Jan 27 (SO) Hatch – SL’s largest co-working office space, business incubator and accelerator designed for start-ups was launched in Colombo last week. The brainchild of Jeevan Gnanam and Nathan Sivagananathan, Hatch aims to serve as a hub of all things start-up, rather than as a mere co-working space. Introducing the concept at the opening, co-founder of Hatch and former CEO of Orion City, Jeevan Gnanam said, “Hatch is a curated co-working space, business incubator, & hub for more..

Jan 27 (CT) Long-term measures are to be undertaken to get rid of the fall armyworm (FAW) or Sena caterpillar which, is an alien invasive pest that has travelled from America to Africa before reaching India and then Sri Lanka. This was revealed by the Director General of Agriculture, W.M.W. Weerakoon, at a discussion between Agriculture Department officials and Parliamentarians. He added that the worm cannot survive the winter in the US. He further said that one solution was to introduce more..

Jan 27 (CT) Coconut Development Authority (CDA) said it aimed at enhancing and grading coconut oil available for consumption in the local market. Other than the coconut oil produced by manufacturers with popular brand names placed in plastic bottles or packaging, the retailer for the middle class consumer failed to meet hygienic quality when selling loose coconut oil. Most often, they mix coconut oil with other types of oil more..

Jan 27 (ST) In a rare move, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged an employee of a stockbroking firm for failing to show up for an inquiry. The SEC had summoned the said individual to record a statement pertaining to a stock market offence. He had evaded coming over to the SEC for a long period. The SEC then on Friday charged him at the Fort Magistrate Court, after which he had agreed to cooperate with the regulator. Thereafter the charge was withdrawn. more..

Jan 27 (ST) Indian High Commission in Colombo, yesterday celebrated India’s 70th Republic Day at India House in Colombo, with Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandu presiding over the event. The address of the President of India, Sri Ram Nath Kovind was read out by Deputy Commissioner Dr Shilpak Ambulle. The ceremonial hoisting of the national flag by the High Commissioner was followed by the playing of the national anthem. more..

Jan 27 (EN) Former ambassador to Washington Jaliya Wickramasuriya is likely to be brought before a judge this week making him the first Sri Lankan diplomat to be tried in the US for criminal activities while serving his country. Jaliya Wickramasuriya, a close relative of former president Rajapaksa, is most likely to be a arraigned on Tuesday or thereabouts in Washington ending a lengthy and a thorough investigation by FBI more..

Jan 27 (Hindu) “With all due respect to language, language creates barriers, while music connects the world,” said Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, who enthralled a huge crowd at Colombo’s iconic Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall on Friday. Performing for the first time in Sri Lanka, the veteran classical musician, flanked by his sons Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, presented Strings of peace — a concert organised by the Indian High Commission in SL more..

Jan 27 (CT) The head of Human Resources at SriLankan Airlines had blatantly violated the policies mentioned in the company’s manual, Senior State Counsel Fazly Razik told the PCoI. He added that the Head of Human Resources had not followed the correct criteria for recruitment, upgrading and promotions, mentioned in the manual, and the company had failed to question him in this connection. Razik also pointed out that there was no proper maintenance of employees’ files. more..

Jan 27 (ST) Sri Lanka is to give India 70% of the stake in the Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l Airport (MRIA) in a move that appears to strike a balance with the Hambantota Port being given to China. In terms of a Cabinet Paper now being prepared for approval, the new deal is to be a joint venture between the Airport and Aviation Services of SL (AASL) & Airports Authority of India (AAI). Draft cabinet paper is still undergoing changes more..

Jan 27 (MoD) State Minister Ruwan Wijewardene graced the handing over ceremony of three Australian gifted Stabicraft vessels to Sri Lanka at SLNS Rangalla in the Colombo harbour, on Friday. These are Port Class Stabicraft were gifted to the SL Coast Guard by Australia in keeping with a pledge made by the Australian PM, Malcolm Trunbull during visit to SL in 2017. The vessels were officially handed over to the State Minister by the Australian HC, Bryce Hutchesson during the ceremony. more..

Jan 27 (CT) The 1000 Movement along with 19 civil society groups including Tamil organisation Orumee, lambasted unions and regional plantation companies on their plantation Collective Agreement (CA) settling for Rs 200 increment with added EPF and ETF. 1000 Movement called the CA to be signed tomorrow, a full deception for settling for Rs. 700 basic wage per day with EPF and ETF components added to it. 1000 Movement was for Rs. 1000 basic wage and not for Rs. 700, organizers said. more..

Jan 27 (ST) Just four days after his return from a state visit to the Philippines, President Maithripala Sirisena took off again, this time to Singapore. The visit to Manila, his Media Division announced after his return to Colombo the previous Saturday (19), was to study how the drugs menace was fought in that country. It is common knowledge worldwide that Prez Rodrigo Duterte spearheads a ferocious campaign against drugs more..

Jan 27 (Island) There is not a soul in the country who does not see that a new constitution will not be enacted by parliament in its current term (max August 2020) and the JVP’s Twentieth Amendment repealing the semi-Executive Presidency will get nowhere unless Mahinda wants it. Neither can carry without a deal between the UNP and Mahinda as the latter can without difficulty pull together the minimum 76 parliamentary votes needed to block them. Who doesn’t know this? more..

