Jul 22 (Island) The only person that the Tamil people had accepted as a national leader was the late LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, former Provincial Minister of Agriculture of the Northern Province, P. Ayngaranesan told media in Jaffna yesterday. Ayngaranesan said so in response to a statement made by State Minister of Education, Vijayakala Maheswaran that PM Ranil Wickremesinghe was the only national leader acceptable to the Sinhala and Tamil communities. more..

Jul 22 (CT) Some reports, not denied by the authorities, claimed State Intelligence officials had briefed top Govt sources on three occasions, personally, on 11 and 16 April about the impending attacks, as relayed to the Police by Indian Intelligence Agencies. That means the Indian Intelligence had alerted SL State Intelligence Services (SIS) about the attacks well in advance. On the very eve of the attacks, 20 April, Indian Intelligence had again sent an urgent alert more..

Jul 22 (AD) An Extraordinary Gazette notification has been issued extending the State of Emergency in SL by another month with effect from today. The relevant proclamation by the Prez has been issued by the Presidential Secretariat and is signed by the Secretary to the President. Prez Sirisena said in the decree he believed there was a public emergency in the country, and was invoking provisions of Public Security Act more..

Jul 22 (AD) A conflictuous situation has arisen within the SL Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) regarding its chairmanship. Currently, film director and producer Inoka Sathyangani is serving as the incumbent Chairman of the Corporation.’ Meanwhile, Non-Cabinet Minister of Mass Media Ruwan Wijeyawardena has appointed Sanjeewa Wijegunawardena, issuing a letter of appointment on July 18. Accordingly, Sanjeewa Wijegunawardena had arrived at the SLRC premises today to more..

Jul 22 (EN) SL's nationwide inflation slowed down to 2.1% in June 2019 from 3.5% in May 2019, the lowest in five months. The fall in the National Consumer Price Index in June 2019 was owing to the high base in the same month of the previous year, a statement said. In the food category prices contracted by 2.9% in June 2019 from a year ago while non-food inflation was 6.2%. When the monthly change is considered, National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) increased by 0.4% more..

Jul 22 (AD) The case against IGP Pujith Jayasundara and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, filed for allegedly violating fundamental rights by failing to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks, was taken up before the Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today. Appearing on behalf of the CID, Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris told the court that statements from IGP Jayasundara have already been more..

Jul 22 (Island) Minister Champika Ranawaka says that the king maker at the next prez election will not be any single party but the floating vote comprising around five million electors. Addressing a convention of the Jathika Maga held on Saturday, he said: "Neither the UNP nor the SLPP nor the JVP nor the JHU nor any other party will be the determining factor at the next presidential polls. The biggest single entity would be the floating vote comprising electors belonging to none of those parties. more..

Jul 22 (DM) Eleven police officers attached to the Panadura (North) Police have been transferred in connection with the missing of two T-56 assault rifles from the police station. Police said the officers were transferred from the police stations in the Panadura Division due to the ongoing investigations. Panadura (North) Community Police OIC, a sub-inspector, a female sergeant and 9 constables were among the transferees. An investigation was launched under the direction of Senior DIG in charge of more..

Jul 22 (AD) The Welikada Prison has become the main obstacle to efforts of creating a better society for the future generation, President Maithripala Sirisena has said. The President added that the investigations into the recent apprehension 270 kg of heroin by the Navy revealed that the activities were operated from the Welikada Prison. The CID has launched a special probe on this, President continued. more..

Jul 22 (DM) Ministry of Plantation Industries is to launch a fresh initiative with an investment of Rs.300 million to boost low replanting rates in SL’s tea industry. Minister Navin Dissanayaka last week announced that the Rs.300 million programme will be launched with an aim to replant over 1000 hectares by the first half of 2020. “I am directing a tripartite arrangement between Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB), Tea Small Holdings Development Authority (TSHDA) and Tea Research Institute (TRI). more..

Jul 22 (AD) A petition has been filed requesting the Court of Appeal to order the govt to draft a legal framework banning the import of garbage and waste materials to SL. The petition was filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice citing the Director General of SL Customs, Central Environmental Authority and AG as the respondents. Petitioner says information has revealed that hundreds of containers containing waste materials imported from a foreign country are currently stockpiled in the island. more..

Jul 22 (EN) SL’s Hayleys group rejected allegations of importing waste, saying its logistics arm was moving fast to ship a consignment of used mattresses after the consignee was unable to continue processing and re-export as it was in financial trouble. Ruwan Waidyaratne, Managing Director of Hayleys Free Zone Limited, a logistics and entrepot trading firm, said it suspended further imports of used mattresses after advice from more..

Jul 22 (AD) SLPP is due to enter into a MoU with 10 other recognized political parties, states the Chairman of the SLPP, Prof. G. L. Peiris. Prof. Peiris stated that the relevant MoU will be signed on the 26th of July. The MoU will be signed on working together to win future elections, according to the Chairman. He further said that the SLPP has carried out discussions with 18 registered political parties that do not represent the parliament with regard to arriving at MoUs. more..

