Mar 10 (JRS) Seven years after the end of the 26-year long conflict, on 3 March 2016, Sri Lanka agreed to accede to the anti-personnel mine ban treaty, also known as the Ottawa Convention. Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) welcomes this move as a first good step towards durable solutions for those who have suffered war and violence. The northern and eastern provinces in Sri Lanka have been severely affected by land mines and explosives due to the conflict and there are a number of more..

Mar 10 (Island) International Women's Day was commemorated on the 08th of March, but women in Sri Lanka are not hanging around to take charge of their households or their lives! According to recent research, 54% of the main influencers and decision makers in Sri Lankan households are women. Deemed the main shopper of a household, this means that most purchase decisions and household activities are decided by her. So, be it compiling a nutritious grocery list, mapping out the next more..

Mar 10 (CI) Angelo Mathews has admitted he was not mentally prepared to take over as Twenty20 captain after Lasith Malinga resigned because of fitness problems. Mathews said he could not refuse the leadership once SLC offered it to him. "I was not," Mathews said, when asked if he was immediately open to taking up SLC's offer. "But I have the experience of captaining for quite a few years now so it is a challenge. more..

Mar 10 (Island) I joined my school mate Mano Sekaram to visit his village in Tellippalai in Jaffna last week, along with another friend Ruvindhu Pieris. They were two members of a team visting the North to empower the University students of Jaffna. It was a journey to impart knowledge. I have always enjoyed my visits to Jaffna. In a way its where I feel very comfortable rather than Colombo. Rasu, who has worked for the Sekaram family for many years, welcomed us with lots of warmth, as always. more..

Mar 10 (Island) A child was left without a school because his father had died allegedly of AIDS and his mother is said to be HIV infected. Although doctors have given the boy a clean bill of health, parents of the students of the school he was admitted to protested, claiming that he posed a danger to their progeny. Thankfully, the child has finally been admitted to a non-govt school and the dispute resolved. But, we believe, there should be a public discussion on the issue. more..

Mar 10 (Island) SLFP urged the media to take up Minister Lakshman Kiriella�s abortive bid to have a temporary lecturer appointed to the political science dept of Kelaniya University with the UNP. Ministers Chandima Weerakkody, Mohan Lal Grero, Vijith Vijithamuni Soysa steadfastly declined to either confirm or deny Minister Kiriella�s claim that he could direct universities in accordance with Universities Act. more..

Mar 10 (DM) Two previous Verit� Insights titled Sri Lanka missing world�s biggest trade party and it�s in her backyard and Trade agreements that don�t deliver the goods published in May and June 2013 pointed out that Sri Lanka is well behind her Asian neighbours in entering into trade agreements and that those entered into were also deficient. This Insight shows that this is even more so the case with agreements that go beyond trade in goods to cover trade in services. more..

Mar 10 (FT) The Urban Development Authority (UDA) partnering with the Housing Development Authority (HDA) will be launching an accelerated program for middle income housing, in which the Govt will strategically release land at a low cost for private developers. According to UDA Director General Nayana Mawilmada, middle income families are being priced out due to the unaffordable accommodation coming up in form of luxury condos in the centre of Colombo and more..

Mar 10 (DM) BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera charged that there was an ongoing conspiracy by TNA and several other personnel to chase out Sinhalese from their native lands in the North and East with the intention of re-merging the two provinces. Northern Province and the Eastern Province were merged into one contiguous Northeastern Province with the implementation of the 13th Amendment. more..

Mar 10 (CT) Royal College Colombo and S. Thomas' College Mount Lavinia will clash for the D.S. Senanayake Memorial Shield in the 137th Battle of the Blues annual three-day cricket encounter to be played at the SSC Grounds in Maitland Place from 10-12 March. This Big Match is the oldest Inter-Schools cricket encounter to be played in the island and the second oldest to be played in the world. The tally in the series is 34 wins each with Royal coming out winners in 2013 more..

Mar 10 (LBO) CSE recently joined Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID), IFC � a member of the World Bank Group, UN Global Compact, UN Women, World Federation of Exchanges, Women in ETFs and Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) Initiative to ring the opening bell for gender equality. These bell-ringing events are taking place in exchanges around the world to highlight the pivotal role of the private sector in empowering women in workplace, marketplace and community. more..

Mar 10 (DN) Lasith Malinga's absence from SL team has been described as "a big hole in our line-up" by head coach Graham Ford. "It is unfortunate that Malinga's injury is a huge blow to Sri Lanka cricket. He is an absolute match winner, brilliant player and from a tactical point of view he is fantastic," said Ford. "Unfortunately the injury is a real problem. Hopefully we will have him fit and ready to bowl when we need him but more..

Mar 10 (DNA) Sri Lanka are not just the defending World Twenty20 champions. They have a penchant for creating records in all forms of cricket. Sometimes, they make it look quite incredible too. For example, Sri Lanka hold the record for highest team score in ODI cricket (443/9 vs Netherlands), the highest team score in Test cricket (952/6 vs India) and highest team score in Twenty20 internationals (260/6 vs Kenya). With the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 underway, more..

