Nov 12 (FT) In a flash move, Parliament was dissolved last Friday by President Maithripala Sirisena, claiming he had powers to do so under the Constitution. It was not a sudden executive action, but the culmination of a series of actions he had been taking during the previous 14-day period. It all started when he sacked the incumbent Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place on 26 October 2018. more..

Nov 12 (ER) Believing that he could win a third term as president, Mahinda Rajapaksa scheduled the presidential election for Jan 2015. After some time, it became clear that Ranil Wickremesinghe will not be contesting the election as he was perceived as a week candidate. Several alternative names were suggested. One of my friends who had a deep connection to UNP told me that Maithripala Sirisena would be the common opposition candidate. I laughed because I did not believe the theory. more..

Nov 12 (DM) Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) was ready to work with the JVP or any party who called themselves as leftists at this juncture where the county was embroiled in a devastating situation in terms of politics, the economy and the Constitution, FSP Education Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda said. He said they would work with anybody except with Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena and more..

Nov 12 (DN) The state owned Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), witnessed the highest growth of 23.3% in transshipment container throughput for the first nine months (from January to September) in 2018 as against the corresponding period in 2017. During the first nine months of 2018, the transshipment volume handled by Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) reached 1,445,424 TEUs compared to 1,172,542 TEUs handled for the same period in 2017. more..

Nov 12 (Island) A soccer fan who hurled racial abuse at a goalkeeper of Sri Lankan descent won’t be welcomed back by the team he supports. The newspaper added that, Western Sydney Wanderers fan was removed from Glen Willow Sports Stadium, Mudgee, on Saturday for allegedly calling Brisbane Roar goalkeeper Jamie Young a monkey. Fox’s pitch-side microphone recorded Young respond to the attack, screaming: ‘don’t f***ing call me a monkey, you f***ing racist c***’. more..

Nov 12 (DM) The sales dropped at SL’s monopoly cigarette player, Ceylon Tobacco (CTC), during its most recent quarter, after two quarters of volume growth, with the govt again hiking the taxes in August 2018, which led CTC to jack up the prices of some of its products. During the July-Sept quarter (3Q18), CTC said the cigarette sales fell 14.2% from a year ago and as a result, the gross revenue fell by almost Rs.3 bil to Rs.33 bil. more..

Nov 12 (CT) Justifiable disquiet and unrest have arisen amongst the citizens, beginning 26 Oct, over the appointment of a New PM and the dissolution of Parliament on 9 Nov and calling a Parliamentary election to allow the citizens to choose their leaders themselves, National Joint Committee said. Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera said that dissolving Parliament was the correct decision taken by Prez Sirisena. He said that if there are no suitable candidates for the forthcoming election, more..

Nov 12 (NR) People’s Movement for a Just Society says the President can now carry out an extensive investigation over the alleged assassination plot of VVIPs revealed by Namal Kumara. Chairman of the Movement Professor Sarath Wijesuriya said the relevant investigations can be carried out promptly as the SL Police is now under the Prez. Wijesuriya questioned why the matter wasn’t been spoken of now, as the Prez now has the ability to carry out investigations that were neglected in the past. more..

Nov 12 (AD) Permanent High Court at Bar has granted permission to hear the case against four individuals including former Prez’s Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath and rejected the preliminary objections filed by the defendants seeking to suspend the hearing of indictment papers filed by the Attorney General. The case was taken up before the Special High Court judge bench consisting of Justices Sampath Abeykoon, Sampath Abeykoon and more..

Nov 12 (Island) Transport and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has urged the SLTB employees not to let politics ruin their institution again. Minister de Silva said so at an event on Saturday to mark salary increases given to employees after a lapse of six years. Reminding the SLTB trade unions that the financial position of the institution had improved during the past three years, De Silva urged them not to allow politics to ruin the state-owned bus service again. more..

Nov 12 (AD) People’s Action for Free & Fair Elections (PAFFREL) issuing a statement on the Presidential proclamation dissolving the parliament, says that they will be filing a case at the Supreme Court to ascertain the correct legal position with regard to the dissolution. PAFFREL states that, as a civil organization, they are deeply concerned about the prevailing situation due to the present uncertain political environment following the dismissal of PM Wickremesinghe & dissolution of Parliament. more..

Nov 12 (CI) SL's sports ministry has appointed a five-member advisory committee to assist in Sri Lanka Cricket's day-to-day operations, until yet-to-be-announced board elections are held. It is expected to share duties with the sports ministry-appointed Competent Authority, which has been heading up SLC since June 1. Comprising Dinal Philips, Samantha Rajapaksa, Hisham Jamaldeen, Ranil Pathirana more..

Nov 12 (NR) The hearing of the 11 petitions filed before the Supreme Court challenging the dissolution of Parliament adjourned for the day with the SC due to convene once again tomorrow. The hearing was suspended for 10am tomorrow. Attorney General and a petitioner have been issued summons to appear before Court tomorrow when the SC convenes. Earlier in the day summons were issued for the AG, who has been named as one of the respondents in the case, more..

