Jan 3 (Island) President of the Court of Appeal L.T.B. Dehideniya, on the 29th Nov 2017, issued a Stay Order preventing the arrest of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. In his order, learned President of CA has stated "in this instance, monument was constructed by the Corporation on a contract entered into with the Foundation, and the Foundation had no intention of defrauding." He further says that, "in the present case there was no mental element for dishonesty or, misappropriation." more..

Jan 3 (CT) Hopefully, Lasith Malinga may be playing for the national side soon. He is the only recent Sri Lanka player to gain international recognition in cricket from the bowling department after Muttiah Muralidaran. They were both bowlers who gained their reputations with their bowling actions. And it is their bowling actions that gave them impetus to be in demand wherever they played. Spin bowling seems easy to face and therefore the feeling to cope with it is not as fearful as to face a fast bowler more..

Jan 3 (ST) All rounder Angelo Mathews has had several fitness issues in recent months, having missed a better part of 2017 due to injury–calf and hamstring–and Prof. Siri Kannangara, a renowned Sports Medicine specialist believes that former Sri Lanka skipper is doing something wrong bio-mechanically to pull the hamstring often. Mathews has once again been ruled out for two weeks after a recent injury suffered during more..

Jan 3 (ST) Hemal Mendis could never play Test cricket. That remains the biggest regret of his life. The 62-year-old is, however, happy that many cricketers he has worked with as youngsters went on to play for Sri Lanka. “Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dilhara Fernando, Upul Chandana and Avishka Gunawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, and Ravindra Pushpakumara have all played under me when I was the coach of the Sri Lankan U-19 and U-23 sides,” Mendis said. more..

Jan 3 (DN) Sri Lankan apparel exports will not be negatively affected by the expiry of the United States’ Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program for Sri Lanka and other GSP beneficiary countries. The expiration of the program will not have any negative impact on Sri Lankan apparel exports to the US, since local apparel exports are not eligible to receive the US GSP concessions, The Joint Apparel Association Forum Former Secretary General Tuley Cooray said. more..

Jan 3 (FT) The Ministerial Committee on SriLankan Airlines is set to meet today with the resign offer of six members of the SriLankan Board likely to be taken up with expectations of a new board being appointed to make way for restructuring of the troubled business entity, a top official confirmed. The Committee headed by the PM Ranil Wickremesinghe will also carry forward the restructuring discussion more..

Jan 3 (Island) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) sponsored SL blind cricket team that will participate in the 5th edition of 40-over Blind Cricket World Cup, scheduled to take place from the 9th to 22nd Jan in UAE and Lahore. SLC sponsorship package of Rs. 1.1 million covers cricket equipment and air travel of the 17-member squad and three officials. SLC also provided the team with side wickets of the NCC, center wickets of the Surrey Oval and a coach to conduct practices targeting World Cup. more..

Jan 3 (DN) The national selectors are seriously considering bringing back all-rounder Angelo Mathews as captain of the Sri Lanka one-day international team for the upcoming tri-nation one-day series in Bangladesh starting later this month. “We have been discussing it but we have not finalised anything yet,” said chief selector Graeme Labrooy. “At the same time we have not ruled out Thisara Perera the present captain either. We also have two other contenders for the captaincy. more..

Jan 3 (Hindu) R. Sampanthan, leader of the Opposition in Sri Lanka’s Parliament, is also the country’s seniormost politician, having been in politics for more than six decades. In the January 2015 presidential poll, the TNA he leads backed the President Maithripala Sirisena–PM Ranil Wickremesinghe combine that ousted former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Three years on, in a conversation at his Colombo residence, more..

Jan 3 (AD) A shooting incident has been reported at Nagalagam Street in Colombo, around 4.30pm today (2). At least four individuals have been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital with gunshot injuries following the shooting. They were injured in a shootout between two groups. The shooting was the result of a clash between the groups while Grandpass Police is conducting further investigations to arrest the suspects, who have been identified, police said. more..

Jan 3 (DM) She was a pretty lady born in Colombo and employed in a Govt Institution related to Tourism industry. A staff officer attached to the office was interested in her and she liked him because of his kind and humble qualities. She got a Greeting Card from him. It was mentioned in the card that it was sent because of bearing the burden of 10 months. Not so proficient in Sinhala, she asked one of her friends as to what the ten months he was referring to as not even 3 months had passed more..

Jan 3 (FT) Concerns have been raised within business circles over the credibility of the Malaysian bidder for several assets of the EAP Group’s ETI subsidiaries. It is reported that Malaysian businessman Sudhir Jayaram’s Straits Grid, is leading a consortium of interested parties to bid for EAP Group’s TV/media, cinemas, hotels, jewellery and financial services businesses. The five businesses are carried out by more..

Jan 3 (GDI) Ministry of Media and the Department of Govt Information are to undertake massive training program to develop professional standard of media personnel both public and private sectors during this year, 2018, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and Media, Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunge revealed. Under this program, which covers from provincial correspondents belong to mass media to media officers in public sector will benefit with adequate professional training and proper recognition more..

