Mar 29 (DM) It is up to President and PM to decide on the Aruvakaru garbage disposal project, as my responsibility is over, Minister Champika Ranawaka told parliament yesterday. Speaking during the committee stage debate in the House, Minister said President Sirisena, PM Wickremesinghe and even Leader of Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa should consider the Aruvakkaru as a national issue. more..

Mar 29 (AD) President Sirisena said that he will hold discussions with the relevant parties to introduce a more suitable police uniform replacing the Khaki uniform that is being currently used. He said that in order to change the negative impression of the Police service that is prevailing among the public he would take initiatives to make internal changes within the Police service and they include the steps to change the uniform more..

Mar 29 (CT) The Attorney General yesterday, informed the Court of Appeal that the Public Service Commission (PSC) has taken a decision to suspend all transfer orders given to principals of national schools, till a proper framework is formulated. Senior Additional Solicitor General, President’s Counsel (PC) Sanjay Rajaratnam, representing the AG said this when the Court considered the Writ Application filed by more..

Mar 29 (DM) Examinations Dept released the top ten ranks of the GCE O/L exam results-2018. Nilakna Warushavithana ranked first in the country from Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo. The three who achieved joint second places are -: G.S Savithi Hansadi from Visakha Vidyalaya - P.M. Sanjani Kumari from Rathnavali Balika Vidyalaya, Gampaha and K.K Mindi Rebeka from Sujatha Vidyalaya in Matara. more..

Mar 29 (CT) TNA Leader R. Sampanthan said that he is in complete agreement with the JO insisting that the Provincial Council (PC) Elections should be held as early as possible. Sampanthan was responding to an allegation levelled by UPFA MP Dullas Alahapperuma that the TNA was silent though the Govt had delayed PC Polls by over one-and-a-half years. “The PCs were intended to give people of different Provinces more..

Mar 29 (CT) The power outage that is presently prevailing in the country has inconvenienced the public at large. The power cut adversity occurred this year for the first time in the second week of March with the announcement of the breakdown of the second generator of the Norochcholai coal power plant. However, even after the fault in the generator was rectified and the operation of the coal power plant returned to normalcy, to the amazement of the public, CEB announced the likelihood more..

Mar 29 (AD) Colombo magistrate’s court on Friday further remanded nine Iranian nationals who were arrested earlier this week for attempting to smuggle in 100 kg of heroin through the sea. Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) told the court that investigations into the drug bust were continuing and they had received details that the suspects had loaded the drugs into the trawler, off the Pakistan coastline. PNB stated that the Govt Analyst’s Department had inspected the trawler and more..

Mar 29 (FT) The Supreme Court has issued an order barring Nagananda Kodithuwakku, Attorney-at-Law and public interest litigation activist, who has entered the political arena of Sri Lanka as a prospective presidential candidate, from practicing as a lawyer for three years. I think it is important that we assess Kodithuwakku’s role in the light of this incident. Nagananda was an ex-revenue officer of the Customs Administration of SL. As a Customs Revenue Officer, he proved to be a special more..

Mar 29 (DM) UPFA MP S.B. Dissanayake called on the President to immediately recall Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Geneva A.L.A. Azeez and to arrest Mano Tittawela for directing him to put the signature on the UNHRC resolution without the knowledge of the President, the Foreign Ministry and the Parliament. “At the UNHRC we signed the resolution to consider Sri Lanka again in two years. Who gave the directive to the ambassador to sign it? It is Mano Tittawela. He works with Madame Chandrika. more..

Mar 29 (AD) Well-known Sri Lankan vocalist Angeline Gunathilake passed away this evening, her family sources said, Gunathilake, whose career in music spanned seven decades, was 79 at the time of her demise. Family sources said she passed away while receiving treatments at the Colombo National Hospital. She was one of the leading playback singers in Sri Lanka and sang many songs with the late H.R. Jothipala. more..

Mar 29 (AD) The SLPP says that yesterday’s defeat of the expenditure heads of several ministries in the Parliament marks the beginning of the end for the govt. MP Shehan Semasinghe said that yesterday was a day that a red light was issued to Ranil Wickremesinghe’s govt and that it will be the beginning of the govt’s fall. He also said that this defeat shows the crisis within the parties in the govt and that even UNP MPs had voiced their opinions against the expenditure heads. more..

Mar 29 (EN) Sri Lanka should set up a natural gas fund to manage the revenue expected from offshore hydrocarbon deposits once they begin to be commercially exploited, a senior industry official said. Demand for natural gas is rising globally and Sri Lanka could use the deposits found in the Mannar Basin to initially run power plants, said Preeni Withanage, director benefits of the Petroleum Resources Development Secretariat, (PRDS), responsible for exploration. more..

Mar 29 (DM) A seven-member committee comprising senior police personnel headed by Senior DIG of CID Ravi Seneviratne had been appointed by IGP Pujith Jayasundara today to monitor investigations being carried out against the individuals who had been deported from Dubai to Sri Lanka, police said. The committee comprises of DIG Ravi Seneviratne, Traffic Police DIG Ajith Rohana, Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) Director more..

