Jan 26 (CI) As many as four run-outs, including that of top-scorer Chamari Atapattu denied Sri Lanka Women a chance to claim the series as they lost by nine runs to India Women in the second T20I in Vizianagaram. Chasing 128, Sri Lanka were floundering at 15 for 2 in the third over before a 41-run stand between Atapattu and Shashikala Siriwardene helped the side recover. India pegged back with four wickets between the 14th and 17th overs, including run-outs off successive more..

Jan 26 (CI) Angelo Mathews has said that the Sri Lanka players' familiarity with the venue will help his team size up conditions at the Mirpur stadium during the first Test. Mathews had been among the 38 Sri Lankan cricketers who had traveled to Bangladesh for last year's Dhaka Premier League, turning out four times for Brothers Union. Spinner Ajantha Mendis also played in the tournament. "Even I played a few games at Mirpur and that was an experience for us, to see how more..

Jan 26 (CI) If a man does not risk much in life, he cannot complain if his rewards are also feeble. As Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews prepares his men for a new Test series less than a week after their last one concluded, he will perhaps have had a moment to contemplate this truth. In Sharjah, his team had striven for safety above all else and found on day five they could not have travelled a more hazardous route. more..

Jan 26 (CI) Two weeks ago, the biggest question in Bangladesh cricket was whether Shamsur Rahman could become only the second batsman from the country to score a first-class triple hundred. When he failed to do so, everyone wondered if his 267 would earn him a Test call-up. All of that is now a distant memory, after a leaked document has reopened age-old questions about Bangladesh cricket's future. To consider all factors of this 'position paper' and to implement them will more..

Jan 26 (ENS) In the fishermen-level talks to be held between India and Sri Lanka on Monday, 12 fishermen from the districts of Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram and one fisherman from Puducherry would take part, while 10 fishermen from Sri Lanka would attend the discussions. On behalf of the Sri Lankan govet, senior officials including Nimal Hettiarachchi, director general, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Dr S Subasinghe, more..

Jan 26 (CT) Govt has granted a generous 25-year corporate tax holiday to Colombo Port City, the Rs 172.4 billion project to reclaim more than 575 acres of sea off Galle Face Green. The project company, CHEC Port City Colombo Ltd, will also be exempt from tax on dividends for 25 years as well, as a host of other levies for a lesser period of time. Concessions were gazetted on Jan 24 under Strategic Development Projects Act. more..

Jan 26 (Island) Asanga Abeyagoonesekara, Chairman, Diri Saviya Foundation and Executive Director, Kadirgamar Institute, was invited to speak at the inaugural edition of the Coalition against Corruption (CoCo) conference 2014. Event was co-hosted by The Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law, Stanford University, Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy and Sunlight Foundation, Washington DC. Summit was held in Bangalore on Jan 15. more..

Jan 26 (NS) Hot on the heels of a report by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) barring all imported drugs due to quality control violations from Ranbaxy Laboratories, India’s largest drugs maker, the Cosmetics Devices and Drugs Regulatory will be looking at a separate investigation of its own. US health regulators on Friday cited that they will be halting shipping of all drugs and raw ingredients from the Ranbaxy Toansa plant in Punjab. “We will take appropriate action depending on more..

Jan 26 (CG) The Govt says some diplomats posted to Sri Lanka are interfering in Sri Lanka’s internal matters. Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that there is a section of the international community that wants to try and force its own agenda on Sri Lanka despite the tremendous progress that has been achieved in less than five years after the end of the war. The Ministry of Defence today quoted him as saying more..

Jan 26 (NS) Two hundred and eighty five Sri Lankans are currently serving jail terms in 14 countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Lebanon, SLBFE said. SLBFE Deputy General Manager Mangala Randeniya said one among the 285 was a female inmate in Lebanon. He said the Saudi Govt had introduced new laws for migrant workers where those who terminate their contracts without the consent of the sponsors prior to the end of the agreed period will have to pay a fine or more..

