May 19 (ST) SriLankan Airlines will formulate a “totally new process” for recruitment of trainee pilots, its management said last week. “Any cadet pilot recruitment would be in accordance with this new process,” said SriLankan Chief Marketing Officer G.T. Jeyaseelan. “We just commenced the review process and will introduce it as soon as possible. No recruitment would be done until the new process comes into effect.” more..

May 19 (Island) The MOU, which is now being drafted by the ITAK, is expected to be released to the four TNA political partners to resolve the longstanding stalemate in registering the TNA as a political party before the announcement of polls to the Northern PC. The Bishop of Mannar, Dr Rayappu Joseph also earlier intervened to invite the leaders of the Tamil political parties — TULF, TELO, PLOTE, EPRLF and the ITAK — to bring more..

May 19 (IBT) The Health Ministry last week said the popular beverage Red Bull was not an energy booster and was only a caffeinated sugar drink. Consultant at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Hemantha Herath charged that the drink was deceptively marketed as an energy booster contradicting authority regulations, He further said that the ministry is nonetheless keeping a close eye on the beverage, as it has stirred a sizable more..

May 19 (ST) Harmful substances have been found in white sugar imported to Sri Lanka, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has disclosed. Random tests on samples of Brazilian sugar had revealed a high level of toxic cadmium, the Minister said. He said the sugar was also being tested for arsenic, another heavy metal, which could cause serious health issues when ingested in high quantities. more..

May 19 (LBO) Sri Lankan firms are collaborating with universities to make new and higher value products and services, and was also consulting on management development, a business chamber said. Sri Lanka's Ceylon Chamber said it was fostering a closer relationship between commercial firms and universities and was partnering in making university programs more relevant to business. more..

May 19 (IBT) The dusty army checkpoint along the infamous A9 highway was the first sign I’d entered the “other” Sri Lanka -- the one that required an additional copy of my passport, my purpose and an inspection of my things. The next clue was the colossal yellow water tower lying horizontal on the roadside at Kilinochchi. Its gaping interior could easily house the entire population of this former capital of the LTTE, more..

May 19 (CT) The differences of opinion over the 13th Amendment to the Constitution among the constituent parties of the ruling UPFA have come to the surface with Parliamentary Group Leader of the JHU threatening to take to the streets, if the govt goes ahead with the Northern Provincial Council elections scheduled for September this year. Speaking to a packed audience at the Public Library Auditorium more..

May 19 (CG) Sri Lanka is to return 61 Bangladeshis who were picked up by the navy in February. They were to be flown back on a Mihir Lanka flight today, Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Mustafa Kamal said. They were detained in a two-day operation that began on February 2, along with 77 Rohingyas from near Oluvial Fishing Harbour in the east coast of Sri Lanka, after the boat carrying them broke down. more..

May 19 (ST) There was a common factor that glued together the friendly ties between President Rajapaksa and his Ugandan counterpart Yoveri Museveni. Both countries maintain close ties with China. Days ahead of President Rajapaksa’s visit to that country, China built and handed over a twin-block 11 storied building complex for use as the President’s office. Those days also saw President Museveni at the more..

May 19 (CG) Sri Lanka is keeping a close tab on possible moves being taken against the country by Canada, the External Affairs ministry said. External Affairs ministry secretary Karunatillaka Amunugama said that the Ministry was aware of discussions held recently between Canada and the Bahamas on the Commonwealth summit to be held in Sri Lanka. He said that Sri Lankan Missions overseas had also been instructed more..

May 19 (CT) My thanks to Prof GH (‘Gerry’) Peiris, a scholar for whom I have considerable respect, for his critical engagement (‘Should Sri Lanka persist with Province-based Devolution’, with my extended remarks on devolution and the provincial councils made at a seminar of the Liberal party (‘Northern Provincial Council: The Devolution Debate’). This is perhaps the most serious political topic and issue for public –policy debate and decision-making in the current stage of Sri Lanka’s history; more..

May 19 (SO) In the backdrop of recent allegations that toxic material was found in some brands of imported milk powder, the nation’s primary milk producing company, MILCO (Pvt) Ltd, confirmed that there is no toxic material in their milk powder or other dairy products. MILCO Chairman Sunil Wickramasinghe said that their products are tested at regular intervals and no traces of any chemicals were found in them. Wickramasinghe projected that Sri Lanka will produce 70% of its total more..

