May 21 (CT) The newly appointed government has made the Sri Lanka Police green, but we will make the Police blue after the parliamentary election, Leader of Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU), Udaya Gammanpila said when he arrived at the CID yesterday. Gammanpila came to the CID to hand over a letter that demands the Deputy Inspector General of CID and Inspector General of Police to provide information to the public regarding the alleged coup attempt on 9 January. more..

May 21 (Island) Minister Ravi Karunanayake told Parliament that he had never influenced lending processes of Lankaputhra Bank or any other bank contrary to claims by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Making a ministerial statement, Minister Karunanayake said: "My attention is drawn to a recent statement made by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa with regard to Lankaputhra Development Bank. more..

May 21 (Island) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, blamed in some quarters for the suspension of some Chinese-funded projects including the Colombo Port City being, has told China that no issue is too big for friends to resolve through negotiations. This assurance was when the Chinese Ambassador Yi Xianliang called on the Prime Minister in Colombo recently. Stressing that China was a good friend and important development partner of SL the PM told Yi that he would promote mutually beneficial more..

May 21 (CT) Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, who is now in remand custody following his arrest filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition yesterday in the Supreme Court requesting Court to release him immediately. This FR petition was filed by Rajapaksa's counsel, Sanath Wijewardena. 45 respondents are named in the petition including the PM, Cabinet, DIG-in-charge of the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), the Prisons Authority and the Attorney General. more..

May 21 (SR) A Sri Lankan national was abducted during a brazen kidnapping operation at the boundary of Ondo and Kogi States. The man, identified by Sri Lankan embassy staff as Mr. Karunaratna, worked for an Italian-owned construction company and has lived in Nigeria for more than 10 years. He was on his way to a construction deal at the Kogi and Ondo boundary when he was abducted. more..

May 21 (Island) The SLFP would soon call for applications from those desirous of contesting the upcoming parliamentary election, SLFP General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said. Addressing the media, Yapa said that the members of the nomination board would be named in the near future and interviews would commence shortly. The SLFP believed that the election should be held after the 20th Amendment to the Constitution was passed, Yapa said. more..

May 21 (AD) A software which could assist in preventing Sri Lanka maritime zone from being polluted by arriving ships has been prepared jointly by Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) and Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA). This software enables the systematic and efficient removal of garbage or pollutants in vessels arriving to SL by gathering advance information on them, says Kanchana Thudugala who is e-Service head of agency. more..

May 21 (Island) Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa yesterday said the opposition’s motions against Central Bank governor and Director General of the Bribery Commission should be referred to a special committee of Parliament before being taken up for debate. Announcing his opinion over the two motions, Speaker said: MP Dinesh Gunawardena brought to the notice of the Business Committee on Tuesday that there were two more..

May 21 (Island) CID officials questioned former Minister Wimal Weerawansa for three and a half hours over the allegedly forged documents that his wife Sashi is believed to have used to obtain a Diplomatic Passport (DP) and a National Identity Card (NIC). On Friday the CID informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate that after a thorough investigation into the matter it had determined that the documents used by the Minister's wife to obtain DP and NIC were forged. more..

May 21 (DN) Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) had been established with Cabinet approval and President Maithripala Sirisena is also in the Cabinet. Therefore if anybody says that the FCID is illegal etc. it is only to cover up their own corruption and malpractices, JVP Propaganda Secretary and MP Vijitha Herath said. He said that cabinet approval had been granted to establish the FCID by the President, PM and all Cabinet Ministers who belong to the SLFP and the UNP. more..

May 21 (Island) President Maithripala Sirisena confirmed PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s recent declaration that a new govt would be in place by September this year. President, however, declined to indicate when Parliament would be dissolved. President was fielding questions at a meeting with the media and proprietors of media organizations. Pointing out that the election date would be decided by Election Commissioner, more..

May 21 (ENS) A 24-year-old Sri Lankan post-graduate student in Chemistry at the University of Maryland USA, has discovered an agent which will clear oil spills in the sea without damaging the aquatic environment. Jasmin Athas, working under the supervision of Professor Srinivasa Raghavan, an alumnus of IIT Madras, found that a mixture of two food-grade molecules, Lecithin and Tween 80, is an effective emulsifier and is able to disperse crude oil in sea water. more..

May 21 (DN) Former Minister G.L. Peiris said that the govt should tell the country whether Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran is still a Singaporean national or has he been granted citizenship status of Sri Lanka. He said Mahendran has taken the oath of renunciation, allegiance and loyalty by which he has renounced loyalty to any foreign state or country. "How can a foreigner who pays no allegiance to Sri Lanka, hold the governorship of Central Bank?" he asked. more..

May 21 (CT) Jaffna residents protested opposite the Jaffna Courts complex yesterday (20) demanding the death sentence for all those responsible for the rape and murder of 18-year-old Sivaloganaadan Vithiya, a student of the Jaffna Kayts Punkuduthivu Maha Vidyalaya. The angry demonstration was unleashed on the streets leading to the Court before the suspects were driven into the Court premises. more..

