Aug 9 (Island) Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) has turned down a request from the GMOA to explore ways and means of thwarting the imminent dissolution of the SL Medical Council (SLMC). Instead, Dr. S.R. Wijayasinghe, President, AMS, has requested the SL Medical Association (SLMA) to convene a meeting to discuss the entire gamut of issues. Dr. Wijayasinghe has declined to participate at a meeting convened by GMOA more..

Aug 9 (CT) Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake yesterday, pleaded not guilty to Contempt of Court charges at the Supreme Court. The Court fixed 5 September for the next hearing of the case. The charge sheet drawn up by Deputy Solicitor General (DSG), Priyantha Nawana, on behalf of the Attorney General, was taken up before a 3-Judge Bench comprising CJ Priyasath Dep and Justices Nalin Perera & Prasanna Jayawardena. Ramanayake informed Court, through his lawyers, more..

Aug 9 (DM) The prices of fast-moving locally manufactured liquor products of Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka (DCSL) have been reportedly increased between Rs. 30 to 40 from midnight yesterday. The company had revised the prices following the amendment to the NBT on alcohol products, in addition to existing taxes. The NBT exemption applicable on sale of liquor by the importer himself, was removed and made liable with effect from April 01, 2018. more..

Aug 9 (DM) Govt intended to revise the import duties imposed on small cars and hybrid vehicles in the near future, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe informed Parliament. PM said the minimum duty rate of Rs 1.5 million for small cars with the engine capacity less than 1,000cc and the minimum duty rate of Rs 1.25 million for hybrid vehicles would be imposed as the increase of vehicle import expenditure had pushed balance of payments more..

Aug 9 (DM) Expert scientists are warning that the global warming catastrophe may be reaching a point of no-return with some western countries going through their hottest summers in history and some of them getting as hot as 46 degrees Celsius while California and Greece face their worst ever wildfires. Meanwhile the world this week marks the anniversary of another apocalyptic danger -- nuclear weapons. According to a Washington Post report, Hiroshima marked the anniversary of 1945 more..

Aug 9 (DM) Three adults were discussing politics in a quaint holiday house in Kabalana, Koggala named Octopus Reef a few days ago. The son of one of these adults tapped his father�s knee. The father handed over a mobile phone to his son saying this is what you wanted, right? The son responded thus: Yes. You were talking about ideology, whatever that means. The boy is just 11 years old. He didn�t know this, but the truth is that very few talk ideology and fewer still know whatever it means. more..

Aug 9 (DM) Q: How is your group�s preparation for the forthcoming Provincial Council polls? A: Both, the SLFP and the UPFA contested the local govt polls and were beaten badly. A large number of SLFP and UPFA members have joined the JO since then except for a few like Duminda Dissanayaka and Mahinda Amaraweera and few others. Our target is to achieve a landslide victory against UNP and form a SLFP govt more..

Aug 9 (ST) Amid piles of garbage on the streets with no proper disposal sites, a few solid waste management projects are expected to start operations by the end of next year. The most talked about solid waste management project, the sanitary landfill in Arawakkalu, Puttalam, will commence construction this month and the Megapolis and Western Development Ministry anticipates that operations will begin by November next year. more..

Aug 9 (EN) A delegation of senior Japanese diplomats and military officials had visited Sri Lanka's Hambantota port, which is now operated by joint venture company with China. The delegation had met key officials of Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) the operating joint venture, including Chief Operating Officer Tissa Wickramasinghe and Chief Security Officer Admiral Jayantha De Silva. more..

Aug 9 (Island) Parliament sittings were limited to two hours and five minutes yesterday as MPs listed to speak for the debate on Apartment Ownership (Special Provisions) Bill and regulations imposed under the Construction Industry Development Act No I were either absent or refused to speak. Sittings that commenced at 1 pm were adjourned at 3.05 pm as some of the MPs listed to speak were not present in the chamber and more..

Aug 9 (MFA) The attention of this Ministry has been drawn to news reports regarding textile imports from North Korea to several countries including Sri Lanka during the period Oct 2017 and March 2018. The Ministry wishes to clarify that the information contained in the news reports in relation to Sri Lanka are erroneous. In keeping with Sri Lanka�s international obligations as a member of the UN, Govt of SL abides by the provisions more..

Aug 9 (CI) Groups of spectators have helped collect rubbish discarded in the stadium following both SL-South Africa ODIs at Pallekele - the same venue where play had to be stopped last year when spectators threw empty bottles onto the ground as India closed in on victory. A group of students from the island's South Eastern University is believed to have begun the cleaning initiative after the third ODI on Sunday. more..

Aug 9 (AD) The govt has permitted the railways commuters to travel on Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses using railway season tickets until the railway trade union strike concludes. Reportedly, a special bus service by Army has been deployed today (9) to transport the students sitting for the G.C.E. A/L exam. Several railway trade unions including drivers and guards had launched a sudden strike at 3 pm yesterday (8) protesting the more..

