Feb 3 (Island) Launching the first international luxury resort investment worth US$ 50 million on the East coast of Sri Lanka, Sri Nithya Omkarananda, managing director of PURA Resorts Inc and director of corporate affairs, Ideal Group of Canada said in Colombo recently that they would build their luxury vacation homes in Nilaveli, not to compete with any local luxury resorts, but to compete with and surpass all other luxury resort brands in the Asian region. "The whole idea of PURA is to build more..

Feb 3 (FT) Global financial services leader Allianz announced that it has entered into an agreement with Janashakthi Insurance PLC (JINS) to acquire 100% of its subsidiary Janashakthi General Insurance Limited (JGIL) for Rs. 16.4 billion (EUR 85.9 million). The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2018. more..

Feb 3 (FT) Issuing a special Independence Day message, Bishop of Colombo Rt. Revd Dhiloraj Canagasabey drew attention to the proposed code of conduct for Parliamentarians and the dangers of narcotics. The full text is as follows: Tomorrow, Sri Lanka celebrates the 70th Anniversary of her independence from the British, with pomp and pageant. Military parades, religious ceremonies, cultural festivities, stirring speeches and other self-congratulatory events will be held. more..

Feb 3 (FT) National Election Commission says that media should not report on the Parliamentary debate on the reports of the two Presidential commissions during the silent period from midnight on 7 Feb. Parliament is scheduled to debate the final reports of the PCoI on the CB bond issue and the PRECIFAC on 6 Feb at 10.30am. Chairman of National Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya said that this decision was taken since statements favouring or prejudicing some political parties and more..

Feb 3 (FT) In a hard-hitting evaluation of the PRECIFAC recommendations, MP S.M. Marikkar criticised policymakers for failing to formulate a legal framework to penalise corrupt politicians, insisting that there is a necessity to revolutionise the prevailing political culture to clean up Sri Lanka�s future. �The current Parliament has a great responsibility to formulate and pass new regulations to punish the corrupt politicians in the system. more..

Feb 3 (FT) The Court of Appeal yesterday directed the counsel for the Accused-Respondent Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero to file a written submission on 23 May in respect of the appeal filed by the Attorney General against the judgment of the Colombo High Court which acquitted Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero and two Buddhist monks as well as 10 other laymen who had been indicted for the alleged attack on the Calvary Church at Araliya Uyana in Talahena. more..

Feb 3 (CT) Quarter miler Upamalika Ratnakumari sealed her second bronze medal for Sri Lanka in the 400m women's finals at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championship continued at Tehran yesterday. Competing in her first ever Indoor Championship Upamalika clocked an impressive 54.90 seconds to finish third behind Kazakhstan girls Svetlana Golendova (53.28 sec) and Elina Mikhina (54.49 sec). Rathnakumari, who clocked her outdoor personal best last year, did not take part more..

Feb 3 (LT) �When people vote for the bell and the JVP candidate wins he would create a council in the village. This council will include distinguished persons in the village such as school principals, religious leaders, Grama Sevaka and other govt employees. This would be the village council that will have all the powers in the village. They would decide what to develop in the village and how to spend the allocations the ward gets. more..

Feb 3 (FT) Former Prez Chandrika Kumaratunga in her Independence Day message has called on all communities to unite in moving forward as a nation. Full text of her message: For over 2500 years, Sri Lankans have consistently appreciated the freedom, sovereignty, and independence built upon cherishing our diversity. As we proudly celebrate 70 years since Independence, our priority remains in moving forward as a nation together with all ethnic communities. more..

Feb 3 (Island) A special offering, known as Sangahta Sadurthi Saharsranama Pooja, is held at Venkatheshawara Vishnu Kovil, Modera on the fourth day after every full moon Poya Day to invoke the blessings of God Ganesha. The next pooja is scheduled to be held on today at 4 p.m. A separate pooja will be held at 8 am on the same day, for those who are unable to attend the main pooja at 4 pm. Trustees of Kovil, request devotees to bring three coconuts, more..

Feb 3 (DM) The intermittent rains experienced in many parts of the country right now has increased the threat of a dengue outbreak, while the number of dengue cases reported in the first five weeks of 2018 stood at 6,203 by today, with five deaths. During the last 12 months of the year 2017, 184,442 suspected dengue cases have been reported. Approximately 41.53% of dengue cases were reported from the Western province. more..

Feb 3 (FT) The Editors Guild of Sri Lanka has expressed its deep sorrow at the sudden and premature passing of Jatila Wellaboda, most recently Consultant News at the Independent Television Network and a senior journalist who at various times in his career edited the Lakbima (daily edition) for 10 years and the Irudina published on Sundays. He also edited the websites Frontpage and Savana and recently accepted an appointment at ITN moving from print to electronic media. more..

Feb 3 (Hindu) Following the requests by the Consortium of Pepper Growers� Organisation to control black pepper import, the Union Ministry of Commerce has asked the SL govt to exercise extreme care and diligence in issuing certificates of origin for pepper under the trade agreements. Quoting a letter dated January 31 to the consortium by the Plantation Division of Department of Commerce under Union Ministry of Commerce, Konkodi Padmanabha, convener of more..

