Feb 18 (CI) Sri Lanka Cricket's Executive Committee has made a unanimous decision to support the governance, finance and FTP changes in the ICC, which were proposed by the BCCI, ECB and CA, at its meeting on February 17. SLC had refrained from voting on the revised proposals at the ICC Board meeting in Singapore, saying it needed more time to discuss them. "The Executive Committee met today at SLC headquarters more..

Feb 18 (CT) It is typical of the style of governance in Sri Lanka that while the country is experiencing one of the worst dry weather spells, impacting agriculture, energy and water resources, officials are busy with yet another round of elections, timed as it is, for political profit for the govt from the fall out of Geneva in March. The dry spell, portending seriously parched conditions with equally serious consequences in the months ahead, has seen water levels at the major reservoirs more..

Feb 18 (LBO) Sri Lanka stocks close 0.57% lower for the forth consecutive day with tobacco and diversified stocks losing ground amid net foreign selling. All Share Price Index closed 34.45 points lower at 6,021.66, down 0.57%. The S&P SL20 closed 18.20 points lower at 3,288.04, down 0.55%. Turnover was 604.12 million rupees, down from 613.42 million rupees a day earlier, with stocks of 122 firms closing in the red against 52 gainers. Dialog closed flat at 9.20 rupees more..

Feb 18 (CT) �Expediting aid to Jaffna via Sri Lanka�s large and powerful neighbor makes perfect logistical and economic sense and will help to temporarily defuse an incipient controversy over a UN resupply effort by sea. At the same time, the Charge�s comments make clear that India remains sensitive to potential charges that India�s provision of aid opens the door to claims by both the Tamil and Sinhalese sides that India is again more..

Feb 18 (CT) You are well aware by now that Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has participated in the launch of the election campaign of the Colombo District JHU nominee Udaya Gammanpila, a candidate for the provincial council elections for the Western Province, on the the UPFA list, at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute on 13 Feb. Law is quite clear about senior public service officers taking part in political activities. more..

Feb 18 (CI) A touring team is a tight-knit group. A happy family can win effortlessly and brush aside the broken curfews and drunken revelry, while a feuding clan can self-destruct with loss after loss. Like nuclear fallout, the England Ashes disaster will be radioactive for years. At the end of January, in the shadow of the fiasco Down Under, the Authors Cricket Club, a team of writers I co-organise with the captain, literary agent Charlie Campbell, flew out to play seven matches in Sri Lanka. more..

Feb 18 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka's elections are heating up with poll monitors receiving over 200 complaints about election law violations, officials said. PC elections will be held on March 29, where 3,794 candidates will be vying to fill 159 positions in the two provincial council bodies. Election monitors have already warned the battle will be chaotic and possibly violent with many candidates of the ruling party, UPFA, and more..

Feb 18 (Reuters) The Sri Lankan rupee fell on Tuesday due to dollar demand from importers and stock-related outflows, a day after the central bank kept its key policy rate steady at multi-year lows. The spot rupee ended at 130.85/90 per dollar, weaker than Monday's close of 130.83/87. "The rupee is weaker on importer dollar demand and stock-related outflows," said a currency dealer, asking not to be named. Central bank on Monday kept policy rates steady at multi-year lows, more..

Feb 18 (Islnad) Sri Lanka was one of the very few countries in the world to import milk powder - 83,000 tonnes in 2012, but by end 2013 it was less than 40,000 MT due to contamination scare, Chairman of Pelawatte Dairy Ariyaseela Wickramanayake said. He said that the country had 240,000 milch cows and it would be self-sufficient in milk in a few years. Govt had given Rs. 20,000 million as subsidy per year to import companies and those funds should have gone to the dairy farmers, more..

Feb 18 (Islnad) Colombo Mayor A.J.M. Muzammil challenged Colombo District UNP Leader Ravi Karunanayake to an open debate on any TV channel and repeated the charge that he (Karunanayke) was one person responsible for the turmoil in the party. Muzammil said that Karunanayake had resigned from the party�s Nomination Board after completing the list of candidates contesting WPC elections more..

