Sep 2 (ST) There was a sense of irony when PM Ranil Wickremesinghe issued a statement on Twitter from Ha Noi condoling with the family of US Senator John McCain who passed away on August 25. The irony is not that the Sri Lankan PM has also caught on to the fashionable Twitter messaging of world leaders, but the well-known US Senator and Presidential hopeful had been a guest of the then North Viet Nam Govt at the so-called Ha Noi Hilton as a PoW for 5 years during the war with USA. more..

Sep 2 (SO) Following in the footsteps of tyrants intoxicated with power - they came, they beat up wildlife officers, they freed a comrade involved in illegal activity from custody and took away the evidence. What prevailed on that Sunday night at Minneriya was not the law of the land, but the law of the jungle. The marauding mob later got publicity nationwide through staging protests. more..

Sep 2 (ST) My dear Maithri, I thought I must write to you when I heard rumours that you are now trying to strike a deal with Mahinda maama for the next big elections, where you will run for the top job but allow him to be your second in command. I didn�t know whether to laugh or cry. Instead, I thought I will write to you. Rumour has it that this plan is being brokered by SB. Why would you trust someone who was at first with Satellite, then brought her govt down by crossing over to the Greens, more..

Sep 2 (ST) All hell had broken loose it appeared, on this warm and sunny Thursday morning. Kussi Amma Sera was at her vociferous best, waving a piece of paper as she brought in the morning cup of tea in the other hand, saying: Mahattaya, balanna, mey naya dena mahaththuru apey gamme minisun-ta kochchara karadara karanawa-da. (See how these gentlemen from microfinance companies are harassing our villagers). She was referring to villagers getting into deeper debt and more..

Sep 2 (Island) Colombo Defence Seminar 2018 commenced in Colombo last Thursday. The theme for this year was Security in an Era of Global Disruptions The Keynote speech was delivered by PM Ranil Wickremasinghe. If this Seminar featured in the news, it would mainly be due to the comments made by the Prime Minister about the technology driven new media being a non-traditional threat to security. He specifically mentioned social media such as Facebook & Twitter and other websites more..

Sep 2 (Island) Friday (24), marked a rare instance of parliamentary unanimity that is usually reserved for a vote of condolence following an MP�s passing. There was no death to bereave last week, but it was burial of a different kind - when the House unanimously voted down the Delimitation Committee report for demarcating electoral districts for Provincial elections. 139 MPs belonging to the governing UNP/SLFP and the opposition JO/TNA voted against adopting the report. more..

Sep 2 (CT) President Maithripala Sirisena who attended the 4th Summit of the BIMSTEC held in Kathmandu, Nepal, commenced his two-day State visit to Nepal with the conclusion of the Summit, yesterday (01) by worshipping at several religious places including the magnificent Lumbini, the birthplace of Siddhartha Gauthama. Chief Minister of the province and the Minister of Culture warmly received the President when he arrived at the venue. more..

Sep 2 (Island) The 50-over cricket World Cup is round the corner and there are many aspiring to get on the bandwagon. What about the criteria to do so? Firstly, each of these potential players must be fully fit to go through this grueling tournament � unless of course SL expects to get knocked out in the early rounds. Secondly, the players must be able to withstand the immense pressure a tournament of this nature would exert. Finally it is their skills � over their opposition - more..

Sep 2 (ST) Sri Lanka will face group rivals South Korea in the Rugby Sevens Bronze medal playoff at the 18th Asian Games 2018 after Japan edged out the islanders 12-10 in the Gold medal semi-final at the GBK Rugby Field in Indonesia yesterday. The Tuskers went out in full force for the first time with star player Danushka Ranjan making his first appearance in the competition in the crucial game against Japan. Sri Lanka made a solid start by opening scoring in the first minute more..

Sep 2 (ST) Veteran fast bowler Lasith Malinga and off-spinner Dilruwan Perera have been included in the 16-man squad for the Asia Cup in Dubai this month. The 35-year-old Malinga, who retired from Test cricket in 2010, has not played int'l cricket since last Sept 2017 when Sri Lanka suffered a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of India at home. His inclusion in the Asia Cup squad, however, comes as a surprise as he has done too little to earn a recall to the 50-over format, more..

Sep 2 (EN) Ethno-religious fascist forces are again in the ascendancy in Sri Lanka helped by an economic downturn triggered by money printing, inflation and socialist policies like price controls, in the first two years of the current administration cemented by un-ending currency depreciation. Though a recovery is under-way - as it usually happens after a credit bubble bursts - most of the damage has already been done. The new finance team is fixing some of the problems, despite more..

