Aug 24 (CT) As a token of appreciation for what the Tamils did in January 2015 to bring him to power, former Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran urged President Sirisena to release Tamil prisoners currently being held under the PTA before he relinquishes office. It is not too late to act prudently he told the President in a letter titled Problems of the Tamil Speaking People dated yesterday. more..

Aug 21 (Island) Parliament was not aware why the letter of invitation asking President Maithripala Sirisena to appear before the Parliamentary Select Committee probing the Easter Sunday carnage to give evidence had not been sent to him, JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake said, on Thursday. Raising a point of order, the MP said that it the letter had been drafted sometime back, but not delivered to the President’s office. more..

Aug 24 (ST) Albert Abeygunawardena (105) and his wife Leelawathi Wijegunawardena (93) enjoy the distinction of having voted at every single election since the first parliamentary election in 1947. The couple, hailing from Ihala Lellawala Village in Wanduramba, Galle, last cast their votes at the 2018 Local Govt Elections. Mr Abeygunawardena was 103 at the time, while his wife was 91. more..

Aug 24 (CB) As many as nine players who featured in the Sri Lanka squad for the T20I series against South Africa earlier in the year have been left out of the 15-member squad announced on Saturday (August 24) for the upcoming three-match T20I series against New Zealand. Lasith Malinga will continue to captain the T20I team while Niroshan Dickwella has been named his deputy. Danushka Gunathilaka, who last played an int'l game more..

Aug 24 (EN) Sri Lanka's price controlled drugs are still lower than pre-control price, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said, despite two price hikes given due the collapse of the currency by the central bank. CB has busted the rupee from 4.70 to the US dollar when it was set up in 1950 to around 180 rupees to the US dollar by 2019. The rupee was fixed from 1885, under a currency board which had no money printing powers. more..

Aug 24 (CI) A compact century from Tom Latham and a more adventurous one from Dhananjaya de Silva headlined an absorbing day of cricket at the Colombo's P Sara Oval. De Silva's 109 off 148 balls - of 77 of them came today, off 86 balls, in the company of the tail - carried Sri Lanka to 244 and seemingly a position of strength but Latham did well to stand up to their spin barrage even as the track showed signs of breaking up. more..

Aug 21 (Island) The SLFP had three options at the forthcoming 2019 presidential election, SLFP spokesman Thilanga Sumathipala, MP, told the media at his Punchi Borella office yesterday. Lawmaker Sumathipala said that the SLFP could field a candidate, throw its weight behind the SLPP nominee Gotabaya Rajapaksa or carryout a countrywide campaign to propagate its policies without supporting any candidate. more..

Aug 24 (DM) Sri Lanka has a coastline running approximately 1600 km where about one-third of the population lives. Of late, natural and man-made phenomena have heightened coastal erosion, causing danger and environmental degradation along many coastlines. Erosion takes place when wind, waves and long-shore currents move sand from the shore and deposit it elsewhere. Residents in areas like Negombo-Pitipana more..

Aug 21 (ST) Tiny dengue mosquito is spreading death and disease across the country. There have been 55 confirmed dengue deaths and 38,000 people affected by this viral disease so far this year, leading to the hospitals being flooded by patients. Amidst the gloom, the Director of the National Dengue Control Unit, Dr. Aruna Jayasekara gives a glimmer of hope when he tells Sunday Times that there seems to be a descending trend now. more..

Aug 21 (ST) Residents, religious representatives and politicians have been holding several protests charging that the Aruwakkalu sanitary land fill was not being operated as it was assured earlier. Around 1000 residents participated in the latest protest on Friday. Religious leaders who also were among the protectors voiced their concern over the manner in which garbage was being disposed of in the area. more..

Aug 21 (DM) Reconciliation is not only for victims of war. It is a concept which should reach out to every citizen of SL equally. Consultations that were carried out countrywide showed that while equity and fairness are vital concepts, there is also a need for targeted assistance (Final Report of the CTF, 59) for vulnerable groups considering the specific ways in which they experience harm. Women in this case were identified as vulnerable because of the way they experience harm more..

Aug 21 (DM) The April 21 Easter Sunday Islamic State suicide bombing catastrophe turning into a blessing through the consolidation of an all-religions solidarity alliance, there was special significance for Sri Lanka in Thursday’s United Nations international day commemorating the victims of acts of violence based on religion or belief. About 260 people were killed and more than 500 injured when IS-affiliated suicide bombers attacked three churches during Easter Sunday services, more..

