Jan 6 (EN) Sri Lanka will ban maize and groundnut imports after January 15, in an attempt to protect local farmers who are benefiting from new investments into research and development and irrigation, a top official said. “We have given import permits to import before the 15th of January,” Agriculture Dept Director (Development) Ajantha De Silva said. “These import restrictions are imposed in order to give local farmers a fair price. more..

Jan 6 (DM) MP Champika Ranawaka’s former driver Thusitha Dilum Kumara was yesterday released on bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate with two sureties of Rs.250,000 each. He was ordered to report to the CCD on the last Tuesday of every month. When the case was taken up before Colombo Additional Magistrate Kanchana Neranjana Silva, Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) Dileepa Peiris who represented the Attorney General (AG) raised objections on granting bail to the suspect as more..

Jan 6 (EN) Central Bank said the monetary board has extended the suspention of activities of Perpetual Treasuries Limited for another six months effective from Jan 5. The central bank said that it extended the suspension under the Registered Stock and Securities Ordinance and the Local Treasury Bills Ordinance, in order to continue investigations into the country’s largest ever securities scam. In November, six foreign forensic audits commissioned to investigate the more..

Jan 6 (PSL) President invited all countries to look positively at Sri Lanka as an investment hub when a delegation representing the European Union (EU) called on Prez Rajapaksa today. Underlying SL’s neutrality stance, President pointed out that the best way to overcome regional hegemony would be to assist small countries such as SL to develop and move forward at the same pace as the developed countries. more..

Jan 7 (CT) During the presidential campaign, Colombo Telegraph (1 Nov 2019) carried a column, Muslims Must Turn Left, to which one commentator responded, Not left or right but straight. I am not sure what that commentator meant by straight. However, if he had meant that Muslims, with their own political party or parties, should go straight along the path of opportunistic alliances with prospective winners to bargain for positions and privileges either with SLPP-SLFP or more..

Jan 7 (CT) After checking in at the hotel, I take a walk around Kandy. I have a couple of hours before sunset, enough to buy credit for the phone, take some photographs and act a bit of a tourist. I take a three wheeler drive to Bahirawakanda where there is a massive Buddha statue of which I noticed something different. The Buddha was sporting a pottu (bindi) dot on the forehead. But isn’t the pottu is usually associated with Hinduism? I don’t recall seeing the Buddha statues in Dambulla or more..

Jan 7 (CT) Sand mining is the act of extracting sand for commercial purposes. To many, these words usually do not strike the same chord of dismay as wildlife trafficking or natural disasters. Marketed as a seemingly innocent lucrative business, particularly by politicians, sand mining has now become a mafia threatening to ruin the island's ecosystem as well as economy. While illegal sand mining is rampant, mining permits as well as more..

Jan 7 (RN) I was in grade 7 when I joined Scout Association of my school. Scouts have a list of tasks to complete. When you complete them successfully, you get various badges and promotions. One of the very first tasks in my school was to sing the national anthem by yourself. The seniors told us we could do it on the first day itself. Every year, before covering them with brown paper, I had a habit of reading the national anthem printed on back cover of right-off-the-press textbooks. more..

Jan 7 (ST) There was a time when our public service was a respected institution manned by highly-skilled officials performing public duties for the benefit of the people. Today that seems like eons ago. That golden era when officials were not afraid to take independent administrative decisions without running behind every two-bit politician to earn some merit points has crumbled into dust. One would now need the assistance of the Archeology Department to dig up that past. more..

Jan 7 (ST) Polonnaruwa’s skyline has a new Goliath. Once, the medieval capital which was a city since the Greek times was dominated by stupas, but today, a colossal geometric steel and glass cube building looms large. The Ancient Technology Museum, opened barely six months ago, is a wonder to discover. Not only is it beautifully curated, but it also has a unique premise: to showcase our ancient technology using more..

Jan 7 (CT) The last time Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Colombo, spoke out in public, it was over the Easter Bomb Blasts last year, the failure on intelligence follow-up and investigations - and very rightly so. Now, he has expanded the scope of the Church in societal affairs, by expressing himself strongly against the expansion of the Norochcholai coal-fired power plant, by adding another 600-MW capacity. Going a step further, the Cardinal also wanted more..

Jan 7 (GV) Justice Prasanna Jayawardene is no more. The immediate expressions of shock, grief and a deep sense of loss by those who knew him in person or by his reputation is a testament to the kind of public life that Justice Jayawardene led, particularly in the last three years as a judge of the highest court in Sri Lanka. I write this piece, not only as an appreciation of his contribution to the administration of justice in Sri Lanka but also as a note to those of us who are left behind so that more..

Jan 7 (Island) Sri Lanka is at a crossroads with regard to foreign policy-making viz the re-setting of the three foundation pillars: security, economics and human rights. Yahapalanaya govt chose to focus on economics and human rights which helped open doors in Western capitals and led to the restoration of the EUGSP +concession which boosted flagging exports to that leading market; state invitations from these capitals poured in and there were many inward delegations to promote trade, more..