Sep 2 (AD) Seven suspects have been arrested over the recent unrest at the Galaha Hospital following the death of an infant, police said. The suspects have been arrested by Galaha Police, this evening, on charges of damaging public property. A tense situation had prevailed at the Galaha Hospital on Aug 28 following the death of an infant who had been admitted to the hospital. A large number of people had gathered at the hospital premises, provoked by the death of a one-and-a-half year old infant, more..

Sep 2 (ST) SL�s school cricket format from U-13 to First XI age groups will go through some quantum changes from the forthcoming season. This came as a result of the three-year pilot project mooted by the Education Ministry. The U-13 and U-15 cricket will revert to the 4 3/4oz ball from the 5 1/2oz senior ball that has been used for almost the past two decades in junior cricket. At the same time, the number of matches for the senior season will be strictly limited to 15+1 matches, more..

Sep 2 (SO) Tournament director Sajith Fernando claims matches were a success as one team uses nine bowlers to bowl 20 overs : Despite it turning out to be one of the most disputable Leagues in the country, Sri Lanka Cricket is over-the-moon that the on-going SLC T20 domestic tournament has produced the desired outcome by way of playing standards and patronage. The downgraded tournament, an alternative to an event that was to feature international players but more..

Sep 2 (PMD) President Maithripala Sirisena who attended the 4th Summit of the BIMSTEC held in Kathmandu, Nepal, commenced his two-day state visit to Nepal with the conclusion of the Summit, today (01). President Sirisena marking his first programme worshipped several religious places including the magnificent Lumbini, the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama. The Chief Minister of the province and the Minister of the Culture warmly received the President when he arrived at the venue. more..

Sep 2 (ST) Govt has rejected the extension of service of General Manager of the People�s Bank and was probing his annual salary package, amidst reports of mismanagement and mounting, bad loans at this state institution. Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Public Enterprise had accepted the recommendation of the COPE not to extend the contract service of People�s Bank GM Vasantha Kumara who is currently drawing a monthly salary of Rs.2.1 million, more..

Sep 2 (Island) "At Candy we believe in Smart innovation, but only when it�s really useful, that�s why we�ve created the smartest, most intelligent and intuitive appliances ever, namely the Candy Bianca washing machine and the Candy Watch and Touch oven. Today we invite you to discover how Candy can help to make your life easier, so you can have more time to do the things you love", said Mr. Massimo Poma, Export Area Manager - South East Asia, Candy Asia Pacific LTD., more..

Sep 2 (AD) Minister Faiszer Musthapha says that he believes Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) elections can be held before the end of December this year. ICC had recently instructed the minister to make necessary arrangements to conduct elections to elect office Bearers to SLC on or before Feb 9, 2019 when he met with its Chairman and CEO in Dubai. �Although I have been given time until Feb 9, I will hold the elections as soon as possible. I intend to issue the regulation by next week or the week after.� more..

Sep 2 (EN) Former Chief Justice Sarath Silva was reported the Supreme Court over his wilful violation of the constitution by acting as legal counsel to former president Mahinda Rajapaksa. Deputy minister Ranjan Ramanayake addressed a petition to Chief Justice Priyasath Dep drawing attention to an Aug 17 incident at the official residence of the former president where Silva formed part of former leader�s legal team. more..

Sep 2 (ST) Dilmah, SL�s and the world�s top single origin Ceylon Tea, has been seriously affected by what it calls the discount culture. �Thirty years ago Dilmah was launched as a single origin pure Ceylon tea, grown and packed in Sri Lanka. Today, it is the same tea in every respect. In several territories including Australia and Europe, we are now forced to sustain huge losses as retailers do not entertain any price revision to their buying prices, whilst their own margin keeps improving all the time. more..

Sep 2 (LBO) Founder Sanjiva Weerawarana is moving on from software company WSO2, relinquishing his employment as Chief Software Architect. This is after relinquishing the CEO position in the recent past. The 500 employee firm is one of the most successful software companies in SL. Weerawarana will continue on as Non-Executive Chairman and retain a shareholding of close to 5% of the company. He recently released his farewell email to employees. Full email is reproduced: more..

Sep 2 (CT) A total of 62,338 Sri Lankans are currently on the country�s blacklist and are prevented from leaving the country, unless they obtain prior Court approval. According to the State intelligence sources, who cannot be named for obvious reasons, figure includes close to a 30,000 security force personnel starting from the lowest ranks to senior most officers with some of them facing various charges in the country�s Courts. more..

