Jan 7 (DM) The Govt’s January 15 deadline for bus operators to turn down the loud music in buses would be a welcoming move for many passengers who have been suffering due to the taste of music enjoyed by most drivers and conductors. Transport Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has directed more than 20,000 private buses operating on Sri Lankan roads to voluntarily reduce the volume, and that if not he would seek assistance of the law. Minister has given an option to the bus operators by more..

Jan 7 (DM) By the time Vijaya Kumaratunga played the lead role in Hanthane Kathawa, Gamini Fonseka had acted in over 20 films, consolidating his box office drawing power. The year was 1969, which, I rather feel, was to the Sinhala cinema what 1967 had been to the American: one that redefined an entire industry. Many, if not most, of the films that came out of Hollywood in that year were groundbreaking: Bonnie and Clyde, In the Heat of theNight, Cool Hand Luke, The Graduate, more..

Jan 7 (DM) Sri Lanka is one of these countries, where the Constitution, the mother of all laws, has always been a bone of contention – from the very day of the independence up until now. From the very beginning, Jaffna Tamil elites who opposed it, demanded, at first, a 50-50 representation, an artificial majority to counter the demographic preponderance of the Sinhalese majority, and later, a varying degree of more..

Jan 7 (CT) Former LTTE strongman and UTIF leader Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman has lambasted the TNA saying that they were manipulating everything to mislead the Tamil people to safe guard their vested interests in politics. Karuna Amman, who was also a minister in the past, was addressing a meeting at Veppayadi in Amapara last week said 'President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has under his more..

Jan 7 (DM) Singing Sri Lanka Matha while standing to attention has always given Sri Lankans that sense of pride. Having graced many occasions since the islanders gained Independence in 1948, the song too has a history to itself. From Sri Lanka Matha Pala Yasa Mahima to Namo Namo Matha and finally to Sri Lanka Matha, it’s lyrics have changed to the interests of the then leaders. The verses translate to blessing the nation with more..

Jan 7 (RN) The JVP-led National People’s Power (NPP) called into question the appointment of a Senior State Counsel attached to the Attorney General’s Department as an Additional Legal Secretary to the President’s Office on a part-time basis. This appointment, which has been made in addition to the State Counsel’s current position as Coordinating Officer to the AG, the NPP said, raises questions of AG department’s independence. more..

Jan 7 (EN) Sri Lanka’s National Transport Commission, which issues route licenses to buses, will set up and regulate network of roadside restaurants, after an elderly lady passenger was overcharged for hoppers. Minister of Transport Mahinda Amaraweera had received complaints that buses stopping at a wayside restaurant had forced passengers to eat at a buffet, though many wanted only small items of food, a statement said. more..

Jan 7 (ST) A potentially dangerous viral pneumonia has infected dozens in the Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei province and could spread internationally, including in SL, which is ill prepared for public health emergencies and is vulnerable. Hundreds of thousands of Chinese arrive in Colombo every year, drawn by the ease of entry. A Hong Kong microbiologist suspects the Wuhan viral pneumonia is spreading from person to more..

Jan 7 (TM) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya told Parliament a short while ago that the Attorney General had informed him that it was not an appropriate time to issue the reports of the Forensic Audit on the Central Bank Bond scam to MPs. Speaker Jayasuriya said that Attorney General Dappule De Livera had advised him not to disclose the contents of the Forensic Audit Report at this time as the Department had not concluded legal more..

Jan 7 (DM) The health ministry is closely monitoring a pneumonia outbreak in China and will activate a contingency plan at the airport, if the situation worsens; informed sources said. The World Health Organization, on Sunday, alerted the Health Ministry here of a suspected pneumonia outbreak in the Wuhan Province in China and said Chinese authorities were investigating the exact cause of the outbreak. more..

Jan 7 (TM) Former Sports Minister Harin Fernando said he should be defended by the Attorney General in the case filed against him by former Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Thilanga Sumathipala. In October last year, Sumathipala was banned from any form of involvement in cricket administrative affairs through a special gazetted notification tabled to parliament by Fernando. more..

Jan 7 (AD) Former MP Sarana Gunawardena, who was sentenced to three years in prison, has been granted bail after he filed an appeal before the Colombo High Court. Earlier today, he was imposed a 3-year imprisonment in connection with charges related to misuse of state property. Gunawardena, the former Chairman of the Development Lotteries Board (DLB), was under remand custody over a case of purchasing more..

Jan 20 (FT) The last Prez Election was held under precarious electricity supply conditions to citizens, after power-cuts in March/April. Easter Sunday attacks reduced tourist arrivals and heavy rainfall from July to Christmas filled the country’s reservoirs, saving the country from further power cuts. Gotabaya Rajapaksa contested elections under backdrop of above and his drive was backed by historical changes in political campaigning. His presented election manifesto, a 78-page document more..

Jan 20 (CT) Banks' private sector credit growth sank to a nine-year low of 5% last year, with growth lower than this last seen at the height of the Great Recession of 2009, when private sector credit growth sank to a negative (-) 5% that year. The private sector is considered as the engine of economic growth. CB Governor W.D. Lakshman speaking at yesterday's unveiling of CBSL's Monetary Policy and Fiscal Stability Outlook 2020 and Beyond attributed three reasons for this state of affairs. more..

