June 22 (Island) Assistant Director of the CB, Sudesh Sedera, said that out of the 16 registered primary dealers, Perpetual Treasures had earned the highest profit from the Treasury bond auctions from Feb. 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016. All other primary dealers had made a profit of Rs. 5 billion, but the net profit of Perpetual Treasuries amounted to Rs. 5.4 billion, Sedera told the Commission. Evidence was led by Dy Solicitor Gen. Milinda Gunatillake. more..

June 22 (SLA) The formal declaration to mark The First Mine-Affected District of Sri Lanka Reaching a Level of Residual Risk after Sri Lanka Army - Humanitarian De-mining Unit (SLA-HDU), together with other INGOs and NGOs, have succeeded in clearing minefields in Batticaloa, was signed and handed by stakeholders during a ceremony at Batticaloa District Secretariat premises on Wednesday (21). more..

June 22 (DM) Sri Lanka Cricket yesterday announced that it had established a high-profile evaluation and monitoring committee headed by Asanka Gurusinha to oversee the physical fitness & conditioning of the National Performance Squad ahead of their upcoming campaigns against Zimbabwe and India in Colombo. Issuing a statement the SLC said that the move comes in the wake of SL’s unfortunate exit more..

June 22 (EN) Poorly designed and multiple inspection procedures are hampering Sri Lankan agricultural exports, raising costs and time for exporters, according to a new study of export competitiveness, which calls for reduced checks and transit times. “Every hour of delay caused by various procedures adversely affects the quality and competitiveness of perishable agricultural exports,” said the study by Verité Research, of difficulties faced by Sri Lanka agriculture exporters. more..

June 22 (DN) Mirihana Special Crime Operations Unit on June 20 recovered a 9 mm pistol along with eight live bullets and a magazine hidden in a mountain in the Kuda Uda area, Wawul Lena in Hadapangoda. This was related to the shooting incident at Piliyandala where information was given by the main suspect who is under detention. Police recovered the weapon after questioning the suspect for a long period. Crime Operations Unit further confirmed that weapon is in good condition. more..

June 22 (CT) Coinciding with an article published in Ceylon FT in its 5 June issue under the heading Elusive Rs 3 Trillion Market Cap, Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), the following day, i.e. on 6 June, issued a press release under the heading CSE to include non-voting shares in Index Market Cap calculation which said, 'The CSE announces the inclusion of non-voting shares which are listed and traded on the exchange in its Index Market Capitalization (IMC) calculation. more..

June 22 (PTI) The SL Navy on Thursday announced it had arrested four Indian fishermen for illegally entering the country's territorial waters. SL Navy spokesperson Lt Commander Chaminda Walakuluge said that the arrests were made on Monday night. The authorities seized a trawler used by the fishermen. Sri Lanka had released 42 Indian boats, from a total of 143 in its custody, as a goodwill gesture following PM Narendra Modi's visit to the island nation in May. more..

June 22 (Reuters) A severe drought followed by floods has slashed agricultural production in Sri Lanka, leaving some 900,000 people facing food insecurity, the United Nations said, warning that without help the situation might further deteriorate. Production of rice, the country's staple food, is forecast to drop almost 40% to 2.7 million tonnes in 2017, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) & World Food Programme (WFP) said. more..

June 22 (Island) Hate speech complaints against some Muslim and Tamil politicians, were also being investigated, Police said. DIG Priyantha Jayakody, said that complaints of hate speech had been received not only against Gnanasara Thera, but also against some politicians including Rishad Bathiudeen and Shivagilingam. 12 Sinhalese, 2 Muslims and a Tamil have been arrested. Jayakody explained that the arrests had been made under two categories, hate speech & criminal offences. more..

June 22 (FT) The dawn of 4th Industrial Revolution brings with the promise of further human advancement. And yet, while humanity should be aspiring for a better life, disturbing events like the terrorist attacks in Manchester, London, and Philippines, and the recent white phosphorus attack in Raqqa, Syria, point to humanity’s burial of its own journey toward a better world. 17th century philosopher Pascal rightly explained, Humanity is great, because it knows itself to be wretched. more..

June 22 (EN) Doctors at Sri Lanka’s main hospital refused to treat four police officers who sustained injuries when hundreds of university students stormed the health ministry, official sources said. A total of 60 undergraduates and four police – a constable and three STF members – were admitted to the Colombo National Hospital following Wednesday’s clashes when the IUSF led the storming of the ministry. more..

June 22 (DM) Sri Lanka’s banks have jumped to raise the interest rates on their credit card and several other loan products as the Central Bank last month gave them the green light to price their loans to reflect market interest rates. Some banks have raised their interest rates as much as by 4% on products such as credit cards, which were hitherto capped at 24%, effectively raising the interest rate to 28% per annum. Central Bank last month lifted the interest rate caps hitherto placed on credit more..

