Jan 11 (DN) China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrives in Colombo on Monday morning on a brief officla visit while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrives on Tuesday morning, according to the announcements by the Chinese and Russian missions in Colombo. They are both here on tight schedules for separate top level meetings with the Govt to discuss the entire range of bilateral relations, according to govt sources. No information, however, was made available on the exact time more..

Jan 11 (AD) Former UNP Minister Mano Ganesan says that it is the responsibility of the incumbent govt to correct any shortcomings of the previous govt. When inquired of the Commission set up by the previous govt, Ganesan said, “It is not our govt anymore. There is a new govt now. Ask them of these, not me. A new govt was established saying our govt did wrong, right? There is no point talking about the shortcomings of our govt.” He further said: “I will not talk about MP Ranjan Ramanayake. more..

Jan 11 (EN) Power Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has asked for fixed prices to be set for renewable energy abandoning the current system of competitive bidding. Power State Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage had claimed that various prices charged for minihydro, wind and solar power is causing losses to state-run CEB. Currently, the CEB is operating on a competitive bidding system, forcing private firm to compete more..

Jan 11 (ST) P.S.M. Charles, the newly appointed, first woman Governor of the Northern Province, who also happens to be a native of the region and a senior public servant, is looking forward to fulfilling people’s aspirations. She was born and bred in Ilavalai, Jaffna. Ms Charles was sworn in by Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Dec 30. She assumed duties on Thursday at the Governor’s Secretariat, where she was welcomed with a guard of honour by provincial police. Her family was also present. more..

Jan 11 (Island) Former Director General of CIABOC Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe, PC, has been caught advising UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake on how he could question her successor Sarath Jayamanne, PC, regarding a particular case. An audio clip of Ramanayake’s conversation with Wickramasinghe was released. The latest audio clip was posted online in the wake of the UNPer seeking court intervention to prohibit further releasing of recorded conversations. more..

Jan 11 (MFA) Minister of Foreign Relations, Dinesh Gunawardena, undertaking his first official visit overseas since assumption of office, visited India from 9-10 January 2020 at the invitation of the Minister of External Affairs of India. The visit was part of the high-level exchanges that took place following the recent Prez elections in Sri Lanka, and a follow up to the State visit of Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa to India in Nov 2019. more..

Jan 11 (SLN) The Navy, being a prominent player in conducting environmental conservation programmes, carried out another event to promote productive ecosystems through plantation of mangrove saplings. The programme, in which 1000 mangrove saplings were planted by the Navy, was conducted in the Northern Naval Command from Dec 2019 to Jan 2020. Accordingly, the most recent extension of the programme saw plantation of 300 mangrove saplings each by SLNS Elara, more..

Jan 11 (Island) Lord Naseby on Tuesday spoke about SL in the Queen’s Speech debate in the House of Lords and asserted that there was a huge opportunity if the UNHRC project against the country was wound up. He said: "We’ve now got two new leaders, one here in the UK with the drive, determination and commitment and you have an almost identical philosophy in the newly elected Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a man of proven leadership an ability with an agenda to keep the peace more..

Jan 11 (Island) The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has directed its Secretary H. S. Somaratne to call for explanations from the present and former members of the judiciary whose telephone conversations with UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake are now in public domain. Somaratne has also been directed to gather all information in public domain in this regard. The JSC consists of Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, more..

Jan 11 (AD) PCoI into the Easter Sunday attack has, reportedly, recorded statements from over 300 persons. A spokesman for the Commission stated that statements have been recorded from parties who have lodged complaints with the Commission and those who are related to the complaints. Accordingly, the Commission has recorded statements from 345 persons so far. The commission’s term is due to expire on March 31, and statements from several parties are yet to be more..

Jan 11 (AD) Three SL students have died of smoke inhalation in Azerbaijan, reports foreign media. The accident took place at Khanlar Street 60, Bayil settlement of the Sabail district of Baku in Azerbaijan. According to Sabail police, the three SL citizens died from smoke inhalation as a result of electric circuit caused the fire. All three victims are female students at Western Caspian University in Baku. Reportedly, the victims are Tarukki Amaya, 23, Tausi Jayavodi, 25, and Malachi Tayuk, 21. more..

Jan 11 (DN) In the wake of the flood of revelations of interference in police and legal matters and other abuses of power during the previous govt, Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed a high-powered PCoI to investigate allegations of political victimization as well as interference and undue influence on the judiciary and police during the past regime. Gazette Extra-ordinary No. 2157/44 notification issued on Thursday empowers more..

Jan 12 (CT) Recent bombshell revelations that came out of recorded telephone conversations between several high-ranking Police officers and members of the Judiciary with a State Minister in the previous Govt, have sent ripples of uncertainty across law enforcement agencies and plunged judicial independence into utter chaos. The hours of recorded conversations reveal how the State Minister interfered, influenced and manipulated Police officers in charge of high profile more..

