May 6 (ST) Now that the nation has buried its dead and observed a decent period of mourning, it’s time life limps back to normalcy. But even as it takes the first tottering steps in that direction, one nagging question refuses to go away. And the whole nation calls, in the midst of their grief and shock, to exhume from the grave of SL’s gross negligence and complacency upon which Muslim fanatics were allowed to dance in wild abandon to find their passage to heaven’s door, more..

May 6 (SO) Prof. Rohan Gunaratna said one of the bombers, Abdul Lathief, the aeronautical engineer could have been radicalised during his post graduate studies in Australia. ‘The Australian intelligence was aware of him for years, but the information was not shared with the Sri Lankan counterparts which was a grave mistake,’ he said adding that Abdul had also worked with British Jihadi John, the IS executioner in Syria. more..

May 6 (SO) Terror takes tolerance hostage. The purpose of terror is to undermine our tolerant way of life. What motivates the perpetrators of terror? To fight an idea, we must understand the idea. A comparatively small, disproportionately dynamic, unbelievably influential group that calls themselves ISIS is seeking to impose a totalitarian version of Islam on us and all other nations of the world. The commonsense approach to solve the problem is to define who we are and accurately ascertain more..

May 6 (ST) In Dec 2017, the Indian govt introduced a Minimum Import Price (MIP) on imported black pepper as Indian Rs. 500 per kg. The target was the increase in SL’s exports of low-quality and cheap pepper to India, which have pushed down the domestic pepper prices there. It was reported that within that year alone the domestic pepper price has fallen by 35%. Consequently, there was a growing discontent among India’s pepper growers and traders, which had become a political issue. more..

May 6 (DM) Mohammed Zahran the founder-leader of the National Thawheed Jama’at and suspected ring leader of the Islamic State (IS) inspired attacks on Easter Sunday has been officially reported dead by the SL Police. According to an official communique issued by the SL Police, Mohamed Cassim Zahran was one of the two suicide bombers involved in the explosive attack on Shangri-La Hotel at Galle Face. more..

May 6 (CT) Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo is today in a position where no other political or moral leader has been since 71 years of Sri Lanka’s independence to usher in genuine healing and reconciliation to a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country battered by mistrust and suspicion due to selfish politically induced decisions unleashed by successive administrations since independence in 1948. The carnage unleashed on Easter Sunday in terms of its sheer ferocity, more..

May 6 (ST) SL-born, 16-year-old Navindra Fernando, a student of Melbourne Secondary School, won the Muaythai National Championship in Australia, at the 2019 Australian Muaythai Championship held in the Gold Coast. This is the first time a schoolboy has won a national title. Muaythai Boxing is a combat sport of Thailand that is gaining popularity in Australia. It uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques, and is known as the Art of 8 limbs, more..

May 6 (DN) Minister Navin Dissanayake inked a historic MOU in Beijing at the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held at the China National Convention Centre, an event attended by the Chinese President Xi Jinping and over 37 national leaders. The MOU signed by Dissanayake and the Executive Governor of the People’s Govt of Hainan Province Dr. SHEN Danyang during the Thematic Forum on more..

May 6 (DN) National Livestock Development Board (NLDB), would invest over Rs. 400 million in 2019, to add new plants, infrastructure and value added products. This investment also includes two joint ventures with Israel and technical assistance from China and Pakistan. NLDB Chairman Prof. H.W. Cyril, said that they would invest over Rs. 150 million to build a new factory in Rediyagama in the Hambantota area, with funding from a local bank. “We have imported 2,000 cows from Aus., more..

May 6 (Island) Many are the press articles and posts on social media heaping praise on His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith’s actions in the aftermath of the horrific Easter Sunday blasts of 3 churches and 3 major tourist hotels. My intention is not to add to the chorus of praise, deserved though they are, but to identify the actions that the good Cardinal to receive such plaudits. I hope this will enable politicians, et al to learn how to serve those whom they are supposed to give leadership to. more..

