Jan 19 (ST) Legendary left-arm spinner Rangana Herath urged SLC to revamp the domestic cricket structure in order to revive the national team’s fortunes and to regain its glorious days where Sri Lanka was feared by almost all international sides. Herath, who was the highest wicket-taker among left armers with 433 wickets, went on to say that a revamp in the domestic structure should be done if more..

Jan 19 (Island) Mahela & Sanga Trophy will be at stake for the 2nd time when Trinity College Kandy host Nalanda College Colombo to the 42nd first XI cricket encounter between the two schools at Asgiriya on Monday. With a theme Spirit of Cricket Legacy for future Generations the glittering trophy is named after Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara, two cricketing legends produced by theses two academic institutions. The cricket encounter has been played since 1978. more..

Jan 19 (CT) Two of SL's most promising shuttlers, Niluka Karunaratne and Dilmi Dias overcame Ranthushka Karunathilaka and Achini Rathnasiri to win the mens' and womens' singles titles at the 67th National Badminton Championship at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium yesterday. Earlier the Karunaratne brothers (Dinuka and Niluka) as partners overcame Lochana de Silva and Thusith Palliyaguru in the men's doubles final. The ultimate prize, mens' singles title was a close battle, more..

Jan 19 (EN) Sri Lanka as appointed a committee to probe over 2,000 victims of ragging, a type of extreme physical, mental and sexual harassment meted out to freshers by seniors, some of whom committed and others were maimed for life. “This should be viewed as a national crime as a considerable number has committed suicides, been maimed or hospitalized,” Higher Education Minister Bandula Gunewardene said. more..

Jan 19 (FT) Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne said a proper program to de-radicalise misguided youth involved in the Easter Sunday attack would be implemented under a competent authority with the objective to rehabilitate and reintegrate them back to the society. During a meeting held with a UK delegation led by UK’s High Commissioner to SL Sarah Hulton at the Ministry, he explained the measures taken by the govt to strengthen de-radicalisation process. more..

Jan 19 (SLA) Army troops manning a roadblock at Neriyakulam along Vavuniya - Mannar road last evening (17) during a search, conducted on a Mannar bound private bus detected 51 gelignite sticks, weighing about 6.8 kg. 5 (Volunteer) Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) troops of the Security Force HQ-Wanni at the roadblock took both the driver and the conductor of the bus into custody on suspicion and handed them over to Cheddikulam Police station for further investigations. more..

Jan 19 (AD) India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval has told Prez Rajapaksa that it is important that India, SL and Maldives review the Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) regime and include other regional countries as observers. MDA regimen keeps track of vessels in the area. Doval said this, among other things, when he met Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa. There were two meetings, the first one was one to one, and the other was more..

Jan 19 (EN) SL will ask banks to extend new loans of up to 300 million rupee for small and medium scale (SME) businesses to the tourism sector as well. Minister Prasanna Ranatunga was quoted saying the Easter Sunday attacks had caused major setback to industry in which most of the hotels were in default. “Entrepreneurs in the tourism sector made an appeal to us to provide give them some relief to revive their business. That is why we decided to extend 300 million rupees SME loan facility more..

Jan 19 (ST) As John Keells Holdings (JKH) celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2020, the group is not looking at any grand ceremony to mark this significant milestone for Sri Lanka’s largest, 14,000-strong listed conglomerate. However on the business side the organisation is setting its sights on investing and managing more hotel properties overseas (outside the Maldives) while focusing on the environment and expanding solar power use across its businesses. more..

Jan 19 (ST) Attorney General’s Department and the Police have turned down a request by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to permit the presence of a lawyer during the arrest of a MP. The request was turned down at a meeting presided over this week by the Speaker to discuss procedures in the event of an arrest of MPs and the issue relating to the renewal of gun licences of MPs. Speaker had wanted the Police and more..

Jan 19 (TM) Police have arrested 25 individuals in connection with brothels being operated under the guise of spas in Colombo and its suburbs. SP Jaliya Seneratne said that the raids had been carried out on Friday. The raids had been conducted in various parts of Colombo and its suburbs. In total, 57 brothels which were operating as spas were raided by the Police. 25 individuals, including women, who had been connected with the operations of these establishments had been arrested. more..

Jan 19 (ST) SLC is to throw their hat into the ring for hosting either the World Cup T20 or 50-over World Cup as the ICC is exploring a hosting model where countries would bid during the post-2023 cricket cycle. ICC adapted an unofficial rotation system where each cricket playing region of the world have the opportunity to host World Cups after every 20 years but are looking at a model followed by other sports bodies like FIFA – world body for football who invites their members to bid for hosting rights. more..

Jan 19 (AD) A man under heavy security with his face concealed gave evidence today before the PCoI probing the Easter Sunday attacks, revealing various activities of the carnage’s ringleader Zaharan Hashim. Without confirming the identity, he revealed a number of moves of Zahran. Among the information divulged were Zahran’s killing of informants just as done by the Islamic State. The witness said he linked up with more..

