May 26 (DN) In another scathing attack on incumbent president of Sri Lanka Cricket Thilanga Sumathipala, Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake said that he plans to file a case against Sumathipala as he is not qualified to hold the post of president of SLC. �Sumathipala cannot contest the cricket board elections. I claim that the election of the cricket board that is to be held on May 31 is illegal. more..

May 26 (FT) Premier blue chip John Keells Holdings (JKH) reported its best ever results reinforcing its resilience midst challenging conditions during the financial year ended on 31 March 2017. Pre-tax profit was up 21% to Rs. 27.6 billion and post-tax grew by 28% to Rs. 23.2 billion. Net profit attributable to equity holders of the parent was up 29% to Rs. 21 billion. Group revenue rose 14% to Rs. 121.2 billion. Reflecting tougher market and business conditions, more..

May 26 (DM) An intoxicated businessman who was in Business Class onboard a Sri Lankan flight returning from Dubai to Colombo had allegedly tried to molest an Air Hostess on the flight. He was taken into custody by the Airport Police. The suspect has been identified as 49-year-old businessman who is a resident of Mount Lavinia. Police sources revealed that the suspect had initially requested for high priced liquor and an argument had arisen between him and the air hostess from more..

May 26 (DM) One side of the floating structure built by a private construction company on the Diyawanna Oya for use as a Seemamalakaya by the Amarapura Maha Sangha Sabha, has partially sunk because of a snag in the construction, Project Director and Senior Engineer Shameera Jayawardane said. The public-funded structure, which is mid way in the construction process is a part of the company's more..

May 26 (DM) These dramatic images capture the moment a mighty croc took on a deadly snake. The croc is shown tossing and turning in the river with the viper clamped and thrashing beneath his powerful jaws. Despite an intense battle, the croc came off on top and got to gobble down his prey.Captured in Yala National Park in Sri Lanka, the images were taken by Dr Rishani Gunasinghe, a Patent Technology Specialist. Rish said: 'We came across a small waterhole by the main road more..

May 26 (DN) Sri Lanka Cricket has invited Retired Judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, Justice Rohini Marasinghe to conduct an independent inquiry into the allegations of match fixing against Panadura SC and Kalutara PCC. The Judge (Rtd.) will evaluate the reports of the inquiries conducted by the SLC appointed Panel of Inquiry led by Asela Rekawa, Attorney-at-Law and that of the Ministry of Sports conducted by Palitha Kumarasingha PC, as well as conduct her own inquiry and more..

May 26 (DN) Minister Faiszer Musthapha laid down strict conditions for school rugby to resume from Monday (28) after a meeting with Senior DIG Colombo Lalith Pathinayake and other officials connected with rugby yesterday. Minister�s attention was drawn to the violent incidents which occurred last week in the Singer Schools rugby tournament. Minister inquired from the Senior DIG Colombo more..

May 26 (Island) Lanka Sathosa, country's largest state owned retail chain, has clinched committed support from the people of the United States thereby recording the institution�s first ever inward global assistance flow on 24 May. "The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has been working with USAID since 2005 on various initiatives to enhance the Ministry's mandate" said Minister Rishad Bathiudeen on 24 May. He was addressing the MoU signing event between Lanka Sathosa and YouLead, more..

May 26 (TG) Several SL govt websites were hacked on May 18, with messages left commemorating the massacre of tens of thousands of Tamils by SL security forces 9 years ago in Mullivaikkal. Amongst the websites hit were the Sinhalese version of the official website of the Ministry of Tourism Development, the website of the SL High Commission in Kerala and the website of the SL embassy in China, which continues to display the message more than a week after the hacking. more..

May 26 (Island) Flood waters have started receding in Colombo, Matara, Galle, Ratnapura and Kegalle districts as all major rivers Kelani, Gin, Nilwala, Kalu, Ma-Oya and Mahaweli are flowing at normal level, says to the DMC. Centre said that the Red Alert landslide warning issued by the NBRO was still valid for Kegalle, Kalutara, Galle, Ratnapura and Nuwara Eliya. Therefore people in those districts were urged to be on alert for more..

May 26 (AD) A tense situation prevailed outside the Galewela District Hospital when Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma forcibly attended a rehearsal by the hospital authorities to make people aware of dealing with road accidents. The Galewela DS, the Disaster Management Centre in Matale and the hospital had organised this rehearsal and they had simulated a road accident where two buses had collided and ten people were injured. The deputy minister who was on his way to Polonnaruwa more..

May 26 (Bernama) The SL govt is presenting Malaysia's Buddhist community a 60-foot high pandal, the biggest to be erected outside Sri Lanka, in conjunction with the Wesak Day celebration next Tuesday. Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Malaysia A.J.M Muzammil said the pandal is now placed at the Buddhist Maha Vihara temple in Brickfields here and would be launched tomorrow at 7pm. It will be displayed until June 1. "We are proud of the religious diversity, harmony & tolerance more..

