Aug 25 (EN) State-run Bank of Ceylon had been forced to give loans to loss-making SriLankan Airlines and extend special privileges when it failed to repay, because it was a state owned enterprise (SOE), a witness told a commission of inquiry. "If we thought as a commercial bank, if we had given these loans to another company, these would have been lost opportunities to use funds more effectively” more..

Aug 25 (DM) If the 16 SLFP disidents continue to sabotage the SLFP, the party’s central committee decide on the steps to be taken about them before the SLFP’s annual convention to be held in October, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said. Minister said that he did not know how many members still remain in this group because the numbers steadily declining. “Former minister Dayasiri Jayasekara is not with the group more..

Aug 25 (AD) Prez Sirisena today visited Medamulana in Weeraketiya to pay his final respects to the late Chandra Rajapaksa, the brother of former Prez Rajapaksa. Prez expressed his condolences to the former Prez and the family members and was also seen engaging in a cordial chat with Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa. Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa, MP Chamal Rajapaksa and more..

Aug 25 (CT) LSSP Leader Tissa Vitharana lambasted the Govt saying it was making the country a semi-colony of the US and its allies by the policies it was adopting. He said, “The present UNP-led Govt is following a course of action that is likely to result in a foreign dominated economy that places enormous burden on the people and will destroy SL’s independence and sovereignty, making the country a semi-colony of the US more..

Aug 25 (DN) The TNA on Thursday turned down Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran’s request to boycott the meeting of the Presidential Special Task Force on Northern Development which is scheduled to be held on August 27. TNA MPs at a meeting held at the Opposition Leader’s office under the patronage of TNA leader R. Sampanthan on Thursday insisted that they should participate in this meeting more..

Aug 26 (SO) For the serene joy of the pious is the exhortation made by the author of the Mahavamsa at the end of every chapter of our ancient historical chronicle, written in the form of a Pali epic poem. The author offers his work as a narrative of the history of his society, namely, ancient Sri Lankan civilisation. In doing so, he exhorts his readers, as citizens of a Dharmic society, to appreciate his narration of the life of their society and be inspired. Today, some 1,600 yrs after its composition more..

Aug 26 (CT) The Govt, which is a UNP/UNF and a SLFP/UPFA coalition, appointed a Delimitation Commission (DC) to redraw new electoral boundaries taking into account the increased population. Though the population has increased, since 1989 to date, there are only 225 seats on offer in Parliament, unchanged from the 1989 figure. The DC was appointed to redraw new electoral boundaries not only covering Parliamentary Electoral (PE) boundaries, but also more..

Aug 26 (SO) In 2001 internationally acclaimed film Purahanda Kaluwara by award-winning director Prasanna Vithanage was banned by the then govt. The rationale for this at the time, fuelled by racist elements was that its release would lower the morale of the SL Army despite the film merely attempting to reveal the devastating impact of the country’s conflict on Sinhalese villagers. It was just one example of censorship faced by more..

Aug 26 (Island) Last Friday the people of this country witnessed a kind of fiasco in Parliament which was possible only under the strange govt that came into power in January 2015. The govt presented the Provincial Councils demilitation report to Parliament and then proceeded to defeat their own report with not a single MP voting for it. When the Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Govt Faizer Mustapha was asked whether he was going to vote for it, he too answered in the negative. more..

Aug 26 (Island) The people must be truly puzzled. On the one hand they hear their elected representatives on either side of the political divide shouting themselves hoarse from the rooftops that they want the Provincial Council elections already due to be held as soon as possible. On the other, they near unanimously reject the report of the Delimitation Committee on Provincial Council electorates that will only push back the process further. Terms of the Eastern, North Central more..

Aug 26 (CT) In recent weeks the debate on whether former Presidents Chandrika Kumaratunga (CBK) and Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) can contest the Presidency once more has been buzzing in the political circle. This is because the head of the SLPP Prof. G L Peries, a Law Professor said that the 19th Amendment (19A) does not necessarily ban these persons who have been elected to the post twice before. more..

Aug 26 (ST) At long last, and only after intense public agitation has the Govt put rhetoric into action by kicking off with the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar to try high-end financial frauds in this country. For too long has white collar crime been given a Nelsonian eye and a free run. Link between crooked businessmen and govt officials and with politicians has continued to ruin this country all along. Euphemism to these rackets is campaign funds, but a major part of it is lining their pockets. more..

Aug 26 (ST) My dear Mahinda maama, I didn’t think I would be writing to you again so soon but you seem to find some reason to be in the news, although you are only a backbench MP representing Kurunegala – even if it is about the Police turning up at your doorstep to question you regarding someone who was abducted ten years ago. The reason I wanted to write to you, however, was this suggestion that you can contest the big elections once more. I am sure this must have come as a surprise more..

Aug 26 (SO) It came like a bolt from the blue. All of a sudden, the concerted preoccupation of the Rajapaksa proxy SLPP and JO camp is to push the theory that the former President, twice elected and once defeated in presidential elections over a decade, can contest a fourth time in 2019. It has been three years since the 19th Amendment was enacted, restoring term limits on the executive presidency. In all this time, the JO, whose members voted overwhelmingly in favour of enacting more..

