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Commercial Bank and its MD honoured with prestigious accolades in Singapore

Jan 25 (FT) Commercial Bank of Ceylon has started 2019 on a winning note, with the bank being named one of Asia’s Greatest Brands and its Managing Director S. Renganathan being honoured as one of Asia’s Greatest Leaders by the Asian Business & Social Forum (ABSF). The prestigious double accolades were presented to the bank at the third edition of Asia’s Greatest Brands & Leaders at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, as part of the Pride of Asia awards series of AsiaOne magazine more..

Sri Lanka needs comprehensive youth development program: UN

Jan 25 (EN) A senior United Nations official said a comprehensive youth development program is needed for a better future for young people in Sri Lanka, which has suffered three insurgencies led by educated youth, with unemployment still persistently high among youngsters. “Today, we are seeing the largest ever youth population globally with a sizable youth population in Sri Lanka – of about five million,” said Jorn Sorensen, Resident Representative of the UNDP in Sri Lanka. more..

Lucky 190 SriLankan Airlines employees draw over Rs. one mn a month as salary

Jan 25 (Island) There were 190 officers at SriLankan Airlines, each drawing a monthly salary of over one million rupees, and they were one of the reasons why the airline suffered a 40,000 mn-rupee loss during the last nine months. Chairman of COPE JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti, presenting the first report of the COPE for the period from July 7, 2017 to Sept 9, 2017 to Parliament said that SriLankan Airlines had recorded a loss of more..

'Explosives at Wanathawilluwa: Did Govt have a hand?'

Jan 25 (CT) The politician, allegedly connected to the incident of firearms and explosives being found in Wanathawilluwa, still not being arrested, raises suspicions as to whether the Govt is involved in the incident, claimed Ven. Akmeemana Dayarathana Thera of Sinhala Vimukthi Peramuna. Thera said this while lodging a complaint in this regard at Police Hq. He added that Police have found the perpetrators responsible for this incident while investigating the attacks on Buddha statues more..

Rs. 6.1 billion for paddy purchasing

Jan 25 (FT) Paddy yield has increased by 10% for the Maha season due to good rainfall in the last few months of last year, raising yields to three million metric tons of paddy production, an official said. Paddy Marketing Board Deputy General Manager Saman Bandara said that high rainfall in the Maha season has resulted in an increase in the production and thus a provision of Rs. 6.1 billion has been allocated to purchase paddy in the Maha season from paddy farmers this year. more..

COPE lists SOE losses

Jan 25 (FT) The first report of the COPE for the period from 1 July – 30 Sept 2017 was presented yesterday in Parliament, highlighting key issues with SriLankan Airlines and Milco for continuous losses and mismanagement out of 17 State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) investigated. Moving the report, COPE Chairman Sunil Handunnetti held that COPE and COPA are responsible to the public and both Committees should act to uphold the trust more..

EDB Chairperson reappointed

Jan 25 (FT) Export Development Board Chairperson Indira Malwatte has been reappointed by Prez Sirisena. The new Board of Directors of the EDB has been approved by Prez Sirisena and Minister Malik Samarawickrama. Other private sector members are Anushka Wijesinha, Jeevan Gnanam, Prabhash Subasinghe, Sheamali Wickramasinghe, Thushara Herath and Dr. Yusuf Marikkar. In addition, eight Ex-Officio members from the related Govt agencies, along with a representative from BOI, will join more..

A special performance can save SL at Gabba

Jan 25 (FOX) For Sri Lanka to stay alive in this Test they need to change their approach and be more positive. They need someone to pop out and do something special. A new hero turns things around for you with one special performance and it’s amazing how the others will follow and how things tend to fall in place off the back of one performance. They need that someone to arrive at the Gabba on day two of the first Test because when you look at everything that’s happening around more..

'Brig. Priyanka Fernando's arrest warrant: UK HC will convey GoSL concerns'

Jan 25 (CT) The Foreign Affairs Ministry yesterday said that British High Commissioner James Dauris had assured that he would promptly convey the concerns raised by the Govt of Sri Lanka (GoSL) to his Govt, and that it was his understanding that the warrant against former Minister Counsellor Defence, attached to the Lankan diplomatic mission in the UK, Brigadier Priyanka Fernando, will be withdrawn. more..

