June 2 (CT) Minister Rajitha Senaratne said that Interpol assistance will be sought to bring back to the country the former Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Defence as well as Ministry of Home Affairs Damayanthi Jayaratne, the main witness in the Avant Garde incident who had fled the country. He also said that if the Public Services Commission had taken action to suspend her from service, as she was the main witness in more..

June 2 (SL) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) which denied its employees the annual New Year bonus last month claiming lack of funds, have released millions of rupees from its funds to assist its office bearers and their spouses to enjoy a memorable pre Christmas in London next month. Startling details have been revealed of how 13 office bearers are to take wing to London on business class using SLC money. more..

June 2 (DM) JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake charged that Minister Lakshman Kiriella had appointed 94 persons as Coordinating Secretaries and 56 as Advisors to the Ministry of Highways. All the 56 Advisors had been appointed are from Kandy District, which is the Minister�s electorate. Some of them had not passed the GCE O/L exam. �Usually a Minister has around 15 persons as personal staff, more..

June 2 (CT) The govt's decision to impose massive import duties on vehicles last week moves us to comment that it was ill-advised if only it would be self-defeating as a tax gambit because it could only serve to discourage imports but should imports at the absurdly higher rate continue, it would have disastrous repercussions on the average and below-average wage earner. A couple of days later Minister John Amaratunga virtually said the same thing couched in different words. more..

June 2 (CT) Education is a process by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills and values to the other generation. Education is a fundamental Right expected to be enjoyed by every citizen guaranteed in SL Constitution and many parts of the world. Absolute freedom of education is not found anywhere in the world including SL. Parents give preference and priority to educate their children as an investment and for the future of their children, family, & country. more..

June 2 (Reuters) Shares edged down on Thursday, posting their lowest close in nearly five weeks, as rising interest rates weighed on risky assets, while lack of new catalysts also dented sentiment. Treasury bill yields rose between 4 and 35 basis points to near three-year highs in two weekly auctions through Wednesday despite the central bank leaving key policy rates steady for a third straight month on May 20. Stock index ended 0.29%, or 18.91 points, weaker at 6,523.84, more..

June 2 (Island) Scientists attached to the NARA�s regional research centre located at Kadolkele, Negombo have discovered rare specie of mangrove from Adampane in Trincomalee. It was the first time the specie known among locals as Rathugas or Punkanda had been detected and recorded, Extension Officer of the NARA Tharanga Buddhika said. The propagule of the plant is turned upward unlike in the case of other mangrove species which have their propagules turned downwards, more..

June 2 (Island) The Supreme Court yesterday fixed for support on June 22, 2016, the fundamental rights violation petition filed by UPFA MP Wimal Weerawanse, Ven. Bengamuwa Nalaka Thera and four others challenging the legality of the 15% VAT, imposed since Jan 1, 2016. The petitioners had complained that according to Article 148 of the constitution of Sri Lanka tax variations or increases should be done with the approval of parliament by an amended Act of Law. more..

June 2 (DM) Minister Lakshman Kiriella responded to an allegation by JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, saying that he only had one consultant approved by the Cabinet. He said Mr. Dissanayake�s accusation that he had 94 coordinating secretaries was baseless. �There is only one consultant in my Ministry. He is Dr. Wimal Gunawardena who is internationally renowned. RDA has given appointments to supervisors, management assistants, clerks and more..

June 2 (DM) NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa said today Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran had spent Rs.14.5 million for his personal expenses between February and December last year using the credit card issued by the central bank. He asked President Sirisena whether he would re-appoint such a person to the post. Mr. Weerawansa said showing a document that Mr. Mahendran had paid hotel bills amounting to more..

June 2 (DM) CSN Chairman Rohan Weliwita who had arrived in Singapore to attend the Broadcast Asia Exhibition had been deported by the country�s Immigration and Emigration officials, the joint opposition said today. It said Mr. Weliwita had left for Singapore on Tuesday and had been deported after three hours of interrogation. �Court has permitted Mr. Weliwita to travel abroad. In such scenario there are reasons to suspect the presence of a hidden hand behind his deportation. more..

June 2 (DM) Horowpathana Police OIC Sugath Roshan Sanjeewa�s wife Deepika Jayawardene (44) who was stabbed by her son in law at their house in Galenbindunuwewa last week, had succumbed to her injuries at the Anuradhapura Hospital last night. Doctors said her condition worsened last night due to injuries caused to her lungs. Her daughter Ishara Malshani who sustained serious injuries in the incident died on admission to the Hospital. OIC�s son in law Rumesh Asiri (24) was arrested more..

June 2 (AM) Gangodawila Magistrate heard the submissions by former Colombo Additional Magistrate Thilina Gamage and the AG's Department and reserved the order on granting bail to Gamage for 6 p.m. today. Gamage has been named a suspect for allegedly possessing an elephant calf with no valid license. The elephant named Sakura was discovered from his residence in early 2015. Its value has been estimated at more..