May 19 (ST) The UPFA Govt’s course correction over issues listed in the US resolution at the UNHRC in Geneva continues to pose critical challenges to it. Both locally and internationally, storm clouds are building. It is over one of the key elements, the conduct of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) elections slated for the first week of September. At least officially, there is still no activation of any mechanisms for such a poll. more..

May 19 (Island) A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court last week dismissed a human rights application of a 13-year old Royal College squash player disciplined for an alleged display of bad temper on the court in the course of a game. The player concerned is the son of a former deputy principal of the Royal College Middle School. The bench comprised Justices Shiranee Tilakawardane, Priyasath Dep, PC and Rohini Marasinghe. The petitioner claimed that the school authorities more..

May 19 (NS) The eagerly looked forward to television and broadcasting and production contract which Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has to take a final decision on is still pending because of the change of office-bearers brought about as a result of the recent election. When the existing television contract with Taj Television (Ten Sports) was coming to an end in March this year SLC called for fresh tenders but on this occasion they separated the television and broadcasting rights and more..

May 19 (ST) The govt is bringing in sweeping changes to recent restrictions imposed on foreign ownership of businesses and property to promote foreign investments. The Finance Ministry will issue a circular indicating these changes following the Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera’s endorsement of these decisions, reversing a budget decision. In a 180-degree turn from the recent decision and subsequent more..

May 19 (NS) The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) while recognizing the rights of civil societies and trade unions to protest called upon all parties to act within the framework of the law. The BASL in a statement yesterday warned that it would act to uphold the Rule of Law against those who infringe the rights. The BASL said civil society and trade unions had the rights to engage in such matters of importance within the framework of law and in the exercise of their fundamental civil liberties more..

May 19 (SL) The United States (US) has begun looking at the progress made in Sri Lanka following the resolution adopted at the UNHRC in March this year. The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Michele J. Sison met the TNA last week to get their views on the post UNHRC situation. “The Ambassador wanted to meet us to discuss the UNHRC resolution and see what progress has been made since it was adopted,” TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran said. He said that the US envoy was also briefed on more..

May 19 (ST) The Colombo Shipping Corporation (CSC) has repossessed its debt-ridden MV Lanka Mahapola vessel which was stranded in the Port of Mombasa in Kenya. But, instead of sailing the dilapidated ship back to Sri Lanka, the Corporation will sell it off in Mombasa, a source revealed. On Friday, the Ministry of Ports and Aviation invited bids for sale of the 30-year-old multipurpose general cargo vessel. more..

May 19 (Island) UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said yesterday that it was only after party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe gave a public assurance to establish a law-abiding, just society devoid of violence, corruption and malpractices in 2014 that many eminent astrologers have come out with predictions that he (Wickremesinghe) stood a bigger chance of being elected to power next year. He was responding to a question by the Island on how presidential or parliamentary elections more..

May 19 (ST) The Maldives was among countries that thwarted moves for a venue shift of the Commonwealth summit on the grounds that the Sri Lankan Govt violated the 54-nation grouping’s principles. “Some other countries tried to raise this issue,” Maldives Foreign Minister Abdul Samad Abdulla said. Dr. Abdulla who was in Sri Lanka on a brief visit said that the Maldives was totally against any move to change the venue of the next CHOGM scheduled to be held in SL in November. more..

May 19 (Island) Having consulted Minister G.L. Peiris yesterday, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said that contrary to media reports, acquiring land by the govt for the expansion of Palaly-Kankesanthurai security zone hadn’t been raised by Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid when he phoned his Sri Lankan counterpart on Friday. Rajapaksa said that positioning of armed forces during the war as well as more..

May 19 (Island) Of 350,000 school leavers each year, many move out to a bleak future because only 8% to 10 % qualify to enter universities, said Mohan Lal Grero, Monitoring MP. He said till about the 1960s, the education system was adequate to subscribe to the needs of the country, but since the JVP uprising of 1971, the concurrent systems adopted totally muddied the waters of education leaving behind a compromising situation of confusion and inadequacy. more..

May 19 (ST) With the recent 20% wage hike given to plantation sector workers, Sri Lanka’s once lucrative tea industry is facing a threat of collapse due to the inability to increase labour productivity and declining yields in high grown, mid grown and Uva tea sectors. As a result, the cost of production of these Regional Plantation Companies(RPC’S) would rise by Rs. 40 to Rs. 50 per kg. Each company would have to pay in excess of Rs. 10 billion on wages, EPF/ETF and gratuity, more..

