Sep 10 (ST) Reducing the trade deficit and increasing the balance of payments surplus this year would enhance the country’s external reserves, decrease foreign indebtedness and reduce the country’s external financial vulnerability. A substantial balance of payments surplus could be achieved primarily by reducing the trade deficit this year to US$ 8 billion or less. This year’s growth in exports must be enhanced and imports must be reduced to achieve this. more..

Sep 10 (Island) The UNP is at war with itself and apparently in the self-sabotage mode. It has made a mess of the process of selecting its presidential candidate. A section of the party insists that PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has finally decided to run for President. It tells us that the PM, at a recent meeting with a group of UNP seniors, revealed his intention to do so. But, UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa has already launched his prez election campaign and crossed the point of no return. more..

Sep 10 (TM) SL tea exporters will soon be able to test their consignments in an internationally accredited laboratory within the country itself, according to Tea Exporters Association of Sri Lanka (TEA) newly appointed Chairman Sanjaya Herath. The long-needed requirement to have an internationally accredited laboratory is finally being addressed as the Ministry of Plantation Industries, TEA, & SLTB are in the process more..

Sep 10 (ST) Sri Lanka’s junior stickers are geared to aim for a top three position at the inaugural Air Asia Women’s Junior AHF (Asian Hockey Federation) Tournament which begins tomorrow (Sept 9) at the Sengkang Hockey Stadium, Singapore. Six countries will be participating in this tournament which will continue until Sept 15. Conducted on a league basis, the other participating countries are Chinese Taipei, Bangladesh Singapore, Hong Kong and Uzbekistan. more..

Sep 10 (SO) SL Light Infantry and Rehab Lanka SC emerged men’s and women’s champions at the National Para c'ships concluded at Sugathadasa Stadium on Friday as Nuwan Indika from SL Light Infantry and Buddhika Indrapala of the Commando regiment jointly won the men’s best athlete award. It was very competitive among the para athletes and 30 new meet records were established. Both Nuwan and Buddhika won three gold medals in their respective events to set up meet records. more..

Sep 10 (TM) Dialog Axiata PLC’s parent, Axiata Group Berhad, and Norway’s Telenor SA mutually agreed to end discussions on a proposed merger of operations, international newswire reported on Friday. In May 2019, Norway-based Telnor Group and Axiata, which has an 83.3% stake in Dialog (DIAL), indicated discussions of a merger, resulting in Telenor owning a controlling stake of the global merged company by Sept 2019 more..

Sep 10 (FT) Sri Lanka will host the largest international conservation-focused symposium of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC) for the first time with the participation of over 400 international and local scientists from 10 to 13 Sept at the MAS Athena, Thulhiriya. Prez Sirisena will be the Chief Guest of the inaugural ceremony and the symposium will be one of the Asia-Pacific Chapter meeting of the ATBC, which would create a platform to present and review more..

Sep 10 (DN) Sri J'pura Uni with good team work emerged champions at the 13th Inter University Games concluded recently at Ruhunu Uni, Matara Kotawila Sport Complex and Matara, Dikwella and Galle grounds. Games was hosted by Ruhunu Uni while 7000 athletes from 14 Govt Universities took part during the 12 day period. Sri J'pura Uni obtained 353 points while Colombo Uni with 316.5 points were the runners up. Moratuwa, Kelaniya and Peradenya Uni won 3rd and 4th places more..

Sep 10 (ST) A month after Chandika Hathurusingha was asked to relinquish his duties with the national team, his employer Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is trapped between a rock and a hard place, continuing to look for an exit from its standoff with the Head Coach. An ironclad contract that SLC signed with him in 2018 stands firmly in Hathurusingha’s favour. 50-year-old former SL cricketer, who was removed ahead of recent more..

