Apr 29 (CT) Kandy Sports Club Captain Fazil Marija has accepted an invitation by Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) to be part of the country's coaching staff for the upcoming Asia Rugby Championship which will be kicked off next month. Marija who spearheaded his side to win three titles in the previous season however, suffered an injury during one of the league matches which kept him out of action for few weeks. Although he did appear in the final of the Clifford Cup tournament, more..

Apr 29 (DN) The so called Common Opposition is a movement formulated with the sole intention of destroying the SLFP, Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said. He said that since former Minister Basil Rajapaksa has taken the leadership of this movement, his brother Prasanna Ranatunga should try to understand whether he should continue as a member of the Common Opposition or leave it after assessing the past record of Basil Rajapaksa. He expressed these sentiments when more..

Apr 29 (FT) Commissioner General of Prisons Nishan Dhanasinghe revealed that lives of some of the Prisons officials are at risk due to threats from underworld criminals, including drug kingpins. “The underworld kingpins in jails demand certain facilities and help from Prisons officials and when the officers refuse these demands, the lives of unarmed Prisons officers are under threat as the supporters of those underworld criminals more..

Apr 29 (Island) Franchise is the bedrock of Democracy. The right of franchise is granted to those who qualify to participate in processes that involve the two forms of Democracy, namely, Direct and Indirect Democracy. The right of Franchise is the right to vote directly on issues related to the sovereignty of the People at Referenda, or indirectly, in order to elect representatives to whom the People temporarily delegate their sovereignty. This enables the elected representatives to act on more..

Apr 29 (Island) The so-called cadaver politics or using dead bodies for political purposes is nothing new in this country. In the run-up to the 1977 general election UNP effectively flogged the issue of Kataragama beauty queen Premawathie Manamperi’s tragic death at the hands of the military during the first JVP uprising under the SLFP-led United Front government six years back. In 1994, SLFP opened up a mass grave at Suriyakanda containing the skeletal remains of a group of more..

Apr 29 (CT) National Medicinal Drugs Policy has been the pinnacle of all the medical discussions in Sri Lanka during the past few decades. Almost all govts in the past have openly expressed their willingness to incorporate such policy but failed until the present govt made it a distinct reality. As per the presidential manifesto of the common candidate, "All adverse stratagems of multi-national companies will be defeated and more..

Apr 29 (DN) With an increase in pass rates, Sri Lankan students have regained their high performance trend at CIMA exams. The pass rates from the March 2016 exams reveal a marked improvement from previous results. Operational level pass rates in particular are above the global pass rate, which are Management Case Study Exam 54%, Operational Case Study Exam 65% and Strategic Case Study Exam 55%. “It’s encouraging to observe rapid change in exam pass rates more..

Apr 29 (Forbes) Ever since Sri Lanka emerged from its civil war in 2009, it’s been on everyone’s hot list of next destinations. So far, most of that interest has centered on the UNESCO-designated colonial treasures and tea plantations in the north of the country. Now the sleepy south coast, with its glorious white beaches and secluded blue-green coves, is about to catch up. There are more luxury resorts, including a Shangri-La, in the works, and there’s talk of a proper airport. more..

Apr 29 (FT) Sri Lanka has been categorised among six high leverage risk countries by Moody’s along with China, Japan, Mongolia, Hong Kong and Macao as high public, private sector leverage poses credit risks across the Asia Pacific region. With regard to SL, Moody’s said SL has a very high debt burden compared to its rating peers. General govt debt stood at around 76.0% of GDP in 2015, up from 71.6% five years earlier, and well above more..

Apr 29 (DN) Although the President had stated that he would not allow the country to be divided into two and that he would not allow a federal system to be implemented, no trust can be placed on his statements, as none of the statements had come true so far, Ven. Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera said. Thera aid that they strongly objected the motion presented by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for merging the Northern and Eastern provinces into one federal ruling system. more..

Apr 29 (SLN) The 26th International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) annual meeting between the representatives of Navies and Coast Guards of Sri Lanka and India was held onboard SLNS Sagara at the Indo-SL Maritime Boundary Line off Kankasanthurai on 28th April. Sri Lankan delegation comprised of Deputy Director General of SL Coast Guard Commodore Kassapa Paul and nine naval officers was headed by the Commander Northern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Piyal De Silva. more..

Apr 29 (DM) The statement made by Media Ministry Secretary on the Joint Opposition indicated the bankrupt status of the govt and how helpless the govt had become before the Joint Opposition, MP Wimal Weerawansa said. While condemning the statement, the MP said there was no need to ask for permission from the Secretary of the Media Ministry on using a name and asked what his issue was over using the name Joint Opposition. more..

Apr 29 (LBO) Sri Lankan exporters do not have a clear reason to keep their money abroad as the Central Bank has already removed restrictions on foreign currency withdrawals from foreign currency accounts, a senior official said. Deputy Governor of the Central Bank Nandalal Weerasinghe speaking at an event said the exporters will have a higher return bringing in money here. “Earlier the exporters had a concern over bring in money into Sri Lanka,” Weerasinghe said. more..