Jan 3 (Island) Sri Lankan banks are likely to come under increased capital pressure from Basel III-related requirements that take full effect at the start of 2019, leading stock market analysts said. "We expect most banks will have to raise capital to meet the higher requirements. Therefore, banks have called for rights issues and because of that investors would be compelled to invest in them to maintain their stake, which would result in slowing down the market, Head of Sales, Softlogic Stock more..

Jan 3 (Island) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday signed a gazette notification containing guidelines for media coverage of the forthcoming LG elections. Addressing journalists after endorsing the Gazette containing 32 provisions at Temple Trees, he said that it was an extension of the Unity govt had introduced. Guidelines underlined how the media should conduct itself to ensure the conduct of free and fair polls, more..

Jan 3 (FT) Steps taken by the Govt to address the ongoing fertiliser shortage in the country may be inadequate and arriving too late to yield results, industry experts warned. Although steps have been taken by the Govt to buy all available stocks of fertilisers in the private sector at a price calculated through a price formula, the supply cannot meet the farmers’ demand. Govt last Friday decided to buy 8,000 MT from three private sector fertiliser suppliers - Baurs, CIC and Agstar. more..

Jan 3 (ST) The annual free stamp allowance for Members of Parliament and Provincial Councils will be increased by 100 percent from tomorrow, January 1st. The move comes with the increase of Stamp allowance doubled for MPs, rates of foreign airmails and air parcels. At present, an MP receives a stamp allowance of Rs.175,000 a year. This has been increased up to Rs. 350,000. A PC member, now getting an allowance of Rs. 24,000 a year, will get Rs. 48,000 from Jan 1. more..

Jan 3 (AD) Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says that although many are in need of his image for the upcoming Local Govt election, only those contesting under the symbol of the flower bud are its rightful owners. Addressing the campaign launch of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, he said this in reference to various parties and groups utilizing his image for election campaigning. more..

Jan 3 (FT) John Keells Holdings yesterday announced that Krishan Balendra has been appointed as the Deputy Chairman, ahead of him taking over as the Chairman from 1 Jan 2019. The move follows Ajit Gunewardene retiring as Deputy Chairman with effect from 31 Dec 2017 and the impending retirement of incumbent Chairman Susantha Ratnayake with effect from 31 Dec 2018. JKH also announced the appointment of Gihan Cooray as the Group Finance Director more..

Jan 3 (ST) Legal Draftsman’s Department has redrafted Bills, some more than 20 times, as instructing agencies keep on changing policy, the Department has said in a report presented to Parliament. For example, National Audit Bill and Motor Traffic Bill have been amended 22 times so far, Department has said. Other Bills amended more than ten times and are yet to be finalised include State Land (Special Provisions) Bill (13 times), Land Development Ordinance (14 times), more..

Jan 3 (CT) Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera said that all that was left in terms of action to be taken with regard to the PCoI investigating into the issuance of Treasury Bonds, is to peruse the Report and for the AG to file indictments against those responsible. He added that Prez Sirisena will make a statement with regard to the final outcome of the Bonds scam and that those involved will be strictly dealt with regardless of their status. more..

Jan 3 (NR) The public movement against the Meethotamulla Garbage Dump has called for the government to expedite the process of granting compensation to the public affected by the tragedy which took place last year. Convener of the movement Nuwan Bopage said a public protest will be launched today urging the govt to promptly compensate affected persons. Bopage charged various parties are using miserly tactics to delay granting due compensation to the public. more..

Jan 3 (CT) The CID in Andhra Pradesh is seeking assistance from the Interpol to extradite the wanted red sanders' smugglers hiding in different countries including Sri Lanka, Nepal, Singapore and Myanmar. "The CID, which is the central agency for the Interpol in Andhra Pradesh State, is trying to bring the notorious smugglers wanted for red sanders' cases in different Police jurisdictions," said CID Additional Director-General (DG) of Police Dwaraka Tirumala Rao. more..

Jan 3 (FT) Legislation for the Colombo International Financial City is expected to be brought before Parliament in March this year, top officials revealed yesterday. PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, accompanied by Minister Champika Ranawaka, while on an inspection tour of the Port City project said that new laws to regulate the proposed financial capital would be presented to Parliament in the coming months. more..

Jan 3 (DM) All telecasting, broadcasting and print media shall be neutral and impartial in their reporting of election-related matters and shall not discriminate against any contesting political party, independent group or candidate, in allocating airtime and allocating space in the newspapers. This is the key factor in the guidelines or criteria signed by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe during a New Year’s day ceremony held at Temple Trees yesterday. On Dec 4 last year the guidelines were gazetted by the EC. more..

