May 7 (Island) Address by Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, PC the President of the Court of Appeal on the occasion of the Ceremonial Welcome accorded to him by the Bar on 6th May. The Attorney General, President of the Bar Association of SL, I once again thank both of you for the kind words of appreciation and recognition accorded to me. I am humbled and encouraged by your sentiments. I pledge that I will continue to strive hard to work to the best of my ability and more..

May 7 (Island) ikman.lk, SL’s largest online marketplace, is set to transform the employment landscape with its new dedicated site for employers and job seekers. For the very first time, ikman.lk has created a separate landing page ikmanJobs offering a totally new job search experience for everyone in the workforce. ikmanJobs offers the ideal solution to connect manpower with potential employers searching for the right candidate. Even the colour scheme has been made distinguishable with more..

May 7 (CI) Sri Lanka Cricket believes that coach Chandika Hathurusingha and Ashantha de Mel will have no issues working together in the SL dressing room, after the pair is said to have thrashed things out prior to the latter's appointment as team manager and selector-on-tour for the World Cup starting at the end of this month. Since de Mel took the reins as chief selector ahead of SL's tour to NZ, the pair had clashed over more..

May 7 (IPS) Terrorism is not an obvious subject for economic analysis. The greatest cost comes in the form of lives lost and injured. However, terror attacks also aim to disrupt economic life, and how far they succeed needs to be assessed and evaluated. The immediate economic consequences of SL’s brutal Easter Sunday terror attacks are obvious. The damage to tourism is the most apparent; investments decisions might be delayed. However, as a country that had withstood more than more..

May 7 (FT) The Cabinet meeting today is expected to agree to a crucial lifeline for the Easter Sunday terror-attacks crippled tourism sector, as the country limps back to normalcy with safety and security. A host of recommendations put forwarded by the travel and tourism industry came under the microscope yesterday, at the first ever Cabinet-appointed Sub Committee of seven Ministers tasked to revive the tourism industry, the worst hit by the extremist-led 21 April terror attacks more..

May 7 (HT) Earlier this week, London’s Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) broke a tradition of 232 years by electing former SL captain Kumar Sangakkara as their first international president. Only 41, Sangakkara was Surrey’s overseas cricketer before the Lord’s job came his way. In a long chat with Hindustan Times, the new MCC president discusses why he accepted the role and its challenges, cricket featuring in Olympics, more..

May 7 (SLA) 55 Division troops of the Security Force Headquarters - Jaffna (SFHQ-J) on a tip-off conducted a search operation in the Chundikulam Forest Reserve on Sunday (5) evening and recovered a large haul of Kerala Ganja, concealed in parcels. Those parcels contained nearly 140.8 kg of Kerala Ganja, suspected to have been smuggled from India by drug dealers or peddlers. Army troops kept the STF and Palai Police informed of the detection and handed over those detections more..

May 7 (FT) SL Army yesterday expressed confidence that security forces are in an advantageous position to defeat any possible extremist threat, noting they know the numbers and the roots. “As at today, we are at an advantageous position in defeating them. We are confident to say that we know them, we know the numbers, and we know the roots. We have enough numbers to deal with any situation which may arise,” Army Headquarters Director Media & Military more..

May 7 (FT) The country’s tourism sector, terrified by Easter Sunday extremist terror attacks - the worse setback since end of the 30-year war, is teaming up for a quicker revival provided the security situation improves fast and Govt support is sincere and forthcoming. SL Tourism Chairman Kishu Gomes, yesterday speaking to the media first time since the 21 April mayhem, emphatically stated, Collectively we will bounce back. more..

May 7 (CI) While it remains a bit of myth that Sri Lanka were propelled by the explosive starts provided by Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana in the 1996 World Cup - Kaluwitharana aggregated 73 runs at 12.16, passing 20 only twice - the pair did launch a spectacular assault on India in the league match in Delhi. Chasing 272, they blasted 53 in five overs to set up a six-wicket win. Against this backdrop, India and SL squared up for semi-final at Eden Gardens. more..

May 7 (DN) Ceylon Institute of Builders (CIOB), issuing a statement states that the SL economy will be irrecoverably damaged if the terrorism prevailing in the country is not eradicated at its inception. The statement goes on to state that the Institute deeply condemns the recent cowardly terrorist attacks and expresses its condolences to the family members of Sri Lankans and foreigners who perished in the attacks. The press notice issued by the Chairman of the Ceylon Institute of Builders, more..

May 7 (CT) Colombo High Court Judge Gihan Kulathunga sentenced former TNA Digamadulla District MP P.H. Piyasena to four years rigorous imprisonment for misusing his official vehicle, without returning it upon being unseated as an MP. The former TNA MP was also fined Rs 5.4 million and Justice Kulathunga warned him that failure to pay the fine will result in a further two years imprisonment. more..

May 7 (TOI) The Easter bombings in Sri Lanka and the consequent cancellation of inbound tourist arrivals has made South India an alternative destination for tourists. Tour operators are getting enquiries for Tamil Nadu and Kerala from inbound travellers from Europe and the U.S., after their countries have issued travel advisories against visiting Sri Lanka. Thomas Cook (India) Ltd President and Country Head - Holiday, MICE, Visa, Rajeev Kale said, more..

