Apr 8 (ST) On a scorching hot April morn, three days after April Fool’s Day, The President, the PM, the Speaker and a whole host of govt members of Parliament assembled at Independence Square to swear a solemn oath before the nation and before television cameras in a propaganda exercise which may have cost millions of taxpayers’ money, not to mention the unseen cost in lost man hours. The auspicious time to take that oath in Sinhala was between 8.30 and 8.32 am. more..

Apr 8 (SO) President Sirisena, in the course of his speech to the nation on National Day, said that he is concerned about the interference of the members of the international community in the internal affairs of the country. There is no doubt that he had in his mind the resolutions against Sri Lanka adopted by the UNHRC based in Geneva requiring the Govt of SL to implement certain recommendations which were considered essential for achieving post war reconciliation by the sponsors of resolutions. more..

Apr 8 (ST) Fox Hill Super Cross –an ever popular and prestigious motor racing event in the country will rev off in Diyathalawa on April 21. Famous for its challenging nature of the track–winning the Fox Hill Super Cross is any competitor’s dream. It was first held on October 3, 1993. This will be the 27th edition of the famous competition that will see country’s top drivers and riders competing for the coveted title. The event is being organised by the SL Military Academy annually more..

Apr 8 (SO) On Sunday (31), Shanilka Wijesinghe’s mother stepped out from the rear entrance of their home, mindful that her son was not to be seen around. She was worried because her son was not quite himself during the past few days. The previous day he had complained that life at campus was hell and that he loathed returning to it. He was being subject to brutal ragging by a group of seniors for the past so many days. more..

Apr 8 (Island) A former schools national hurdler, Asanka Ratnayake made his entry into coaching by training youngsters at little known Wilpotha Anura MV, Chilaw. The first of his trainees to hog limelight at junior national level was Malith Rangana who went on to represent Sri Lanka in his heyday in 2012. Currently a Physical Education Teacher at St. Andrew’s Balika, Nawalapitiya, Ratnayake achieved a notable milestone in his career both as a technical official and as a coach on Sunday. more..

Apr 8 (ST) A cash award of Rs. 1 million will be on offer for the winner of the inaugural Men’s Franchise Sri Lanka Basketball League (SLBL) which will commence on May 2. Mobitel sponsored event will be conducted by the SL Basketball Federation and the first-round matches will be worked off at the Sugathadasa Stadium and at the Air Force SC Indoor Stadium in Colombo 7. A total of six Franchise Teams will contest the league and over 60 players will be selected via an auction to more..

Apr 8 (ST) The Lion Brewery (Ceylon) saw its volume bouncing back with better tax policies, after the unfair tax hike it faced four years ago. The company is just recovering from the 40% volume drop it saw during 2015 onwards when beer excise duties were increased 70%. In both mild and strong beers, prices were adjusted in Nov 2017 to reflect the then excise tax structure. However, with the March 2019 budget, prices once again more..

Apr 8 (Island) The absolute fools that we are, most definitely the morons that we are, we believed that the power-cuts are a thing of the distant past and a quirk of the days gone by, when the powers-that-be told us so. They were very definite and quite adamant too. This was not so long ago. In point of fact it was a little while after we found that some of these very same worthies could not even remember some things about rented penthouse apartments and who paid rents as well. more..

Apr 8 (GDI) Sri Lanka’s apparel sector which has an ambitious export target of US $ 8 billion by 2025, is working to expand its global footprint by aggressively competing in emerging markets and widening its presence in nontraditional countries, an industry expert said. “We will be vigorously exploring up-scaling market access with a bigger share in emerging markets such as India, China and Brazil. It is important to consider the entire world as our market rather than depending more..

Apr 8 (FT) Institute of Policy Studies SL Executive Director Dushni Weerakoon says the implementation of Budget proposals is crucial midst mounting pressure on the fiscal side and challenges to revive economic growth. “Despite the wide range of spending particularly targeted at improving social sector, there are concerns as to how much of these Budget proposals will reach the implementation stage by the end of the year,” more..

Apr 8 (FT) Speculation was rife that Cabinet this week will make a decision on a permanent appointment of a new Inland Revenue Commissioner. Failure to make a permanent appointment had triggered a slew of court cases challenging the IRD’s authority to carry out tax collection. At present, career Revenue Officer and Senior Deputy Commissioner Nadun Gamage is acting. Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera is likely to submit a Cabinet paper more..

Apr 8 (FT) Nihal Ranasingha assumed duties as the new Secretary to the Ministry of Education recently. He is an officer of the special grade of the Public Administrative Service who has held various posts in public administrative service for more than 27 years and has obtained a degree on project management from Sri Jayawardenapura University and Master’s degree on state management. His first appointment was in 1991 as the Assistant Divisional Secretary in Kurunegala and then more..

Apr 8 (GDI) There is no regulatory framework to monitor the process of street vending of food in Sri Lanka and the need to have a mechanism to ensure that hygienic and safe food is sold by street vendors is essential, Deputy Director General EOH/Food Safety, Ministry of Health, Dr. L.T. Gamlath said. “The govt needs to introduce laws and regulations with regard to street vendor food as this has become part and parcel of life today. more..