Jan 12 (TM) India is engaged in backdoor diplomacy to ensure the rights of Tamils are secured and its friendly relations with Sri Lanka are also maintained. On top of India’s agenda is to secure the full implementation of the 13th Amendment (13A) to the Constitution, despite the new Govt saying that will not be possible. Asked if the 13A is no more a topic of discussion between Sri Lanka and India, the Indian External Affairs Ministry recalled that the matter had not been dropped. more..

Jan 12 (TM) A proposal to implement a common data collection system has placed the privacy of individuals at risk. The proposal, if not carefully implemented, could see private details of individuals being accessed by hackers and others with vested interests. Last week, Prez Rajapaksa had proposed that all personal information, including the National Identity Card (NIC), driving license, immigration and emigration documents, & registration of birth more..

Jan 12 (Island) It looks as if Minister Bandula Gunawardena wanted to set up a university in every village. He has recently promised the people of Nuwara Eliya two universities! He wants to upgrade the Forestry Institute as a degree awarding institute and build another university, in that district, we are told. The govt has also undertaken to establish some more universities in other parts of the country. One wonders whether Minister Gunawardena has found Aladdin’s Magic Land. more..

Jan 12 (ST) My dear Ranjan, I thought I must write to you not only because the entire country is talking about you but also because I don’t feel like calling you- who knows where that will lead to! I hope you are not distressed by this undue attention because as far as you are concerned, any publicity is better than no publicity at all. Although most people are taking a dim view of what you have done- recording peoples’ conversations without their knowledge- I think we all ought to thank you and more..

Jan 12 (CT) Fate fell upon a Chinese visitor, a woman in her late 30s, on 24 Feb 2019, at about 11.45 p.m. when two individuals barged into her residence in Galle and raped her. It was a politician and his driver. She says she is a victim of gang rape, suffering emotional and physical trauma, earnestly looking for justice from Sri Lanka's judicial system. In a recent video clip she appeared covering her face, lamenting that she cannot overcome more..

Jan 12 (ST) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa has put to rest at least for the duration of this Parliament a freelance move to remove the 19A. He has said there will be no constitutional reforms during this Parliament. That is obvious because this Govt is a minority Govt in Parliament. But then the MP who introduced the proposed 21A and 22A to the Constitution to overhaul 19A (which ironically he introduced in 2015 as Justice Minister) would have had the imprimatur of higher-ups in this Govt. more..

Jan 12 (TM) The year 2020 was always going to be an interesting one, not only here in Sri Lanka given the way the political winds have been blowing, but also on the international front with climate change wreaking havoc across the planet and the prospect of another, more deadly Middle East conflict looming. But all that apart, there is an altogether different development that has got Sri Lankans to sit up and take notice or rather, be entertained. It involves what seemed like a routine more..

Jan 12 (Island) Former CB Governor & Advisor to PM Ajith Nivaard Cabraal’s latest book, The Great Bond Scam Cover-up: The Mother of all cover-ups released a week ago, is set to send shockwaves through the corridors of power and high finance. If those who have been following the news regarding the bond scam over the past few years had the feeling that something was not right, but they could not really put their finger on it, this is the book that puts the finger on what exactly was wrong. more..

Jan 12 (CI) The short 3-match T20I series between India and SL was further shortened after wet conditions had wiped out the first T20I in Guwahati. Just like any other recent episode of this rivalry, it followed a familiar template: India dominated SL, who have lost five T20Is in a row now. ESPNcricinfo looks back at the major talking points from the series. In the absence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Deepak Chahar, Saini and Thakur had to take their chance and they did. more..

Jan 12 (CT) Sadda Vidda Rajapakse Palanga Pathira Ambakumarage Ranjan Leo Sylvester Alphonsu who boasts about his alleged ancestor Andare - a court jester employed by the King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe many moons ago - appeared to have lived a life that fits his lineage and the B-Grade movies he makes. Until last Saturday or even a few hours after his arrest, people of this country considered Ranjan Ramanayake as more..

Jan 12 (ST) Tensions in West Asia appeared to have eased on Thursday, but the issue was still alive in the Sri Lankan space with the trio sitting down under the margosa tree reading newspapers on the crisis. “Batahira asiyave, ape daruvanta mokak vevida (What will happen to our children in West Asia)?” asked Kussi Amma Sera. That led to another question from Mabel Rasthiyadu who asked: “Prashnayak ethi-vunoth, egollanwa ivath karanna anduwata salasmak thiyena-wada? more..

Jan 12 (SO) As the media and the wider society continue to analyse the fallout from the leaked audio clips of former State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake’s telephone conversations with judges, politicians, police top brass and even his fellow actors and actresses, a disturbing picture has emerged of the very Good Governance that previous govt professed to practice. It is not for us to speculate on why Ramanayake decided to keep the recording of these possibly top-secret conversations more..

Jan 12 (CI) Sri Lanka have a tearaway in Lahiru Kumara. He's quick in our terms, he might be quick in Australian terms also, was how bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake described him a year ago. But Kumara didn't get the new ball in Pune. Instead, Lasith Malinga tossed it to Angelo Mathews, who was playing his first T20I since August 2018. Back in the day, Mathews ran through India in Colombo, but that was when Sachin more..