Aug 26 (Island) SL’s white ball captain Angelo Mathews has returned home after a brief trip to Australia for medical treatment. Mathews flew down under soon after the bilateral series against South Africa to receive treatment after a series of ankle, calf and quadriceps injuries kept him out of international cricket for a good portion of last 18 months. SLC sources said that the latest trip is nothing to be alarmed at, but to get a few injections into the system designed to keep him fit. more..

Aug 26 (CT) As a result of the weeks- long campaign by the PM Ranil Wickremesinghe-led UNP, the country on Friday witnessed the Govt voting against its own delimitation report, which may result in further delaying Provincial Council Elections. This unprecedented move, according to political analysts and polls monitoring bodies, could be the first instance in the world, or at least the Westminster Parliamentary system, more..

Aug 26 (Island) Sri Lanka have won the Asia Cup five times, on par with India, who have also won the regional tournament five times. Quite a few Sri Lankans have made a big impact in the Asia Cup over the years. The only players to complete 1000 runs in this event are Sri Lankans – Sanath Jayasuriya (1220) & Sangagkkara (1075). The best bowling figures in the Asia Cup was also produced by a Sri Lankan when Ajantha Mendis humbled the Indians in the 2009 final taking 6 for 13. more..

Aug 26 (ST) At the traffic lights at Kohuwela junction one evening, an old Datsun Sunny waited for the lights to turn green. A policeman on the sidewalk was watching it because it didn’t have any lights on. When he walked across to the car, some bystanders were watching the scene expecting the officer to reprimand the driver and book him for an offence, a violation by any driver. But then suddenly the crowd saw the officer with an embarrassed look on his face, salute the driver who was dressed more..

Aug 26 (ST) Sri Lanka’s chief cricket selector Graeme Labrooy says their main aim is to complete the culling process by the end of the England series and have a working pool of about 25 players who would work earnestly towards the main task in May next year – the World Cup 2019. Labrooy said “We have been working with about 30-35 players during the past few series and been taking a very close look at more..

Aug 26 (SO) Dramatic moves by Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) to nudge four lower rung teams to enlist foreign professionals in a bid to bring back dwindling crowds and create a balance in the lop-sided League championship, may be causing the jitters at some of the better cared-for clubs ahead of the 2018-19 domestic season. If the plan works amid the murmurings, SLR’s drive to allocate foreign players to clubs like Air Force, Army, Police and CR and FC, the upcoming 2018-19 season more..

Aug 26 (ST) The battle between two unbeaten teams Colombo and Dambulla played at the Dambulla Stadium under floodlights turned out to be an interesting contest which ended in Colombo recording a thrilling win with six balls to spare which saw them maintain their unbeaten record. In a low scoring game saw Colombo chasing 124 runs for victory raced to their target in the 19th over as they ended their innings making 124 for 7 in the 19th over. more..

Aug 26 (ST) SL doubles pair Sachin Dias and Bhuwaneka Gunathileke will meet world double champions Liu Yuchen and Li Junhui in the men’s badminton quarter final clash today after setting a date with the Chinese following a resounding win in the pre-quarter final match against Pakistan at the Asian Games yesterday. This will be mighty asking from the Sri Lankan pair who are looking to create history by qualifying for the semi-finals, more..

Aug 26 (ST) Adding more woes to the ongoing administrative debacles in the 18th Asian Games being held in Jakarta, Indonesia, Amateur Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (ABA) is on the verge of taking disciplinary action on two individuals. The two individuals — a banned foreign coach and a former ace pugilist, who have bypassed the ABA norms and are currently at the Asian Games it is said. Earlier the National Selection Committee had approved the names of Dian Gomes, Harsha Kumara more..

Aug 26 (DM) The Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) established in 1971 to save the paddy farmer from Mudalalies was later neglected by the UNP and the Peoples Alliance govts and the real culprits to create, promote the rice mafia were those who attempted to wind up the PMB, President Maithripala Sirisena said. He said the UNP regime closed down the PMB in 1993 and Peoples Alliance govt led by President Chandrika Kumatratunga attempted to abolish the PMB Act in 2000. more..

Aug 26 (ST) The Sports Ministry has vowed to investigate how the Golf Union deployed four professional golfers to participate at the Asian Games in Indonesia contravening international rules that said only amateurs may be nominated, thereby triggering an arbitration application by six other nations and bringing Sri Lanka into disrepute. An official from SL Golf Union confirmed sending four professional golfers for the biennial Games, more..

Aug 26 (DM) A population of about 82,000 people representing 24,100 families in the Kilinochchi District have been affected by the drought prevailing in the area. The DMC said the people of Kilinochchi, Kandawalai. Pachilipalai, Karachchi and Poonaryn divisions were the worst affected. All garden wells had run dry creating hardships for the people for want of drinking water. Meanwhile farmers pointed out that all tanks and canals in Kilinochchi, Dharmapuram, Puliyanpokkanai & Kallaru more..

