July 22 (Island) Madness has cynically been defined as doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. Sri Lankans have been doing likewise at successive elections since Independence. They religiously exercise their franchise and vote for self-serving politicians in the hope that they would get a better deal only to be taken for a ride after every election. Yahapalanaya or good governance, the incumbent leaders promised them, two and a half years ago, more..

July 22 (NS) Being in debt in this commercially-driven world is not something that is unusual. We live in a world where we have to depend on each other for our own survival, whether an individual, or a nation. Sri Lanka is no exception. The country is in debt and is still looking for ways and means of paying them off. However, what is alarming is the rate of increase of household debts in the country. It was reported last week that according to statistics released by the Central Bank, more..

July 22 (CT) President of the All Island Trishaw Entrepreneurs Federation (AITEF) M.J. Dissanayake says there was a segment of society which was trying its utmost to stifle us by bringing in a Statutory Authority through the Provincial Council Administrations. Q: There were a large number of criticisms and allegations levelled against the business, running and the operations of trishaws or three wheelers in Sri Lanka. more..

July 22 (CT) DIG Lalith A Jayasinghe was arrested and is now being remanded for harbouring an offender and aiding the escape of the chief suspect Swiss Kumar, for the gang rape and the murder of 18 year old Sivaloganathan Vidya on 13 May 2015.  The DIG is suspected of having committed an offence punishable under Section 209 of the Penal Code. The relevant part of which is as follows; “… Whenever an offence has been  committed,  whoever harbours, conceals,  assists,  or more..

July 22 (CT) Sri Lanka's long history has been intimately conditioned by the monsoonal winds that buffet its shores and the tides and waves of the vast Indian Ocean. The greed and ambitions of its regional and distant neighbours who followed the winds and rode the waves coveting its treasures and its unique strategic position have been a bane as well as a blessing. While, time and time again, it was forced to ward off marauding attention of external powers during the course of its long history, more..

July 22 (Roar) It has been three and a half centuries since the Portuguese colonisers left Sri Lanka, but the language they spoke while here still lingers in the eastern coast of the country. Although few are aware of the existence of this language, Sri Lankan Portuguese Creole (SLPC) is spoken by the Portuguese Burghers, descendants of the early mestiços or the people of mixed Eurasian origin. This language was formed in the contacts more..

July 22 (FT) It is of no doubt, that Sri Lanka has tainted its history with the blood of the innocent. After gaining independence from the British we turned our attention towards, quite literally, killing each other. Some call it nationalism, some ethnic cleansing and some pure mundane madness. Whatever it may be, it is essential that we as a people understand the true events that led to an unwarranted war that claimed the lives of the very same we sought to enrich. more..

July 22 (CT) Feeling proud about one's own ethnicity is a very normal human behaviour. It is applicable to any community. It is also natural for some to go to extremes. It becomes absurd only when such extremists become so self-centred and delve into their own dreams. When the military power of a community grows beyond its limits it becomes a cause for concern. Enthusiasm that sprang up in S. India due to social conflict that came into being as a movement of Tamils Against Brahmins more..

July 21 (EN) Sri Lanka's will re-examine the income tax holiday granted to the President under the existing law, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said, with a new income tax bill proposing the sweeping away of ad hoc tax exemptions granted over the years. A central theme of the draft income tax law was to end the tax exemptions granted as favours to various people at various times, he said. more..

July 21 (C365) Pothas feels that Sri Lanka should look to emulate India’s approach to replacing superstars but it is plain to all but the most casual observer that the Islanders do not have the cricket infrastructure and base that their Asian rivals possess. India have an unending conveyor belt of talent drawn from a cricket mad populous of over a billion people, SL has a population of just over 20 million people and lack the facilities to ensure the best talent does not slip through their fingers. more..

July 21 (DN) Minister Champika Ranawaka was entrusted with the task of clearing blocked canals in and around Colombo. The Cabinet Sub-Committee which met on Wednesday gave the full authority to Minister Ranawaka on this regard. Minister, who was previously given full authority to ensure proper and efficient garbage disposal in Colombo, could shoulder the task successfully in the last few weeks. The new assignment comes on the heels of this success.    more..

July 21 (DM) GMOA today complained to the National Police Commission saying some people under the guise of being police personnel in civvies had attempted to abduct the Medical Faculty Students Action Committee (MFSAC) convener Ryan Jayalath. It submitted the video footage and the pictures of the incident which took place at the premises of the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA) yesterday. more..

