June 1 (CT) All of our experience after events catastrophic events point to the inability of the bureaucracy to adapt to changing times and be abreast of current information. If they did, they would know that tunneling in the fractured rocks of the Poonagala range could lead to disasters like the massive landslide experienced Meeriyabadde the drying up of wells around Bandarawela. The environmental Impact Report that cleared the infamous Uma Oya diversion project has not more..

June 1 (CT) Globally we have seen many countries that recently went through a wave of right wing or nationalist populism. In Britain, we saw the political party  UKIP, that led Brexit. In France, we saw the National Front’s Marine Le Pen. In Netherlands, we saw the party of Geert Wilders. In Germany, we see the extremist right wing party, Alternative for Deustchland in action. In US, Donald Trump’s electoral appeal had also been a right wing populism. more..

June 1 (CT) Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training, Chandima Weerakkody, stated that he has formed a Student Taskforce to refurbish and rebuild flood affected buildings and institutes in the country, with the participation of students attending higher education institutes that function under the purview of his ministry. "The country is in a dire situation at present. Hence, it is the responsibility of more..

June 1 (SO) Speaking at the A.R Surendran P.C. memorial oration, President’s Counsel and eminent lawyer K. Kanag-Isvaran highlighted the need to obtain redress through Human Rights laws, adding that the law should be more result oriented. He made these observations delivering the keynote speech at the memorial oration on the topic of Human Rights and Accountability. The basis of Mr. Kanag-Isvaran’s lecture unravelled around a youth named Theverajah Sharma, more..

June 1 (DN) Often, the calibre of a government is tested by the manner in which it faces challenges and right now, the govt of National Unity is confronted with many. Causing the most concern are the floods and landslides that have led to hundreds of deaths with thousands more displaced. As the govt and its agencies struggle to cope with the ongoing natural disaster, questions have been asked about its preparedness for such an eventuality. more..

June 1 (CT) The organizers of the Nuwara Eliya Road Race should be held responsible for the death of Ananda Wedisinghe due to nonconformity with the basic international racing standards. Nuwara Eliya Road Race has come under inspection unlike other motorsport events held in various parts due to safety and medical recovery reasons. Nuwara Eliya Road Race was organized by the Sri Lanka Motorcycle Club (SLMC) more..

June 1 (DN) Humans are defined more than anything by one goal. And that goal is to give a greater meaning to their lives. Like other animals we also look to the survival of our species. But if that was our sole desire we would all be still living in mud huts. But we aspire to a more refined and magnanimous existence. Otherwise how else could one account for creations of superior craftsmanship? Take our Sri Lankan Civilization and for example the Egyptian Civilization, more..

June 1 (Island) Close on the heels of the crash-landing of a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) chopper in a flood-hit area due to a technical defect comes the news that India has rushed in essential spare parts needed for the SLAF fleet to sustain rescue and relief operations. One is intrigued! Has the SLAF gone the same way as the state-owned bus service, which is also badly in need of spare parts? Why did the govt wait until the last moment to procure the essential spares? more..

June 1 (SO) Sri Lanka and Australia have agreed to enhance cooperation in many fields including, the hitherto unavailable sphere of nuclear technology. This is a result of President Maithripala Sirisena’s three-day official visit to the Australian capital city Canberra, and commercial city, Sydney. PM Malcolm Turnbull hailed SL leader as a man of courage who carried out an impressive process of peace and reconciliation. Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove, expressed admiration more..

June 1 (Island) When prospecting for petroleum in Sri Lanka began nearly forty years ago at the initiative of the govt, we were silently jubilant at the promise of a comfortable petrodollar-rich future for the country, which enhanced the general euphoria experienced in the wake of the adoption of the republican Constitution in 1972. However, the Russian engineers who conducted the search at Pesalai in Mannar failed to find any oil. The grandiose project was abandoned, more..

June 1 (FT) Lanka Orix Leasing Company (LOLC) has emerged as the most profitable listed corporate, dethroning premier blue chip JKH. As confirmed by interim results released, LOLC Group’s post-tax profit in the 2016/17 financial year was a mammoth Rs. 21 billion, as against that of JKH, which last week reported a figure of Rs. 18.1 billion. LOLC’s bottom line was Rs. 17.15 billion, up by 101% whilst JKH ended the FY17 with Rs. 16.27 billion. more..

June 1 (DN) Sri Lanka batsman Upul Tharanga believes there is no better opportunity for his team’s youngsters to stand up and show the world what they are about than the ICC Champions Trophy. Defeat to New Zealand at Edgbaston on Tuesday ended Sri Lanka’s preparation, though it put up plenty of runs as Tharanga made a century, while Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal chipped in with 50s. And with South Africa to come just at The Oval on Saturday, more..

June 1 (EN) Eastern Sampur coast has seen pod of around 20 whales stranding themselves a day after a cyclonic storm lashed the island. Pictures published by the SL Navy and local media show what appears to be pilot whales beaching themselves repeatedly with sailors and other men trying to push them back to the sea. Large pods of pilot whales have been sighted in the seas around Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is also one of the easiest places in the world to see blue whales. more..

