civilians remain displaced,” said Verité Research, which did a study of how well l the govt has fulfilled promises to UNHRC more..

Mar 15 (ST) The Sri Lanka Navy is seeking to send a liaison officer to the Combined Maritime Forces initiative based in Bahrain to improve intelligence sharing on maritime crime in the Indian Ocean. Efforts had been made over several years and the navy received favourable feedback from the CMF after a visit last week by Navy Commander, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva. Last year, two task forces under the CMF had more..

Mar 15 (Island) TNA has accused three constituents of the UNP-led UNP govt, SLMC, ACMC and DPF of reneging on their promise to back the ongoing efforts to abolish the executive presidency. TNA spokesman M.A. Sumanthiran, PC, alleged that Ministers Rauff Hakeem (SLMC), Rishad Bathiudeen (ACMC) and Mano Ganesan (DPF) were not supportive of the campaign for abolishing the executive presidency more..

Mar 15 (Island) Member of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) yesterday, asked a Senior UL official whether they had not been careful with the funds, which came from the govt. The commissioner asked Yasantha Dissanayake, Head of Financial Management at SriLankan this question after it was revealed that the Airline had attempted to procure a number of aircraft, in 2012, though the airline was incurring heavy losses. more..

Mar 15 (EN) The World Bank said it has approved a loan of 70 million US dollar to improve the quality of life of around one million people living in parts of Sri Lanka with pockets of poverty. “The new local development project will put local communities at the center of planning and delivery of essential services such as roads, healthcare and sanitation through closer collaboration with local govt authorities,” a statement said. more..

Mar 15 (Island) Minister Navin Dissanayake’s decision to pay an additional Rs. 50 to plantation workers a day from tax payers’ money for a year has come in for criticism from the public and one of the social media posts challenges the right of the minister to squander public money for political expediency. However, Bilesh Samantha, Media Secretary of Plantations Ministry said this it was a baseless allegation against his Minister more..

Mar 15 (AP) Mass shootings at two mosques full of worshippers attending Friday prayers killed 40 people on what the PM called one of New Zealand’s darkest days, as authorities detained four people and defused explosive devices in what appeared to be a carefully planned attack. PM Jacinda Ardern said the events in Christchurch represented an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence and acknowledged many of more..

Mar 15 (DM) 14 SL fugitives were under red notice as being wanted by Interpol either for the prosecution or to serve a sentence, according to Interpol statistics posted on its website. They were among 6,872 red notices on fugitives issued by them. Four Sri Lankans, De Soyza Jagamuni Sujeewa alias Kosgoda Sujee (34), Antony Emil Luxmi Kanthan (42), Munisamy Tharmaseelan (46) and Viknarasa Selvanthan (31) are wanted by SL law more..

Mar 15 (FT) I hope to begin this article with arrack and end up with ganja. Since I have chosen to write about arrack, I think it is fair that I should clarify my relationship with it for the knowledge of the reader. Frankly speaking, I consume a moderate amount of 100-150 ml alcohol daily only in the night. I must also admit that this habit has no way affected my life or that of the members of my family adversely because it is being pursued with a high sense of discipline and self-control. more..

Mar 15 (CT) William E. Gladstone, former British Statesman and Premier in late 1800s said that justice delayed is justice denied. For a person seeking justice, may it be the accused or the disputant, the time taken for the resolution of their legal case is critical to the justice experienced by that person. If the finalisation of a court case takes too long to deliver verdict, it can be an unjust treatment to the seeker of justice. Inordinate judicial delays are a common problem faced by more..