May 28 (FT) China has reiterated it attaches importance to SL’s concerns on its tourism industry hit by the 21 April attacks and will promptly promote Chinese tourist arrivals to the island and tourism exchanges. Chinese Ambassador to SL Cheng Xueyuan gave this assurance when Tourism Minister John Amaratunga met with him last week at the Chinese Embassy in Colombo. During the meeting, the two sides exchanged in-depth views on promoting tourism exchanges and more..

May 28 (AD) During a briefing held with the diplomatic community on the progress of the operations carried out by the military forces to strengthen security, Prez Sirisena has stated that the situation is now almost 99% assured. President has expressed his gratitude to the international community for the cooperation and assistance provided to SL at this time of need and urged them to continue to provide economic assistance more..

May 28 (LBO) Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) says the proposed Terminal Operations Company (TOC) that conducts all East Container Terminal operations of the Colombo Port is a jointly owned company with Sri Lanka retains a 51 percent stake, and the joint venture partners purchase a 49 percent stake. SLPA is to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between the three govts of Sri Lanka, Japan and India on the East Container Terminal of the Port of Colombo. more..

May 28 (Island) Plans are underway to digitize the functions of the offices of the Western Provincial Council and set up a common network to facilitate their smooth functions. Western Province Governor Azath Salley said that such a system would save time and ease the work stress of the officers through a paperless operation. The governor was present at his office auditorium on Thursday to listen to a presentation made by SL Oracle which had come out with a definite plan to suit more..

May 28 (FT) Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has informed the Cabinet that CEB has not sought approval to purchase the 200MW barge mounted power plant. The Regulator has also informed the Secretary to the Cabinet of Ministers that the Transmission licensee, the CEB, has to seek approval of the PUCSL prior to signing the agreement even if the procurement was under emergency regulations. PUCSL, more..

May 28 (EN) The prospect of SL’s central bank loosening monetary policy at its review this week has been enhanced given the heightened risk to economic growth posed by April’s suicide bombings, its governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy has indicated. Asked at a public forum about the prospect of an interest rate cut, Coomaraswamy said: “The monetary board in its forward guidance has said that if current conditions prevail it would give serious consideration to relaxing monetary policy.” more..

May 28 (Island) Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority stated that due to the severe hit on tourism industry following Easter Sunday attacks, they have decided to remove the minimum room rate (MRR) imposed on Colombo City Hotels effective immediately. Furthermore, it stated that it’s better for the market forces to decide the room rates rather than SLTDA dictating terms due to the prevailing situation. Last week, the travel ban on visiting Sri Lanka implemented by China was lifted more..

May 28 (CT) 52 Sinhala Buddhist mothers have lodged complaints with the CID and the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital charging that Dr. Shafi Shiha Abdeen had performed non-consensual sterilisation. At the same time, 45 women, who had allegedly been sterilised by the doctor, had lodged complaints against him, with the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital by 5 p.m. on 26 May. Most of these mothers who had lodged complaints more..

May 28 (Island) The GMOA, yesterday, said it would make a written request to President Maithripala Sirisena for the arrest of Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne for exerting pressure on the Director of the Kurunegala Hospital to halt an inquiry into allegations against Dr. Shafi Shehabdeen, who has been taken into custody. GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge said Director of the Kurunegala Hospital had complained about political pressure to the GMOA Kurunegala branch. more..

May 28 (DN) A Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) member of the Nattandiya PS who is wanted in connection with the recent violent incidents in Nattandiya is alleged to have fled overseas. “The SLPP member had given a leave of absence letter to the Pradeshiya Sabha administration and had gone abroad a few days after the violent incidents,” Police sources said. Police said preliminary investigations reveal that the SLPP member had gone to a European country. more..

May 28 (AD) The media would not have paid attention to the situation regarding Dr. Mohamed Shafi, if it concerned a Sinhalese surgeon, says Minister Rajitha Senaratne. He further commented that it was him who had submitted the Cabinet paper to seek approval to allow Dr. Shafi, who had tendered his resignation, to return to Kurunegala Hospital. Minister says that there have been no prior complaints concerning Dr. Shafi. more..

May 28 (DM) It was advertised as a battle for India’s soul. Anti-incumbency fervour was said to be rampant. A previous rout of the BJP in a series of state elections a few months back was thought to be a precursor of something big to happen. Even a recession, no matter how remote for an economy growing at a not optimum, but still decent 7%, was warned. Unemployment numbers, highest since the 70s was supposed to be a deal-breaker. Low crop prices were thought to have added to more..

May 28 (DM) Two recent news reports, one from Kerala in the deep South India, and the other from the North Eastern Indian region, have raised concerns about the possible emergence of violent Islamic radicalism in India, particularly in the East and in the South. On May 26, the PTI reported that the Ministry of Home Affairs had sounded an alert about plans of the terrorist outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) establishing permanent bases within 10 km of more..