July 21 (CI) Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav claimed seven wickets between them, wiping out a strong SL Board President's batting lineup for 187, on the first day of India's two-day practice match. Led by KL Rahul's rapid half century, the visitors then ended the day on 135 for 3. Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane remained not out in the thirties. Despite the President's XI's modest score, it had been Danushka Gunathilaka, who had made the greatest individual batting impression more..

July 21 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's consumer prices in June rose 6.3% from a year earlier, slowing from the previous month's 7.1%, Department of Census and Statistics said on Friday. The National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) rose 1.3% in June on a month-on-month basis, after rising 0.7% in May. The 12-month moving average inflation, for which data is available since December 2015, remained at an all-time high of 6.1 percent in June, unchanged from a month ago. more..

July 21 (DM) The commotion that was created when a group of police officers, some in uniform and others in civvies, attempted to arrest Medical Faculty Students' Action Committee (MFSAC) Convener Ryan Jayalath at the conclusion of a joint meeting by GMOA and several other organisations to protest against the SAITM, ended in failure. It was reported that Jayalath along with several other MFSAC representatives had more..

July 21 (LBO) SL Institute of Directors and global strategy consulting firm Stax, highlighting their 2017 Family Business Survey, says 32% of Sri Lankan family firms do not have a succession plan. In addition, one out of two Sri Lankan family firms in the second generation (sibling partnerships) have reported that they do not currently have a long-term strategy. These findings reveal some of the ambiguities and challenges experienced by Sri Lankan family businesses today. more..

July 21 (LBO) Export of travel-related products from SL will enjoy duty free entry to the United States following a decision by the US administration to approve the inclusion of travel goods from all GSP beneficiary countries, including SL, in the expanded US GSP scheme on July 1, 2017. Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that this would enable the duty-free entry of products such as bags, wallets and backpacks in to the US market after being previously charged 6 to 20% tariffs. more..

July 21 (AD) Three Customs officers attached to the container yard in Orugodawatta have been transferred over the stock of cocaine recently recovered from the Ratmalana Economic Centre.  Seven suspects have been arrested so far in connection with discovery of a cocaine haul, weighing 218.6 kg and estimated to be worth around Rs. 3.2 billion, on Wednesday. Ministry of Industry and Commerce said that more..

July 21 (CB) Sri Lanka's fast bowling coach Chamapaka Ramanayake stepped down from his role Friday (July 21) morning, ahead of the Test series against India. Former Sri Lanka pacer Chaminda Vaas has been requested by SLC to help the senior side for the India series. Ramanayake confirmed that he has stepped down. He added that there have been a few offers and that he will weigh in the options before taking up a suitable job after a brief break. more..

July 21 (EN) SL is expecting the parliament to vote on a new income tax law that will expand the tax net by August 2017, which applies from the 2018 fiscal year, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said. Finance ministry is currently in talks with industry groups and other stakeholders, whose views, if reasonable, will be incorporated at the committee stage or third reading in parliament. "There are cases filed in Supreme Court, and we will incorporate changes that are suggested," more..

July 21 (PSL) President Sirisena says renovations of 25 irrigational tanks in Trincomalee District alone have been completed by this year, under the govt’s program to build an agricultural economy to bring the historical irrigation culture back in Sri Lanka. President was speaking at a ceremony held today near the historical Kantale Reservoir. Ceremony was held to appraise the excellences in 2016 of Local Food Production Program. more..

July 21 (PSL) Godage Senior Writers Award ceremony jointly organized by the SLBC and Sirisumana Godage Publications was held under the patronage of President Sirisena at the SLBC’s auditorium, yesterday. During this event 15 senior writers, including authors and journalists received their felicitation awards from the President and in parallel to this the winners of the Penayata Pilithuru competition held at school level, were also presented their awards by the President. more..

July 21 (DM) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said govt has put in place a well coordinated system to permanently resolve the garbage crisis which has hit Colombo as well as several other cities in the country. “Several cities including Kandy are facing a garbage crisis. The intention of the government is to implement a coordinated effort by all local govt bodies, provincial councils, govt ministers including the Megapolis Minister to resolve resolve this matter permanently,” he said. more..