May 26 (Island) Parliament will send the 20th Amendment (20A) to the Constitution to abolish the Executive Presidency presented by the JVP to the Attorney General and the PM. JVP Leader Anura Dissanayake handed over the 20A to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and Parliament Secretary General Dhammika Dassanayake at the Parliament Complex yesterday. MP Dissanayake, speaking to the media after the submission of the 20A as a more..

May 26 (AD) The water level of Attanagalu Oya is reaching a major flood level, the DMC announced. Therefore the DMC requested communities in Negombo, JaEla, Katana, Minuwangoda, Gampaha and Attanagalla areas to be cautious. Meanwhile, people in downstream areas in Badalgama & Giriulla are requested to be vigilant as the water level in Maa Oya was reaching a minor flood level, the DMC said. Heavy pre-monsoon rains which continued in the country from May 20, have killed at least more..

May 26 (CT) Colombo Additional Magistrate yesterday issued summons to UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake to appear before the Colombo Chief Magistrate on 20 July. The MP has been summoned to give evidence, in a case filed by the CIABOC, against the former Acting General Manager of Sathosa Sunil Perera, who is charged with causing a loss of Rs 4 million to the State, after having ordered to sell 1,000 metric tonnes of rice which had been imported contrary to the import price index, more..

May 26 (Stuff) A plot to fix a forthcoming England cricket match has been exposed by an undercover investigation. Match fixers have been caught discussing plans to rig England's first test on their tour of Sri Lanka, scheduled to begin on November 6, the Daily Telegraph has reported in the UK. An undercover journalist, posing as a businessman looking to place bets on the match, filmed a match fixer and the groundsman more..

May 26 (DN) Passengers who are compelled to pay higher ticket prices other than the stipulated rates by the National Transport Commission (NTC) are advised to call the NTC Hotline 1955 to lodge their complaints. �Although the revised bus fares were published in newspapers, some private bus conductors are still reported to be charging higher ticket prices from passengers, a NTC Spokesman said. He said the NTC received a number of complaints from passengers against more..

May 26 (DM) A police constable attached to Gokarella police station allegedly committed suicide this evening by shooting himself with his service revolver after hearing about his wife�s death. The victim has been identified as K.P. Wimalaratne (48), a father of two from Ridiyagama, Kurunegala. The policeman had reported for duty this evening after attending his daughter�s attained-age ceremony. The victim had allegedly shot himself after hearing about the death of his wife soon after more..

May 26 (Island) UPFA MP Dayasiri Jayasekara yesterday admitted in Parliament that he received one million rupee Cheque from Walt & Row Associates. Making a statement in Parliament he said that there had been a newspaper report to the effect that he had obtained the cash cheque from Walt & Row associated with Perpetual Treasuries. He said he did nothing wrong in accepting the funds which he had used for more..

May 26 (DM) In significant move, the JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, in parliament yesterday handed over a private members bill or the 20th Amendment calling for the complete abolition of the 40 year executive presidential system. This system has been widely criticised by almost all parties but no one really got down to abolishing it due to many wide ranging reasons. In July 1977, when the UNP�s then leader J.R Jayewardene won an unprecedented 5/6 majority in parliament, more..

May 26 (DM) Colloquial Sinhala is an exotic dialect when phrases are enunciated in the vernacular with the input of a smattering Anglo-Saxon linguistics that, leads to-Broken English. Sounds more the railcar burgher-ism than an outpouring of intones from the Dutch Burgher Union. Parts of the 19th Amendment are on the verge of being dumped (by none other than Ranil�19A champ) stealthily with an eye on the Northern vote. Adversaries gave a rousing farewell in multiple languages more..

May 26 (DM) A momentum has built up in view of the next presidential election though it is not yet around the corner. The recent Viyath Maga programme, a confab of intellectuals, business leaders and politicians with a nationalist bent, served as the virtual launching pad of a presidential election campaign. A premature poll campaign is now in the making in that sense, though the elections are scheduled to be conducted at the end of more..

May 26 (ST) In the wake of a barrage of complaints from angry motorists, the CMC has ordered that the private company entrusted to collect parking fees, Tenaga Car Parks (Pvt) Ltd, should stop charging fines immediately. Council Commissioner Lalith Wickremaratne said Mayor Rosy Senanayake had taken the decision. �They [Tenaga] will be able only to collect parking fees as mentioned in the gazette notification,� more..

May 26 (FT) The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) claims the financial steadiness of the institution would have been much improved if the Treasury provided due subsidies and State institutions paid promptly. �I don�t think it�s a fair comment to say that we are in debt. If all the institutes pay us on time and the Treasury gives us the subsidy that they are supposed to give, then we are not going to be in debt,� more..

May 26 (ST) Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma has been heavily criticised for his apparetly boorish behaviour by both farmers and religious leaders for freeing a number of head of wild buffaloe which were ravaginging cultivated land and destroying crops, in addition to posing a danger to human life. The herd was captured with much difficulty on May 14, following a decision taken at the Nuwara Eliya more..

