June 18 (BS) Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt. Ltd (DICV), a 100% wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler AG, exported the first shipment of 64 Fuso trucks, manufactured at its Oragadam plant, near Chennai and exported to Sri Lanka. It may be noted, on 23 May 2013, DICV along with Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, another entity of Daimler Trucks, based in Japan, launched the new Fuso range of trucks at DICV’s plant at Oragadam, near Chennai. more..

June 18 (DM) The National Transport Commission (NTC) is planning to increase bus fares by 6.2% from July 1, but the minimum fare of Rs. 9 is likely to remain unchanged. During a discussion held yesterday between the NTC and representatives of the Inter Regional Bus Companies presided over by NTC Chairman Roshan Gunawardene, some bus owners lamented that the percentage of increase was not more..

June 18 (wsws) Chronic kidney disease (CKD), the causes of which have not been fully unidentified, is taking at least two lives a day in Sri Lanka’s North Central and Uva provinces. It has already killed more than 20,000 people, mainly from poor farming families, over the past two decades. Currently over 200,000 patients, including children as young as 10, suffer from the disease. At least 15% of the population in the 15–70 age group in the two provinces has been affected. more..

June 18 (LBO) National Industries Group SAK of Kuwait said it has bought a Sri Lanka based stock brokering and fund management company from Saudi Arabia's Heraymila, rebranding the firms as 'Candor'. Heraymila Securities Limited Heraymila Capital (Pvt) Limited, have been acquired though NIG's Dubai based investment arm, Eagle Proprietary Investments Limited (EPIL). EPIL said that Sri Lanka’s capital markets have immense potential for growth being situated at the more..

June 19 (NS) According to the new CEB tariff structure, those who consume 90–180 units are marginally subsidized. Only those consumers consuming less than 90 units are subsidized if at all. The domestic consumers consuming over 180 units a month are paying a much higher price above the cost of supply for every unit of electricity consumed. CEB is imposing excessive burdens on the poor and the helpless while granting all concessions to the super rich. more..

June 19 (CT) It is my duty as the elected head of the un-official Bar with a legal fraternity of over 15,000 attorneys spread around the country, to have the privilege of Welcoming your Ladyship. I am joined by not only those who are present here today but the entire membership of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka. I rise today in this august assembly with a mandate from the entire legal fraternity to warmly welcome your Ladyship Justice Malini Gunaratna as you take your rightful place in this more..

June 19 (SO) Many of the govt's far-reaching programs to provide infrastructure to the Mannar district and make it the main hub of agriculture and fisheries once again have been completed and the district is bustling with much activity, four years after the elimination of terrorism. With the railway lines already restored up to the Madhu Road from Medawachchi under the Govt of India program, train services are anticipated more..

June 19 (CT) The reactivation of the Press Council Law and the govt-proposed Code of Ethics for journalists have to be viewed with great suspicion for many reasons. Ethics is beyond the realm of legal codification. Ethics is about moral principles that govern a person or a group’s behaviour. While some philosophers suggested that it should exemplify justice and charity, and benefit the person and society, others later introduced the idea that ethics entrains one’s duty towards others more..

June 19 (NS) Things seem to be moving from bad to worse, though research has been done, the WHO has made a study and given recommendations and many personages have offered ideas. The disease, though it was confined to the North Central Province is now spreading to other districts. In addition to all other factors that have been identified the excessive use of fertilizer is a major cause. The problem with the use of fertilizer is that there are three varieties, phosphate, potash and sulphate. more..

June 19 (NS) JVP which was set almost 45 years ago entered into the democratic politics in 1990 after two armed uprisings against then ruling govts. It has also had affiliations with the country’s both major parties SLFP and the UNP. Here, its General Secretary Tilvin Silva speaks about the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and the present political behavior. Q: 13th Amendment to the Constitution is the talk of the town more..

June 19 (Island) We continue with amending the 13th Amendment this week as it appears that some well meaning people have misunderstood the article published last Wednesday. My intention was to draw the attention of the public to the Articles 154 G (2) (b) and 154 G (3) (b) of the constitutions, which is not law of the country. There were two amendments to the 13th Amendment before the cabinet that met last week. One was to amend the Article 154 A (3) on the merger of two or more PCs. more..

June 19 (EAR) News came bit late, but it is confirmed! He left us! He never remained silent! At times he was frustrating! He expressed his anger in words many times! He opposed violence! At times he was eager to earn a nationalistic image even at his retired stage. He impressed those he came across promoting nationalism. His happiness seemed to go into hiding somewhere in the ladder of life but his face always appeared before us in a deep thoughtful mood. He is an icon of personal more..

June 19 (FT) IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is extending a 10-year tenure loan of $ 24 million (over Rs. 3 billion) for National Development Bank PLC (NDB) to support the bank’s growth plans. IFC’s funding will enable the bank to extend financing options across all business segments, generating employment opportunities and providing access to long term funding to small businesses. “IFC’s investment brings the required long-term financing which will help NDB to promote the more..

