Jan 8 (CT) Already there are incipient signs of disagreement within the govt. In his speech inaugurating the first session of parliament after his election, Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa recommitted himself to the development of the country. He said, “I, together with my Govt, stand committed to honour the trust of the people and implement the programme of developing a prosperous nation that we promised to them.” Along with the safeguarding of national security, the need for fast tracking more..

Jan 8 (CT) Former Minister of the UNP Ajith P. Perera says that Sajith Premadasa will contest the next general election as Prime Ministerial candidate through UNP with a new coalition. Q: Now, former MPs of the UNP are being arrested. How do you see this development? A: This is obviously political reprisal. We can understand the implementation of the law against crime and corruption of the past regime if there was any. more..

Jan 8 (GV) Although the war ended a decade ago, the ethno-political and social fractures from conflict endure. On no other day are they more apparent than on May 18. Often, what we see, read and hear on this day is of a country still deeply divided. Television screens and the front pages of newspapers will go on to show military parades. On Facebook and Twitter (and given less, if any, prominence in mainstream print and electronic media) will be photographs of grieving more..

Jan 8 (GV) A not-so-young man walked into the room of Lasantha Wickrematunge two decades ago. The man had nothing but a recommendation from his own father when he asked Lasantha for a writer’s post. Lasantha later told that man that he took a chance when he gave the man a low-paying job as a journalist. That is how my journey as a story-teller began. Lasantha’s newspaper was the prefect stable for the non-conformist in me who sought to plough and scythe their own path, not walk the road more..

Jan 8 (Island) UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative, Una McCauley, 54, died on her way to the BIA, on Feb 24th, 2018. Cancer patient McCauley passed away in an ambulance taking her to BIA where an air ambulance, hired by the UN, was waiting to move her to Europe. Foreign Ministry acted swiftly to clear the way for the UN to move McCauley, who had served here for six years - two years as UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative and more..

Jan 8 (Island) A Sunday newspaper carried a nice picture of First Lady, Ioma Rajapaksa, sharing a soft drink with her Prez husband following the inauguration of the current parliamentary session, last Friday. Photo caption said others had forgotten to serve Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR), and his wife had given him her glass of fruit juice. It is nice to see a Prez, at a grand function, with nobody dancing attendance on him or her. Prez GR came to Parliament without caparisoned horses, more..

Jan 8 (CT) Show Jumper Mathilda Karlsson became the first Sri Lankan to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games after the official FEI rankings were released yesterday. Karlsson who was born in SL and grew up in Sweden switched her nationality back to SL just last year seeking Olympic qualification from equestrian discipline (show jumping). According to qualification system there are 200 slots allocated for more..

Jan 8 (DN) Why Sri Lanka are struggling to perform in T20 int'l cricket is twofold. First of all they don’t have a regular domestic T20 inter-club tournament and neither do they have a Premier League franchise with int'l stars participation like other countries. The second factor is that the majority of our top order batsmen sport a batting average of less than 20 so it is no surprise that Sri Lanka average around 140-160 totals which is insufficient in today’s context for the bowlers to defend. more..

Jan 8 (ST) The National team has won three Test matches out of eight, seven out of 21 ODIs and four out of 13 T20I’s last year. It has been a year of fluctuating fortunes for the national team. A close look at team’s shows that they lack of consistency in all three formats throughout the year. The year started with a disastrous tour of New Zealand where Sri Lanka lost a hard fought Test series though Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis went on to deny the hosts from winning the Wellington match. more..

Jan 8 (CI) India flexed their bowling muscles against an underwhelming Sri Lanka batting unit in Indore, Navdeep Saini taking two wickets and going for 18 across four rapid overs, while Shardul Thakur neutered the opposition at the death with three wickets of his own. Having kept the visitors to 142 for 9 - a total Lasith Malinga felt was 25-30 short of a competitive score - India then flexed their batting muscles. more..

Jan 8 (FT) The travel industry yesterday met with Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga for the first time to discuss the key issues pertaining to the development of the sector and seek suggestions to achieve greater revival following the Easter Sunday attacks and other issues. The two-hour meeting had been productive with the exchange of views of around 10 key travel associations and regional tourism leaders on the industry’s concerns and challenges. During yesterday's meeting, more..

Jan 8 (Island) External and internal market factors impeded the CSE's performance yesterday. Both main indices indicated negative sentiments on the news that the Japan Bank for Int'l Cooperation had decided to put on hold its 95% guarantee on the Samurai bond to raise US $ 500 million, market sources said. Mizuho Securities Company Ltd., SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. and Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co. Ltd. had been appointed as the 3 joint lead managers for more..

Jan 8 (FT) With business circles abuzz with news of the biggest corporate Sri Lankan deal worth Rs. 110 billion, it is being said that LOLC Group Deputy Chairman Ishara Nanayakkara is the richest man in Sri Lanka, a tag he told the Daily FT prefers to shun. On Monday, LOLC formally announced it was selling 70% stake in Cambodia’s largest microfinance company, PRASAC, to Korea’s biggest commercial bank, more..

