May 4 (NR) Former Senior DIG Anura Senanayake arrested over the murder of Wasim Thajudeen has been further remanded till the 18th of May. The order was issued by Colombo Additional Magistrate Jerome Trotsky. Additional Magistrate made inquiries from the CID pertaining to the progress of investigations into the murder. CID informed that statements were recorded from the chief of the army unit including 9 officers who operated closely as Former President Rajapaksa’s security detail. more..

May 4 (EN) SL's exports fell 3.8% to US$ 864.7 million in January 2017 from a year earlier, with industrial exports continuing to slow, while imports surged driven by fuel amid a drought, official data showed. Apparel exports fell 8.2% to US$ 426.3 million, rubber products fell 18.7% to US$ 58 million. Tea exports rose 2.1% US$ 101.6 million spices rose 33.7% to US$ 30.4 million, seafood exports rose 19.7% to US$ 18.2 million. more..

May 4 (LBB) Sri Pada - or the mountain of Buddha - is uniquely sacred to a deeply spiritual Buddhist majority in SL. However this stirring ceremony of nearly 500,000 pilgrims who visit the holy site everyday, during the season, brings with it the unholiest of sights - garbage. Rathnapura Provincial Council, body responsible for maintaining the sacred site, wanted to find a solution that is sustainable and effective. The proposed idea had to respect the importance of the site, more..

May 4 (LBO) Sri Lanka’s electricity sector regulator, the Public Utilities Commission, has approved a time-based optional tariff for the single phase domestic consumers, which was earlier limited only for the consumers who have three phase connections and consuming 30A or above. The time-of-use (TOU) tariff was identified as it would benefit domestic users and aims to demote power usage during the peak time and promote power usage during off-peak time. more..

May 4 (PSL) President Sirisena says the country should import only essential goods and added that the government would implement required plan of action after a research is carried out on all imported food and other goods. He made these remarks at the inauguration ceremony of Grama Shakthi People’s Movement, held today at BMICH. Grama Shakthi People’s Movement aims at saving the people from poverty and more..

May 4 (APP) In a manifestation of the strong political, diplomatic, economic, cultural, and defense ties between the two countries, Pakistan Naval ships PMSS Dasht and PNS Zulfiquar have reached Colombo Naval Dockyard on May 3, 4 respectively on a five-day goodwill visit. According to a Pakistan embassy message received here Thursday from Colombo, Pakistan Navy ships make routine port calls on the ports of friendly countries. Pakistan and Sri Lanka enjoy close friendly relations more..

May 4 (AD) Ray Abeywardena has been appointed as the Chairman of Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). He will be succeeding Vajira Kulatilaka, who steps down as the chairman on completion of the customary 3-year term of office. Abeywardena is the CEO of ACUITY Stockbrokers and has experience in the financial services industry spanning over 2 decades. He currently serves on Board of Directors of Acuity Partners, Acuity Securities, and is the Chairman of Acuity Stockbrokers.  more..

May 4 (AD) TNA today said that it is deeply concerned over Cabinet approval for a policy and legal framework relating to the proposed Counter-Terrorism Act.  “We have not been consulted on the terms of the draft framework, which has recently appeared in the press and appears to be a Cabinet memorandum approved on 25th April.”  “We are shocked by the extent to which the draft framework curtails civil liberties, erodes judicial control over more..

May 4 (SLF) In recognition of the positive role young people play in building sustainable peace, the U.S. Department of State is honoring outstanding young leaders from around the world. On Thursday (4), the ten recipients of the second annual Emerging Young Leaders Award will be acknowledged in a public ceremony at the State Department for their efforts as partners for peace and drivers of economic growth and opportunity. One of the ten is Chamathya Fernando of Sri Lanka, more..

May 4 (DM) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said today that he was not informed of the court decision regarding Geetha Kumarasinghe's MP post. He told parliament in response to a question raised by UNP MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha that he would act according to the court decision when it was informed to him. JO MP Geetha Kumarasinghe attended parliamentary sessions today despite the court decision which ruled that she was disqualified to be a MP as she holds dual citizenship. more..

May 4 (LBO) Sri Lanka’s proposed Inland Revenue Act plans to include investment incentives which provide massive depreciation allowances for investors. The govt said this depreciation allowance will be applicable for companies that incur expenses on depreciable assets other than intangible assets during a year based on the amount of investment, employment generation and the geographical location. 150% depreciation allowance more..

May 5 (CT) Sadness is a normal emotion we all feel reacting to difficult events in our lives. Sadness usually passes with time. Clinical depression, however, is a mood disorder. It is harder to deal with and can interfere with your everyday life. An often taboo subject in our country, it was recently brought into the limelight at WHO SL’s and the Ministry of Health, Nutrition, & Indigenous Medicine’s Depression: Let’s Talk – an advocacy campaign commemorating World Health Day 2017. more..

