Jul 18 (TG) Democratic Unionist party MP Ian Paisley is facing suspension from the House of Commons for 30 sitting days of parliament after failing to declare holidays worth �50,000 paid for by the SL govt and becoming a paid advocate of the SL govt. His suspension, which is likely to be approved by MPs, will have serious repercussions for Theresa May�s govt. Her working majority will be reduced by one until November, as the govt tries to more..

Jul 18 (Island) SL Air Force Mini Air Tattoo Weerawila, the air show and the educational exhibition will be declared open by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Kapila Jayampathy on Friday at SLAF Station Weerawila. The 67th Anniversary Mini Air Tattoo will showcase the SLAF�s military proficiency as well as its capabilities to handle its role in the national and regional landscape. It will showcase multipurpose air assets in her inventory and demonstrate to more..

Jul 18 (NR) The Department of Examinations says the conduct of tuition classes for the 2018 Advanced Level Examination that commences on the 6th of August will be prohibited by the 31st of July. Accordingly the order will be in effect from the midnight on the 31st of July to the 1st of September. The conduct of additional classes and tuition classes for students sitting the 2018 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination will be prohibited from the 1st of August. more..

Jul 18 (PMD) President Maithripala Sirisena said that unlimited power creates corruption and during the last three years, Sri Lanka has taken several important steps to break the link between power and corruption in the country. He made this statement at the Open Govt Partnership Global Summit in Tbillisi in Georgia today, while intervening at the Summit Session at the Tbillisi Conference & Concert Hall. more..

Jul 18 (AD) The first Arab and African nation ever to establish diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka says that it has been one of the key markets for Ceylon Tea and now has 22 Bilateral Agreements with Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, readily agreeing with the claim, says that the next Egypt �Sri Lanka Joint Commission will be held in Colombo. �When we look at the annual trade volumes I can see that there are immense but un-realised trade potentials that we can mutually explore to further develop more..

Jul 18 (DN) A case involving an incident where former Minister Mervyn Silva�s son Malaka Silva had allegedly assaulted a Scottish couple at a nightclub in Colombo, had been referred to the Attorney-General (AG) for advice, police informed court. The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) currently conducting investigations into the incident, had informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate�s Court that they had sought the Attorney-General�s advice regarding two counter cases. more..

Jul 18 (DM) Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith today clarifying his statement on the Govt moves to implement the death penalty, said that what he meant was that the State should not bring back the death sentence, but that criminal minds that sought to destroy social peace and harm hundreds should not go unpunished. �The criminal minds that sought to destroy social peace and harm hundreds of more..

Jul 18 (AD) According to the results of the 2017 GCE General Information Technology (GIT) examination, 94% of candidates who sat for the exam have passed the exam. The results of the GCE GIT exam, which was held on October 15th 2017, was released by the Examinations Department, yesterday (17). From the 169,412 who had applied for the GCE GIT exam, 158,805 candidates have sat for the exam and 150,005 among them have passed the exam, more..

Jul 18 (DM) This Diyawanna member elected from a district not far from Colombo is a heavyweight of the JO and he is also a distant kinsman of the former strongman. He hails from a prominent political cum business family. A rumour went viral recently that this politico vehemently opposed a majority-backed proposal of the JO to run a popular sibling of the R-family as the party candidate at the upcoming big poll. The rumour also said that this politico was keener on scuttling this proposal more..

Jul 18 (IPS) Journalists and media activists have cautioned against Sri Lanka�s newfound press freedom as the country heads to the polls in 2020. Separate incidents of hate-speech against a Muslim minority�and the subsequent shutdown of social media platforms�and the harassment of reporters critical of the country�s opposition have led some to believe that the changes in media independence could reverse. more..

Jul 18 (Island) State Minister Nalin Bandara Jayamaha told Parliament that the Aava group operating in the North had not committed any murder so far. He said so while responding to a question raised by MP Padma Gunasekera, who demanded to know whether the govt was in a position to submit to the House a list of criminal activities carried out by the Aava Group. He said that the Aava group comprised teenagers between 17 and 18 years they had been inspired by more..

Jul 18 (DM) The JO today accused Wildlife Minister Sarath Fonseka of harbouring underworld figures. MP Padma Gunasekera said two persons named Aruna Attanayake alias Police and Gihan Sandaruwan, who had links with the underworld, were seen at functions attended by Minister Fonseka. �Aruna Attanayake was a previous Policeman. Therefore, he is known as the Police now. Gihan Sandaruwan had been previously arrested with Kerala ganja. more..

Jul 18 (CT) Colombo Additional Magistrate has ordered the CEO of SL Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT), Lal Dias to furnish a detailed analytical report to both the CID and the Court regarding the CCTV camera footage taken from the place where murdered ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen�s car was found and which had been handed over to the CID by the victim�s sister. Magistrate gave this order after having more..

Jul 19 (CT) With 2020 looming the Yahapalanaya govt is striving to kick start investigations into the Rajapaksa regime�s scandals, bring to Court some cases and simultaneously grant publicity to the development efforts in the pipeline. A welcome move but is it too late? The Rajapaksa camp is full of hope nay already feeling that 2020 is only a foregone conclusion. But is it? If readers would recall, Mahinda Rajapaksa was smug with the thought that the opposition could not even more..