Jan 7 (Island) The new world order is such that whenever an American president gets into trouble, at home, the countries perceived to be hostile to the US fear hails of bombs. Trump, following his recent impeachment, wants to do a Captain America and shore up his crumbling image in view of the next presidential election. He is all out to provoke Iran into providing him with a casus belli so that he can clear the US missile stocks nearing their use-by dates. more..

Jan 7 (Island) The latest news from the Foreign Relations Ministry relates to the sudden recall of High Commissioner Manisha Gunasekera, SL’s High Commissioner to the UK since October 2018. High Commissioner Gunasekera joined the SL Foreign Service in 1996. She has among other posts, served as Ambassador of SL in Korea; Deputy Permanent Representative, SL’s Permanent Mission to UN in Geneva; more..

Jan 7 (FT) Tourist arrivals from Russia have hit an all-time high in 2019, with its flag carrier Aeroflot’s expansion of services to Colombo playing a key part. Russian tourists last year amounted to around 86,549 and surpassed the previous highest of 69,718, achieved in 2014. In comparison to 2018, last year figure was a 34% increase. As per the first 11 months of 2019, Russian tourist arrivals were 68,990, up by 29.6%. In Nov, figure jumped 79.7% to 14,537 & in Dec it hit a record of 17,559. more..

Jan 7 (FT) LOLC Holdings PLC yesterday confirmed the much speculated mega $ 603 million (around Rs. 11 billion) deal on the sale of its controlling stake in Cambodia’s largest micro finance company. In a filing to the Colombo Stock Exchange, LOLC said its subsidiary LOLC International Ltd. of Singapore on 6 Jan along with other minority shareholders of PRASAC Microfinance Institution Ltd. of Cambodia entered into a Share Purchase Agreement and a Shareholders Agreement with Kookmin Bank, more..

Jan 7 (EN) Sri Lanka’s unemployment continued to rise, reaching 5.1% amid a slowdown in growth in the September quarter of 2019, data showed. Unemployment grew from 4.9% at end-June and 4.1% from a year earlier. Since the start of 2019, unemployment has risen from 4.6%. September saw the highest unemployment rate, matching the levels seen exactly six years ago in the third quarter of 2015. more..

Jan 7 (EN) Sri Lanka will scrap the specialized banking license in 2021 under a new law, converting all banks to a commercial license, CB Governor W D Lakshman said. Licensed specialized banks cannot provide customers current accounts. They have limited foreign exchange transaction capacities, and are not able to deposit excess liquidity or borrow through the central bank overnight window. The new Banking Act is converting licensed specialized banks into licensed commercial more..

Jan 7 (Island) Around 20,000 children, between the ages of 5 and 17, drop out of SL schools each year. 2016 survey on this subject indicated that this figure was moving up. Broken homes, children conceived outside wedlock and similar social problems were among the root causes for this crisis of acute concern, Commissioner, Department of Probation and Child Care Services Ms. Chandima Sigera disclosed recently. 'School drop outs were observed to a large extent in the Northern, Southern more..

Jan 7 (FT) The poultry industry expressed concern over the Govt’s decision to halt the import of corn as it may hinder their plans to increase the export of chicken to the Chinese and Middle Eastern markets. Govt yesterday declared that measures had been taken to halt the import of corn and peanuts with effect from 1 January. State Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that the Govt made the decision in order to uplift more..

Jan 7 (HT) In an effort to counter the effects of dew, the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) has been spraying a special chemical on the outfield at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. India will take on Sri Lanka in the second game of the three-match T20 International series on Tuesday. MPCA chief curator Samander Singh Chauhan said on Monday that to beat the effects of dew, a special chemical was being sprayed over the ground since the last three days. Besides, he said, more..

Jan 7 (FT) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is also Minister of Finance, appointed top professional Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne as Chairman of the Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF) Board. Wijeyeratne was the Managing Director/CEO of Teejay Lanka PLC, which is one of the S&P Top 20 Companies, and was recognised during his time as a Winner of Forbes Asia’s 200 Best under a Billion Dollar Company. He has served as the Country Manager of Microsoft for Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and more..

Jan 7 (Island) UNP seniors have decided that Speaker Karu Jayasuriya should lead the common opposition alliance to be formed to contest the upcoming general election. They believe that Jayasuriya is the ideal candidate to secure the Sinhala Buddhist votes. A UNP senior said: "It is imperative that Jayasuriya lead the campaign to attract the Sinhala Buddhist votes. We also want the JVP to join our alliance." more..

Jan 7 (ST) An influx of complaints demanding justice at the Human Rights Commission (HRC) has led to the streamlining of the work resulting in several filings being declined. Chairperson Deepika Udagama said the office had been compelled to reject several cases of custodial violations, land disputes, debt and enforcement of court decisions as they fell within the remit of other agencies. Complaints pile up as a result of a public misconception that HRC is the only place more..