Jan 19 (DM) Following the surprising revelation by UNP MP Harin Fernando that there were numerous recordings of conversations with current government members in MP Ranjan Ramanayake's possession as well, the Daily Mirror learns that some ruling MPs had held informal discussions over the matter yesterday. Fernando told reporters on Thursday after visiting Ramanayake at the Welikada Prison that the arrested MP had not released these recordings to the public yet. more..

Jan 19 (SLN) Xiang Yang Hong 06, a research vessel belongs to China which arrived to Sri Lanka on last 3rd of Jan, is engaging in a research on micro-organisms in the seas and on the sea bed of the territorial waters of Sri Lanka. A group of Biochemists and chemists have taken part in this research and a hydrographic officer of the Sri Lanka Navy has also attached to the ship for the hydrographic activities. Further, he participates in the research as an observer. more..

Jan 19 (TM) UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has requested Prez Rajapaksa for a host of privileges in his capacity as the former PM. The requests include a fully equipped office building, an official residence, a security team, and staff. A letter to this effect had been sent to Prez Rajapaksa a few weeks back by the former PM. Interestingly, this makes Wickremesinghe the first former PM to claim these privileges. more..

Jan 19 (TN) Two women from SL were among those killed in an horrific bus crash in Abu Dhabi last week, officials confirmed. The early-morning accident on the outskirts of the city on Thursday left six dead and 19 injured. The tragedy unfolded as the minibus, carrying a team of female cleaners, left the capital and headed towards Al Shahama in the emirate. Soon after, their vehicle collided with the back of a lorry, with the impact of the high-speed crash destroying much of the front of the minibus. more..

Jan 19 (CT) It has been revealed that a coordination officer of a powerful Minister of the former Govt and a high ranking official at Excise Department had been involved in the issuing of liquor licences for seven branches of a leading supermarket network in the country at the rate of Rs 55 million each. This has happened in the run-up to the Prez Election in 2019. The coordination officer and Excise Department official had received Rs 385 million to issue liquor licences under FL - 4 Category. more..

Jan 19 (ST) Airlines, customs, Immigration and security staff have been alerted to take precautions to identify any persons who may have symptoms of coronavirus initially reported from China, BIA’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. D.R. Perera said. He said the staff had been placed on alert, but they had not installed devices to detect fever patients, as in previous instances. Dr Perera said they were closely following WHO guidelines more..

Jan 19 (Island) Amidst the Sajith Premadasa Faction threatening to break away, the UNP said yesterday that it would contest the next General Election under the Elephant symbol and in partnership with like- minded parties. Senior UNP sources said that a change in the leadership of the party in the run-up to the next parliamentary polls expected to be held in April, would divide and not unite its members. The best way forward in the interim, they pointed out, would be for a Leadership Council more..

Jan 19 (NT) Sri Lanka today insisted that there was no ban on actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth from visiting the country. MP Namal Rajapaksa tweeted saying news about visa being denied to Rajinikanth to visit island nation was false. ”News about #Indian veteran actor #Rajnikanth’s visa to enter #Srilanka been denied is nothing but a rumor. Both my father and I, like the many other SL’s islandwise are huge fans of his films. If he wishes to visit #lka there will be no hindrances,” Namal tweeted. more..

Jan 19 (ST) The UNP, the country’s oldest, is facing a split in the middle after Thursday’s parliamentary group meeting ended in chaos and confusion. The issue is over the party’s leadership. Sajith Premadasa Loyalists, who form a formidable section, want Ranil Wickremesinghe to cede the party leadership to him. However, on Thursday, the former PM and later Opposition Leader, was steadfast he would continue until 2025. more..

Jan 20 (SO) Truth be told, the better question would be, didn’t the party end a long time ago? The ending was scripted in the Second Republican Constitution of 1978 and the proportional representation system that replace the first-past-the-post method of electing representatives to Parliament. It ensured that we won’t see the kind of electoral routs such as the ones in 1970 and 1977. It also meant that parties would struggle to secure a clear majority in parliamentary elections. more..

Jan 20 (CT) Nearly two months have passed since Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR) was elected to the presidency. Although it is too soon to make any informed judgement on his administration, his achievements so far, in improving efficiency and productivity in public administration are credit worthy. His own preference for making his office less pompous and ceremonial is an example to be followed by every holder of public office, including the Prime Minster and cabinet of ministers. more..

Jan 20 (ST) Some ministries and corporations seeking office space on rent have committed the govt to pay millions of rupees. This is by entering into lease or rent agreements for five years, PM has been told. He has now directed that a list of such state institutions be forwarded to him together with the period for which rent, or lease had been obtained and the costs involved. In a few instances, the long-term lease has even exceeded more..

Jan 20 (ST) Leaked phone conversations between a politician and judicial officers with more details due to emerge has led to the interdiction of a Magistrate and inquiries into other judges even as the SL public remain tantalised by these unfolding scandals. Weighty matters of governance are left discarded, the soaring cost of living is beside the point and planned constitutional convulsions that aim at returning SL to dynastic power are not important. Instead this is the new Roman circus in town, more..

