Aug 24 (Island) International Construction Consortium (pvt) Ltd (ICC) is making idyllic beach front living in SL a dream possible to achieve for discerning apartment buyers. Following the success of constructing apartment complexes at residential hotspots across the country, ICC’s Oceanfront Condominium range has paved the way for potential home owners to explore new areas of investment with high returns. ICC marked the establishment of first the luxury beachfront project in Sri Lanka more..

Aug 24 (Island) Iconic Developments recently signed a MoU with leading bank NDB to widen the scope of financing options for prospective homeowners of the latest luxury living space, the Iconic Galaxy on Buthgamuwa Road, Rajagiriya. The multi-faceted partnership is set to offer homeowners special discounts and flexible repayment options, inclusive of special benefits for professionals. At the same time, NDB staff members will also be trained to guide prospective homeowners. more..

Aug 24 (AD) The complaint lodged that Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero had abducted former General Secretary of OPPP Ven. Wedinigama Wimalatissa Thero was taken up for hearing at the Office of the DIG in charge of the Colombo Division, yesterday (22). When a group including the SSP in charge of the Colombo Division had visited Rajagiriya Sandaham Sevana Temple where Ven Athuraliye Rathana Thero resides, more..

Aug 24 (DN) ‘Our aim is to give more opportunities for athletes to gain Olympic qualification' said, Athletic Association of SL President Major General Palitha Fernando. We are expected to send 15 athletes for Asian Youth Athletic Championship and 25 athletes for Senior Asian Championships in China next year . 2021 is going to be a very busy year for athletics. In February Asian cross country championships will commence followed by Asian Marathon, Asian Youth (boys) athletic c'ship, more..

Aug 24 (TM) Attempts to restructure over a $ 400 million debt owed by national carrier SriLankan Airlines to the two main state banks, Bank of Ceylon & People’s Bank, have not been successful yet, according to the Airlines’ Chairman Ashok Pathirage. Pathirage noted that the airline and the banks are still in discussions. When asked what was holding back the restructuring of this debt, he said: “Nothing is holding the restructuring back. Banks are still doing it. We're expecting a good outcome.” more..

Aug 24 (Island) TNA leadership has given two positions in the alliance to TELO and PLOTE stalwarts in a bid to keep the alliance intact. As a part of this strategy, TELO leader and Wanni district MP, Selvam Adaikalanathan will be appointed the TNA spokesperson. MP M.A. Sumanthiran who held the position has announced that he would resign from the post. PLOTE leader, Dharmalingam Siddarthan will be appointed chief organiser more..

Aug 24 (TM) The renovation work of the Pettah Floating Market will commence today by the UDA. UDA will make an estimate for the total cost of the renovation work today but the authority was planning to limit the cost under Rs. 10 million. On the instructions of Prez Rajapaksa and PM Rajapaksa, the renovation of the Pettah Floating Market is scheduled to commence at 8.30 a.m. today under the patronage of Urban Development and Housing Ministry Secretary Sirinimal Perera. more..

Aug 24 (DM) A man who stole the handbag of a woman at gunpoint in a train travelling from Aluthgama towards Colombo, had jumped from the moving train at Egoda Uyana Railway Station in Moratuwa in the early hours today. However, the police said the suspect was arrested at the railway station with the help of the public. Police said the woman had also jumped from the train chasing after the suspect. She had been injured in the fall and had been admitted to Panadura Base Hospital. more..

Aug 24 (AD) Minister of Power Dullas Alahapperuma says that he will resign from his post as the minister if the Committee appointed to probe the recent island-wide power failure finds the Ministry to be at fault for the power cut. He mentioned this speaking at a public meeting held in Akuressa. “I am still learning at the power ministry. While I was learning, the power supply failed. I directed for a committee on the matter within more..

Aug 24 (AD) Four individuals have been arrested at the BIA by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD). Reportedly, they have been arrested over the charges of distributing Cannabis in Colombo. One of the arrestees has been identified to be an underworld gunman under the alias Welle Saranga. They identified the suspects as drug traffickers and close associates of Angoda Lokka, who reportedly died recently in India. Among those arrested were Saranga Pradeep alias Welle Saranga, more..

Aug 24 (AD) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa says that he is committed to treating all races and religions equally while protecting the position given to Buddhism through the Constitution. PM stated this while attending the North Western Province Maha Sangha Conference. PM Rajapaksa has stated that the govt is acting considering the advice and admonitions of the Maha Sangha. PM also expressed his gratitude to the Buddhist priests of the Kurunegala District for his great victory in the Kurunegala District, more..

Aug 24 (DM) Another leopard succumbed to injuries as a result of snaring earlier today raising the total count of leopard deaths to eight just for this year. The carcass was found at a private estate in Doluwa, Ambagasthenna in the Central Province. According to DWC Director General Chandana Sooriyabandara DWC officials have been able to reach the location within half an hour. “But the animal was dead by then. more..

