May 31 (CI) Ambles in like Bambi. Hunts wickets like a zombie. Jofra Archer is a #BambiZombie. And the opening match of the 2019 World Cup was all the richer for it. By the end of the game - which England won by 104 runs - the mood at The Oval was well beyond festive. They'd found a match-winner. Across formats. For years to come. And they'd seen their firestarter up to his old tricks. Ben Stokes was the top scorer of the day. But that wasn't his most eye-catching contribution. more..

May 31 (FT) Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday said a new loan scheme will be introduced to assist informal tourism sector stakeholders to recover from the Easter Sunday attacks. He said that the Govt had already agreed to a range of relief measures for the formal tourism industry but officials felt that the informal sector also needed assistance. However, as a new measure the Finance Ministry also said that more..

May 31 (CT) Tennis sensation Anika Seneviratne of Ladies’ College bagged a well deserved win against Janali Manamperi in the Women’s Open category to emerge as the Champion in the all-important Women’s Singles final at the Clay Court National Tennis Championship 2019 concluded at the SLTA Courts yesterday. Anika dominated from the beginning of the clash where she crushed Janali in straight sets. She got to a perfect start by playing an attacking game, winning the first set 6/0, more..

May 31 (Island) Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy Wednesday allied with Commander, Security Forces – Kilinochchi, Major General Vijitha Ravipriya at a business forum held at CIMA Sri Lanka to defuse the anxieties of many SL business leaders who still remain skeptical about the future of their businesses after the Easter Sunday carnage. Major General Vijitha Ravipriya assured the business community that the national security establishment is working in unison. more..

May 31 (EN) Central bank has cut its policy corridor by 50 basis points with to 7.5% and 8.5% as a credit contraction has made the floor rate the active policy rate. Sri Lanka's credit has contracted in early 2019, following prolonged liquidity shortages to defend the currency which collapsed amid liquidity injections. "Following a higher than projected credit expansion, particularly in the latter part of 2018, credit extended to more..

May 31 (DN) SL cricketers, if news trickling down is a yardstick, then they are finely tuned, rarin’ to go and skin the Kiwis in their opener and put their campaign on rails to hold aloft the ICC World Cup when they play in Cardiff, Wales tomorrow. Lankan cricketers were jolted when they were beaten convincingly by SA & Australia in the two warm up games. But it is hoped that Lankans would not be dispirited, but rally and show that they are worthy competitors; not just making up the numbers. more..

May 31 (FT) SriLankan Catering Ltd. has recorded a steady financial performance for the financial year ended 31 March with a 24% year-on-year growth in operating profits from Rs. 3.8 billion to Rs. 4.7 billion. SriLankan Catering is the fully-owned subsidiary of SriLankan Airlines. Its operating profit ratio, which stood at 44% in the year 2017/18, improved to 48% during the year 2018/19. The Company also reported a post-tax, net profit of Rs. 5.7 billion during the year, more..

May 31 (Island) The govt has shelled out Rs. 385 million, in 11 months from August 2017 and July 2018, to maintain Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital (NFTH) though it did not own it, the Presidential Commission investigating frauds under the current administration was told. It was also revealed that the govt had commissioned a feasibility study only in 2019. In Feb 2019, the Cabinet asked the Health Ministry to come up more..

May 31 (SLN) Geological Survey and Mining Bureau (GSMB) has launched a operation from 28th to 30th May, to identify and raid the illegal sand mining spots in Trincomalee district and the operation is assisted by Sri Lanka Navy and Walana Anti-Corruption Unit. Accordingly, the operation was launched with the aim of making out the illegal sand mining spots and the sand mining spots in several areas were searched during the operation. Licenses for sand mining were also checked. more..

May 31 (FT) A focus on core fundamentals coupled with consistent and continuous business strategy enabled Expolanka to deliver yet another strong quarter of growth in terms of revenue and profitability. Continuing from its performance in Q3, Expolanka was able to deliver a revenue of Rs. 22.7 b for the quarter, reflecting a growth of +21% Year-on-Year (YoY) which resulted in an annual turnover of Rs. 95.4 b, a growth of +23% YoY. Logistics sector continued to remain the catalyst of more..

May 31 (FT) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said the Govt has been able to defeat local ISIS followers and the National Thowheed Jama’ath (NTJ) organisation, but a new framework, including updated laws, still need to be developed to counter global terror in the future. Speaking at the event to award 6000 new people membership in the Samurdhi program in Ampara, the PM insisted that Sri Lanka will have find more..

May 31 (CI) Nobody has played more ODI cricket in the 21st century than India, so it's no surprise that they top the charts for the squad with the most collective experience (1573 ODIs), but guess who's in second place? Not Australia, not England, but Bangladesh, who have four surviving members from the side that shocked India in the 2007 World Cup. Their famous five have gone past 100 ODIs together, and it shouldn't come as a surprise that they come into the World Cup as a side with more..

