Jul 12 (Island) President’s Counsel Ali Sabri informed the Supreme Court that if the Power and Energy Ministry Tender Board had adhered to the provisions of the SL Electricity Act, the tender for the construction of an LNG power plant in Kerawalapitiya would not have been given to a Chinese Company overlooking the local bidder Lakdhanavi. The proposed plant is expected to generate 300MW. more..

Jul 12 (EN) Pidilite Industries Limited, an Indian adhesive and construction chemical company, has commissioned an adhesive manufacturing plant in Sri Lanka in a joint venture. The new plant is on four acres of land in Polgahawela in SL’s North Western Province, said Bharat Puri, Managing Director of Pidilite Industries. “This investment is a testament to our commitment to Sri Lanka market,” he said. “This zero-discharge plant will initially manufacture adhesives, more..

Jul 12 (CNBC) India is planning to operate Sri Lanka's loss-making Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in Hambantota, the govt said. The Sri Lankan govt in 2017 invited investors to turn the airport into a profit-sharing joint venture. However no proposals were received to operate, manage and maintain the airport. Here are some interesting facts about Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA): MRIA is located in the town of Mattala, 18 km north of Hambantota. more..

Jul 12 (Island) Singapore-registered Blue Summit Capital Management Ltd and SL’s Ben Holdings Ltd. have made a joint investment to purchase the crisis-hit finance company ETI Finance Limited, CB Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy said, "The total investment for ETI Finance is US$ 75 million. Some local depositors will be paid initially, he said. He stated that the investment is coming in two tranches with the first tranche more..

Jul 12 (DN) There was a time when there was an air of invincibility about the Sri Lanka cricket team when they played Test matches at home. They were virtually unbeatable on home soil for since winning the World Cup in 1996 till 2014 they lost only six Test series at home out of 37. But since 2014 that form has dipped to the extent that Sri Lanka has been struggling to beat opposing sides even under home conditions and dry turning pitches. They have lost series to South Africa, Pakistan, India more..

Jul 12 (DM) The computer-based test for obtaining driving licences would be held from tomorrow at the Werahera Branch, the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) said. Department said all preparations had been made to introduce the computer-based examination. “143 computer terminals had been installed at the DMT Werahera Branch for this purpose,” an official said. “The computer-based driving licence examination centre will be declared open by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva,” more..

Jul 12 (FT) Disgruntled private sector film industry stakeholders yesterday claimed that the recent decision to take over the distribution of films to the National Film Corporation (NFC) was unfair, insisting it was contrary to the market liberalisation policy of the Govt. It was pointed that the decision was taken without considering the recommendations of the committee appointed by the President to uplift the local cinema industry. more..

Jul 12 (CB) Roshen Silva believes the tour of West Indies has helped them prepare for the challenge of facing the South African pacers at home in the two-Test series. While spin is still likely to dominate the series, the Sri Lankan batsmen will also have to tackle the pace challenge that Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander, Lungi Nigidi and Dale Steyn will create. Sri Lanka lost the opening Test in Trinidad but went on to dominate the remaining two Tests and levelled the series 1-1. more..

Jul 12 (Island) South Africa have not lost a Test series to Sri Lanka since 2006. In fact, the Proteas have lost only two series away from home in the last ten years going down to England and India since 2008. That is an excellent away record and it remains to be seen whether the Sri Lankans are able to beat several odds and overcome the tourists. The first Test starts today here in Galle. The Sri Lankans face the prospect of playing the two-Test series without their captain, coach & manager more..

Jul 12 (CI) SL captain Dinesh Chandimal, coach Chandika Hathurusingha and manager Asanka Gurusinha have accepted they will not participate in the Test series against South Africa, after the ICC concluded its hearing on the trio, who had pleaded guilty to a level three spirit of cricket offence. ICC tweeted ten hours before the start of the first Test that the judicial commissioner would announce his decision in due course. more..

Jul 12 (Island) Emerging athletics sensation Aruna Dharshana cleared the first hurdle on his way to a probable history-making podium finish when he won his 400 metres heat on day two of the IAAF World U-20 Championship in Tampere, Finland on Wednesday. Competing in lane eight, the Weera Keppetipola MV, sprinter returned a time of 46.81 seconds to win his heat (3rd heat) in comprehensive ease. The Asian Athletics Championship record holder in the 400 metres, more..

Jul 12 (DM) A long-standing loyalist of the former Madam, this Diyawanna politico at state level from Gampaha is widely considered a Blue party stalwart in the district. Now that the general polls are around the corner, the politico held a meeting of the party’s electorate level organization to meet the party’s rank and file to feel their pulse. A good number of party activists and supporters had turned up at this meeting, but what most of them told him gave the politico a jolt: more..

