Sep 20 (IN) SINN Féin has criticised the DUP's decision to readmit Ian Paisley to the party - saying he should have been sacked. North Antrim MP was suspended from membership of the party his father founded on July 24 following publication of a report by the House of Commons Committee on Standards and pending further investigation into his conduct. Parliamentary watchdog had suspended him for 30 sitting days for failing to declare more..

Sep 20 (FT) The 40% Cess imposed on sanitary napkins will be removed by the Govt, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said. This decision was taken yesterday during a discussion with the officers, he added. The issue was brought to attention by the heads of media at a discussion with the Minister as social media was abuzz on the cost of sanitary napkins. Minister Samaraweera said the Gazette will be released today. more..

Sep 20 (DM) Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne ordered to release the three directors of now defunct Janaugaya newspaper on bail for issuing cheques worth Rs. 20 mn, which were dishounoured. Magistrate ordered to release the directors of the International Media Private Company, which printed the Janayugaya, on two personal bail each of Rs.500,000 after they had agreed to pay the value of the bounced cheques to the paper supplier. Three Directors, Chaminda Bandara, Gamunu more..

Sep 20 (DM) Former in charge of the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) DIG Nalaka de Silva, against whom allegations had been levelled over his alleged plot to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, had connections with the LTTE, National Freedom Front (NFF) charged today. NFF National Organizer Jayantha Samaraweera said they had evidence to prove that more..

Sep 20 (EN) A team of Indian businessmen from Kolkata, West Bengal, are in Sri Lanka looking for trade and investment opportunities mainly in manufacturing and services. Commercial and economic partnerships between the two countries are growing, said Ramesh Agarwal, president of the Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), leading the team of 18 delegates. “SL is India’s largest trade partner in south Asia while India is largest for SL globally” more..

Sep 20 (LBO) A MoU has been signed between the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs and the Govt of India, to commence the construction of the largest cold storage in Sri Lanka for vegetables and fruits. According to the MoU signed at the Indian High Commission in Colombo, with a capacity of 5,000 MT cold storage complex will be constructed in Dambulla to store vegetables and fruits and the Govt of India is to provide 300 million non-refundable grant for this purpose. more..

Sep 20 (GDI) Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga became the first Sri Lankan to be awarded the Prestigious Medal of Commander in the National Order of the Legion of Honour, the highest rank of the National Order of France. French Ambassador in Sri Lanka Jean-Marin Schuh presented the Medal of Commandeur de la Légion D'Honneur on behalf of Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, more..

Sep 20 (NR) The US State Department has amended its criteria for terrorist organizations which also includes the LTTE. The State Department report said despite its military defeat at the hands of the military in 2009, the LTTE’s international network of sympathizers and financial support has persisted. The report on the LTTE said there have been no known attacks in Sri Lanka attributed to the LTTE since 2009, while a total of 13 LTTE supporters, several of whom had allegedly more..

Sep 20 (AD) The appeal filed by Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, challenging his 6-years prison sentence, will be taken up for consideration on September 28 before the Supreme Court. The appeal was taken up before a three-judge bench, comprising Supreme Court Justices Prasanna Jayawardena, Vijith Malalgoda and L.T.B. Dehideniya today (20). The court stated that the request for an appeal will be taken up on September 28 for the confirmation of submissions. more..

Sep 20 (FT) Walking into an inventors’ exhibition should give one an experience similar to an immersion into the future. The world change with inventions and inventors lead the change. The creativity displayed is an indicator of the creativity of the society from within which they emerges as lives of Da Vinci, Edison and Jobs would exemplify. However, when one witness an invention of a clock to display the Rahu time, the feeling one gets is that we are still stuck in astrology over astronomy more..

Sep 20 (FT) Shyamon Jayasinghe, a former citizen of SL, now living in Victoria, Australia, writing to Daily FT in a Guest Column article has given an old college try at the President of Sri Lanka by announcing about a cloaked portentous writing on the wall. Shyamon might be having his own views and would have had advice from sources that matter to express such an opinion publicly. But for the sons of the soil there is no reason for such delusion and since his writing is full of quotes more..

Sep 20 (AD) Law & Order Minister has informed the Secretary to the ministry to investigate the allegations against IGP Pujith Jayasundara at a ministerial-level, deputy minister Nalin Bandara told Parliament this morning. He made these comments in response to a question raised by UPFA MP Kanaka Herath in the Parliament. The opposition MP had inquired regarding certain reports claiming that President and PM has asked more..