Aug 9 (AD) The appeals filed by the seven suspects, sentenced to death over the gang rape and murder of the schoolgirl Sivaloganathan Vidya, were ordered to be taken up for consideration on Dec 13 by the Supreme Court. The applications, demanding the exemption from the punishment of the defendants, were taken up today (09) before the three-judge bench comprising the Supreme Court Justices Eva Wanasundara, more..

Aug 9 (CT) Police have obtained a written Order from the Mannar Magistrate not to permit the Media and NGOs, that are working closely on the missing and enforced disappearances issue, to visit the Mannar mass grave site to collect information or report on it. Police have claimed that several Media outlets have misinterpreted the information given to them by the officials at the burial site. more..

Aug 9 (EN) Sri Lanka can will regain a majority stake in the terminal company at Hambantota port from China after 80-years for one dollar and the port will pay standard royalties on containers and bulk cargo after 25-years, details tabled in parliament showed. There is also an option to buy the entire port back after the 70-years, the shipping minister said, filing answers to a parliamentary question. more..

Aug 9 (CT) Entrepreneur and Primary Industries Minister Daya Gamage at a meeting with agro based entrepreneurs in Colombo, yesterday said that while ganja (cannabis) is despised here because of its intoxicating properties, resulting in hundreds of acres in areas such as Moneragala where it�s grown prolifically being destroyed, on the other hand he knows of an agro entrepreneur in the UK who grows ganja legally for its medicinal value. Gamage said that whereas ganja, a tropical plant, more..

Aug 9 (FT) I heard that a politico wants the people who call on him to address him as sir. He had put up a notice to that effect outside his office. It made me mad. It made me sad. It made me bad to know. There is only so much that we law-abiding citizens will put up with. Thus this rant! A chance to plant an idea in other worshipful worthies� heads. To begin in a small way to try and genuinely change our political culture. A small step towards cleaning out the mouldy Petri dish full of the old, more..

Aug 9 (EN) SL�s stock market depository and settlement service provider said it would offer digital account opening options, removing paperwork for investors, along with electronic share issues and voting for shareholders. Central Depository Systems (Pvt) Ltd (CDS), a fully owned subsidiary of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), said it was announcing a number of new offerings to make stock market investments easier and faster. CDS has established a new unit to handle more..

Aug 9 (AD) Eight train including seven office trains are scheduled to leave from Colombo Fort Railway Station this evening. Train services had come to a standstill owing to the strike action launched by several railway trade union including engine drivers and guards yesterday based on demands over wage disparity. Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) stated that additional buses have been deployed considering the inconveniences experienced by commuters. more..

Aug 9 (DM) Some 104 chairs, each costing Rs 650,000, had been reportedly ordered from abroad for the chamber of the new Western Provincial Council building, JVP Western Provincial Councillor Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi said. In a letter to the Western Province Governor, councillor said even though taking measure to bring all institutes of the provincial council under one roof was a good move, it is absurd that chairs more..

Aug 9 (Island) Alliance Francaise DE CEYLAN, popularly known as Alliance Francaise DE COLOMBO, the Leading French Language and Cultural Center, will present an Evening of Music with Dr Manella JOSEPH on Saturday, 11 August, at 6.30 pm. Entrance is Free by Invitation, and you need to pick up your Invitations at Alliance Francaise, 11, Barnes Place, Colombo 7 (near Colombo Town Hall �Eye Hospital Junction). Tel 2694162 / 2693467. more..

Aug 9 (NR) Owner of Perpetual Treasuries Limited Arjun Aloysius and CEO Kasun Palisena who were arrested over the controversial bond transactions have been further remanded until the 23rd of Aug. The order was issued by Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne this afternoon. Magistrate also instructed 13 state and private banks to provide the bank reports to the Perpetual Treasuries Limited and four other affiliated companies to the Central Bank before the 24th of Aug. more..

Aug 9 (DM) President Sirisena today requested the trade unions including the railways to resolve their issues in an intelligent and humane manner without causing inconvenience to the innocent people. Addressing an event held at the Viharamahadevi Park, Prez expressed his regrets over the disruptions faced by students, who were attending the GCE A/L Exam due to the strike action being carried out by railway trade unions. more..

Aug 9 (CT) Farmers� organizations in many parts of the country are angered and disappointed over the failure to set up an adequate mechanism to purchase their paddy in this Yala season and alleged that while the Govt was only buying 5-10% of the paddy cultivation for Rs 38-41 a kilo, the private sector was grabbing the remaining 90% of the harvest for Rs 32 per kilo when farmers have to bear a production cost of around Rs 30. Representatives of farmers organizations more..

Aug 9 (EN) Japan and Sri Lanka is collaborating on launch award scheme to boost employee well-being and health practices that organizers say will bring multiple returns to companies ranging from drawing more talent to higher productivity. SL's Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) and the Japan External Trade Organization is launching the SL Corporate Health & Productivity Awards in 2019, to recognize business practices that promote employee physical and mental well-being. more..

