Nov 23 (DN) In the first two Tests of the ongoing three-Test series it is clear as day that it is the SL batting that has been the downfall of the team who find themselves trailing 0-2 in the series and having a fight on their hands to prevent England from completing a 3-0 whitewash by winning the third and final Test starting at the SSC grounds from today. However acting captain Suranga Lakmal was of the view that more..

Nov 23 (CT) Both the electronic and print media has reported that the govt will not be in a position to service and repay the loans that will fall due during the financial year beginning from 1 Jan 2019. As such, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs wishes to note the following: Govt of Sri Lanka has raised loans in terms of the provisions of the specific laws including the Registered Stock and Securities Ordinance, No. 7 of 1937, Local Treasury Bills Ordinance, No. 8 of 1923 and more..

Nov 23 (Island) The Colombo Commercial High Court recently extended the enjoining order issued against Regent Property Developers Lanka till Nov 28 preventing it from alienating and transferring of any more apartments in Regent Residencies apartment complex situated at Watarappala Road, Mt Lavinia. The order was issued at the instance of the project�s contractor, Construction Managers and Planners., who had complained to court that Regent Property Developers had failed to pay money more..

Nov 23 (Island) The govt warned of fresh turmoil in parliament unless Speaker Karu Jayasuriya accepted a UPFA-dominated House Selection Committee (HSC) in terms of the Standing Orders. Minister Wimal Weerawansa, MP Dallas Alahapperuma and MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa emphasised that the govt wouldn�t give up its right to secure the lion�s share of positions in the 12 member HSC under any circumstances. more..

Nov 23 (DN) SL�s brand new and reconditioned motor vehicle sales have reached a record low, said Chairman Vehicle Importers Association of SL, Sampath Merenchige. This may be because people are expecting a reduction of taxes for vehicle imports from the new Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa,� he said. He disclosed that sales have dropped drastically and a motor sales company that was selling on average around 30 to 35 vehicles per month has now come down more..

Nov 23 (DM) The House will be unable to function any further if the Parliament Select Committee (PSC) is not appointed tomorrow, MP Dullas Alahapperuma said. He said Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had been delaying the appointment of PSC members since Nov 14 and that he always preferred a majority of the PSC to be UNP MPs. �The tradition is to appoint a majority of govt MPs to the PSC. Hence, the Speaker cannot violate this practice. This should have been done on more..

Nov 23 (DM) Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said Sri Lanka did not follow the traditions of the British Parliament since it became a Republic in 1972 and that from 1978 onwards it was ruled under an Executive President. He said this at the weekly Cabinet news briefing in response to a statement made by former leader of the House and Minister Lakshman Kiriella that Sri Lanka should follow the Westminster system. more..

Nov 23 (CT) To popularize the agriculture industry further and to encourage persons engaged in agriculture, PM Mahinda Rajapaksa said that it has been decided to exempt income, from the agriculture industry, from income tax for a period of five years. He pointed out that income tax will not be charged on the income from agricultural crops for a period of five years and that huge relief will be provided to farmers as well as a large group engaged in the agriculture industry. more..

Nov 23 (FT) US Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) this week wrote to President Maithripala Sirisena raising deep concerns about his decision to remove PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and the ensuing political crisis. Senator Van Hollen has deep connections to Sri Lanka, having lived there for a period of time when his father, Chris Van Hollen Sr., served as US Ambassador to the country. He is also the former co-chair of the Sri Lanka Caucus in the US House of Representatives. more..

Nov 23 (Island) UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe asked members of his parliamentary group not to make statements on ongoing court cases. Wickremesinghe, according to a statement issued by the Central Bureau of Sirikotha, directed MPs to address issues responsibly and refrain from commenting in case they weren�t sufficiently informed of various situations. Sirikotha said so in the wake of the govt taking up more..

Nov 23 (DN) Canadian High Commissioner has created a furore with his comments on the political situation in the country. Commenting on a twitter message sent to MP Namal Rajapaksa by the Canadian HC in SL David McKinnon, SL�s Ambassador to Russia Dayan Jayathilleke in a Facebook message has stated: shameful and outrageously intrusive. An unprovoked aggression on the part of a Diplomat? Intervening in the domestic debate to rebuke and rebut Namal more..

Nov 23 (Island) SriLankan Airlines stopped flights to Paris and Frankfurt, where they have been flying since 1980, in late 2016 due to a restructuring plan that was implemented after the change of government, the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) was told on Wednesday. Manager (Network Planning) of SriLankan Airlines Sumudu Upatissa told the PCoI that flights to Frankfurt had been stopped from October 30, and flights to Paris from Nov. 06, 2016. more..

Nov 23 (FT) A staggering Rs. 54.4 billion payment by the State is outstanding as of 16 November. The outstanding bills include both recurrent and capital expenditure. Of the amount outstanding, over 70% or around Rs. 38.8 billion has been outstanding for less than three months. Given this situation, the Finance Ministry maintains that in managing the cashflow, priority will be given to meet the bills outstanding for over three months. more..