Feb 3 (DN) CID had taken into custody the former Crimes OIC of the Mount Lavinia Police on a 48 hour detention order over the killing of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge which took place 9 years ago. CID sources said that the then Crimes OIC of the Mt. Lavinia Police, SI Tissa Sugathapala was taken into custody on Wednesday by CID and had obtained a court order to detain him for 48 hours for questioning. more..

Feb 3 (DM) A political party leader recently appointed a committee purportedly to look into the possible link of any of his party members to an explosive issue that continues to rock the polity. However, this move is being disdainfully dismissed by many in political circles and the public domain as an eyewash, they say. It has become well-known that a sibling of the purohita heading the committee was a legal advisor to the guilty ones. Appointing this dubious committee, they say, more..

Feb 3 (DN) This year, we celebrate 70 years of independence from colonial rule. It is an occasion for us to remember that we were only able to achieve independence with the participation of all communities coming together towards a common goal, states PM Ranil Wickremesinghe in an Independence Day message. Message adds: �It is our responsibility to keep in mind that true independence was only possible when we can unite as one nation, rising above political, religious more..

Feb 3 (DM) Prez Sirisena signed the gazette notification to institute a 5-member Prez Commission to inquire into allegations of fraud that taken place in SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka Airlines from Jan 1, 2006 to Jan 31, 2018. The gazette will be issued tonight, he said. Retired SC Judge Anil Gunarathne, Appeal Court Judge Gamini Amarasekara, retired HC Judge Piyasena Ranasinghe, more..

Feb 3 (CT) The TNA and the DNF have informed the Leader of the House, Minister Lakshman Kiriella that they will not be participating in the debate on the 6 January pertaining to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry report in connection with the CB Treasury Bonds scam. TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran and DNF Leader, Minister Mano Ganesan have notified Kiriella that since they will be engaged in Local Govt Election related activities, they will not be able to take part in the debate. more..

Feb 3 (DN) If one is to truly fathom the value of independence, it is essential to understand the pain being oppressed and subservient in the face of a foreign power. This is why we are grateful to all our heroes who sacrificed their lives in order to restore and sustain our nation�s independence. On a day like today, when the value of freedom is commemorated, the nation pays tribute to its true patriots whose contribution to our motherland was invaluable, states Prez Maithripala Sirisena more..

Feb 3 (Island) Close on the heels of President Maithripala Sirisena�s controversial claim that foreign loans amounting to Rs. 9 trillion that had been procured during the Rajapaksa administration (2006-2014) couldn�t be accounted for, a comprehensive study undertaken by the Auditor General�s Department has confirmed the staggering figure. However, the period at issue as well as funding sources are inaccurate, more..

Feb 3 (DM) Office on Missing Persons (OMP) is one of the four mechanisms that the govt promised in its comprehensive approach to dealing with the past. While the OMP is the only mechanism on which any formal progress has been made in the 28 months that have passed since the govt announced its plan; even this has not yet been formally constituted and operationalised. Each step of the process thus far to establish the OMP has been marked by slow progress, a regrettable lack of transparency, more..

Feb 3 (DM) The idea that Sinhala & Tamil shall both be given official language status after independence was agreed among political leaders until the eruption of language controversy in 1955. On five different occasions between 1926 and 1943, first the Legislative Council and the State Council that was established after 1931, had passed proposals supporting both Sinhala & Tamil replacing English as country�s official language. PM, D.S Senanayake, unwaveringly stood by this position. more..

Feb 3 (DM) This Blue-Green coalition govt will go on stage at Galle Face Green this Sunday to celebrate 70 years of Independence from British colonial rule. This same coalition, established after the 2015 January Presidential Election, celebrated 67 years of independence three years ago, with a simple ceremony, also at Galle Face Green. Three years from then, the ceremony has grown into a grand show as any, the Rajapaksas held to more..

Feb 3 (DM) Three score and ten years have passed since Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon, gained Independence from Britain on Feb 4, 1948. The Island nation had been under colonial bondage for a very long period. The Portuguese rule came first in 1505, followed by Dutch rule in 1658. Finally came the British rule in 1796 that lasted until 1948. It was the British who unified the Island under a single administration in 1833. more..

Feb 3 (ST) Motorists are side-stepping Colombo�s new parking meters because they can�t operate the machines, haven�t learned to adjust to metered time or are happily evading fees because the system is not policed � but an app will soon be after them. There are 100 parking ticket machines each covering around 15-20 vehicle spaces along the Galle Road, Duplication Road, connecting by-roads & Galle Face Green. more..

Feb 3 (ST) Sri Lankan women who are contesting in local elections are facing personal insults and violence and as yet neither political parties, nor political leaders have condemned the rising levels of hostility. Many women candidates, particularly those from Muslim majority areas have decided not to engage in public meetings or erect banners. Instead they have chosen to keep their campaigns low profile. more..