Nov 12 (CT) Steps will be taken to institute legal action against all persons who were involved in selling the valuable lands in Colombo at low prices under the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development, during the time of the previous govt, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said. A thorough investigation is already being conducted about the sale of two lands under the Urban Development Authority far below their worth, although having a high commercial value, he opined. more..

Nov 12 (Reuters) Eight Western countries stayed away from a meeting with SL’s govt on Monday to register their protest against President Sirisena’s decision to dissolve parliament, diplomatic and govt sources said. Sri Lanka has been in political turmoil since Sirisena fired PM Ranil Wickremesinghe last month and appointed a pro-China former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his place. Western countries led by the US & EU more..

Nov 12 (KT) A 30-year-old Sri Lankan man charged with two counts of murder after pouring acid on his 23-year-old wife and her boyfriend claimed he didn't mean to kill her. The man said that he acted on impulse and had been overcome with jealousy. His wife died after being transferred to hospital, while her boyfriend succumbed to his burn injuries after a few months.The case dates back to December 2017. The SL national - identified as Prishni - was arrested at the airport while more..

Nov 12 (AT) Since the constitutional upheaval emerged in Sri Lanka unilaterally replacing Ranil Wickremasinghe with Mahinda Rajapaksa by the country’s President Sirisena followed by a political turmoil with the suspension of its Parliament, the Asian Tribune has been in contact and conversation with many U.S. lawmakers holding prime and influential positions, who directly combine US aid recipient nations’ governance and foreign economic assistance, expressed dismay of the manner more..

Nov 12 (LBO) Sri Lanka’s ousted Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe says that the political parties of UNF are expecting to form a new political alliance. Releasing a special statement Wickremesinghe said they are currently discussing about building a broader people’s organization to save the country from the current situation. Wickremesinghe criticized the President for dissolving the Parliament unconstitutionally. more..

Nov 13 (CT) Political language said George Orwell is designed to make lies sound truthful, murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. Dr. Sarath Amunugama is the subject of this essay. In addition to his current incarnation as a politician, he is an erudite scholar and a socio anthropologist of repute. His incisive mind’ has few rivals in the parliament that stands dissolved. I last met him on 30th Nov 2015 when he joined Professor Gananath Obeyesekere more..

Nov 13 (CT) If the Supreme Court fails to overrule the president’s unconstitutional and premature dissolution of the parliament and if general elections are be held, then, there is only one issue and no other on which Sri Lankan voters have to go to the polls: democracy or dictatorship. No other election in the history of this country since independence ever presented a critical choice like this. Sri Lanka’s reputation in the civilized world as a democratic country and its future survival as a cultured more..

Nov 13 (SO) Does hitting a child bring about any good? Some say yes, others say no. Hitting children happens in homes as well as schools. The end result adults expect from hitting children is compliance. They expect that children would obey and comply, replacing one particular kind of bad behaviour with another accepted as good by adults. In schools, most common reason children are hit is the failure to do homework. more..

Nov 13 (ST) Last Monday SL’s tourism authorities launched another promotional brand with the tagline So Sri Lanka. As tradition would have it, proceedings got underway with the country’s new tourism minister Vasantha Senanayake, (probably the first among the new bunch of ministers to make a break for the airport and enplane to London) lighting oil lamp. He was followed by Lord Naseby who appears to have been roped in for the occasion. Everything appeared to be tickety-boo. more..

Nov 13 (Island) The drama unfolds, the plot thickens, critical analysis of the drama is rampant everywhere. The comments from the objective commentators refer to the process of ditching a living, breathing PM, constitutionally appointed by the self-same President who has deemed it necessary to spring the dismissal of his appointee unceremoniously and to have the nation gasping for breath over the swiftness and secretiveness of the move; also of the unethical move that more..

Nov 13 (SO) Clarifying the legitimate role of the Speaker in the context of Prez Sirisena appointing a new PM and the prevailing political scenario, Minister Sarath Amunugama said the Speaker had no role at all to play in this regard as he was only the Speaker of Parliament and nothing beyond. He said the Speaker had only to give effect to what the President had decided in terms of his constitutional powers. more..

Nov 13 (CT) The political climate in the country still seems unsettled, following the ousting of the PM and his govt, as well as the dissolution of Parliament following a decision by the Prez. Current crisis led me to explain the issues surrounding the sovereignty of the people and rule of law in last week’s column. Things have now shifted into another debacle, with dissolution of Parliament, where legislative supremacy has fallen into a new low, and the authority of elected members is uncertain. more..

Nov 13 (CT) Prez Sirisena’s categorical statement that he would not reverse the decision taken to remove PM Ranil Wickremesinghe from office and appoint Mahinda Rajapaksa as the PM instead is a clear indication that he is confident of the availability of several options. Last week, he told the Executive Committee of SLFP that he would not reverse the forward march commenced last month under any circumstance and assured Party members that he is in possession of several trump cards to face more..