Feb 18 (GDI) The Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) celebrated its Golden Jubilee this year, Monday at the BMICH, under the patronage of President Rajapaksa, SLAS is the key administrative arm of the Government of Sri Lanka, with civil servants working for both the Central Government as well as Provincial Councils. Earliar, it was formed as the Ceylon Administrative Service (CAS) in 1963, the successor to the Ceylon Civil Service which was abolished on May 1, 1963. more..

Feb 18 (SM) Swarnavahini authorities have stated that 'Andy Company' satirical drama series was stopped as it had lost its quality after being telecast over a long period of time. Speaking to 'Sri Lanka Mirror' a bigwig in Swarnavahini stated that reports claiming that the drama was stopped due actor Ravindra Yasas being in the cast is baseless. Yasas is standing in for the forthcoming elections from Kalutara district under Sarath Fonseka's 'Democratic Party' ticket. more..

Feb 18 (TOO) A family of six, who fled from the UAE and hid in Oman, after the family head committed a financial crime in Dubai, were later arrested by the Royal Oman Police (ROP) and then deported to Dubai in the first week of February. "This is for the first time that we reported a case involving an entire family to the ROP, which in turn arrested and deported them," M.M. Deshapriya, the Counsellor of Labour at the SL Embassy more..

Feb 18 (Island) National Identity Card or any other identity document approved by the Elections Department is compulsory for postal voters to excise their franchise on March 13 and 14. Elections Chief Mahinda Deshapriya said that taking of photographs or videoing of marking of ballot papers was not permitted during postal voting. He asked media organisations not to publish or telecast photographs or videos obtained illegally inside the postal voting centres. more..

Feb 18 (CG) The Presidential Commission on disappearances, which met in Jaffna over the past few days, is to begin investigating the data collected from the families of those reported missing. Commission spokesman H.W. Gunadasa said that hearings were conducted successfully in Kopai, Chavakacheri and in the Jaffna town since last Friday. He said that while those invited to give evidence about their missing relatives had appeared before the Commission during this period, more..

Feb 18 (CI) Paul Farbrace, the Sri Lanka coach, was impressed with his team's ability to maintain emotional equilibrium that helped them edge past a belligerent Bangladesh team in a see-saw contest in Mirpur. Twice, on Monday, Sri Lanka fought back from difficult positions and ended up with a 13-run win in the first ODI. "A lot of time is spent on talking about holding nerves," Farbrace said. "You should not get too excited when more..

Feb 18 (LT) Audit reports show that Sri Lanka Cricket has incurred a loss of Rs. 652,872,798 during 2013. Despite the Sports Ministry attempting to hide the relevant report, it has been secretly revealed to the media. According to the audit report SLC has paid banks Rs. 160,112,052 as interest. SLC is in debt for the Bank of Ceylon to the tune of Rs. 1362 billion and has paid Rs. 81,175,291 as interest. In addition to this debt SLC has obtained Rs.137 million from ICC more..

Feb 18 (Island) The first intraparty incident in the run up to the PC elections was reported from Beliatta in the early hours of Sunday when a gang allegedly led by a UPFA candidate of the Hambantota District attacked a campaign office of former provincial fisheries minister and UPFA candidate Rohana Priya Upul, the deputy team leader of the district. OIC of the Beliatta police station, Inspector Indika Wijeratne said that the son of Rohana Priya Upul, D.V. Tharaka had lodged a complaint more..

Feb 18 (DM) Chief Justice Mohan Peiris will appoint a special Trial-at-Bar for the case in which former DIG Vaas Gunawardena and the five others including his son accused in the killing of businessman Mohammed Shyam. CJ had made this decision after considering the judicial significance of the case which was highlighted by AG Palitha Fernando. Special Trail-at-Bar will comprise the three High Court Judges more..

Feb 18 (LT) The JVP Political Bureau has decided to carry out a progrmme to present �Our Vision�, the policy frame work of an administration that would be established led by the JVP, to intellectuals, professionals and the general public with the intention of creating a public opinion and a dialogue in the society. This policy framework has been unanimously adopted at the 7th National Convention of the JVP. The party has taken measures to present �Our Vision� to the FUTA, more..