May 6 (FT) Over 10,000 police and military personnel cleared over 10,190 schools after checking them for possible security threats over the weekend as thousands of students prepared to return to their studies today. Police also rejected reports of possible attacks targeting bridges and flyovers saying they had no basis to reports circulated across social media and other means. Almost every school was cleared by security more..

May 6 (Xinhua) Red Cross Society of China has donated an estimated US$ 100,000 to SL Red Cross (SLRCS) to treat those injured in the Easter Sunday terror blasts. The cheque of Rs. 17.84 million (US$ 100,000) was handed over by Cheng Xueyuan, ambassador of China to SL, to Nimal Kumar, National Secretary of the SLRCS. Ambassador Cheng said that at this time of sorrow, Chinese govt and people stood firmly with the SL people and resolutely supported SL in safeguarding more..

May 6 (DN) Energy and Business Development Ministry stated in a communique that Minister Ravi Karunanayake will allocate personnel from his ministerial security detail to provide security to schools. The communique stated that the Minister arrived at this decision in keeping with his view that schools across the country must be given all-round tight security under the prevailing situation. It said: the minister is prepared to commit his personal security for the sake of strengthening more..

May 6 (FT) The banking sector is likely to extend a one-year moratorium on capital and interest repayment of loans taken by the tourism businesses, if the move gets recommended by the sub-committee tasked with reviving the industry post-Easter Sunday attacks. The proposal is up for final approval by the Cabinet this week. With occupancy crashing to a paltry 5% from 75% since the 21 April mayhem, tourism industry more..

May 6 (EN) Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport in Mattala (MRIA) has seen aircraft movements halve to 709 in 2018, or less than one landing and take-off a day, official data showed. Passenger handling had dropped 86% to 2,258 persons and cargo had dropped 63 percent to 179 metric tonnes, central bank data showed. MRIA is one of the least utilized in the world, and is now mostly used to divert aircraft when there is bad weather north of Colombo, where the main airport in located. more..

May 6 (Island) In a special advisory for schoolchildren and their parents, SL Army has instructed children not to accept any gifts or parcels from strangers and reiterated that parents should ensure that their children are properly informed of dangers they face. Given below is the full warning: SL Army considering the safety of schoolchildren has issued following guidelines due to the prevailing security situation. Schoolchildren are requested to be on the alert inside and outside more..

May 6 (AFP) Sri Lanka clamped curfews at a city outside the capital Sunday to contain religious tensions as the authorities prepared to reopen schools after Easter bombings that killed 257 people. The night curfew was imposed to prevent an escalation of mob violence after attacks occurred in Negombo, where over 100 Christians died in a church bombing two weeks ago. "At least two motorcycles and two three-wheel taxis more..

May 6 (DM) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, as the first step of relaxing the travel advisories issued by several countries to their citizen against visiting Sri Lanka, has agreed to arrange a security briefing next week for foreign and local media by a military official, following the evaluation of the country’s security situation. He made this remark while responding to requests of several members of the Tourism Task Force to call for an immediate a security briefing by country’s security forces more..

May 6 (FT) As the National Mobile Service Provider, Mobitel, extends its deepest, heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the Easter Sunday attack in the island. It is a time of immense grief and shock for each one of us. Mobitel stands in solidarity with the families of the deceased and with the injured. Let us unite in the face of these enormous challenges to bring all the citizens together as one to show that nothing can beat our indomitable spirit as Sri Lankans. more..

May 6 (DN) Makandure Madhush, an organised criminal considered the god father of the Sri Lanka underworld detained by Dubai Police was brought down from Dubai to SL by a special Police team yesterday. The special Police team which left for Dubai last week arrested Makandure Madhush who was in Dubai Police custody and brought him down to SL. The Police team included two ASPs and an Inspector from the STF. more..

