Jun 27 (DM) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa made a brief visit to Sri Lanka this morning while on his way to Osaka, Japan to attend the G20 Summit. He was accompanied by a delegation of 20 members. They were welcomed by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and Minister Arjuna Ranatunga. The President was hosted to tea at the VVIP lounge at the BIA. After refueling, the special plane carrying the South African President more..

Jun 27 (ST) The Excise Department has initiated a special program to recognise all areas except licensed excise areas as free of drugs and liquor, the Department said in a release. This program is being implemented in conjunction with the National Drug Prevention Week introduced by the President. Accordingly, the Department would conduct narcotic prevention campaigns and inspection tours from July 1, Deputy Excise Commissioner Kapila Kumarasinghe told Times Online. more..

Jun 27 (ST) The South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) organisation has vehemently condemned measures taken by President Maithripala Sirisena to execute four prisoners. Issuing a press release, the rights body said that they had called on the President on multiple occasions to abolish the death penalty over the recent months. The SAHR pointed out that the govt in 2017 had voted in favour of the moratorium on death penalty at the UN in 2017. “We believe that the President’s decision more..

Jun 27 (DN) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe officiated at the launch of Budu Puth Suraksha health insurance scheme for Bhikkus at Temple Trees, with the attendance of several senior prelates of the three Nikayas. The health insurance scheme was initiated as a part of the 3-pronged programme Shasana Suraksha implemented by the govt to foster the Buddha Sasana. Accordingly, PM formally presented more..

Jun 27 (AD) Railway Trade Unions stated that their token strike will be launched from midnight today as planned. Railway trade unions recently decided to engage in a 24-hour strike every Friday, until a solution is provided to their issue over existing salary anomalies. However, the Railway services have been declared an Essential Public Service and the relevant gazette notification was issued earlier today. After railway service is made an essential service, and more..

Jun 27 (SLN) Three Sri Lankans attempting to migrate from India to SL by illegal means were held by Navy on 26th June 2019. Accordingly, Naval personnel attached to the Northern Naval Command had observed 3 suspicious persons at Kuvinthavadi area in Delft and taken them to naval custody. By further search, it was revealed that these persons had come to SL from India aboard an Indian fishing craft, illegally. The apprehended suspects were identified as residents of Vauniya area aged more..

Jun 27 (DM) The CID today recovered over 300 gelignite sticks, 1,000 detonators, 485 T56 live ammunition and several other explosive material at Ollikulam in Kattankudy following information given by one of the suspects arrested in Jeddah, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said. He said Hayathu Mohamed Ahamed Milhan who was among the five suspects arrested in Jeddah is currently detained by the CID in connection with more..

Jun 27 (AD) The Central Committee of the SLFP has taken a decision to nominate a Presidential Candidate from within the SLFP. The Central Committee meeting of the SLFP was held last night chaired by party leader President Sirisena. Reportedly, the current political situation and the future activities of the party had been discussed extensively at the meeting. At the meeting, it has been proposed that SLFP should nominate a candidate for the upcoming Prez Election more..

Jun 27 (ST) Transparency International SL (TISL) once again urged all 225 MPs to publicly disclose their declarations of assets and liabilities in the interest of strengthening their accountability and as an example of their commitment to an open democracy, the anti corruption agency said. The global anti- corruption body said that in February this year, a group of 5 MPs from across party lines, came together to unilaterally publish their asset declarations in the public domain. more..

Jun 27 (CT) The Organised Crimes Prevention Division (OCPD) yesterday, informed Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne that they have begun a probe into a statement made by former Governor of the Western Province (WP) Azath Salley, that certain Judges here were members of extremist organisations. Att. Premanath Dolewatta had lodged a complaint in this connection with the public relief centre more..

Jun 27 (AD) UPFA MP Kumara Welgama says that he wouldn’t support former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa if he runs for Presidency. He mentioned this to the media, today when he arrived at the Colombo High Court over a revision petition filed by Welgama against the Bribery Commission. MP pointed out that he had declared his stand on the matter for a year. If a person has a background of murder and it is well known amongst the public that he has committed murders, he will not more..

Jun 27 (NR) The motion to extend Emergency Regulations by another month was passed in Parliament this evening. The motion was passed unanimously after the motion to extend Emergency Regulations was taken up for debate during the day today. An extraordinary gazette notification was issued, extending the prevailing State of Emergency for an additional one month, from the 22 of June. Accordingly a gazette notification bearing the signature of Secretary to the President more..

Jun 27 (CT) In a sudden turn of events a powerful Colombo District UNP Minister has used his clout to prevent the completion of pipeline work of the CPC on the grounds that compensation be paid to all those who have suffered displacement due to the replacement of age-old pipelines carrying fuel. Replacement work to be carried out on a stretch of 140 metres on a 12-inch wide fuel pipeline from the Colombo Port to the terminal at more..

Jun 28 (CT) Terrorists and Murderers rejoice! Maithripala Sirisena may have saved the day for you! The next time that Sri Lanka asks the European Union, UK, Canada or Australia to arrest and extradite a suspect wanted for terrorism, murder, drug trafficking, etc., we are quite likely to be firmly told No!. Around the world, most countries that have abolished the death penalty have implemented policies that they will not extradite a suspect of a capital crime more..