June 19 (Island) Maliban, one of Sri Lanka’s leading biscuit manufacturers, now ranks Number 3among Unlisted Brands, according to the latest LMD Brands Manual 2013. Commenting on the success of the Brand, Ravi Jayawardana – CEO, Sales & Marketing of Maliban Biscuits said "Our superlative marketing   performance has elevated Maliban’s position to Rank 3 in 2013 from Rank 13 in 2012," . "The ranking is based on public opinion and their perception towards the Maliban brand. more..

June 19 (CT) Constitutional reform has been a topic of 'hot discussion' in Sri Lankan political circles with the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ), spearheaded by the Ven. Sobitha Thera, preparing a draft proposal for a new Constitution that would abolish the Executive Presidency. Here, CT, talks to one of the architects of the draft proposals, constitutional expert and President's Counsel,Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, about more..

June 19 (Hindu) And yet again, Sri Lanka finds itself near the finish line of another major tournament. The 2013 Champions Trophy may have begun inauspiciously for Angelo Mathews’ men, with a wafer-thin loss to NZ but it has been a familiar tale of resurgence thereafter. Nuwan Kulasekara’s stunning little assault and Kumar Sangakkara’s ton saw England off, while Mahela Jayawardena — a man for the big occasion if there ever was one — turned the tide over Australia. more..

June 19 (HP) In the light of triumph the mistakes of the past are often thrown in to the shadows to be forgotten. For Sri Lanka this bodes true, as the govt continues to bathe in the "glory" of its defeat of the LTTE back in 2009. Four years have passed since Sri Lanka's brutal and bloody civil war came to an aggressive end. At the time many rejoiced with the news, and expectations that after 26 years the country could reconcile. It now appears as though reconciliation is playing second fiddle to more..

June 19 (DBS) A group of Christians belonging to Jehova’s Witnesses became the target of the ethno religious fascist organization “Ravana Balaya” (Ravana force) on Sunday (16) at Mulleriyawa on the outskirts of Colombo city. The Ravana Balaya is an extremist organization comprising members of the Buddhist clergy and laity named after the mythological ten headed demon king of ancient Lanka, Ravana. more..

June 19 (Island) The fifth session of the Sri Lanka Economic Summit (SLES) will be discussing about the challenges of demographic changes and skills gap. The focal point of the discussion would be to assess potential gaps and find solutions to reduce the threat of skills shortage through growth and competitiveness and provide recommendations. The session will have two key note presentations, and a panel discussion to discuss the foregoing issues and the way forward. more..

June 19 (Island) The Northwestern Provincial Councillor who made a female teacher kneel down on Friday in full view of her students and colleagues for admonishing his daughter has been remanded again. President Rajapaksa has decreed that the SLFP take disciplinary action against him. All prominent govt leaders lost no time in condemning the harassment of the teacher and hauling her tormentor over the coals. An age-old practice among our rural folk is to throw out crowbars during more..

June 19 (Island) Former captain Mahela Jayawardene, who produced a match-winning knock against Australia in the last group game of the Champions Trophy here at The Oval on Monday, said his team had to patiently see through some nervous moments at the key match. A mere win was enough for Sri Lanka to go through to the semi-finals, but the equation was completely different for the Australians. more..

June 19 (FT) The ‘Unity Paper,’ a bilingual newspaper by the Ada newspaper, a part of Wijeya Newspapers Ltd., was awarded a Bronze Lion at the 60th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in the Media Lions Category for the ‘Best Use of Print’. The ‘Unity Paper’ has also been shortlisted in the Design Lions Category for Advertising Typography. The ‘Unity Paper’ was created to remind every Sri Lankan of the importance of national unity and integration more..

June 19 (Island) The Govt Nursing Officers Association (GNOA) warned they would stage a one hour picketing campaign today at 50 govt hospitals to demand that the Health Ministry give a solution to the severe shortage of nurses. GNOA President, Saman Ratnapriya said that the lack of nurses in certain hospitals had forced the Ministry to partially function certain units in several hospitals, including the National Hospital. Ratnapriya said that there was a gross requirement for 43,000 nurses more..

June 19 (Island) The country’s Industrial Production Index (IPI) fell 1.6% in March 2013 from a year earlier, latest data showed, with industrialists and analysts calling for the establishment of the right to information, anti-corruption and anti-rent seeking practices in order to develop the SME sector which accounts for 91% of the country’s industries, a sector falling under strain. IPI with a base year in 2010 fell to 117 points more..

June 19 (FT) Over 26,000 Sri Lankan work visas have been issued to Chinese nationals over the last seven years to meet the demand for skilled labour, the Govt revealed in Parliament yesterday, as ties between the two countries continue to burgeon. Responding to a question posed by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake who highlighted growing unemployment in the country, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said the growing number of construction related projects under the BOI more..