Jan 7 (AD) Singapore’s Minister for Home Affairs & Law K. Shanmugam has arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday for an official visit. Minister Shanmugam was accompanied by five high-profile Singaporean officials representing several ministries. They had reached the BIA at around 4.30 pm last evening. This visit is taking in the backdrop of Sri Lanka’s request made to the govt of Singapore to extradite former governor of CB Arjuna Mahendran, who is named as a major suspect in the bond scam case. more..

Jan 7 (CT) Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne has instructed the Police Department to provide Police and STF officers to ensure the safety of special prisoners and suspects, when they are being transported between Court and the Prison. Prisons Commissioner General J.W. Thennakoon said that the Police Department had taken steps yesterday to deploy Police and STF officers for this purpose. This special safety programme had been initiated following a request made to relevant authorities, including more..

Jan 7 (RN) If findings by the ICC against State Minister Thilanga Sumathipala are presented before the courts, he can be tried using provisions in the recently passed bill against corruption in sports, opposition MP Harin Fernando said. Fernando, who as Sports Minister in the previous govt was instrumental in passing the bill late last year, told reporters today that the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit had presented to him a report of its investigation on Sumathipala and more..

Jan 7 (AD) There is no need for personal firearms for the protection of parliamentarians, says MP Dr. Sarath Amunugama. He pointed out that he has never carried a firearm in the 25 years of his career as a Member of the Parliament, nor has there been an issue with the firearms of his bodyguards. Amunugama says his personal opinion is that it is a great drawback if public representatives cannot go before the public without guns. He expressed these views at a press conference held in Kandy. more..

Jan 7 (DM) UNF leaders who met yesterday in Colombo had focused on several alternatives including forming a grand alliance with the leadership of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa while allowing the present leader Ranil Wickremeisnghe to remain as the leader of UNP. A UNF Leader said that they discussed several alternatives at yesterday’s meeting. The leaders have also discussed matters on forming an alliance without delay in order to get a considerable amount of seats in Parliament more..

Jan 7 (EN) Ex-President Maithripala Sirisena’s brother, P.G. Kumarasinghe Sirisena stepped down as the Chairman of the state-owned telco Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT). Kumarasinghe Sirisena was appointed as the Chairman of SLT, the island’s sole fixed-line operator, in 2015 after the presidential victory of his brother Maithripala Sirisena. The move had drawn criticism, after citizens had voted out the previous govt for giving plum state-sector positions for family members. more..

Jan 7 (AD) Ten persons have been injured in a road accident which occurred on the Kurunegala-Colombo road in Pothuhera Police Division. Reportedly, a private bus traveling from Kurunegala to Kegalle through Polgahawela had collided with 2 other vehicles near the Junction towards Rathgalle Road. The bus had collided with a three-wheeler traveling in front of the bus before colliding with a bowser truck arriving from the opposite direction. The injured persons have been admitted to the Hospital more..

Jan 7 (DM) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka for a two-day official visit on Jan 14, Foreign Ministry sources said. During his visit, the Russian leader is expected to meet President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, PM Mahinda Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. Mr. Sergey's visit to Sri Lanka is deemed vital especially in the context of the upcoming UNHRC session at Geneva in February/March, where Russia's support will be crucial when more..

Jan 7 (AD) Former Director of the CID SSP Shani Abeysekara has been interdicted with immediate effect, the National Police Commission said. He has reportedly been interdicted pending an inquiry into the recordings of phone conversations between the police officer and former State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake. Police Media Unit, issuing a statement, said that SSP Shani Abeysekara was transferred to Police Headquarters and interdicted with immediate effect. more..

Jan 7 (EN) Sri Lankan diplomats in Chennai held discussions with industrialists in Kerala in December, inviting them to invest in Sri Lanka and make use of the existing free trade deal between the two countries, a statement said. Foreign Affairs Ministry in a statement said Deputy High Commissioner to Chennai V. Krishnamoorthy along with Minister (Commercial) Yasantha De Silva in a three day visit explained to Kerala business owners about trading and investment opportunities in SL. more..

Jan 7 (DM) State Minister Mahindananada Aluthgamage today requested Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to take action against former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and MP Ranjan Ramanayake, whom he accused of plotting to kill him. He raised a privilege issue while referring to a phone conversation between Mr. Wickremesinghe and Mr. Ramanayake where they had spoken of killing him. “Mr. Ramanayake is heard telling Mr. Wickremesinghe that he had undergone training in pistol shooting to kill me. more..

Jan 7 (RN) The stage is being set for incarcerated businessman-turned politician Duminda Silva to be set free, UNP MP Hirunika Premachandra said. Premachandra said Silva along with others accused in the Baratha Lakshman Premchandra murder case were given the death sentence, leaving no doubt that the incident was an attempted murder. Referring to a leaked telephone conversation purportedly between fellow UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake and former CID Director SSP Shani Abeysekera, more..