May 28 (DM) In the aftermath of the terror that was unleashed in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, by a group purporting to be followers of Islam, there is an understandable degree of probing about what Islam actually is. One sees a cacophony of voices attempting to provide answers, from diverse perspectives. Much of the discussion and debate on Islam, is focused on the interpretations of the Shariah (the laws of Islam) based on more..

May 28 (ST) Single-bid contracts–this time for two flyovers funded through a Hungarian loan of 52mn Euros (Rs 10.2bn)–have crept back into the RDA. Cabinet this week approved the construction of two flyovers at the Kohuwala and Getambe junctions as a remedial measure for heavy traffic congestion. The proposal was submitted by Minister Kabir Hashim to enter into the loan agreements for the required funds from more..

May 28 (Island) The JVP, yesterday, denied that it had succumbed to political pressure and the lure of dosh to protect Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, accused of having links to the National Thowheed Jamaath, which carried out the Easter Sunday carnage. Party’s propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath, said: "There are allegations against us from various quarters that we protect Minister Bathiudeen. more..

May 28 (EN) Download speeds on SL’s mobile phone networks are not bad compared with other countries but latency – the time data takes to travel between servers - is not good enough, a new survey has found. That means there could be effects on the quality of say voice calls using the internet, said Ayesha Zainudeen, senior research manager at LIRNEasia which helped to do the survey of mobile phone owners aged 15-65 years. more..

May 28 (DN) A new Education Act which contains several updates to the present education system will be brought before Parliament soon, Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said on Sunday. He said the new Right to Education Act would ensure a 13-year education for every child. Highlighting some of the key changes, Minister said provisions would be included in the new Act to streamline teacher transfers. more..

May 28 (Island) Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith displayed qualities of ideal religious leadership following the Easter terror strikes and all other leaders including those in politics should learn from him, says Minister Champika Ranawaka. Minister was addressing the media after meeting the Mahanayakes of the Malwatte and Asgiriya chapters in Kandy to appraise them of a programme titled more..

May 28 (EN) Sri Lanka's political parties should follow a democratic process in selecting leaders and candidates for elections, State Minister Eran Wickramaratne, said as speculation mounted over candidates for upcoming presidential polls. In political parties of many South Asian countries lacked internal democracy, he said. "That is true for the major political parties in Sri Lanka," he said. "That is true for India." more..

May 28 (DM) A female doctor who was appointed to the Homagama hospital has resigned from her post after she was asked to remove the Burkah she was wearing and perform her duties in the hospital, Homagama hospital sources said. When this doctor had come to serve in the Out- Patients Department of the Homagama Base hospital on a day in the last week of April, the patients had expressed their unwillingness to more..

May 28 (AD) Govt has opened an international bidding round to explore and produce oil and natural gas in two blocks in the Mannar and Cauvery Basins, the Petroleum Resource Development Secretariat (PRDS) said in a document released to public. PRDS in the document said that the bids for the Mannar Basin's M1 block and the Cauvery Basin's C1 block, will close on July 15, whilst the M1 and C1 blocks cover more..

May 28 (DM) The SLPP said Minister Rishad Bathiudeen committed an offence punishable under the Penal Code when he influenced Army Commander Lt. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake to release the suspects arrested in connection with the terror strikes on April 21. SLPP Chairman G.L. Peiris said the Army Commander had been contacted by the minister thrice and if it were proven to be an offence, then he was punishable under more..

May 29 (Island) The yahapalana govt, which did not care to protect churches on Easter Sunday in spite of having received intelligence warnings of impending terror attacks, is now playing Santa, months ahead of Christmas. The economy has suffered a massive setback owing to the virtual collapse of the tourism sector, which had been booming prior to the April 21 terrorist bombings. There is a pressing need for managing public funds frugally, but the govt has resumed its more..

May 29 (Island) In the absence of a tri-services National Victory Day parade, to cerebrate SL’s triumph over the world’s most ruthless terrorist organization, the LTTE on May 19, a decade ago, the armed forces marked the day with a series of events in Colombo and the provinces, three days later. Seven Army Commands covering the country marked the day on May 22, 2019. The govt celebrated the event, on the afternoon of May 19, 2019, at the War Heroes’ monument, more..

May 29 (FT) Imports dropped a steep 19.3% in the first quarter of 2019, even though export earnings increased by 5.6% year-on-year as the trade deficit contracted to $ 1,661 million from $ 2,982 million recorded in the first quarter of 2018, Central Bank said. Releasing the latest External Sector Performance Report, the Central Bank said imports had declined for five straight months, with March seeing a 12.6% drop, more..

May 29 (CT) What does Rs 50 billion in sundry development projects, coupled with the construction of 4,750 new houses and 5,000 reconstructed houses in the Northern Province, translate into? At face value, while it would appear to be the meeting of the demands emanating from the natural process of post-war reconstruction and development, and hence deserves applause, a closer look might put a different construction on this scenario that does not tally with what can be defined as more..