Jun 28 (CT) The shattering impact of April 21, 2019 and May anti-Muslim Pogroms we discussed in Part 1[1]has triggered the Sinhalese intelligentsia’s recurrent breast beating: why hasn’t Sri Lanka emulated (if not superseded) Singapore’s success? One writer lamented, “it is ironic that Lee Kwan Yu, in an early visit declared that Singapore should consider Ceylon as a role model. See where we stand now – the tables have turned!” In fact Lee Kwan Yu had wisely abandoned that more..

Jun 28 (CT) Minister r of Education, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam says that six hundred thousand who were deprived of Samurdhi are being granted entitlements newly. Q: Though, you have been the General Secretary of the UNP for some time now, also, though you all have ruling power, your Party has become the weakest organisation, hasn’t it? A: UNP has not become such a weak organisation. On 26 Oct, people of the country realised more..

Jun 28 (CT) Since 1977, Sri Lanka has been following neo-liberal economic policies uninterruptedly. The change of Govt has had no major impact on them. A forty year period is long enough to assess the correctness of economic policies. During this four decade period (1977-2019), total production as measured by Gross National Product (GNP) has increased substantially and as a result, per capita income has reached US dollar 4,000 mark. more..

Jun 28 (DM) Politics is about inflating the useful and deflating, ignoring, wishing away or denying the uncomfortable. Some of these things are deliberate and some just issues from that powerful impetus giver, political and ideological preference. Alright, let this be the frame of this article. Easter Sunday Attacks. They happened two months ago. It was not about a dozen or so people getting together one evening, chit-chatting for a couple of hours, buying a few bombs from a supermarket, more..

Jun 28 (ST) From the ashes, nay from the blast, the smoke, the destruction, the grief and the tears, has risen a beautiful church-by-the-sea to which men, women and children are coming back in their numbers. The barricades are still there and the security checks are ongoing, all needed in the face of the threats of terrorism, but the flock has not abandoned their beloved saint – St. Anthony – who has been with them through thick & thin more..

Jun 28 (Island) The Island of Wednesday 26 June carried this headline in bold black oversized letters: 19A: UNP duped President – SLFP. First thought that flashed across Cass’ mind increasing its skepticism was whether President Sirisena was a thoththa baba to be duped by the Party that elevated him to power and thrust him to holding the highest position as a countervailing force to the Rajapaksa juggernaut. By what has progressed since 2015 shows Prez Sirisena not at all naïve; more..

Jun 28 (ST) On Oct 6, 2004, the US commercial aircraft manufacturer – Boeing, made a complaint at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The complaint was against its competitor – Airbus, on the receipt of subsidies from the European Union (EU). What was wrong with giving subsidies to Airbus Company by EU govts? And why on earth was Boeing furious about it? There was other exciting news which would make our story even more interesting today. On the same day, Airbus – EU commercial aircraft more..

Jun 28 (TM) The Sigiriya Kite Festival, organised by Deep Jungle Entertainment and endorsed by So Sri Lanka, the current campaign by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB), was held on 15 June in Dambulla and Sigiriya. The event was hosted with the intent of furthering the Govt’s attempt to rebuild Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, which took a massive hit following the Easter Sunday terror attacks. For the most part, the event was a success as it drew a crowd of locals; more..

Jun 28 (CI) Mahela Jayawardene looks set to be named as head coach of Southern Brave, The Hundred side based in Southampton. Jayawardene, the former Sri Lanka batsman, has forged an excellent career in coaching, including twice leading Mumbai Indians to victory in the IPL. He also had a brief stint as a consultant coach with the England team and recently turned down an approach to work with the SL side at the World Cup. NZ Shane Bond looks set to be named as his assistant coach. more..

Jun 28 (FT) Fitch Ratings yesterday said expectation of continued pressure on banks’ financial profiles due to the challenging operating environment, which includes heightened risks, largely on the macro front, with a sharp rise in non-performing loans (NPLs) likely this year. The operating environment is of high importance to the ratings of SL banks, and acts as a constraint on the Viability Ratings of some banks, more..

Jun 28 (Island) Yahapalana seems to have given way to no palanaya. President Maithripala Sirisena and the govt are at loggerheads and the country is like a rudderless boat. Their latest battle is over the 19th Amendment (19A). The President never misses an opportunity to condemn 19A as a curse and call for its abolition together with the 18th Amendment (18A). He seems to be under the impression that it is the only problem the country is beset with. The govt is defending 19A to the hilt. more..

Jun 28 (CI) India's bowlers nullified yet another middling batting performance, pounding West Indies into the ground long before they could think about any reasonable comebacks. Having elected to bat, India were kept in check by some disciplined seam bowling from West Indies, whose wickets through the middle overs gave India their second consecutive bout of existential dread surrounding their middle order. But a solid 72 from Virat Kohli, who became the fastest to 20,000 int'l runs more..

