Jul 19 (Island) Sri Lankans must look to the English cricket team and learn that diversity is the strength of a nation, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said, addressing a meeting in Chunnakam, Jaffna earlier this week. "The English national team is diverse and that is their strength. We too must think like the Sri Lankan nation," he said. Wickremesinghe said that a number of English players were recent migrants to England, including the captain of the team. "Even Ben Stokes, the man who led more..

Jul 19 (EN) Factories using sugar in the process of making Sri Lanka’s main agricultural export, Ceylon tea, will face prosecution with their licences suspended or cancelled now that scientists have established a baseline for sugar content, Minister Navin Dissanayake. “We strongly condemn this sort of adulteration. If factories get caught they will get no mercy from us,” he told a news conference. “I will not use ministerial power more..

Jul 19 (DM) French Ambassador Eric Lavertu, who called on Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said French investors were showing a keen interest in investing in the Hambantota port and the plantation sector. In a statement, Opposition Leader’s Office said Ambassador Lavertu met Mr. Rajapaksa at his official residence this morning and thanked the Opposition leader for his presence at the French National Day the previous week. Ambassador said there were many more..

Jul 19 (FT) UN Office for Project Services in SL (UNOPS) and Govt of Korea, through Korea Int'l Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Sri Lanka Office, announced the development of plant quarantine services for Colombo International Seaport and Airport during a signing ceremony held yesterday in Colombo. The project aims to enhance the export competitiveness of SL agricultural products through the improvement of plant quarantine capacity with KOICA’s fund of $6,000,000. more..

Jul 19 (EN) Hayleys Free Zone Limited (HFZL), a company which is operating a logistics and entrepot trading centre has been asked to re-export over 100 containers containing used mattresses and carpets, BoI of Sri Lanka said. Hayleys Free Zone had imported 120 containers from the UK in Oct 2017 for re-export, but only 29 containers had been re-exported, the BOI said. In January the BOI had asked the firm in writing more..

Jul 19 (Island) There was a plot to appoint medical graduates of SAITM and a number of foreign graduates who had failed GCE A/L as Intern Medical Officers, GMOA charged yesterday. GMOA Secretary, Haritha Aluthge said, in a media statement, that there had been a delay in appointing Intern Medical Officers and that had caused a major crisis in the health sector. "This has stopped a lot of medical students who have completed their education from starting work. more..

Jul 19 (Island) Local arrack and vinegar produced using artificial toddy has been identified as one of the main causes of the chronic kidney diseases, consumer watchdog National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection says. President of the Movement, Ranjith Withanage said that his organisation had conducted a countrywide survey with the help of university and medical experts and its results showed that artificial toddy was used for producing arrack sold in the market more..

Jul 19 (MFA) Special Rapporteur on the rights of freedom of association and peaceful assembly, Clément Nyaletsossi Voule commencing his official country visit to Sri Lanka from 18 -26 July, called on Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday. Foreign Minister observed that the freedom of association and peaceful assembly is guaranteed to the public under the present Govt which embarked on more..

Jul 19 (DM) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to have told a group of UNP MPs that he will call for a report from the relevant authorities on the recent wheat flour price hike said the PM when he met MPs at Temple Trees yesterday. Informed sources said the PM had told the MPs that he would also ask the committee on the cost of living, the response it had given to wheat flour supplying companies which sought a price hike. PM had also informed the MPs that he would get it confirmed as to more..

Jul 19 (NR) Disaster Management Centre says the water levels of reservoirs and rivers that reached spill levels are now receding. The water levels of the Kelani and Kalu Rivers rose last evening due to incessant rain. Met Dept says winds experienced over the country and surrounding sea areas are likely to continue today. Strong winds up to 70-80kmph are likely over the Western, Southern, Central, Sabaragamuwa, North-western and North-central provinces and in Trincomalee. more..