Jan 12 (Island) Royal College Swimming and Diving teams, who excelled in most local tournaments last year, performed exceptionally well at the 2019 Asian Open Swimming and Diving Championship held at the Thammasat University in Pathumthani, Bangkok, Thailand recently. Team Royal emerged champions in the diving competition, winning four gold, seven silver, and eight bronze medals, while the swimming team were 5th out of 10 teams with three gold, 12 silver, and 15 bronze medals. more..

Jan 12 (Island) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is set to replace Lasith Malinga as captain after the national cricket team suffered yet another humiliating series defeat in India under his leadership. Dasun Shanaka is expected to take up the captaincy with immediate effect, a leading official of SLC confirmed. Malinga was appointed Sri Lanka’s white ball captain during the 52 day govt in Dec 2018. However, after a series of defeats under his leadership he was sacked as ODI captain. more..

Jan 12 (ST) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) this week decided to terminate the contract of suspended Head Cricket Coach Chandika Hathurusingha after a one-man committee found him guilty for all six charges of failing to discharge his obligations under the contract, creating disharmony within the team and for gross insubordination. The report which was tabled at Thursday’s Executive Committee meeting comes just days after enraged Hathurusingha more..

Jan 12 (ST) H.A.M. Rimzan of Moors SC clinched the Six Red Ball National Snooker Championships by six frames to three in the 11 frame finale against M. Thaha of MICH concluded at the MICH billiards table in Colombo yesterday. The winner went through some anxious moments as he conceded the first frame to his opponent in a closely fought game. Rimzan made it one each with a second frame win but Thaha struck back to take the lead before Rimzan pulled off back to back wins more..

Jan 12 (SO) SL Under-19 cricket coach Hashan Tillekeratne is banking on the South African pitches, the host for the Youth World Cup, to be spin-friendly that would offer his team a closer crack at the crown. “I think if you take the conditions into consideration, this time of the year the wickets are spinning a bit. If that happens, we have a very good chance of winning it,” he said ahead of their departure. The team got the best possible head-start winning last month’s Tri-Series in the West Indies and more..

Jan 12 (EN) Undergraduates studying for a free degree at tax payer funded state universities have demanded more a more spending money now given through a fund, which not generating enough income at the moment. The undergraduates representing IUSF made the extraordinary demand protesting in from the President’s office. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had called them for a meeting where more..

Jan 12 (AD) A Prez Commission has been appointed to investigate the alleged malpractices which had occurred when selling assets of Edirisinghe Trust Investments (ETI) holdings. Reportedly, the commission has been appointed by a gazette extraordinary notification with the signature of Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The tri-member Commission is chaired by retired SC Justice K.T. Chitrasiri and retired Solicitor General Suhada Gamlath and Senior Banker DM Gunasekera more..

Jan 12 (AD) Foreign Ministry Secretary Ravinatha Ariyasinghe says that necessary arrangements are being made with the Government of Azerbaijan to repatriate the bodies of SL students who died in Azerbaijan. As there is no SL embassy in Azerbaijan, SL diplomats in Tehran, Iran is finalizing arrangements with the govt of Azerbaijan, he stated. Azerbaijan govt is acting with sensitivity on this matter, Ariyasinghe further said. Three SL female students have died of smoke inhalation more..

Jan 12 (AD) Several more audio recordings of MP Ranjan Ramanayake’s phone conversations have been released to the public and media. Among them was a phone conversation between the MP and former head of the FCID Ravi Vidyalankara. The audio clip contained a phone conversation between the MP and ex-FCID Head on arresting MP Basil Rajapaksa and Minister Johnston Fernando. more..

Jan 12 (Island) Communist Party leader D.E.W. Gunasekera has appealed to Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa, MP, not to distort the political history of the country to further racist and political ideology. Gunasekera said Wijeyadasa’s claim that the late President R. Premadasa had, through the 15th Amendment to the Constitution, reduced the District Votes Cut Off Point from 12.5% to 5%, to obtain the support of the Muslim Congress at the Dec 1988 Prez Election was a blatant falsehood. more..

Jan 12 (DM) Former prez Maithripala Sirisena said investigations on the CB bond scam should proceed interrupted. He said that he did his job when he was in office despite then PM Ranil Wickremesinghe standing in his way. “Mr. Wickremesinghe placed hurdles against the investigations. Actually, he started inquiries against the police sleuths who conducted investigations into the bond scam. Those police officers were taken to task for examining the telephone details of some MPs. more..

Jan 12 (PSL) Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa emphasized the need of preventing brain drain to achieve rapid development in the country ‘If the Govt as well as the private sector can ensure that a high standard of education is provided by local universities and other higher educational institutions, it may even be possible for us to start attracting international students to study in Sri Lanka and convert the higher education sector into more..

Jan 12 (AD) While running a govt that protects democracy without giving it unlimited power, a strong opposition should also be created, states MP Champika Ranawaka. Commenting on the controversial audio recordings of MP Ranjan Ramanayake’s phone conversations, Ranawaka said that it is necessary to investigate how the telephone conversations in the possession of the Police were circulated to the general public and politicians. more..