Jul 12 (FT) The Cabinet this week gave approval to prepare the 2019 National Budget under the medium term fiscal frame work (MTFF) by adopting a Performance-Based Budgeting (PBB) approach, with aims of increasing the Govt revenue to 17% of GDP by 2021. The proposal, made by Minister Mangala Samaraweera, told the Cabinet that major economic assumptions for the fiscal year 2019 will include real GDP growth of 5.5%, more..

Jul 12 (Island) Prez Sirisena has had a sudden urge to hang drug dealers on death row. He seems unable to resist his impulses, which are legion. It was only the other day that he caused fuel price hikes to be put on hold. Then, the Cabinet implemented the price increases and he acquiesced, trotting out some excuses. He seems to think only after leaping. He announced a ban on glyphosate and asbestos and then made a volte-face. Another example of his fickle behaviour was his more..

Jul 12 (GV) As members of the academic community in SL, we are appalled by the increasing belligerence with which certain individuals appear to be making statements directed at public officials and academics of the country. It has been many months now since a certain group of individuals, led by ex-military personnel, had proclaimed before the media that individuals who are supportive of a new Constitution ought to be considered as traitors acting against the sovereignty & territorial integrity more..

Jul 12 (DN) The three major political parties likely to be in the running for the next national elections- UNP, SLFP and SLPP- were seen grappling with contentious issues last week, as the jostling continues for pole position in the country’s political stakes. The party faced with the most daunting challenge last week was the UNP. That was after Vijayakala Maheswaran, then the State Minister, attending a public event in Jaffna made a statement that law and order in the region had declined more..

Jul 12 (CT) In a tropical forest where people make a living through slash and burn there are several major inputs out of which human resources make a difference because it is that energy that turns everything into a productive process. All the rest are contributions from nature. Clearing the forest and setting fire to prepare land for tilling cannot happen if people did not know the right place and time. As inputs are not measured by monetary value, it looks vague. more..

Jul 12 (CT) Child safety has become a crucial factor in today’s society, especially after reports of increasing cases of child abuse and killings, recently. Authorities over the years have formulated and implemented various strategies and policies that have dealt with child safety both inside and outside homes. However, child abuse continues to be prevalent despite meticulous planning and implementation of well-thought out strategies. more..

Jul 12 (CT) Election Commission (EC) Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya and his two fellow-members need to be commended for being persistent with their efforts to have the much-delayed Provincial Council (PC) polls conducted at least before the year is out. But no one is really convinced that the EC can pull out a rabbit from the hat, this time at least. “It is the supremacy of Parliament. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has agreed to give us a roadmap outlining how the elections could be more..

Jul 12 (Island) Abandoned buildings maybe more than just an eyesore. They are ideal breading grounds for drug-related crimes and prostitution. The Island recently reported how residents of Ragama have complained that the police and security officers have turned a blind eye to the nefarious activities conducted by thugs and drug addicts in the guise of beggars, under the flyover on Cardinal Cooray Mawatha at night. Approx. 25 addicts have now taken permanent residence under the flyover. more..

Jul 12 (SO) The names Lido, Sally, Emma, Rocky, Ben, Bravo, Daisy, Debbie, Ruby, Bullet and Bingo are not normally found in a naval camp. These are the names of some adorable and intelligent dogs who are the pride of the Navy Kennels Unit located at SLNS Gemunu, Welisara. The kennels are situated in a serene part of the base giving the dogs and their handlers loads of space to train and enjoy each other’s more..

Jul 12 (CT) The timing of these two, ill-thought-out and irresponsible, or perhaps, misspoken statements, and the stark difference between the public and political responses to them, are evidence of the harsh and uncomfortable realities of this country. The statements are an indictment of the yahapalanaya (good governance) regime for failing to fulfill its promises. Desperation and anxiety about this failure run deep in a society so morally bankrupt and intellectually and politically paralyzed, more..

Jul 12 (CT) We have been talking about Turkey’s Erdogan who recently won electoral support to be the country’s first Executive President. At the elections, Turkey began digging its grave. The country abandoned the Parliamentary system according to which decision-making is participatory and collaborative. Under the Parliamentary system there is a PM but the latter is subject to Parliamentary support. By this simple mechanism the Prime Minister is someone watched. more..