Jul 22 (DM) Veteran broadcaster and lyricist Kusum Peiris passed away late last night at the age of 74. She joined the Radio Ceylon Rangamadala programme as a schoolgirl at Kelaniya Gurukula Vidyalaya. She joined the SLBC in 1972 and was ranked as an A-Grade drama-artiste and later an A-Grade announcer. She also wrote popular songs like Sihinayaki Oba Nihanda Mediyam Re, Hitha Gaawa Danga Kalaa, Gang Iwure, Bindunu Pemaka, Sithuwili Sirawee, Digu Neth more..

Jul 22 (DM) The name of former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is not among the list of names released by the US Govt of those who have abandoned US citizenship during the first quarter of 2019 ending March 31. The list appears on the Federal Register website as a notice dated May 13, 2019, by the internal revenue service. It states: “This listing contains the name of each individual losing United States citizenship more..

Jul 22 (EN) Sri Lanka is expecting revenues to improve from the third and fourth quarter of 2019, while spending was being rationalized to manage the deficit, Treasury Secretary R H S Samaratunga said. The govt is cutting capital spending by 15 percent in 2019 and will also trim some current spending. But security spending has increased while revenues were down, Samaratunga said. Sri Lanka was targeting a deficit of 4.5% of gross domestic product for 2019. more..

Jul 22 (RN) Some Opposition members who fervently backed former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the 2015 presidential election will support the broad alliance led by the UNP in the upcoming presidential polls, UNP MP Harshana Rajakaruna said. Addressing the media at Temple Trees today, Rajakaruna said that everyone will be surprised to learn who from the opposition camp are set to join the UNP’s new alliance which will be formally announced on 5 August. more..

Jul 22 (PMD) The Kiren Sapiri Dayak, the national programme to provide a pack of liquid milk to every child will be inaugurated under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena tomorrow. The programme launched under Grama Shakthi People’s Movement together with Ministries of Education, Health and the Livestock Department and many other public and private stakeholders aims to provide a packet of liquid milk to more..

Jul 22 (AD) Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa points out that he has never stated that former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa would be the next presidential candidate. He mentioned this to the media following a program held at the BMICH, Colombo. Speaking on the passing of three months since the Easter attacks, he stated that victims of the attack are still dying on hospital beds. The govt pays no proper attention to the, he added. more..

Jul 22 (AD) A Sri Lankan passenger has been detained at the Bandaranaike Int'l Airport (BIA) for attempting to smuggle out Saudi riyals worth Rs 8.93 million to Chennai, India. The suspect was arrested at the departure terminal of the airport last evening by the Customs officers attached to the BIA, Customs Media Spokesman Sunil Jayaratne stated. The suspect was identified as a 23-year-old businessman from Vavuniya, who frequents flights between India and Sri Lanka. more..

Jul 22 (CT) Muslim Ministers who quit their respective portfolios, in the aftermath of Easter Sunday attacks, last night decided not to swear-in to their portfolios today as scheduled earlier. This was announced following a SLMC High Command meeting at Party hq. Following the meeting, SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem said they decided not to accept portfolios until the Govt takes clear steps to solve matters in the EP, more..

Jul 23 (CT) There were many reports last week that the ruling party, UNP, will contest the next presidential election in a major alliance based on national security, democracy and the economy. The UNP General Secretary stated that an agreement will be signed with the partner parties on the 5th of August. This will be in in preparation for the upcoming presidential election. The UNP has also made it clear that no one has still been picked to be the leader and this will not happen on Aug 5. more..

Jul 23 (CT) At a rally held in Nugegoda on Sunday 7th July 2019, the JVP made history in Sri Lanka’s political discourses of the mainstream. Delivering the final fiery oration, the party’s General Secretary, long-term stalwart, and one of its senior-most personalities, Comrade Tilvin Silva, stated that his party fully recognises the rights and agency of people with non-cis-heteronormative sexual orientations, gender identities/expressions and sex characteristics [SOGIESC]. more..

Jul 23 (SO) In the beginning, there was a DIG of Police. Then the Director of the Teaching Hospital. Last week, two complaints were filed with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) against a Magistrate. A third is expected to be filed tomorrow. Most recently, in an act of broad overreach, the National Police Commission attempted to have the case transferred out of the CID. The twists and turns in Dr Shafi Saga more..

Jul 23 (CT) Jaffna is known as the stronghold of Saivism, a branch of Hinduism centred on worship of Lord Shiva. It has been so all the time except during Portuguese rule in the 17th century, when it was dragooned into being entirely Catholic. The fascinating story of how and why Jaffna became Catholic en masse, and why it reverted to Hinduism with equal alacrity when the Dutch replaced the Portuguese in 1658, is told by Prof Tikiri Abeyasinghe in his book Jaffna under more..

Jul 23 (ST) There is a prospect of a significant decrease in the trade deficit this year owing to a continued growth in exports and a reduction in import expenditure. The reduced trade deficit could result in a higher balance of payments surplus that would strengthen foreign reserves and reduce the country’s external financial vulnerability somewhat. This expectation is owing to the trade deficit decreasing to US$ 2.46 billion in the first four months of this year, compared to more..

