Aug 6 (ST) The Govt has announced it plans to ban tobacco cultivation in the land by 2020 in accordance with the President�s determination to make Lanka a smoke free nation and the nation�s budget not be dependent henceforth on the massive revenue it brings to fill the national coffers. Even as he has declared to free the Exchequer�s dependency on the excise revenue the sale of alcohol contributes to keep the rupee afloat, in the manner of his predecessor�s mathata thitha. more..

Aug 6 (Island) Santa seems to have arrived about five months earlier for the MPs, who have all the luck. The govt is toying with the idea of granting them a massive pay hike. There has, however, emerged stiff resistance to the govt move vis-�-vis the unbearable cost of living aggravated further by new taxes and fuel price hikes. Even some yahapalana apologists have found it too embarrassing to back the salary increase at issue. JO members, most of whom stand accused more..

Aug 6 (Roar) Convenience is now at the top of everyone�s list, because of their busy lifestyles. From banking to travelling to shopping, convenience is what is most sought after; which is precisely what SL�s first mobile payment app, Genie powered by Dialog, now offers businesses, providing opportunity to create convenience with minimum effort. Running a business successfully is not always about meeting targets and making the best of profits; more..

Aug 6 (CT) The ODI series appears to be surely drifting away from the Sri Lankans. After a dismal showing in the Test series by the visitors, it appears to be the turn of the hosts to repeat the poor show in the shorter format. Whilst it�s no surprise to see the South Africans winning for many reasons, what disappoints me is the approach and the performance of Sri Lanka in the two games seen so far. To start with, the South Africans are the third ranked team in the world in ODI cricket. more..

Aug 6 (DN) Two wickets in the final over saw Sri Lanka Under-19 snatch an exciting 7 runs win over India Under-19 in the third ODI match played at the SSC grounds yesterday. With this win Sri Lanka lead the five match series 2-1. Batting first Sri Lanka were all out for 220 in 49.3 overs with Navod Paranavithana top scoring with 51 runs. In reply, India were all out for 213 runs, also in 49.3 overs with Pawan Shah (77) making a valiant effort to get India over the line. more..

Aug 6 (SO) Long-delayed moves to reform the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) hit further roadblocks this week, with members of the Committee appointed in 2009 to make recommendations on reforming the legislation, coming under pressure to withdraw support for a progressive report endorsed by exactly half of the Committee. Nine members of the 18- member MMDA Reform Committee led by more..

Aug 6 (LSE) Today there is growing importance of oceans for trade and commerce. Indian Ocean is the world�s third-largest body of water with 50% of trade traversing the region covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth�s surface. Due to existence of power rivalries and wars, the oceans are now prone to conflict. Some examples are: the conflict over Suez Canal, Strait of Hormuz, Pirate and terrorist activity, South China Sea disputes etc. Sri Lanka, a small island state is strategically located more..

Aug 6 (Island) At least one sprinter at the National Athletics Championship was tested for blood doping during the three-day event concluded at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Sunday. According to Professor Arjuna de Silva, head of Sri Lanka Anti Doping Authority, Sri Lanka became the first South Asian country to conduct tests for blood doping. Prof de Silva said: "Our potentials to perform tests for blood doping were challenged by some in the athletics arena. more..

Aug 6 (ST) Commercial banks are deducting the 5% With Holding Tax (WHT) from the interest paid to any person on any rupee or foreign currency deposit including the Non-Resident Foreign Currency accounts in accordance with the Inland Revenue Act (IRA), Finance Ministry sources confirmed. The same 5% WHT is applicable for foreign currency deposits maintained by corporates as well, a senior Treasury official confirmed more..

Aug 6 (DN) Sri Lanka Emerging and South Emerging teams played out a thrilling draw in their second 4-day unofficial test played at Hambantota yesterday. SL Emerging set a target of 291 to chase fell short by 31 runs with two wickets in hand finishing on 260-8. The Lankan run chase was led skipper Kaushal Silva who contributed 49 and half-centuries from Pathum Nissanka (62) and Shammu Ashan (71). Sri Lanka Emerging who won the first unofficial test took the two-match series 1-0. more..

Aug 6 (CT) De La Rue, the leading global identity and currency printing business first entered into a Joint Venture (JV) with the Govt of SL 32 years ago, is currently enjoying a foreign direct investment programme of Rs 2 billion to upgrade its global capability. This facility was named as one of the five global Centres of Excellence for printing by De La Rue in 2015. The first phase of this programme, an investment of almost Rs 1 billion was recently completed to deploy more..

Aug 6 (Island) Nearly half the number of athletes selected for the Asian Games lived up to their reputation. While several flopped, a good number of underdogs turned tables on leading campaigners resulting in some scintillating performances at the 96th National Athletics Championships concluded at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Sunday. There was a fascinating contest in the men�s long jump where three athletes cleared the eight metres mark. more..

