July 12 (EN) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will hold a trade fair in Sri Lanka this week aiming to promote small businesses in outlying districts of the island. The three-day Aadhayam 2017: National Trade Fair will showcase over 200 entrepreneurs, producer groups and organizations from ten selected districts of the country, a statement said. �The primary objective of Aadhayam 2017 is to create a favorable platform for Sri Lankan small and medium sized SMEs more..

July 12 (DN) Officals at the Sorriyawewa Cricket stadium had taken measures to ensure that the ball boys stationed around the ground handed over the trousers they were wearing prior to leaving the ground after the recently concluded SL vs Zimbabwe cricket series, according to officers at the Sooriyawewa grounds. Around 100 youth who were recruited as ball boys, whose main duty was to help with the main cover which more..

July 12 (FT) Top professional Thilan Wijesinghe has been appointed as the Chairman and Acting CEO of the newly established Public Private Partnership Unit of the Finance Ministry. The PPP, approved by Cabinet in January this year, is tasked with managing project selection and implementation and providing project transaction advice.� In addition, PPP cells will be organised in the relevant ministries to handle the work as well as liaise with the PPP Division.� more..

July 12 (LBO) State-run SriLankan Airlines has recruited 20 management trainees, following a one-year training programme, to absorb new blood into the organization, the company said. The company has taken six batches of management trainees in the past and the current intake was inducted in June 2016. The finance ministry said in a report that during the last year 124 employees of Mihin Lanka were absorbed in to SriLankan Airlines, while 168 employees had accepted a VRS scheme. more..

July 12 (Island) Zimbabwe�s historic series win against SL has given the West Indies a glimmer of hope of direct qualification for the World Cup 2019 with the gap between two-time former world champions West Indies and 1996 champions SL narrowed to 10 points on ODI Team Rankings. India defeated the West Indies by 3-1 and Zimbabwe overpowered SL by 3-2, resulting in changes to the ODI team rankings, more..

July 12 (DN) Sri Lankan javelin thrower with global fame Nadeeka Lakmali Liyanage was presented with a house worth Rs. 4.2 million at Suramayagama launched under the revived Village Awakening Model Village program at Mahakurunda, Miriswatte in Bentota, Galle by Minister Sajith Premadasa. He made the presentation at a request made by Minister Gayantha Karunathilake. Lakmali, born in Elpitiya, Galle, Lakmali represented Sri Lanka at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, more..

July 12 (Island) It was reported that Asian shares became� active yesterday and made� gains while the dollar notched a four-month high against the yen, as investors awaited any indications from the US Federal Reserve on whether it would tighten its monetary policy. However, CSE was still dominated by foreign investors while local investors focused on the proposed Inland Revenue Act. Foreign investors went for blue chip stocks while local investors focused on proposed Inland Revenue Act. more..

July 12 (Island) JO denied President Sirisena�s accusations that high profile investigations into cases involving the Rajapaksas had been stalled due to a secret understanding between the top UNP leadership and the former leader. Former Minister Ratnayake and Prof. Peiris intervened after JO MP Bandula Gunawardena said that the outfit wouldn�t accept President�s allegations as well as Minister Sagala Ratnayake denial of more..

July 12 (Island) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has sent us the following letter in response to an article in The Island on 22nd June, titled Angelo can bowl for IPL, not for Sri Lanka. We refer to the above captioned article appearing in your newspaper of the noted instant. SLC wishes on behalf of National captain Angelo Mathews to exercise its� right of reply as follows; National Captain Angelo Mathews was released by SLC to participate in IPL from 7th April to 14th May 2017, more..

July 12 (Island) An Education Ministry decision to drop the 4x800 metres and 4x1500 metres relays, the two longest distances from the All Island Schools Relay Carnival has become a bone of contention with some outstation schools calling it a ploy to deny them opportunities of winning the Relay Championships. Education Ministry officials with strong connections to some of Colombo�s power houses of schools athletics "who are hell-bent on shifting the winning advantage at more..

July 12 (FT) Sanofi Pasteur is to introduce its dengue vaccine in Sri Lanka following its success in 17 countries including Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Brazil and Mexico.� A spokesman for the company said that Sanofi is awaiting Health Ministry approval for the dengue vaccine�s use in Sri Lanka.� �Sanofi Pasteur is cooperating fully and transparently with the regulatory authorities to find the best solution more..

July 12 (FT) Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) will conduct the second consultation for Sri Lanka�s National Export Strategy (NES) from today. Over 300 public and private sector representatives are expected to attend in order to chart the next export growth cycle of the country.�The consultative meetings for the second NES will be held from 12 July to 20 July. The main objective of the meeting will be to more..

July 12 (DN) Sri Lanka�s first ever loss of an ODI series to lowly ranked Zimbabwe was another nail in the coffin for the current Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) administration headed by Thilanga Sumathipala. Since they were elected to office on January 3 2016, the country�s cricket has been on the down grade and unless some drastic changes are made we will end up like the West Indies or Zimbabwe. The only silver lining of the current administration is the 3-0 whitewash that SL handed out to Aussies more..