Apr 29 (FT) In Winter 2016/2017, Ukraine International Airlines will be operating non-stop scheduled flights between Colombo and Kiev, Ukraine. Tickets are available on UIA official website, at the carrier’s Contact Centres, UIA ticket offices, and authorised travel agencies. Starting from 1 November, UIA will offer passengers to take advantage of non-stop scheduled double weekly services between Kiev (KBP – Boryspil International Airport) and Colombo (BIA). more..

Apr 29 (LBO) Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment signed a total of 19 new investment agreements in varied sectors in March 2016, the investment agency said. The agreements signed are valued of US$ 139 million and are expected to generate 3100 direct new employment opportunities. These projects cover a wide range of sectors as outlined below. Housing Apartment Complexes: 5 investment agreements have been signed more..

Apr 29 (FT) Confirming improved prospects tea exports have got off to a positive start in the first quarter of this year after suffering lowest value in five years in 2015. Total revenue from tea exports in the first three months of 2016 increased by Rs. 678 million or 1.5% to Rs. 45.07 billion with volume growing by 1.2% to 74.45 million kilos. A drop in approximate average unit FOB value per kg of Re. 1 when compared to the same period has been recorded, noted John Keells Tea Plc more..

Apr 29 (DN) Anuradhapura Police are on the look out for a man who allegedly raped a Japanese woman aged 31 at knife point after forcibly entering her boarding room yesterday. IGP Pujith Jayasundara ordered officers at the Anuradhapura Police Headquarters to arrest the accused, SSP Ruwan Gunasekera said. The woman was taken to Anuradhapura Hospital, he said. According to sources, the victim, a Japanese language teacher arrived in the country a few months ago. more..

Apr 29 (Island) Confirming their participation at the Kirulapone May Day rally, young MPs in the Joint Opposition said they would not give up the struggle against the UNP-led govt despite SLFP General Secretary’s threat to take disciplinary action against those who attended other rallies instead of the party’s official rally in Galle on May 1. A'pura District MP Shehan Semasinghe said that SLFP General Secretary more..

Apr 29 (EN) The full text of the IMF statement on reaching a staff level agreement is reproduced below. The deal has to be approved by its executive board. Following discussions held between IMF staff and the Sri Lankan authorities during the 2016 Spring Meetings in Washington, staff-level agreement was reached on a three-year program to be supported by the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF). Mr. Todd Schneider, IMF mission chief for Sri Lanka, made the following statement: more..

Apr 29 (EN) Sri Lanka's domestic savings rate dropped to 22.6% of GDP in 2015 from 24% a year earlier as state overspending increased sharply. Sri Lanka's state, with a top heavy political establishment and bloated public service overspent 246 billion rupees in 2015, up from 127 billion rupees in 2015 as the current account deficit of the budget increased from 1.2% of GDP to 2.2%. Private savings at 24.8% was higher than national savings of 22.6% as the state dragged down more..

Apr 29 (Island) President Maithripala Sirisena, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces on Wednesday assured that he would inquire into recent arrest of LTTE cadres in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. President was responding to Velayutham Thayanidhi alias Daya Master, one-time head of the LTTE media unit. Daya Master sought an explanation regarding a spate of recent arrests from President Sirisena more..

Apr 29 (DN) A Bell 206 helicopter belonging to the Sri Lanka Air Force made a rough landing during a training session in Hinguraggoda yesterday morning. This incident occurred at the Sri Lanka Air Force Base in Hingurakgoda at around 11.00 a.m. Air Force Media Spokesman Group Captain Chandima Alwis said a trainee cadet officer and an instructor pilot had been in the helicopter at the time of the incident. “No injuries were reported,” he added. more..

Apr 29 (DN) Former Minister Priyankara Jayaratne and several other officers have been noticed to appear before the PRECIFAC on April 29 when initial evidence is recorded regarding alleged misuse of state resources and fraud and corruption committed in the Sri Lankan Airlines and Sri Lankan catering services during the previous regime. Among others noticed to appear before the commissions are Former Sri Lankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe, Sarathchandra Fernando, more..

Apr 29 (Island) The absence of NPC Chief Minister C.V. Wigneshwaran at a top level meeting in Jaffna Monday to discuss the re-opening of the Kankesanthurai cement factory has irked those who went from Colombo. Kankesanthurai Cement factory, when re-commissioned would mean generation of direct employment to at least 2,000 and indirect employment for another 5,000 to 10,000 and many from the visiting team were more..

Apr 29 (CT) Secretary to the National Police Commission (NPC) Ariyadasa Cooray said that Police procedures adopted in handling the allegation of the killing of 29-year-old Sumith Prasanna in Embilipitiya were flawed. Cooray added, the report on the probe into Prasanna's death was submitted to the IGP Pujith Jayasundara. "Some of the shortcomings have been detailed and the IGP has been asked to take appropriate action in connection with those lapses" he said. more..