Jan 20 (Island) After 5 years, since the end of the war, the people, at large, were fed-up with the continuation of the same political mode. Their yearning, for a fundamental change in the system of governance, motioned a political wind that toppled the govt, led by Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa, in 2015. When the established political parties showed a lack of courage to play the role that was expected of them in the face of authoritarian tendencies, the initiatives for change came from civil society. more..

Jan 20 (Roar) Sri Lanka has a rich musical history, characterized by a folk tradition, such as the Sinhalese Virindu, or the Portuguese influenced Baila. But there is now a burgeoning contemporary music scene that, while still relatively new, is making an impact. This music is unique in that it is also very different from the relatively nouveau, yet mainstream, Sinhala pop music. This underground music is gaining traction as more..

Jan 20 (SO) So much malice has seeped into the innards of the system, that it’s toxic now. The toxicity will contaminate the body politic to the point it becomes dysfunctional, if healing doesn’t happen, and happen fast. How did such poison seep in? Yahapalanaya grew malice on trees! Those addicted to Yahapalanaya, and those who have green blood coursing through their veins would admit there was a malice-excess in the four years of Yahapalana rule. Prez has now sought some way out of this more..

Jan 20 (Island) Democracy is a system of govt where everyone is considered equal, but, strangely, in some advanced democracies there are still royals who are more equal than the people in whom sovereignty is said to reside. Monarchies are an anachronism that has survived the changing times. Not all people, however, are said to be ill-disposed towards royals. The British royal family is cited as a case in point. But that, too, is faced with numerous challenges that rapid social transformation more..

Jan 20 (CT) The UNP is in decline not because it divided, but because its leadership is in a state of advanced deterioration and decay. The party has failed to replace or separate itself from the incubus of its hopelessly out of touch and durably unsuccessful Old Guard. If the UNP goes into the election without a dramatic gesture that can prove to the electorate that it has pivoted from the decadent dispensation exemplified and revealed by the RR tapes, it will be the fatal victim of more..

Jan 20 (ST) National Boxing C'ship organized by the Boxing Association of SL will take place from Jan 21 to 24 at Royal MAS Arena. There will be a significant presence of foreign officials at the event in a bid to ensure transparency and fair play in decision making. More significantly it will bring the curtain down on the chequered career of a 38-year-old rugged southpaw from Army L.G. Chandrika who will go down in the annals of SL’s sporting history as a pioneer of women’s boxing. more..

Jan 20 (TM) Food producers will have to discontinue the use of terms such as super, smart, gold, and other superlatives due to the implementation of a 15-year old regulation by the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services. The Food Regulations 2005 under the extraordinary gazette issued under the Food Act No. 26 of 1980 is being fully implemented at the moment with a grace period of three months. more..

Jan 20 (ST) There were no bohemian air, no party jollity, no open house invite to dip into snacks and chats, no time for long showers, dabbed with generous splashes of after shave, no time for selfies and, definitely, no kisses for the arresting cop who handcuffed him. This time the mood was sullen. The atmosphere cold. Last Saturday (4th of Jan), offence for which he had been taken in had been his failure to license his firearm issued to him by the Govt for his protection. It was, to a certain degree, more..

Jan 20 (PTI) An impressive batting performance, topped by a disciplined bowling, saw defending champions India cruise to a 90-run victory over Sri Lanka in an opening group league encounter of the ICC U-19 World Cup in Bloemfontein on Sunday. Batting first, India scored a competitive 297 for 4, riding on half-centuries from their premier batsmen -- opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (59 off 74 balls) and skipper Priyam Garg (56 off 72 balls). There were significant contributions from vice-captain more..

Jan 20 (CI) Watchful half-centuries from openers Prince Masvaure and Kevin Kasuza set Zimbabwe on track for a healthy first-innings total, on a flat Harare Sports Club pitch. Another fifty from Craig Ervine, batting at No. 3, then consolidated Zimbabwe's position and carried them to a scoreline that constituted an excellent first day of Test cricket in over a year. The hosts only made 189 for 2 in 84 overs, but there was almost a sense that more..

Jan 20 (DN) The Trincomalee Port would be turned around as a major international port said Minister Johnston Fernando after a visit to the Port. He said that Trincomalee is the world’s second largest natural harbor in the world and potential to make a profitable harbour is huge. “We need private sector thinking going in to making this harbour a viable venture.” The Minister observed that currently only Prima Ceylon and Tokyo Cement are widely using the services of the Port while more..

Jan 20 (AD) All parties representing the United National Front (UNF) have agreed to appoint Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa as the leader of the alliance, states UNP MP Ajith Mannapperuma. He further stated that the leadership of the UNF is not relevant to the leadership of the United National Party. The United National Party will not be divided under any reason and the Opposition Leader Premadasa has assured that he will not allow that to happen, said Mannapperuma. more..

Jan 20 (DN) All unemployed graduates will be provided with Govt jobs on an immediate basis in order to get their contribution to strengthen the national economy, Prez Rajapaksa said. President made these remarks addressing a gathering of representatives of unemployed graduates at the Prez Secretariat yesterday. “Information on existing vacancies at gov, semi-govt institutes and departments have already been collected. more..