May 6 (Island) The CID had started questioning underworld leader Makandure Madush, who was deported to Sri Lanka yesterday, over an alleged plot to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa as well as his underworld dealings, a senior police officer said. Madush arrived at the BIA around 5 am yesterday on UL 226. In the passport he was using his name was given as Warnakulasuriya Ajith Eranga, a resident of Gampaha. more..

May 6 (DN) Expressing confidence in Sri Lanka, Massey University, New Zealand’s leading university – with 35,000 domestic students and over 18,000 students offshore/worldwide, has appointed MTI Consulting to facilitate the market entry process. “Sri Lanka, with a fast growing economy and as a gateway to South Asia, has been identified as a key potential opportunity for Massey’s higher educational and executive education offerings. Given Massey’s experience in Asia and its wide offerings, more..

May 6 (AD) Many search operations were carried out throughout the island today (5) as well, leading to the discovery of weapons, army uniforms, and ammunition. Police have found 456 sets of uniforms, which belong to the tri-forces, hidden in 04 places during a search operation carried out in Galle. A stock of military uniforms and official badges used on Army uniforms have been found in a shop on Sea Street, more..

May 6 (SLA) A joint federation of several Muslim organizations, SL Muslim Civil Society (SLMCS), together with a representative gathering of Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu and Islamic clergy, Security Force chiefs, Officers and leading civil activists, Saturday morning staged a three-hour long Solidarity Peace Vigil at Independence Square, Colombo 7 and vehemently condemned unequivocally the brutal, barbaric acts of killing and injuring innocent people, engaged in Easter Sunday prayers more..

May 6 (ST) UNHRC is working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to relocate more than 1000 asylum seekers, who were ejected from their places of residence after the Easter Sunday bombings. Many refugees, including Pakistani Christians and Ahmadis, were taken out or sent out from their rented houses by mobs or by house owners. They are now housed at two Ahmedi mosques and in the Negombo police station. UNHCR has had little or no success in finding them alternative rented more..

May 6 (Island) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, said that law enforcement and intelligence services were free to inquire into the MPs in connection with the ongoing investigations into multiple suicide bombings on Easter Sunday. Speaker Jayasuriya said so when The Island asked him what would be his response to a spate of allegations directed at some MPs, including UNP MP Mujibur Rahaman by another UNPer more..

May 6 (EN) Negombo town is calm following overnight unrest and dusk to dawn curfew has ended at 7.00 am, police said, while authorities have re-imposed a block on social media platforms. Police spokesman Nuwan Gunasekera said Negombo was calm and curfew had ended at 7.00 am. The unrest was sparked off when an argument had started between a three wheeler driver and a pedestrian, he said. An intoxicated person had intervened and there had been an escalation of the conflict. more..

May 6 (DM) Police had reportedly fired at a drone which was hovering over the skies in the Jawatte areas in Colombo last night. Officers attached to the Narahenpita Police had observed the drone and tried to shoot it down following a tip-off. However, the drone flew towards Bambalapitiya and then along the beach areas. Several Police stations in Colombo and the Air Force had also been alerted about the suspicious drone. However, they are yet to find the drone, according to the Police. more..

May 6 (CGTN) Sri Lanka police on Sunday discovered a 10-acre camp in the eastern town of Kattankudy, where Islamist militants linked to the deadly Easter attacks are believed to have practiced shooting and bomb-making. The walled terrain is nestled in a poor residential area on the outskirts of the home town of Zahran Hashim, who is believed to have been a key player in plotting the April 21 attacks. more..

May 6 (Island) SL's premier Muslim clergy body has requested the mosque authorities countrywide to adhere to strict security measures especially during the Holy month of Ramadan which commences today. With the sighting of the new moon, Ramadan fasting will commence today or tomorrow, The All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) has instructed mosques to totally prevent women and children below 12 years from taking part in special Ramadan prayers (Tharaviya) at night. more..