May 7 (Island) The Nuwara Eliya Police and Army yesterday (06) raided a training centre maintained by the National Tawheed Jamath (NTJ) at Black Pool, Nuwara Eliya. This centre, located in a two storey building was raided following the interrogation of a terror suspect arrested at Sainthamaruthu, Kalmunai in the Ampara District. About 38 persons had been trained at this centre and Zahran Hashimi, who is considered the mastermind of the Easter Sunday bombings, too had trained here. more..

May 7 (Island) The national cricket team will leave the island in the early hours of today to take part in the ICC Cricket World Cup in England and Wales starting later this month. Sri Lankans admitted that they will be underdogs but were keen to turn tables. Dimuth Karunaratne’s side has three weeks in the UK to acclimatize for the conditions and will play four games prior to the tournament. They will play two ODIs against Scotland more..

May 7 (CT) UNP is preventing the removal of the IGP, Pujith Jayasundara, Leader of PHU, Udaya Gammanpila claimed. “Under the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act No. 5 of 2002, the IGP can be removed if a proposal asking for his removal is passed by the Parliament with 113 votes. It is the UNP that currently has the majority within the Parliament, but the IGP is still there and he’s only been sent on compulsory leave. This clearly shows UNP has no intention of getting rid of IGP,” more..

May 7 (Island) Support from Russia, Iran, CIS countries and Turkey was of note at the Colombo tea auctions. Support from Libya and Iraq as well was a significant plus to the sales which boosted Colombo’s auction results last week. Particularly Nuwara Eliya BOPs were reported to have gained Rs. 40 to 50 per kilo. Additionally, Westerns too sold well, the reports said. Just about 1 million kilos were on offer on the Ex Estate catalogue. Total quantity offered was 7.29 million kilos. more..

May 7 (Island) The attendance of students in schools yesterday, was below 10% which was an indication that parents weren’t willing to accept govt’s assurances of security. The overall attendance was about 10%, Ceylon Teachers’ Services Union (CTSU) General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe said. "There was a turnout of around 25% - 30% in rural schools but numbers in city schools were abysmal, around 1–2%. more..

May 7 (Island) It was the duty of all communities to ensure that there was no repetition of what the country had experienced for three decades and luckily all religious leaders following the April 21 massacres had done their utmost to defuse tensions, a top Police officer said Sunday at Hunupitiya, Wattala. Addressing the Moulavis and Mosque trustees in the Gampaha District, at an event, held at Welegoda Mosque in Hunupitiya Deputy Inspector General Western Province more..

May 7 (AD) Despite the re-opening of schools for the second term of the year, there was a downturn in the attendance of school children, the Ministry of Education stated. Additional Secretary of the Education Ministry said, however, the turnout of teachers was considerably higher. Secretary of Sri Lanka National Principals’ Association Piyasiri Fernando emphasized that the authorities should reach a consensus and establish a sense of trust within the public. more..

May 7 (DN) CID yesterday told Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake that terrorist Zahran Hashim had died in the suicide attack on Shangri-La Hotel on Easter Sunday. The investigators also told the Fort Magistrate that the Zahran’s sister is in the Batticaloa remand prison and sought an order to perform a DNA test pertaining to body parts of the suicide bomber using his sister’s blood samples. Magistrate ordered Govt Analyst to more..

May 7 (FT) Third phase of the Stand Together for the Country development program began yesterday, and will be carried out till 11 May, covering the Ampara District. Under the program, 5000 development projects benefiting people in 20 Divisional Secretariats will be held. Ampara District Secretary D. M. L. Bandaranayake said many programs will be implemented from 6 to 11 May, covering 20 Divisional Secretariats in Ampara District, under the third phase of more..

May 7 (CT) Jaffna University Vice Chancellor Professor R. Vigneswaran has been served with a letter of interdiction by Prez Sirisena. The interdiction came into effect from 30 April, sources said. However, when contacted Prof. Vigneswaran he said he hadn’t received any letter of that nature. The reason for the removal of the VC was not immediately known. However, the extensive search operation carried out at the Jaffna Uni premises and the arrest of two students of the Jaffna Uni more..

May 7 (DN) Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith requested the govt to close all liquor shops in the Negombo area until the situation which arose on Sunday subsides. He said the main reason for such a situation was that those involved were under the influence of alcohol. Hence, he said it is advisable to close all liquor stores in the area so that people would not have access to liquor more..

May 7 (DM) In light of the current terrorist threat that is haunting the country, this is a time when the entire nation should stand together to defeat the common enemy. The threat is being aimed at every citizen irrespective of his caste, creed, religion, race and political party, in spite of the enemy belonging to a particular community. The enemy is one who thinks everybody other than him should be wiped out from the surface of the earth. Therefore, there cannot be vacillation on the part of any right-thinking more..

May 7 (DM) Fear is ever present now. There is fear in the way people look at each other. There is fear at the site of a vehicle or a bag. Some even fear to go out of their homes. People throughout the country live in a state of fear after the Easter attacks as news reports and the mushrooming of check points are constant reminders of the recent bombings. The Muslim communities, on the other hand, live in a state of double fear. In addition to the fear of bombings, they live in fear of mob attacks more..

