May 24 (AD) UNP MP Kavinda Jayawardena says that he has decided to step down form the Special Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to look into and report on the Easter Sunday terror attacks in SL. MP said that he decided to step down due to personal reasons. Jayawardena stated that he has had to dedicate himself fulltime for the people and that due to being unable to allocate all his time for this committee, more..

May 24 (Island) The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka says it does not condone any form of violence, whether in the public or private sphere. HRCSL Chairperson Dr. Deepika Udagama said so in response to a query regarding TNA MP and attorney-at-law M.A. Sumanthiran controversial statement on the Easter Sunday carnage. Pointing out that Dr. Udagama had been present when MP Sumanthiran, more..

May 24 (AD) A Sri Lankan man, believed to have connections with those involved in the Easter bombings that killed at least 250 people, was arrested in Myanmar on Thursday afternoon. Abdul Salam Irshad Mohmood, 39, was detained by police when he appeared at an immigration office in downtown Yangon to renew his visa. The arrest came after Myanmar Tourist Police’s request on Wednesday to more..

May 24 (CT) Yesterday, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said that the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against Industries Minister Rishad Bathiudeen would be debated in Parliament on the 18 and 19 of next month. This debate is in connection with his alleged involvement in the Easter Sunday Islamic extremists’ suicide bomb attacks, which killed at least 257 and wounded 496. The NCM was filed by the Opposition. Bathiudeen’s party, the ACMC, is aligned with the UNP/UNFGG Govt. more..

May 24 (FT) Sri Lanka was on the slippery slope of a serious crisis, heading for a great disaster of the State, even before the outbreak of Easter Sunday attacks. Now, in the aftermath of the ruthless Easter Sunday attacks, the country’s crisis has become exacerbated by many times compared to what it was, resulting in a near collapse of not only the State, but also the society, economy and the political background as well. The decline in the economy can lead to a state of complete bankruptcy. more..

May 24 (CT) In response to our story titled Alleged Money Launderer Lokuwithana Back: This Time With Plans For Ecologically Damaging Steel Plant In Trincomalee, the Board of Investments (BOI) has sent the following explanation. The proposed steel manufacturing and export plant in Trincomalee was approved by the BOI in December 2018, pursuant to diligent scrutiny and review. This project envisages strict adherence to European environmental standards, and final implementation more..

May 24 (AD) Minister Rajitha Senaratne has been appointed as a member of the Special Parliamentary Select Committee looking into the Easter Sunday terror attacks following UNP MP Kavinda Jayawardena’s decision to step down from the committee. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya announced in Parliament that JVP MP Nalinda Jayatissa has also been included as a member of the special select committee. Earlier today, MP Kavinda Jayawardena decided to step down from the parliamentary more..

May 24 (AD) Five individuals have been arrested this morning by Horowpathana Police over their suspected links to the Easter Sunday attackers, the Police Spokesman said. Speaking at a press conference, SP Ruwan Gunasekara said that three of the arrested suspects are residents of Hijrapura while one is from Ellawewa in Kebithigollewa. The other suspect is a Development Officer attached to the Horowpathana DS more..

May 24 (AD) An unknown person has set fire to a five-storey building in Kochchikade, Negombo, causing massive damages to its properties. It was reported that the incident took place last night. Accordingly, a home appliance store on the first floor and the reception halls on the fourth and fifth floor have been gutted in the fire. The fire brigade of the Negombo MC has doused the fire. Preliminary investigations have uncovered that the said building was set on fire by an unidentified person. more..

May 24 (IC) Five SL cricketers were picked up by teams in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) player draft, which was held in London on Wednesday. Niroshan Dickwella, Lasith Malinga, Isuru Udana, Seekkuge Prasanna and Thisara Perera were the only Sri Lankans picked, despite 34 SL players making themselves available for selection for the Caribbean’s premier T20 tournament. Malinga and Udana, who have been signed for a top price of US$ 160,000 each, more..

May 24 (Island) Ministry of Education had repeatedly attempted to ignore the recommendations of President Maithripala Sirisena on procurement guidelines, with regard to the provision of tab computers to GCE A/L students, the Presidential Commission investigating frauds under the current administration was informed yesterday. Senior Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Education Mahesh Hewawitharana, referring to more..

May 24 (Reuters) Sri Lankan selectors have long persevered with Thisara Perera’s potential rather than his form and the all-rounder is finally showing signs of maturity in white-ball cricket ahead of his third World Cup appearance. Perera endured a frustrating spell since clubbing a match-winning six to clinch SL’s maiden Twenty20 World Cup title in 2014 but has turned a corner over the last 18 months to become one of their most dependable players. more..

May 24 (CT) MP Dilan Perera yesterday said the Presidential Pardon afforded to General Secretary of the BBS, Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera should also be given to Intelligence Unit Officers who were facing a jail term. He further said that releasing Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera would relieve the distress among Sinhala Buddhists who were disappointed about the immediate release of National Thowheed Jama’ath suspects taken into custody over the Easter Sunday attack. more..