Aug 26 (DM) A new motion will be submitted to Parliament to increase the Auditor General’s salary and allowances, House Leader Lakshman Kiriella said. He told Parliament the new proposal would be for a salary much higher that what was proposed in the earlier proposal. “We withdrew the earlier motion to give a greater salary increase to the Auditor General. The govt never meant to harass him,” Mr. Kiriella said. JVP on Thursday charged that the govt was trying to harass AG more..

Aug 26 (AD) Minister Faiszer Musthapha says that although the Delimitation Report was defeated in Parliament, he will not allow for the Provincial Council Election to be held under the old electoral system. However, MPs of the UNP said that their intention was to hold the upcoming PC election under the previous proportional electoral system. The report on Delimitation of Electorates in PCs more..

Aug 26 (Island) A yet unnamed strategic investor has agreed to infuse Rs. 700 million into MBSL Insurance (MBSLI), the deeply troubled insurance subsidiary of Merchant Bank of SL and Finance PLC (MBSL) to revive the business whose licence has been suspended by the Insurance Regulatory Commission of SL for failure to meet minimum capital requirements. In addition to the strategic investor, MBSL with the approval of the Bank of Ceylon, its parent, will invest a further more..

Aug 26 (ST) Sri Lanka’s ambitious Galle Marina project aimed at making the Galle harbour a tourism port is likely to be undertaken by a consortium comprising four leading international companies headed by Mclarens and including an Indian firm, a Ports and Shipping Ministry official confirmed. Ministry had invited sealed applications from interested parties on May 24 to submit for proposals and receipt of award of Built Operate and Transfer (BOT) concession for the projects and more..

Aug 26 (ST) Sri Lanka will be re-branded! From an island of a Small miracle to the Wonder of Asia Sri Lanka will be now seeking a new tagline to be decided by an expert committee of three members. Not even the minister knows it yet but it is to be out by November. Tourism Minister John Amaratunga said that it was not his business to work on a new branding. “That is not my business – it is handed over to the expert committee – more..

Aug 26 (ST) Sri Lanka will ban the import and sale of electrical appliances consuming excessive energy with the aim of reducing household power consumption, Chairman of the SL Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA) J.D.K. Wickramaratne said. Authority will promote the sale of energy efficient electrical appliances while creating awareness on the govt’s move towards energy conservation among the people, he revealed. High–watts electric fans will be banned as an initial step of more..

Aug 26 (SO) Negotiations on transactions with Iran are in progress between the Central Bank and the Finance Ministry, a top official of the Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) said. Sri Lanka’s tea exports to Iran declined by around 19 percent to 27.4 million kgs last year. The US reimposing sanctions is expected to put a damper further on exports to a key market for SL tea. SLTB Chairman Lucille Wijewardena said discussions on payments with Iran have been continuing and we are confident more..

Aug 26 (CGTN) The Ocean Highway sets sail for Durban in South Africa from the southern tip of Sri Lanka. Just a few years ago, the port in the small fishing town of Hambantota sat empty and neglected, despite it being situated just 10 nautical miles away from a major shipping route between Asia and Europe. The port cost US$ 1.5 billion to build with money Colombo borrowed from China, which is investing tens of billions of dollars more..

Aug 26 (ST) Railway trade unions are insisting that the demands for a revision of their salaries and grades be resolved instead of waiting till a salary review committee makes it report in two months. Locomotive Engineers Union (LOEU) General Secretary D.H. Indika said that they would call a strike if their demands were not met by Wednesday. He said that they were seeking the promotion of grade II employees to grade III while increasing their salaries by Rs. 320 which would make more..

Aug 26 (Island) In the backdrop of Monday night’s attack on a beach-front hotel owned by a German company at Marawila, the property’s Chairman expressed dissatisfaction over the preliminary police inquiry, saying that any impartial investigation should necessarily focus on the perpetrators and the damage caused to the premises. "I feel that all other matters are of a secondary nature because the core issue here was that they barged into the hotel and destroyed a section of newly-built parapet more..

Aug 26 (CT) As a result of weeks long campaign by the PM Ranil Wickremesinghe-led UNP, the country on Friday (24), witnessed the Govt voting against its own Delimitation Report, which may result in further delaying Provincial Council Elections. This unprecedented move, according to political analysts and polls monitoring bodies, could be the first instance in the world, or at least the Westminster Parliamentary system, more..

Aug 26 (CT) Dredging of the Kankesanthurai (KKS) Harbour, under the USD 45.27 million Indian line of credit expansion and upgrading project, has been completed and the tender would be floated later this year. Currently, the breakwater and existing pier are set to be renovated and a new pier for commercial cargo handling is to be constructed. India extended financial assistance to expand and upgrade the KKS Harbour in the Northern Peninsula to turn it into a regional maritime hub attracting more..

Aug 26 (SO) National Police Commission (NPC) cannot compel the IGP to implement its recommendations, says its Chairman P.H. Manatunge. He made these comments in response to reports that IGP Pujith Jayasundara has failed to thus far implement several recommendations made by the NPC, particularly with regard to promotions. According to the Chairman, the failure to follow through was brought to IGP’s notice during last week’s NPC sitting. more..