May 21 (DM) One of the most virtuous features or characteristics of the Yahapalanaya Govt is the commitment to a simple and humble lifestyle or Alpechchethawaye which has been part of Sri Lanka’s culture and civilisation for more than 2,500 years. President Maithripala Sirisena who was elected to this high office in a silent rainbow revolution of the people on January 8 has himself set the example for selfless, simple and sacrificial servant leadership. more..

May 21 (DM) Demolition of ruthless terrorism is in no uncertain terms a great victory for the nation. Championing of Triumphalism by a section of the community—is a self-inflicted tragic defeat. Apart from the 1200 IPKF men, the rest of the tens of thousands who laid their lives in the 30-year war were our own brethren. Over 90 percent of them died due to armed action by both sides. A military show of strength invariably conveys a wrong message not only to the Tamils but more..

May 21 (DC) It is the anniversary of former PM Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination. Brutal killing by a suicide bomber that sent chills down the spine among millions is still an incomplete story. Sivarasan, also known as the one-eyed-jack, the brain behind the attack on Mr Gandhi, and his close associates committed suicide when policemen surrounded their secluded house in Konanakunte Cross, on outskirts of Bengaluru weeks later. more..

May 21 (LBO) Sri Lanka’s Kalpitiya Beach Resort, a subsidiary of Citrus Leisure PLC, has said that the hotel project was held back due to former govt incompetency to attract occupancy and build tourism infrastructure. In 2011, Kalpitiya Beach Resort has raised 283.5 million rupees from an initial public offering stating that the funds will be utilized partly to finance a construction of a resort hotel in Kalpitiya. more..

May 21 (DM) The political climate prevailing in the country today is so highly volatile and complex, one may find it difficult to read it correct. Veteran politician City mayor A.J.M. Muzammil in this interview makes his observations on a series of topical issues having a direct bearing on this political climate. Q: You were mortally afraid that the Maithri - Mahinda talks would conclude on a note of concord? A: If anyone thought that the UNP was more..

May 21 (ST) A string of Urban Development projects put on hold pending reviews will be further delayed until new investors are found, estimates reviewed and fresh avenues on return on investments are decided upon. UDA Chairman, Ranjith Fernando said that a team from Singapore will be visiting Sri Lanka to plan out the City’s development, separating the commercial area from the residential areas. more..

May 21 (GDI) Sri Lanka's President Maithreepala Sirisena took oaths as Chief Scout of Sri Lanka & Patron of the Guild on Tuesday (20) at a special ceremony held at the President's Office. Chief Commissioner of Sri Lanka Scouts Prof. Nimal de Silva administered the oath and adorned him with a national scarf. Sri Lanka Scouts constitution provides that the President of the country is the Chief Scout. more..

May 21 (Island) The previous govt had spent Rs. 1,094,294 to feed the stray dogs removed from the Colombo city limit during the Commonwealth Heads of Govt Meeting held in 2013, Minister Gayantha Karunathilake told Parliament yesterday. He said 203 stray dogs captured from various parts of the city had been kept at two locations in the Baseline Road and the Magazine Road during CHOGM meeting and more..

May 21 (FT) PM Ranil Wickremasinghe stated that the interim order prohibiting arrest of former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was a matter that requires an interpretation from the Supreme Court, having had issued two different judgements on similar matters recently. Responding to questions from Leader of the Opposition Nimal Siripala de Silva raised in the Parliament on Tuesday Wickremasinghe more..

May 21 (SL) According to specialists and researchers working on de-mining operations in the North and East regions, there are still unidentified areas that are not being mapped in their mission – yet in the recent times, the process of clearing landmines have slowed down to a great extent leaving the operation incomplete. Although the resettlement is done to a large extent after clearing certain areas, more..

May 21 (Hindu) It is nearly two months since the Sri Lanka army returned V. Yogeswaran’s land and house in Palai Veemankamam, about 15 km from Jaffna. Yet, he just can’t believe it that his property has been restored to him. Nearly 25 years have passed by since his family left the house in June 1990 on the directions of the army. Four months later, there was heavy shelling in and around the area, forcing the remaining people more..

May 21 (AFP) A former Tamil Tiger fighter fleeing the mayhem of his native Sri Lanka must do battle on the mean streets of a French housing estate in a movie shown Thursday at Cannes spotlighting Europe's refugee crisis. Dheepan by one of France's most acclaimed film directors, Jacques Audiard, tells the story of the war-scarred title character meeting a young woman and a nine-year-old girl in a refugee camp. more..

May 21 (CT) A war winning decorated military hero, who was court marshaled, stripped of his medals and humiliated by the Rajapaksa brothers regained his honour with the election of Maithripala Sirisena to the Executive Office. He was acquitted of all charges, his medals returned, pension and other retirement benefits restored. He was later promoted to the rank of Field Marshall, the first military officer to rise to this rank in Sri Lankan military history. Yesterday, he along with his wife Anoma more..