Aug 24 (Island) It was of paramount importance to do away with the 19th Amendment and introduce a new Constitution, Minister of Education, Prof G.L. Peiris, said in Kandy on Saturday. Minister said so after calling on the prelates of Malwatte and Asgiriya chapters to apprise them of the govt’s plan to change the Constitution. Prof. Peiris said that 19th Amendment obstructed the development process. He said that 19th amendment had prevented Prez from holding a ministerial portfolio. more..

Aug 24 (CT) Singaporean authorities are probing the mystery death of a young SL student, amidst reports that he may have committed suicide to avoid a stringent punishment for violating stay home quarantine regulations in that country. Manilka Fonseka, 21, had died on 12 Aug and his remains were brought to the country on 16 Aug. SL Mission in Singapore confirmed the death and added that it was working along with the relevant Singaporean authorities to ascertain actual cause of death. more..

Aug 24 (AD) The final rites of the woman who succumbed to the novel coronavirus last night (22) is to be carried out at the Kotikawatta Cemetery this afternoon (23). A few close relatives including her husband, who is currently undergoing quarantine at a quarantine center, will be allowed to participate in the final rites. Sri Lanka’s 12th death from COVID-19 was reported last night as a 47-year-old woman from Weuda, Kurunegala, more..

Aug 24 (FT) I’m not a fan of clambering aboard passing bandwagons, but this Ranil-bashing business can be a tad ticklish and therapeutic. Since we Sri Lankans in general, and denizens of Colombo’s isolated citadel in particular, are so good at being wise after the event, I have to remind myself that the joke’s on us every time a meme catches my eye and coaxes that reluctant funny bone. However, there is merit in calling out the aloof figure who was such an integral, more..

Aug 24 (FT) Many may feel the battle between the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) compared to the COVID-19 fall out. But ignored, it has the potential to turn ugly i.e. what is now a mere difference of opinion on the price of a vitamin C tablet, might become the precursor to a much bigger problem connected to the health sector of this country. About three weeks ago, the NMRA issued notices of cancellation of registrations and import licenses to five pharmaceutical companies more..

Aug 24 (DM) Mr. Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, yesterday denied allegations by environmentalist Sajeeva Chamikara, that the controversial road construction inside the Sinharaja Forest Reserve was being done by the army to connect the main road to a hotel owned by him. Daily Mirror was informed by Yoshitha that he owned no hotels or resorts inside the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and the accusations levelled against him by Chamikara were baseless and false. more..

Aug 24 (DN) Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris has said that some members of the Independent Commissions as well as the Constitutional Council who make appointments to them are more politicized than politicians and act as pawns of forces against the country. He said that the 19th Amendment has enabled these people to make decisions above the President who was elected by 6.9 million people and the SLPP was given a clear mandate at the last General Election to change this situation. more..

Aug 24 (Island) National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) had sent a threatening letter to Chief Incumbent of the Nelligala International Buddhist Centre (NIBC), Ven. Wathurukumbure Dhammaratana Thera, a few weeks after the Easter Sunday attacks, Thera told on Saturday to PCoI investigating the Easter Sunday attacks. Thera said that Zahran had come to see him on several occasions. more..

Aug 24 (AD) Ideamart, a global award-winning platform for developers and content providers presented by Dialog Axiata, partnered Hutchison Telecom Lanka (Hutch) to enable over 18,000 Ideamart app developers to access Hutch’s Network Infrastructure through APIs. Ideamart enables any developer, technopreneur or entrepreneur with an idea to join, use unutilized telco assets, create their own mobility services, and monetize them with zero risks with no up-front fee. more..

Aug 24 (Island) Matara district MP and Chairman Matara District development committee, Nipuna Ranawaka, addressing a press conference said that not a single new construction has been done at the Sinharaja World Heritage area and that what was being done was to widen an existing road. He however noted that those engaged in widening the road had not obtained permission for the task from the Central Environmental Authority (CEA). “That was why the President has halted the project. more..

Aug 24 (FT) It has become fashionable for many to criticise the 19th Amendment after the sweeping victory of Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the last Presidential and his party at the recent Parliamentary elections. Charging that the 19th Amendment has stood in the way for Sri Lanka to attain prosperity for its people, they want it out as fast as possible. Instead, the system of governance that prevailed in SL prior to this amendment more..

Aug 24 (AD) Committee appointed to probe the recent island-wide power failure has handed over its report to Minister of Power Dullas Alahapperuma. On August 17, the whole country experienced an interruption of the power supply for over 8 hours owing to sudden technical failure. Subsequently, Minister Alahapperuma appointed a committee to probe the incident and its preliminary report was to be handed over today. The report received by the Minister will be submitted to the Cabinet more..

Aug 24 (EN) SL tea prices eased with a noticeable rise in unsold teas, with small leaf teas usually sought by Iran seeing less interest at the second auction in August, though Low Grown leafy tea attracted good demand. SL sold 6.95 million kilograms of tea, selling 0.95 million kilograms in Ex-Estate teas (teas sold while in the factory itself to retain quality) while selling 2.7 million kilograms in Low Grown (Leafy/Tippy) teas. Owing to the ongoing dry spell in all plantation districts, more..

