Jan 23 (DM) As to what the final outcome of the fallout emanating from the 127,000 audio clips of phone conversations recorded by MP Ranjan Ramanayke, is a matter too delicate to cast any prediction. If the top rung of the govt thought of them as an invincible weapon cometh the General elections in a few months and the exposures will be detrimental only to the UNP and the foes of the Rajapakshe Dynasty, they were sadly mistaken. Recent release of certain conversations more..

Jan 23 (CI) With six needed off two balls, New Zealand No. 9 Kristian Clarke smashed a six over deep midwicket to knock Sri Lanka out of quarter-final contention and secure his team's pathway into the next round in dramatic fashion. With three wickets in hand, New Zealand needed 12 off the final over that was being delivered by Dilshan Madushanka, but Clarke - who finished unbeaten on a three-ball nine - walked across his stumps to connect cleanly with his slog. more..

Jan 23 (CI) Angelo Mathews batted for ten hours to hit SL's first double-century in five years, helping put his team in a near-unassailable position in Harare. But with Zimbabwe batting diligently so far in the third innings, the visitors have a tough road to victory. As it stood at stumps, Zimbabwe were 127 runs behind, with all ten second-innings wickets in hand. Although the occasional ball kept low, there was no substantial turn nor more..

Jan 23 (ST) Just the other day, an outstanding double international player who represented Sri Lanka, sent me a mail in which he referred to “first-class cricket” in Sri Lanka which was actually a misnomer. Of course this was mainly due to a so-called statistician serving in the Cricket Board at that time who did not know anything better. This writer made many efforts to rectify this anomaly in the news media but it took a long time to succeed! Given below is one such effort. more..

Jan 23 (Island) Ceylon Transport Board (CTB) (now known as the Sri Lanka Transport Board) has undergone many changes and most of them for the worse. CTB was established on the 1st of Jan 1958 under the SWRD Bandaranaike govt with Mr. Maithripala Senanayake as the Minister of Transport and now has completed its diamond jubilee and two years more. All the existing bus companies throughout the island at that time were nationalized and brought under one umbrella. more..

Jan 23 (CT) CB Governor, Professor W.D. Lakshman stated that Sri Lanka is starting to see the benefits of private sector credit and investments. Prof. Laksman was the Chief Guest at the 61st AGM of National Chamber of Commerce in SL (NCCSL), where he stated that CBSL is also actively facilitating several growth initiatives of the Govt, like the SME credit support scheme for eligible SMEs. He noted the CB had issued a circular last week more..

Jan 23 (ST) Saroj Jayasinghe, Professor of Medicine at Colombo University, had recently sent a mail sharing an Internet link. The link directed me to a physicist’s blog post under the title Exponential economist meets finite physicist. It was an interesting conversation between an economist and a physicist, who have met each other at a banquet dinner table and happened to sit together. I glanced at the conversation which was on an issue raised by the physicist, who argued that more..

Jan 23 (Island) "Already there are around 20,000 Maldivian nationals resident in SL. Those who have been here over the past 15 to 20 years are now interested in investing in permanent residences, particularly in Colombo’s rising skyline and growing apartment complexes," ambassador for the Maldives in SL Omar Razzak, keynote speaker at the recently held Research Intelligence Unit (RIU) Real Estate Forum 2020 said. "The real estate market allied with opportunities for Maldivians spurred interest more..

Jan 23 (FT) Vega Innovations, a subsidiary of CodeGen Int'l Ltd, will create history once again as the Vega EVX, SL’s and South Asia’s first fully-electric supercar, is shipped to Switzerland to be unveiled at the 90th Geneva Int'l Motor Show. The vehicle was shipped from the Colombo harbour on 19 Jan and will reach its destination in late February. The motor show will be held from 5-15 March. Vega EVX will be the first-ever more..

Jan 23 (TM) Sri Lanka specialist Steppes Travel is calling for airlines to offer more special fares to the island to encourage visitors to return to the country after arrivals plunged last year following terror attacks at Easter that killed more than 250 people, including holidaymakers. Steppes product consultant Clare Burkey said booking queries are returning to pre-April 2019 levels, but she said passenger numbers are still down. "We still have some ground to make up to reach more..

Jan 23 (FT) Standard Chartered SDG Investment Map reveals an almost $ 10 trillion opportunity for private-sector investors across all emerging markets, with SL representing $ 16.2 billion of that total. The study identifies opportunities for the private sector to contribute to three infrastructure-focused goals between now and 2030: SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure across emerging markets. more..

Jan 23 (Island) Govt spokesman and State Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said, that the new govt's stand on Geneva accountability resolution would be based on the position taken by former Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana, PC, on behalf of the previous yahapalana administration, at the March 2019 session. FM Marapana emphasized that some of those Geneva recommendations couldn't be implemented as they were more..

Jan 23 (DN) President of the World Taekwondo Federation, Dr. Chungwon Choue, will arrive in Sri Lanka today to empower Lankan children and youth through Taekwondo. Dr. Chungwon Choue is due to celebrate the achievements of Lankan Taekwondo children who have a shortage of facilities in the society and to appreciate athletes who triumphed at the recently concluded SAG Games. Korea is the home country to Taekwondo and the sport is practiced by many people around the world. more..