Mar 29 (EN) Sri Lanka will introduce a new bill on data privacy within three months, a minister said. "There's a data privacy act that we've been forming," Telecommunications Minister Harin Fernando said. "It's with the legal draftsman right now," he said. "Then it will come to the Attorney General's department before it comes to parliament within 3 months." Fernando was speaking at a forum organized by the Institute of Policy Studies with a focus on digital transformation & governance. more..

Mar 29 (AD) The special investigation unit of Matara Police has arrested a 28-year-old mother of one along with 120g of heroin worth Rs 1.8 million. The police officers had launched a raid yesterday acting on a tip-off received by the Matara SSP regarding a woman smuggling in heroin to Mirissa area in Matara on a wholesale basis. Suspect alias Kudu Doni was arrested at Walgama area in Matara along with 120g of heroin that she intended to trade afterwards. more..

Mar 29 (CT) Protests against environmental destruction embroiled in politics should be condemned, National Organiser of Centre for Environment and Nature Study, Dr. Ravindra Kariyawasam claimed. He said these protests should not take a nationalist or religious stand and should be voiced in a similar manner wherever there is environmental destruction. He said those who talk about destruction caused to the Wilpattu more..

Mar 29 (SLN) A haul of Beedi leaves floating in the sea was recovered by crew members of a Fast Attack Craft and a Coastal Patrol Vessel of SL Navy, during a patrol carried out in the seas of Mannar South, today. This recovered haul which was 1456.1 kg in weight, was packed in 33 parcels. It is suspected that, this consignment is a smuggling attempt from India by floating over the sea. The haul of Beedi leaves is to be handed over to Customs office in Jaffna for further investigations. more..

Mar 29 (AD) Srima Dissanayake, the wife of former Mahaweli Minister late Gamini Dissanayake, has passed away at the age of 77. She had reportedly passed away at a private hospital in Colombo today. Srima Dissanayake, who is the mother of Minister Navin Dissanayake and MP Mayantha Dissanayake, was a lawyer and a politician. She was also a former presidential candidate. Gamini Dissanayake was the UNP candidate for the 1994 presidential election, but was then assassinated by the LTTE more..

Mar 29 (CT) Former Northern Province Minister and the Secretary General of Eelam Tamils Autonomy Party, Ananthy Sasitharan recently asked why TNA continues to support the Government after claiming that the Govt was making false promises. Speaking to the Media in Jaffna, she further said, “SL Govt has not only deceived the people in the missing persons issue but in accountability as well. more..

Mar 29 (EN) Sri Lanka's consumer price inflation rose to a six-month high of 4.3 percent in March 2019 from a year earlier, data from the state statistic office showed. The Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) compiled by the Census and Statistics Department showed inflation had risen to 4% in February from a year earlier. Price levels of the food group fell 1.4% from a year earlier, while non-food group inflation 6.7%. The CCPI Index in March fell 0.2% to 126.6 from a month earlier. more..

Mar 29 (AM) Assistant Govt Whip Prof Ashu Marasighe has resigned from his post with immediate effect following the defeat of the two expenditure heads in Parliament yesterday. However, Chief Govt Whip Gayantha Karunathilake and other Deputy Chief Govt Whips and Assistant Govt Whops continue to occupy their positions. Marasinghe, in a letter to the PM, said he could not escape from the responsibility over the debacle in Parliament yesterday. more..

Mar 29 (OHCHR) The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture is set to carry out its first visit to Sri Lanka from 2 to 12 April to examine the treatment of people deprived of their liberty and the safeguards in place for their protection against torture and ill-treatment. The four-member delegation will meet govt officials and hold discussions with relevant ministries, as well as meeting with the Human Rights Commission more..

Mar 29 (PMD) Former senior administrative officer Mr. S. Ranuge has been appointed as the new Chairman of the National Salaries and Cadre Commission. The former ministry secretary Anura Jayawickrama has been appointed as its secretary, while the other members are senior administrative officers C.P. Siriwardena, Dr. Damitha de Soyza, Lalith Kannangara, Janaka Sugathadasa, Chithrangani Wagishwara, Chandrani Senarathna, Kingsley Fernando, G.S. Edirisinghe, more..

Mar 29 (EN) German govt will grant 11 million euro to build a German Technical Training Centre in Matara in Sri Lanka’s south, hotbed of two youth insurgencies where unemployment among youngsters is still high. The Ministry of Finance said in a statement that the centre will provide training opportunities to youths in the southern part of SL. “This centre will also be equipped with facilities for the training of trainers and instructors needed for other technical colleges in the country.” more..

Mar 29 (AP) Australia says its armed forces have no qualms about working with Sri Lankan security forces accused of grave human rights violations during the country’s civil war, but those allegations must be taken seriously and investigated. Acting Ambassador John Philp said Friday that Australia wants to look to the future following the end of the war 10 years ago. Govt forces and Tamil Tiger rebels were both more..

Mar 29 (AD) The expenditure heads for the Ministry of Highways & Road Development and Petroleum Resources Development was passed in Parliament. The expenditure heads for Ministry of Highways, Road Development and Petroleum Resources Development and the Ministry of Power, Energy and Business Development were debated at the House today. This was after the expenditure heads for the Ministry of Internal and Home Affairs and Provincial Councils and Local Govt and more..