Jul 19 (CT) Reports have emerged that the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) had sought information on all babies born from May 25th to May 30th 2018 in the Kilinochchi district from doctors and public health officials (1) (2). Consequently doctors and public health officials in the Kilinochchi District are compelled to provide the information about the mothers who delivered babies between May 25th and May 30th. This news has caused ripples among the medical personnel more..

Jul 19 (SO) The March 12 movement, a collective of civil society groups is expected to hand in a set of recommendations to the Provincial Councils Minister shortly, to overcome key issues in the new electoral system so that hopes on the jinxed provincial council election can be revived. The movement backed by leading election monitors PAFFREL and CMEV, appointed an expert panel on June 1 to study and come up with more..

Jul 19 (GV) At the heart of this discourse lies the notion of apekama � loosely translating as ourness, or the idea that there are things that are authentically Sinhala and Buddhist. The cultural coordinates of apekama are debated hotly. They have rarely remained static, but one constant is the belief that something called apekama exists and that it is a national virtue with overarching unity. It is not simply idiosyncratic personal belief but a systematic discourse that has become institutionalised more..

Jul 19 (DN) Sri Lanka has been fighting against the global trafficking of arms, arms, drugs and wildlife for some time. During the 30-year war, Sri Lanka was unable to fully cope with it. Post-war Sri Lanka has also been unable to cope with it for reasons which can be addressed immediately. These include the lack of political will, unwillingness to engage with the international community and lack of human and financial resource availability. Sri Lankan authorities should know that more..

Jul 19 (DN) Archbishop Emeritus Rt. Rev. Dr. Oswald Thomas Colman Gomis celebrates the Golden Jubilee of his consecration as a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church, today. He was consecrated an Auxiliary Bishop of the Colombo Diocese at the age of 36, along with Very Rev. Fr. Edmund J. Fernando OMI, by the late Thomas Benjamin, Cardinal Cooray, now referred to as Servant of God. more..

Jul 19 (SO) It was only last week that we wrote in these columns about �own goals� scored by political parties in recent weeks. Then comes the most spectacular own goal from Vijayakala Maheswaran, UNP MP for the Jaffna district and, until a few days ago, State Minister for Child Affairs. Maheswaran�s recent antics have been well documented. She told a public gathering, that for children in the North to feel safe and for them to be able to return home from school unharmed, more..

Jul 19 (Island) Parliament had a stormy session, on Tuesday, with the govt and the JO clashing over the rise of the underworld. Incensed by a hail of barbs from the Opposition ranks, PM jumped into the fray, with guns blazing. Those who had shielded criminals, while they were in power, were now demanding action against the underworld, he thundered. He recalled that a PS Chairman notorious for raping women had remained above the law under the previous regime. more..

Jul 19 (Island) The National Para Athletic Championships 2018, organised by the National Paralympic Committee of Sri Lanka, the governing body of disabled sports in the country, will be held on the July 20 and 21 at the Sugathadasa International Stadium Colombo. The premier athletics meet in Sri Lanka for Para-athletes will draw in over 800 athletes representing more than 40 sports clubs from different provinces of the country, including Paralympians. more..

Jul 19 (Island) Former South African skipper Shaun Pollock has always been loved by Sri Lankan fans. The locals would remember how Pollock teased former SL skipper Kumar Sangakkara during a commentary stint last year having been at the receiving end during an epic World Cup clash between the countries in 2003. Pollock succeeded Hansie Cronje as SA�s captain after Hansie�s admission of match fixing. His first assignment as skipper was the tour to SL in July 2000. more..

Jul 19 (Roar) Julampitiye Amare is now a forgotten man. Not so just six years ago, when he burst on to the national stage in a hail of bullets. On June 5, 2012, a JVP pocket-meeting in Katuwana was attacked. Ten men arrived on motor cycles and opened fire on the small crowd (which included the current JVP MP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa). Two were killed, many injured. The attack reportedly lasted for around 20 minutes. more..

Jul 19 (Island) Julampitiye Amare is now a forgotten man. Not so just six years ago, when he burst on to the national stage in a hail of bullets. On June 5, 2012, a JVP pocket-meeting in Katuwana was attacked. Ten men arrived on motor cycles and opened fire on the small crowd (which included the current JVP MP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa). Two were killed, many injured. The attack reportedly lasted for around 20 minutes. The police were called but arrived only after the attackers were gone. more..

Jul 19 (SO) Yala is undoubtedly one of the most exotic wildlife destinations in the world, and home to rare leopards. One of the major issues with Yala in the recent past was the unprecedented visitor influx and huge congestion inside the Park. Our staff photographer Susantha Wijegunasekera who on a visit to the Park recently, observed that park rules and regulations are being implemented and there�s much focus on conservation plans, gives us an overview with pictures. more..

Jul 19 (CI) When Keshav Maharaj first saw Rangana Herath at close quarters, Herath was unable to impose himself on the series. Although in the lead up to Sri Lanka's tour of South Africa in 2016-17, Maharaj had identified Herath as one of his leading spin-bowling influences, he wound up with better returns than the senior man across the three Tests - taking seven wickets at an average of 30.28, to Herath's six at 48. more..

