Jan 24 (DM) PRECIFAC which had held former President Rajapaksa responsible for allegedly causing a financial loss to ITN had recommended filing of legal action against him. Commission had concluded that former Prez and 3 former officials of ITN had been guilty of causing the state TV channel a loss of Rs 102,158,058 by getting it to telecast his ads free of charge during the presidential election. more..

Jan 24 (FT) Standard Chartered Bank projected the SL economy to do better this year although cautioning that the country needed to address several external challenges to avoid setbacks. �We are forecasting a 5% growth in the GDP for 2018, up from an estimated 4.5-47% improvement last year,� Standard Chartered Bank South Asia Economist Saurav Anand told journalists accompanied by visiting the bank�s Chief Economist David Mann, Europe Chief Economist Sarah Hewin and more..

Jan 24 (FT) The British Council on Monday showcased its Active Citizens projects to further promote community cohesion through networking and interaction, together with delegates from over 30 countries across the world. Active Citizens which is a non-profit organisation is run by the British Council and several partner organisations and works with youth who have shown a key interest in fulfilling their roles in social responsibility. British Council Sri Lanka Country Director Gill Caldicott said: more..

Jan 24 (Island) Communist Party General Secretary and former COPE Chairman D.E.W. Gunasekera yesterday asked former Minister Ravi Karunanayake to be ready to wear the prison uniform for giving false evidence before the PCoI, which probed the alleged bond scams. Gunasekera said so, answering to a query raised by a journalist about a statement made by Ravi Karunanayake at a news conference at Sri Lanka Foundation. more..

Jan 24 (DN) Physical work of the proposed light railway project from Kaduwela to Colombo Fort would commence this year said Minister Champika Ranwaka. Speaking at the launch of Construction EXPO 2018 he said that in addition the Arukkal project in Puttalum, the solution to Colombo�s garbage disposal too would begin this year. Minister also said that the govt is keen in promoting green buildings and all future govt building would be built accordingly ensuring energy efficiently. more..

Jan 24 (ST) Serendib Flour Mills holds 27% of the wheat flour market share in Sri Lanka where the consumption pattern has grown to 60,000-65,000 of metric tonnes a month. �People now eat more flour-based products due to changing lifestyles. The other factor was that owing to an influx of tourists in the country they eat more flour-based products than rice,� said Mohamed Riyal, newly appointed CEO of Serendib Flour Mills (Pvt) Ltd at a media briefing held at Cinnamon Lakeside hotel. more..

Jan 24 (Island) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has asked His Holiness, Syedna Aaliqadr Mufaddal Saifuddin, 53rd Dai-Al-Mutlaq and current leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community, to help SL govt hold an international investment conference in Mumbai in September this year. PM made this request to the Spiritual Leader, who was on a visit to Sri Lanka, when he called on him in Colombo on Monday. more..

Jan 24 (FT) Donald Trunk could have been a satirical take on an elephant in every room of the PC palace with witty ironies, blunt bludgeons and sharp intakes of breath, but actually it�s not. It is a refreshing tonic to take you away from such things and into the magical world of adventures and capers that characterise a human-like elephant in Sri Lanka who gets the wanderlust spirit, like many pioneering Sri Lankans before him, to get away and seek experiential treasures in faraway lands more..

Jan 24 (DM) The JO rejected remarks made by President Sirisena that former president Rajapaksa had abstained from voting for a no-faith motion against MP Ravi Karunanayake and said the President had been mislead. He said that two no-faith motions were handed over to the Speaker against the MP but they were not taken up for a debate, let alone a vote. �The first no-confidence motion was submitted when Mr. Karunayake was finance minister over irregularities in budget more..

Jan 24 (DM) Minister Sagala Ratnayaka is reported to have taken Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara to task in connection with the incident where a youth was allegedly shot dead by a police constable in Kataragama. At a meeting on Monday the minister is said to have spoken harshly to the Police Chief about Police negligence in the presence of Ministry Secretary Padmasiri Jayamanna. Minister had directed IGP to investigate this matter more..

Jan 24 (LBO) Sri Lanka seeks to develop a policy framework for beauty culture industry, in order to ensure the expansion, development and further uninhibited expansion and success of the sector. Policy Development Office of the PM�s Office and the Small-Scale Enterprise Division of the Ministry of National Policy and Economic Affairs is currently engaged in doing a survey to ascertain the parameters of the needs of these entrepreneurs. Research has shown that more..

Jan 24 (FT) SC re-fixed for 31 May the argument of the fundamental rights petition filed by former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Bench comprised CJ Priyasath Dep and Justice Sisira J. De Abrew. When the matter came up on 24 Oct, Justice Eva Wanasundera declined to be a member of the bench hearing this fundamental rights petition. On that date, the bench comprising Justices Eva Wanasundera, K.T. Chitrasiri and Vijith Malalgoda had re-fixed the hearing for yesterday. more..