July 12 (CI) Angelo Mathews has stepped down as Sri Lanka captain in all three formats, following his side's 3-2 ODI series loss to Zimbabwe. Mathews, who called the defeat one of the lowest points of his career and said in its aftermath that he would discuss his captaincy future with the SLC selectors, conveyed his decision to the selectors on Tuesday. Mathews has led Sri Lanka in 34 Tests, 98 ODIs and 12 T20Is, more..

July 12 (Island) The possibility that the govt would use a site at the Katunayake Free Trade Zone (FTZ) for dumping municipal garbage has been put on the back burner following the protests staged against it, but we are watching what could develop later, trade union leader Anton Marcus said. "One thing the policymakers should note is what the Katunayake FTZ currently needs is not distractions but attractions to help its sustenance and growth. There are 10,000 job vacancies in the Zone more..

July 12 (DN) As the landmark global Information Technology Agreement (ITA) completes its 20th anniversary, Sri Lanka is to catch its first glimpse of the ITA in Colombo today. Two high level representatives from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have arrived in Colombo especially to give a first-hand briefing to surging Lankan IT sector and firms, trade and policy officials, and other stakeholders on the landmark WTO ITA�s way forward for the country. more..

July 12 (Island) Main shareholder of Pan Asia Bank, Dhammika Perera, had inquired about Treasury bond deals from the bank�s Deputy General Manager (Treasury), Aruna Dias, after an internal investigation report by the Central Bank on Perpetual Treasuries had been leaked, Presidential Commission probing the alleged bond scams was told. Dias said that Dhammika Perera had sought information about the issue over the phone. more..

July 12 (TOI) After protesting against Sri Lankan govt amending its Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act to ban bottom trawling in Sri Lankan waters for the last three days, fishermen from Rameswaram called off their strike on Tuesday after prolonged talks with fisheries department officials. They also announced withdrawing the immolation protest on July 14 they had announced earlier. On July 6, the SL govt amended their Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act in their Parliament more..

July 12 (Island) A five-member committee has been appointed to probe the theft of nearly Rs. 50 million from Postgraduate Institute of Peradeniya University allegedly by its Senior Assistant Bursar, who has gone missing with the money. Suspect Senior Assistant Bursar Mahesh Iddewela was interdicted by VC Upul Dissanayake soon after his disappearance with the cash late last month. He is believed to have fled the country. At the time he had withdrawn the money from a state bank, more..

July 12 (CT) Cabinet decided to close down Anti-Corruption Committee Secretariat. At the meeting, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe presented to the Cabinet a summary of the activities carried out to date by the Anti-Corruption Committee Secretariat that was set up after Presidential Election in Jan 2015 on a recommendation to the Cabinet by PM himself. It was intended to be a high-powered committee that met weekly to review more..

July 12 (DM) In this modern era of digital technology, vital qualities such as creativity, imagination and innovation are important not only for personal gain or convenience but also for socio-economic evolution for the common good of a country and the world. Though the new information and communication technology is also being used in a negative way and most analysts believe a bad situation is getting worse, there is also a positive side where good areas are getting better. more..

July 12 (DM) Ivor Jennings, who was primarily responsible for drafting our Constitution upon gaining Independence from the British, handed us a secular constitution. Multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural as Ceylon was then and now is, the Jennings Constitution safeguarded certain rights of the country�s minorities in no uncertain fashion. It was commonly known as Soulbury Constitution and consisted of The Ceylon Independence Act, 1947 and Ceylon (Constitution & Independence) more..

July 12 (SL) The govt will go all out to endorse the extension of zoo opening hours till 10 p.m. from Sept 9. Most of the scientists, environmentalists, researchers and animal lovers said that as long as animal welfare is maintained in proper order, the idea is an excellent one. However, some stressed that going by the zoo track record they termed it as a hurried decision merely focusing on the amusement of mankind. more..

July 12 (DM) Former External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, aired his views on the International Convention for the �Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances. Q: The Joint Opposition is critical of the bill to give effect to the International Convention to Protect All Persons from Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances. What is the reason for it?�A: It was to have been debated last week. It was put off. more..

July 12 (ST) Public anger and an air of despair greeted Minister Mahinda Amaraweera last Monday when he visited the villagers affected by the Multipurpose Uma Oya Construction Project. He was one of the three members of a ministerial committee tasked with assessing the damage and recommending solutions to the gargantuan problem. The hapless villagers vented their fury, wailing that the walls of their houses kept cracking, more..

July 12 (DM) The TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran, stressed the point that the bill to give effect to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance should�be enacted. He said enforced disappearance of persons is a crime to be dealt with locally.�Q : This is seen as one of the most obnoxious piece of legislation by its critics. How do you look at its content? more..

