Jan 11 (DN) Public servants in the Agriculture sector receiving salaries without providing relief to the farming community are committing a serious offence; Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Livestock Development, Irrigation and Fisheries, and Aquatic Resources Development Minister P. Harison said. He also said that such public servants would have to pay for those farmers when they have children as their children would suffer due to their crimes as well. more..

Jan 11 (Island) 18th Conference of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES), is scheduled to be held in Colombo, in May this year with the participation of nearly 4000 representatives from 183 countries. CITES aims to ensure that int'l trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of species in the wild. It accords varying degrees of protection to more than 35,000 species of animals & plants. more..

Jan 11 (DM) JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the JO including Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa were inciting racism by claiming that a federal constitution was being introduced in April when not even a draft constitution had been finalized. He told parliament that the JO which was thwarted from its political conspiracy was now in a state of political destitution was engaged in spreading rumours about a new constitution more..

Jan 11 (DN) The locally manufactured and newly-developed ballistic rubber sample for firing which saw the light, consequent upon a series of scientific researches, spearheaded by the Centre for Research and Development of the Ministry of Defence was formally presented and introduced to the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake on Wednesday at the Army Headquarters by the researcher, Major N.A.B.M.S. Nishshanka of the SL Armoured Corps, more..

Jan 11 (CT) Minister of Power, Energy and Enterprise Development Ravi Karunanayaka has reportedly informed the management of the CEB, to submit a detailed report to find any reasons why it was impossible for the addition of any large scale power plants to the national grid during the recent past. During a discussion held with the management of CEB last Wednesday, Minister had stressed that only the solar power systems fixed on roofs had been added to the national grid since 2015. more..

Jan 11 (AD) MP Wimal Weerawansa has been ordered by the Colombo Commercial High Court to pay Rs 10 million in compensation to JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva. The court today delivered its verdict in the petition filed by Silva accusing Weerawansa of violating Intellectual Property Rights through the publishing of his book titled Naththa Wenuwata Aththa. Tilvin Silva had alleged that the book published by more..

Jan 11 (AD) A hartal campaign has been launched in Battocaloa this morning (11) against the decision to appoint former minister M.L.A.M. Hizbullah as the new Governor of the Eastern Province. The campaign had been proposed by the Eastern People’s Society while posters regarding the hartal have reportedly been displayed in various parts of the town. The posters request the President to remove Hizbullah from the post of Eastern Province Governor. A majority of the shops and more..

Jan 11 (CT) Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa charged yesterday that the Govt has decided to intentionally stifle the Media with the aim of ratifying a new federal Constitution to the country. He alleged a group of people attired in black had gone to a few Media outlets to threaten journalists and owners of such Media institutions yesterday. Opposition Leader charged that these protests were launched by a group of NGOs at the behest of the current UNF regime as the Media was continuing to more..

Jan 11 (EN) Unemployment, which has suffered three insurgencies led by educated youth, is highest among the most educated, and especially females, latest labour force survey shows. The highest unemployment rate – of 9.5% - is from the G.C.E. A/L and above qualified group, according to a survey, up from 8.5% in the same quarter of 2017. The unemployment rate from the GCE (A/L) and above group has been above 8% for more..

Jan 11 (EN) Some SL banks have been found overcharging rural farmers for Credit Information Bureau (CRIB) checks for loan applications, a consultant for a UN agency said. "A CRIB check is 100 rupees but banks charge loan applicants 1,000 rupees," rural finance expert Rauno Zander attached to the Int'l Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) said. "That should not be happening," he said at a business forum in Colombo held to assess and solve problems in a rural agriculture development more..

Jan 11 (NR) SLPP Provincial Councillors Federation has decided to refrain from supporting Prez Sirisena, if he contests at the next Presidential Election. Former Central Provincial Council member Pramitha Bandara Thennakoon said the Federation also decided to contest the upcoming PC Election only under the flower bud symbol of SLPP. The decisions were reached during a discussion that took place today. He said steps will be taken to direct the decisions to SLPP leadership in near future. more..

Jan 11 (AD) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe tabled the report prepared by the Panel of Experts for the Steering Committee and representations made by political parties on drafting a new constitution, at the Constitutional Assembly today. Wickremesinghe, who is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Constitutional Assembly, presenting Expert Panel report assured that there is no plan to divide the country. more..

Jan 12 (CT) This is a study of the impact of the caste system on social harmony in the Southern part of the country. For this study the researcher selected six villages in Matara: Aparekka Devundara Eladeniya, Kottawatta, Deeyagaha,Kubalagama, and Eladeniya. This analysis considers caste impacts on employment, social mobility, marriage, education and their day today life. The Caste system is the world’s longest surviving social hierarchy. Caste encompasses more..