Feb 18 (Island) Attorney General yesterday informed the Supreme Court that the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC), the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) and the University Grants Commission (UGC), had jointly proposed to reduce the period of training in the MBBS course for the Registered Medical Officers and the Assistant Medical Officers to two years and eight months. The Deputy Solicitor General, Indika Demuni de Silva, appeared for the Attorney General. more..

Feb 18 (Quest) As the curtain of fog began to part, a ray of sunlight struck the small patch of earth where Sanjana Silva was replanting dozens of bright green barley seedlings. Silva lives and works in Sri Lanka, the tropical island nation that dangles from India�s southernmost tip. As part of his job as an officer with Sri Lanka�s Department of Agriculture, he searches for better ways to feed his country�s growing population. more..

Feb 18 (GN) Sri Lanka�s opener Hashan Dumindu, a fan of Mahela Jayawardene, steered his team to an emphatic eight-wicket win over the UAE and booked a quarter final berth in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 Cricket World Cup on Tuesday. Dumindu struck an unbeaten 113 off only 118 balls with 11 boundaries and a six. Speaking about his century, Dumindu said: �This is my first century in international cricket though I had scored nearly 16 centuries in domestic cricket. more..

Feb 18 (Island) Insufficient Northeastern monsoonal rains had resulted in the paddy crop in the five districts of the Northern Province falling below targeted production during the 2013/14 Maha cultivation, Northern Province Director of Agriculture S. Sivakumar said. He said that it had been planned to cultivate 236,303 acres with paddy during the 2013/14 Maha season expecting a yield of 325,709 MT, but actual cultivation had fallen almost 50% below target with only 157,674 acres more..

Feb 18 (DM) In an outburst following a challenge to an open debate on UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake, the Mayor of Colombo A.J.M Muzzamil today said that Mr. Karunanayake�s actions over the years had been detrimental to the party. �I feel that his behavior has been detrimental to the party as he acts for himself and not for the party. He has made statements against the Leadership Council and Nomination Board which he was a part. more..

Feb 19 (NS) Words are powerful weapons in the hands of a pen wielding (or as per today�s case a laptop carrying) journalist. The choice of a word can show the intent, purpose and even the upbringing of the writer. Currently, with an impending Human Rights Resolution against Sri Lanka by the United States, certain writers have started their assault on the country. This is intended to be the initial bombardment to weaken Sri Lanka�s defenses before the final assault in March 2014. more..

Feb 19 (NS) In my childhood, I was fortunate to see Vijaya Kumaranatunga frequently. A lifelong friend of my father Ossie, Vijaya frequently came to our home. At such occasions, hundreds of people flocked around to catch a glimpse of their hero. Some of them came to see Vijaya, the politician. But, many (including those who did not agree with his politics) came to see Vijaya, the actor. The majority of them did not know that Vijaya had started being a politician before he became an actor. more..

Feb 19 (SO) Coming from well known political family in the Gampaha district, Prasanna Ranatunga started his political career after contesting the crucial PC election in 1993 from the Gampaha district and climbed the ladder of politics within the Provincial Council system becoming a provincial Minister and ending up as the Chief Minister of the WPC in 2009. After completing 20 years in politics, this time too he is contesting more..

Feb 19 (CT) We were ruled by the British through their administrative mechanism- the Ceylon Civil Service (CCS); of course engaging �imported� British civil servants. Since the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) is the successor to the original British CCS and its domesticated CCS since Independence, one can trace its origins to 1802, the year the CCS was established by the British, though SLAS was established in 1963. After Independence with some reforms more..

Feb 19 (Island) Sri Lankans are a creative lot in spite of their many failings. Their penchant for coining sobriquets for the animate and the inanimate alike is amazing. A tiny van is popularly known as One Shot because it is said to have zero chance of surviving a major accident. Another van is called Sadahatama Oba Mage��You are mine forever��because it has no second-hand market. Maga Maruwa (�road death�) is the nickname for the death-dealing private bus. more..