Sep 10 (DN) Vindula Jayawardena, a member of the research unit at PickMe, who graduated from the Uni of Moratuwa recently received a scholarship offer from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) USA, to pursue his PhD. Vindula is involved in research on issues surrounding the mobility sphere. He works on developing new algorithms to optimize mobility on demand. Some of Vindula’s work powers certain aspects on the PickMe platform. Prior to being selected for MIT scholarship more..

Sep 10 (AD) Convener of the IUSF Maheel Bandara Dehideniya has resigned from his post of the union. Posting a Facebook post on the resignations, he explained the reasons behind his departure through a YouTube video. Dehideniya accuses the Frontline Socialist Party of interfering with the activities of the Federation and use of Federation for propaganda purposes. However, Rathkarawwe Jinarathana Thero, who was appointed as new Convener of IUSF, rejects his predecessor’s claims. more..

Sep 10 (CT) Sri Lanka's listed companies saw their June 2019 quarterly earnings plunge by 10.4% Year-on-Year (YoY), as the positive performance in the sectors of Food, Beverage and Tobacco (+121% YoY) and Diversified Financials (+35% YoY) was negated by poor performance in the sectors of Banking (-20% YoY), Consumer Services (-92% YoY), and Telecom (-27% YoY). However, total earnings for the quarter more..

Sep 10 (PHC) High Commission of Pakistan in SL, in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, has organized training of 20 high-ranking SL bureaucrats in Pakistan from Sept 15 to 27, at Pakistan’s National School of Public Policy (NSPP). The delegation members paid a courtesy call on the HC of Pakistan, Maj. Gen. (Retd), Dr. Shahid Ahmad Hashmat on Sept 9. During the meeting, the High Commissioner said that the visit will give an excellent opportunity more..

Sep 10 (AD) Embassy of SL in Stockholm, in partnership with Emirates and Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Sweden Chapter, organized an interactive session on SL tourism for the Swedish travel companies and travel writers on 4 Sept at the Embassy. The purpose of the event was to provide updated information to the Swedish travel industry representatives and writers about the security situation in SL and the importance of promoting SL as an attractive travel destination. more..

Sep 10 (AD) UNP Minister Ajith P. Perera has submitted a written explanation to the party Headquarters with regard to the disciplinary inquiry filed against him. Reportedly, the Minister had submitted the explanation to the Administrative Director of the party this morning (09). Speaking to the Media Minister Perera stated that supporting Minster Sajith Premadasa cannot be a reason to hold a disciplinary action against him. more..

Sep 10 (CT) Tourism earnings, SL's third-largest foreign exchange earner, declined 19.9% in dollar terms during the first eight months of this year to record US$ 2.38 billion, from US$ 2.97 billion a year ago, reflecting the same trend as tourist arrivals to the country. According to statistics, tourism earnings declined 9% in rupee terms to Rs 424.3 billion, from Rs 466.2 billion a year ago. Tourism earnings during August this year declined 28.3% to US$ 269.5 million from US$ 376.9 million a year ago. more..

Sep 10 (DC) The Q-branch of the Tamil Nadu police arrested a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee for entering Rameswaram island without proper travel papers near Dhnaushkodi near here in the early hours of Monday. Sources said that one Arun Raj (24) of Chettikulam in Vavuniya in northern Sri Lanka was seen walking in the shallow waters from Arichalmunai towards Dhanushkodi, when Q-branch police, on a tip-off, rushed to the spot and took him into custody for questioning. more..

Sep 10 (Island) Padmadeva Rajakaruna, a trustee appointed by Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera to the Mahapola Education Trust Fund (METF), was found to be tryring to mislead the PCoI. He said he had been given permission to sign an agreement with Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) On May 12, 2015, METF signed an agreement with SLIIT and also leased land, on which SLIIT stands, more..

Sep 10 (DN) Commercial Bank of Ceylon won four awards at the first ever Asian Banker Sri Lanka Awards ceremony that recognised Sri Lankan banks and financial institutions that have excelled in retail banking and technology. The quartet of awards won by the Bank were Best Frictionless Credit Evaluation Initiative, Application or Programme for its personal loan request facility via the Online Banking Platform; Best Productivity, Efficiency and Automation Initiative, Application and Programme more..