Aug 6 (Island) Sampath Bank�s Group pretax profit for the first half of the year exceeded Rs 10.3 Bn (28.2% growth) while Sampath Bank recorded a pre-tax profit of Rs 9.9 Bn for the same period. This registered a YoY growth of 28.1% in comparison to the first half of 2017. Profit after tax of the Bank too grew by 19.9% and reached Rs 6.8 Bn for the first half of 2018. Sampath Group, also posted a post-tax profit growth of 20.2%. Net Interest Income (NII), which is the main source of income more..

Aug 6 (FT) Despite being in refurbishment mode over most of 2017, Hotel Developers (SL) Plc, the holding company of Hilton Colombo, has posted impressive financial performance. Revenue rose by a healthy 20% to cross the Rs. 3 billion mark whilst gross profit rose from Rs. 2 billion to Rs. 2.46 billion. Pre-tax profit remained unchanged at Rs. 173 million. However, post-tax profit rose by 83% to Rs. 258 million from Rs. 141 million in 2016 owing to Rs. 102.6 million deferred tax income. more..

Aug 6 (CB) Hosts SL tried to find a different route in order to reverse their fortunes in the ongoing 5-match ODI series against South Africa as they opted to field first. Unfortunately though, they crashed to their worst defeat of the series as the Proteas posted a record total of 363 for 7 - their highest in ODIs in SL - before they folded up for 285 to succumb to a 78-run loss. With this loss on Sunday, hosts have already lost the series more..

Aug 6 (DM) Although the SAITM institute had awarded scholarships to its students they would not be entitled financial scholarships at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), Minister of Higher Education Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said. �KDU has no scholarship scheme,� he said. Minister Rajapakshe explained that the SAITM had awarded scholarships under political grounds. �SAITM scholarships are given on political patronage, not on merit,� he said. more..

Aug 6 (DM) Iranaimadhu Airfield in the Kilinochchi District would be developed into a Domestic Airport as a part of the plan drawn by the Govt to develop all areas from Point Pedro to Dondra, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said. He said this at the opening of several buildings belonging to the Faculties of the Jaffna Uni in Kilinochchi. �Developing Iranaimadhu Domestic Airport and Kankesanthurai Port is among the main focus of the Govt when it comes to the development of the North,� he said. more..

Aug 6 (DM) The registration of SAITM students at the KDU would start today amidst strict regulations that those who failed to pay the course-fee by Monday would not be enrolled for the MBBS degree. The new condition had shattered the dreams of top three students, with the top A/L results to join the Uni over financial constraints. It was learned that at least three, including two female students, who have the highest A/L results more..

Aug 6 (DM) The third person out of at least thirty partygoers who were admitted to the Panadura Base Hospital had been reported dead a short while ago, Police said. The deceased were identified as Eranda Perera (36) of Hena Road, Nilan Shamika (20) of Divulapitiya and Viduranga Desha (31) of Morntuduwa. Thousands of youths had participated in the Facebook Party at the premises of a popular hotel in Wadduwa beach reportedly organized by an advertising firm in Kaduwela. more..

Aug 6 (FT) Minister Tilak Marapana led the Sri Lanka delegation at the 25th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting held on 4 August in Singapore. Inaugurated in 1994 in Thailand, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is the principal forum for security dialogue in the Asia-Pacific region which seeks to promote regional development and prosperity while recognising challenges to regional peace, security and prosperity. Delivering SL�s statement at the forum, more..

Aug 6 (Island) The CEB does not have a centralised system to handle its employees� salaries and allowances though it pays around 40 types of allowances, the Auditor General�s Department has revealed. The AG�s Department has also found that, in 2017, hundreds of CEB officials obtained allowances exceeding 65% of their monthly salary, in violation of the recommendations made by a committee that looked into the allowances more..

Aug 6 (Island) One of SL�s prominent educationists and former Commissioner of Examinations Gunapala Wickremaratne passed away on Aug 3. Born at Pathegama, Matara on May 19, 1926, he was a past pupil of Rahula College, Matara and Mahinda College Galle. Wickremaratne, who was the principal of Ananda Shasthralaya, Kotte (1960-64) and Nalanda College, Colombo (1964-69) was instrumental in starting teachers training college of education & became 1st chief commissioner more..

Aug 6 (DN) All arrangements have been made to conduct the First Regional Conference of the Parliamentary Committee on Communal and Religious Harmony in SL from 9.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. today at the Mahaweli Reach Hotel, Kandy. The Confab will be held under the auspices of the Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya and the participation of Most Ven. Maha Nayake and Anu Nayake Theras, Most Venerable Clergy belonging to all the religions, Ministers & MPs more..

Aug 6 (PTI) Sri Lankan govt is reworking on the draft of a MoU to hand over the management of Mattala Rajapaksha Int'l Airport to an Indian airport operator. Built with high interest commercial loans from China by the Rajapaksha govt, the MRIA is dubbed as the world's emptiest airport due to lack of flights. It was officially opened in March 2013 and the only international flight operating from there was halted in May. more..

Aug 6 (AD) Minister of City Planning and Water Supply, Rauff Hakeem says that there is a conspiracy of the government to postpone the Provincial Council elections. He said this at an event held today (05). He stated that even though there is a new electoral system, a huge injustice has been done to the minorities. They asked for a prompt election; however they are scheming to postpone the election by continuing to talk about a new electoral system, he further said. more..

