Feb 29 (Island) Housing and Construction Minister Sajith Premadasa, MP, has revealed that only 12 members out of ruling party parliamentary group had so far extended their support to an ongoing countrywide house-building project. Addressing a public gathering at Nikaweratiya on Saturday, Minister Premadasa said the parliamentary group had been instructed to take tangible measures to identify land required for housing units in their respective areas before March 15, 2016. more..

Feb 29 (NS) The JVP informed that farmers island-wide rejected President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to set the maximum retail price of a 50 kilograms bag of fertilizer at Rs 2,500. JVP North Western Provincial Councilor and the National Organizer of the All Ceylon Peasants Federation, Namal Karunaratne said that this would mean that the farmer would have to incur a large additional expense. The Govt should provide quality fertilizer instead of giving money, more..

Feb 29 (CG) Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Elhadj As Sy will arrive in Sri Lanka on 1 March for a three day official visit during which he will visit the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society’s Post Conflict Recovery Programme in the north of the country. Red Cross Post Conflict Recovery Programme, which has been supported by the IFRC and donors from around the world, more..

Feb 29 (DM) SLMC Chairman Basheer Segu Dawood said today that Muslim political leaders should provide a permanent and a lasting solution for the discrimination and adversity faced by the community. He also proposed that a mechanism has to be created for the community’s welfare, rather than looking for mercy from political leaders. Issuing a statement with regard to a recent discussion in Kattankudy, he said the discussion was about a separate Muslim Provincial Unit more..

Feb 29 (CG) The forming of a new political party by SLFP members supporting former President Rajapaksa will go ahead despite pressure against the move from the party, a joint opposition member said. SLFP member Dilum Amunugama, who was removed from his party organiser post today, said that such pressure will not deter the decision to form a new political party. He said that SLFP members in joint opposition will continue to raise their objections to actions of govt on various issues. more..

Feb 29 (MoD) 10th Sri Lanka Army contingent for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNFIL) left the country today morning. The Sri Lanka Force Protection Unit (SLFPU) is comprised of 150 army personnel including 10 officers and 140 other ranks. The first advance 49 member party of the SLFPU left the country prior to this team on 16th Feb. The 10th contingent of the SLFPU include troops from the SL Engineers, more..

Feb 29 (CT) Three persons including former Navy Commander Jayanath Colombage have been questioned and statements obtained by the CID regarding the incident of Additional Secretary to the Minister of Home Affairs Vajira Abeywardena and former Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Damayanthi Jayaratne going overseas while an investigation was underway regarding the Avant Garde incident. The CID has already obtained information from Department of Immigration more..

Feb 29 (DM) Noraichcholai coal power plant would supply its full electricity capacity of 900 MW to the national grid from today, Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. The power plant was not running to the full capacity during the last few days due to maintenance work and inclement weather. He said following the Noraichcholai adding more power the national grid had become normal. He announced this while on an inspection tour this afternoon to accelerate the construction of more..

Dec 29 (AD) President Maithripala Sirisena has instructed the maximum retail price of a bags of 50kg fertilizer to be set at Rs. 2,500, the Presidential Media Division said a short while ago. This new price will come into effect immediately, the division added. President Sirisena earlier said he would personally be dedicated to fulfill the highest responsibility in providing the fertilizer subsidy for the farming community. more..

Feb 29 (CG) The 31st session of the UNHRC began in Geneva today but the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein did not mention his recent visit to Sri Lanka in his statement. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, who was in Sri Lanka in early February, said that it was extremely alarming that so many conflicts, crises and humanitarian emergencies are currently raging around the world, with repeated violations of the norms that protect people’s rights and lives. more..

Feb 29 (EN) Sri Lanka rising non-resident deposits and foreign debt has increased Sri Lanka's external vulnerability to above similar countries in the 'B1' speculative grade, Moody's Investors Service, a rating agency has said. Moody's estimated Sri Lanka's external debt burden to have risen to 57% of gross domestic product in 2015 from 49% in 2010, when credit conditions were more favourable, and was now left with high debt repayments." However, global financing conditions have tightened, more..

Feb 29 (NS) FUTA expressed deep displeasure and disappointment regarding a letter sent by Minister of Higher Education and Highways, Lakshman Kiriella, ordering that a particular individual be appointed as a temporary lecturer to the Department of Political Science at the University of Kelaniya. The said letter (CO/SA/02/NA/UE – 40) sent on Feb 8 by the minister to Head of the Department of Economics of the Faculty of more..