May 6 (DN) Mahanayake Thera’s of Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters, yesterday urged the Govt to differ in the delaying the opening of schools by another week or so until the country’s security is improved. Mahanayake of the Malwatte Chapter Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Mahanayake Thera said,” Prez, PM, Cabinet and the members of the Security Council should issue a joint statement on the situation of the country’s national security after discussing it in depth among themselves. more..

May 6 (PTI) Sri Lanka has expelled over 600 foreign nationals, including around 200 Islamic clerics, since the Easter suicide bombings blamed on a local jihadi group, a minister told AFP. Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardena said the clerics had entered the country legally, but amid a security crackdown after the attacks were found to have overstayed their visas, for which fines were imposed and they were expelled from the island. more..

May 6 (Island) Makandure Madush has been arrested, at long last. He lived the life of Riley for 10 years, in Dubai, where he stashed away his ill-gotten wealth amassed through drug dealing, contract killings, extortion and other such criminal operations. Thankfully, he, arrested together with dozens of others, at a party in Dubai in February, failed to dupe the UAE authorities. The Sri Lanka police succeeded in having him deported and taking him into custody at the BIA, yesterday. more..

May 6 (DM) To Sri Lankans the events of Apr 21, 2019, commonly referred to as the Easter Sunday massacre, or the 4/11 of Sri Lanka, is deeply etched into our hearts and minds. In the short space of two hours, over 300 persons lost their lives and around 500 others were seriously injured via the machinations of a group of terrorists, claiming affiliation to the Islamic faith. Since then, the terrible incidents have hogged headlines world-wide, and Sri Lanka is in the news once again, more..

May 6 (AFP) Norwegian telecom operator Telenor said it has entered into talks with Malaysian telecoms group Axiata about a potential merger of the companies' Asian operations. The deal would see the two companies combine their telecom and infrastructure assets into a new company, of which Telenor would own 56.5% and Axiata the remaining 43.5%, Telenor said, adding that these figures were subject to change. more..

May 6 (ST) The upcoming Vesak celebrations, a security nightmare after the Easter Sunday terrorist massacre, have set a poser for the Govt. The decision has been placed in the hands of the Buddha Sasana Ministry. It will consult the Mahanayake Theras on how to evolve arrangements, Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said. He said that the ministry’s Advisory Council will on Tuesday discuss matters more..

May 6 (TN) A majority-Christian city in Sri Lanka known affectionately as Little Rome has been rocked by clashes between Christians and Muslims after the Easter Sunday suicide bombings claimed by ISIS that left 257 people dead. The Catholic Church has called for calm after Christians attacked Muslim-owned shops, homes and vehicles in Negombo. "I appeal to all Catholic and Christian brothers and sisters not to hurt even a single more..

May 6 (Island) Western Province Governor Azath Salley yesterday alleged that Atchchi Muhammadu Muhammadu Hasthun, who blew up the Easter Sunday congregation at St. Sebastian Church, Katuwapitiya, had married an underage Tamil girl, Pulasthini Rajendran, alias Sarah from Batticaloa before the attack. The blast caused by Hasthun claimed the lives of over 100 men, women and children. more..

May 6 (DM) Colombo Special High Court today directed the Court Registrar to issue summons on IGP Pujith Jayasundera and former Secretary of the Ministry of Finance & Treasury P. B. Jayasundera to appear before the Court on May 13, 2019. The Defence lawyers, in the case against former President’s Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath and three others, today submitted a witness list including IGP & former Secretary to Treasury more..

May 6 (Island) The proposed Counter Terrorism Bill will encourage terrorists as it was meant to stifle political dissent and the freedom of expression while treating terrorists with the utmost leniency, Opposition Leader, Mahinda Rajapaksa said, issuing a press release. "Our Penal Code prescribes the death penalty for killing just one person, but under the proposed counter terrorism law, a terrorist convicted of killing hundreds of more..