Sep 10 (SCMP) What is it? In PR-speak, a luxe, beach­front resort that melds an Old World expedi­tion style with a futuristic sensibility. The third Sri Lanka property of Resplendent Ceylon, the hospitality arm of the Dilmah Tea Company, offers premium glamping beside a leopard- and elephant-spotting hot bed. But it’s the spaceship-like public spaces and accommodation pods that are really turning heads. Why did they put futuristic domes in the middle of this environment? more..

Sep 10 (Island) SL will send a second string team to Pakisan for the bilateral series between the countries that begins later this month. During a meeting held at SLC hq yesterday, several senior players experssed their unwillingness to tour Pakistan and the board was forced to select a second string team. Accordingly, Lahiru Thirimanne will lead the ODI team while Dasun Shanaka will take over as the captain of the T-20 side. more..

Sep 10 (Island) A revision application filed in the Supreme Court by former Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa, challenging the refusal of his application to the High Court-at-Bar asserting that the indictment against him was bad in law, was supported in the Supreme Court, yesterday. Rajapaksa had been indicted with misusing state funds to build the D.A. Rajapaksa Memorial at Tangalle. In the reply to the indictment Rajapaksa has said that the monument was built more..

Sep 10 (Island) Another person who was taken ill while taking part in a spiritual healing camp over the weekend in Horowpathana Ruwanweli Central College, passed away Sunday night at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital. Victim T.B. Wijetunga, was a 52-year-old resident of Vijithapura, Kalawewa, Anuradhapura. With his demise the number of people who died while taking part in the programme has risen to three. Wijetunga was hospitalized, on Satur, after he had fainted more..

Sep 10 (Island) Sri Lanka had paid Rs. 4.44 billion to Wellard Rural Exports Pvt. Ltd, from Jan 2017 to May 8, 2018 for the importation of controversial pregnant milch cows, PCoI was informed. The payments were done through the External Resources Department of the Treasury. Last tranche paid by the Dept was Rs. 1.3 billion as a down payment for importing 15,000 out of 20,000 cows. more..

Sep 10 (DM) SLPP Chairman Prof G.L. Peiris extended an open invitation to the SLFP to join his party saying the most desired symbol to contest the prez election was the lotus bud. He said the SLPP was akin to the ancestral home of the SLFP and asked what practical obstacle the SLFP had to join it. “During the several rounds of discussions held, the two parties agreed upon more than 20 points based on principle. We have always been sensitive, accommodative and flexible in these talks. more..

Sep 10 (DM) A crucial meeting between PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, UNP Deputy Leader and Minister Sajith Premadasa and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has been scheduled today at 6.00 p.m. at Temple Trees. The three leaders are expected to take a final decision on the UNP’s prez candidate, a source from the PM’s office said yesterday. “They are scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. to discuss the UNP’s presidential candidate as well as the election to the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha,” the source said. more..

Sep 10 (FT) Prez Sirisena last night brought the influential SL Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) under the purview of the Ministry of Defence by an Extraordinary Gazette notification. Along with the takeover, SLRC was also tasked with the “Implementation of programs for the promotion of peace, harmony and reconciliation among people whilst ensuring national security through the use of audio visual media, enhancement of more..

Sep 10 (DM) The accountability of Govt Ministers in particular and Parliamentarians in general towards the voters, who elected them was once again well manifested last week. On Sept 5, there was not a single Minister to answer the 15 oral questions that had been raised by the MPs and documented in the Parliament’s Order Paper of the day well in advance. Next day, on Sept 6, Parliament was forced to be adjourned soon after the House was commenced for want of quorum. more..