Aug 6 (NR) Minister Mano Ganesan says R Sampanthan must continue to hold the post of Opposition Leader until the completion of the process to formulate a new Constitution. Speaking to media after an event in Colombo the Minister said legal measures must be resorted to, to solve concerns regarding the post of the Opposition Leader. He noted the JO has the right to make a request to appoint MP Dinesh Gunawardena as the Opposition Leader adding however the final more..

Aug 6 (Island) Sri Lanka had incurred heavy losses amounting to billions of rupees due to irregularities in purchasing power from private producers and the high price paid for a single unit of electricity, a senior COPE member said. He said the Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy, Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Development, Chairmen of the Public Utilities Commission & CEB and other senior ministry more..

Aug 6 (DM) Sri Lanka�s foreign debt is again talk of the town. Is the country overly indebted to China? Are we borrowing too much from international capital markets? Or are we financing ourselves into trouble with multi-lateral agencies like the IMF, WB and ADB? And how do we assess the role of foreign financing for economic development? Economic growth and prosperity requires investment. And investment can either be funded through savings or borrowings. more..

Aug 6 (DM) Since World War II the period between July to September has seen the largest number of war-related killing of civilians. 106,829 civilians have died in the Syrian civil war between 2011 and July 2018 and around 30,000 persons have died in the Libyan civil war. On Sept 24, 2015 the US-led UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka was tabled. The resolution called for wide-ranging reforms and a domestic accountability mechanism with international involvement. more..

Aug 6 (DM) A surging wall of water caught the island nation of Sri Lanka unaware on Dec 26, 2004. Even though the giant mass of water eventually receded, it left a trail of tragedy and devastation. One thing was certain: SL needed better preparation for natural disasters. In the following year, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) was established. Its officials have since witnessed many calamities and disasters to overwhelm this island. more..

Aug 6 (CT) Irrigation Department is up in arms over the Govt�s decision to hand over the construction of the Lower Malwathu Oya Project to a Chinese Company named CAMC, at an estimate of US$ 155 million. Irrigation Department Officials allege it was double the estimate given by the Irrigation Department, which was a mere USD 70 million. Reliable sources from the Irrigation Department divulged that Govt had rejected their estimate more..

Aug 6 (Island) The Kalutara police have commenced an investigation into the death of a drug addict in custody. The investigation was in progress under the supervision of the SP Kalutara Police Division, Police Spokesman SSP Ruwan Gunasekera said. He said that Kalutara Magistrate had given an open verdict and ordered a post mortem into the death of Ranjith Chaminda Fernando (37) on August 2. more..

Aug 6 (Island) The Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (HRCSL) needing further help to strengthen its human rights promotion and protection has sought the technical assistance from the Commonwealth Secretariat. Chairperson of the HRCSL Dr Deepika Udagama has made the Commission�s request during a meeting with Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, who was on her first official visit to more..

Aug 6 (Island) Sri Lanka has agreed with India to conclude the talks on Economic and Technology Co-operation Agreement (ETCA) by December this year, according to a news story published by the Press Trust of India yesterday. The PTI story filed from New Delhi quoted an Indian official as saying: "The talks are going at a healthy pace and both the countries are targeting to conclude the talks by December for the ETCA." more..

Aug 6 (GDI) Minister Mahinda Amaraweera says that steps will be taken to renovate the abandoned water reservoirs in the country under the Thousand Tanks - Thousands Villages development program to provide irrigation water to the farmers to cultivate both Yala and Maha seasons. Minister made this observation addressing the ceremony held yesterday to launch the renovation of the 297th tank, more..

Aug 6 (ST) The European Council has extended by another six months the listing of the LTTE as a terrorist organisation. The decision, dated July 30, was taken under the European Union�s regulation on specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities with a view to combating terrorism. �We have managed to convince the EU�s 28-member states of the continuing threat of the LTTE,� more..

Aug 6 (SWI) On Monday, Sommaruga signed a MoU Colombo with the SL interior minister, S.B Nawinne, reaffirming their intention to facilitate and extend cooperation, according to the justice ministry. Sommaruga said Switzerland planned to increase its support to Sri Lanka to promote democratic reform. She added that the migration partnership set conditions for increased involvement for strengthening more..

Aug 6 (EN) Sri Lanka�s largest retirement fund which is under the custodianship of the Central Bank had not obtained approval from the Monetary Board to invest in the loss-making state-run national carrier in 2010, an official said at a commission of inquiry. Company Secretary Dalrene Thirukumar, who had jointed SriLankan Airlines in 2013, presented documents filed by her predecessor. more..

Aug 6 (DM) SAITM founder Neville Fernando rejected claims made by Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe�s that scholarships were given to SAITM students on political grounds. He said the minister had never spoken to him on the matter of scholarships though he claimed to have done so. �Politicians including former president Mahinda Rajapaksa may have sent letters, but scholarships were never provided on those letters� more..