May 31 (FT) Tea auctions this week saw less demand and consequently lower prices with offerings totalling 6.8 M/kgs, Forbes and Walker said in its latest report. Ex-Estate offerings continued to total around 1 M/kgs. Overall, quality of teas showed no significant change and in this backdrop, it was concerning to note the fairly substantial decline in prices, it said. Best Western BOPs declined Rs. 20 per kg and more following quality. Corresponding BOPF – a small selection of teas more..

May 31 (Island) National Front for Good Governance (NFGG) leader Abdul Rahuman, yesterday, said political parties contesting the Batticaloa electoral District at the last parliamentary polls in August 2015 had received an invitation from the now proscribed National Thowheed Jamat (NTJ) to discuss ways and means of ensuring a peaceful election. NTJ’s Zahran Hashim had been present at this meeting, Rahuman said, alleging that more..

May 31 (DM) Sri Lanka signed agreements with Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to obtain US $ 200 million and US $80 million separately as two concessional loans, it is learnt. This will be the first loan facility to be extended by AIIB as a multilateral donor agency based in Beijing, China. According to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Beijing, Ambassador Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku and AIIB Chief Investment Officer Dr. D.J. Pandian signed the agreement. more..

May 31 (SBS) Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has blamed the Labor Pary's border protection policy for emboldening people smugglers after the Australian Border Force confirmed a boat carrying 20 Sri Lankan asylum seekers was intercepted en route to Australia last week. Speaking to reporters in Brisbane, Mr Dutton said he believed the boat was a "test" to see whether Australia's policy on boats had changed since the election earlier this month. "It's clear to me that the people smugglers more..

May 31 (DM) It is a huge threat to national security of the country when security officers reveal sensitive intelligence information before Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to look into the Easter Sunday bombings, NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa said. He said the secrecy in the national security of the country had been unduly exposed and underestimated. “Govt should not allow the information being shared in the PSC more..

May 31 (DN) PM Narendra Modi could make a short visit to Sri Lanka on his way to or back from the Maldives in early June, during his first visit overseas in his second term, LiveMint reported. While his visit to the Maldives would underline the primacy of neighbours and India’s neighbourhood in foreign policy during Modi’s second term in office, the brief stop in Colombo is expected to convey India’s solidarity with Sri Lanka in the wake of the Easter Sunday bombings in April. more..

May 31 (Island) The Kelaniya University was yesterday closed until further notice, due to student protests against the current security arrangements. Kelaniya, Vice Chancellor, Professor D. M. Semasinghe told The Island that due to the conduct of a few students, the University administration had been compelled to close the university. The Vice Chancellor said that some 25 students with political affiliations had demanded that the canteens be kept open after 9.00 pm. more..

May 31 (DM) Minister and JHU General Secretary Champika Ranawaka said that Minister Rishad Bathiudeen should step down from his post to facilitate investigations into charges made against him in the no confidence motion. Minister told a news conference that it would ensure that investigations were conducted properly on the ten counts put forward by the JO in its no confidence motion. “These are criminal allegations more..

May 31 (Island) Members of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) urged former Prez Rajapaksa to intervene to stop the mud slinging campaign against their leader Rishad Bathiudeen. ACMC National Organizer Abdul Maharoof said that former President Rajapaksa should take action against the racist motives of a group of Opposition members. ACMC Colombo District Organizer Mohamed Faiz said that the Opposition was attacking Bathiudeen for not supporting the 52-day govt. more..

May 31 (CT) Police yesterday, rubbished rumours in Negombo, that unidentified groups were aiming to attack Catholic schools in and around Negombo, that led to jittery parents keeping their children at home. A large number of schools in the remote areas of Negombo registered a small attendance of students out of the fear, while the Police and the Security Forces called for calm saying that the matter was triggered-off by mischief makers. However, the larger and recognised schools more..

May 31 (Island) Senior State Counsel Lakshmi Girahagama informed Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne that Minister Ravi Karunanayake would be prosecuted for giving false evidence before the PCoI on bond scams, once the investigations were complete. The Senior State Counsel told court that Karunanayake would be prosecuted under the provisions of section 189 of the Penal Code. more..

May 31 (DM) The activities of firebrand monk Ven.Gnanasara Thera in society makes us take a closer look at the role of the Buddhist monk in the politics of the country. The thera has called for religious leaders to take the lead and backs his request by forming an opinion that politicians cannot be trusted. Gnanasara Thera’s wishes also include among other things the assembling of a massive Sangha Sabawa (Buddhist audience) on July 7. As it is this monk’s release from prison and more..

May 31 (DM) It goes without saying that there is an urgent and existential need to eradicate terrorism in whatever form it exists. By and large, the security forces are doing a commendable job, arresting suspects from various parts of the country to ensure that the terror cells linked to the Easter Sunday attacks are completely wiped out. Commenting on the security situation, govt leaders have said that the new terror war the country is facing is different from the 30-year separatist terror campaign more..

May 31 (DM) Media, both mainstream and social, and certain politicians have completely diverted the attention of the country and the authorities from the terrorism that wreaked havoc on Easter Sunday on April 21. The whole country is now chasing a perceived enemy totally forgetting the real enemy. The real enemy is the remnants, if any, of the members of the National Thawheed Jama’ath (NTJ) with the indoctrination of hate against more..