May 24 (CT) National Organisation for the Protection of Patients’ Rights (NOPPR) vehemently protested against the Govt’s alleged move to jack up the prices of medicines once more. NOPPR Secretary, Dhammika Edirisinghe said that in 2016 and 2017 Health Minister, Rajitha Senaratne reduced the price of 300 essential drugs through a special Gazette Notification. However, it is unfortunate that another Gazette Notice more..

May 24 (DM) Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa today rejected allegations that he had wanted Wijerama Mawatha where his official residence is located closed. In a statement in Parliament he said he never asked that Wijerama Mawatha be closed. “I have never asked for the closure of Wijerama Mawatha at any time. It is not only me who is residing on this road. Minister Gayantha Karunatilleke and Minister Champika Ranawaka also live down this road. more..

May 24 (NR) JVP says the govt should cut down on all unnecessary expenses at a time that the Easter attacks have had an impact on the country’s economy. MP Vijitha Herath speaking in Parliament said failure to do so will lead to more public discord against the govt. The MP expressed that actions of this terrorist group have affected the national economy and the economy has collapsed. MP Herath added the govt starting from the President, certain govt Ministers and Department heads more..

May 24 (AD) Rs 134 million in 41 bank accounts belonging to the suspects, who are currently held in custody of the CID and the Terrorism Investigation Division over their alleged links to Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, have been suspended. On May 6th, the Police Spokesperson said that money accumulating over Rs 140 million, owned by the terrorists responsible for the attacks, was identified during investigations. more..

May 24 (DM) Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee, which has been appointed to look into the Easter Sunday attacks is free to make its proceedings open to media, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya told Parliament today. He said this when a few govt MPs including the House Leader Lakshman Kiriella requested that the PSC proceedings be opened to media so that there would be transparency and accountability. “We want you to make the proceedings open to media as more..

May 24 (EN) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and members of the security establishment had met foreign ambassadors based in Colombo on February 24, in a bid to lift travel advisories slapped on the island after Easter Sunday blasts. Dozens of countries slapped travel advisories on Sri Lanka after Easter Sunday blasts by Islamist suicide bombers. On May 13, Sinhalese nationalists attacked Muslim businesses, creating further unrest. PM had explained that life has come back to more..

May 24 (CT) The abuse of psychotropic substances is becoming a significant problem in SL. People get addicted to one or more of these substances, either after medical use, or to evade withdrawal symptoms of heroin addiction, when heroin is not available in the market. Although these substances are controlled medicines, they seem to be freely available in the black market. According to the data more..

May 24 (AD) The Attorney General has forwarded an indictment against former Senior DIG Lalith Jayasinghe to the Jaffna High Court, for allegedly assisting the key suspect in the rape and murder of school girl Sivalokananthan Vidya. According to State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne, the Coordinating Officer to the Attorney General, the indictment against former Senior DIG Anurudhdha Lalith Jayasinghe was forwarded to the Jaffna High Court today (24). more..

May 24 (AD) Extending the State of Emergency by another month has been passed in the Parliament with majority votes today. TNA had called for a vote on extending the State of Emergency during today’s parliamentary session. Accordingly, 22 parliamentarians have voted in favour of extending the State of Emergency, while 8 MPs of the TNA had voted against. A Gazette Extraordinary on extending the State of Emergency by another month, signed by Prez Sirisena, was issued more..

May 24 (Island) Chairman of Sri Lanka Press Council Koggala Wellala Bandula says those who perpetrated the Easter Sunday carnage certainly took into consideration political instability. Bandula asserts that countries in political turmoil become targets of terrorists and other detrimental international elements. Bandula said so in his opening remarks at a workshop organized by SLPC for Matale District journalists more..

May 24 (ICC) Avishka Fernando, the Sri Lankan batsman, had to leave the field after appearing to turn his ankle in Cardiff while playing against South Africa in an ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 warm-up match. During the 18th over of the match on Friday, 24 May, Fernando was fielding in the covers when he put in a slide to field the ball from a shot from Faf du Plessis and landed awkwardly on his ankle. He appeared in significant pain as soon as the incident took place, more..

May 24 (AD) The university student, who was arrested for publishing a fake rumour on his Facebook account saying that the flight en route to China with President Maithripala Sirisena on board had crashed, has been released on bail. He was produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today. Accordingly, the Chief Magistrate has ordered a personal bail of Rs 100,000 on the suspect as bail conditions. The investigation officers who are working on more..

May 24 (Reuters) Sri Lanka is in advanced talks with India and Japan to construct a container terminal at the port in Colombo, next to a Chinese terminal built as part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, govt officials said. The involvement of India and Japan is the latest sign that Sri Lanka wants to neutralise the growing influence of China, which has poured money into the South Asian island under its mammoth Belt and Road Initiative more..