June 2 (CI) Uncapped left-arm seamer Chaminda Bandara has been called in as a replacement for the injured Dushmantha Chameera in Sri Lanka's squad for the third Test against England at Lord's. His selection follows Chameera's lower-back injury, which ruled him out for the rest of the England tour. Bandara, 29, will leave for England with Kusal Perera, who replaced injured seamer Dhammika Prasad; both players will be available for selection for the Lord's Test, which starts from June 9. more..

June 2 (DM) Eight former LTTE suspects, who were on bail were ordered to be discharged from the cases on the instructions of the Attorney General by Colombo Additional Magistrate Aruni Attigalle yesterday. They were earlier detained over the allegations under the Prevention of Terrorist Act. Earlier, the court had released 39 LTTE suspects on bail, who were also detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Meanwhile, Bagirathi Murugesu, an alleged leader of LTTE Sea Tiger Division, more..

June 2 (CT) Overweight Cabin Crew of SriLankan Airlines is said to be grounded after a medical check up completed by the airline�s appointed Medical Clinic, revealed that their Body Mass Index (BMI) was over the airline�s permitted standard. The airline�s management ordered the entire 1300 plus cadre of Cabin Crew to have their BMI measured in February this year. It was then revealed that an alarming number of Cabin Crew who were more..

June 2 (TOI) �Ma�dad won�t becoming with us when we leave, will he?� asks a little girl to her pregnant mother. It�s the sort of question that is asked a lot in the Tamil areas of Sri Lanka -where most families have �missing� members. The war has ended but the troubles haven�t. That�s what activist Sherine Xavier wanted to tell the outside world through her film, Muttruppulliya (Is it the full stop). Based on true stories, the Jaffna-based director-activist tells the story of more..

June 2 (AD) Former ASP of Embilipitiya D.W.C. Dharmarathna, who was in remand in connection with the alleged murder of Sumith Prasanna Jayawardena, has been granted bail. Dharmarathna was ordered to be released after a bail application filed on behalf of him was taken up for hearing before the Embilipitiya High Court this morning. The suspect was released on two personal bails of Rs.500,000 and a cash bail of Rs.20,000. The ASP was arrested on suspicion over the death of more..

June 2 (EN) Central bank intends to change its Treasury Bond auction practices, being more transparent and adopting international best practices, it announced in a statement which came amid concern over rigging at the auctions. The EPF, the govt pension fund, is to actively participate at the primary auctions, central bank said. Central bank bond management team would hold pre-bid meetings with all the Primary Dealers more..

June 2 (Xinhua) China's Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has opened its first hotel in Sri Lanka in the southern town of Hambantota. Sri Lankas President Maithripala Sirisena and several ministers in the government attended the opening ceremony Wednesday together with high-profile local and foreign guests. Tourism Minister John Amaratunga, speaking at the opening ceremony, said that the hotel will help boost tourism in Hambantota and in Sri Lanka. more..

June 2 (SLN) Leading Seaman Sanath Bandara, managed to secure three awards in the award ceremony organized by Assists World Records Research Foundation in India on 27th May. Leading Seaman Bandara happened to be the only Sri Lankan and the only person to clinch three awards at a time in the ceremony which gave away number of awards for the world record holders. During a meeting held at the Naval Headquarters Commander of Navy, Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne congratulated more..

June 2 (AP) Sri Lanka performed final Buddhist rites at the site of last month's massive landslide Thursday and ended the search for some 100 people believed to have been buried under the broken earth. The rites were performed in memory of those missing and the search effort was halted "on the request of the relatives and people in the area because they felt there is no point in further searching for the missing people as 15 days have already passed," more..

June 2 (DT) Yesterday, Bangladesh Navy ship Bangabandhu started its journey towards Sri lanka, with relief material to join the rescue efforts. Sri Lankans were affected by floods and landslides caused by cyclone Roanu. The ship is carrying around 100 tonne relief materials that includes fresh water, water purifiers, medicine, clothes, tents and generators etc. During departure of the BNS Bangabandhu, the 24 Infantry Division GOC Major General Jahangir Kabir Talukder, more..

June 2 (PTI) On Thursday four Indian fishermen were arrested by Sri Lankan Naval personnel while allegedly fishing near Neduntheevu, a small island near Jaffna in the north of the neighbouring nation. This is the second instance of arrest of fishermen from Tamil Nadu this week after the detention of seven persons from Rameswaram on Tuesday, on the very first day they put out to sea at the end of 45-day breeding season ban on fishing by trawlers. more..

June 2 (IPS) The picture could be straight out of a tourist postcard � a sleepy green mountain with misty clouds floating above the canopy � if not for one fatal flaw: the ugly gash running right through the middle. This is the Egalpitiya mountain in Aranayake about 120 kms from the capital Colombo. Parts of the mountain came down during the evening of May 17, burying three villages. Officially, a fortnight after the tragedy, more..