Apr 8 (FT) The latest LMD-Nielsen Business Confidence (BCI) poll reveals that in the eyes of a majority (55%) in the corporate community, the economy is likely to deteriorate in the next 12 months. However, 45% of those spoken to say that economic conditions will improve or stay the same during this period. In terms of business prospects, 32% and 24% of businesspeople consulted by Nielsen expect sales volumes to improve in the long- and short-terms respectively, more..

Apr 8 (AD) Hirdaramani Group recently strengthened its sustainability pledge by joining the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Make Fashion Circular initiative. With this, the company joins with influential fashion industry stakeholders including brands, cities, philanthropists, NGOs, and innovators to collaborate around the initiative’s aim to create a new textiles economy, aligned with the principles of the circular economy. The Make Fashion Circular initiative was launched in 2017 more..

Apr 8 (Island) Former Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, said that the unprecedented US reaction to Int'l Criminal Court (ICC) over possible inquiry into war crimes allegedly committed by US and its allies in Afghanistan again reminded the world of the duplicitous Western policy with regard to accountability in Sri Lanka. Prof. Peiris, who is also the Chairman of the SLPP, was commenting on the US threatening to revoke the entry visa for more..

Apr 8 (Island) Some former LTTE cadres have recently alleged they are under constant surveillance by the military though they have undergone rehabilitation. They have also claimed that military interference has hampered their political activity. US human rights activist Critina James, last Friday (5) received a briefing from former LTTE cadres during a visit to the Jaffna peninsula. The ex-LTTEers said that they had also complained to the Geneva-based UNHRC about military interference. more..

Apr 8 (MFA) Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be conducting a mobile consular service in Batticaloa District on 10 and 11 April. This mobile consular service, conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with the Govt Agent of Batticaloa is scheduled to be held at the DS of Kattankudy on Wednesday (10), and at the DS of Chenkalady on Thursday (11). Through this mobile service, conducted as part of the Rata Venuwen Ekata Sitimu programme, more..

Apr 8 (Island) A favourable Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on an Industrial Zone to be set up near the much debated Wilpattu National Park was unlikely. A team of experts led by former Colombo Uni don Prof. Devaka Weerakoon had indicated that clearance could not be given for the required infrastructure facilities to set up an industrial zone in the area, senior environmentalist and Executive Director of more..

Apr 8 (Island) Acting on a tip-off, the Tangalle police raided a hotel near the Medilla beach where a Facebook party was in progress and took into custody six males and five females. The police took into custody 81 bottles of beer, 10 bottles of arrack and 10,800 mg of ganja (cannabis) along with equipment used to provide DJ music. The young females, in the ages of 17,19 and 25 and were residents of Matara, Kadawatha, kekirawa and Kaduwela while the males were from more..

Apr 8 (AD) The launch of the simple Sinhala language translation of the holy Al-Quran was held at the BMICH this afternoon (7) under the patronage of Prez Sirisena. It is significant that this translation is in the simple Sinhala language, in order for people to understand the history of Islam, as well as to understand the culture and religious background of the Muslim people. The work was carried out by the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU), using the guidance of Islamic scholars. more..

Apr 8 (AD) National Aluth Sahal Mangalya, one of the most venerated ancient agricultural rituals to offer the inaugural harvest to the triple gems of Buddhism, was held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe at the historical Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura this morning (7). The event had been organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Dept of Agrarian more..

Apr 8 (CT) President of Govt Nursing Officers Association (GNOA) Saman Rathnapriya said that GNOA and 16 TUs related to the Para Medical Services will launch an islandwide token strike today starting at 7 a.m. This strike will be launched in the Central Govt Hospitals and Health Institutions and all the hospitals of the nine Provinces and health institutions. Nurses, Pharmacists, Radiologists, Public Health Inspectors (PHI), Ophthalmic Technologists, Family Health Workers, and more..

Apr 8 (ST) The SL govt has received an assurance from the UAE govt that it would deport underworld gang member Madush Lakshitha alias Makandure Madhush now in its custody, a senior official said. Solicitor General Dappula de Livera said that Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana and he met UAE Foreign Affairs Minister Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash in Abu Dhabi and the assurance came after they made the point that Madush was wanted in Sri Lanka for a series of criminal cases. more..

Apr 8 (CT) The prevailing electricity crisis is tipped to worsen with a powerful trade union in the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) strongly criticizing a move by its most powerful engineers’ union to call a sudden Special General Meeting (SGM). The CEB engineers, around the country, would obtain personal leave today (8) to attend for a special general meeting in Colombo called by the CEB Engineers’ Union (CEBEU). more..

Apr 8 (AD) Two more persons who were arrested with Makandure Madush at his party in Dubai has been deported to Sri Lanka last night (07), stated the Police Media Spokesperson. They have been handed over to the Immigration-Emigration officials when they landed at the BIA and have been transferred to the custody of the CID and intelligence officers for questioning. The arrested persons are identified as a Nazim Mohammed Faizer and a Jabeer Mohomed Mufa. more..