May 5 (DN) The right to strike has been developed at international level by the International Labour Office (ILO) supervisory bodies but is not mentioned explicitly in ILO conventions or recommendations. While there is consensus that the right to strike is an indispensable instrument for the exercise of workers’ economic and social rights, there is an ongoing debate about the need to strike a balance between the protection of these rights and the need to guarantee essential public services more..

May 5 (SO) The UN Vesak Day will be celebrated in Sri Lanka this year with the participation of Buddhist leaders from around the world. The three day celebration will begin on May 12 in Colombo and the closing ceremony will be held in Kandy. Vesak marks the birth, enlightenment and the attaining nibbana of the Buddha. Indian PM Narendra Modi and the Nepali President, Bidya Devi Bhandari have confirmed their participation more..

May 5 (SO) Who is the best man mentioned here by Aristotle the Scholar? What should he be like? Firstly this best man should not be a racist. Martin Luther King has said that racism amounts to being blood-thirsty. Therefore, the man who should be a good ruler should not be a racist. The ruler, who should be a good man, should be a person of veracity. He should not be a person who has plundered people's wealth and built up a new generation. more..

May 5 (CT) The first day of May has its own name – May Day and was originally known as Workers' Day and also Labour Day. It was, as its earlier names imply, meant to bring workers to the forefront and discuss their issues and also celebrate their contribution to society, their country and the world at large. After all, workers are the ones who work (obvious, needless to say), ranging from those in offices like clerks and those who work out of doors doing jobs that call for skills. more..

May 5 (CT) Joint Opposition could accomplish the challenge of filling up the Galle Face Green with its supporters at the JO May Day Rally. The party proclaims that it could draw the largest ever number of supporters to a May Day rally held by a single political party. Infused with confidence because of this success, the JO urged the govt to hold elections to show the true strength of the Party. more..

May 5 (DN) In the days leading up to May Day, an announcement by Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne was to rock the political establishment- and generate much discussion about the fall and rise of former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka. It all began at last Wednesday’s post- Cabinet media briefing. Minister Rajitha Senaratne was to declare that Fonseka, who is now Minister of Regional Development, would be offered a special post to deal with the current wave of strikes, more..

May 5 (Island) Former President Rajapaksa’s security has been reduced. He says as many as 42 police personnel including an ASP were removed suddenly on Wednesday night. That was something to be expected of the govt, troubled by the Joint Opposition’s successful May Day rally. Opposition politicians whose rallies attract large crowds always incur the wrath of their ruling counterparts. In the 1970s, the late J. R. Jayewardene came under goon attacks carried out by the SLFP. more..

May 5 (CT) The 9th of January 2017 marked the second anniversary of an important turning point in Sri Lanka’s recent history. It is the beginning of the third year of the five-year term of President Maithripala Sirisena. On 8 January 2015, the people of Sri Lanka took part in polls and, on 9 January 2015, switched from a govt that had embarked on an authoritarian and divisive trajectory to one of convergence and national unity. For the first time since independence, more..

May 5 (Island) A 14-year-old schoolboy has committed suicide by hanging himself with his mother’s shawl. The immediate cause of this unfortunate death is believed to be an online video game (name withheld to prevent children from trying it out) the unfortunate child had been playing. The game, developed by a Russian, consists of a 50-day course, which ends with the player being pressured to take his or her own life. When the school authorities concerned were contacted for more..

May 5 (FT) SriLankan Airlines said it marked a year of transformation in its recently ended financial year, carrying the highest number of passengers ever in the airline’s history. Total operational revenue increased to Rs. 136.68 billion from Rs. 129.48 billion in the prior year. However, difficult market conditions resulted in the airline recording an unaudited net group loss of Rs. 6.49 billion for the year. more..

May 5 (Island) President Maithripala Sirisena recently has emphatically called on all of the country’s religious leaders to work together, to further the goal of building peace and brotherhood among people, to eliminate fear and suspicion in various communities without letting racial and religious differences to act as a barrier to the plan of building a free and just society, clearly stating that religious leaders should lead everyone in reconciliation. more..

May 5 (IT) The region between northern Sri Lanka and Rameshwaram has been a subject of intense activities with regular arrests made by both the sides. With Indian fishermen not venturing into the sea for 60 days, the regular fishermen arrests have come down, but today the Indian Custom's official have caught 5kg of gold which was smuggled from SL to India. An investigation is underway and they will soon be getting hold of a racket that has been smuggling goods into the two countries. more..

May 5 (CT) It's been almost seven months since the Sports Ministry opened the tender for re-laying of the worn out synthetic track at Sugathadasa Stadium and the process of finalizing a contractor for the task is yet to be fulfilled. Sports Ministry first called for tenders last October and following a decision by the Procurement Appeal Board (PAB) there was a call for a re-tender. At present it is in the process of a decision more..

May 5 (WB) Every year, May 3rd is marked around the globe as World Press Freedom Day. This year UNESCO has declared the theme Critical Minds for Critical Times. Recently, Sri Lanka joined the ranks of nations that have taken progressive steps in making information available to the public by unveiling its own Right to Information (RTI) law. This is an important first step for the country. Experience from different parts of the world suggests that opening up access to information more..