Pardon for Gananasara Thera: Minister to talk with President

Jan 25 (DM) Buddhasasana Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said that he will discuss with Prez Sirisena to secure a pardon for Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera as soon as the President arrived in the country. He said that he received several letters from Ramanna Nikaya, Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kotte Sri Kalayani Samagi Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha, Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter of the Siam Nikaya, more..

Constitutional Council again rejects Prez’s nominee for Appellate Court Chairman

Jan 25 (FT) Constitutional Council (CC) for the second time has rejected the name forwarded by Prez Sirisena to the post of Chairman of the Appeal Court. The CC, chaired by the Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, met in Parliament on Wednesday. All the members of the CC were present at the meeting. Council considered the recommendations of the Prez for the post of Chairman of the Court of Appeal, and one more for the bench of judges, but no final decision was taken on the matter. more..

Tamil Diaspora welcomes Hemasiri’s offer but won’t co-operate until ...

Jan 25 (Island) Global Tamil Forum (GTF), welcomed Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando’s recent controversial request for Tamil Diaspora groups to furnish information, if any, of the atrocities committed by armed forces personnel. UK-based GTF spokesperson Suren Surendiran said that the grouping was really encouraged by Defence Secretary’s declaration. He pointed out that in spite of Fernando’s encouraging statement, more..

Fall army Worm and the food that we eat

Jan 25 (DM) Sri Lanka’s agriculture and dairy industries are experiencing plagues and the entire country went into alert mode by early Thursday. The mother of all issues is the havoc caused by the Fall Army Worm and the authorities are said to be burning midnight oil to find a solution. While folks in the areas affected by the worm are pain-stricken citizens in other areas are contemplating on thoughts whether to lay off from consuming foods like plantains and all types of green leaves more..

Who next?

Jan 25 (DM) The reason for the early hype among the political parties and the media on the Presidential election which is not at hand is very clear. It is the indecision by the main political parties on the candidates they are going to field that has created this early hullabaloo over the matter. Among the main political parties, only the JVP seems to be indifferent about it as it is a party that does not place much emphasis on individuals when it comes to elections. more..

Defence sector will gobble up close to Rs 400 billion

Jan 25 (ST) Budgetary allocation for the Defence sector will be close to Rs 400 billion for this year, according to Appropriation Bill 2019, to be presented to Parliament on Feb 5. With the Police Department being brought under the Defence Ministry, the Rs 307 billion allocated in the previous Appropriation Bill presented in Oct 2018, has shot up to Rs 393 billion. In addition to the Police Dept, Defence allocations cover more..

COPE Chair wants committee proceedings to be open to media

Jan 25 (Island) Chairman of the parliamentary watchdog committee – COPE JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti, told Parliament that media should be allowed to cover COPE and COPA sessions. He said so while presenting the first report of the COPE for the period July 7, 2017 to Sept 9, 2017 to Parliament. The report contains investigations on 17 public institutions including COPE inquiry on the discrepancies that occurred at SriLankan. more..

BOI, coast regulator to speed up investment approvals

Jan 25 (EN) Sri Lanka’s investment promotion agency and the coastal regulator are to work closely together to speed up approvals for investments, especially in tourism and mineral sands mining. The Board of Investment said it has signed an agreement with Coast Conservation and Coastal Resources Management Department to enhance investor facilitation. Agreement "is very significant as approvals by this body are vital for more..

Ven. Athuraliye Rathana thera unravels Armyworm destroyerident

Jan 25 (DN) We do not need the Govt, officials etc. We can show the country our capability of destroying Armyworm caterpillar by using biological chemicals based on Neem (kohomba) and without using any artificial poisons. Give us 1,000 affected acres of cultivation and we will show it, MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera said. Thera said that at this crucial moment, the only objective of officials is re-gaining the banned more..

Video: Ranil re-elected UNP leader

Jan 25 (AD) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has been re-elected as the leader of UNP for the forthcoming year. The UNP Working Committee had assembled at the party headquarters Sirikotha yesterday. Accordingly, the existing office bearers of the UNP Working Committee have been re-elected as the new committee members. UNP Secretary General Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam stated that several other more..

Jayampathy says his privacy infringed

Jan 25 (DN) Raising a privilege issue in Parliament, UNP National List MP Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne said his privacy had been infringed upon by the reporting of a private conversation on Sirasa TV after a press briefing on Jan 22. “What happened that day was that our party convened a press briefing to reveal the future actions of the USF which had nothing to do with the Constitution composition process. more..