Jan 27 (Island) According to a recent media report, UK govt has recently appointed a Resident Defense Advisor in SL after an absence of ten years. The story was accompanied by a photograph of the newly appointed Colonel David Ashman with Chief of Defense Staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne taken during a courtesy call paid by the British RDA on the CDS. His purported mission is to help the SL military to fulfill the obligations as required by UNHRC 30/1 Resolution more..

Jan 27 (Island) The govt has now placed before the Constitutional Assembly a Draft Constitution consisting of a preamble and 399 Articles arranged through 40 Chapters. The structure of the draft is similar to the present Constitution, although the content is different. Therefore the Govt’s denial that there exists no Draft Constitution is dishonest and erroneous, the National Joint Committee said in a statement. more..

Jan 27 (ST) Standing atop the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, he proposed to her. The three dormant volcanoes, after which the mountain is named, did not erupt but his love for her had peaked. With a smile, she accepted. From the highest mountain in Africa (4900 feet), the romance transcended further to the hinterland of Beliatte in southern Sri Lanka. At his ancestral home in Medamulana, Rohitha Rajapaksa married more..

Jan 27 (CT) The tourism industry is one of the key foreign income generating segments in Sri Lanka. Since the 1970s, there has been a rapid growth in the industry and especially after the end of the separatist conflict in 2009, a huge growth has been observed. But, the question is, has it been beneficial to the local economy. In this sphere, Tourists Guides (TG) play a major role in keeping the industry alive. more..

Jan 27 (ST) A senior climatologist in the committee that studied a proposal to produce artificial rain for hydropower generation has urged the Govt to conduct a thorough cost-benefit analysis and environmental impact study before taking the project beyond its trial stage. The CEB and the SLAF this week signed an agreement to facilitate the rainmaking initiative with technical expertise from the Thai Govt. more..

Jan 27 (AD) President Maithripala Sirisena has given instructions to provide lifetime salaries and allowances for war heroes, who were disabled or killed in military operations, terrorist activities or other law-enforcement activities. The disabled soldiers and the widows or dependants of the fallen war heroes are to be provided with lifetime salaries and allowances, which was previously paid until 55 years of age. more..

Jan 27 (SO) The bodies of the two Sri Lankan UN peacekeepers killed in Mali following an attack on the convoy they were travelling in, will be flown to SL on Wednesday. Army identified those who laid down their lives as Captain H.W.D Jayawickrama of the 11th Sri Lanka Light Infantry, a resident of Polonnaruwa and Corporal S.S Wijekumara of the 1st Mechanised Infantry Regiment from Polpithigama. more..

Jan 27 (ST) Following the two recent foreign tours of President Maithripala Sirisena to the Philippines and Singapore, a key member of the Govt has questioned the legitimacy of the President accompanying Opposition MPs on state visits. Non-Cabinet Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva said that it is highly questionable as to how a group of Opposition MPs could participate in a state tour and join in bilateral discussions. more..

Jan 27 (SO) As the roadside protest demanding the return of military held land in Keppapilavu, Mullaitivu, perhaps the longest ever in Sri Lankan history reached its 700-day mark, around 30 residents from the area commenced yet another protest in front of the Security Force Hq - Mullaitivu yesterday. The group were demanding their lands currently being occupied by the Army, be officially handed over to them. more..

Jan 27 (ST) State-run hospitals are facing a crisis due to the delays in appointing chairpersons and directors to state institutions. Hospitals do not have adequate drugs to treat cancer patients and are not sure when the drugs will arrive. The reason: The delay in appointments to tender boards because of the vetting process by the committee appointed by the President. Without formal appointments to tender boards, they remain non-functional. more..

Jan 27 (AD) The Uttara Devi newly imported S-13 locomotive power set commenced its maiden journey to Jaffna from the Fort Railway Station this morning. The train service was vested with the public by President Sirisena at a ceremony held at the Fort Railway Station, attended by Indian High Commissioner to SL Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Following the ceremony Uttara Devi set forth to the KKS Railway Station at 6 am today. more..

Jan 28 (SO) Sri Lanka is to submit several important proposals at the 4th United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) to be held in March 2019 in Nairobi to strengthen the capacity of the countries in the Asia Pacific to face the challenges of climate changes and global warming. Speaking at the Third Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of the Asia Pacific in Singapore on Friday, Prez Sirisena said, Sri Lanka will submit a new proposal to create an additional fund to assist more..

Jan 28 (CT) The letter signed by a set of powerful Buddhist leaders including two Mahanaykes and the Diyawadana Nilame of Dalada Maligawa, and addressed to Buddha Sasana Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, appealing for the release of Gnanasara Thera from prison, and in turn, the minister’s recommendation to Prez Maithiripala Sirisena (MS) to comply with that appeal on compassionate ground, seem to be a carefully calculated but sinister move to maximise its more..