Jul 23 (Roar) A weekday morning in Pettah. The incoming Southwest monsoon had brought with it a shower of rain, and dark clouds hanging heavy in the sky portend more to come. The narrow streets are muddy, the dust that usually coats it streets, dampened and turned turbid by rushing feet. Pettah is usually a fusion of rushing porters, loud vendors and hurried commuters—and today is no different. more..

Jul 23 (ST) Okay, so the words in that leaked confidential diplomatic dispatch to London by the British ambassador in Washington pointed to the chaotic functioning of the Trump administration. But if you did not know where it came from, who authored it, what it refers to but had read a part of its content you might be excused for thinking that it was a confidential assessment of another president-led govt — the one in that glorious country like no other. Sri Lanka’s politics has descended to such more..

Jul 23 (CT) The diminishing standards of our parliamentarians have been a matter of grave concern to many in recent times. The apathy of many MPs towards vital economic and national issues, the poor contribution they make through their parliamentary speeches and worst of all rowdy and unruly behaviour of some of them have triggered the question whether it is possible to lay down some minimum educational qualifications for MPs. Many ask, if you need a paper qualification even more..

Jul 23 (Island) Issue of garbage imports has taken a dramatic turn with some trade unionists claiming that waste from the UK may have found its way to the Meethotamulla landfill, which collapsed, in Apr 2017, burying more than 32 persons alive. Foreign garbage is reported to have been brought here for the last several years thanks to a gazette notification issued by the previous govt, in 2013, to facilitate imports for BOI ventures. Some of the imported waste has been found in Katunayake FTZ. more..

Jul 23 (Island) CFW Swim Week Colombo brings together four creative industries namely Art, Fashion, Food and Music to host a week-long creative festival titled Celebrate Colombo presented by So Sri Lanka, SL Tourism and Promotion Bureau (SLTPB). Celebrate Colombo is a week of creativity anchored on the Swim and Resort season now in its 5th year. Celebrate Colombo is a destination promotion tourism-based event product that positively tunes the perception of int'l media more..

Jul 23 (FT) Despite concerns expressed by Prez Sirisena on the proposed amendments to the Monetary Law Act, State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramaratne said it will be gazetted in the next few weeks to start the process of tabling it before Parliament, parallel to broader consultations suggested by the Prez. Earlier this month, Prez, in a memorandum to the Cabinet, said that before the Amendments to Monetary more..

Jul 23 (EN) HNB Assurance is expecting planning write business of 15 percent in the year to March 2019 around 9.5 billion rupees, with restrictions on vehicle imports relaxed, though economic conditions were weak, officials said. CEO Deepthi Lokuarachchi said the firm expected 15-16 percent premium growth in 2019 with first quarter revenue increase outstripping industry growth. "Market conditions are hard at the moment with disposable incomes coming down," Lokuarachchi said. more..

Jul 23 (Island) British established the Kandy Bogambara prison in 1876. It was moved to Pallekelle, about 10km. to the east of the city, in 2014. Now an intense debate has arisen that involves, among others, the venerable Mahanayakas of the Malwatta and Asgiriya Chapters, govt ministers and officials, scholars from diverse disciplines, civil society leaders and others as to what should be done with the old prison building and land. more..

Jul 23 (CT) The organisers’ decision to limit entries to one athlete per country for each event in South Asian Games athletics competition and to scrap some of SL’s favourite Gold medal-winning events has left national athletes baffled, outraged and dejected and the Athletics Association of SL in a quandary with some tough selections to be made. For years the South Asian Games’ major area of competition, Athletics featured two athletes more..

Jul 23 (CT) SL’s tourism sector is seeing a considerable increase in the registered number of home-stay units in 2019, noted a top tourism official recently. SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Acting Director, Bhagya Mahavithanage pointed out that SLTDA’s 2019 Tourism Industry Report had recorded the number of registered home-stay units in SL as at 31 Mar 2019 as 476, out of the 2,403 other registered accommodation establishments in the country. more..

Jul 23 (DN) Unbeaten team Colombo will meet team Dambulla in the final of the Under 19 Super Provincial 50 over tournament at Rangiri Dambulla Int'l Cricket stadium today. Sri Lanka youth skipper Nipun Dananjaya will lead the team Colombo and Sri Lanka Youth deputy skipper Kamil Mishara will lead the team Colombo. Team Colombo beat team Galle, team Kandy and team Dambulla in the first round fixtures. Team Dambulla beat team Galle and team Kandy and they lost to team Colombo. more..

Jul 23 (ST) Govt will enact a new Immigration and Emigration Act this year to meet the present needs both nationally and internationally replacing the present Act which was promulgated in 1948. The existing Act was introduced in an era when the volume of int'l movements was limited and a majority of arrivals were by sea. Following the enactment of the new Act the existing Act will be repealed as it is archaic. more..