Jan 23 (SLN) The Navy, with the assistance of the Anti-Narcotics Bureau, managed to apprehend 3 suspects who were transporting about 176kg of Kerala cannabis in a bus in Palaviya area, Puttalam. As part of another effort of the Navy that is throwing its full weight behind operations to make a drug-free society, Northwestern Naval Command and Anti-Narcotics Bureau of Puttalam conducted a search operation in Palaviya area, Puttalam & intercepted a suspicious bus plying on Puttalam–C'bo road more..

Jan 23 (FT) Fonterra Brands SL, Maliban Milk Products and Diamond Milk Products in a joint statement said they were deeply concerned about claims by the GMOA that imported milk powder from New Zealand was harmful for consumption and reiterated the need to separate fact from fiction to prevent causing unnecessary panic and fear among the SL public. The importers stressed that there was an unsubstantiated more..

Jan 23 (AD) Visiting Assistant Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme Manoj Juneja paid a courtesy call on Minister Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday (21) at the Office of the Leader of the House of the Parliament. Welcoming the visiting Assistant Executive Director, Minister Gunawardena appreciated the WFP’s close cooperation with SL and recalled assistance rendered in times of need, especially during Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004 and during severe droughts. more..

Jan 23 (Island) CID told the Kalmunai Magistrate’s Court, that the DNA sample of Sara, an Easter bomb suspect, and the one obtained from a mangled body believed to be of hers, in a hideout, did not match. Sara is believed to have been killed in her hideout in a suicide bomb blast at Sainthamaruthu following the Easter bomb blasts. DNA samples were obtained from the remains of 16 suspects found at the bomb site. Magistrate I.N. Riswan instructed the CID to conduct further investigations more..

Jan 23 (DN) Govt’s ambitious programme to mobilise the country’s cohort of unskilled youth has got under way with the announcement of implementation mechanism yesterday. All recruits to the proposed Multi-Purpose Development Task Force will be absorbed into the permanent cadre of the public service from October 1 following a seven-month training programme. Govt has called for applications from more..

Jan 23 (AD) A census will be carried out in relation to the number of private medical centers owned by the doctors, stated Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, addressing the parliament. Furthermore, the MP stated that the census is scheduled to commence on the 1st of May. A census on the number of private medical centers owned by doctors was last conducted in the year 2017 and there were 657 medical centers recorded as registered. Wanniarachchi also highlighted that more..

Jan 23 (FT) SL’s Confederation of Micro, Small and Medium Industries (COSMI) has called for the deadline of the landmark loan moratorium for SMEs offered by the Govt to be extended as most companies would struggle to reach the existing deadline of 31 Jan, statement by the Industry and Commerce Ministry said. “We praise the Govt for its determined action last Dec to revive domestic SMEs by suspending recovery of loans obtained by the sector,” said COSMI Founder President more..

Jan 23 (FT) Lawmakers called on the Speaker to ensure all details of the CB’s forensic audit reports are released, after some sections and annexures were found missing in the CD distributed to MPs. Lawmakers from both sides, bringing the issue to the attention of the Speaker, held the full report should be made available in soft and hard copies without delay. UNP MP Harsha de Silva, who collected a copy of the CD containing more..

Jan 23 (FT) CEB has extended its closing date for 104 MW of supplementary power from 16 Jan to 30 Jan. This brings the 104 MW tender closing date in line with the 96 MW tender which also has a closing date of 30 Jan, Power & Energy Ministry said. Tenders, published for 104 MW and 96 MW separately, were for a duration of 12 months, but a letter dated 8 Jan issued by the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) stated that approval was granted for a duration of 30 months. more..

Jan 23 (FT) Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar issued summons for 14 individuals, including the former Commander of the Navy Admiral (Retd) Wasantha Karannagoda, to appear before the Court on 24 January over the alleged abduction and enforced disappearance for eleven youths in 2008. The 11 youths had been abducted in Colombo and the suburbs between 2008 and 2009. The CID alleged that the youths were abducted for ransom & later disappeared by alleged perpetrators. more..

Jan 23 (Island) UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake said in parliament that he would request for two days bail for him to table all the evidence in his possession with regard to phone records scandal. He said that he was in a difficult position to table those material as he had promised on Tuesday as he was still in remand custody and do not have access to the said evidence which were safely stored at a private bank. more..

Jan 23 (MENFN) The Norwegian Ambassador to SL Trine Jøranli Eskedal, will open SL's first floating solar plant in Kilinochchi on Friday. The floating solar plant is a result of the research collaboration since 2017 between the University of Jaffna and the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Colombo. 'Norway strongly believes that increased access to clean energy will reduce poverty, improve health and mitigate climate change. more..

Jan 23 (FT) Health Ministry is considering using a non-toxic and sustainable chlorophyll product to control dengue mosquitoes in the country. This measure was being considered following discussions with German specialist Prof. Donat Peter Häder. While studies will be conducted to ensure the substance can be used successfully in SL, Prof. Häder has shown that even a small quantity of chlorophyllin, a semi-synthetic derivative of chlorophyll, can be used to destroy more..