Jan 8 (Island) Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) calls for proposals for the Saman Kelegama Memorial Research Grant 2020. Saman Kelegama Memorial Research Grant is an annual, merit-based grant awarded to an outstanding undergraduate studying in a university in SL. The grant aims to promote policy entrepreneurs among undergraduate students by encouraging policy relevant, rigorous and innovative socio-economic research. Saman Kelegama Memorial Research Grant is more..

Jan 8 (EN) Treasuries yields edged up at the weekly auction where more bids than offered at the longest term, where the cost was higher. The three month yield where 2 billion rupees of bills were offered, the debt office accepted only 100 million rupees of bills, after offering 2.0 billion rupees of bills, keeping the yield at 7.5%, around the same levels as 7.51 on Dec 24, when bids were last accepted. In 6-months, the debt office accepted only 4 billion rupees of bills, after offering 7 billion rupees, more..

Jan 8 (ST) Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) Chairman P.G. Kumarasinghe Sirisena, brother of former Prez Sirisena, is yet to vacate his post as of Friday though asked to do so in line with other heads of state agencies being asked to step down, while new appointments to the chairs of CEB and CPC are yet to be finalised. In the case of SLT Chairman Sirisena, his son also worked as an engineer, recruited while his father is more..

Jan 8 (ST) Ella, is one Sri Lanka’s most frequented tourist destinations in the country. As such the Ella Railway station is equally popular among both foreign and local visitors who opt to take a train ride to the area through the picturesque upcountry. Sadly the Railway Department has failed to support efforts to attract more tourists to the area. Work to upgrade facilities at the train station used by thousands of tourists annually, has come to an abrupt halt. A newly built rest room, more..

Jan 8 (Island) CNN's foremost international business correspondent and presenter Richard Quest will feature Sri Lanka in the newest edition of CNN Business Traveller. The programme will be aired on January 8th at 14:00 IST (Premiere) (followed by repeat telecasts on Thursday, 8th Jan at 2300 IST, Saturday, 11th Jan at 1200 IST, Sunday, 12thJanuary at 0100 IST / 1700 IST, Saturday, 18th Jan at 1800 IST, Sunday, 19th January at 0700 IST / 1200 IST, Monday, 20th Jan at 0100 IST. more..

Jan 8 (FT) Govt yesterday said plans were proceeding swiftly on the $ 250 million mixed development project, which is the first Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) project for the new administration, with the agreement likely to be signed on 31 Jan. State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said the plot of land for the project was valuated at about Rs 7.8 billion, and Rs. 1.85 billion has already been paid to the Govt by the investor. more..

Jan 8 (Xinhua) Shantha Jayasiri lives in Pannila, a remote village in western SL. Jayasiri is one of the several villagers in Pannila, in the district of Kalutara, whose income is not sufficient to meet life's basic needs. In the past, when his daughter, Vishmi Sadeesha, starts a new school year in every January, Jayasiri had to go around to borrow money from others to buy stationery and other school materials. It is not an easy task, because almost everyone in Pannila is as poor as Jayasiri, more..

Jan 8 (SLN) Galle Face Green and the beach area which is most attracted by both local and foreign tourists, is heavily polluted by plastic and polythene substances. As a solution for this problem, SL Navy took initiative to place creatively and beautifully produced garbage bins at the Galle Face Green, today (7). SL Navy is much concern of the non degradable waste, plastic and polythene, and placed these creative garbage bins as a social responsibility project to prevent the disorganized garbage more..

Jan 8 (Island) Former President of the Bar Association of SL (BASL) U.R. de Silva said that CJ Jayantha Jayasuriya, should immediately initiate a no holds barred inquiry into UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake’s alleged clandestine links with some members of the judiciary and law enforcement officers. de Silva said that a comprehensive inquiry was required to restore public confidence in the judiciary. more..

Jan 8 (Island) The Marine Environment Protection Authority (MPPA) had collected some 1.6 million MT of garbage, including plastics and polythene, along the coastal areas in 2019, a top marine scientists said. MEPA General Manager Dr. Terney Pradeep Kumara told The Island that more than 238,000 pieces of plastic bottles etc. accumulated in coastal areas every week. Plans are underway to clean 100 km of the coastal areas. They expect to collect around 20,000 kilos of garbage. more..

Jan 8 (TM) Former Army Commander and UNF MP Sarath Fonseka today criticized President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s decision to appoint Brigadier Suresh Sallay as head of the country’s State Intelligence Service (SIS). Speaking at the parliamentary session, Fonseka said that Sallay’s ethnicity would affect his work as head of SIS. “Brigadier Suresh Sallay is a Muslim. How can a Muslim be appointed as the SIS Head? We are fighting Islamic terrorism and there is conflict of interest here.” more..

Jan 8 (Island) In a recorded telephone conversation between former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and former Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake, the former could be heard asking latter to go ahead with a plan to assassinate the then opposition MP Mahindanana Aluthgamage, Parliament was told. MP said, "In the leaked telephone conversation being circulated in social media, Ranjan Ramanayake is clearly more..