May 19 (SL) Election monitors are concerned about the possible strong military presence in the North if elections are held in September. Executive Director of CaFFE, Keerthi Tennakoon said that the political environment, the political freedom, the freedom of press and freedom of movement in the North needs to be addressed before the elections take place. “There are still restrictions in those areas that could hamper more..

May 19 (SL) The govt has launched a campaign to promote Sri Lanka ahead of the CHOGM in November. External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunatilaka Amunugama said that the govt will also attend a meeting to be held at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London this week. He said that Media Ministry Secretary Charitha Herath is heading the publicity team in Sri Lanka while Sri Lankan High Commissions overseas are also carrying out separate campaigns ahead of the summit. more..

May 19 (Island) Sri Lankan-Canadian producer/director Priyankara Vittanachchi’s film ‘Sam’s Story’ has been selected for screening at the New York City International Film Festival, while actor Jagath Chamila has been nominated in the Best Actor category. It is the debut feature of UCLA-qualified, Vittanachchi who shot the film entirely in Sri Lanka. It had its world premiere at the SAFF Vancouver last year. Film Festival will be held from June 13 – 20. more..

May 19 (ST) Aimed at attracting S$ 2 billion in Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) this year, the Sri Lanka Board of Investment (BOI) is now accelerating proposed projects under implementation through rapid investor facilitation, follow up action and constant monitorig while making every effort to attract prospective high net-worth foreign investors, the head of Sri Lanka’s investment promotion agency said. Sri Lanka is a “gold mine more..

May 19 (TOI) In a rare collaboration, two groups espousing the cause of separatism came together at a marriage hall in Cuddalore in northern Tamil Nadu on Saturday. Striking a chord with pro-Tamil activists, Kashmir separatist leader Yasin Malik spoke about the 'Eelam dream' on the eve of the death anniversary of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. This is the first time that a Kashmiri separatist leader has been invited to Tamil Nadu to talk about the emotive Eelam issue. more..

May 19 (SL) The Tamil political parties which were involved in formulating a draft political solution for the Tamil issue failed to reach a consensus last week. A committee comprising TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran, TNPF leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, senior lawyer Puvindran and law faculty lecturer Kumara Guruparan, had been formed last weekend to formulate the draft proposal. However Sumanthiran said that the committee had failed to reach a consensus after more..

May 19 (CT) The Left parties in the ruling coalition have taken a collective decision not to support an amendment that envisages weakening the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, Minister D.E.W. Gunasekara said. A coalition of traditional Left parties including the Communist Party, LSSP, Socialist Left Party and Desha Vimukthi Janatha Party which are constituent parties of the ruling UPFA hold 12 seats more..

May 19 (SL) Members of the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) were arrested in Mannar yesterday while they were participating in an event to remember the civilians killed during the final stages of the war in the north. TNPF leader Gajen Ponnambalam said that the police had given him an assurance the TNPF members will be released after statements were recorded from them. He also said that the police had visited the TNPF office in Jaffna but no one was arrested there. more..

May 19 (SL) The Colombo Divisional Secretariat has lost its archeological value as a result of the fire which damaged the building and some of the documents last year. The District Secretary of Colombo Kamal Padmasiri said that he had discussions with the Archeological Department regarding the building. He had been informed that the building, which was once an archeological site, has now lost that value. The building was built by the British in 1854 and was preserved over the more..

May 19 (Island) Upon resuming office, officials of Sri Lanka Cricket’s Executive Committee spoke of their ambitions plans to make the national cricket team the best in all three formats. But more than a month on, the authorities have done little to show they mean what they talk. The ongoing SLC triangular tournament at Pallekele was meant as preparation for the upcoming Champions Trophy tournament. While the tournament has more..

May 19 (ST) I love to indulge in cricket. But, nowadays it is confined to the couch in my living room and the press enclosure at the venues. If watching cricket is my favourite past-time, about 75-80 per cent of my time is devoted to supporting Sri Lankan cricket and watching them in action. Yet, in the recent past, I was compelled to witness the despicable. Three Rajastan Royal players had been floored by the Indian Police after screening them for a long period and taping their conversations more..

May 19 (ST) My Dear Wimal, I thought of writing to you when I heard that you were thinking of leaving the Cabinet because you did not agree with some of the policies that are being adopted by the Blues. I thought I must quickly inform you not take such hasty decisions. From what I heard you say in your May Day rally, Wimal, you wanted to leave the government because of their plans to hold elections to the North to create a provincial council there. I was told you even held a separate May Day more..