Mar 21 (Xinhua) Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that the country would remain engaged with Sri Lanka for getting the Indian fishermen and their boats in the custody of authorities in the neighboring island nation released. This assurance was given by Swaraj to a delegation of fishermen from the southern state of TN who had called on her in the Indian capital, in the wake of the recent death of an Indian fishermen more..

Mar 21 (EN) Efforts by SL�s shipping professionals to initiate discussions with the govt on a policy for its ports and shipping sector have been unsuccessful despite the new regime�s professed commitment to transparency and dialogue. Existing shipping policy was drawn up about a decade ago and has not been updated despite appeals by professional bodies keen to better exploit the island�s location close to the main East-West trade route across the Indian Ocean with a coherent, consistent policy. more..

Mar 21 (HCI) Applications are invited form Sri Lankan students (excluding PIO, OCI Card holders & NRIs) for nomination to Undergraduate Courses in Bachelor of Engineering (BE) and Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) under the Self Financing Scheme for the academic year 2017-18 against the reserved seats of the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India. The applicants are requested to fill-up the applications forms available at the Education Wing of High Commission more..

Mar 21 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka on Tuesday reiterated it will not allow foreign judges to be involved in the post war transitional justice system. PM Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament that while Sri Lanka is open to accept technical advice or observations, it will not invite foreign judges. PM said that Sri Lanka had backed a resolution at the UNHRC in 2015 as it recognized the efforts of the govt to take the post-war more..

Mar 21 (Island) Academy of Health Professionals in Sri Lanka (AHPSL) urged the govt to reveal its policy on the SAITM. President AHPSL Ravi Kumudesh said that if the govt was planning to make Sri Lanka an education hub, then it had to do its part by articulating its policy on SAITM. "It cannot wait for the issue to be resolved by student unions and trade unions on the streets." A majority of student unions participating in these agitations were not even medical undergraduates, more..

Mar 21 (DM) The govt was ready to hold elections for local govt bodies and three provincial councils this year, UPFA General Secretary and Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said. Amaraweera refuted claims that the election was postponed due to the instability of the govt. �We have no reason to be afraid of holding the elections. It was delayed because of the delimitation report,� he said. Speaking of the rumors of a cabinet reshuffle, Amaraweera said the govt had not made more..

Mar 21 (DM) Eight women Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) have been promoted to the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) with effect from Feb 20 by the National Police Commission (NPC), Police said today. IGP Pujitha Jayasundara had recommended the promotions based on their service period and skills. Accordingly, State Intelligence Service ASP A.G.N.D. Senevirathne, Fraud Investigation Bureau more..

Mar 21 (NR) Two key figures of the armed group Aava have been arrested by police in Kotahena. The suspects were arrested after questioning. The two suspects were in possession of a hand grenade, three swords and a hatchet. The suspects will be produced before the Jaffna Magistrate�s Court today. Special teams have been deployed to arrest other members of the AAWA group. Several persons of the Aava group have been arrested and remanded in the past for engaging in violent incidents more..

Mar 21 (DM) Four foreigners, who were detained at the Mirihana Detention Centre had escaped last night. Accordingly, two Nigerians, one Turk and a Maldivian, who were detained for violation of immigration and emigration laws, had escaped from the detention centre. Mirihana Detention Centre, which is controlled by the Department of Immigration and Emigration, is used for detaining foreigners arrested in the country. Mirihana Police are conducting investigations. more..

Mar 21 (LBO) The PM has asked for a new securities law which gives the finance minister flexibility to raise a lower or higher amount specified in treasury bill and bond issue notices. PM Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament Tuesday that the govt has asked the Attorney General to look into it. Wickremesinghe said the new legislation will set up a procedure where once the minister takes a decision, it will be advertised in the papers. more..

Mar 21 (DM) A Police sergeant attached to former President Rajapaksa�s security detail has died during a fitness test being held last morning, Police said. 45-year-old Sergent Sumith Seneviratne was a resident of Meerigama was participating in physical and medical tests in which if successful would have made him eligible for promotions and allowances as a member of VIP security. He had served the Police Department for 24 years and was taken ill during a road run near the Gamini Hall in Colombo 2. more..

Mar 21 (Hindu) Narendra Modi-led Union Govt should vote against the Britain-sponsored new resolution on Sri Lanka at UNHRC that tends to give the island nation time to address the alleged human rights violations, MDMK general secretary Vaiko has said. Mr. Vaiko, who launched his State-wide anti-liquor crusade at Kalingapatti in the district on Tuesday, said: �If the Modi-led administration decides either to support or stay neutral on this resolution, I will be forced to more..

Mar 21 (CT) Former CM of the once merged North-East A. Varatharaja Perumal says rather than insisting on the Hybrid Court for a war crimes inquiry, it would be better to initially try a domestic mechanism, as prescribed by International Law. He added that International Law states that in similar circumstances, a domestic inquiry should be first considered. Therefore, a domestic mechanism can be adopted as the initial step to more..