Jan 26 (ST) Motor vehicles will be subjected to smoke emission tests twice a year, instead of the current annual checks under a new gazette regulation which is due to come into effect in March, Motor Traffic Commissioner S.H. Harishchandra said. The move is part of a campaign to improve air quality after a survey revealed that strict checks on vehicle emissions had helped to improve the air quality in main towns. He said that with the increase in the frequency of the test more..

Jan 26 (SL) Selling education has become the govt’s policy and they are initiating private universities and schools throughout the country in their drive towards privatization, charged IUSF convener Sanjeewa Bandara. As a result, he said, education will be decided based on a student’s ability to afford it, and before long once again only the affluent will receive education while the lower rungs of society, who cannot more..

Jan 26 (AD) A person was arrested in the Eppala area in Udugama today for the possession of 26 counterfeit currency notes of Rs 1,000 denomination. The arrest was made by Udugama Police, acting on information received. Confiscated fake money is reportedly similar to the counterfeit currency detected on Thursday in the Udugama area. The arrested suspect had been wanted by police in connection to several crimes and is to be produced before the Magistrate tomorrow. more..

Jan 26 (ST) Kandy Chief Magistrate A.M.A. Vasantha Kumar ordered 18 Peradeniya University undergraduates who appeared in Court on Friday, in connection with a ragging incident, to be present in Court again on March 21, 2014. The undergraduates, all 2nd-year students, are charged with ragging a ‘fresher’ undergraduate between October 26 and 27, 2011, by subjecting the victim to assault and sexual harassment in a vacant building at the Peradeniya University. more..

Jan 26 (ITG) Sri Lanka's right to host the 2017 Asian Youth Games is in danger because they are so far behind in organising it, they have been warned. Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah has written to the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka and the country's Government making it clear that action will be taken unless they speed up preparations for the Games in Hambantota. more..

Jan 26 (SO) Privately owned buildings are the biggest breeders in spreading the dengue disease, a spokesman for the All Island Public Health Inspectors Union said. “We conducted an Anti-Mosquito campaign recently in seven high-risk areas, Colombo, Kandy, Puttalam, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Ratnapura and Polonnaruwa. Our officers detected that the breeding sites were mostly in shops, supermarkets, boutiques, food outlets and some offices”, Union Secretary more..

Jan 26 (SO) While welcoming the Govt’s ongoing efforts to record the events of a 30-year-war against terrorism, SLMC sources said the atrocities committed against the Muslims by the LTTE too need to be investigated in a systematic way. SLMC General Secretary Hasen Ali said that the Muslims were the only community that was evicted by the LTTE leader V Prabhakaran from the entire North. In an act of ethnic cleansing, they were given a 48-hour notice to evacuate their homes in more..

Jan 26 (TN) Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi voiced the parliament's support for the development of cooperation between Iran and Sri Lanka in different areas. He made the remark in a meeting with Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Iran Mohammad Razin on Sunday, adding that tapping into the potentials of the two countries would pave the way for boosting cooperation and more..

Jan 26 (ST) Three people were taken into custody for allegedly robbing an elderly couple who had arrived in Colombo from Jaffna, to travel to Britain, police said. The suspects posing as military intelligence personnel, had ordered the couple into a parked three-wheeler at Braybrooke Place, Colombo 2. and proceeded towards Kollupitiya. The suspects had accused the old couple of having links to the LTTE, and said they would have to arrest them. The old couple were further told that more..

Jan 26 (NS) Govt Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said a last-minute meeting with Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga was the only possible way that the island-wide doctors’ strike scheduled for January 30 might be averted. GMOA spokesperson Dr. Naveen de Zoysa said the token strike on Thursday ‘would still go ahead’ at this stage. However, he said there was the possibility that Minister Maithripala Sirisena might be able to grant GMOA representatives a meeting with more..