Aug 24 (AD) Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya says that he is capable of taking up the challenge to lead the UNP. Jayasuriya said that he has informed this to the UNP leadership and seniors with this regard. He states that, given the current state of confusion and after careful consideration of requests made to him by many parties, he has informed his capability to take on the challenge of leading the UNP for more..

Aug 24 (AD) A suspect under remand custody, who had been receiving treatment at the Chilaw General Hospital, has been transferred to the hospital’s ICU over an attempt to take his own life. The man in question is a resident of the Galmuruwa area in Madampe and was previously admitted to the hospital over a murder-suicide attempt. Last Saturday (22), he had stabbed a 22-year-old female to death before consuming poison. He was then admitted to the Chilaw General Hospital and more..

Aug 24 (AD) Senior Deputy Governor of CB Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe stated that SL has more than sufficient reserves to meet its debt servicing obligations and there is no issue with debt repayment for this year. “We have already received $ 400 million under the SAARC SWAP facility. That is why the reserve level has gone up to 7.2 billion and to repay the October maturity I think we have more than sufficient comfortable level of reserves so that we can meet that debt service payment more..

Aug 24 (AD) Minister Prof G.L. Peiris says that the govt has so far not taken a decision to appoint a Deputy PM. He made this statement in response to a question from reporters regarding reports that former Prez Sirisena is expected to be given the position of Deputy PM in the future. Asked whether such a position can be created through the Constitution, he said that anything can be done when creating a new Constitution more..

Aug 24 (AD) Six more individuals infected with COVID-19 made complete recoveries toda, says Ministry of Health. According to the situation report 3 patients at Welikanda Base Hospital, and 3 at Minuwangoda Base Hospital have been discharged upon recovery. COVID-19 recuperations confirmed in SL thereby reached 2,811. In the meantime, the total count of positive cases of novel coronavirus found in SL currently sits at 2,953. 130 active cases are under medical care at selected hospitals. more..

Aug 24 (DM) Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation C. B. Ratnayake said that those who lay snares will be given maximum punishment as per the Penal Code. “In addition to that if an animal is shot inside a protected area, the fine will be increased by threefold. We also have to look at the human-elephant conflict that has affected both humans and elephants alike. One of the main reasons is because they are deprived of drinking water. The lakes have dried off and therefore more..

Aug 24 (EN) The Right to Information (RTI) act and the two five-year term limit imposed on the office of the president will remain as new govt is set to go for constitutional reforms. Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told a gathering in Kandy, that the RTI act will be incorporated into the proposed 20th amendment to the constitution, which will effectively repeal the 19th amendment introduced by the previous govt. more..

Aug 24 (DM) The NCPA arrested a 42-year-old male dance teacher in the Western Province for allegedly abusing a 17-year-old boy. It has been revealed that the suspect had made the child to drink a drug-laced soft drink during an event in late 2019 and had abused the child sexually. Also, prior to the incident, the dance teacher had taken a group of 11 people, including three minors on a trip to a foreign country. Investigations revealed that the suspect had tried to abuse one of the underage boys more..

Aug 24 (FT) The landmark 10th edition of the Top 50 Professional and Career Women Awards SL, under the theme She’s revolutionary and evolutionary, was launched last week by the Women in Management (WIM) in collaboration the International Finance Corporation (IFC) – a member of the World Bank Group and the Australian Govt. The annual awards scheme aims to empower and celebrate women who contribute to the country’s economy by excelling in their roles as employees, more..

Aug 24 (DM) The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of SL (TRCSL) has initiated preliminary steps on implementing Mobile Number Portability (MNP) which would enable mobile users change their present mobile numbers among their favourite service providers. TRCSL Assistant Director Menaka Pathirana said, after implementing the system, people can choose the better service provider more..

Aug 24 (AD) More foreign arrivals have added to the total count of coronavirus cases reported in Sri Lanka. Five more recent arrivals – 02 from the UAE, and 01 each from Indonesia, Singapore, and the Maldives – have pushed the total tally to 2,959 cases. Accordingly, a total of six new virus-positive cases have been reported within the day so far as an Indian seaman from Egypt tested positive earlier today (24). 136 patients infected with the virus are currently under medical care. more..

Aug 24 (FT) The One Transworks Square Ltd., the developers of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel & Residences Colombo recently celebrated achieving the construction milestone of 200 m (323 m Tower A) with its construction partners Shougang Construction Group Co. Ltd. (SGCG). During the ceremony held on the 50th floor of the tower A, One Transworks Square CEO Janaki Siriwardhana, together with the management team and other stakeholders such as more..

Aug 24 (CT) At least one life lost in the bombings on Easter Sunday, could have been saved if relevant actions were taken on intelligence information provided by the State Intelligence Service (SIS) based on the foreign report received on 4 April 2019, that National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) leader Zaharan Hashim and his followers could launch a terrorist attack, former SIS Director, SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena said very emotionally. more..

Aug 24 (CT) The Govt is considering releasing 46 children of imprisoned women who are currently sentenced or remanded in various prisons across the country. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has turned his attention to the matter, after Media reports about children born to women in prison and young children in the care of their mothers who have been imprisoned over various crimes. However, 46 children under the age of five are currently in the care of their mothers in prisons. more..