May 7 (DM) Minister Rauff Hakeem speaks about the impact of Easter Sunday’s bomb attacks. Mr Hakeem who is also the leader of SLMC says that the Muslim community should have an introspective look at the issues at hand. He says the newly emerged terrorism can be wiped out through united, concerted efforts. Q: What are your comments on the incidents and their impact on communal harmony? more..

May 7 (FT) An eminent counterterrorism expert, Prof. Rohan Gunaratne, says that the Islamic State (IS) no longer has the capability to mount a large-scale attack on Sri Lanka as 95% of its network in the country has been dismantled by the security forces since the Easter Sunday carnage. Prof. Gunaratne, confirming that the mastermind of the local affiliated IS Zahran Hashim had blown himself up at the Shangri-La Hotel Colombo more..

May 7 (EN) SriLankan Airlines has appointed Joshua Bustos, an expatriate with experience in other airlines, as its Chief Commercial Officer and Shaminda Samaraweera as its Chief Financial Officer with effect from April this year. The airline follows a stringent procedure for recruitment which not only takes into consideration the individual’s qualifications but also his or her track record and conduct, national carrier said in a statement. more..

May 7 (DNA) Maaalingaaaaa, Maaalingaaaa roared the Wankhede Stadium crowd as Lasith Malinga streamed in to bowl from round the wicket. The Mumbai Indians pacer unleash a missile-like short ball at over 130kmph to Andre Russell, which the batsman failed to counter while gloving it to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock. The wicket of the dangerous Russell demolished any chances of a Kolkata Knight Riders victory more..

May 7 (ST) Life in the bustling town of Sainthamaruthu, 50km south-east of Batticaloa, is virtually dead after sunset. Populated largely by Muslims, the urbanised stretch of the east coast is home to many entrepreneurs, traders and fishermen. It was about a quarter past six as darkness fell on Sainthamaruthu on April 26. “There was a massive noise and a bright flash of light. That was the first and the biggest explosion,” more..

May 7 (Island) Court of Appeal President Yasantha Kodagoda, yesterday, said that he would put in place a special mechanism to expedite the cases being heard before the second highest Court. Speaking at a ceremonial function, yesterday, in Colombo to welcome him as the 47th President of the Appeal Court, Kodagoda, while condemning the recent Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, stressed that cases should be filed more..

May 7 (CT) State Universities and Non-State Higher Education Institutions will remain closed till the Security Forces ensure the security of University premises, Chairman of the UGC, Professor Mohan de Silva said. He said that, all the preparations for the new term and the learning programmes are ready but they are awaiting the confirmation of Police and other security divisions to commence University academic activities. more..

May 7 (AFP) Before jihadi bombers targeted SL in deadly Easter attacks, Rangana Wijesuriya used to party until the small hours in the pulsating restaurants, bars and clubs of downtown Colombo. Now, after the April 21 attacks that killed 257 people, the buzz is gone. DJs are performing to empty dance floors and the bar staff are bored. "It is usually really crowded and really noisy here. We were shocked to see that it is really empty," more..

May 7 (AFP) Sri Lankan security authorities have either killed or arrested all the jihadists responsible for the Easter suicide bombings that left 257 people dead, police chief Chandana Wickramaratne said Tuesday. Police have accounted for every individual involved in the April 21 attacks on three churches and three luxury hotels, Wickramaratne said in an audio statement. "All those who organised and carried out more..

May 7 (AD) State Ministry of Defence has addressed a letter to the President of All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) As-Sheikh Rizwe Mufthi denying a statement made by him at the all-religious leaders’ meeting held recently. Secretary of the ministry N.K.G.K. Nammawatta says, the President of ACJU had stated that he had handed over all information and documents regarding the IS-affiliated Islamist more..

May 7 (CT) It’s more than difficult to determine exactly what type of logic was used by the SL authorities when they expelled 200 Islamic preachers from SL in the wake of the virulent Easter Sunday massacres by local militants of the ISIS killer squads. As far as is known, their mandate in some Eastern Province educational and Islamic religious institutions was to imbue impressionable SL Muslim youth with extremist militant Islamic ideological fervour, euphemistically called more..

May 7 (FT) Every suicide bomber has a dream, a fantasy of how their destruction will consummate cataclysmic change. Sri Lanka stamped out such heinous desires once before. Now we are called upon to do so again. At a May Day rally in 1993, a suicide bomber assassinated my father, President Ranasinghe Premadasa. My father was the second-ever Head of Govt to be killed by a suicide bomber. My father’s killer walked up to him and detonated his vest, leaving a cruel circle of death. more..

May 7 (AD) A cache of anti-aircraft bullets have been recovered from Alagalla area in Vavuniya last evening, says Irattaperiyakulam Police. Accordingly, 85 anti-aircraft bullets were found by Irattaperiyakulam police officers, who acted on a tip-off received from the residents of the area. The Irattaperiyakulam Police had searched the area further with the help of police dogs, however, no other explosives were recovered from the site. The security forces stated that more..