Jun 28 (CI) In both their wins so far, Sri Lanka's bowlers have bailed the batsmen out. Defending 187 against Afghanistan, then 233 against England, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Pradeep and company sent down intense spells, and prised points out of the closed fists of their opponents. SL know, though, that if they are to make more of an impact at the WC than merely delivering its biggest upset so far, their batsmen must step up. more..

Jun 28 (CT) It was a fitting birthday celebration for this year’s Olympic day organised by the National Olympic Committee of SL at the Polhena Beach in Matara on Tuesday. The most important flagship event – the Olympic Day run – was obviously the icon, yet prior to that on the same day the NOCSL also launched its environmental awareness programme. The theme of this programme, which highlighted awareness of the vagaries of the changing climate and its repercussions, more..

Jun 28 (Island) After the abduction of these 11 persons, the details in the B reports submitted by the CID reveal that at least two of them mainly Rajiv Naganathan and Ali Anver had made calls to the outside over mobile phones lent to them by the naval ratings guarding them. The B report of 7 June 2017 stated that the naval ratings on duty guarding the detainees had allowed them to speak to their next of kin in order to let the latter know that they were in detention. more..

Jun 28 (CI) It was only three months ago that Sri Lanka travelled the length and breadth of South Africa, only to be walloped 5-0 in the ODIs and 3-0 in the T20Is. Their bowlers were flayed all around while the batsman were repeatedly tormented by a fiery attack. Lasith Malinga struggled for impact and looked spent, grumpily berating his team-mates' attitude. What a different three months can make. more..

Jun 28 (CB) The Bangladesh Cricket Board is waiting for reports from National Security Intelligence (NSI) before they give a green signal to the team for the upcoming tour against Sri Lanka, set to be played in July. BCB president (Nazmul Hasan) had announced earlier that there was no way that the board could afford to send their national side to Sri Lanka in the wake of the terror attacks in the island nation, where nearly 300 people died and many were injured. more..

Jun 28 (Island) Hanif Yusoof, a founding member of Expolanka Holdings which posted a turnover Rs. 77,533 million in 2017/18 registering a revenue growth of 22.1% year-on-year, said yesterday that he would stay at the helm of the company for a few more years as he wants to ensure further global expansion of the Group. He said so, at the Colombo Stock Exchange where all key personnel of the Group joined CSE officials to ring the bell and open stock trading for the day, more..

Jun 28 (Island) A political project is threatening stability in plantation regions with certain politicians encouraging estate workers to occupy sections of land leased to plantation companies, according to sources. The land had been sought allegedly for cultivation purposes though the real intention was to take gradual control of leased land, estate sector said. Asked whether plantation companies had brought the situation more..

Jun 28 (DN) The CEB incurred an immense loss since it has to generate a unit of electricity at Rs.72 owing to the flaws of the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL), while the CEB can buy a unit at a lower rate of Rs. 17 or 18, Minister Ravi Karunanayake told Parliament. He was responding to a statement made by Opposition MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake (JVP) whether the Minister attempted to take over the power of deciding the purchasing price of electricity to CEB from the PUCSL. more..

Jun 28 (Island) Minister Ravi Karunanayake assures that there is no move to halt the first phase of the Battle for Solar Energy project introduced to strengthen the national electricity grid. Minister has said, in response to a protest by the environmentalists and solar sector officials, that Ministry remains focused on renewable energy particularly solar power. Karunanayake has said that his Ministry has not taken any decision to change the Battle for Solar Energy programme more..

Jun 28 (AFP) SRI Lanka's tourism industry is recovering faster than expected after the Easter Sunday suicide bombings shook the island-nation, giving a much-needed boost to the economy, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera told AFP. The country was hit by mass cancellations after Islamic State-backed terrorists attacked three churches and three hotels on April 21, leaving 258 dead, including dozens of foreigners. more..

Jun 28 (TM) The international and regional strategic landscapes becoming increasingly constrained, only accentuates the need for the Conference on Disarmament (CD) to get down to its substantive task of negotiating appropriate disarmament frameworks, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Geneva A.L.A. Azeez said while speaking at the CD Plenary Session in Geneva. Speaking further, SL’s envoy called for balanced and comprehensive disarmament, that should be realized through more..

Jun 28 (Island) SL Army woman soldier, Lance Corporal J.C.I Nishanthi recently won a silver medal at the Korea Int'l Women’s Invention Exposition 2019 (KIWIE) during June 20-23, organized by Korea Women Inventors’ Association under the Engineer Category for her innovative and creative product ‘Efficient Incinerator for Safe Disposal of Sanitary Pad and Other Bio Waste at Women’s Living Facility’ beating hundreds of innovations, presented by more than 38 countries. more..

Jun 28 (FT) The 13th Joint Council Meeting (JCM) under the USA-Sri Lanka Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) took place on 19-20 June at Hotel Hilton, Colombo with the presence of a team of senior officials from the United States and a wide cross-section of Sri Lankan officials and private sector stakeholders. Minister Malik Samarawickrama inaugurated the meeting, while Ministry Secretary more..