Jan 24 (Island) Refuting allegations leveled by several NGOs and the JO that some parts of the bond commission report were missing, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe assured that the report now in public domain was complete and several annexures had not been attached thereto but they could be made available to Parliament on request. Meanwhile, CaFFE has, in a letter to Speaker, said that annexure three of more..

Jan 24 (FT) The resignation of UNP national list lawmaker M.H.M. Salman has created a vacuum in the House. Even though Salman was not a member of the UNP his name was included on the list submitted by the SLMC, which was a party in the alliance led by the UNP during the last general election. Officiating over the resignation, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya confirmed to Parliament that he received the letter of resignation, which was handed over to the Secretary General of Parliament more..

Jan 24 (TP) Sri Lanka is seeking more job opportunities in Qatar for skilled workers in different sectors and it would organise an employment promotion event tomorrow. Employment Promotion in Qatar, being organised by Embassy of Sri Lanka in collaboration with Qatar Chamber, will gather 200 private, government, and semi government companies from various sectors, ASP Liyanage, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Qatar told The Peninsula. more..

Jan 24 (Island) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya announced yesterday that he had been informed by the Secretary to the President that Parliament had been given copies of the complete report of the PCoI, which had investigated the bond scams. Making an announcement, Speaker said that Campaign for Free and Fair Elections had inquired from him whether Parliament received the complete report of the bond commission. more..

Jan 24 (DM) Another provincial politician has been accused of making a teacher kneel at his feet and apologize, but unlike the first incident, the politician has this time been compelled to resign from one of his portfolios. Earlier it was a member of the North-Western Provincial Council, who had made a teacher kneel for having warned a student on disciplinary grounds. This time it was the Uva Province CM and former Provincial Education Minister Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, more..

Jan 24 (DM) Engaging in vituperative brinksmanship, at best, is amateurish. At worst, it is outright self-destructive and defeats the very purpose of your existence. You have to show them, as Mark Anthony orated about Ambition at the slaying of Julius Caesar, that you�re made of sterner stuff. On the other hand, what Ranil Wickremesinghe, leader of the UNP to which Sujeewa Senasinghe and Marikkar belong, has to contemplate is that the verbal attack more..

Jan 24 (DM) With the Local Government Elections looming around the corner, the need to elect the right candidate to power is quintessential. With Colombo being a major business capital that attracts investments and promotes tourism, the Mayor of Colombo is entrusted with the major responsibility of maintaining a corrupt-free environment favorable for its citizens while ensuring the positive development of the City. more..

Jan 24 (DM) Former Chief Medical Officer of Colombo Municipal Council Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam is contesting the local govt elections as mayoral candidate to the CMC under the Flower Bud symbol of SLPP. He says it is better to have a professional as a mayor of Colombo. Q: As the Chief Medical Officer of the CMC for 26 years, what made you to contest the LG elections as the mayoral candidate under Flower Bud symbol? more..

Jan 24 (LR) In an interview hosted by The Sri Lanka Reporter in March 2006 Somasiri Munasinghe highlights the contribution made by A.E. Manoharan in his 40-year-old career as singer, actor and broadcaster is unique and unparalleled in Sri Lanka. His devotion to arts has also been recognised in foreign countries. One such occasion was when University of Japan honoured him with an honorary doctorate. more..

Jan 24 (ST) Large and smaller Singapore companies looking to invest in SL will benefit from the new free trade agreement, Singapore PM Lee Loong said. "Many investments are planned," he noted, citing established players like flour producer Prima Group, which entered SL in 1977, as well as newer ones like infrastructure firms Hyflux and Sembcorp. Even smaller firms like foodcourt chain Food Republic are coming to SL, more..

Jan 24 (ST) A woman in the prime of life, a girl on the threshold of her teen years and a few more � all dead due to dengue, when the country is not even in the throes of an epidemic! Why? This is the question on the minds of many because Sri Lanka is lauded as one of the best countries in the clinical management of dengue, better even than Thailand and Singapore. �Time is of essence in dealing with dengue,� says more..

Jan 24 (DM) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya dismissed a claim made by UNP MP Ravi Karunayake that he had obtained a copy of the report and confirmed that the Bond Commission report was only forwarded to the president's office, Parliament, Attorney General and Central Bank. He said this when responding to questions asked by several MPs and statements made by the CaFFE Director Keerthi Tennnekoon that the report was incomplete. more..

Jan 24 (PSL) The 2018 FIFA World Cup Trophy arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday, and the trophy was handed over to President Maithripala Sirisena at the President�s House in Colombo, today (24). The 2018 FIFA World Cup Trophy is scheduled to visit more than 54 countries around the globe, giving an opportunity to see the trophy in person for the football fans and it is significant that Sri Lanka has been chosen as more..

Jan 24 (Island) Leader of Opposition and of TNA R. Sampanthan has demanded that the draft Constitution be submitted to Parliament soon after Feb 10 LG polls. A statement issued by the TNA quoted Sampanthan as having told European Union SL Political Desk Head Paul Godfrey: "Soon after the LG elections the process must be expedited and the draft Constitution must be submitted to Parliament and more..