Mar 10 (Hindu) Nalgonda police, who busted an international kidney racket during January first week, were preparing a letter rogatory to send to Sri Lankan govt through a proper channel seeking information over all the kidney transplantations that were performed at four hospitals in Colombo on Indian nationals. Superintendent of Police, Vikram Jeet Duggal said that they would follow the process in writing the letter rogatory since it needed to be passed through the CID of Telangana more..

Mar 10 (FT) President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed a Cabinet subcommittee to call for new oil tenders for lower prices, Minister Chandima Weerakkody said. He said Govt expects to remove the traditional buying methods of fuel oil. The move comes amidst allegations the Govt is paying above market prices for spot purchases and has given tenders to a company with no experience in oil sales. more..

Mar 10 (DN) UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) plans to boost Sri Lanka�s bamboo processing industry with under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) project providing US$ 600,000 as a revolving fund. The revolving fund is a mechanism that will expand the benefits of the UNIDO-GEF project to increase the benefits for the participating individuals and communities throughout SL. UNIDO will serve technology & other assistance to facilitate to restore 20,000 hectares more..

Mar 10 (DM) Joint Opposition lodged a complaint with the National Police Commission regarding the controversial Rajagiriya accident where a youth was injured and which involved a jeep allegedly driven by Minister Champika Ranawaka. Opposition MP Gamini Lokuge said they made this complaint to get justice regarding this controversial accident through a proper investigative process. �The Police have been guilty of irregularities in the investigation of this accident. more..

Mar 10 (PSL) President Maithripala Sirisena says he will appoint a special committee to submit recommendations to provide solutions to the issues pertaining to SL Customs Department and to streamline the works of the Department. He made this statement at a meeting with Trade Union representatives of the Customs Department, today (9). Trade Union representatives apprised the President regarding difficulties faced by them more..

Mar 10 (PSL) In 1989, Mr. Maithripala Sirisena, for the first time contested in the general elections from the Polonnaruwa District and became a MP on 15th Feb 1989. He contested under the well-known SLFP symbol HAND and this was the last time this symbol was used in an election in Sri Lanka. In the general elections of 1994, he obtained the highest number of preferential votes from Polonnaruwa District. After this, he was made the Deputy Minister for Irrigation. In 1997 he was offered Cabinet portfolio more..

Mar 10 (PTI) His decision to change his technique didn�t bear fruit and Sri Lankan batsman Dinesh Chandimal said he is now reverting back to his old technique to do well in the ICC World T20. �When I came to the (Sri Lanka) side, I played some really good cricket, then suddenly I changed (my) technicals (techniques), but it did not suit me, that is the period, when I went to bat and I thought that is not my game and suddenly I should play like before and I am doing this time,� he said. more..

Mar 10 (CT) Parliament was informed that the study carried out for the framework on the Economic Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) to be signed with India, was conducted by an institution whose head was also an adviser to the Lankan Govt on the ETCA. Minister Malik Samarawickrama, said this in Parliament in response to a question posed by Chief Opposition whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake, more..

Mar 10 (Yonhap) The foreign ministers of South Korea and Sri Lanka will hold talks this week on ways to expand bilateral ties in politics, economics and other areas of mutual interest, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said Thursday. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and his Sri Lankan counterpart, Mangala Samaraweera, will meet here Friday as the two sides mark 40 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations next year, the ministry said in a press release. more..

Mar 10 (DM) Commenting on the arrest of the Venerable Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera allegedly for illegally keeping an elephant calf in his possession, Opposition MP Wimal Weerawansa queried as to why the law was not similarly enforced on ministers who clear the Wilpattu Wildlife Park. �The law does not apply to ministers who clear out the Wilpattu National Park, but is strictly enforced on Buddhist monks. Is this Yahapalanaya (good governance)?�, Mr Weerawansa said in Parliament. more..

Mar 10 (DM) The Most Ven. Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, the Ven. Galagama Attadassi Thera passed away this evening while undergoing treatment in the ICU of the General Hospital, Kandy. The Thera was hospitalised after he fell in the bathroom of the temple this evening. Ven. Galagama Attadassi Thera was elected as the 21st Mahanayake Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter on May 8, 2015. more..

Mar 10 (CT) Minister Arjuna Ranatunga had submitted a detailed report containing charges related to the AGM of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) held on 3 January to both President and PM, immediately after the conclusion of yesterday's Cabinet meeting at which Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala was elected the new Chairman of SLC. Sources said that a copy of the charge sheet against Sumathipala had been submitted to Minister of Sports Dayasiri Jayasekera at the Cabinet meeting. more..

