Jun 22 (CI) What new tricks could Sri Lanka come up with to stifle England, the biggest, battingest beast at this World Cup? Turns out the old ones are the best ones. It feels as if Lasith Malinga has been raging against the dying of the light for several years now - a couple of weeks ago he was raging against his team-mates for not upping their games - and it was his spirit that animated Sri Lanka as they fought the odds more..

Jun 22 (Island) A man has been arrested, in Seoul, for faking blindness for eight long years and receiving govt assistance the visually impaired are entitled to, according to a news item we reproduce today from our Asia News Network partner, The Korea Herald. He got into trouble, at long last, when one of his neighbours saw him drive a car. He was really blind to the consequences of feigning for gain. In the US, what he has done is called the California Syndrome. more..

Jun 22 (Island) The declared aim of the 19th Amendment was to curb the Executive power of the President with the lofty ideal of creating better governance to achieve the ultimate goal of Good Governance. However, in view of the Judgment of Supreme Court with regard to the 13th amendment, which stated a federal structure would automatically be created if the executive Presidency is abolished while retaining the Provincial Councils, the executive Presidency itself had to be retained. more..

Jun 22 (CI) SL had several heroes at Headingley, with captain Dimuth Karunaratne in particular praising the contributions of his two senior stars, Lasith Malinga and Angelo Mathews, for helping orchestrate a famous World Cup win over the hosts and pre-tournament favourites. Having decided to bat, SL got off to a poor start at 3 for 2 in the third over. However, after an exhilarating counterattack from Avishka Fernando, more..

Jun 22 (CI) 1: Number of wins SL had managed in their last 12 ODIs against the teams in this World Cup. That win, too, had come against Afghanistan earlier in this World Cup, after they were bowled out for just 201. Their previous win against any of the top teams was against England, in Colombo, in October last year. England's earlier loss in the tournament had come against Pakistan, another team who had not been fancied to beat them, having lost 11 straight ODIs before that match. more..

Jun 22 (FT) The Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sri Lanka Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) yesterday to assist in rebuilding the tourism industry. SLAITO also kicked off its ninth edition of ‘Sancharaka Udawa’ in Colombo yesterday, expecting it to help a tourism rebound. At the event SLAITO signed a MoU with the SLTPB to strengthen engagement and to allow further development of the tourism industry. more..

Jun 22 (CI) Lasith Malinga conjured a vintage spell, part-time offspinner Dhananjaya de Silva struck three times in nine balls, Angelo Mathews scored a stubborn 85 not out, and Avishka Fernando made a rollicking 49 to shock tournament favourites England and give Sri Lanka enough reason to dream of a spot in the semi-finals. There were other heroes as well for SL. Nuwan Pradeep bowled some mean inswingers with the new ball more..

Jun 22 (EN) SL's nationwide inflation slowed down to 3.5% in the 12-months to May 2019, for the first time in six months, from 3.6% in April, central bank said. The fall in the National Consumer Price Index compiled by the Census and Statistics Dept in May 2019 was owing to the high base in the same month of the previous year. In the food category prices contracted by 0.4% in May 2019 from a year ago while non-food inflation was 6.7%. A statement said that when the monthly change is considered, more..

Jun 22 (DN) Rohan de Silva and Mohan Wijesinghe were elected President and Secretary of the Sri Lanka Badminton Association at the annual general meeting held at the SLB headquarters , Maitland place yesterday. Two candidates Rohan de Silva and Nishantha Jayasinghe battled it out for the top post of President while De Silva got 25 votes and Nishantha Jayasinghe got 18 voters. Meanwhile Mohan Wijesinghe got 28 votes to be elected Secretary post while opponent Lasintha more..

Jun 22 (FT) Minister Malik Samarawickrama welcomed the Parliament decision to repeal the controversial Takeover Act that was implemented during the former Government as a step that would boost investor confidence. Revival of Underperforming Enterprises or Underutilised Assets Act No. 43 of 2011 was repealed by Parliament on Thursday in Parliament with a majority of 22 votes. more..