Jul 19 (AD) Attorney General has filed indictment before the Colombo High Court against suspended Magistrate Thilina Gamage and three others for keeping an elephant calf without valid a license. The other defendants in the case include former Assistant Director of the Wildlife Department Upali Padmasiri, a former employee of the department Priyanka Snajeewani and Bandara Yatawara, previous owner of elephant calf. more..

Jul 19 (Island) The Parliamentary delegation in China led by former Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva visited Xi’an Grand Mosque in Shaanxi Province yesterday (17). The delegates held discussions with Xi’an Grand Mosque Imam Ding Jiping, during which he explained how the Chinese Muslims cooperate with other minority communities and the main community with a sense of inclusiveness. Imam Jiping said that the Chinese Muslims practice their religion upholding the Chinese culture. more..

Jul 19 (RN) One of SL’s most pristine marine environments, the Bonavista Coral reef, is in danger of being hit by an oil spill, the General Manager of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) Dr. Teney Pradeep Kumara said today. He said the danger comes from the ship Sri Lankan Glory which was washed ashore near Unawatuna, Galle after being damaged by high winds and rough seas. Dr. Teney said that although there is no oil spill at the moment, there is a high risk of more..

Jul 19 (TG) May and June are the low season in SL, but this year, following Easter Sunday bombings, tourism ground to a halt. Hotels were empty, beaches were deserted and popular attractions that had been starting to suffer from overtourism were eerily quiet. UK Foreign Office’s warning against all but essential travel was issued on April 25, effectively forcing UK holidaymakers to either cancel or postpone bookings. more..

Jul 20 (CT) What thrust SL into the political hotspots of the world was the July 1983 riots, which is now known to be a crisis sponsored by president JR Jayewardene himself. At least, there exist evidences that this happened with his knowledge and approval. The immediate circumstances that brought about these riots were the killing of 13 soldiers in the north of SL by the LTTE. This was a political outfit that took up arms in order to achieve a separate state for the Tamil people living in Sri Lanka. more..

Jul 20 (CT) Our ancestor/s Vijaya and his entourage of 700 were not Sinhalese but Bengali. It is more a myth to romanticize on rather than a legend that says he is a product of Bestiality between his grandfather Sinha and a woman. Mythology indicates his father was guilty of Patricide by killing the Grandfather. I sincerely hope as a Sinhalese that is a myth rather than a legend since it reflects badly on our roots! It is scientifically and genetically clear that such unions will not more..

Jul 20 (Roar) A rolled-up leaf, held together by an adhesive or string around one end. The smell of harsh, unfamiliar smoke. This is the beedi, smoked by many across the island as an alternative to the more expensive cigarette. The practice of making and smoking beedi (or bidi) originated in the late 17th century, in the tobacco-producing districts of Kheda and Panchamahal in Gujarat, India. Instead of using the cumbersome hookah, more..

Jul 20 (DN) The Cabinet of Ministers has reportedly endorsed President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to revive the Capital punishment. Announcing this, Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said he decided to go with the majority decision although, as a Buddhist, he was against killings. While the vast majority of Sri Lankans are in favour of executing those who are guilty of repeated drug smuggling, terrorism and child rape, there is a vociferous small minority opposed to the death penalty. more..

Jul 20 (CT) When MP Dayasiri Jayasekara persuaded the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), probing the Easter Sunday Islamist suicide bomb attacks, into going off at a tangent to seek guest lists of the Taj Samudra Hotel on that fateful day, the PSC fell for it hook, line, and sinker. There’s not much wrong in going off at a tangent at the mere whiff of a suggestion on an inquiry of such massive socio-political importance, but this alone shows that the PSC had initially not seen fit to recognise more..

Jul 20 (TM) Sri Lanka’s first houseboat – Yathra Houseboat by Jetwing – was my home for the night in Dedduwa, Bentota last Saturday. Stepping aboard this floating house to a warm welcome by Captain Leel Koralage, I was instantly sure this was going to be an experience unlike any other. Bamboo walls, teak floors, and a thatched roof signified renowned environmental architect Sunela Jayawardena’s vision to use more..