May 5 (DM) The govt’s decision to handover the elephants involved in court cases back to their owners for a bond of Rs.10 million with a valid license was not merely a violation of the law, but also an encouragement to all those who illegally possess elephants, Environmentalist Jagath Gunawardena said. “Minister Gamini Jayawickrema has submitted a Cabinet paper ordering the release of 35 detained elephants with the intention of using them for religious events. more..

May 5 (Island) The National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection has urged the GMOA to call off planned countrywide strike today meant to force the govt to takeover the SAITM at Malabe. In a brief note to GMOA Secretary Dr Naveen de Zoysa, the organization has stressed that trade union action at the expense of hapless masses, who depend on state medical care wasn’t acceptable. more..

May 5 (DM) JVP MP Vijitha Herath said the law with regard to dual citizenship should be equal to both govt and opposition MPs. He told parliament that there could not be three laws - one for Geetha Kumarasinghe, one for govt members and one for members of the Rajapaksa faction. He said the court had unseated Ms. Kumarasinghe for being a dual citizen of Switzerland while some Ministers who held dual citizenships of Switzerland were without any legal action as alleged by Ms.Kumarasinghe. more..

May 5 (DN) HUGO BOSS celebrated the opening of a new BOSS Store on April 28, at the Arcade Independence Square, being the first ever premium luxury brand to be introduced in Sri Lanka. Abans, the flagship company of Abans Group of Companies and a leading retail brand in the country, will be the authorized distributor for HUGO BOSS in Sri Lanka. Matthew Keighran, Managing Director, HUGO BOSS South East Asia, Far East Asia and Oceania, and Steven Lam, Managing Director, more..

May 5 (Island) In line with an initiative of their own CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd. has decided to reach a truly global cross section of investors from Europe, USA, Middle East and the rest of the world to ensure there won't be an overcrowding of Chinese investors in the Port City of Colombo. Liang Thow Ming, chief sales and marketing officer of CHEC Port City Colombo. He made this comment responding to a question more..

May 5 (FT) The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka felicitated its longstanding employees by providing them with a token of appreciation at a ceremony which was held at the BOI auditorium recently.  BOI Chairman Upul Jayasuriya formally presented the tokens to 20 longstanding employees who are working in different departments and Export Processing Zones. BOI Director General Duminda Ariyasinghe and senior BOI staff members also participated in the function.  more..

May 5 (DN) This was revealed at the opening session of the Czech-Sri Lanka Business Forum held in Colombo. The Forum was organised by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi and the Consulate of the Czech Republic in Colombo with the partnership of Czech Chamber of Commerce. Making the keynote address Czech Republic Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Jancarek valued the long standing economic relationship between the Czech Republic and Sri Lanka more..

May 5 (FT) Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao expressed optimism over Sri Lanka’s future prospects to become a strong regional player in South Asia, but cautioned that the country needs to address its inward-looking policies to achieve a greater development. “Sri Lanka still has a very good opportunity to become a strong regional player in South Asia,” Nakao told journalists more..

May 5 (FT) UNP MP Buddhika Pathirana yesterday made a new record for presenting the highest number of public petitions in Parliament in a single day, by presenting 38 public petitions. He managed to break his own record made in March this year when he presented 33 public petitions. Before Pathirana, MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara had presented 20 public petitions followed by MP Gamini Lokuge with 18 petitions in one day. The public petitions received by lawmakers are moved more..

May 5 (PSL) President Sirisena says even though how much economic benefits were received by the country the Govt will not sign any investment or trade agreement with any country in the world, that are detrimental and inappropriate for the country. He made these remarks participating in a progress review meeting of the Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy. During the meeting it was discussed in detail on up to date progress and future plans of Ministry and its affiliated institution. more..

May 5 (Island) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) suffered a massive blow yesterday when former captain Aravinda de Silva stepped down from the Cricket Committee, advisory body to SLC on cricket matters. 51-year-old de Silva had headed the Cricket Committee since 2016 and was responsible for putting up the coaching structure as SLC stepped into modernised coaching methods. His visionary thinking had benefited national team hugely more..

May 5 (DM) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Unions denied their involvement with the countrywide strike to be launched today by the GMOA, as lengthy queues were forming up with panicked motorists around the city filling stations. CPC Jathika Sewaka Sangamaya (JSS) Secretary Ananda Palitha said there was no need to develop any hoax-fear on fuel shortage. He said according to false news spreading, people had been panicked and seen rushing towards filling stations to more..

May 5 (DM) Seven to eight Blue party Diyawanna members associated with the JO group lost their Blue party organizer posts recently.  One of them happens to be a senior party member apart from being the eldest son of a founder member of the Blue party. Some JO members were discussing this development when one of them came out with a little known incident which took most of them by surprise. According to this story, Dambulla politico was the first among the few party veterans more..