Jan 12 (CT) Copious amounts of what has to be construed as democracy administered broadly and expansively to drench a desperate, bewildered citizenry by a rotating leadership of confirmed crooks pregnant with hypocrisy and insincerity have in essence contributed towards a palpable feeling of delusion and disillusionment. The war had ended; there remains no burden on defense budgets or allied infrastructure. The very thing that devoured a giant slice yet within just ten years of more..

Jan 12 (Roar) The tuk tuk rolls to a stop in front of a shiny steel gate, behind which is an imposing modern building that is somewhat out of place amongst the paddy fields and unassuming houses that dot the landscape of Pitipana, Homagama. As we wait for the security officer to open the gate for us, we glance across the surroundings. In the distance we spot the NSBM Green University. more..

Jan 12 (CT) The Urban Development Authority (UDA) was born with the certification of the Urban Development Authority Law No. 41 of 1978 on 6 September 1978. This new Law which provided for an innovative new agency to promote integrated planning and the implementation of economic, social and physical development of urban areas in Sri Lanka was a landmark legislation. This Law, for the first time focused on the integrated development of urban areas rather than on mere more..

Jan 12 (CT) Prez Sirisena enters his fifth year as President today (8), and this is an occasion to take a retrospective look at the achievements and failures, and to understand the reasons for failures. At the time of completion of three years of Yahapalana Govt, Prez Sirisena said, “Some ask me whether I am pleased with what I did during the last 3 years. Without hesitation and clearly I can respond that I am a happy and a satisfied man with what we achieved during that period.” more..

Jan 12 (Roar) From a young age, Gothamie Weerakoon has had a hunger for the outdoors. Growing up in a home sandwiched between the mist-capped mountains of Kurunegala, Weerakoon’s life was defined by her surroundings, and it was in these surroundings that her education began. While absorbing the details of everything she came across, she started piecing together the ways in which the elements of our natural world interact with more..

Jan 12 (CT) In this sense, the new rule, the 19th Amendment, the piece of legislation brought forward by the present govt to diffuse the wide powers enjoyed by the Executive President under the present (1978 J.R. Jayewardene) Constitution can be regarded as a revolutionary step of the legislators, who injected this change into the blood of the outdated Constitution. Here, I would like to include the precise analysis and the sound judgement arrived at by illustrious diplomat more..

Jan 12 (Island) Cassandra means to start her Friday weekly resume on a good and bright note. She will repeat what a Minister of State said which all Sri Lankans should have heard and must bear in mind. Good to have it galen kotala-fied – so pertinent it is. Minister Arjuna Ranatunge, speaking on arrival in the Matara railway station after the successful trial run from Beliatte along the newly constructed extension to the Southern Railway line, gave expression to a truth we have lost sight of more..

Jan 12 (ST) This submission, of essential national macro-economic value, is being made for consideration to be implemented as a part of the 2019 Budget Proposals, due to be presented on 5th March 2019. In positively advancing the macro-economic value of the country, and at the same time, mitigating potential economic risks, it is proposed that with the objectives of: -Minimizing the wrongful and improper use of foreign exchange, -Minimizing the opportunities for engaging in more..

Jan 12 (Island) The UNF govt is like a pickpocket injured in a gang war. It is not strong enough to relieve the people of their pockets the way it used to. Having survived a defenestration attempt by a rival gang on 26 Oct. its health seems to be improving; it has introduced a carbon tax, of all things. Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera had a magic formula. It helped him rake in more funds to the tune of billions of rupees pour into the state coffers every month in the form of fuel price increases. more..

Jan 12 (ST) On a sunny boxing-day morning in 2004, the sudden destruction of SL coastal areas by the Asian Tsunami affected the life 14-year-old Dinesh Chandimal, in the environments of Balapitiya where he lived. Yet he lived to bat another day and shifted from his school Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda to the cozier Ananda College in Colombo, soon after. There, at Ananda, he was given only one task. more..

Jan 12 (CT) Sri Lanka is in the news in India, possibly not for the right reasons. This has been a week dominated by temple-related politics and resultant concerns over the management of law and order, both in North and South India. India-SL connect has surfaced in the coastal southwestern state of Kerala, where a 47-year-old SL woman identified as Sasikala acquired a notoriety of sorts by allegedly becoming the third woman to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the Sabarimala more..

Jan 12 (CT) In the backdrop of SL completing a decade this year of bringing an end to the three decades of war, Norwegian PM Erna Solberg admitted that Norway’s engagement in the SL peace facilitation was a fiasco. Addressing a media briefing last Monday (7) in New Delhi during her visit to India the Norwegian PM regretted the manner Norwegian peace facilitation process failed and how the conflict ended. When Norway stepped into bring about peace in Sri Lanka, more..

Jan 12 (DN) While Namanadan, his wife and three sons were sleeping in the early hours of Tuesday in his room on the 4th floor, he found that they were being engulfed by a cloud of smoke. He got to know that his building was on fire and he and his family were trapped, with no way out. “It was a raging fire that came from the bottom and the smoke just filled the room, I understood that I would not be able to go back down the stairs. more..