June 1 (CI) Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews is likely to miss his team's Champions Trophy opener against South Africa on Saturday due to a calf injury. Vice-captain Upul Tharanga is the likeliest candidate to lead the team in Mathews' stead. Mathews has not played internationals since January because of a hamstring complaint, and had also missed a tri-series in Zimbabwe late last year because of multiple injuries in his legs. more..

June 1 (FT) fDi Magazine, part of The Financial Times UK, has selected Sri Lanka as the top pick among twenty seven island economies around the world as having the most potential to attract investment. The official award certificate was presented to President Sirisena and Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera during the official launch of Public Private Partnership (PPP) Unit yesterday. The launch was part of the inauguration of SL Investment & Business Conclave 2017 more..

June 1 (CI) It seems strange to suggest that the Champions Trophy might finally be coming of age. But, just as the most troubled of teenagers tend to find their place in life eventually, so the ICC's least-loved bauble is somehow approaching its 20th year with a grizzled maturity and, if not outright contentment, then at least a sense of self-worth far removed from its gawky adolescence. It was way back in October 1998 that the ICC Knock-Out Trophy, or Wills International Cup as more..

June 1 (DM) 16 more suspects have been arrested by police in connection with assaulting three tourist in Haputale. Two British nationals and Nepal national who were cycling in Haputale were admitted to the Diyathalawa Hospital after they were assaulted by a group of people on Sunday. Police said the arrested suspects were remanded till June 1 after produced before the Bandarawela Magistrate Court. more..

June 1 (CT) The second National Selection trials for the forthcoming Asian Athletics Championship will be held today and tomorrow at Diyagama Stadium, where participation has been limited to top National athletes with qualification standards. Nevertheless, a few top names will miss out on the trials, such as High Jumper Manjula Kumara who was hospitalized in April with high fever and SAG 100m record holder Himasha Eashan who is training in Italy. Discus thrower Emma de Silva studying in USA, more..

June 1 (EN) Sri Lanka's 12-month inflation dropped to 6% in May 2016, from 6.9 percent in April, but prices climbed 0.9% in the month, data from the state statistics office showed. In May 2016, consumer prices rose 1.8% one of the highest spikes in prices seen in a single moth in recent years. Sri Lanka's inflation spiked to 7.3% in March, as the country's central bank failed to keep stable prices. But in the past central bank's failures have been even worse. more..

June 1 (IRIN) As floodwaters recede in Sri Lanka after monsoon rains killed at least 202 people and forced more than 80,000 from their homes, questions are being asked over the govt’s failure to put in place preparedness measures that could have saved lives. The death toll could still rise after the storm lashed the country at the weekend, causing the worst flooding in 15 years. The UN says 96 people remain unaccounted for, and more..

June 1 (RW) On 30 May, national disaster management officials reported that water levels are beginning to recede along the major river basins. With less rainfall over the past 24 hours, local authorities with the support from the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and civil society are making progress in clearing roads, facilitating additional relief distributions. Access to remote villages remains a significant challenge. With forecast of more rains in the coming days, more..

June 1 (FT) Top professional and maritime economist Parakrama Dissanayake has been appointed the new Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) by Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe. Dissanayake was also the Chairman of SLPA from 2001-2004. He was recently elected the first Non-British International President of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers UK, founded in 1911, Royal Charter conferred in 1913. Before assuming duties as Port Chief, more..

June 1 (FT) Govt has picked global catastrophe reinsurance specialist Renaissance Re, with a total cover of Rs. 15 billion, to be the lead reinsurer of its State-run National Insurance Trust Fund (NITF) which provides reinsurance cover for Sri Lanka. ‘A’-rated Renaissance Re of Singapore submitted the lead terms in the winning bid accepted by the Govt from Strategic Insurance Brokers, backed by Crescent Global South Asia more..

June 1 (DN) The demand for real estate is in a huge upward curve in Sri Lanka and this trend is likely to continue, said Executive Director, John Keels Holdings, Krishan Balendra. Speaking at the Sri Lanka Investment and Business Conclave 2017 organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce yesterday, he said that around a decade ago some 200 apartments were sold in Colombo per annum and this has now increased to around 2,000. We see the demand further increasing. more..

June 1 (FT) Senior counsel for Bodu Bala Sena Secretary-General Gnanasara Thero yesterday informed the Court of Appeal that his client was hospitalised and submitted a supporting medical certificate. The bench comprising Justices L.T.B. Dehideniya and K.K. Wickramasinghe fixed the contempt matter against Gnanasara Thero for 12 June. When the contempt matter against Gnanasara Thero came up on 24 May before a bench comprising Justices Rohini Walgama more..

June 1 (FT) Staying calm in the face of fire, Disaster Management Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa justified his absence from the country during the worst floods in 14 years by insisting that the Govt did its utmost to respond to relief during the disaster and so did not require his presence.  Yapa, who was in Mexico to attend a conference on natural disasters, insisted that Govt apparatus, including Prez & PM along with his Deputy Minister, more..