May 29 (CT) Laos’s strikers added two last minute goals in quick succession in the 86th and 88th minute to break all Sri Lankan hopes of a victory to give them a night full of nightmares. With this they walked out as the winners (2-1) in the first friendly match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. M Aakib was Sri Lanka’s Hero in the first half, as the Colombo FC striker helped his side to take the lead with an early goal. SL’s Chalana Kumara was the catalyst for Sri Lanka’s 13th minute opener more..

May 29 (FT) Sri Lanka, India and Japan yesterday signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) for the development of the long awaited East Container Terminal in the Colombo harbour. Under the MoC among the three govts on the development of the East Container Terminal, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) retains 100% ownership of East Container Terminal (ECT). The Terminal Operations Company more..

May 29 (ICC) The World Cup is yet to begin but Kusal Mendis admits Sri Lanka are playing catch-up on the eve of their opener against New Zealand. The Lions lost their second warm-up game to Australia at the Hampshire Bowl, with Usman Khawaja’s 89 steering the defending ICC Men's Cricket World Cup champions to a comfortable five-wicket win. That followed an 87-run loss to South Africa on Friday where Sri Lanka also struggled with the bat, scoring 251. They limped to 239-8 here, more..

May 29 (FT) Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents (CASA) welcomed the proposed new revival deal for the East Container Terminal as part of the expansion of the Colombo Port. Minister Sagala Ratnayaka at a recent inspection tour of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) emphasised on the importance of expanding the Colombo Port’s capacity to ensure its sustainable growth. In a recent statement the SLPA said the envisaged partnership with Japan and India to develop more..

May 29 (DM) Prez Sirisena on Monday had again given an assurance on the country’s security situation to the international community and said that 99% of the terrorists had been contained. He addressed the diplomatic community with a view of persuading it to lift the travel adversaries that had been announced by some countries for their citizens, who intend to travel to SL. This is the second time the President had given the same assurance to the int'l community about more..

May 29 (ICC) Lasith Malinga, the Sri Lanka veteran pacer, was seen sharing tips with Australia all-rounder Marcus Stoinis about how to send down a slower ball. The slow ball is a variation that Malinga sees as his wicket-taking option. It was also something he unleashed while bowling the last over of the Indian Premier League 2019 final, pulling off a remarkable one-run victory for Mumbai Indians after backing himself to bowl the slower ball as his final delivery against Chennai Super Kings. more..

May 29 (FT) SLFP said it will block any attempt by the Govt to table the interim report by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to investigate allegations made in the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against Minister Rishad Bathiudeen before the motion’s debate next month. SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara said the issue was discussed at the Central Committee meeting last Sunday, and added that more..

May 29 (CT) Ransilu Jayathilaka and his team, who had been unfairly ignored by the Sports Ministry and the Sri Lanka Power Lifting Federation (SLPF) in their quest to compete at the World Power Lifting Championship 2019, have got the letter of approval from the Sports Minister after Ceylon Today reported on the unfair decision that had been made by the relevant authorities. Ransilu Jayathilaka revealed to Ceylon Today: “Yesterday we got the approval letter from the Sports Minister. more..

May 29 (EN) India, the top source of tourists to SL, has relaxed a travel advisory asking citizens to be cautious when travelling to the island but is no longer asking Indian to halt non-essential travel with bans on social media and curfews ending. "Security situation in Sri Lanka is gradually returning to normal with the lifting of curfew & restrictions on social media and the opening of schools," India's foreign ministry said. "Indian nationals travelling to Sri Lanka are advised to be careful and vigilant." more..

May 29 (Island) SLPP Chairman Prof. G. L. Peiris, alleged that an attempt was likely to be made to put off the 2019 presidential election by at least a few months. He said that the real Opposition was seriously concerned about the move to postpone presidential polls scheduled between Dec-Jan, 2020 to May 2020. Having dispatched a letter to the Information Officer, President’s Office, yesterday, seeking information, in terms of more..

May 29 (DN) Following China relaxing the adverse travel advisory against Sri Lanka from do not travel to be cautious, Germany, Switzerland and Sweden too has relaxed travel advisories in the aftermath of Easter Sunday bombings last month. The three European countries too have toned down their travel advisory from do not travel to be cautious while traveling. Switzerland is the first country in Europe to relax its travel advisory. President Maithripala Sirisena met more..

May 29 (DN) Sri Lanka could get more investment as escalating trade tension between the US and China grow and US companies will look at setting up factories in Asia including Sri Lanka to cater to the requirements of customers in the USA as well as in the Asian region. “China will do the same thing. This is where we could garner more benefits. If we get our acts correct, we should be able to attract some of these investments into Sri Lanka, which will significantly help increase our volumes.” more..