Nov 23 (Island) Former SL cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya has denied as absolutely false a news report in an Indian publication that he has been accused of smuggling rotten betel nuts into India and he is to be grilled. Jayasurya has said in a statement: "I have never been involved in any business activity dealing with betel nut. I completely deny the contents of the article and my lawyers have already responded to the defamatory and false article." The report said yesterday that more..

Nov 23 (FT) UPFA charged Moody�s Investors Service�s decision to downgrade SL�s sovereign rating and the rating of three prominent banks was precipitated by the UNP's criticisms of the economy. Moody�s Investors Service on Wednesday said it has downgraded the long-term local currency deposit and foreign currency issuer ratings of Bank of Ceylon (BOC), Hatton National Bank (HNB), and Sampath Bank PLC to B2 from B1. A day earlier, it had downgraded the sovereign rating for SL. more..

Nov 23 (FT) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has scheduled a party leaders meeting at 9 a.m. today, ahead of what is expected to be another contentious day of parliamentary sittings. Official sources said the composition of the 12-member Committee of Selection will be discussed at the meeting, and it�s likely the Speaker will make a decision on whom to name to the Committee after the meeting and announce it to the House. more..

Nov 23 (DM) There is much talk about SL succumbing to the efforts of the Western powers aimed at creating an Arabian Spring like revolution in SL. SLFP at a recent press briefing stated that western powers are initiating a covert move to cause unrest in the country and thereby have succeeded in creating the present political impasse. This claim must be viewed with an open mind because the majority of Sri Lankans have this anything from the westerner is bad for us attitude governing more..

Nov 23 (DM) In the wake of the constitutional crisis following the sudden, wrongful and unceremonious sacking of the PM and what flowed thereafter, the question posed by many is; has the UNP lost the plot again? Regardless of the answer to that question, the one question that is repeatedly asked by UNP voters is: Need the UNP be in this sorry position? After all, going by the party members with talent among the UNP it is easily the best equipped local political grouping to lead Sri Lanka. more..

Nov 23 (DM) It is interesting to note that the conflict between Prez Sirisena and the ousted PM Ranil Wickremesinghe over the latter�s purported hesitance to take action on allegations of acts of high profile corruption against the leaders of the Rajapaksa regime, had ended up in the President teaming up with the same Rajapaksas. The recent turn of events and the new political alignments were as if the President telling more..

Nov 23 (ST) The room plunges into darkness as the light switch is hit � but all those around the sophisticated machine, having accessed the area after walking literally through an airy maze, suddenly see green beams crisscrossing here and there. They are laser beams that will be used to position the patient before the TrueBeam Radiotherapy System, a first in Sri Lanka, will give out high-precision radiotherapy treatment for more..

Nov 23 (Island) Minister Wimal Weerawansa admitted that he, on behalf of the previous Rajapaksa govt, accepted responsibility for the then administration�s failure to initiate action against the TNA for its active involvement with the LTTE. He said so when The Island sought an explanation at a media briefing called by the govt at the PM�s Office as to how the previous govt conveniently forgot to inquire into the TNA role during the war, more..

Nov 23 (FT) As the political crisis in the country stagnates with no plausible solution in sight, the UNF announced plans to launch a civil disobedience campaign to push Prez Sirisena to reverse the decisions taken a month ago to replace the sitting PM. �We are taking all steps to go against the situation now. We will take action on behalf of our people, we will make decisions to launch a civil disobedience campaign in the future,� more..

Nov 23 (CT) Former Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran told the Australian Deputy Ambassador, Victoria Coakley, that the current political crisis in the country can be solved by both, newly appointed PM Rajapaksa and former PM Wickremesinghe, entering into an agreement to form a national govt for the remaining two years. He added that if a national govt can function since Jan 2015, more..

Nov 23 (CT) President Maithripala Sirisena had no hand in the controversial transfer of the OIC of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the CID claimed Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe. He was addressing the weekly Cabinet meeting. Referring to the claim that the transfer letter, issued by IGP Pujith Jayasundara to the OIC of the SIU, was a presidential directive, he said there was no truth in it. more..

Nov 23 (CT) Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners said they would lodge a complaint, with the National Police Commission, against the reinstatement of Inspector of Police attached to the Police Narcotics Bureau, Neomal Rangajeewa. Rangajeewa, a suspect who was remanded in the case pertaining to the deaths of 27 prisoners at the Welikada Prison in Nov 2012, was recently enlarged on bail. more..

Nov 23 (AFP) SL's deposed PM secured control of a key committee in parliament Friday, dealing a blow to Prez Sirisena in the latest twist in a month-long political crisis. A vote gave Ranil Wickremesinghe control of a selection committee entrusted with setting the legislative agenda in the absence of a working govt. SL has been politically paralysed since Oct 26 when Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe and replaced him with more..