Video: Sri Lankans still have feudalistic mindset: Tilvin

Jan 25 (AD) There is a limited conversation in the country for political guidance, says the General Secretary of JVP Tilvin Silva. He said, the existing major conversation in the country is focused on the candidates of the upcoming Presidential election. What is crucial for the public is the capability of a specific person, party or a movement recover the country from the prevailing situation, and a political & policy conversation more..

Human activities should not threaten the regeneration capacity of nature: President

Jan 25 (PMD) Prez Sirisena said that human activities should not threaten the regeneration capacity of nature and it is the sole responsibility of the mankind to implement activities which will strengthen the regenerative capacity of nature. Delivering the Keynote address at the Third Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific, in Singapore today, he said that Being a follower of the Buddhist philosophy, more..

Aloysius alleges two suspects set scot-free by the prosecution

Jan 25 (DM) Arjun Aloysius, who was in remand in connection with the CB bond fraud, alleged that the investigating officers of the CB bond scam had let the two main suspects off scot-free and without charging them even though there was ample proof against them. Mr. Aloysius filed a motion in the Colombo Chief Magistrate Court today through his instructing Attorney Amila Pieris. Mr. Aloysius had complained to Magistrate Lanka Jayaratna more..

2 killed, 3 injured in IED attack on Sri Lankan peacekeepers in Mali

Jan 25 (AD) A Sri Lankan Army Captain and a SL Army trooper were killed while another three Sri Lankan soldiers have been injured in an IED attack during the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Mali. An armoured vehicle, WMZ carrying Sri Lankan Peacekeeping troops on patrol in the general area of Douentza in West Africa’s trouble-torn Mali, came under a remote-controlled Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack more..

SriLankan Airlines’ HHR Pradeepa Kekulawela transferred

Jan 25 (CT) Controversial SriLankan Airlines‘ Head of Human Resources Pradeepa Kekulawela has finally been transferred and will now oversee the Properties and Logistics Department of the airline. The national carrier releasing a Human Resources communique to all staff revealed that the decision was taken by the Board of Directors on the 24th of Jan 2019 and will be in effect as of today. Srimanthaka Senanayake the airline’s Senior Manager International Relations has been more..

Sirisena violates constitution again: Avoids parliament for over 3 months violating 19A

Jan 25 (CT) President Maithripala Sirisena has violated the Constitution again as he has not attended Parliament in three months. Sirisena has last attended Parliament on Oct 12, two weeks before he architected a political crisis by appointing Mahinda Rajapaksa as the PM. Although Sirisena reinstated Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister on Dec 16 and appointed a UNP-led govt, he has failed to attend Parliament thus far. The 19th Amendment to the Constitution says, more..

Eranda Ginige

Sagala meets AIESEC envoys in lead-up to world’s biggest youth conference

Jan 25 (FT) AIESEC Sri Lanka Chairman Isuru Premathilaka and four envoys met Minister of Ports and Shipping and Southern Development Sagala Ratnayake recently at the Prime Minister’s office. Accordingly, special discussions were held regarding the AIESEC International Youth Conference, to be held in Sri Lanka this year. The AIESEC International Youth Conference will be held in grand scale, and it possesses world-wide attraction during its long journey. more..

Commander of the Navy visits Eastern Naval Command

Jan 25 (SLN) Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva visited the Eastern Naval Command on last 21 and 22 Jan. Upon his arrival, the Commander of the Navy was accorded a guard of honour and he was warmly received by Commander Eastern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Sumith Weerasinghe. Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva first visited SLNS Gotabhaya, SLNS Ranweli and SLNS Walagamba and addressed the officers and sailors attached there. more..

Labuschagne, Head hit 80s as Australia stamp their authority

Jan 25 (CI) If it did not quite turn out to be the breakthrough batting day Australia had been yearning for all summer, the hosts were still able to savour their highest partnership and individual scores of the summer courtesy Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne, to leave supremacy in the first Test against Sri Lanka firmly in the hands of Tim Paine's team. Neither Head nor Labuschagne had looked immediately comfortable more..