Jan 3 (DM) Another year is now history; nothing much to write home about. Politically, 2017 has been one of the non-eventful years. For most of us, barring some personal achievements for a few, it has been a terrible disappointment. 70 years after Independence, with thirteen elections, nine changes in govt and two failed revolutions and another two aborted coup d’états, where have we arrived? That is not to forget a 27-year war. The sighs and wheezes are many and inhalation of more..

Jan 3 (DM) Former MP Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman in an interview with the Daily Mirror spoke about the current political situation and his aspirations. Muralitharan, LTTE’s one-time Eastern Province military leader, said that he regrets past violence and looks to the future. He has now formed a new political party called Tamil United Freedom Party (TUFP). Following are excerpts of interview done with Muralitharan. more..

Jan 3 (ST) While the new electoral system was supposed to do away with the ugly spectacle of candidates fighting for preferential votes and engaging in poster wars, posters and cutouts are still appearing in large numbers ahead of February’s local council elections. Sunday Times’ correspondents throughout the country have reported that propaganda posters and cutouts are still seen in many areas, despite more..

Jan 3 (Roar) Most of Sri Lanka’s ancient history, at least in terms of socio-political history, is gleaned from the Mahavamsa. Known as The Great Chronicle, this Pali epic is considered the ‘single most important work of Lankan origin’. Consisting of three parts written during three different periods of SL history, the chronicles begin with the arrival of King Vijaya in 543BC and ends with when British gained control in 1815. more..

Jan 3 (DM) Minister of Petroleum Resources Development Arjuna Ranatunga stated that most of his ministerial colleagues call him the chairman of cleaning services. He made this comment during a function to celebrate the New Year held at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) yesterday. Minister further stated that he hoped to reduce corruption as well as initiate development projects within last 6 months. more..

Jan 3 (Island) State Minister and attorney-at-law Sriyani Wijewickrema yesterday accused former SLFP National Organizer and Joint Opposition heavyweight Basil Rajapaksa of causing a debilitating crisis within the newly formed party. Digamadulla district MP Wijewickrema claimed that she had quit the JO recently due to what she called Basil Rajapaksa’s interference in her electoral district. more..

Jan 3 (EN) Sri Lanka's economic growth will rebound to 5.0 to 5.5% in 2018 from a below 4% in 2017 with more domestic and foreign private investment, Central Bank Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy said. Growth will have to be driven by domestic private investment and also larger flows of foreign direct investment coming from economic reforms of the govt, he said presenting a road map for monetary policy during 2018. more..

Jan 3 (DN) Malwatte Chapter Anunayaka Ven. Dimbulkumbure Wimaladhamma Thera stated that most of the politicians launch development projects as if they had spent their own money and spends a similar amount in launching the project than it took to construct it. He stated that the development projects carried out from the money of the public does not even need name boards of politicians. more..

Jan 3 (CT) SLPP candidates are embarrassed to use their Party Chairman, Professor G.L. Pieris' image in their campaign and instead opt to use SLFP MP Mahinda Rajapaksa's image, Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera said. He added that the SLPP is the only political party that does not use its Chairman's image in its campaign, contrary to the Election Commission Chairman's statement, which indicated that the respective party leader's more..

Jan 3 (DM) In a report by the National Venereal Diseases and Prevention of AIDS project it is stated that there are 7500 persons identified as gays in Sri Lanka. Blood samples of about 1.2 million suspected persons had been examined and 280 persons among them had been identified as victims of AIDS. Among this group there had been Women, Men and Children as victims and a majority had been Gay persons, more..

Jan 3 (DM) Tourist Police with the assistance of Local Govt bodies, Tourism Development Authority and Tourist Board will conduct raids on restaurants, villas and tourist lodges in the southern tourist belt that cater only to foreigners and discriminate against Sri Lankans under the directive of Minister Faizer Musthapha. The Management of tourist facilities who were found discriminative on Sri Lankans during the raids will be prosecuted more..

Jan 3 (CT) Issues surrounding the Wilpattu National Park encroachment have reached an all-time high with the AG's Department report that was released earlier this month. Matter which went under cryosleep and forced on the ice, like every other subject in the country, saw resurgence, last week, with several events. Destruction of the forests around Wilpattu has become a major issue after a coalition of environmental organizations began lobbying govt for a halt to the deforestation. more..

Jan 3 (FT) The highest share of voice(SOV) event of Sri Lanka in 2017 was undoubtedly the alleged bond scam of the Central Bank. Via TV, radio, press, social media and now on the political stage, whether highlighted by the SLFP, JVP or the JO, the echo is one. Fortunately, the President taking leadership and the top-notch commission to investigate the details saved face for the Govt. The report was presented on 30December and made headline news in every medium once again. more..

Jan 3 (Island) A group of unidentified persons yesterday hurled a hand grenade at the residence of North Western Province Assistant Excise Commissioner Jayantha Ranaweera in Pannala. At the time of the incident the officer, his wife and children were at home. Nobody was hurt in the attack. A jeep, a double cab and luxury bus parked near the house were damaged. Pannala police are conducting investigations. No arrests had been made at the time of going to press. more..