Nov 23 (DN) Leader of PHU, Minister Udaya Gammanpila said that he requested the Supreme Court to appoint a full-bench of judges to consider the petitions that have been filed against the dissolution of Parliament. He said that the he would also file a defamation case against MP Ranjan Ramanayake for insulting the Supreme Court. Accusing the Speaker that he acted in a biased manner in the Parliament so far, more..

Nov 23 (AD) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya informed the House that 121 MPs voted in favour of the composition of the Parliament Select Committee. MPs of the governing party had staged a walkout during the vote which was taken electronically. A total of 116 members had voted electronically while another 4 MPs had voted by roll call due to technical issues. The govt members walked out of the Chamber as more..

Nov 23 (CT) Humans and elephants do not get along much in SL, with habitats shrinking daily and human encroachment of elephant territory, rural farmers haven�t changed their daily lives and farming practices for hundreds of years and their crops and villages are being threatened with relentless waves of elephants. As urbanization takes hold, the elephants have nowhere else to go and end up in farmlands searching for food. Many proposals have been tabled to resolve more..

Nov 23 (FT) The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Russia yesterday announced planned expansion of the regular flight program between Moscow and Colombo. According to the Agreement between the Govt of the Russian Federation and the Govt of Sri Lanka on Air Transport, dated 26 March 2012, and the MoU, signed between the two countries on 5 December 2017, the Russian air carrier ROSSIYA Airlines Company (JSC) has been appointed for performing regular passenger, baggage, more..

Nov 23 (FT) Of the Executive Presidents who ruled the country prior to Maithripala Sirisena, J.R. Jayewardene and Mahinda Rajapaksa can be described as those who mostly and increasingly exhibited the majesty and the prowess of the post. Both had adequate powers to do so. In fact, J.R. Jayewardene boasted that the only thing he could not do was to make a man a woman and vice versa. Dr. Colvin R de Silva, a most erudite expert on constitutional affairs, once said that even if more..

Nov 23 (NR) Supreme Court has postponed the hearing of a Fundamental Rights petition filed by Former MP Sarath Weerasekera challenging the Speaker�s powers to reconvene Parliament, based on a stay order issued by the Supreme Court on a gazette issued dissolving Parliament. Accordingly Chief Justice Nalin Perera and judge LTB Dehideniya ordered the petition to be taken up on 4th of Dec. Judges informed the petitioner that all cases related to the aforementioned. more..

Nov 23 (DM) A gang dressed in police uniform had stolen a 750-carat diamond brought down from South Africa valued at more than 7 billion rupees along with several other gemstones in the possession of a gem merchant in Maharagama. One of the thieves had been arrested in Watareka, the Mirihana Special Organised Crimes Operations (SOCO) unit. A police officer attached to the unit said that the robbery had been the work of more..

Nov 23 (AD) Purawesi Balaya Organisation has submitted a letter to Prez Sirisena requesting him to expedite the investigations being carried out with regard to the murder of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge. The letter has been signed by the Co-convener of the organization Gamini Viyangoda, Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya and Dharmasiri Bandaranayake. Organisation claims that it is aware of the fact that a great deal of information was uncovered through the investigations more..

Nov 23 (EN) An audit of a water and waste water project in Colombo funded by Asian Development Bank has revealed several irregularities and delays. The audit by the state Auditor-General�s Dept said there had been non-compliance with laws, rules and regulations. One project to upgrade water supply in the southern and western parts of the city had been signed by the chairman of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board instead of the secretary of the minister under which it comes, more..

Nov 23 (CI) Jonny Bairstow put England - and his own Test career - back on track with a high-class century on the first day in Colombo. After Joe Root won the toss for the eighth time in succession in Test cricket - one short of the all-time record for an individual captain - Bairstow made 110 to help England take advantage of first use of a dry track that is expected to offer more help for spinners as the game wears on. more..

Nov 23 (MO) SL briefly had an extra fielder on day one of the third Test with England. A stray dog boldly strode onto the outfield and initially positioned itself at extra cover during Friday's afternoon session in Colombo. Play was halted while the canine was chased away from the playing area. The hosts may well have wished that the four-legged fielder had stuck around because moments after it had left the scene Jonny Bairstow had his bat raised in the air to celebrate an impressive century. more..

Nov 23 (Island) The silver jubilee of the Gem and Jewellery Authority will be celebrated with a Presidential Award ceremony today at the Colombo Shangri-La from 6pm. National Gem and Jewellery Authority Chairman Peshala Jayaratne issued the following statement: The State Gem Corporation, launched in accordance with a grand concept of the late Dr. N. M. Perera, Minister of Finance in the United Front govt established in 1970 under the leadership of late PM Sirimavo more..

Nov 23 (DM) Minister Dinesh Gunawardane said today they had decided to boycott parliamentary sessions until Speaker Karu Jayasuriya acted according to the Constitution, Standing Orders and parliamentary tradition. He said that they would take a decision on attending parliament sessions after considering the order paper for the next day. "We walked out of Chambers in protest of the Speaker's actions," more..