Jan 8 (DN) LANKATILES has embarked on a strategic partnership to seize emerging opportunities in high demand for mosaic tiles in US markets on account of recent trade barriers on China’s exports to the US. LANKATILES, announced that it will be entering the globally competitive mosaic tiles segment. LANKATILES will collaborate with a Chinese mosaic tile manufacturer – Foshan Shiwan Yulong Ceramic Co. Ltd to obtain the technical know-how and subsequently manufacture more..

Jan 8 (CT) A medical doctor, serving in the Ampara District, was arrested by Police for the alleged sexual abuse of four schoolgirls yesterday. He was produced before Ampara Magistrate Asanga Hettiaywatte who ordered him to be remanded till 21 Jan. A medical doctor employed at the Senathpura Regional Hospital in Uhuna Gonagolla was suspected to have sexually abused four teenage girls when they came to him to obtain medical certificates to participate in a sports event. more..

Jan 8 (Island) TNA says the statement on govt policy as laid out by Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Jan 3 should be discussed very seriously as it signaled a shift from the general direction successive govts have moved in, during the last three decades. TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran said: "Nov 16th 2019 gave the Prez a decisive victory. But what is troubling about this big victory is that no community other than the majority Sinhala Buddhist more..

Jan 8 (DM) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament that his party was prepared to support the govt to implement all progressive proposals in its prez election manifesto and in Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa's policy statement on Jan 3 2020. In his maiden speech in Parliament as Opposition Leader, he said the govt should not wait till it obtains a two-thirds majority at the next general elections. “All 225 members of Parliament will vote in your favour if you are keen to implement more..

Jan 8 (DM) National Police Commission (NPC) has informed the acting IGP to submit a report of the preliminary investigations within two weeks regarding to the alleged phone conversation of former CID Director Shani Abeysekara with MP Ranjan Ramanayake, Police Media Division said. A phone conversation between former CID Director and MP Ramanayake went viral on media following the arrest of MP Ramanayake over possession of a pistol without a valid license. more..

Jan 8 (DN) Calls are growing within the Govt parliamentary group for an independent Presidential Commission to begin probing the can of worms opened up with the telephone recordings by UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayaka of calls with senior police and judicial officers regarding investigations and court prosecutions during the previous Yahapalanaya regime. SLPP and allies’ parliamentary group had discussed more..

Jan 8 (DM) History seems to be repeating itself. Fresh from a regime change consequent to the Nov 16 Prez election, we are being reminded of the initial days following the last regime change which was deceptively called yahapalanaya or good governance. As was the case during the first few months subsequent to the 2015 Prez election, we now hear about arrests of members of the previous regime, incredibly serious allegations against them amidst a plethora of new plans by more..

Jan 8 (DM) Looking back, reviewing all that has gone before and all that is ahead, how prepared are we to face the stark realities that we have to??? We are facing economic issues of dynamic proportions, poverty is widespread; the country is unable to repay the loans that have been taken and as a result, the cost of living has sky rocketed!!! The most affected seem to be those who live in rural areas simply because the average person today can own anything they want to, because more..

Jan 8 (CB) Mickey Arthur, for the first time in seven years, is sitting at a press gathering in India; hair a few shades greyer, body slightly leaner and a smile to accompany an explanation for a loss. Even if he is not attempting to logic the decision of sending back players mid-tour for not doing their homework, he is there to explain his team's meek surrender. For all that it counts, it's still a loss. And after all these years, more..

Jan 8 (DM) Colombo Mayoress Rosy Senanayake who made headlines following the presidential poll spoke on various issues including allegations of bribery and corruption and of her being summoned by Prez Rajapaksa. Q: How will UNP-controlled CMC coordinate with SLPP-led central govt and Prez Rajapaksa? A: I will have to coordinate with the central govt as the CMC cannot function independently. more..

Jan 8 (DM) Prof. Karori Singh, former director of South Asian Studies Centre, University of Rajastan, was in Sri Lanka. The renowned South Asian academic shared his thoughts on the evolution of relations between Sri Lanka and India, the future of SAARC. Q: How do you look at the future of SAARC because of conflicts between some member states, particularly involving India and Pakistan? more..

Jan 8 (AD) Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education (SLIATE) will be converted to an institution that awards degrees, says State Minister of Technology and Innovation Thilanga Sumathipala. He made these remarks at a special discussion held with the representatives of the association of academic staff of SLIATE, focusing on the measures to be taken towards the development of the institutions. more..

Jan 8 (ST) Air pollution levels in SL increased along with the volume of firecrackers that sprinkled patterns on the night skies heralding the new year. According to the real time Air Quality Index of the US Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s ambient air pollution level increased to an unhealthy 180 in the index at around 1 a.m. on Jan 1— an unusually high amount for that time of the day. Usually air quality drops during peak road traffic hours. more..

Jan 8 (DM) The govt will consider strengthening laws to protect wildlife in the wake of last year's and this month's killing of several rare and protected animal species, a Wildlife Ministry official said. Commenting on the recent killing of a leopard in the Udawalawe National Park, he said four people had been arrested and with the assistance of the STF. The police investigation into the killing is continuing. more..