June 1 (PSL) Four new state ministers and three deputy ministers took their oaths before President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday. Dr. Harsha de Silva, who held the post of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, was sworn in as National Policies and Economic Affairs Deputy Minister, while Public Enterprise Development Deputy Minister Eran Wickramaratne was appointed State Minister of Finance. Palitha Range Bandara was sworn in as State Minister of more..

June 1 (DM) Colombo Chief Magistrate confirmed that the case productions (passport and NIC), relating to the inquiry conducted against Sashi Weerawansa over allegedly obtaining a forged passport submitting fraudulent details, had not gone missing but were in the possession of Court Production Officer. Reprimanding the CID, Chief Magistrate explained that the CID officer had recklessly requested court productions of case from the Chief Registrar but more..

June 1 (FT) President Maithripala Sirisena and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe effected key changes to the second tier of the Government with the appointment of Eran Wickremaratne as the State Minister for Finance and Dr. Harsha de Silva as the Deputy Minister for National Policies and Economic Affairs. They were among four State Ministers and four Deputy Ministers sworn in yesterday more..

June 1 (DM) In the wake of a Sri Lankan housemaid making a false allegation against her Saudi employer, Police of Saudi Arabia had warned Sri Lanka that they would impose an imprisonment of 5-20 years or a compensation of Saudi Riyal one million, if the Sri Lankan migrant workers made such false allegations against the Govt of Saudi Arabia, SLBFE said. SLBFE Media Secretary Nalin Rajapaksha said that the Police of Saudi Arabia had issued the warning after the incident, more..

June 1 (DC) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board may not recommend the extension of chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya's term, it is learnt here. Jayasuriya may resign after the Champions Trophy and if he does not, then the board is unlikely to extend his tenure. "Recently his private life video is leaked to the media and it is very bad public perception and we don't want him to continue as a selector. He has disgraced the game and the nation," one of the top SLC board officials said from Colombo.  more..

June 1 (Island) At least 44 schoolchildren are among those killed in devastating floods, mudslides triggered by heavy rains while another eight students are reported missing and also feared dead. The death toll from the recent disasters has risen to 203 with 63 injured and 96 missing. Rescue/recovery operations continued for the sixth day yesterday. More than 631,346 people from 164,264 families had been affected more..

June 1 (CT) Ceylon Today reliably learns that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) representatives had sought a bank overdraft of Rs.250 million from Bank of Ceylon. SLC Treasurer Shammi Silva had not made the trip and instead two other representatives, CEO Ashley de Silva and Nuski Mohammed, had visited the bank yesterday. SLC is due to receive payments worth 25 million USD from ICC in August, and with Indian tour coming up SLC is set to make more than what they have now requested from the bank. more..

June 1 (EN) The govt has approved a new flood management law to replace a nearly 100-year old ordinance and enable collective flood management efforts and better forecasting as it recovers from the latest floods. The proposed Flood Management Act provides for declaration of flood areas, flood forecasting, preparation of flood maps and infrastructural arrangements and collective flood management efforts. It was required to better protect lives and properties from floods more..

June 1 (AFP) Sri Lanka pledged Wednesday to tighten construction laws as the toll from heavy rains rose to 203, saying many landslide victims would have survived had their homes not been built on slopes. The govt will also prosecute anyone violating existing rules by building on landslide-prone slopes, said Minister Anura Yapa. "If we don't stop this madness, we are going to end up with a bigger disaster very soon," he said. more..

June 1 (DM) There’s a lot of nature in natural disasters, but there’s also a lot of human involvement that precipitates calamities or makes them worse. Consequently, if we want to play a blame-game, we can point fingers in many directions and at many people and institutions. Not now. Later.  This is the time for everyone to do their bit to help their fellow-creatures in distress. We can draw hope from the fact that we’ve done this before. Whenever there was a tragedy of this proportion more..

June 1 (DM) Before I start my formal response I must emphasis that I salute those (perhaps a minority) of doctors who serve the public of this country with dedication and commitment. These are the doctors who are selfless in service and are driven by values of caring for and safeguarding human life.  Dr. Mendis argues that doctors do contribute by serving in public hospitals without seeking greener pastures abroad. He maintains that they maintain high standards of healthcare. more..

June 1 (DM) Only a handful of the leaders of the country seem to know the real  purpose of the Cabinet reshuffle that was carried out on May 22, country’s 45th Republic Day, after several months of bickering in the  media. Hence many people have their own versions and theories about it.  However, it is clear that the govt has totally  forgotten its promise given to the nation during the 2015 presidential  election to appoint more..

June 1 (DM) Q: Religious extremism and racism are creating chaos in the country. As a party, The JHU could be the political party that started highlighting prominence of one ethnic group, considering the recent past. What is your view of the current situation in Sri Lanka? A: We are a pragmatic political party. We were against terrorism. Our Govts were promoting an enemy-centred strategy. more..