Sep 20 (Island) Milco Chairman Zuflikar Cader, told a group of Joint Opposition members that a needle had been used to introduce something into the packets of milk, distributed among those participating at Jana Balaya Colombata protest, on Sept 5. The meeting took place at Milco head office following a request by the JO. The JO delegation met the Milco chief to inquire about the status of its investigation into a complaint that some UNP more..

Sep 20 (DM) The proposed compact Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), would improve road networks and the bus system in the Colombo Metropolitan Region, and improve road connectivity between the central region and ports and markets in the Western Province. The compact would upgrade more than 300 kilometers of urban and interprovincial roads. In addition, the compact would improve land administration, and strengthen more..

Sep 20 (EN) Sri Lanka's rupee was quoted at 167.90/168.30 levels the US dollar in intra-day trading Thursday down from 167.10/30 levels a day earlier, as the central bank printed more money to keep interest rates below the policy ceiling. The central bank injected 10 billion rupees overnight at 8.06% and 5 billion rupees for 5 days through a term repo auction at 8.15%, dealers said, at a slightly higher rate than yesterday. more..

Sep 20 (Island) The Monetary Board of the Central Bank had approved a decision to allow the Bank of Ceylon (BoC) to purchase SriLankan airlines shares, held by Emirates airline in 2010, Assistant Chief Manager Priyanga Nuwan Kumara of the BoC told the PCoI on irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka. SriLankan shares, held by Emirates, had been purchased by BoC for USD 53 million and then some of more..

Sep 20 (Island) Uva Province Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake had deposited in his personal bank account Rs 3.5 million obtained for the purpose of purchasing school bags for kindergarten children in the province, Parliament was told. The money should have been deposited in the official bank accounts of the provincial council, the House was told. Deputy Minister Sriyani Wijewkcrama said that more..

Sep 20 (Island) Plantations workers continued to suffer but the politicians they elected did nothing to ameliorate their suffering, JVP said in parliament yesterday. JVP MP Vijtiha Herath, taking part in the second reading debate on New Villages Development Authority for Plantation Region Bill, said: "Plantation workers toil to keep the national economy afloat. But they are treated like aliens without any rights. more..

Sep 20 (ST) The CID this week took MP Ravi Karunanayake to court for the offence of intentionally giving false evidence–committing perjury–before the commission that inquired into irregularities in the issuance of Treasury Bonds. Action was filed in the Colombo Magistrate’s Court under Sections 188 and 190 of the Penal Code. Section 188 states: “Whoever, being legally bound by an oath or affirmation, more..

Sep 20 (DM) Everybody had been eager to comment on the wedding of Chathura Senarathne. This wedding was celebrated at Temple Trees. Chathura has become a controversial character in the political arena in the recent past. The following are excerpts of an interview LankaDeepa had with him. Q: There were many who spoke about Chathura Senarathne’s wedding celebrated with much fanfare. How was it made possible? more..

Sep 20 (Island) In keeping with its strategy of optimizing and rationalizing market opportunities throughout its route network, SriLankan Airlines will be introducing a range of significant changes to its winter schedule. Accordingly, the national carrier will be deploying state-of-the-art A330-300 aircraft on its daily Melbourne operations from Oct 28, 2018. The Airline is pleased to offer its passengers more..

Sep 20 (DM) Tomorrow is the UN World Day of Peace and we all need to be channels of peace though the big powers like the US, while talking of peace, provide bombs to the Saudi Arabia led coalition which recently dropped one such bomb, killing scores of schoolchildren in Yemen. Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on Sept 21. UNGA has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations & people. more..

Sep 20 (Island) We, in our schooldays, read a fascinating story, Ali Uvadura, (which can be roughly rendered into English as Elephantine Disaster), by the literary nonpareil, Cumaratunga Munidasa. It is about an elephant making a dash, scared out of its wits by the ghastly sight of a dark, long monster running through the jungle, at night, while making a terrible sound. The jumbo wonders how many animals the monster will devour if it starts eating them. Those of us who relished that more..