Mar 29 (AM) The National Water Supply and Drainage Board announced that water supply to several areas in the Colombo suburbs would be interrupted for 24 hours starting from 9 AM tomorrow till 9 AM Sunday. Accordingly, the water supply to Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Kotte, Kaduwela MC areas, Maharagama, Boralesgamuwa, Kolonnawa Urban Council areas, Kotikawaththa, Mulleriyawa PS areas, Rathmalana and Soysapura Housing scheme would be restricted for 24 hours. more..

Mar 29 (NR) Minister Ravi Karunanayake says steps will be taken to ensure that power cuts will not be imposed during the Sinhala and Tamil New year Season. Minister said the prevalent power crisis will continue for around another 10 days. He further said the power crisis exists since the country lacks an effective power generation plan. The JVP says consumers need not be advised by the Cabinet of Ministers on more..

Mar 30 (CT) I guess, Ravi Karunanayake, Minister in charge of the subject of energy is amused by his own antic of praying before the Sri Maha Bodhi asking for rain. Surely, he is an educationally accomplished character! Rain pours down given natural conditions and ceases to do so in the absence of those conditions. It is the Paticca Samuppada working and, hence, no serious Buddhist will pray like this. Why, then, does Ravi pray? So fervently like an infertile young more..

Mar 30 (CT) I am an Australian, originally from Sri Lanka, ethnically a Sinhalese from the majority community and not from the brutalised Tamil community. I have campaigned for the past 70 years for the right of the Tamil people to live with equality, dignity and without discrimination in the country of their birth, Sri Lanka. I am, like you, a doctor of medicine. I am not a politician but sadly I come from a family that has produced two PMs and a Prez, all of whom have wrecked Sri Lanka. more..

Mar 30 (Roar) For a person walking the narrow paths of Wanathamulla, the concrete alleyways amidst the high-rise condominiums, last thing you would expect to find are murals. The dull drab walls of Sahaspura, housing families in its 430 small apartments, that run up 12 storeys has a common courtyard that has been turned into a garbage dump. One wall donnes a traditional red/orange yaksha mask with piercing deadly eyes. more..

Mar 30 (SO) With her tranquil lagoon opening out to the sea, Kalpitiya is one of the most beautiful destinations in the country. A cluster of 23 islands, 14 of which are major islands, enhances the appeal of this resplendent location. A few metres from the main town is a historic gem - the Dutch Fort. As we entered the main gate of SLNS Vijaya the naval Quarter Master greeted us and directed us to the Fort. The first view from the right side of the base is the majestic rock wall that has stood here for more..

Mar 30 (SO) All Sri Lankans are aware of the Shrine of Saint Anthony, located at Kochikade. For decades this church has attracted thousands of devotees, especially, on a Tuesday. Simple shrine has positioned itself as a strong religious icon on the map of SL. From the tourism perspective it is globally known as the Catholic shrine by the Colombo harbour. Yet, with all the fame that abounds around her this shrine had very humble beginnings, and her administration remains more..

Mar 30 (CT) General Secretary of the UPFA, MP Mahinda Amaraweera says the Presidential Election can’t be won with only Sinhala, Buddhist votes. Q: Why did the SLFP which said they will defeat the Budget on 12 March, later change its decision? A: Our Party was very much in favour of voting against the Budget. But the next day it was the President’s expenditure heads, on 4 April, again the expenditure heads of two Ministries of more..

Mar 30 (CT) The CID has done a thorough job, so far, with regard to the abduction of eleven persons including five students 10 years ago in Colombo and informed Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake of the alleged involvement of former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda in the abduction case. From the details provided to the Fort Magistrate by Chief Investigator Inspector Nishantha Silva on Wednesday not only the alleged involvement of Admiral Karannagoda but more..

Mar 30 (Roar) Every year, close to 210,000 school students sit for the GCE A/L exams in Sri Lanka with the hope of securing entrance to public universities where one can obtain an undergraduate degree for free. Of this, only around 30,000 gain admission for a state-funded basic degree, according to data from the Department of Census and Statistics. Needless to say, this is not an ideal situation for a developing country to be in. Sri Lanka’s fast-growing industries, such as IT, are in need of more professionals more..

Mar 30 (ST) It’s easy to assume that once you have stood on the summit of Everest, the world laid out before you, that no other climb will offer quite the same challenge. However, hanging from ropes on the icy face of Aconcagua’s glacier in South America, their bodies shuddering uncontrollably with cold, their fingers at risk of frostbite, Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala and Johann Peries would have been the first to point out that that assumption was wrong. Just 500m from the summit of Aconcagua, more..

Mar 30 (Island) TNA leader R. Sampanthan has called for provincial council elections as early as possible. He made this call in Parliament, on Thursday, when UPFA MP Dullas Alahapperuma took the govt and the TNA to task for postponing the PC polls. The current situation, where the people are denied an opportunity to exercise their franchise, would not have arisen if the govt had not been backed by the TNA and the JVP, in 2017, to put off the PC polls. more..