Nov 13 (ST) The adverse economic consequences of the prolonged political crisis are many. A protracted political stalemate would set back the development of the economy immeasurably. Deterioration in law and order would be the worst scenario for the economy. There is no clear indication as to how or when the current political impasse would be resolved. Hopefully there would be an early resolution of the constitutional crisis and a legitimate and stable govt established soon more..

Nov 13 (Island) The lowest of the low in politics, engaged in a ruthless power struggle, have become a major headache for the public and the judiciary. A three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) was looking into 12 petitions against the dissolution of Parliament at the time of writing. It is heartening that both sides to the dispute and their allies have agreed to accept the apex court ruling to be delivered. Why those opposed to the sacking of the UNP-led govt did not seek more..

Nov 13 (Island) Richmond College, Galle has been producing some remarkable cricketing talents since late and one of brightest prospects to emerge from the school trained with the national cricket team in Kandy yesterday. Charith Asalanka rewrote Sri Lanka’s 17 year unbeaten record against England in danger Pallekele Test starts on Wednesday record books in school cricket two seasons ago and went onto captain SL U-19. more..

Nov 13 (DN) Sri Lanka have one point from the washed-out fixture against England, while South Africa are starting their campaign in the ICC Women’s World T20 2018 – if rain permits. It’s all to play for in Gros Islet, if the rain relents. Sri Lanka’s opening game was against England, and going by the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s T20I Team Rankings – England are at No.3 and SL at No.8 – the rain-enforced abandonment was better for the Asian side than the 50-over world champions. more..

Nov 13 (Island) Singer (SL) announced its results for the first half ended Sept 30. Despite tough business conditions, the results for the six months showed a commendable revenue growth of 14% to Rs. 28.6 billion compared to the same period in the previous year. In the period under review, Group profit before tax reported was Rs. 561 million while Group net profit recorded Rs. 335 million. Excluding the impact of exchange loss of Rs. 167 million, Group net profit for the first half was Rs. 456 million. more..

Nov 13 (SO) The business community and the corporate sector should understand that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data science are new, rapidly developing fields offering novel business opportunities. Collaborating with the IT industry and start-ups will yield rich dividends for both, Chairman, SL Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM), Jeevan Gnanam said. SLASSCOM organised more..

Nov 13 (CT) Southern International Port, developed during the former Prez Rajapaksa’s regime, has shown notable growth since it was leased to China last year by the Govt of UNP Leader Ranil Wickemesinghe. SL Ports Authority and Govt of SL entered into a concession agreement with China Merchants Port Holdings Company (CMPort) to develop and operate the Hambantota Port via a Public-Private Partnership in July 2017. According to the CB, Hambantota Port recorded a notable more..

Nov 13 (FT) Amidst gloomy politics in the country, the premier blue chip John Keells Holdings (JKH) yesterday brightened the investor community outlook with a Rs. 11.1 billion share buyback move. It said the Board resolved to offer to repurchase one out of every 20 ordinary voting shares at a price of Rs. 160 per share, dates of which will be notified in due course. The offer to repurchase shares amounting to a potential outlay of Rs. 11.10 billion reflects the view of the Board more..

Nov 13 (DN) Creating aviation history, SL’s first privately owned airline, Peace Air is scheduled to be airborne from Feb 14, Chairman Peace Air Pvt Ltd, Gamini Wethasinghe said. “Peace Air will be operating daily direct flights to five new destinations in China, starting from Wuhan under the first phase of our operations.” The other four destinations that would be included to the schedule are Xi, An Urumqi, Chongqing and Hardin. more..

Nov 13 (CT) Ministry of Sports has decided to appoint a 3-member Election Committee to oversee preparations to conduct the AGM of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) which is to be held shortly. Sources said the announcement of the date for the AGM and all other measures pertaining to it will be overseen by this three-member committee. The committee comprises Court of Appeal Justice Chandra Jayathillaka, former Colombo HC Judge I.M. Abeyratna and a former Secretary of more..

Nov 13 (FT) We need to look at how best multilateralism can be advanced and strengthened rather than at theories that suggest a doomsday scenario or the dawn of an era of post-multilateralism, said Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to UNO Ambassador A. L. A. Azeez in Geneva. He made these remarks following his election by acclamation as the Chairperson of the 10th Session of the UNCTAD Trade and Development Commission yesterday. more..

Nov 13 (Nikkei) Democracy worldwide today finds itself battered and weakened, says the U.S.-based Freedom House think tank. Nowhere is this truer than in Asia, where only a small number of states are genuine democracies. Political freedom is already losing ground from Bangladesh to Hong Kong. The latest developments in Sri Lanka put the future of one of Asia's oldest democracies at serious risk. The island's strategic location close to more..

Nov 13 (DN) A book on the development and the negative side of Sri Lankan economy during the past 3 years, written by Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardane was launched by PM Mahinda Rajapaksa at a ceremony held in Colombo on last Friday. Eminent speakers in the caliber of Prof. G.L. Peris, Dr. Udaya Kariyawasam and Prof. Ranjith Bandara also made remarks on the book that was published in Sinhala language. The book highlights that the SL economy could be developed to more..