Jan 26 (DM) India continues to urge all stakeholders to engage constructively, in a spirit of partnership and mutual accommodation; as such a cooperative approach will pave the way for genuine reconciliation and a political settlement in Sri Lanka. Speaking at an event to celebrate the 65th Republic Day of India today at India House in Colombo, Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Y.K. Sinha also said that the end of the more..

Jan 27 (CT) Professor Stanley Jeyaraja Tambiah passed away on January 19th, 2014. This is not a conventional obituary, but a brief account of his work, meant as a tribute to his scholarship. Professor Tambiah was both a versatile and influential theorist and one of the foremost contemporary social science scholars of Theravada Buddhism. This account, addressed to a largely Sri Lankan readership, focuses on the latter, with only passing mention of the former. more..

Jan 27 (SL) The much-looked-forward to meeting between Havelock SC and Kandy SC, defending league and knockout champions respectively, last week settled the question as to which of the two would emerge second-best to yet-unvanquished Navy at the conclusion of the 90-match first-round. The Colombo club did, by the compelling margin of 34/17, thanks chiefly to a burst of destructive brilliance in the last quarter of the game. Up until then, the contest had been anything but more..

Jan 27 (SO) Kotikawatta Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Prasanna Solangaarachchi's political journey was not a bed of roses but he reached where he is today due to sheer perseverance, dedication and commitment. From humble beginnings he has been lifted to great political heights by the people due to his unwavering commitment in serving them. People have shown their gratitude and trust to the youthful more..

Jan 27 (CT) The election battle that has begun with the dissolution of the Western and Southern Provincial Councils (PCs) has now turned into a 'battle of the stars', say political analysts. The reason for this is that most conspicuous at the 'battlefront' in both Provinces are popular cinema and 'other' stars, who have suddenly appeared on the political scene. Among these stars are Hirunika Premachandra, Anarkali Akarsha, Geetha Kumarasinghe, Madhu Madhawa Aravinda, Roger Seneviratne, more..

Jan 27 (CT) I always had an affection for former Army Commander, Sarath Fonseka as a war hero. I ranked him third in my list of war heroes placing only President Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Rajapaksa before him. I was one of three media spokespersons of President Rajapaksa during the last election campaign. I never devalued Fonseka's role in the war against the LTTE in my speeches. I opted for President Rajapaksa because I did not see the maturity and sensitivity more..

Jan 27 (CT) Q: As you sing in one of your songs, the lovers forget love once they win the heart. Will Judith White also forget the promises after she is elected? A: That is a good question. Let us start with it. A number of artistes contest the WPC election this time. Although we call them artistes, 90% of them are actors and actresses. I am the only vocalist there. I am a singer with experience in the entertainment field for 12 years. more..

Jan 27 (NS) Election fever appears to have engulfed political parties as they prepare for the forthcoming provincial council polls for the Western and Southern provinces with many aspirants seeking nomination from the major parties. An emerging phenomenon is starlets and singers who have had their share of fame in the entertainment sector as well as the kith and kin of politicians seeking nomination, mostly from the ruling UPFA. The offspring of politicians seeking nomination is not new to SL politics. more..

Jan 27 (NS) Rumor has it that people in the Kelaniya Electorate have got busy planting trees. Some are ready for the long haul and are going with seeds and seedlings. Others are getting ready for a calamity that they think will be over soon. Such people are going for root-ball measures. It’s happening all over. One reason: Mervin and the anticipation of people being tied to trees. It’s official. Distinction between politicians and actors (and of course actresses) has been erased. more..

Jan 27 (CT) Athuraliye Rathana Thera in an interview admits that the lifestyle of Buddhist monks had changed with time and gives the reasons for monks taking to politics. Q: Has the bhikkhu's life pattern changed? A: Yes, the lives of bhikkhus have also changed like that of the laymen. We used to wake up early and sleep early as kids, but now we go to bed late and wake up a little late. The reason is the change in the life of the people. more..