Jul 20 (CT) In spite of the ambiguities embedded in the Constitution over the next date of the Presidential Poll, there is no doubt that it should be held prior to May 2020, the latest. From the perspective of the people in the country, it is pertinent to rethink about the decision that they made on 8 Jan 2015. As 6.2 million people voted on 8 Jan 2015 to oust the existing regime and to elect a new Govt, it is not unfair to assume that these voters might have done although unconsciously more..

Jul 20 (ST) From being a photographer and artist, to a licensed diver and amateur kite-surfer, Santhush Weerakoon is somewhat of a thrill-seeker. Having an adventurous spirit, this 36-year-old wants to live a full life by experiencing everything that the world can offer him. “I can’t imagine myself repeating the same day over and over again in time to come, I just want to have the satisfaction of looking back and thinking what a beautiful world I live in and value the blessings of life,” he tells the Sunday Times. more..

Jul 20 (Island) Apollo 11 was the most significant event of the 20th century, followed by the discovery of DNA, Penicillin, computer chips, that transformed our civilization. In 1961 Prez Kennedy declared that the USA would go to the Moon. He was committing the nation to something, they could not do, without the tooling, rockets, fuel, launch pads, space suits, computers or micro gravity food, Medicine that was needed was not there. It was said, winning space was a mark of national strength. more..

Jul 20 (Island) Chairman of National Election Commission (NEC) Mahinda Deshapriya is in an unenviable position. Earlier he came under fire for his alleged failure to push for the PC elections; now, he has drawn heavy flak from the SLPP for asking the govt to hold the PC polls before the next prez election. He is accused of conspiring with the govt to postpone the prez polls though he has made it very clear that the NEC is ready to conduct both elections before the end of this year. more..

Jul 20 (Island) There must be great joy at the rising trend in American politics among those who have been shouting loud against the ACSA, SOFA and MCC deals with the US. Donald Trump has brought a rise in racism in UN politics, with him asking Democrat congresswomen, who are non-white – and two of them Muslim, to return to where they came from. This squad of congresswomen have been strong critics of Trump, are now more..

Jul 20 (DN) Team Dambulla pulled off a thrilling two-run win over Team Galle in their first round fixture of the Under 19 Super Provincial 50 over Tournament at Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadum yesterday. Electing to bat first, Team Dambulla were bowled out for 223 runs in 46.2 overs. Opener Supun Sumanarathne top scored with 56 of 79 balls and Ravindu Rashantha made 53 of 59 balls, both hitting seven boundaries apiece, being associated in a 104-run partnership for the second wicket. more..

Jul 20 (Island) Ibbagamuwa Central athlete Ishara Pallegama produced a stunning high jump feat on Friday as she scaled an unprecedented height for a 16-year-old at the North Western Province Schools Athletics Championship at Wennappuwa. The youngster who represented Sri Lanka at the South Asian Junior Athletics Championships as a 15-year-old last year, cleared 1.75 metres on grass yesterday. "I am delighted that she has kept to her promise," Sumeda Jayakody, her coach said more..

Jul 20 (CI) A host of familiar names have returned to the fold in SL's first post-World Cup squad, as the selectors named a 22-member ODI squad for the upcoming home series against Bangladesh. Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka, Akila Dananjaya, and Lakshan Sandakan are some of the notable returnees, which means there's no room for Milinda Siriwardana, Jeevan Mendis, Suranga Lakmal & Jeffrey more..

Jul 20 (DN) Dialog Axiata, will showcase a range of next-generation technologies, covering Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data & Analytics, Robotics and Smart Entertainment at the Shilpa Sena Technology Revolution exhibition, organised by the Ministry of Science Technology and Research. The 4-day national exposition on Science, Technology and Innovation which will be held from 18 to 21 July at the BMICH from 9 a.m. onwards aims to promote more..