May 21 (Island) All Ceylon Health Service Union (ACHSU), JVP trade union arm, in the government health sector staged a protest march and a demonstration outside the Health Ministry yesterday morning making 10 demands inclusive of the rectification of salary anomalies. The union has members from over 30 grades and including health service assistants, overseers, ward clerks and lab assistants. It also staged a strike at the National Hospital parallel to the demonstration. more..

May 21 (FT) Q: Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has accused the Govt of carrying out a political witch-hunt against the pro-Rajapaksa group and his family members. What are your views? A: Yes, that is true. Not only the Rajapaksa family but even many Govt officials who are attached to various ministries and institutions are being subjected to a political witch hunt. Even the officers at lowest level are being questioned more..

May 21 (EN) Sri Lankan shares, hovering near a 12-week high, ended weaker Thursday after two days of gains ahead of the central bank’s monetary policy announcement which is expected to keep policy rates at record lows, brokers said. All Share Price Index slipped 16.08 points (0.22%) to end at 7,273.69 while the S&P SL 20 index, fell by 4.89 points (0.12%) to end at 4,068.63. Turnover was 1.7 billion rupees, supported byseveral crossings or off-the floor negotiated deals in more..

May 21 (CT) President Maithripala Sirisena speaking at the 'Ranaviru Commemoration Parade 2015' held in Matara on Tuesday said that the reconciliation process includes investigating the truth and delivering justice. This is one step more than what Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran speaking at Mullivaikkal the previous day Monday proposed. He said that Tamils don't want the perpetrators punished, but what they want is the truth. more..

May 21 (AD) The committee appointed to investigate the Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket sex scandal has found evidence of sexual harassment by members of the women’s management team. “The Committee report found evidence of sexual harassment by members of the Sri Lanka Cricket Women’s management team against several members of the Sri Lanka Cricket women’s team and the Minister intends to more..

May 21 (Island) Minister Wijayadasa Rajapakshe told Parliament that UPFA MP Sajin de Vass Gunawardena had been given freedom to attend Parliamentary sittings in keeping with the latter’s parliamentary privileges. He said Gunawardena was currently in the Welikada Prison hospital and though officials in charge had permitted him to attend Parliament he had not done so. "MP Vass has requested permission to attend Parliamentary sitting on Wednesday (20), Thursday and Friday. more..

May 21 (Island) A delay in appointing a medical consultant to monitor the chronic kidney disease preventive measures and screening of kidney patients in the North Central Province had caused a grave problem, the Govt Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said. GMOA National Health Issue Sub-Committee member Dr. Chinthaka Wijewardena said that the need for assigning a community medicine consultant to handle the task could not be overemphasised. more..

May 21 (LBO) Highway ministry said that it has reduced the cost of Outer Circular Highway (OCH) phase 3 by 30% to 24 billion rupees through removing of the provision to expand to four lane road to six lanes in 2027. However the ministry will stick to the Rajapakse Regime’s plan on four lane highway, but will not give nod to expanding OCH 3 to six lanes as it was based on traffic projection reports which the ministry says that more..

May 21 (EN) Tea exports earnings fell for the fourth straight month in April from a year ago with value-added teas also showing a drop as troubles in key markets battered the industry. Tea exports fell by 400,000 kilos to 22.9 million kilos in April 2015 compared with the same month in 2014. Although bulk teas grew, packeted teas remained static while tea bags fell. Total tea export earnings fell by 1.77 billion rupees to 13.5 billion rupees in April 2015 from the year before. more..

May 21 (CG) PM and former Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara called Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe a pakaya in Parliament today. This was after the Prime Minister attempted to prevent Nanayakkara from raising a point of order during Parliament proceedings today. “Do you think you can make me sit down? Pakaya,” Nanayakkara said. Nanayakkara accused the Prime Minister of not knowing what a point of order is or what standing orders in Parliament are. more..

May 21 (AD) Court of Appeals today refused to grant an interim order to suspend Harin Fernando from discharging his duties as the Chief Minister of the Uva Province. However, the petition which was filed by UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha and several Uva Provincial Councillors challenging the appointing of Fernando as CM, is to be taken up for hearing by the court. President of Court of Appeal, more..

May 21 (DM) Former President Mahinda Rajapakss said today that police should pay urgent attention to what happened in Jaffna as the initial stages of terrorism also began in a similar fashion. “Stones were pelted at police stations and the courts in Jaffna. The LTTE too began in a similar fashion. This is a dangerous situation. Therefore the police should act immediately. The law should take its course in a similar manner whether it is the North or the South of the country,” he said more..

May 21 (CI) Sri Lanka Women added Udeshika Prabodhani and Hasini Perera in their 14-member squad for the Twenty20 series against West Indies Women. The two replaced Prasadani Weerakkody and Sanduni Abeywickrema from the squad that lost the ODI series against West Indies. Chamari Atapattu, who was ruled out of the first two ODIs due to a hand injury, will continue to lead the team for the three-match series beginning on May 23. Atapattu returned to lead the one-day team more..