Jun 22 (Island) Cargills Ceylon PLC sources about 150 tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables on a daily basis from the farmers across the country. In March 2019, Cargills initiated offering fresh produce to the consumer with the label Good for You -Good for the Environment- at 100 Cargills outlets bearing SL Good Agricultural Practices (SL-GAP) certification. Cargills Sarubima Agriculture supply chain consists of 600 farmers of whom 35 are working on pilot projects to achieve GAP certification. more..

Jun 22 (LBO) Following the announcement this week that the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has become the world’s 140th ranked university, in addition to being Australia’s number 1 ranked young university (under 50 years of age), it has confirmed it will open a pathway college in Sri Lanka. The pathway college, to be known as UTS Insearch Sri Lanka, will open in Colombo later this year offering courses to prepare students for university. more..

Jun 22 (Island) The GMOA, yesterday, sought an explanation from the World Health Organization (WHO) as to why Minister Rajitha Senaratne had been granted the title of Vice President of its Executive Committee and funds for a propaganda event he held. GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge has, in a letter, addressed to the WHO Country Office for SL, also asked whether such prestigious positions are granted more..

Jun 22 (MFA) Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana was in Budapest for bilateral discussions with the Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister of Hungary Péter Szijjártó last Friday. The visit, undertaken at the invitation of the Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjártó, coincided with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between SL and Hungary this year (since Feb 1959). Underlining SL’s keenness to deepen its bilateral engagement with the Eastern and Central European countries, more..

Jun 22 (Island) The Court of Appeal yesterday gave Prof. Sarath Wijesuriya time till August 26 to file objections to the charge of contempt of court against him. President's Counsel Upul Jayasuriya, who appeared for the accused Prof. Wijesuriya told the court that he objected to what was referred to as a charge sheet against his client. Among the complainants are Sampath Vijitha Kumara, a lawyer from Kuliyapitiya and Wasantha Alwis a retired Army officer. more..

Jun 22 (DM) Responding to reports about the financial allocation for the renovation of a house belonging to the Public Enterprises Development ministry, Minister Lakshman Kiriella told in Parliament that it was used by his predecessor Minister Kabir Hashim only. Denying reports that he was occupying the house, Mr. Kiriella said had not used it at all. Meanwhile, State Minister Eran Wickramaratne said that Minister Lakshman more..

Jun 22 (Hindu) Earlier this year, Sri Lanka was riding a tourism wave — especially after the island was ranked top destination for travel in 2019 by Lonely Planet. But in five months’ time, the story would change drastically. Following the April 21 Easter terror attacks that killed over 250 people — including about 45 foreigners — the country’s tourism sector is struggling to survive. Official data from the SL Tourism Development Authority shows a 7.5% fall in tourist arrivals in April compared to last year, more..

Jun 22 (MFA) The ninth Bi-Annual Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) was held in Durban, South Africa from 19-20 June 2019. The ninth session of the CSO chaired by Ambassador Anil Sooklal, Deputy Director General, Department of Int'l Relations and Cooperation, South Africa was the last CSO meeting hosted by the Govt of South Africa, prior to handing over the Chairmanship to the UAE. Speaking at the inaugural session, SL’s head of delegation more..

Jun 22 (Island) The Batticaloa Shariah Campus should be taken over by the govt under the Emergency regulation and legal action instituted against those who had set it up in violation of the law the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education and Human Resource Development has recommended. The decision had been taken by the committee unanimously, Chairman of the Committee UNP MP Prof. Ashu Marasinghe said. more..

Jun 22 (Hindu) National Investigation Agency, which is probing the Indian link with the Easter Sunday blasts in Sri Lanka, has picked up a youth from Kanniyakumari for interrogation. Police sources said the NIA team picked up J. Imran Khan, 32, of Poonkuzhathanvilai under Kanniyakumari police station limits on Friday afternoon in connection with the Easter Sunday bombings that killed more than 258 people, including 45 foreign nationals, in three churches and three star hotels in Sri Lanka. more..