Jul 20 (Island) Announcing his intention to move a private member’s motion to scrap the Executive Presidency, General Secretary of the UPFA Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday said that as long as the presidential system was in effect even if two brothers were elected the Prime Minister and President they won’t be able to rule the country. Hence the Executive Presidency should be abolished forthwith he said, adding that it had not done any good to the country. more..

Jul 20 (DM) Sri Lanka’s politics should change in order to cater to the aspirations of youth, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday. PM expressed this sentiment at a ceremony organised by the National Youth Council to felicitate those youth who successfully implemented projects under the Gamata Kotiya programme in Polpithigama. “Youth are moving away from politics today. Accordingly, youth of this country have more..

Jul 20 (Island) Govt of Japan will provide US$ 86,358 (Rs. 14.7 million) for The Project for Constructing School Buildings for Resettled Children in Kilinochchi District through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP). The grant contract was signed on 18th July 2019 at the Ambassador’s Residence in Colombo, between Akira Sugiyama, Ambassador of Japan and Jesurasa Amirtharaj, Program Director of the Humanitarian Development Org (HDO). more..

Jul 20 (FT) Addressing the Plenary of the Second Ministerial for Advancing Religious Freedom hosted by the US State Department on 18 July in Washington D.C., Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the US Rodney Perera, while thanking delegations present for their expression of sympathy, solidarity and support, mentioned that the people of Sri Lanka have lived side-by-side amicably irrespective of ethnic and religious differences for centuries, and that they continue to do so. more..

Jul 20 (PMD) A regularized procedure has been introduced for appointments and promotions of Police officers at executive grade. Appointments and promotions at the Department of Police did not carried out in a proper manner in a due time frame for a long time and this latest initiative is a result of directions given by Prez Sirisena. National Police Commission has approved the new procedure related to appointment more..

Jul 20 (DM) Leading Buddhist monk Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera urged the govt to reveal the decision taken after the disciplinary inquiry conducted on State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake over his controversial remarks on the Buddhist clergy. He said it should be done to convince Buddhist people that the inquiry was conducted not as a ploy to quell mounting public protest against the minister. Thera said he appreciated the moves taken by the UNP to conduct a disciplinary inquiry on more..

Jul 20 (DM) One soldier was killed and five others including a Major were injured when their cab vehicle crashed into a tree after hitting a three-wheeler on the A-20 Road at Rambewa in Anuradhapura last evening, police said. The reckless driving of the cab driver had caused the accident. The injured were admitted to the Rambewa Hospital and later transferred to A'pura Teaching Hospital for further treatment. Three-wheeler driver and a woman were also more..

Jul 20 (FT) Central Bank is seeking passage of revamped governing law to block itself from printing money to finance deficits, CB Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy said, amid reports that Prez Sirisena had questioned the need to end money printing. CB prints money (provides central bank credit to the govt) mainly by purchasing Treasury bills into its balance sheet for new notes during Wednesday Treasury bill auctions or more..

Jul 20 (DN) Tharjini Sivalingam set a new highest individual scoring record at the Vitality Netball World Cup, as Sri Lanka beat Singapore to claim 15th place. Sivalingam scored 77 of her team’s 78 goals, beating the 76 she scored against the same opposition earlier on in the tournament. There was encouragement for Singapore too though, as they considerably narrowed the margin of defeat between the two meetings, eventually losing 78-57. Sri Lanka led 43-28 at half time. more..

Jul 20 (SLN) The closing ceremony of the VBSS course conducted for member states of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) by SL Navy (SLN) was held at the auditorium of Special Boat Squadron, Naval Dockyard Trincomalee on 19th July. Commander Eastern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Merril Wickramasinghe attended the closing ceremony, as the Chief Guest. The course had been organized for officers and other ranks from Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Mauritius, more..