Mar 22 (CT) The last time I attended a panel discussion on Constitutional Reforms where feminist movements were seen moving mountains to change divine laws governing Muslim marriages and inheritance among other changes to the Constitution, I couldn�t help but notice such organizations having a sizeable number of staff consisting of members of the LGBTQ community, divorcees, single women etc. While I am of the opinion that what we do define who we are, more..

Mar 22 (CT) My name is Sarath Bandara and I was born, the eldest of three children, in Radagama, about 10 km from Anuradhapura. My parents were teachers in the local school, my father an Arts graduate from Peradeniya and my mother teaches in the primary classes. I began schooling in my parent�s school as my father�s friends in the Education department could not help me enter Anuradhapura Central because 10 km was too far away. However I found later that there were more..

Mar 22 (SO) We reached Dambakolapatuna, Sri Lanka Navy Holiday Home around 6.30 in the evening. At 2.00 am, the following day, we set out on the somewhat arduous trip to the Kachchativu Islet, an area of 1.15 sq kms - 90 kms off Kankasanthurai and 20 kms off Delft. The small islet is sandwiched between Sri Lanka and mainland India. We were seaborne to Kachchativu by the SL Navy�s Prathap ship under the command of more..

Mar 22 (DN) Today is World Water Day. We sat down with Executive Director of the Lanka Rain Water Harvesting Forum Dr. Tanuja Ariyananda to discuss what her organization does to combat water scarcity in SL. As the world undergoes climate change, seasonal rainfall is becoming more erratic, further challenging scientists and policymakers who wish to ensure water availability for everyone. One such manner of guaranteeing access to water is through rainwater harvesting, more..

Mar 22 (FT) In 1977 T.D.S.A. Dissanayake wrote a book titled JR Jayewardene of Sri Lanka, which makes interesting reading even after the 40 tumultuous years since its publication. The drastic departure from the existing order that followed made the General Elections of 1977 a watershed.� In principle, many of the changes that the new Govt initiated, particularly in the area of economics, were not only welcome but given the critical condition of the country then, were perhaps essential.� more..

Mar 22 (CT) Former Chief Minister of the merged North-East A. Varatharaja Perumal said, there is much to investigated on LTTE atrocities and disappearances committed by them, they also have to be inquired into. But these issues are not on the agenda in any place. Only the last part of the war is on the agenda of the UNHRC in Geneva. "Geneva has nothing to do with the political solution. It is in relation to the past more..

Mar 22 (DN) Chinese Defence Minister Gen. Chang Wanquan, a leading figure in the country�s defense apparatus, and a high profile delegation arrived in Sri Lanka for a hurriedly planned three day visit, earlier this week. During the visit, the Chinese defence bigwig held crucial discussions with the top brass of the national unity government, including President Maithripala Sirisena. The visit takes place against a backdrop where China has identified Sri Lanka as an important strategic partner more..

Mar 22 (CT) "Although the govt tried to cover up things, now everything is being revealed gradually." The doings of the govt are coming to light, so much so that the above can be said. Although certain media are trying to hide this information, Mahinda did not allow them to be concealed and released that information to some media during the immediate past in a criticizing manner which put the govt in a spot. Mahinda mentioned five unpatriotic documents of the govt and slashed them more..

Mar 22 (Island) Finally, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has acknowledged that, in terms of the Constitution foreign judges couldn�t participate in proposed domestic accountability mechanism in accordance with Geneva Resolution 30/1. Samaraweera hadn�t said anything to that effect since Sri Lanka co-sponsored the resolution in Oct 2015. Twice Foreign Minister Samaraweera made the declaration at the Foreign Ministry on the afternoon of March 16, 2017. more..

Mar 22 (Island) The CID has earned notoriety for its selective efficiency. It has suddenly woken up like Rip Van Winkle after eight long years and made some revelations about the 2009 assassination of The Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunge. It has been going hell for leather during the last several months to bring to justice those responsible for some murders under the previous regime. Special team under the command of the then military intelligence chief more..

Mar 22 (CT) In a bizarre move Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is set to send two school Principals along with the Sri Lanka Under-19 team for the forthcoming tour of Australia. Principal of Royal College Colombo, B.A. Abeyrathne and Principal of Kalutara Vidyalaya, Sarathchandra Silva are both set to make the trip. According to the Education Ministry's rules it's compulsory to send one school representative on any international tour more..

Mar 22 (IPCS) In 1908, MK Gandhi said, the English have not taken India, we have given it to them. This expression is applicable to Sri Lanka as well when one observes how some elites handed the island nation over to Britain in the optimism of a better rule. Before the Indian subcontinent won back its independence, Britain ruled the region with the support of fewer than 100,000 troops and managed to control 400 million people via draconian policies and supporting local allies who more..

Mar 22 (ST) It was a very intriguing topic. Earlier this month, Don Carlson, an education specialist from Microsoft Singapore visiting Colombo, and I were discussing education into the 21st century when we came to the point of: Will teaching as a vocation, survive this century? Will teachers be fossils in the future? Will newer teaching methods mean classrooms without teachers? No one can be absolutely sure because at the frenzied pace the world is moving, I don�t even know whether more..