Aug 9 (DM) Minister Mangala Samaraweera today requested railway employees to stop the strike and come for discussions and ensured to resolve their salary anomalies within 3 months. He told parliament that as a policy, he would not be ready to hold discussions with any trade union unless they stop the strike before discussions and added that he had not done so in his 30-year political career. He said he objected to the cabinet paper more..

Aug 9 (CT) Only 41% of Govt projects have been implemented during the first quarter of 2018, with a physical progress of 75%. According to the Govt Revenue and Expenditure Report of 2018, 90.2% of the expected revenue during the first quarter amounting to Rs 469 billion has been collected but despite this achievement there has been a slowing down of the number of projects being completed. What is more astounding is that out 1,354 projects, a mere 561 have reached over 75% completion more..

Aug 9 (AD) Party anniversary and party reformation process was discussed at the SLFP Central Committee meeting, says Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe. He stated this at a press conference held at Colombo, today. At the Central Committee meeting yesterday, a committee headed by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva was appointed for the organization of party anniversary celebrations and the said committee will be meeting at the President�s House at 6 pm today, more..

Aug 9 (MFA) Speaking at the 7th Bali Process Ministerial Conference on people smuggling, human trafficking, and other int'l crimes on Tuesday (7) in Bali, Indonesia, Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana reiterated SL�s commitment for a comprehensive regional approach to combat people smuggling, and to work in partnership with govts, international organizations and civil society to prevent human smuggling, protect and more..

Aug 9 (GDI) Our govt is responsible and respects the worker for fighting for his demands, but our commitment to the tenets of democracy and human rights should not be perceived as weakness PM's Chief of Staff and Minister Sagala Ratnayaka says. Issuing a press release on present railway trade unions strike the Minister further says that We will take every possible action to defeat this ugly trade union terrorism for this we request the support of the public � we must work to defeat more..

Aug 9 (AD) Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva requests the representatives of railway trade unions to conclude their strike action and participate in discussions regarding their demands. Commenting on the strike action launched by the railway trade unions, Minister says that the demands of the trade unions have never been rejected. According to the Minister, Cabinet paper which was submitted with regard to the solutions for the salary issue on which the railway strike is based on, more..

Aug 9 (DM) Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (Amendment) Bill was passed with Amendments amidst chaos in Parliament this morning. Parliament went into chaos when the joint opposition accused Speaker Karu Jayasuriya of not inquiring from the House whether it was agreeable to the second reading of the Bill. Speaker Jayasuriya who responded said he made the inquiry before going into the committee stage. more..

Aug 9 (DN) Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe visited Denmark recently to obtain financial and technical assistance for the development of Sri Lanka�s ports sector. During the visit, Minister Samarasinghe held discussions with a group of delegates including Maersk Line network CEO Soren Skou. SLPA Chairman Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, Maersk Line network Head Anders Boenaes, Senior Director Julian Bevis, Public Relations South Asia Prithwijit Maitre, Marketing Manager Karina Kindvig, more..

Aug 9 (DM) Minister Champika Ranawaka said today that President Maithripala Sirisena's attention would likely to be focused on a presidential pardon for Ven. Galagoda Attte Gnanasara Thera who was sentenced to six years. He said this in response to a question asked by a journalist after laying the foundation stone for the Gongawela Bus Terminal Development Project in Matale. �However, I cannot confirm about a presidential pardon for Gnanasara Thera,� he said. more..

Aug 9 (AD) Railway services have come to a halt island-wide due to the ongoing strike of Railway trade unions based on wage disparities. SLTB stated that additional buses have been deployed considering the inconveniences experienced by commuters. According to the Chairman of SLTB Ramal Siriwardana, these additional buses have been put into service since last night. He added that over 100 additional more..

Aug 9 (NR) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe says all trade union action is an indication of the country�s democracy. Speaking during the Parliament session this afternoon the Premier said protests are conducted as the govt has ensured freedom of speech reiterating the present govt doesn�t kidnap or murder those protesting. Commenting on the Provincial Council Election the Premier noted the election will be conducted promptly. The PM said the current independent system in SL is praised more..

Aug 9 (AD) Deputy Chairman of the Talawakelle-Lindula Urban Council, L. Bharathidasan, has been arrested by Talawakelle Police today. A case was filed against him in connection with the protest organized against the renaming of the Thondaman Vocational Training Centre in Hatton as the Pool Bank Vocational Training Centre. He was arrested over a warrant issued for failing to appear before the court on May 10, 2018. Talawakelle Police said that Dy Chairman will be produced at more..

Aug 9 (AD) University of Calgary in Canada today signed agreements with two of Sri Lanka�s top universities to collaborate on educational and research activities and exchanges of students, faculty and staff, with the next planned step of exploring a PhD Cotutelle program (dual degree program) between University of Calgary and the two SL universities. University of Calgary Vice-Provost (Int'l) Professor Janaka Ruwanpura, more..