Jan 7 (FT) Central Bank yesterday reassured that the engagement with the IMF will continue with changes if necessary. “We hope to engage with the IMF and other international agencies remaining within the overall national policy framework, negotiating for changes in the IMF program where changes are considered required,” CB Governor Prof. W.D. Lakshman told the 2020 Road Map launch. During the year 2019, Sri Lanka went through the fifth and sixth reviews of EFF more..

Jan 7 (ST) SL Air Force has been using its Chinese-built Harbin Y-12s–one of which crashed in Haputale on Friday, killing all on board–and Xian MA60 aircraft for civilian passenger transport without authorisation from the aviation regulator. The military has said a technical fault caused the Y-12 to crash. While only investigators can determine whether issues of airworthiness had anything to do with the accident, questions have dogged SLAF more..

Jan 7 (Island) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reinforced its commitment to partner with the govt of Sri Lanka and stakeholders towards realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Marking 40 years of its representation in SL, FAO underscored how food and agriculture lies at the very heart of sustainable development, from nourishing people to responding to climate change and managing natural resources. Addressing FAO’s 40th Anniversary event more..

Jan 7 (DM) The govt has decided to review the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) Act enacted by Parliament during the former regime. Act was brought in as part of previous govt’s commitment to UNHRC in terms of resolution 30/1. It provided for the establishment of the OMP as part of that govt’s reconciliation process. Resolution 30/1 envisaged the setting up of such a mechanism to trace the fate of persons who went missing, particularly during war time, to maintain a database of them. more..

Jan 7 (FT) SLPP yesterday questioned motives behind investigations carried out by law enforcement authorities during the previous administration and called for them to be revisited, assuring the present Govt will hold impartial probes. Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena charged many of investigations carried out during previous administration were based on political motives. more..

Jan 7 (PTI) His performance not up to the mark by his own admission, SL wicket-keeper batsman Kusal Perera says the senior players in the side will have to share more responsibility if they are to beat India in the T20 series. SL cricket team is going through a transition phase, struggling to replace stalwarts such as Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. "I didn't play consistent Test cricket but in white ball cricket, I played last series in Australia. There I played well but not upto the mark. more..

Jan 7 (DM) Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has appointed a 3-member committee led by the Deputy General Manager of Railways to look into the circumstances that led to the idling of ten locomotive engines at the Maligawatta railway yard imported from India at a cost of Rs. 1,100 million. During a discussion the minister had with trade union representatives and General Manager of Railways D. Fernando over the weekend, it was revealed that the locomotive engines were not suitable more..

Jan 7 (FT) Central Bank declared the economy is at a crossroads and could leapfrog despite challenges if reforms and right policies are pursued. Launching the 2020 Road Map CB's new Governor Prof. W.D. Lakshman clarified that though decades of policymaking have produced many improvements, the economy was at a crossroads with many tough challenges. He listed those as below potential growth, persistence of more..

Jan 7 (FT) Under an amendment proposed to the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Law, No. 1 of 1975, chairmen, directors and staff officers of companies registered under the Companies Act, in which the State, a public corporation or board holds not less than 25% of share capital are to be brought under the provisions of the Act. At present, the law only applies to chairmen, directors and staff officers at companies where the majority of shares are held by the State or by a public corporation. more..

Jan 7 (AD) The Department of Communication of the Parliament says members for the parliamentary committees are yet to be appointed, although the new session commenced last Friday (03). Following the Presidential Election, the parliamentary session was prorogued with effect from the 2nd of Dec 2019. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa prorogued the Parliament by virtue of the powers vested in him by Article 70 of the Constitution. Accordingly, 12 committees including more..

Jan 7 (FT) The UNP charged that during its first month in office, the present Govt has politically victimised nearly 25,000 State employees who joined the State sector during the three months. “It is very disheartening to witness the political victimisation of this Govt over the past month, not only oppression MP’s, as you are aware nearly 25,000 State sector employees who joined the State sector during the last three months,” he said. more..

Jan 7 (AD) Sri Lanka is deeply concerned about the growing tensions in the Middle East following the assassination of a senior Iranian leader. Issuing a communiqué, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Sri Lanka urges all parties to act with utmost restraint. Sri Lanka also called for maintaining peace and security through constructive dialogue in order to de-escalate the threat to the stability of the region. Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, the head of the elite Quds Force, more..

Jan 7 (DM) Commenting on controversial audio clips now going viral on social media platforms, former state minister Ranjan Ramanyake said he, as a minister who was committed to expose illegal and fraudulent acts, had to discuss matters with people representing various social strata. He said he used different tactics to extract information from some sources, inspired by the movie Mafia. He said he had to talk to several top CID officials regarding such matters, as the minister who lodged more..

Jan 7 (AD) Several recorded phone conversations between UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake and some prominent figures in the country, including former Director of the CID, have become public. Several MPs and ministers of the govt cited these voice tapes to the media and pointed out that MP Ramanayake had exerted influence on the police and the judiciary. The Police, last Saturday, carried out a search at MP’s house more..