May 26 (Island) The Parliament complex had been in existence for the past 37 years without a �valid deed� for the land, the House was told yesterday. "Parliament building is existing without a proper deed for 37 years since its beginning," UNP MP Buddhika Pathirana said. The MP said that he had received an invitation for a ceremony where the official deed of parliament would be handed over. more..

May 26 (MoD) Sri Lanka Army rescue and relief team operating in flood affected areas are still busy providing most needed services to thousands of people in many parts of the island. About 20 districts in the country has experienced flooding and earthslips in the wake of the Southwestern monsoon. So far, wide spread flooding, eartslips and lightning has claimed about 16 lives with one person reported missing. more..

May 26 (ST) Two UNP MPs and a State Minister, testifying against current Hambantota Mayor Eraj Ravindra Fernando and four others this week, told High Court Judge Thamara Tennakoon how they were surrounded near the Mattala Airport and intimidated by an organised group. The suspects, Premasiri Paranamanna alias Paththakka Some, Tuwan Bhaman alias Bandagiriya Tuwan, more..

May 26 (Island) Investigations have revealed that Dehiwela-Mount Lavinia Municipal Councillor Ranjan de Silva, father of SL cricket cap Dhananjaya de Silva, who was shot dead on Thursday night at Ratmalana, was carried out by an underworld gang in the area. The police said the killing was a result of a long standing dispute. Although 21 persons had been questioned in connection with the killing, no one has been more..

May 26 (Island) Former UNP MP and media personality J. Sri Ranga has accused the TNA and other Tamil MPs of conveniently remaining silent on the possible use of poison gas on the Vanni east front in 2009. The then govt brought the war to a successful conclusion on May 19, 2009. Ranga flayed the then govt political leadership, military, TNA and other recognized political parties in Minnal (lightning) programme more..

May 26 (DM) Outgoing US Ambassador Atul Keshap has said his country wants to walk hand-in-hand with all Sri Lankans to see the dream of a brighter future coming true. �As you look at the UN process, as you look at the American partnership, we want to walk with Sri Lanka hand-in-hand, with all of the people of Sri Lanka, to see that there is a brighter future," Ambassador Keshup said in an interview with TV Derana. more..

May 26 (CT) The Govt is seemingly apathetic towards the plight of the poor affected by this year�s South West (SW) Monsoonal Disaster, by not doing enough to ensure that such disasters are not repeated. Also of equal note is the apathy shown by the international community to this recent disaster, where, up to yesterday morning it has resulted in 16 deaths, one missing and affecting 127,913 others, including several of those affected being displaced from their homes. more..

May 26 (FT) Peter, middle-aged Canadian, is a friend and regular visitor to Sri Lanka. He finds the country fascinating, even quaint, and willingly endures the long- haul flight at least once a year for an experience like no other. It was in Toronto, where he met several new immigrants from SL, that Peter first engaged with the distant culture. �At a glance they look Sub-Continent Indian, but with closer association I realized they were different. In the Indians I met in Canada more..

May 26 (ST) Changes in land-usage patterns have resulted in a continuous contraction of the habitat available to the elephant. Today there is little room for the animals to roam. Today, the rising elephant population and the continuously shrinking of land availability, has led to food scarcity among the growing numbers of beasts. The food scarcity has led herds roaming in villages and destroying crops. At locations where vegetable refuse is dumped, the hungry beasts often more..

May 26 (GDI) Five new envoys presented their credentials to President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday (25) at President�s House in Colombo. Accordingly, the High Commissioner for Mozambique and Ambassadors for Sweden, Finland, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela presented credentials yesterday. Following is the list of new envoys: 01- Mr. Ermindo Augusto Ferreira - High Commissioner of Mozambique; 02- Mr. Klas Molin - Ambassador of tha Kingdom of Sweden; more..

May 26 (DM) While admitting that the seasonal influenza spreading in the Southern Province had caused the deaths of nine individuals last month, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Anil Dissanayake said the number of admissions to hospitals had considerably reduced this week. He said that all nine deceased were infants and four of them had already been suffering from chronic diseases including heart disease. more..

May 26 (DM) Minister Champika Ranawaka said no govt funds were used to build the Seemamalakaya in the Diyawanna Oya near the Parliament Road as alleged by JO MP Gamini Lokuge in parliament. He told parliament that the MP had alleged on Thursday that the Seemamalakaya which was built at the entrance to parliament, was of poor quality and had been damaged due to the recent rains. The minister said it was not a Seemamalakaya but a building constructed by a private company more..

May 26 (ST) A four-year-old girl choked to death after a worm treatment tablet got stuck in her throat, the Colombo City Coroner was told yesterday. The girl identified as Tharindu Perera of Kahatuduwa died a day after she was admitted to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital in Colombo. The child�s mother Charitha Priyadharshini giving evidence in the Coroner�s Court said that the tablet was broken into two and given to the child to swallow. However, it had got stuck in her throat and more..

May 26 (CT) A multi-stakeholder network involving law enforcement agencies and intelligence services was being trained to detect drug trafficking via social media (including Facebook), the deep web, dark web and dark nets, through information technology-based surveillance and infiltration of these modes of transfer. National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) is involved in the endeavour. more..