May 31 (Reuters) Sri Lanka is planning to raise up to $1.5 billion via sovereign bonds, tapping global capital markets for the second time within three months as the govt seeks new funds to repay loans that are maturing following last month’s deadly bomb attacks. Govt officials said the move was to capitalise on favourable market conditions. The fundraising comes nearly six weeks after suicide bombers killed more than 250 people more..

May 31 (ST) Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York has criticised two UN Special Advisors who issued a joint statement earlier this month expressing alarm at the growing acts of violence on the basis of religion in the country. Rohan Perera wrote to Adama Dieng, UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, and Karen Smith, UN Special Advisor on the Responsibility to Protect, on Friday saying more..

May 31 (AD) The CID is currently analyzing 1,800 telephone numbers used to contact the Easter Sunday attackers, Police Spokesperson stated. Accordingly, the telephone numbers used by the attackers and telephone numbers used by other persons to contact them are currently being investigated by the CID. The investigations launched by security forces into the attacks are proceeding successfully, SP Gunasekara added. more..

May 31 (FT) US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs R. Clarke Cooper will travel to Sri Lanka next week to discuss security, counterterrorism and other matters of mutual interest. US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs R. Clarke Cooper travels to Singapore, India, and Sri Lanka 29 May - 7 June. In Sri Lanka, Assistant Secretary Cooper will meet with govt officials & think tank experts to discuss more..

May 31 (Island) Reservoir areas were not receiving sufficient rain and the Irrigation Department had to restrict the release of water for power generation to the CEB, officials said. Met Department forecast indicates showers and thunder showers today and tomorrow in most parts of the country. Showers or thundershowers would occur at times in Western, Southern, Sabaragamuwa & Central provinces. more..

May 31 (AD) Leader of Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa says that it is improper to inquire the names of secret agents of state intelligence services to fulfil narrow political interests. The Opposition Leader said that any govt have their own secret agents placed at certain organizations, however, it is improper to ask for their names for the sake of political interests and to sling mud at others. more..

May 31 (BBC) When bombs planted in churches and hotels killed more than 200 people in SL on Easter Sunday, few had realised that the nation had a problem with Islamist militancy. One man who did, reports the BBC's Secunder Kermani, was Mohammad Razak Taslim. Lying on a hospital bed, Taslim's face contorts with pain. The left side of his body is completely paralysed, but he reaches out with his right hand, trying to clutch at his wife more..

May 31 (DM) A group of extremists has been active in fixing signboards with Arabic names to Muhudu Maha Vihara Mawatha and other streets in the town, said Ven. Warakapola Indrasiri Nayake Thera, Chief Incumbent of Muhudu Maha Viharaya in Pottuvil. The Ven. Thera told a media discussion held last Wednesday that the name board Historical Muhudu Maha Viharaya, Pottuvil was changed to Masjithul Palah Road. more..

May 31 (AD) Venerable Athuraliye Rathana Thero has commenced a protest fast in front of Sri Dalada Maligawa this morning. The purpose of this protest is to demand the removal of Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and Governors M.L.A.M Hizbullah and Azath Salley from their respective posts. Rathana Thero stated that a grave situation has resulted as certain ideologies were dispersed for over 20 years and alleged that Madrasah more..

May 31 (CT) Revelations by National Intelligence Chief Sisira Mendis were utterly damning at yesterday’s first meeting of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the abysmally criminal failure on the part of IGP Pujith Jayasundera and Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando to act on warnings about a real and imminent threat of violence by Lankan Da’Esh terrorists. Mendis told the PSC meeting that he had in writing alerted the IGP in Nov 2017 and a few months later in more..

May 31 (FT) Although the fire has been extinguished on the surface, the fire beneath the ashes is not doused yet. Though there are signs of extinguishing the surface fire, there appears to be no serious effort to douse the fire beneath the ashes. What does the President expect to gain by releasing Gnanasara Thero at this juncture, using the prerogative of presidential pardon, who can be considered a major exponent in sowing the seeds of anti-Muslim sentiments? more..

May 31 (CT) Embilipitiya District Court judge Dinesh Lakmal Perera has been interdicted and two high ranking officials of the Attorney Generals Department have been summoned for an inquiry to the Human Rights Commission for hate speech. Sources confirmed that the Judge had been posting vulgar, obscene and racist remarks though his Facebook page giving rise to complaints against his conduct and issues regarding his impartiality. The two High Ranking Attorney Generals dept more..

May 31 (DN) Colombo Additional Magistrate Shalini Perera yesterday sent reminders before the Attorney General with regard to the case filed against Malaka Silva, son of former Minister Mervyn Silva. A case involving an incident where Malaka Silva, son of former Minister Mervyn Silva had allegedly assaulted a Scottish couple at a nightclub in Colombo has been referred to the Attorney General for his advice, police informed court. Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) conducting more..