June 2 (LBO) Sri Lanka�s tea at auction offerings saw good demand low grown with overall volumes increased, Forbes & Walker Tea Brokers said. �Overall Auction volume increased further and totaled a 7.6M/kgs. There was fair demand mostly at easier rates,� the report said. �Overall quality of teas on offer were barely maintained.� The full report follows: Overall Auction volume increased further and totalled a 7.6M/kgs. There was fair demand mostly at easier rates. more..

June 2 (DM) The price of a 50 kg bag of cement had been increased by Rs. 60 with effect from yesterday, the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said. Several companies had requested the CAA's approval to increase the price because of the recently introduced VAT charges and fluctuation of the value of rupee in relation to the Dollar. Accordingly the new price of a bag of cement would be increased from Rs. 870 to Rs.930. However, it said the increment would not be applied to more..

June 2 (DM) Though the 4% increase in VAT has been severely criticised, main object of the govt�s tax system was to increase direct taxes and reduce indirect taxes, Deputy Minister Harsha De Silva said. He said it was not the govt�s policy to continue with tax increases for longer than necessary. Direct taxation amounted to 20% and indirect taxation to 80% and the government was planning to increase direct taxation up to 40% more..

June 3 (CT) Thilina Gamage is a pleasant young non-controversial magistrate, who was charged with public property act, and for the possession of a baby elephant valued at 6.9 million allegedly without a valid licence. It is also alleged that he has been avoiding / evading the courts awaiting the outcome of his application for anticipatory bail. His defence is said to be the possession of a valid receipt from the person he has bought the Elephant calf from. Many other cases are pending with more..

June 3 (CT) It was almost midnight when we paused our discussion on the issue of hereditary rights of Sinhala community of Buddhism at the International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University in Yangoon two weeks ago. Along with a few Sri Lankan monks who are pursuing their higher studies in Myanmar, the discussion was on the mythical ownership claimed by the Sinhala community on Buddhism. The wealth of knowledge of the monks on pure Theravada Buddhism enriched more..

June 3 (SO) The Vesak full moon shone on her and on the surrounding narrow ledge of glistening snow as, braving the freezing temperature and wind and, her own exhaustion after climbing thousands of metres in oxygen thin air, Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala reached the top of the world on the peak of Mount Everest at 5.20 a.m. on the 21st of May. This day in 2016 is now a memorable day for SL as our first countrywoman made history. more..

June 3 (SL) Former High Commissioner to the UK, Dr. Chris Nonis who was entangled in a bitter imbroglio with former Mahinda Rajapaksa lackey and Monitoring MP for the Ministry of External Affairs (EAM)- the infamous Sajin de Vass Gunawardena; is now in the heart of a controversy with the ex-diplomat being issued an interim order by the Commercial High Court. The Commercial High Court recently issued an interim order against former High Commissioner to the UK � more..

June 3 (SL) With SL facing the worst-ever floods in 27 years, SL economy has begun to feel the pinch of climate change. Govt appealed for foreign assistance to recover from gigantic floods that caused an estimated Rs 300 bil worth of damage. This is close to a staggering 2.43% of SL�s GDP of Rs. 11,183.2 bil recorded in 2015. The worst flood coupled with deadly landslides in three decades claimed over 84 lives damaging a staggering of 35,000 houses, with another 116 missing. more..

June 3 (CI) There are five wicketkeeper-batsmen in Sri Lanka's squad. Kusal Mendis and Kaushal Silva bat too high in the order to take up the gloves, it is thought. Niroshan Dickwella has not played since 2014. Kusal Perera is yet to arrive in England. So it is the most established batsman of the lot - Dinesh Chandimal - who has begun the last four Tests as designated keeper. Chandimal's keeping and his batting position more..

June 3 (DM) The controversy over the Eastern Province Chief Minister Hafis Nazeer Ahmed rebuking a naval officer at a function at the Sampur Maha Vidayalaya on May 20 has almost subsided, apparently following his apology to all concerned including the naval officer in question, in a letter to President and PM. The armed forces that had announced a boycott of the chief minister on May 26 too had revoked it on May 30 after the President returned to the country after attending more..

June 3 (Island) The govt has confronted 42 Sri Lankans whose names appear in the Panama Papers, released by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and several leading international media institutions. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake has confirmed that the aforesaid persons have been given two weeks to explain why their names are in the leaked papers which reveal investments by various persons through anonymous shell companies. more..

June 3 (DM) According to the traditional ayurvedic medicinal practice, migraine is defined as Lalaata Kotara Pradaahaya which comes in the Sinhala term of Iruwaaradaya. In the view of traditional ayurvedic medicinal practice, there are plenty of western expertise views on migraine. In order to fill that space, Daily Mirror held a discussion with Neurology Specialist Dr. Ruwani Gunewardane of Chief Centre for Brain and Neuro Care in the US who is a visiting professor at the University of Maryland. � more..