Jan 24 (Island) The Survey Department is in the process of standardizing geographical names in Sinhala and Tamil and will romanize Sinhala geographical names. Senior Deputy Surveyor General, D.N.D. Hettiarachchi said. This is in addition to introducing the revised version of the 1:50,000 scale map. Department is currently in the process of standardizing geographical names in both Tamil & Sinhala. more..

Jan 24 (LBO) Central Bank Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy says the govt will introduce a cost reflective pricing formula for both fuel and electricity this year. The IMF said in its latest report that domestic prices of fuel and electricity are expected to be determined by a formula introduced in March and September this year. �Over 90% of CPC, CEB losses are due to the fact that they subsidized fuel and electricity. more..

Jan 24 (CT) Every year reports of serious Police related violence flood the mainstream media all around the globe. And every time it happens, it grabs the headlines and leads to various discussions and debates that question and critique Police brutality, provisions of using necessary power and the overall enforcement powers held by the law enforcement officers. Even the most (supposedly) democratic country in the world experiences Police violence. more..

Jan 24 (AD) Locomotive Engine Drivers� Union (LEDU) has decided to call off their strike after discussions with the General Manager of of Sri Lankan Railways. LEDU Secretary Indika Dodamgoda said that the strike action was suspended as a solution was provided to one of their demands during the discussions held with General Manager this morning. �During the discussion the GM informed that suitable solution will be provided for the extension of time period of more..

Jan 24 (EN) Some annexures of a bondscam report has been held back due to help ongoing investigations, President Sirisena said. Annexture III of the report which contains transcripts of telephone conversations was not released to the public on the President's website. President had told a meeting of businessmen in the Pettah wholesale district that annexures were held back to maintain secrecy while investigations were progressing. The report has been handed over to the Attorney General more..

Jan 24 (FT) On 8 Jan 2015, people of this country exercised their true democratic grit to dispel the rule of President Rajapaksa and his family. Right of the people was exercised in a clear wave of hope to end corruption, inequality and establish justice, which most thought was diminished under Rajapaksa rule. Result was unexpected and happened against the series of overwhelming public endorsements received by Rajapaksa Govt in successive elections prior to the people�s presidential verdict. more..

Jan 24 (Island) Launching the first Taste of Britain Festival in Colombo yesterday, the British High Commissioner James Dauris said that seasoning and other additives, could be the difference between the curries produced in the two countries. Asked what he thought separated curries cooked in Britain and SL, he said " I am not the best person to answer your question, but I presume its to do with spices and other ingredients." more..

Jan 24 (DM) A tense situation prevailed outside the polling centre of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC), where its election is being held a short while ago, GMOA President Dr. Anurudda Padeniya said. He said that a GMOA Executive Member had been assaulted by another medical officer at the polling centre. Dr. Padeniya said the GMOA member Dr. Senal Fernando, who was an observer of the SLMC election, had allegedly been tackled and assaulted by Dr. Thusitha Kahaduwa. more..

Jan 24 (CI) Bangladesh have rocked this tournament. Now Tigers - capital T - in home ODIs, they have not just won their first three matches, they have flexed new muscles, deployed fresh skills, and preyed ruthlessly on their oppositions, taking a bonus point from each game. Occasionally, the batting is a little wobbly. So what? Mashrafe Mortaza and co. will scythe through your top order anyway. Occasionally, a Bangladesh bowler goes for runs. No big deal. more..

Jan 24 (DM) Sri Lanka hoped to remain proactively engaged within the Conference on Disarmament (CD) to help achieve its objectives, Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha said on Tuesday on the occasion of Sri Lanka assuming the responsibility of the CD as its first President of the 2018 session. Sri Lanka assumed the Presidency of the CD after 11 years. more..

Jan 24 (AD) A haul of Kerala cannabis worth over Rs. 10 million was recovered by the Northern Naval Command in Maradankeni, Thaleiadi last evening. 110 Kgs of cannabis were seized following a tip-off received by the intelligence staff attached to Northern Naval Command. The consignment has been hidden at nearby brushwood consisting with 50 parcels wrapped in polyethylene. Contraband will be handed over to Police for further investigations and legal proceedings, it is reported. more..

Jan 24 (DM) Political party leaders today decided to hold the debate on the bond commission and the PRECIFAC reports on Feb 20 and 21, Parliamentary sources said. They said it would be an adjournment debate to be moved and seconded by the JO and the JVP respectively. The debate will be held from 2.00 pm to 6.30 pm each day. Meanwhile, JO parliamentary group leader Dinesh Gunawardane had requested at the party leaders meeting that the Speaker should submit more..

Jan 24 (DM) UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake in a statement today thanked President Maithripala Sirisena for appointing the PCoI on the bond issue after the formation of the good governance govt and through its final report for absolving the UNP, the PM and especially him from all allegations levelled. He released the statement to the media after he was denied the opportunity to do so in Parliament. more..