Jun 22 (Island) Military spokesman Brigadier Sumith Atapattu said that there was absolutely no basis for claim that President Ceylon Thowheed Jamaath, A.K. Hisham had alerted the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) regarding National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) leader Zahran Hashim visiting Akkaraipattu a month before Easter Sunday attacks. Brigadier Ataparttu was responding to Hisham’s testimony before the Parliamentary Select Committee probing Easter Sunday attacks. more..

Jun 22 (FT) Govt and Opposition lawmakers locked horns yesterday over the appointment of Sri Lanka’s former Ambassador to Washington Prasad Kariyawasam as an adviser to Parliament. The disagreement came to the fore after Minister Lakshman Kiriella gave a lengthy explanation regarding Kariyawasam’s appointment in response to a query by Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa how a parliamentary post has been given to more..

Jun 22 (FT) Minister Vajira Abeywardena yesterday said a National Committee has been appointed to resolve land issues in the Kalmunai North Divisional Secretariat. TNA has called for a separate Divisional Secretariat for Kalmunai North. However, objections have been raised by certain fractions in this regard. Reports have said a group of people including Buddhist monks and Hindu priests are currently engaged in a hunger strike demanding that the DS be upgraded as an independent body. more..

Jun 22 (DM) Opposition yesterday claimed that the govt had appointed a corrupt and inefficient US citizen as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of SriLankan airlines paying a monthly allowance of Rs.3.5 million. Joint opposition MP Kanaka Herath told parliament that an Afghanistan airline had gone bankrupt and closed down under his administration and that he was also found to have been involved in a financial fraud through an agreement signed in Afghanistan with a US company. more..

Jun 22 (Island) Parliament yesterday approved the Extraordinary Gazette Notification banning the National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ), Jammiyathul Millathu Ibrahim (JMI) and Willayath As Seylani (WAS) organizations following Easter Sunday terror attacks. The gazette which was issued under the Section 27 of the Prevention of the Terrorism Act (PTA) was presented to Parliament by Minister Lakshman Kiriella. more..

Jun 22 (DM) To willingly and lovingly give shelter to homeless people and especially strangers is a deeply spiritual act. It is in such an enlightened perspective that we need to reflect on the UN World Refugees Day, which was marked on Thursday. In this modern world with high technology and globalisation enabling people to get to know things in a split second, UN has revealed some shocking facts which are a disgrace to humanity because what has happened or what is happening more..

Jun 22 (DM) Although exactly two months have lapsed since the suicide attacks on Christians by the National Tawheed Jamaat (NTJ) terrorists, their impact is still felt in every sphere of the society. The media is hardly in a position to discuss anything devoid of it. In fact, some media outlets are still living totally on it. Terror attacks on innocent people on April 21 have also deepened the conflict between Prez and PM, and as a result of it, the Prez had refused to convene Cabinet meeting more..

Jun 22 (DM) Asgiriya chapter high prelate Ven. Warakagoda Gnanarathana Thera went on record five days ago endorsing Chamal Rajapaksa as the choice of the Sinhala Buddhist people for the next presidential election, leaving out Karu Jayasuriya and Sajith Premadasa of the UNP. The high prelate invited MP Mayantha Dissanayake who was in the audience to shed party differences and join forces. Chamal had visited both more..

Jun 22 (ST) The lane law became effective from Monday but most motorists ignored them whenever traffic police were not present. Since Monday, police have filed cases against 500 errant motorists, DIG (Traffic) Senior Superintendent Ajith Rohana said. “We will keep booking them. We will not relent,” he warned. The lane law requires motorists to stay in a specific lane instead of overtaking as they please. more..