July 21 (AFP) Police faced censure on Friday over an attempt to abduct a student activist, a tactic widely used against dissidents by the previous strongman leader's regime. Minister Mangala Samaraweera said he lodged a protest with IGP Pujith Jayasundara over an attempt by plain-clothed officers to seize a student known for his anti-govt views on Thursday night. Other students prevented him from being grabbed by more..

July 21 (AD) National Police Commission has approved the suspension of Senior DIG, Lalith Jayasinghe. Commission has approved the request put forward by the IGP in writing, to suspend Jayasinghe from his duties. Senior DIG Lalith Jayasinghe, who was arrested on the 15 of July, was remanded till the July 25 after being produced at the Kayts Magistrates Court. Jayasinghe was arrested for allegedly helping a suspect in the murder of schoolgirl Sivaloganathan Vidya more..

July 21 (NR) Disaster Management Centre says extreme drought conditions prevail in 13 districts across the country. Accordingly the DMC noted Mannar, Puttalam and many areas in the North and North Central Provinces are adversely affected by the drought. Assistant Director of the Disaster Management Centre Pradeep Koddippili said drought conditions have been reported for close to a year. Many areas in Kurunegala and in the Kandy district as well are affected. more..

July 21 (AD) Public Utilities Commission of SL has granted approval to the alternate Least Cost Long Term Generation Expansion Plan (LCLTGEP) 2018- 2037 of CEB, with the view of ensuring energy security and continuous supply of electricity.  LCLTGEP has been compiled based on the results of the latest electricity expansion planning studies conducted by the CEB for the planning period of 2018-2037 which includes more..

July 21 (EN) Sweden's Volvo has agreed to consider the possibility of buying rubber components from Sri Lanka for its automobiles, Chairperson of the Export Development Board (EDB) Indira Malwatta said. Sri Lanka has established a reputation for rubber gloves and tires, but needs to diversify its product range, she told a business forum held by the European Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (ECCSL) and the European Union Delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives. more..

July 21 (FT) If the human race is fallen, politics – perhaps – is where it shows most blushingly. It is, after all, the world’s oldest profession; having thrived before the fall. In the beginning, when God began to create all the other pastimes and vocations, there was chaos and darkness brooded over the deep… but who created the chaos? In case you’re thinking prostitution is the oldest profession, perhaps you can now attribute it to policy – or the creation of employment for fallen humanity by more..

July 21 (CI) Dinesh Chandimal, the newly-appointed Sri Lanka Test captain, will miss at least the first Test against India after contracting pneumonia. Rangana Herath, who captained Sri Lanka in four Tests in the 2016-17 season, is likely to lead the side in Galle, in Chandimal's stead. "We were actually only told late last night - the blood Test came a bit late. He's got pneumonia," Asanka Gurusinha, SL's cricket manager, said. more..

July 21 (DN) SLFP General Secretary and Minister Duminda Dissanayake said he was certain that no SLFP MP will leave the Govt. Dissanayake was responding to a question from a journalist at a press briefing, about speculation that 18 SLFP MPs are planning to leave the govt shortly. Dissanayake went on to say that there is no need to panic and take a decision on whether to leave the Govt at this juncture as the bipartite agreement between the UNP and SLFP will go till December. more..

July 21 (NR) Sri Lanka’s fast bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake has tendered his letter of resignation to Sri Lanka Cricket. It is believed that Chaminda Vaas will once again be appointed fast bowling coach following the resignation of Ramanayake. Champaka Ramanayake was reappointed Sri Lanka’s fast-bowling coach in May 2015 after two years away from the role. He replaced Chaminda Vaas, who parted ways with SLC at the end of April. more..

July 21 (DN) Director General of CIABOC yesterday filed indictments in the Colombo High Court against Walallawita former Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Udeni Athukorala. This is for allegedly accepting a bribe of one million rupees from the former Bentara Pradeshiya Sabha chairman in exchange for issuing a permit to transport sand in 2013. Bribery Commission filed indictments against the former Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman on 13 charges under Bribery Commission Act more..

July 21 (CT) UN Human Rights and Counter Terrorism Special Rapporteur Ben Emmerson met LTTE suspects in prison in his recent visit to the island. Prisons in SL come under Minister D.M. Swaminathan, a UNP MP. Bradman Weerakoon is an adviser to this Ministry, while his son Asela is Foreign Ministry Secretary. Ostensibly, permission for Emmerson to meet these inmates had been given by the Foreign Ministry in a practice allegedly adopted by Rajapaksa regime of the past, more..