Aug 24 (Island) Prez aspirant Sajith Premadasa declared in Matara, that he would shun living in palaces and bulletproof vehicles and like his late father breathe his last among the masses. Premadasa was addressing a large gathering of his supporters who braved inclement weather to flock to the Jayasuriya grounds to welcome him. Premadasa said that the future of the nation would be decided within the next few months. more..

Aug 24 (DM) The visiting UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Ahmed Shaheed, when he called on Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa at the latter's Chamber at the Parliamentary Complex, has said that all ethnic groups in SL enjoyed freedom of religion in comparison to some other countries in Asia. According to a statement issued by the Opposition Leader's Office, UN Expert had also said the reconciliation among the different ethnicities more..

Aug 24 (DN) Galle Additional Magistrate Pavitra Pathirana further remanded the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh suspects in the Avant Garde floating armoury that operated near the Galle harbour until September 6 when they were produced before her yesterday. The four suspects further remanded are the fourth suspect, former Rakna Lanka Chairman Victor Samaraweera, fifth suspect, retired Major General Palitha Fernando, sixth respondent, retired Major General Karunarathna Egodawela more..

Aug 24 (Island) Chief Accounting Officer (secretary) of the Ministry of Power and Energy Dr. Suren Batagoda, yesterday, did not appear before the parliamentary watchdog committee – COPE which was waiting to grill him over several issues including the questionable power deals that caused colossal losses to the state coffers. Dr Batagoda did not appear before COPE & sent an acting secretary instead so the committee postponed more..

Aug 24 (NR) Prez Sirisena has ordered Tri-Forces personnel to be deployed and stationed island-wide to maintain public security, despite the decision to no longer extend the State of Emergency. Accordingly by powers vested with the President under Section 12 of the Public security Ordinance (Chapter 40) an Extraordinary Gazette Notification has been issued in this regard. Yesterday Ministry of Defence announced that the State of Emergency in the country will not be extended. more..

Aug 24 (CT) Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratna yesterday dismissed a lawyer's plea that summons be served on the Director of the CID, Shani Abeysekera and his passport impounded. Attorney-at-Law Jagath Jaliya Samarasinghe has accused Abeysekera with allegedly failing to apprehend four persons, including two Police officers, in connection with the case against former Senior DIG and now death row inmate Vaas Gunawardene and seven others. more..

Aug 24 (PMD) President Maithripala Sirisena says there is a need of a construction industry which gives priority for the sustainable development. President made these remarks participating at the inaugural ceremony of the CONSTRUCT 2019 international construction exhibition, today (23). The exhibition organized annually since 2001 by the National Construction Association of Sri Lanka will be held more..

Aug 24 (Island) Salinda Dissanayake’s political life was no ordinary journey and despite his memorable political career, farming was at his heart and he had evinced a keen interest in organic farming, said PM Ranil Wickremesinghe joining the condolence vote on the late UPFA MP Salinda Dissanayake in Parliament. "After the assassination of Vijaya Kumaratunga, Salinda Dissanayake was very concerned about the safety of Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and more..

Aug 24 (DM) Over a decade on since the launch of revolutionary services, People’s Bank is now implementing over 750 new Palmtop machines into service. Chiefly aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises and sole proprietors, the service affords customers the ability to make deposits, apply for loans, and make balance inquiries, all from the comfort of their home or place of work. The service is currently available for all savings and current account holders at People’s Bank, more..

Aug 24 (Island) SLFP spokesman MP Thilanga Sumathipala yesterday said that former lawmaker M.L.A.M. Hizbullah shouldn’t be allowed to retain control of the Batticaloa Campus (Pvt.) Limited also called the Sharia University under any circumstances. Hizbullah functions as the founder Chairman of the Batticaloa Campus situated on Hizbullah Mawatha, Punani. Former Deputy Speaker Sumathipala said that no one should be more..

Aug 24 (DN) Two Sri Lankans, Ranga Madupathma and Sudam Gamage, who climbed to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, returned to the island yesterday morning. Mount Kilimanjaro, located in Tanzania, is the highest free-standing volcanic mass in the world. Mount Kilimanjaro National Park spreads over an area of 756km and it is listed under the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Ranga Madupathma (33) and Sudam Gamage (36) are both residing overseas more..

Aug 24 (DM) Tourist Hotels Association of SL (THASL) in a statement has said the visit of Dr. Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, Head of the internationally diverse Dawoodi Muslim Bohra community to SL at this point of time is an event of great significance. “The spirit of goodwill which has co-existed amongst the religious communities in our country throughout history. Despite the efforts of a very small number to disrupt this solidarity and togetherness which binds us all, more..