June 22 (DN) Minister Rajitha Senaratne warned that dengue numbers could worsen in future and that proper waste management could help control the situation. Cabinet this week approved a proposal put forward by the PM on a program “to have disposal of waste to recognsed lands under environmental laws, take judicial action to prevent public protests on waste disposal, waste to be disposed only by grading, provide necessary tools for local govt authorities and more..

June 22 (ABC) A Sri Lankan-born doctor who was jailed after being found guilty of killing her abusive husband has failed in her bid to have her conviction and sentence overturned. Chamari Liyanage was sentenced to a four-year prison term after being convicted by a jury in February last year of unlawfully killing Dinendra Athukorla in Geraldton in 2014. She was released on parole in March this year after a protracted more..

June 22 (DM) The reason for responding to Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera was that he was considered a political leader, SLFP Spokesman and Minister Dilan Perera said. “I was not talking about the Asgiriya Chapter but about a political party. Ven. Gnanasara Thera was in a political party and contested the 2015 Parliamentary Elections but failed. I respect Buddhist monks” he said while addressing the media during the SLFP media briefing at the party headquarters today. more..

June 22 (Rediff) One of the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, Robert Payas, a Sri Lankan national, petitioned the TN govt seeking mercy killing. In an emotionally charged letter to Chief Minister K Palaniswami, he said he should be killed on grounds of mercy and his body should be handed over to his family. "Payas has petitioned the govt through the Puzhal prison authorities," a top prison official said. Blaming the Centre -- both the previous more..

June 22 (DM) The Police had launched an investigation into the incident in which a group of university students had forcibly entered the Health Ministry premises and damaged public properties on Wednesday, Police Spokesman DIG Priyantha Jayakody said today. A tense situation prevailed at the Health Ministry building in Maradana, when the members of IUSF forcibly entered and besieged the building. more..

June 22 (LBO) Sri Lanka’s cabinet approval has been granted to postpone the abolition of SVAT system until the end of this year. Accordingly, the SVAT abolition will take effect from 1 Jan 2018 after the necessary legislation is passed through Parliament. This decision has been taken in order to give sufficient time period for exporters to adopt to the new system. Initially, the SVAT system was to be abolished on 01 January 2017 as announced in Budget 2017. more..

June 22 (DM) A big-mouthed purohita who is among the architects of yahapalanaya has gone into a sulk over the appointment of a secretary to his Ministry without prior consultations with him. The irate purohita is said to have conveyed his displeasure to the highest echelons. “I don’t want that man,” the purohita had told Number One. He had later addressed the new secretary: “You are not wanted here. You had better go back to where you came from!” Meanwhile, secretary had received more..

June 22 (AD) Patients at state hospitals had to remain stranded across the country as doctors attached to the GMOA launched an islandwide strike on Thursday. The strike was held following yesterday’s attack on the university students who held a demonstration against the SAITM. Hundreds of patients had to turn away from the hospitals without medical attention as the strike was commenced since 8 am. more..

June 22 (AD) The FCID  has informed the Court that investigations on the allegations made against Namal Rajapakse regarding the purchasing of a service supplier to Sri Lankan Airlines, have not concluded as of yet. The CID had informed the Additional Magistrate, Dulani Amarasinghe earlier today (22). The FCID added that they still have not received the requested bank account information registered under Namal Rajapakse, found in the United States and Australia.  more..

June 22 (NR) The Joint Opposition today called for a debate in Parliament pertaining to the unrest at the Ministry of Health last evening. Speaking in Parliament this morning leader of the Joint Opposition MP Dinesh Gunewardene called for a debate on the protest and the subsequent strike launched by the Govt Medical Officers Association. The Speaker and the Leader of the House Minister Lakshman Kiriella called for the debate to be held at 4:30 this evening. more..

June 22 (USE) U.S. Ambassador Atul Keshap visited the Eastern Province this week to commemorate a milestone in U.S.-supported demining efforts and to attend the groundbreaking ceremony at a school to construct facilities to help communities displaced by natural disasters. During the visit, Ambassador also met leaders and activists working on post-conflict reconciliation and accountability issues. more..

June 22 (Island) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament that the objective of setting up the Office of the Missing Persons was not to dig up the past, but to facilitate reconciliation process by ensuring the right of families of the missing persons to know the truth. Moving the Office of the Missing Persons (Establishment, Administration and Discharge of Functions) (Amendment) Bill for debate, PM said that the OMP would not have any powers to hold criminal inquiries or file legal action more..

June 22 (AD) The Fundamental Rights petition submitted by Ven. Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thero presented to the Supreme Court has been retracted by Ven. Gnanasara Thero. The petition was filed by Ven. Thero requesting Police Organized Crimes Division to not arrest him, as they had been planning on doing do previously. The presidential lawyer representing Ven. Thero, Tirantha Walaliyadda stated that the outcome expected from the petition had already been achieved, and more..