Jul 11 (CI) At first glance, perhaps this is not the most enticing of match-ups. At first glance at recent history, it definitely isn't. The last time South Africa played Sri Lanka - in the summer of 2016-17 in South Africa - they beat the visitors 3-0 on pitches that seamed and spat and rendered SL's batsmen no more than mannequins. But the last time SA played in SL, two enthralling Tests saw them win a series on the island for only the 2nd time, and more..

Jul 11 (Reuters) Central bank is concerned about the dollar hoarding and market manipulation that’s exacerbating the rupee’s weakness and has the tools to correct any misalignment in the exchange rate, its governor said. The rupee has been falling steadily since April and is on course to retest recent historic lows. It could fall as much as 8% for the full year against the dollar in 2018 as exporters hold back on converting their dollar earnings into the local currency, traders and analysts said. more..

Jul 11 (CI) To get your mind around exactly how ridiculous South Africa's pace gifts are at present, consider this: Dale Steyn, almost certainly the greatest fast bowler of his generation, has the worst average among the frontline quicks in his squad. His 419 wickets have come at 22.32; Vernon Philander averages 21.46, Kagiso Rabada, 21.59, and Lungi Ngidi, 16.42. What makes the presence of these riches more incredible, is that Morne Morkel, one of South Africa's best ever, more..

Jul 11 (AD) A project to establish a protection center to translocate the two rare elephants in the Sinharaja forest Reserve is in progress. Minister Sarath Fonseka has proposed the exaction of 62 hectares of land from the Parugala area in Dolekanda Grama Niladhari division of Kalawana, which consists of adaptable environmental conditions for the two elephants. The proposal has also received the Cabinet approval. more..

Jul 11 (IANS) Indian Railways is all set to establish its footprint in Sri Lanka with the export of six DMU (diesel multiple units) train sets consisting of 78 modern coaches worth Rs 600 crore. The first DMU train set comprising 13 coaches will be shipped out to the island nation in September while the rest will follow by year-end, as per the delivery schedule finalised by the two countries. DMU train sets do not require separate locomotives as the engines are incorporated into one or more of its coaches. more..

Jul 11 (NR) Joint Opposition today announced that a broad alliance will be formed with the support of all anti-govt forces. Speaking during a media briefing, UPFA MP Dallas Alahapperuma said several rounds of discussions will be held before launching the alliance under the symbol of the flower bud. MP Alahapperuma added they decided to form a broad alliance claiming several proposals have been tabled at present. He said the group is notdivided nor do they have separate groups. more..

Jul 11 (DM) Meters with the capability of issuing printed bills would be compulsory from August 1, the National Council for Road Safety (NCRF) said. NCRF Chairman Dr Sisira Kodagoda told the Daily Mirror that all three-wheelers used for passenger transport should have meters. “After August 1, the regulation would be strictly implemented and stern legal action will be taken against the passenger transport more..

Jul 11 (EN) A US Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft has located a missing fishing vessel in the Indian Ocean, after joining search efforts at the request of the SL Navy. The US Embassy said in a statement the vessel was located by an aircraft from the “Pelicans” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 45 assigned to U.S. 7th Fleet and flew out of Naval Support Facility in Diego Garcia. The 40-foot vessel and crew of six went missing the morning of July 8 near Dondra Head, Sri Lanka. more..

Jul 11 (EN) Sri Lanka needs to ensure transparency in its project tenders, Ambassador of the European Union Tun Lai Margue said. The issue was one of the matters discussed at the 6th EU- Sri Lanka investor dialogue held at the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade recently. Many of the earlier outstanding matters had been resolved through dialogue and the joint efforts of the Sri Lanka and EU authorities, a Board of Investment statement said. more..

Jul 11 (DM) The Govt should introduce a formula to increase the salaries of Public and Private Sector employees every two months, in line with the fuel price increase, as people found it difficult to manage their salaries with the escalating Cost of Living, the JVP said today. JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said that the people were unaware of the formula to increase fuel prices and urged the Govt to reveal it to the people. more..

Jul 11 (Island) Beleaguered UNP MP and State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran said she hadn’t called for the revival of the LTTE to incite racial hatred. When asked why she said that the LTTE should be revived, Maheswaran said that the answer to that question would be divulged once the investigations into the matter were over. Asked whether the LTTE was responsible for the death of her husband, she refused to be drawn. She said there was a God above and a solution to more..

Jul 11 (DM) According to a story that has come down the grapevine quite recently, yet another reshuffle of the big pack is around the corner. Those due to be moved around this time round are mostly the Green ones in the pack and they include one or two grey-haired ones who have failed to prove their mettle. Kala Madam who recently drew much fire for making a statement considered politically blasphemous is also slated to be moved out and a suitable replacement is being looked for, more..