Feb 3 (EN) Sri Lanka has been ranked among 10 worst countries in the world for personal freedoms in a global index of human freedom, just behind Zimbabwe, due to damaged institutions of liberty, though the country scored better on economic freedoms. SL was placed 150 on personal freedoms, ahead of Cameroon (151), Congo and Saudi Arabia. Burundi & Iran, but behind Zimbabwe at 149 in 2017 Human Freedom Index more..

Feb 3 (AD) Professor Venerable Dr Bellanwila Wimalaratana Nayake Thero, Chancellor of Sri J'pura University passed away today, at a Private Hospital, following an accident while he was preparing to feed a tusker within the premises of the Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya. Thera was reportedly injured and hospitalized following the accident last morning. Monk sustained injuries to his ribs following the injury. more..

Feb 3 (DM) The joint opposition (JO) said yesterday it would request Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to allocate maximum time for the JO for the parliamentary debate on the Bond Commission�s report. MP Bandula Gunawardana said that the JO was the group which spearheaded the campaign which revealed the Central Bank bond scam. �Not only did we reveal the scam, we literally shed blood for this. more..

Feb 3 (CI) The fall of three late Bangladesh wickets lent hope the Chittagong Test may yet produce a result, after Sri Lanka had secured a first-innings lead of 200, amassing 713 for 9. Roshen Silva completed an assured hundred, Dinesh Chandimal a measured 87 and Niroshan Dickwella a rapid 62, but it was Sri Lanka's spinners who truly breathed life into the game. Finding turn with the almost-new ball, Dilruwan Perera, more..

Feb 3 (DM) Based on a survey conducted by the UNP, the party is confident of winning 276 out of the 341 local govt bodies at the February 10 polls, Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera said. He said the survey also indicated that the TNA would win 51 local govt bodies in the North and East. He said that the UNP�s grassroots level organizations were functioning at their best and would help secure an overwhelming victory for the party. more..

Feb 3 (DM) TNA said its members would not participate in Independence Day National Celebration due to LG election campaign activities in Trincomalee District. Opposition Leader and TNA MP R. Sampanthan has officially informed this to the Independence Day Celebrations Committee. TNA sources said MP Sampanthan would participate in the LG election public meetings and rallies in Trinco in Feb 4. more..

Feb 3 (CT) There are two events that would generally cripple the normal working day of a country. Obvious one would be riots on the streets - people pillaging and raiding, in protest of the country's administration and making demands. Such a situation, no matter how isolated it becomes, can have devastating effects on the country's economy, not to mention all the other negative impacts it would have on other things. Second thing would be, and we Sri Lankans are terribly au fait to this, student protests. more..

Feb 3 (FT) Temple and church bells started ringing. Ships berthed in Colombo harbour blew their sirens. It happened 70 years ago at sharp 12 midnight on 4 February 1948 to mark the dawn of Independence to Ceylon, as the country was then known, after being a Crown Colony of the British Empire for 150 years. The next morning people throughout the country joined in religious observances in Buddhist temples, Hindu kovils, Christian churches and Muslim mosques. more..

Feb 3 (CT) Chairman of Elections Commission (EC) Mahinda Deshapriya said that out of 15,760,867 registered voters, who are entitled to cast their votes at the 2018 LG Polls, around 20,000 come under the category of disabled voters. He added that being handicapped would not be a hindrance to cast votes at any election under any circumstance. Deshapriya noted that EC has advised all Grama Sevaka Officers, Divisional Secretaries and returning officers to make facilities available for more..

Feb 3 (Island) The National Christian Council of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) issuing a statement on the forthcoming local govt polls has reminded the people, as voters, to be wise and prudent in exercising their right in choosing their representatives, mindful of the fact that the prevailing culture of bribery, corruption and abuse of privileges instigated by those in power is sadly, but surely a reflection of their own actions and choices, as voters. more..

Feb 3 (CT) CEO of Perpetual Treasuries Limited Kasun Palisena has written to all Parliamentarians denying that the Company�s involved in Treasury Bonds did not cause any losses to any state entities. He further claims that in fact the sale of Treasury Bonds to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) and National Savings Bank (NSB) these stateowned entities made returns in excess of Rs 25 billion (US$ 164 million). more..

Feb 3 (DM) The Footwear and Leather Fair 2018, organised by the Sri Lanka Footwear and Leather Products Manufacturers Association in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Industrial Development Board of Ceylon and Sri Lanka Export Development Board, has opened its doors to the general public. The fair is open from February 2nd to 4th from 10.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. and is housed under the halls �A�, �B�, �C�, and �E� of the BMICH. more..

Feb 3 (ST) The villages of Egodapitiya and Muriyakulama in Karuwalagaswewa are two of the most interior and impoverished in the Puttalam district. The 300-odd farming families living in these two villages face a constant threat from marauding wild elephants. The threat is so severe that it has affected almost every aspect of their daily lives. Herds of wild elephants enter the villages on a daily basis, breaking through barriers that have been put up to keep them out. more..