Jan 12 (CT) The Sri Lanka Amateur Baseball-Softball Association (SLABSA) has been offered the opportunity to host the West Asia Baseball Championship in June/July in Sri Lanka by the Baseball Federation of Asia (BFA). This bi-annual event was offered to Sri Lanka in appreciation of the hard work done by the President and the committee of SLABSA. The BFA has been extremely happy with the progress so far, especially with the development programmes carried out. more..

Jan 12 (DN) Opener Kamil Mishara stroked a fine century to put Sri Lanka ahead on the first innings of the one-off 4-day under 19 youth test against Australia at the SSC grounds yesterday. By stumps on the second day SL continuing from their overnight score of 20 for no loss in reply to Australia’s first innings of 269-9 declared had scored 287-7 to nose ahead by 18 runs with three wickets in hand. Mishara held the Lankan innings together with a patient knock of 105 off 235 balls more..

Jan 12 (Island) We have just completed the tenth anniversary of the assassination of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge. A decade after this political brutality under a government with a bloody record of such violence against society, media freedom and democracy, we still await the killers of Lasantha, and those who wanted it done, caught in the clasps of the law. The failure to bring the killers of Lasantha to justice is more..

Jan 12 (ST) An undue delay in the appointment of heads of institutions to the respective tourism state bodies has caused concern among the industry that is keenly watching the situation unfold as days are closing in on the long-awaited global promotion campaign set to kick off in Berlin in March this year. The campaign that has been in the making and which was preceded by a number of other promotions is to take centre stage when the int'l travel fair International Tourism Borse more..

Jan 12 (FT) A book titled Sajith Premadasa: The People’s Leader: The Legacy of Ranasinghe Premadasa written by Dr. Telli C. Rajaratnam is scheduled to be launched in February (ISBN 978-955-51312-6-1). The book consists of 19 chapters and 300 pages with hard cover and jacket of the same artwork in full colour. It illustrates Sajith Premadasa’s career and vision and includes the housing programs, his speeches in Parliament, his press conferences which depict his wisdom, more..

Jan 12 (FT) Trincomalee is reported to have been voted as the most favoured location for Britain’s ambitious plan to set up its military bases in South Asia in the post-Brexit era. Britain is expected to open military bases in South Asian country and Caribbean as a part of its ambitious plan to increase its military presence in the region in order to regain its position as a global player. Informed sources revealed that more..

Jan 12 (GDI) Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) will make recommendations to the Department of Agriculture for preparation of National Organic Agriculture Policy in a bid to develop organic agriculture sector in Sri Lanka. As part of EDB’s dedicated programs for the development of organic agriculture sector during the year2019, EDB will also help prepare organic regulations for Sri Lankan organic sector and to create a national data base on organic agriculture sector to more..

Jan 12 (FT) Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees Ananda Kumarasiri rejected UPFA objections to allow the Constitutional Assembly (CA) sitting in the main chamber of Parliament, during which the Chairman of Steering Committee PM Ranil Wickremesinghe moved several reports. Announcing his decision, Deputy Speaker told the lawmakers all matters pertaining to CA should be conducted as per the Framework Resolution of 9 Mar 2016 passed in Parliament. more..

Jan 12 (DM) The proper procedure was followed when allocating a parking space to former cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya at the Colombo Trillium Residencies where he had been earlier deprived of a parking space, Condominium Management Authority (CMA) General Manager R.K. Jayaweera said. The problem arose with Trillium Management Corporation when a pump house was built at the parking lot more..

Jan 12 (DN) A corruption case filed against former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and two others was re-fixed for trial by Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayarathne. This relates to causing an unlawful loss to the govt after allegedly purchasing 600 of GI pipes using SL Rupavahini Corporation’s funds during the previous Presidential Election. Counsel appearing on behalf of MP Rambukwella informed court that the MP did not appear in Court yesterday since he had gone to the Kandy High court. more..

Jan 12 (DN) Hambantota International Port (HIP) saw an increase in vessels docking at the port on the first week of the New Year. Traffic to the Hambantota International Port increased significantly during the last year, with 300 vessels calling with different service requirements. Whilst their volume of RORO vessels handled had increased by 136%, the multi services provided by the port has pushedits activities, which were previously centered around RORO and more..

Jan 12 (DN) The UNP stressed it had no involvement in the protest carried out by a number of social activists’ groups opposite several media institutes in Colombo on Thursday. Issuing a special statement yesterday, the party said the UNP is committed to promote and protect the freedom of media. The statement also said another regrettable fact is that these media institutions are branding the participants of these peaceful and civilized more..

Jan 12 (ST) Election Commission is seeking Govt approval to update the electoral register every three months to include persons reaching the age of 18 so that they will be eligible to vote. The Commission also has proposed that the electoral register be updated in February, instead of the current practice in June, Election Commission Director General M.M. Mohamed said. He said Parliament would have to pass an amendment to the Registration of Voters Act of 1980 to implement the new move. more..