May 25 (CT) The dreadful attacks of Easter Sunday, 21 April have cast a heavy gloom on our nation. The media have been inundated with narratives, interpretations and speculations. In this situation, an important issue has not invited attention. I refer to the NCM (no confidence motion) against the Minister Rishard Bathiudeen. If I have got it right, the PM who also heads the UNP, has allowed Members of his Party although a partner in Govt, to exercise a Conscious Vote. more..

May 25 (CT) In the Buddhist belief system, Mangala means a blessing. In the abstract Mangala denotes an auspicious sign. In the Mangala Sutta, the Buddha has enumerated 38 of the highest blessings that we must or should be guided by. Mangala says that Buddhism is not a religion. That it is a message to all mankind. He says that he follows the vision of the Buddha and does not regard it as an inflexible dogma held in hegemony by the Sinhala Buddhist tribe. more..

May 25 (Roar) As dusk settles over the Galle Face Green, the usual sprawl of street vendors is glaringly absent. All the stalls lining the edge of the Green remain closed, and nobody is around to notice. No kids playing with plastic glow-in-the-dark toys, no couples strolling along the walkway by the sea, and not a single kite in the sky. It has been over a month since the Easter Sunday bombings, and the tumultuous aftermath of the attacks has kept more..

May 25 (DN) It was a couple of days after the Aluthgama attack by hooligans. As I woke up on one Saturday morning in 2014, I smelt some rubber and toxic chemicals being burnt; the first thought was to check the house. Suspicious that something was very wrong outside, I stepped out of the house to witness a deep red /amber western sky: a little distance away, I observed upper ends of flames fluttering up in the air aided by the blowing. A thick black smoke surrounded the area; more..

May 25 (DN) People may tell many stories, some collected in the streets, or collected from novels and TV broadcasts, silence isn’t deafening. It is, in fact, painfully empty, ears searching children cry or barking dogs, even the slightest creak of sound to register. In its empty sadness comes the roar of tiger, when one looks up to see a fruit bat shoots off from a nearby branch. A door slamming in that house down the road is a rifle crack says the neighbour, making you jump for a second more..

May 25 (CT) On 21 April, the citizens of Sri Lanka woke up to a brand new low from their democratically elected representatives. After eight different locations were attacked killing up to 250 people, these elected representatives revealed that they were given prior warning of the said attacks and had only taken steps to fortify their own security whilst leaving their citizens unprotected. This gross selfishness and disregard in terms of more..

May 25 (CT) I felt, after studying the suggestions put forward in February by the TNA, that we should have responded positively to most of them, while making it clear that there were a few we found unacceptable. I sent a brief draft to the rest of our team about the more significant proposals, as follows: a) While abolishing the concurrent list is desirable, there are areas in which joint action is required, for instance – Rivers and Waterways, Continental Shelf, more..

May 25 (CT) Customarily a post-mortem is done within 24 hours after a person’s tragic death, but it has taken more than a month to write about Sri Lanka’s atrocities that took place on Easter Sunday, 21 April 2019. First and foremost, it was impossible to think how some of the bombers came from respectable families, who had been brainwashed into thinking that by killing anyone against Wahhabism in Islam faith would end up in heaven! The aim of this column is not to focus on more..

May 25 (Island) We reported, yesterday, that a father had clubbed his son to death over a family dispute. We have witnessed an instance of filicide on the political front as well. President Maithripala Sirisena and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe have strangled the poor yahapalana baby, whom they jointly fathered, to death. They have become defenders of extremists! The incarceration of BBS leader Galabodatte Gnanasara Thera was widely hailed as a triumph for the rule of law. more..

May 25 (CT) SL National Rugby fifteen-a-side outfit will be determined to win the Asia Rugby Championship Division I tournament which will be held from 29 May in Chinese Taipei. Sri Lanka is captained by the former Isipathana skipper Omalka Gunarathne, while Jason Melder and Kavindu Perera will be the joint vice captains of the team. SL Rugby announced the squad for the Asia Rugby Championship Division I tournament on Thursday at a function at Maharaja Palace in Colombo 7. more..

May 25 (GV) The photos, depicting a saffron-robed Gnanasara Thero, received thousands of reactions on Facebook. He has been freed they read. Budu saranai and Theruwan saranai commenters posted on the Facebook Pages of mainstream media like Neth FM and Hiru News. On May 23, the General Secretary of the BBS Galagodaththe Gnanasara Thero received a Presidential pardon, and was released more..

May 25 (Island) Kumar Sangakkara has played many a fine inning in his time. They have spanned across every notable playing field and every nook and cranny worth knowing on the cricket map. They have stretched across all types of the game – from Tests to ODIs, to the T20s. In each of them, his performances have won him accolades from men of discernment. Be it with bat or lip, he has made his mark. His opponents know only too well how fiendishly difficult it is to match him – more..