Sep 20 (DM) The arrested Police informer Nalaka Kumara has contradicted the statement he made on the alleged threats on the lives of President Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and as such, the CID inquiry on the issue had taken a different turn, Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said. The media last week gave wide publicity to a press conference held by more..

Sep 20 (EN) Cabinet had given approval for a joint venture agreement to be signed between India's National Thermal Power Corporation and CEB for liquefied natural gas power palnt. the state information office said. NTPC and CEB is planning a 500 MegaWatt LNG plant in Kerawalapitiya in the Western Province. The draft shareholders agreements had been prepared following several working group meeting between the two agencies. The plant is coming without open tender on more..

Sep 20 (FT) Govt this week approved the Appropriation Bill proposed by Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, to be presented in Parliament during the second week of October. According to the Appropriation Bill estimates, the total expenditure for 2019 without budget proposals is Rs. 4,376 billion, which includes Rs. 2,282 billion of the payable expenditure for General Services, Rs. 1,426 billion for recurrent expenditure, and another Rs. 856 billion for capital expenditure. more..

Sep 20 (EN) Sri Lanka will have digital gates at its main international airport to automate immigration controls and enable travelers to board and disembark from flights faster, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva said. “In six months I will ensure digital gates at the airport and reduce congestion,” he told the International Conference 2018 held by the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT). more..

Sep 20 (DNA) After Nepal snubbing India by refusing to join military exercises in Pune, it was now the turn of another neighbour, Sri Lanka — deciding against giving control of Palaly Airport to India. Just two days ago, on Monday, state-owned Airports Authority of India (AAI) had announced to prepare a detailed project report for development of this airport in Tamil-dominated Northern Sri Lanka. It had described it first project for the AAI in the island nation. more..

Sep 20 (EN) Asian Development Bank (ADB) will give a 10 million dollar technical assistance loan for a facility to improve the design and implementation of urban projects in Sri Lanka to make cities more liveable. “Urban projects are complex and require meticulous and significant preparation time to ensure they deliver their intended development impacts,” Senior Urban Development Specialist Ron Slangen said. “The ADB-supported facility will ensure urban projects more..

Sep 20 (ST) China will gift SL a missile frigate used by the People Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Frigate Tongling, launched in 1993, is now undergoing a refit at a port in China. Chinese embassy officials said the formal handover would take place early next year. The Jangwei I class frigate was deployed in the PLAN until 2015. Tongling the last in a class of four vessels is classified as a missile frigate by the PLAN. more..

Sep 20 (CT) Party Leaders of the JO have decided to commence a series of anti-Govt rallies shortly and the first public rally is to be launched under the leadership of former President Parliamentarian Mahinda Rajapaksa from the Kalutara District. MP Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene said that several persons including trade unionists, civil society groups, members of the Buddhist clergy will be a part of this series of anti-Govt rallies which they hope to stage in all major districts. more..

Sep 20 (AD) The current Inspector General of Police (IGP) is behaving in a manner that disrepute the whole of Sri Lankan Police history, says JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Doubts arise regarding the investigations conducted under him as the IGP is behaving as a young child and it also arouses suspicions on the trustworthiness of these investigations, says the MP. He expressed these view following his visit to Anunayake Thero of Malwathu Chapter at Kandy, today (19). more..

Sep 20 (CC) Former SL cricketer and opening batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan has hinted at the fact that he could make a comeback to international cricket. The explosive batter, who’s famous for his gutsy Dilscoop, had announced his retirement in 2016 due to certain issues which aren’t entirely clear. However, a recent tweet revealed that the 42-year old could return to the international stage. Sri Lanka have struggled of late, more..

Sep 20 (FT) In a bid to make sanitary napkins more affordable for low-income women, the Apè Sri Lanka National Movement Tuesday called on the Govt to reduce the unfair tax on an essential item for women. Ape Sri Lanka National Movement President Vimukthi Dushantha questioned the motives behind the Govt imposing such a high tax, which he said was more than 100% the cost of production, on an essential item in a country where 52% of the population was female. more..

Sep 20 (ST) The key state witness in an abduction case has written to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, complaining that his employer, the Sri Lanka Navy, is victimising him and blocking his promotion. Lt. Cmdr. Krishan Welagedara is a leading witness in a Habeas Corpus application filed in respect of five young Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim men who have gone missing since 2008 (the total number who disappeared is 11). The case is being investigated by the CID. more..