Jun 22 (FT) President Maithripala Sirisena is gearing to carry out the first hanging in the near future raising fresh concerns within the diplomatic and rights activists. According to sources, it has been put in motion, to carry out the first hanging in the near future, but not as early as next week, as rumoured. The President decided to carry out executions on repeated drug offenders who are on death row, proposing the move more..

Jun 22 (CI) Sri Lanka's 20-run win over England must count as the most unexpected result of the World Cup so far. More than that, it's upset, or at least changed, some calculations. Just how much, we try and figure out. Has the race for the semis been shaken up? Not really. Though their win has brought Sri Lanka to within two points of England, they have just two wins compared to England's four more..

Jun 22 (Island) The entire nation should be ashamed of the situation prevailing in the country today where children die of hunger, says the JVP. JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, making a special statement in parliament, yesterday, said that reports of a death of a child due to malnutrition in Tissamaharama had raised concerns among many and reminded everyone of the prevailing situation in the country today. more..

Jun 22 (DM) The Rajapaksas have ruled the country more than enough and therefore the electorate must choose a leader not related to the Rajapaksa family for the upcoming Presidential poll and at the Parliamentary election that would follow, Propaganda Secretary of the SLFP, Former Minister Duminda Dissanayaka said. He added that the time is ripe for other leaders and aspiring and energetic youth of the SLFP & SLPP to come forward more..

Jun 22 (Island) Former Minister MP Rashad Bathiudeen told Parliament that he would resign from his MP’s post and politics if UPFA Wimal Weerawansa could prove the allegations he had made linking him to a terrorist group. Bathideen said: "MP Weerawansa has said in Parliament that the suicide bomber at the house in Dematagoda was the daughter of my mother’s sister thus trying to link me to a terrorist group. more..

Jun 22 (AD) An Extraordinary Gazette notification has been issued extending the State of Emergency in Sri Lanka by another month with effect from today. The relevant proclamation by the President 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 more..

Jun 22 (AD) Three members of U.S. Congress have written a letter urging the U.S. State Department to assert the need for the respect for religious minorities, respect for due process and the rule of law in Sri Lanka following the horrific attacks on Easter Sunday. Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Bill Johnson (R-OH) and Jim McGovern (D-MA) sent a letter on Friday (21) addressed to Sam Brownback, Amb-at-Large for Int'l Religious Freedom more..

Jun 22 (Hindu) The Islamic State (IS) may have claimed responsibility for the Easter terror attacks in Sri Lanka, but its chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was initially not aware of the horrific serial bombings, according to a top official familiar with the probe. The ongoing investigation in Sri Lanka has revealed that a local Islamist radical, who is an IS sympathiser, had contacted the IS leadership after the attacks. more..

Jun 223 (SO) Last week the Buddhists, in this country and worldwide, were rudely shaken by reactions of shock and dismay over the highly controversial statements made by a very senior prelate of the SL Buddha Sasana. It was just last week that, in commemoration of Poson Poya and the formal advent of Buddhism in the country some 2,300 years ago, that these editorial columns celebrated that historic moment when SL royalty – the centre of political power & governance - more..

Jun 223 (CT) It’s been two months since the devastating Easter Sunday terror attacks, but we are no closer to finding out who is responsible for ignoring repeated intelligence warnings which could have averted the tragedy. While the authorities are as usual engaged in a bitter bickering match, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, who was in Rome last week to apprise the Pope of the situation in SL, had once again made a sharp criticism of the Govt and its total lack of interest in determining why more..

Jun 223 (SO) President’s former Chief of Staff, Dr.H.I.K. Mahanama, the top most senior state officer to be caught up in the bribery net in the 60 year history of the CIABOC was filed indictments at Permanent High Court Trial at Bar on 24 counts last week. The indictments were filed against former Chief of Staff and Land Ministry Secretary (first accused) and his accomplice former State Timber Corporation (STC) Chairman Piyadasa more..