Jan 28 (SO) It may be a little brown caterpillar but, it had already held countries to ransom. The latest in the long list of countries which had to suffer under the might of this little brown caterpillar is SL. The first caterpillar was recorded on SL soil in early October last year. In less than four months it had become a national and political problem. A native species of the Americas, Fall Army Worm (Spodoptera frugiperda) had been identified more..

Jan 28 (ST) They were once the Three Musketeers of Lanka — the Athos, Porthos and Aramis in Alexander Dumas’s classic novel — appointed to high office by the Govt and charged with the responsibility of ensuring the advancement of the nation’s interest both here and abroad; and to prevent abuse of position, corruption and injustice. But historical fiction stops point blank when it comes to this Lankan trio who stand accused of transgressing every cardinal rule in the book. more..

Jan 28 (ST) The ongoing war of words in Parliament over the appointment of judges to the superior courts has an increasingly sinister dimension to it that must not be underestimated. Taken together with the push by some politicians and supportive monks to seek a presidential pardon for General Secretary of BBS, Gnanasara thera who is now serving a jail term for insulting the judiciary, the cumulative impact is highly inimical to the continued functioning of an independent judiciary. more..

Jan 28 (Roar) Tishan Wickremeratne* works a 9–5 job in an office on Galle Road. He’s been to university and is working his way up the career ladder — he feels a promotion is coming up soon. He’s in a long-term relationship, lives in a Colombo suburb, and catches the bus to work. But when the week is done, he swaps his tie for a skull t-shirt, slips out of his work shoes and laces up his leather boots, and trades his watch for a spiked more..

Jan 28 (Island) The general dissatisfaction with politicians from the established parties and groups in Sri Lanka is well known. One only has to read the daily newspapers and internet outlets dealing with current affairs to understand this. Regular protests by disaffected groups including university students, trade unions etc. also highlight the same phenomenon. Criticisms of the existing governance style and political culture are not in short supply. They come from academics, activists, more..

Jan 28 (CT) An Open letter to Minister Mangala Samaraweera by Sharmini Serasinghe on behalf of the Voiceless & Faceless Citizens of Sri Lanka Dear Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Hope you don’t mind me not referring to you as Hon. Mangala Samaraweera because those of us who know you are honourable don’t need a reminder. Also, many of your colleagues – MPs – also referred to as Hon. bla bla bla are extremely dishonourable dolts, hence it is more of an insult to you than an honour. more..

Jan 28 (SO) Gotabaya Rajapaksa recently announced at a meeting of Viyath Maga, of which he is president that he was ready to contest the next Presidential Election that must be held this year. In his speech to the assembled professionals and business people he asserted that SL must have national unity (Jaathikathwaya) and rejected sectarian division (Jaathiwaadaya). Viyath Maga website makes all the right statements on good governance such as “steer the country in more..

Jan 28 (Island) President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have reallocated the subjects of some ministers. The Pali and Buddhist University and Buddhasravaka Bhiksu University have been brought under the Ministry of City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education. It makes sense to place universities under the Ministry of Higher Education. But it boggles one’s mind why City Planning and Water Supply and Higher Education have been lumped together. more..

Jan 28 (ST) He had just overseen Surrey’s return to the top tier in English county championships when he was invited by his former employer–Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC)–to come on board. It was a tough call for Graham Ford. But the opportunity to return to international level coaching was too good to reject. Ford had early reservations, given the volatile state of affairs in the island’s cricket board. But he decided to give it a try more..

Jan 28 (Island) Three weeks before Sri Lanka went to South Africa in 2011, all the talk was about this tearaway Australian fast bowler who ran through the Proteas at the Bull Ring in the South African capital of Johannesburg. Pat Cummins had just turned 18 at that point. Not often you see a fast bowler hitting a legend of the game like Jacques Kallis. Cummins peppered Kallis and A.B. de Villiers with short balls before eventually dismissing both batsmen, two of cricket’s most precious wickets. more..

Jan 28 (Island) Sri Lanka’s injury woes continue to haunt them with yet another player forced to return from Australia. Having arrived in Australia without the team’s premier batsman – Angelo Mathews, the tourists have lost their third player so far in two weeks. Nuwan Pradeep was the first to return home with a hamstring injury and then Lahiru Kumara also hurt his hamstring mid way through the opening Test match at the Gabba which Sri Lanka lost by an innings and 40 runs. more..

Jan 28 (DM) A tax income of 1,800 crore (Rs. 18 billion) has been lost to the govt due to reduced cigarette sales. Lankadeepa, 12th Sept 2018 MANGALA SAMARAWEERA, Minister of Finance and Mass Media. Minister of Finance stated that tax income on cigarettes had reduced by Rs.18 billion due to reduced cigarette sales; The data proves him wrong. The following statement was attributed to Finance Minister Mangala more..

Jan 28 (ST) LAUGFS Gas PLC is looking forward to operating its spanking new Hambantota Terminal while gearing to go public with three of its companies, and commissioning a hydro and two solar plants this year. The company has established a LPG storage complex with a capacity of 30,000 metric tonnes in Hambantota Port at a cost of US$80 million and was expecting the first consignment of gas last December. The company is moving towards building an integrated more..