Apr 29 (DM) The missive issued to the media not to use the term Joint Opposition was not an official statement of either the Govt or the Ministry, but merely a request letter issued by the Ministry Secretary based on his personal views, Minister Gayantha Karunathilake said. He said he, too, received a copy of the letter from Ministry Secretary, Nimal Bopage, but it reached him after he released it to the media. “I was in Galle when I received it and as I went through it, I realized more..

Apr 29 (EN) Sri Lanka has reached a three year deal to borrow US$ 1.5 billion from the IMF which boost tax collections and state enterprises losses, which will trim the budget deficit and stabilize the credit system. In addition to the US$ 1.5 billion going to the central bank to boost reserves under IMF's Extended Fund Facility, another US$ 650 million in program loans will come from the World Bank, and other lenders to finance the budget directly. more..

Apr 29 (DM) With some terrorist groups and even countries resorting to the barbarism of chemical warfare and the world facing its biggest threat, we today mark the day on which the conference of State parties decided on Nov 11, 2005, that a Memorial Day of Remembrance for Victims of Chemical Warfare be observed on Apr 29 each year. This is the date in 1997 on which the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force. This commemoration will provide an opportunity to pay tribute to more..

Apr 29 (DM) Before we examine the action and events originated by the Tamil leadership of Sri Lanka that defined and shaped the current socio-political milieu, let us look at the Sinhalese leadership have been engaged in since the turn of the 20th Century. Many accomplished historians such as Professors K M de Silva, G C Mendis and Jeyaratnam Wilson and social scientists of the calibre of Michael Roberts, Jayadeva Uyangoda and Dr. Dayan Jayatilleke and many others, more..

Apr 29 (DM) May Day is meant for the advocating of workers’ rights, but it has become a political event the years with parties using it to show their political prowess. So to speak, this year’s May Day is poised to assume added political colouring, primarily due to the split in the UPFA, an amalgam of parties led by the SLFP. The SLFP is ridden with divisions with one side switching allegiance to former President Rajapaksa and more..

Apr 29 (SL) The CEB has faced a number of issues in the recent past, and has been regarded as a struggling institution going from bad to worse. The Board had problems with the first coal-fired power plant in Norochcholai with two major blackouts and other technical issues. Next, there were environmental and civilian concerns over the India-backed second coal power complex in Trincomalee followed by manpower workers more..

Apr 29 (CT) Up to 92,000 applications have now been received by prospective tenant/owners of the 65,000 houses to be constructed by French construction giant ArcelorMittal. 32,000 applications had been received from Jaffna, 5,500 from Kilinochchi, 7,420 from Mullaitivu, 15,000 from Mannar, 13,066 from Vavuniya, 9,000 from Trinco, 2,486 from Ampara and 7,563 from Batticaloa. more..

Apr 29 (TOI) The newly elected president of SL Maithripala Sirisena will be visiting India on Feb 16. This visit is significant for both the countries. Sirisena has indicated on the day of ascension to office that his maiden foreign visit would be to India. Days after winning the historic Presidential elections, he dispatched his new foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera to New Delhi with a clear message that the new SL dispensation more..

Apr 29 (Island) The Labour Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne urged the private sector to comply with the law and to increase the salaries of their employees by Rs. 2,500 and warned that legal action would be taken against the companies which did not fall in line. All private sector employers had already been informed of the Budgetary Relief Allowance of workers Act, No 4 of 2016 and it had clearly mentioned every employer more..

Apr 29 (PMD) President Maithripala Sirisena discussed with medical experts from Cuba and El Salvador regarding launching of a trilateral cooperation for eradication of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu). This discussion was held at the President’s official residence today (29). President Sirisena said the excessive use of chemical fertilizer was the cause for prevalent of CKDu in Sri Lanka. more..

Apr 29 (ST) Have a fever – think dengue. As men, women and children being hit by dengue add up, with a death toll of 14 in 3½ months this year, Consultant Paediatrician Dr. LakKumar Fernando who has pulled back many from death’s door has a simple answer in striving for zero-deaths. “If you have a fever, get yourself tested on Day 1 for dengue,” he says, stressing that early diagnosis will prevent dengue-deaths, for clinical more..

Apr 29 (GN) Mahela Jayawardene feels that saying Sri Lankan Cricket is going through a transition period is not an excuse for the poor performance of the team recently. Jayawardene, said: “We had players coming out of the team on a progression, not just me and Kumar Sangakkara but many others too. It is an easy thing to say that the Sri Lankan team is going through a transition but I think if you are an international team more..

Apr 29 (DN) Deputy Foreign Minister Harsha de Silva, contradicting the statement issued by former President Rajapaksa requested him not to mislead the public as there was no VAT on any education service. “MR please dont mislead the people. There is NO new VAT on any education service. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has once again issued a statement today containing a number of untruths. more..

Apr 29 (CG) US Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Samantha Power says US President Barack Obama places importance on the relationship the US has with Sri Lanka. Speaking at a US-SL Trade and Investment Framework Agreement Council Meeting, Power said that the US is committed to SL’s continued progress and is determined to support President Sirisena in his efforts to ensure that this progress more..