June 22 (AD) Minister Rajitha Senaratne stated that anti-SAITM protest which resulted in an attack on the Health Ministry was an organized execution by the GMOA. He stated that GMOA was hoping for a casualty to disrupt the status quo where the medical students were scheduled to recommence lectures on Monday. He also pointed out the irony of the situation, where the anti-SAITM protesters who attacked the Health Ministry more..

June 22 (LR) Canadian govt has passed Bill C-6, repealing the ability to revoke citizenship from dual citizens convicted of crimes against the national interest. In addition, citizenship applicants are no longer required to intend to continue to live in Canada once granted citizenship, providing more flexibility to Canadians who may need to live outside of Canada for work or personal reasons. Changes to the Citizenship Act reflect govt’s commitments to streamline citizenship process, more..

June 22 (DM) Former Sri Lankan cricketer turned coach Mahela Jayawardene has come in support of country’s national cricketers, whose had been criticized as having lack of commitment and fitness following the team’s early exit from the ICC Champions Trophy. Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera addressing public forum last week slammed top cricketers as overweight and said the team should be sent for military training to improve their fitness. more..

June 22 (AFP) Lasith Malinga faced an investigation Thursday after he compared a govt minister to a monkey following criticism that the country's cricketers were too fat. Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera said he ordered an inquiry after Malinga lambasted him for questioning the endurance of SL players following their failure to reach the Champions Trophy semi-finals. "He is now under investigation for making statements more..

June 23 (CT) Let me not mince words. Our Mahanayake Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter, Ven Warakagoda Shri Gnanarathana, made a statement to the media which was a disgrace. I know, he does not like anyone disgracing monks or even calling them by their names. He said so in this very statement while objecting to our addressing Galagoda Atte Gnanasara simply as Gnanasara. Most Revd Mahanayake  must realise one thing. Days of honouring anybody and everybody more..

June 22 (CT) TNA, a loose group of four parties, ITAK, TELO, PLOTE & EPRLF was formed in 2001 with the blessings of the LTTE leadership. TNA then always followed the decrees of LTTE while speaking for the Tamils to the outside world and in Parliament. TNA’s leader Sampanthan has been at the helm directing the fortunes of Tamils as well as controlling the often rebelling and dissenting members within alliance. He has been successful in maintaining the brittle alliance without break-up, more..

June 22 (CT) Religious unrest in the country is one of the chief challenges that the good governance govt, which promised equal rights to the followers of all religions, is faced with today. In a statement issued by the Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter of Siyam Nikaya recently, it is mentioned that Sinhala Buddhists have faced discrimination and the govt should come forward to protect Buddha Sasana & Buddhist monks, more..

June 23 (DN) Now, it is not often that events in the North make headlines in the rest of the country although they regularly did, ten years ago, when the war against the LTTE was at its peak. Last week however, the North again ground to a halt as hartals were held in support of Northern Provincial Council (NPC) Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran. CM Wigneswaran was embroiled in a spat with his party, TNA and particularly with its leader, Leader of the Opposition, R. Sampanthan. more..

June 22 (DN) The 1,080 bed Sri J'pura General hospital has been at 80-90% occupancy since April. Most of them are dengue patients. Dengue outbreak this year is predicted to be worse than that of last year; which set a record for the highest number of dengue patients in a year. “We had to stop admitting patients for a few hours on Sunday as we had run out of beds, but we opened OPD admissions on Monday when around 100 patients were discharged,” said Dr. Susitha Senaratne. more..

June 22 (Roar) Night of Destiny—this is what Muslims call the 27th night of the holy month of Ramadan. It is said to mark when Prophet Muhammad received the first verses of the Quran. It was on such a night, in 2000, that JMO in Kattankudy was given the grim task of autopsying the body of a young woman. Mother of a month-old baby, she had been pinned against a wall by her husband, then struck her with kerosene lamp. more..

June 22 (CT) The question raised by many, casting doubts about SL's political maturity, to embrace a system like Representative Democracy looks quite logical now. What we are faced with now indicates that such a notion cannot be ignored as a malicious assumption any more. People of this land would have had different origins but they had grown together as one nation. Sinhalese and the Tamil community were ruled by a King. Even today both communities allow the rulers to rule. more..

June 22 (SO) Earlier this month when 20 short finned pilot whales got stranded on the beaches of Sampur, along the north east coast of SL, the public were alarmed. Having suffered from a number of natural disasters in the recent past, while also not experiencing a beaching of pilot whales before, the people seemed to link the event to the discovering of a large number of dead fish in Wattuwakal in the Nandikadal lagoon as well as a strange cloud formation over Kayts several days later, more..

June 23 (EB) As Sri Lanka continues to struggle with the aftermath of the devastating floods that struck the country in late May, its govt is making moves to boost its resilience to climate change, as well as slash its carbon emissions by investing in renewable energy. May 2017 floods had a death toll of about 200 people, displaced hundreds of thousands, and left the agricultural sector devastated. It is the latest extreme weather event to affect SL, after heavy rains in 2011 and 2009. more..