Aug 24 (CI) Pakistan will host their longest bilateral series in a decade after Sri Lanka agreed to play three ODIs and three T20s in Karachi and Lahore. This will mark the first international action in the country for 18 months, though it has meant that the two Tests scheduled between the sides for October - and which the PCB wanted to be played in Pakistan - have been postponed to December. Where they will be played is not yet clear, more..

Aug 24 (DN) Enabling access to high quality urban housing will have a transformational impact in SL society and economy as a whole and policy focus should also be placed on stimulating development of multifamily, condominium housing which is accessible by the middle class. Speaking at a seminar on Future of Condominium Living in Sri Lanka, Nayana Mawilmada, Sector Head- John Keells Properties said that the private sector is best positioned to deliver on the nations’ more..

Aug 24 (FT) The second mobile service of Enterprise Sri Lanka which provides entrepreneurial loan at concessionary interest rates will be held at the Dambulla Pelwehera Agriculture School premises today and tomorrow. State Finance Minister Eran Wickramaratne will participate as the Chief Guest at the opening of this mobile service that will be held from 7.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Ministry of Finance has organised this mobile service intending to accelerate more..

Aug 24 (DM) U.S. Ambassador Alaina B. Teplitz, in an interactive discussion with a select group of journalists, responds to questions about the current controversy triggered by the US expressing concerns on the appointment of Army Commander Shavendra Silva. Also, she shed light on the process involved in the renunciation of U.S. citizenship. Here is the discussion presented in the form of an interview: more..

Aug 24 (EN) A drop in excess liquidity earlier in August around the time large scale money printing from lender of last resort windows at around the deposit rate came from a repayment of central bank credit by the Treasury, it has been revealed. On Aug 16, the stock of officially declared central bank Treasury bill holding came down to 77.8 billion rupees from 106.09 billion rupees, while the aggregate balance of the banking system dropped to 7.20 billion rupees from 34.61 billion rupees. more..

Aug 24 (Island) Non Cabinet Minister Harsha De Silva says that his new initiative would help reduce waste of crop yield during excessive harvest seasons and help both farmers and consumers. The minister's argument is that farmers get a low price for their fresh produce when there is oversupply. And so, a temperature and humidity controlled warehouse would help store their produce under right temperature conditions and release the items to the market when there is under-supply, more..

Aug 24 (FT) The Bohra Global Convention starting next week in Sri Lanka will be a great boost for tourism and consolidating interfaith harmony post Easter Sunday tragedy a top Minister said on Thursday. The first-ever carbon-neutral, Ashara Mubaraka is scheduled to be held from 1 to 10 September which will draw around 25,000 religious visitors from 40 countries, while the economic benefit to the country may well be more..

Aug 24 (CT) Rising tennis star Anjalika Kurera of Ave Maria Convent, Negombo continued her sensational progress in the 104th National Tennis Championship with another signature performance, defeating Savini Jayasuriya in straight sets 6-1, 6-1 to add the Girls' Under-18 Singles trophy and title to her growing list of laurels at the SLTA Courts yesterday. The long-anticipated girls' singles final was a heated no -holds barred clash between the two power hitters who strived to make more..

Aug 24 (CT) Dhammika Prasad made his ODI debut in 2006 against Bangladesh. This pacer with aggressive energy was able to grab 2 wickets for 29 runs in a match that SL won by 78 runs. A back injury made him wait another 2 years before he could play red ball cricket. Test cap 110 made his debut against India on 8 Aug 2008, where this fast bowler was able to grab 3 wickets for 82 runs and 2 for 60 in the two innings'; a match bag of 5 for 142 including the wickets of more..

Aug 24 (DN) US-based long distance runner Hiruni Wijayaratne is poised to become the next biggest Sri Lankan athletic star on the world stage after Olympic medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe going by the celebrity status accorded to her when she arrived in the island to participate in the 97th National Athletics Championships held at the Sugathadasa Stadium. First Sri Lankan to qualify for next month’s IAAF World Athletic C'ship, more..

Aug 24 (Island) Despite all the brouhaha about sportsmanship and suchlike, when it comes to picking the perfect spoil sport of them all, the Brits are in a class of their own. By scheduling the finals of two of the finest sporting events on earth on the same day in the same city and at about the same time, they displayed the kind of mean streak that can only be described as sadistic. Poor relations such as us located thousands of miles away, were compelled to switch TV channels more often than would more..

Aug 24 (Island) Another suspect has been arrested over the abduction of The Nation Associate Editor Keith Noyahr. He is a military intelligence officer, we are told. The AG’s Department is reported to have said the CID made the arrest following the AG’s instructions. It was reported the other day that the state prosecutor had ordered that all emblematic cases be expedited. One is puzzled, though. Is it that the aforesaid intelligence officer would not have been arrested but for the AG’s instructions? more..