Mar 22 (EN) Sri Lanka is setting up the infrastructure for domestic payment card, and also a switch to transfer cash between mobile wallets to promote cashless transactions, Deputy Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said. "We are improving the national payments system to promote electronic payments will lead to lower cash use in the society," Weerasinghe told BankTech Asia 2017 forum in Colombo. more..

Mar 22 (TA) People�s Leasing & Finance, an industry leader in Sri Lanka, said it has successfully raised $35 million in funding from the Middle East market for supporting its general business development and growth. � The three-year US dollar Medium Term loan facility has been funded via a club deal by the National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah (Rakbank) for $20 million and Union National Bank for $15 million. Alpen Capital (ME) Limited, an investment banking advisory firm, more..

Mar 22 (FT) Access Engineering PLC, the foremost engineering company backed by extensive experience and expertise in the field of flyover construction in Sri Lanka, is making a swift progress in Ganemulla Flyover Project; one of the recent projects undertaken by the company to ease the traffic amassed at Ganemulla town.�The project is spearheaded by the RDA and is funded by the Govt of Spain. The design and the supply of the superstructure are entrusted to more..

Mar 22 (ST) Sri Lanka�s investors are in a dilemma owing to high financial cost for their ongoing and proposed projects as a result of the borrowing rate hike to a new high at present, several local and foreign investors complained. Some of the ongoing and proposed mega projects will have to be halted midway due to high finance costs, they warned. Two years ago, the borrowing rate was around 8.5% and this was on the basis of more..

Mar 22 (DM) Joint opposition parliamentary group leader Dinesh Gunawardane today informed Speaker Karu Jayasuriya that not giving bail to MPs who have been remanded has become a problem for those MPs to carry out their duties in the House. Mr Gunawardhane actually requested the speaker to look into this matter. He raised this matter in the House just less than 24 hours after courts decided to re-remand MP Wimal Weerawansha till April 13 this year. more..

Mar 22 (FT) Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam claimed that the Nearest School is the Best School project (Langama Paasala Hondama Paasala) of the Educatiobn Ministry has been hampered due to the lethargic attitude and behavior of certain education officials at the provincial level and of the provincial politicians. Minister said that several officials of the Provincial Education Departments and the Provincial Education Ministries and the provincial level politicians do not more..

Mar 22 (CT) All Survey Department trade unions are opposed to the handing over the task of providing technical assistance for surveying to an American company named Trimble at a cost of US$ 154 million. A proposal for title/tenure regulation and cadastral registry modernization (TRCRM) has been sent to Ministry of Lands by the Economic Council. American company, Trimble, has proposed to intervene and get the sum of more..

Mar 22 (NS) The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) says that there is a need to tackle the gender gap in the national policy and programmes on drugs of countries while calling on governments to take into account the specific needs of drug-dependent women. Although measures must be taken to ensure their rights and the protection of their families, unfortunately many drug-related policies and programmes worldwide fall short in this regard. more..

Mar 22 (ENS) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday met a delegation of Tamil Nadu fishermen and talked about early implementation of Rs 1,500 crore package to augment deep-sea fishing capacity of the fishermen in the State. Minister reiterated the Union govt�s commitment for early implementation of the Rs 1,500 crore package to develop deep-sea fishing capacities for fishermen in Tamil Nadu and informed that the initial financial allotment in this regard has been made. more..

Mar 22 (Island) Scholars and experts have an opportunity to present papers that dealt with Sri Lanka�s successful war against terrorism and related issues as well as foreign judges in proposed judicial mechanism in spite it being contrary to the Constitution, at the forthcoming 10th Int'l Research Conference organised by General Sir John Kotelawela Defence University (KDU). Vice Chancellor, KDU Rear Admiral more..

Mar 22 (CT) A fire was reported at the Meethotamulla garbage dump and the Fire Brigade had been deployed to douse the blaze. Initial attempts to douse the fire failed as the firemen were unable to reach the affected area. However, the fire trucks were re-routed and later reached the area where the fire was blazing. "Backhoes are also being used to create a buffer zone to prevent the fire from spreading. Residents closest to the fire must have been asked to evacuate," more..

Mar 22 (Island) It was one morning in July 1956. King George Hall of the University of Ceylon was filled with a new batch of students eagerly awaiting the arrival of a wizard of Mathematics on the stage for the first lecture. A new chapter in the lives of the physical science and engineering students was about to commence. Expectations were high in the young minds filled with dreams of becoming academics & professionals. This was the only science faculty in only univ of SL at the time. more..

Mar 22 (CT) JVP, in Parliament, asserted that the renewal of the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) between Sri Lanka and the US would have a negative impact on both, national security as well as that of other nations in the region. JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the purpose of the ACSA was to provide military assistance to each other, between the US and SL, during military operations. more..