Feb 19 (CI) St Joseph's College in Maradana, Colombo, has a rich cricketing culture and its alumni include Chaminda Vaas, Thisara Perera and current Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews. A rising star from the same institution is the Sri Lanka Under-19 opening batsman Sadeera Samarawickrama, who has been one of their players to watch in the World Cup. With two half-centuries in both league matches, preceded by 82 in more..

Feb 19 (CT) When Malala Yousafzai published her autobiography �I am Malala� in October 2013, written with the British journalist Christina Lamb, it caused an international sensation. Hundreds and thousands of copies of the book were instantly sold out; many favourable reviews appeared in the global press. She was hosted to a dozen of talk shows, interviews and discussions, including the one she had at the John F Kennedy Library in USA. Wherever she went, she was hailed as a young heroine. more..

Feb 19 (CT) All indications are that the Rajapaksa Govt is not overly worried about the next resolution to be presented at the UNHRC sessions scheduled to be held in March in Geneva. Having faced two such resolutions in 2012 and 2013, and coming off with practically no serious damage, the govt seems to take it in its stride without showing too much concern. In 2012, when the first resolution was brought against Sri Lanka, the Rajapaksa Govt was stung to the quick and was on tenterhooks, more..

Feb 19 (ST) Sheaam Deen has the sort of voice that will stop you in your tracks. His smooth, soulful vocals could be sampled when he releases his single �Afterglow� this month. A ballad about the troubles of love and overcoming them, �Afterglow� is also just in time for February�s loved-up vibe. The RnB soul singer made headlines earlier this year when his collaboration with Vy for �The Real 2013 Wrapup� scored favour with the internet, more..

Feb 19 (Island) LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, in consultation with his senior colleagues appointed two high level committees at the onset of the Norwegian arranged Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) finalized in February 2002. The CFA was underwritten by the US, EU and Japan. The committees were in accordance with Prabhakaran�s grand strategy to propagate the eelam concept overseas. The then UNP administration didn�t at least bother to check what was going on. more..

Feb 19 (Island) Apparently there are only three countries that will have to face substantive resolutions in Geneva in March, and all of them Sri Lanka, Myanmar and North Korea happen to be Buddhist countries of one �Yana� (vehicle) or the other. Of the three countries Myanmar has been �disciplined� after continuous application of pressure including economic sanctions and the country has agreed to a so-called consensual resolution. In �disciplining� Myanmar the western Christian more..

Feb 19 (FT) Frowned upon by the weather gods, Sri Lanka�s tea production has plunged by 50% causing havoc to the livelihoods of about 400,000 small holders and prompting possible relief from the Government, which has described the situation as �disturbing�. Tea smallholders numbering close to 400,000 have been affected by this condition, which has resulted in low income for factories that have begun processing more..

Feb 19 (DN) �Cool Japan: Wisdom of Japan� traditional Japanese �Kyogen� plays and workshop will be held at the Sri Dharmaloka Hall of the Kelaniya University at 3 p.m. on Thursday February 20. Senior Counsellor of the Honganji Foundation in Japan, Ven. Korin Ohtani and Kelaniya University Vice Chancellor Prof. Sarath Amunugama will grace the occasion as Guests of Honour. The Kyogen performances and workshop has been co-organized by the Honganji Foundation, more..

Feb 19 (Island) Amid intensifying competition and the need for long term sustainability among corporates, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) is giving leadership to the implementation of concepts of the internationally mooted Integrated Reporting, which is currently at pilot stage among many countries across the world. President of CA Sri Lanka, Arjuna Herath said that while the concept was �very valuable� as it focuses in depth on sustainability, more..

Feb 19 (CT) National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), yesterday arrested the school principal who had severely reprimanded a female student for having her picture posted on the social media network, Facebook, which led to the student concerned committing suicide. The student, Venusha Imendi of John Kotalawala Maha Vidyalaya, Kurunegala, had committed suicide as she had been embarrassed by the berating more..