Mar 10 (Island) A resolution submitted by PM seeking parliamentary approval for the appointment of a constitutional assembly was adopted unanimously yesterday. There were speculations of a vote on the resolution and MPs remained in the parliamentary premises till evening. However, the House gave its approval after Minister Lakshman Kiriella read out the amendments. Original resolution was amended with the amendments submitted by the SLFP, Joint Opposition and JVP more..

Mar 10 (Island) Joint Opposition declared that it would move a 2nd no-faith motion against Minister Ravi Karunanayake as several amendments to 2016 Budget presented by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday would increase already burdensome taxes heaped on the masses. MP Bandula Gunawardena said govt tried to cover up its inability to manage public finances by blaming former President Rajapaksa, more..

Mar 10 (DM) A somewhat battered Sri Lanka team left on Tuesday night for the T2O World Cup tournament in India -- with President Maithripala Sirisena himself coming for their sendoff and the players having to be reminded that they should play as a team for the country. Thus it would be an appropriate time to reflect on the time-tested values of sports and what has happened in recent decades to sports also becoming a big business and many players alleged to be playing foul. more..

Mar 10 (DM) Why do women behave in an uncanny manner before men -- They throw bras, embrace and hug male performers on stage? Would a man ever think of doing such silly frolics in public? By such ridiculous behaviour, they surrender their chastity to the male; next, they cry foul. Discrimination can be challenged and corrected: but equality is a far-fetched reality. It was Aristotle who said, �The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal.� more..

Mar 10 (DM) The practice of gifting elephants, as a symbol of strengthening diplomatic relations, has become common in Sri Lanka over the years. New Zealand PM John Key, who recently visited Sri Lanka, was gifted with a baby elephant Nandi, who is the second baby elephant bequeathed to New Zealand in the past 12 months, after baby Anjalee. Anjalee was gifted to Auckland zoo back in 2012. more..

Mar 10 (DM) The Indian High Commissioner Y.K. Sinha�s stricture on the joint opposition�s Prof. G.L. Peiris and former President Rajapaksa seems to have elevated the debate on the proposed Economic and Technological Agreement (ETCA) to a different level. Pressure was building against the agreement from different quarters during the past few months, but the debate took a different approach as critics compared more..

Mar 10 (ST) Sound pollution is increasing and has become second nature to Sri Lankans, with most people unaware of the consequences of prolonged exposure to loud noise. The law mandates that drivers cannot sound horns with sound levels exceeding 105 decibels within a 2m range or more than 93 decibels within a 7m range. This law is ignored by more than 80% of drivers of buses and lorries � main culprits � more..

Mar 10 (SL) Startling details of how taxpayers had to bear the cost of a British naval training not only to Yoshitha Rajapaksa but also to his school friend D.A.K.V. Dissanayake amounting to millions of rupees have now come to light. Although it is common knowledge that Yoshitha received training in the UK with public money, it is now revealed that Dissanayake too had received the same training in UK together with Yoshitha. more..

Mar 10 (CT) However, a recent report of a strange animal being found at Sinharaja has baffled wildlife officers who say they have never seen such an animal before. While wildlife officers continue to search for answers regarding an identification of this strange animal, its carcass is presently preserved in an ice box at Uda Walawe. Senior Wildlife officers have also called upon the public and experts to help in identifying more..

Mar 10 (IANS) Ahead of the World Twenty20 tournament, Sri Lanka veteran batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan on Wednesday pointed out that the team cannot afford to always complain of not having retired batsmen Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in the side. "We have a lot of youngsters in the team and they are gaining a lot of experience in this duration. We can't complain all the time that Sangakkara more..

Mar 10 (AD) Two men arrested for allegedly torturing a sea eagle, after pictures on social media showed the endangered bird being skinned alive and its legs cut off, have been remanded till March 24 by the Galle Magistrate�s Court. Habaraduwa Police made the arrests yesterday near the Babagala Bridge after a public outcry over the photos, which were published on Facebook and in local newspapers. more..

Mar 10 (Island) Director General Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Palitha Mahipala yesterday said that a large scale public awareness campaigns would be carried out on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including AIDS. Addressing the media at a seminar organised by the Health Education Bureau (HEB) in view of World Glaucoma Week, commemorated from Sunday (6) to Saturday (12) Dr. Mahipala said that continuing need more..

Mar 10 (NST) Activist Lena Hendry Rasathi Hendry was freed by the magistrate's court without having her defence called over her uncensored Sri Lanka genocide documentary screening three years ago. In delivering his verdict, magistrate Mohd Rehan Mohd Aris said the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against the accused. "After considering the evidence presented before the court during trial, the court finds that more..

Mar 10 (AD) The funeral of the late Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter of the Siam Sect, Most Venerable Galagama Sri Aththadassi Thero will be held on Sunday at Police Grounds in Kandy. Meanwhile the Ministry of Home Affairs says that Sunday has been declared as a National Day of Mourning in view of the last rites of the Buddhist leader. Chief Prelate passed away last night after being admitted to Kandy Hospital more..