July 12 (AD) Cabinet has approved the proposal to purchase the PET-CT Scanner for the National Cancer Institute, Maharagama with the funds collected from the public through a campaign supported by Manusath Derana. �An initiative was launched by National Cancer Institute to seek public assistance for the purchase of a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner. PET scanner is an essential requirement for Cancer Institute more..

July 12 (Island) NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa, MP, has said that former President and Kurunegala District MP Mahainda Rajapaksa won�t contest the next parliamentary polls on the UPFA ticket. He was responding to SLFP General Secretary Duminda Dissanayake�s recent declaration that the party decided against giving the former president nomination. Colombo District MP called Dissanayake�s statement irrelevant as more..

July 12 (GDI) Ministry of Finance and Mass Media and the Department of Govt Information in coordination with all media institutions, mobile telephone companies and the Ministry of Health, Nutrition, and Indigenous Medicine will launch a joint program to make public aware on the dengue menace from today. As the first phase of the program, all electronic media will disseminate messages on prevention of dengue and on the importance more..

July 12 (CT) Standard Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (SCAPC) is planning to illegally set aside five tender bidders selected for the construction of the 300 MW Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) Combined Cycle Plant at Kerawalapitiya, and award it to a favoured person. Chairman of SCAPC G.S. Withanage is the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Employment. It has six members including the Secretary to the Ministry of Power more..

July 12 (DM) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe says the issues surrounding the Dambulla cave temple should not be subject to political benefits. Speaking at a media briefing held at the Temple Trees, PM said the govt has no intention of interfering in the administration of temples. PM said all issues have been sidelined because certain factions are spreading false rumours that Buddhism is in danger. more..

July 12 (CI) Dinesh Chandimal has been named Sri Lanka's new Test captain, after Angelo Mathews stepped down from the role in all formats on Tuesday. Upul Tharanga will take over in ODIs and T20s. Chandimal had served as Mathews' deputy and led the T20 team in the past, while Tharanga led the ODI team when Mathews had been injured. Speaking at the press conference to announce the new captains, Mathews, more..

July 12 (CT) Many people, including very many Buddhists, have a hard time imagining the Buddha going along with the rabid hatred and violence spewed by the BBS in SL against the Muslim and Christian communities, and with the ideologies of Bhikku Wirathu the leader of Myanmar's 969 Organization that claims to be a peaceful grassroots movement dedicated to promoting and protecting religion. 969 and the BBS have close links. What they are promoting is a new socio-political more..

July 12 (FT) Cricket has evolved into a very competitive sport in the world not only for monetary concerns but also due to advanced technology and the level of excitement and entertainment it creates, especially with the development of T20 cricket.�Auctioning players for millions of dollars, appointing cricketers as brand ambassadors, boards securing corporate sponsorships and the way individuals strive to manage SLC amply rationalise the alluring nature of the game in more..

July 12 (AD) Two adults and an infant have died under mysterious circumstances�after drowning in the Uma Oya. The drowned victims were reported to be a 2.5-year-old infant by the name of Thangarajah Leli, the infant�s mother, Karupaiyah Subramaniam, and the infant�s grandmother, Ramaiyah Karupai, all of whom were residents of Moragolla. The family members had set off to take a river bath in the Uma Oya at 10 am. today, and drowned in a water-filled trench, about 50 feet deep. more..

July 12 (Island) A new �furnace oil powered 100MW power plant mounted on a ship would be established in Galle Port, Deputy Minister Ajith Perera said. He told the media during an inspection tour of the Colombo Port Power Station to study it and to get an idea of the upcoming power station scheduled to be docked at Galle Port.� Deputy Minister said tenders would be called for the power station in Galle Port in August and the construction would be expected to be completed by 2019.� more..

July 12 (CT) According to news reports, President has suspended the recent supplementary estimate for purchase of vehicles for politicians, apparently to rectify the bad timing of the proposal in the face of the flood catastrophe. If it is only a postponement of the issue, we urge the policymakers to make use of the recess to install a transparent and an effective mechanism to rationalize the purchase and use of vehicles more..

July 12 (DM) A senior purohita in the top team had given a jolt to the heads of financial establishments and other statutory bodies coming under the purview of his Ministry when he exhorted them not to heed any summons from their state purohita adding that there was need for them to call on him regarding any official matter either. The purohita had told these high-ups: �Remember he is just a nominal one. None of the Ministry subjects has been assigned to him by the Gazette notification. more..

July 12 (Island) Professor of History of the University of Peradeniya Venerable Hanguranketha Dheerananda Thera passed away in China in the early hours of Tuesday. Ven. Prof. Dheerananda Thera while attending an education seminar in China was admitted to hospital there. Arrangements to bring back the remains of the Thera are being made by the University of Peradeniya, which he served for over 30 years. Ven. Prof. Dheerananda was 55 years at the time of his demise. more..