Sep 10 (DM) UNP is suffering from an existential identity crisis. While symptoms had been there during much of the past two decades, the current bout is a manifestation of acute conditions. Over the decades, the Grand Old Party has withered away, it’s grassroots members have shrunk in numbers and their enthusiasm, its leadership has drifted away from the average folks. They have failed to communicate with the masses in a language that is readily understood by the public. more..

Sep 10 (ST) Many relatives of the missing and disappeared are avoiding certificates of absence (CoA)–a new document that lets them address practicalities such as property transfers without confirmation of death–because they suspect the State will use these to dodge investigating the fate of their loved ones. Since CoAs were introduced by law in 2016, just 732 families have taken them. more..

Sep 10 (GDI) The present govt has allocated the largest amount of funds for free education and health compared with previous govts, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe pointed out. The govt has also been able to provide adequate physical and human resources to ensure that the education system, previously limited to a selected few, is now accessible to all on an equal footing, PM argued, addressing the gathering at the inaugural more..

Sep 10 (FT) The SLPP yesterday stuck fast to their intention to keep the flower bud as their symbol insisting it is the most suitable symbol for the proposed coalition as it is more popular among the public. SLFP General Secretary MP Dayasiri Jayasekara earlier said a neutral symbol should be used for the proposed coalition between the SLFP and the SLPP. However, newspaper reports over the weekend more..

Sep 10 (GDI) The World Health Organization (WHO) says Sri Lanka is the best-studied country to prove that regulations to prohibit the use of highly hazardous pesticides can lead to reductions in national suicide rates. A WHO publication issued yesterday, for the World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 Sept, read that a series of such bans in SL has led to a 70% fall in suicides and an estimated 93 000 lives saved between 1995 and 2015. more..

Sep 10 (Island) The Department Of Wildlife ‘doctored’ last elephant count in 2011 and claimed that there were 5,728 elephants, says one of the foremost authorities on Sri Lankan elephants, Jayantha Jayawardena. Jayewardena, who is the Managing Trustee of the Biodiversity & Elephant Conservation Trust and also member of the IUCN Asian Elephant Specialist Group told The Island that the last time more..

Sep 10 (TM) For the first time in its history, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) has ordered a stockbroking firm to pay compensation to an investor. Capital TRUST Securities (Pvt.) Ltd., owned by Tushan Wickramasinghe, has been ordered by the stock market regulator to pay Rs. 6 million as compensation to its client for not acting in the client’s best interest in 2015. more..

Sep 10 (DM) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa work as father and son with a thorough understanding of issues at hand, Minister Lakshman Kiriella said. He downplayed alleged crosstalk between him and Minister Kabir Hashim as widely reported in the media saying they were best of friends. Responding to journalists at a ceremony held to mark the opening of more..

Sep 10 (DN) Construction of the Rs. 28 billion Port Access Elevated Highway, Sri Lanka’s first, begins today with the support of a USD 300 million (about Rs. 54.2 billion) loan facility by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Minister Kabir Hashim said that the travel time between Ingurukade junction and Fort, which takes about 45 minutes now, would be reduced to 5 minutes once the project completes. The 5.3 km highway on pillars more..

Sep 10 (AD) Sri Lanka Administrative Service Association (SASA) has launched a 48-hours token strike. Secretary of SASA Rohana de Silva said administrative officers would refrain from reporting to work and tomorrow by calling in sick. Strike is based on several demands including salary anomalies and the arbitrary interferences that the administrative officers have to face when making independent decisions. more..

Sep 10 (RN) Transparency Int'l Sri Lanka (TISL) filed a complaint this morning at the CIABOC against Minister Sajith Premadasa and 7 other Cabinet Ministers who have failed to submit their Declarations of Assets and Liabilities for the year 2018/19. Other than prez hopeful Premadasa TISL has governing coalition heavyweights Navin Dissanayake, Harin Fernando, Mano Ganesan, M.H.A. Haleem, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Ravi Karunanayake and more..