Countering a pest outbreak…

Jan 25 (CT) They came with little warning and everything changed. Local farmers long suffering from extended droughts and elephants are now faced with a bigger problem, albeit in a much smaller size but a pestilence of a much stronger and sinister proportions. Just when the dry seasons were getting longer and rampaging elephants becoming a common occurrence, in came a pest with foreign origins, and devoured those crops grown from hours, days and months worth of labour in more..

Investigating corruption of Yahapalana Govt

Jan 25 (FT) Investigating into corruption alleged to have taken place during the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime was considered the most important responsibility of the Yahapalana Govt during its initial years. However, following the cessation of the political alliance between Prez and PM, Prez Sirisena has appointed a Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate into allegations of corruptions and malpractices of Yahapalana Govt that had taken place from 15 Jan 2015 to more..

Gabba five-for a dream come true for Suranga Lakmal

Jan 25 (CI) Suranga Lakmal rated his 5 for 75 at the Gabba above his recent career-best figures in Christchurch as it allowed him to achieve the dream of a five-wicket haul in Australia on a day when he had to shoulder additional burden with Sri Lanka losing the services of Lahiru Kumara to a hamstring injury. Kumara, SL's fastest bowler, struck in the opening over of the day to remove Marcus Harris but spent the entire more..

Corruption case against Rambukwella trial fixed for March 8

Jan 25 (DN) A corruption case filed against former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and former State Printing Corporation (SPC) Chairman was today fixed for trial on March 08 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court. This is for allegedly causing an unlawful loss of Rs.230,984 to the govt by paying the former Minister’s mobile phone bill for a month using SPC funds, while functioning as the Mass Media Minister in 2012. When the case taken up before Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayarathne, more..

Top Excise man in trouble

Jan 25 (CT) A high ranking excise official, in charge of the Jaffna area, had attempted to release the stock of 7,500 litres of ethanol, worth over Rs 30 million, taken into custody from Alaweddi in Chunnakam, Jaffna, by the STF. This is the largest stock seized in the North so far, sources revealed. The raid was carried out by the STF, led by Jaffna STF Camp Commanding Officer, Chief Inspector Ananda Premasiri under the direct supervision of DIG Latheef, head of the STF. more..

Prez holds discussions with PM of Singapore

Jan 25 (PMD) President Maithripala Sirisena who is on a two day official visit to Singapore held bilateral discussions with PM of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong today. The two leaders agreed to further strengthen trade, tourism, and industrial relations between the two countries during this meeting. Prez Sirisena, referred to the Free Trade Agreement signed between Singapore and Sri Lanka said that while drafting it more..

No quorum, PC polls debate put off

Jan 25 (DM) The adjournment debate on the provincial council elections ended abruptly in parliament today in the absence of quorum. It ended two and a half hours earlier than the scheduled time of 7.30 pm because there were two members short for the 20-member quorum. The quorum issue was raised by UNP MP Lakshman Wijemanne. UNP MP Tusitha Wijemanne who was presiding at the time called for the ringing of the quorum bell but with only 18 members present in the Chamber, more..

Two ministerial portfolios amended

Jan 25 (AD) Amendments have been made for the ministerial portfolios of Minister Daya Gamage and State Minister Ranjith Aluvihare. Accordingly, Minister of Social Empowerment Daya Gamage has been conferred the ministerial portfolio of Primary Industries, in addition to his current position. Ministerial portfolio of Ranjith Aluvihare has been amended as the State Minister of Tourism Development Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs. The extraordinary gazette notification more..

Plantation workers’ daily basic wage increased to Rs.700

Jan 25 (DM) Month-long struggle by tea plantation workers ended today with planters unions and Regional Plantation Companies (RPC) agreeing to increase the daily basic wage of plantation workers to Rs.700 from the earlier Rs.500. However, the workers were demanding a basic salary of Rs.1,000. Minister Navin Dissanayake, who was at the meeting held with the plantation industry stakeholders, more..

Video: Local politicians directly engaged in drug trafficking: Harsha

Jan 25 (AD) Local politicians are directly involved in drug trafficking in the country, says Minister Harsha de Silva. He stated that politicians provide backing for drug dealers. Stating that everyone knows where the supply of drugs such as Cannabis, Ice and Tramadol come from, Minister de Silva emphasized that the local politicians have direct involvement in drug trafficking. “These issues cannot be resolved if we do not speak up about them,” he said. Politicians from the highest to the lower rank more..

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