Apr 8 (PTI) Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra arrived on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka on Sunday during which he will call on President Maithripala Sirisena and participate in several high level defence meetings. Mitra, who arrived in Colombo along with six other Indian officials, will also visit the central town of Kandy and the north central town of Anuradhapura. Defence Secretary will have bilateral defence talks in Colombo and will take part in several high level meetings. more..

Apr 8 (FT) Marking another milestone in Sri Lanka Railway history, the Matara-Beliatta railway line will be declared open today by Minister of Transports and Civil Aviation Arjuna Ranatunga. At the national ceremony held under the theme Dakunu Lakata Aluth Magak (New Road to Southern Sri Lanka), the first train will commence the journey on the new track at the auspicious time of 9 a.m. Following the inaugural run, more..

Apr 8 (DM) On the 11th of this month, India goes to the polls. The poll will be spread over a period starting 11 April to 22 May. Premier Modi is using an US-styled presidential election campaign, which he hopes will bring him an election victory. The election is being portrayed by Modi and his party -the BJP- to be all about him (Modi) and his strong leadership qualities. During the 2014 election campaign, Modi used the same tactics to good effect and won a landslide majority. more..

Apr 8 (DM) Tobacco use causes 20% of global cancer deaths, more than any other cause. One in five cancer deaths are caused by tobacco use, which is 1.93 million a year. Tobacco use can make at least 14 types of cancer, namely, mouth and upper throat, larynx, oesophagus, lung, liver, pancreas, stomach, kidney, bowel, ovaries, bladder, cervix, leukaemia. Apart from direct smoking, secondhand smoke too kills nearly 900,000 people every year, yet one-quarter of people globally more..

Apr 8 (DM) Through dis-organised sporadic blackouts or technically termed Load Shedding, Sri Lanka achieves NIC status (Non-Illuminated Country). We are thankful for authorities for, unlike in India, they haven’t tried Brownouts, an intentional drop in voltage. The crisis is fuelled by a conflict between powerful CEB and energetic Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL), which became the economic, safety & technical regulator more..

Apr 8 (Island) A multipurpose transport centre was inaugurated at Makumbura on March 31 where bus and rail services are jointly operated. But to the utter disappointment of the commuters, the entrance to the Kottawa railway station from the bus terminal was closed by constructing a fence with discarded rail tracks on April 1. The disabled, pregnant women, elderly persons are unable to ente railway station more..

Apr 8 (Island) The Govt should strictly implement laws irrespective of social status and especially punish politicians who break those laws, in order to make the country a noise pollution free nation, environmentalists said. Environmentalists expressed confidence that the Police would do a much better job than the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) in enforcing nature protection laws. more..

Apr 8 (CT) It is doubtful that power suppliers would provide 100 MW of emergency power, due to the loss they will have to incur, after changes to the initial Tender conditions, top Officials of CEB said. Therefore, the CEB says that they cannot guarantee fulfilling the promise that Minister Ravi Karunanayake has given that the prevailing power crisis would be solved and the power cuts will be suspended after the New Year. more..

Apr 8 (ST) The Sri Lankan Govt has put on hold a US$ 700 million loan from Japan for the expansion of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), in view of the high cost for engineering work proposed by the Japanese construction company. A staggering increase of Rs 30 billion in the estimated engineering cost had forced the Govt to put on hold the loan until further talks were held, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said. more..

Apr 8 (FO) Shipments of dairy cows from Australia and New Zealand will be halted until after an inquiry into why a number of them have died on Sri Lankan farms. So far 5000 pregancy-tested Holstein-Jersey heifers have been shipped under a govt program to increase Sri Lanka's fresh milk production to reduce the country's imports of expensive powdered milk. SL cabinet decided in 2014 to import a total 20,000 in-calf heifers more..

Apr 8 (CT) The Joint Grama Niladari Trade Union Convention (GNTUC) has decided to halt activities connected to the issue of National Identity Card (NIC) and also the election duties if the Govt and Minister of Home Affairs Vajira Abeywardena turn deaf ears to their grievances. The National Organiser of the above GNTUC Nevil Wijerathne said that a senior official of the Presidential Secretariat informed them on 5 April, more..

Apr 8 (EN) The European Union (EU) Delegation, along with 10 other resident diplomatic missions have called on Sri Lanka to halt the implementation of the death penalty as an anti-drug policy. "The Govt of SL has recently taken measures towards resuming executions and bringing an end to Sri Lanka's 43-year moratorium on the death penalty as part of its stepped up anti-drug policy," a joint statement said. more..

Apr 8 (AD) Ministry of Education has issued a Circular making Grade 5 Scholarship Exam non-compulsory for students. Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam stated this issuing a press release. Circular says only the students within the prescribed income limits will be facing the exam hereafter. Circular further mentions that promotional activities such as posters and banners based on the Scholarship Exam are prohibited hereafter. more..