Jan 23 (Island) Forensic Audit Report on the Treasury bond issuances of the Central Bank of SL (CBSL), from 2002 to Feb 28, 2015, observes that the direct placement method was discontinued on verbal instructions issued by the then CBSL Governor Arjuna Mahendran. Governor Mahendran’s decision to discontinue the direct placement and opt for the auction method facilitated the Treasury bond scam, on Feb 27, 2015, report says. more..

Jan 23 (DM) With his interdiction on Jan 7, on the orders of acting Police Chief C.D. Wickramaratne; former CID Director SSP Shani Abeysekera became the first casualty in the sordid audio-clip saga. He was followed soon after with the interdiction of Baddegama Magistrate Dhammika Hemapala by the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) and on Tuesday, with the approval of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the JSC interdicted Embilipitiya Judge Gihan Pilapitiya. more..

Jan 23 (DM) Lawmaker Ranjan Ramanayake has a way of bouncing back from hopeless situations. He made his critics sit up and take note when he highlighted on (Tuesday), during a fiery speech delivered in Parliament, certain issues ranging from MPs holding bar permits, drug trafficking, horse racing, match-fixing and a key name in the alleged bond scam offering him a bribe. The parliamentarian said that he has voice recordings from telephone conversations to prove these claims. more..

Jan 23 (DM) At the Daily Mirror, we believe that climate change is one of the greatest threats that we, as Sri Lankans, will face in the future. Therefore, we intend to provide our readers with local and international content with the objective to educate and inspire. We would also like to learn from our valued readers about any ongoing initiatives in making SL a more sustainable nation. We aim to explore sustainable ways of living more..

Jan 23 (DM) A festival of three plays, written and directed by dramatist Rajitha Dissanayake, will commence tomorrow and continue on 25 and 26 Jan at the Lionel Wendt. The event marks 25 years of Dissanayake’s plays being performed at the Wendt. It starts with Sihina Horu Aran (Dreams Robbed), which will feature an all-new cast. On 25 Jan is Hithala Gaththu Theeranayak (A Well-Made Decision), and the festival ends on 26 Jan more..

Jan 23 (ST) In the aftermath of the tragic deaths of three Sri Lankan students in Azerbaijan last week, the Govt has decided to take immediate measures to introduce a regulatory mechanism for agencies involved in placing students in foreign universities. Higher Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said a meeting would be held next week at the Ministry with all stakeholders, including education consultancies involved in more..

Jan 23 (AD) Two youths and a 15-year-old have been apprehended at the BIA for attempting to smuggle out gold biscuits and jewellery worth nearly Rs. 50 million. The officers of Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) attached to the BIA had made the arrest early this morning (23). The two youths, aged 26 and 33 years, were identified as residents of Dematagoda and Grandpass areas while the minor is said to be from Kegalle. more..

Jan 23 (CT) SLFP confirmed that Party Chairman, former Prez Maithripala Sirisena will join the General Election race under the SL People's Freedom Alliance (SLPFA) formed by the SLFP and SLPP. Reiterating that Sirisena will not quit active politics, SLFP MP Weerakumara Dissanayake said, Sirisena will seek the people's mandate once again from his Polonnaruwa constituency. The SLFP and SLPP are currently having negotiations more..

Jan 23 (AD) Cabinet of Ministers has approved a minimum guaranteed price of Rs. 50 per 1kg of paddy, with a recommended moisture level, from the harvest of Maha season. This was announced during the meeting held this morning to announce the Cabinet decisions. The govt expects a total of 3 million metric tons of paddy from the harvest reaped during the Maha Season. As a principle, govt does not import paddy, more..

Jan 23 (DM) The UNP yesterday renewed calls for the Govt to halt plans to repeal the 19th Amendment, citing the need of the constitutional provision to maintain a balance of power between the different arms of Govt. UNP Senior MP Lakshman Kiriella pointed out that the Amendment was done with a broad consensus of both UNP and the UPFA MPs, many of whom are still Members of Parliament and minority representatives. more..

Jan 23 (Island) Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage told a media briefing at the PM Office that UNP lawmaker Ranjan Ramanayake had tried to pressure his ex-wife to testify against him. Aluthgamage said the conversation between his ex-wife and Ramanayake had taken place, in 2015. Referring to Ramanayake's speech in Parliament, on Tuesday, the govt spokesman said that though Ramanayake said all his telephone more..

Jan 23 (Island) Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that the overall deterioration of parliament was a cause for concern. He said it was the responsibility of political parties to field decent candidates at parliamentary polls and it was up to the people to reject those whom they deemed unsuitable. He said so when he was asked by The Island to comment on the unprecedented crisis caused by UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake and more..

Jan 23 (AD) Sri Lanka remains stagnant in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), compiled by Transparency International (TI), the global coalition against corruption, says the SL subsidiary of the Berlin-based organization. Sri Lanka has scored 38 on the CPI 2019 retaining the same score from the previous year; on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). The country’s score also places SL behind Bhutan (68) & India (41) more..