Jan 7 (DM) Former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe today rejected allegations of being involved in any plot to kill State Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage. Mr. Wickremesinghe requested Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to obtain the CDs found at MP Ranjan Ramanayake's, examine them and inform the House whether there had been any such plot. “I request the Speaker to obtain the CDs from the police, have them examined and inform the House whether any MP had done anything wrong," more..

Jan 7 (FT) Steps are being taken to establish a unit to print and issue driving licences in Anuradhapura, the Passenger Transport Management Ministry said in a statement. This will ensure that people from the North, North Central and Eastern provinces no longer have to travel to Colombo at a great cost in order to apply for their driving licence. In addition to this, units to issue medical certificates required for a driving licence will also be set up in various parts of the country more..

Jan 7 (EN) CeyEndurance, a new Sri Lankan triathlon series, is expecting to fill the gap left by the popular global IRONMAN series and attract international athletes, the organizers said. “…international events such as these portray the country in many positive perceptions, aiding in renewing and opening up the country to new sports and tourism segments,” Divinsan Pvt Ltd Managing Director Dinesh Fernando said at the launch of CeyEndurance at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo. more..

Jan 7 (FT) German Embassy in SL financially supported the construction of latrines in underprivileged communities and hamlets in Kinniya, Trincomalee. The construction was executed by the embassy’s project partner the Serving Humanity Foundation. The civil war as well as the tsunami in 2004 inflicted a major toll on the economic development of communities in the east of Sri Lanka. Therefore even in 2019, toilets were not freely available to families in the region’s rural areas. more..

Jan 7 (CT) Leader of the PHU, MP Udaya Gammanpila claimed that the CIABOC has started taking proper actions after three years over complaints regarding irregularities which occurred during the UNF Govt. "We have lodged a complaint with the CIABOC about 10 main irregularities during the UNF Govt. That is what we named as the Top 10. I am happy that the CIABOC has commenced proper investigations into them at least now. They have also commenced investigations into allegations levelled against more..

Jan 7 (PMD) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa directed officials to grant approval for properly prepared housing and small-scale business construction plans within a day. Rigid regulations and time consuming process of approving construction plans pose great difficulties to the public. Hence, it is a responsibility of the govt to minimize the hardships faced by the people by simplifying existing rules and regulations said Prez during a meeting with more..

Jan 7 (DM) The Beira Lake Purification Project should be commenced immediately and the steps should be taken to close down the areas from where garbage disposed to the lake, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said. He told the relevant officials of the Water Supply and Housing Facilities Ministry to take immediate measures in this regard. He also instructed to take steps to convert waste disposal into organic fertilizer and to use latest technology to make this possible. more..

Jan 7 (DM) Several members of the Opposition today requested the Speaker to table in Parliament the report of the forensic audit on the Central Bank bond scam despite the advise given by the Attorney General to the contrary. JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake said there were enough precedents where Parliament had made its own decisions despite the directives given by the Judiciary. He said the legislature has the right to make its own decision on the forensic audit. more..

Jan 7 (AD) A 24-hour special operations room has been set up at the STF headquarters to ensure national security and public order. STF Commandant Senior DIG M.R. Latheef said this measure was implemented under the instructions of Defence Secretary Retired Major General Kamal Gunaratne. The public can lodge complaints regarding organized criminal activities, underworld gang members, extorters, drugs and illicit liquor racketeers and any person who is involved in illegal activities. more..

Jan 8 (CT) Writer struck by a Facebook comment dated 06-01-2020 posted by Uvindu Kurukulasuriya, The Judges are left in the lurch. They are helpless. Because, they have no one to complaint to. There is no folly in Judge talking to Ranjan; but, it is wrong that Ranjan asks on Duminda’s matter from the Judge, vice versa. Even Shani told Ranjan, please, do not ever talk to them (judges) again, my dear Sir. For such an offence, Ranjan can be sent to behind bars for 5-years. more..

Jan 8 (DN) Rat fever (leptospirosis) is an infectious disease caused by pathogenic bacteria called leptospira, which are maintained in the kidneys of certain animals such as rats, pigs, cattle, rodents, canines, wild mammals and livestock. These organisms are transmitted directly or indirectly from animals to humans, consultant epidemiologists said. Some animal species have a commensal relationship with certain types of leptospira (serovars) i.e. they are natural hosts for more..

Jan 8 (Roar) This last Saturday (4) was World Braille Day—so designated by the UN in 2019 to raise awareness of the importance of Braille for increasing inclusivity for blind and partially-sighted people. The wide adaptation of Braille has improved the lives of many affected by enabling literacy and equal opportunity. Braille was introduced to SL in the early 1900s, but how much has it improved the lives of those using it more..

Jan 8 (DN) Health Ministry and the National Dengue Control Unit warns the public of an outbreak of dengue and requests anyone who has fever to take the NS1 test at a state hospital within two days (48 hours) of the fever. The test helps to diagnose dengue fever accurately and quickly. All fever patients should take Paracetamol only. They should not take Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac Sodium or Mefenamic Acid, all of which are Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), more..