Jan 27 (SL) The worst rail road tragedy in Sri Lanka took place at the unprotected level crossing in Ahungalla 25 years ago on January 17, 1989. A bus from Ambalangoda CTB depot collided with a train at Ahungalla killing 38 on the spot and fatally injuring 75 people. Of those who got injured, 62 were children and 13 were adults. During the period, I was the general manager of the Southern Region Transport Board evaluating, mentoring and supervising bus services of 10 CTB depots in more..

Jan 27 (FT) AG’s Department last week updated to Court of Appeal hearing a case on the troubled Central Investment and Finance (CIFL) about new measures taken by the Monetary Board to revive crisis-hit finance companies. Deputy Solicitor General Janak de Silva submitted last Thursday furnished the minutes of the Monetary Board to the Court of Appeal when the petition filed by the depositors of the CIFL complaining of alleged unlawful activities in breach of more..

Jan 27 (DM) Not even govts can perpetually spend more than they earn, without jeopardising the economy. Therefore, the fiscal targets of the govt – to systematically reduce the budget deficit over a period – are a sensible step in the right direction. But deficits are not the only barometer of fiscal success. If revenue is drying up, not only do the deficit targets become difficult to achieve but pursuing them becomes painful for the economy. more..

Jan 27 (CT) I don’t know whether to document and hang on the wall of my workspace accounts of recent events in my life as “badges of honour” or just to be simply ashamed of what my motherland produces in the matter of alleged “humanity” that chooses to indulge in efforts at “communication.” In any event, I expect that when I next bump into an old schoolmate of mine from our days at Trinity, he’s going to (again!) gently chide me with the reproach that I am “an angry man!” more..

Jan 27 (ST) “There’s a tide in the affairs of men, when taken at the flood can lead on to good fortune”. This Shakespearean introspection on humanity is as applicable to nations and economies. A nation too has good years and lean years; years of high production and low output; years of external and internal shocks and years without strains; years when the terms of trade go against you and years when they improve. This inherent dialectic is more applicable for developing countries more..

Jan 27 (CI) The last time Bangladesh and Sri Lanka met in a Test was in March 2013, at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo with long grass on the outfield. Tamim Iqbal went off in a huff after failing to get the ball to the boundary more times than he would have liked; match referee David Boon strolled out to talk to the curator, telling him to keep it consistent throughout the game. SL managed to win the Test, and the series, more..

Jan 27 (Island) Asia will lead worldwide economic growth over the next few years. Expected growth globally would be of such proportions that Asia would account for 70 % of this cycle said ambassador for Japan in Sri Lanka Nobuhito Hobo. The ambassador was Chief Guest at the annual general meeting of the National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka. He said, 'Over the last few decades the global economy changed rapidly. The economic power shift from traditionally more..

Jan 27 (SO) Saman was an agile person always on the move and with a desire to assist anyone who needed his help. As usual he woke up just before dawn on that fateful day. It was just another day for him. However, unknown to him, fate had other plans. When he revved the engine of his motor bicycle and told his beloved wife that he will not return home early, he would never in his wildest dreams have imagined what was going to happen to him in a few hours. Anyway he told his wife that more..

Jan 27 (ST) Amidst the buzz over doubtful economic data, mergers involving banks and finance companies, attacks on Christian churches, etc … a landmark labour pact between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia didn’t get the public attention it deserved. The country’s economy runs virtually on the sweat and tears of Sri Lanka’s overseas migrant workers but this segment of the population gets little public focus apart more..

Jan 27 (Island) Enrollment is now open for the Graduate Diploma in Cyber Security and for the MSc in Information Technology, specializing in Cyber Security. The Graduate Diploma in Cyber Security is offered by SLIIT and it's long-standing academic partner Curtin University, Australia. The MSc in IT Specializing in Cyber Security is offered by SLIIT. Cyber security has been identified as a key global issue. Widespread use and dependence on online services brings about new challenges more..