Jul 19 (Island) SL Under-19 will have an uphill task today to prevent a possible defeat as their Indian counterparts amassed 473 for five wickets at stumps in reply to the home team�s 244 runs on day two of the first Youth Test at the NCC. Centuries by overnight batsman Atharwa Taide and number seven batsman Ayush Badoni and half centuries by skipper Anuj Rawat and Nehal Wadhera powered India to a strong position as bowlers toiled to contain the Indian juggernaut. more..

Jul 19 (FT) National Development Bank (NDB) has successfully negotiated a loan up to $75 million, from Commerzbank Aktikengsellschaft Germany recently. Dubai-based Alpen Capital [ME] Limited was the lead arranger to this loan facility. The proceeds of this loan are to be mobilized in NDB�s general banking business, without restrictions on any specific sector. The signing of the Agreement between NDB and Commerzbank took place on 12 July, at Dubai Int'l Financial Centre (DIFC), more..

Jul 19 (DN) Sri Lanka can attract more foreign direct investment with the signing the FTA with Singapore said Minister Malik Samarawickrama. He was speaking at the Parliamentary Debate on the SL Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA). �In just the past two and a half months since the agreement came into effect SL has received a proposal from Singapore for investment amounting to more than 16.05 Billion Dollars more..

Jul 19 (CT) Sri Lanka�s boxing ambitions at next month�s Asian Games, received another shot in the arm, with Keshani Hansika winning a bronze medal in the lightweight class at the Indonesian Police Commissioner�s Cup (Kapolri Cup) Int'l Open in Manado last week. Hansika (27) knocked out home favourite Stella Maama in the 57kg category in her opening bout to reach the semi-finals ensuring Sri Lanka of a bronze medal. She then faced, the tough Vietnamese VuongThiVy in an attempt to more..

Jul 19 (ST) MAS Holdings (Pvt.) Ltd, seen as the region�s number one design to delivery apparel and textile solutions provider, recently announced the launch of its pioneering renewable energy drive Photon. Implemented in line with the group�s key environmental goals, Photon will see the installation of 24 rooftop Solar PV Systems covering an extensive 2,000,000 sq ft, spanning from Kilinochchi to Koggala. Following the successful launch of its 1 MW Solar PV System at more..

Jul 19 (FT) Parliament yesterday approved the Nation Building Tax (NBT) (Amendment) Bill with changes allowing several sectors to be exempted from NBT to increase entrepreneurship opportunities and foster economic growth. Moving the Nation Building Tax (Amendment) Bill second reading debate at Parliament, State Minister Eran Wickramaratne said that NBT exemptions were one of the proposals of the Budget, and more..

Jul 19 (DM) Computer Emergency Readiness Team-Coordination Centre (CERT|CC) requested social media or email users to be aware of Phishing attack circulating over the internet Phishing attacks typically rely on social networking techniques applied to email or other electronic communication methods, including direct messages sent over social networks, SMS text messages and other instant messaging modes. A number of complaints had been received about a number of more..

Jul 19 (CT) InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of world�s leading hotel companies, has signed a management agreement with Sri Lanka�s Pearl Grand Tower Hotel (Private) Limited to bring the InterContinental brand back to Colombo. Due to open in 2019, InterContinental Colombo will feature 307 rooms, including 47 suites. This iconic development will be spread across 480,000 sq.ft., while the luxury hotel is expected to be the tallest hotel tower, comprising 42 floors, in Col 3. more..

Jul 19 (DM) Govt is to build a separate new terminal at the BIA for the use of domestic flights in order to promote domestic air travel for the benefit of tourists, with the development of all domestic airports and using bigger aircraft. Cabinet Approval was granted for a proposal made for this purpose jointly by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs & State Minister Asoka Abeysinghe last week. more..

Jul 19 (Island) Virtusa Corporation, a global provider of digital strategy, digital engineering, and IT outsourcing services that accelerates business outcomes for its clients, today announced that its chairman & CEO, Kris Canekeratne, is a winner of the EY Entrepreneur of The Year� 2018 Award in the New England region for the Business Process Outsourcing category. The awards program took place on June 28, at a gala in Boston. This prestigious awards program recognizes more..

Jul 19 (SLN) Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) exercise, between US Naval Special Warfare Forces personnel and SL naval personnel from the 4th Fast Attack Flotilla (4FAF) and Special Boat Squadron (SBS) was ceremonially inaugurated at the Special Boat Squadron Training School (SBSTS) in Trincomalee yesterday (17). The opening address of the JCET exercise was held with the participation of Captain Damian Fernando, Commander 4th Fast Attack Flotilla, more..

Jul 19 (DN) The future of Galle Int'l Cricket Stadium as an international venue is in danger. The stadium which is one of Sri Lanka�s luckiest venues faces the prospect of being relocated elsewhere when a initial proposal is presented in December. A special discussion was held regarding the matter at the Ministry of Cultural Affairs yesterday with the participation of Archeological Department, UDA and officials of SLC and more..