June 19 (CT) The govt should introduce a framework to monitor tuition classes to ensure that tutors are qualified in their subject matter and bring in laws to ban tuition classes on Sundays and Poya Days, the Samadhi Vandana Foundation demanded. Patron of the Foundation, Ven. Aluth Oya Siddhathissa Thera urged the govt to introduce a system to monitor tuition classes and to regulate them. He said the tuition culture is bringing about the downfall of Sri Lankan society and more..

June 19 (Island) There is a possibility of the country being plunged into a total blackout if the first coal fired power plant, in Norochcholai, trips off after the commissioning of the second stage this September. That could happen as the existing power lines are unable to cope with a doubling of the load, senior engineers of the CEB warned. Engineers said that although they hoped to commission the second stage soon, more..

June 19 (DM) The Colombo Fraud Investigations Bureau (CFIB) had begun an investigation into a fraud committed against a mobile phone company by a subscriber who had set a record by amassing a bill of Rs.3.2 million for using roaming facilities in less than 24 hours. The mobile phone company had complained to the CFIB that the suspect Mujahideen Musharaf had piled up a bill of Rs.3.2 million by taking 571 calls after the company offered him roaming facilities on a payment of more..

June 19 (FT) Hemas Hospitals yesterday opened its third and latest multi-speciality full capability hospital in Thalawathugoda, built with an investment of Rs. 1.3 billion and spanning across 62,000 sq ft. Officiated by President Rajapaksa yesterday, the hospital is part of the group’s plan to touch lives of over five million with 10 hospitals in suburban cities by 2020. Having invested Rs. 4 billion within the past four years since the launch of its first hospital in Wattala, Hemas has delivered more..

June 19 (Island) The JHU yesterday presented a Private Member’s Bill to Parliament to abolish the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. It was presented by JHU MP Ven. Aturaliye Ratana and is titled the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. The bill was seconded by UNP MP Palitha Range Bandara. The Bill states that the 13th Amendment seeks to weaken the govt whilst strengthening the Provincial Councils and more..

June 19 (Hindu) A section of the media in Sri Lanka, particularly the English press, has lapped up the recent visit of the Indian delegation led by BJP leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad. On Saturday, Daily News reported Mr. Prasad as having told Sri Lanka’s Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa that he witnessed the “mega development that is taking place in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka” and more..

June 19 (FT) The UNP Working Committee decision to expel 11 party members on Monday was a result of the recommendations by a disciplinary committee that engaged in a lengthy and comprehensive process to determine if those individuals had acted in violation of party regulations, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said. He said that based on the recommendations of the committee that conducted a disciplinary inquiry into the attack on the party’s Sirikotha Headquarters more..

June 19 (CT) The Supreme Court yesterday refused to grant leave to proceed with a Fundamental Rights (FR) application, filed by Lawyers for Human Rights and Democracy, against the recently introduced electricity tariff scheme by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) and the CEB. General Manager of the CEB, Nihal Wickramasuriya, Chairman of PUCSL, Dr. Jayatissa de Costa, and the Attorney General had been more..

June 19 (Island) Two directors of a mercantile firm, who were arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) yesterday, over the May 24 major fire at the Colombo Port warehouse, will be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate today. The CCD spearheaded the investigations following the revelation made in the government analyst’s report to the police that the fire was due to a chemical reaction inside a cargo. Such cargoes should be kept in a dangerous cargo warehouse. more..

June 19 (AN) The new Sri Lankan Ambassador Vadivel Krishnamoorthy, who presented his credentials in Jeddah on Saturday thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for the generous amnesty granted to the illegal expatriates either to rectify their status or go back to their homeland. Krishnamoorthy presented his credentials to State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nizar Obeid Madani at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Jeddah on Saturday. more..

June 19 (Hindu) For the first time since the end of the military annihilation of the LTTE in May 2009, and a raging debate within Sri Lanka on the way to go about redressing the political and social grievances of the island nation’s Tamils, India has expressed dismay over reports suggesting that Colombo is mulling over a review of the key issues related to devolution of powers to the provinces. At an interactive session with more..

June 19 (TOI) Around 400 members across 15 political outfits, including MDMK, Thanthai Periyar Diravida Kazhagam (TPDK), VCK, Tamil Desam, Tamil Ealam Viduthalai Students' Organization, gathered at the Manekshaw Bridge, widely known as Black Bridge Junction in Wellington on Tuesday, and staged a protest against the training of two Sri Lankan officers allegedly undergoing training at the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) located within the Wellington cantonment area. more..

June 19 (DN) Experiments carried out by the Bathalagoda Rice Research and Development Institute (RRDI) have revealed that soil samples taken from all paddy fields contain a certain amount of Cadmium. This includes soil samples taken from paddy fields where no chemical fertiliser had been used for over 30 years. A kilogram of such a soil sample, that was contaminated without using organic or inorganic fertiliser contains 0.037mg of Cadmium, the research revealed. more..