Sep 2 (CT) Insisting the need of States sharing intelligence, training and knowledge, wherever relevant to ensure global security, Foreign Secretary Prasad Kariyawasam, in his closing address to the Colombo Defence Seminar - 2018, urged the participants to remain always vigilant against violent extremism and terrorist organizations worldwide. �Present day disruptions are multidimensional, multifaceted and security is the right to live without fear. more..

Sep 2 (CT) Liberation Movement organization, a self-proclaimed feminist left leaning group, announced that they would conduct a protest in front of the Welikada Prison Complex at noon tomorrow, to highlight the recent incidents of the assault on female detainees and deplorable conditions within prisons in terms of hygiene and sanitation. Member of the Movement, Swasthika Arulingam, said that on that day, they would hand over a packet of sanitary napkins and pads to the Prison authorities to more..

Sep 2 (ST) Wildlife officials will be armed with Russian-made Kalashnikov AK 47 assault rifles under a Rs. 42 million project to protect elephants from poachers and to save human lives in the human-elephant conflict, the Cabinet has decided. These weapons, more sophisticated than the standard issue of Chinese-made T-56 assault rifles, are to be bought on a recommendation by Minister Sarath Fonseka. more..

Sep 2 (EN) Sri Lanka's motor car registrations grew 137% to 7,193 units in July 2018 despite a hike in taxes, as there was a large stock of smaller vehicles in the country, with total vehicle registrations up 7.47% to 42,043, an equities research house said. Sri Lanka suddenly hiked taxes of a category of small hybrids, which people were buying because other cars were too expensive, due to problems with monetary management of the central bank. Analysts have called for the reform of more..

Sep 2 (ST) India has invited a multi-party Sri Lankan delegation to visit New Delhi for a familiarisation tour where bilateral matters will be discussed. The ten member team for the tour from Sept 9 to 14 will be led by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and include Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan, House Leader Lakshman Kiriella, Minister Nimal Sripala De Silva, MP Dinesh Gunawardena representing the JO, ACMC leader Rishad Bathiudeen, SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem, JVP MP Vijitha Herath, more..

Sep 2 (SO) Committee on Public Finance (COPF) will hold public meetings in Kandy and Jaffna to hear the people�s views ahead of the budget, according to its Chairman, MP M.A. Sumanthiran. COPF is a parliamentary committee with power of oversight over how public funds are set aside in the annual budget. First public meeting will be held in Kandy today, while the second will be in Jaffna tomorrow. A third meeting will be held in Matara, more..

Sep 2 (CT) Deer are generally found in forests, National Parks and Zoos. But today, the breeding and spreading of deer in the Athurugiriya area has caused concern among the residents and villagers, after vehicles were spotted around the areas where the deer roam, during the night. Some residents from Athurugiriya said people have started poaching; after the number of deer had increased in the small forested area. Retired Assistant Bank Manager Chandrasiri Ramanayake, more..

Sep 2 (AD) The govt has reduced the prices of 10 expensive cancer drugs and 13 other medicinal drugs with effect from midnight today (1). The prices of two medical devices have also been reduced. The relevant Gazette notification has been issued bringing into affect the prices reduction, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said. He made this announcement during the opening ceremony of the 39th outlet (Osusala) of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) at Peradeniya Uni premises. more..

Sep 2 (ST) Wednesday�s protest rally by the JO has come under heavy focus of leaders of the ruling coalition. Whilst the JO wants to induct large crowds, coalition leaders want to do just the opposite � prevent as many from taking part. Indications of who will win the ding-dong battle will be known within the next 48 hours. Yet, it has set off alarm bells in the coalition. Western Province Transport Authority has banned from yesterday more..

Sep 3 (SO) We have passed another July, which is considered a dark month in Sri Lanka�s recent history. It was Black July that led to a three-decade war and a host of other effects that pushed the country backwards by almost a century. However, the month of August also holds huge importance in my memory. Firstly, half my immediate family, including myself, were born in August. But some of the darkest memories I carry are also from that month, specifically from August 1990, more..

Sep 3 (CT) The poem is about Genghis Khan, the mighty Mongolian warrior who by the year 1227 created the world�s biggest empire before the British Empire. Mahinda Rajapakse forces, like the malevolent armies of Genghis Khan, are hell-bent on invading Colombo, dislodging the democratically elected govt and retaking power once again. For what? One is compelled to ask. Genghis Khan had a purpose. But Mahinda? The govt has another one and half years to go to complete its duly won more..

Sep 3 (SO) Questions have been raised about the decision to award the Galle Marina project to an Indian company that has listed its technical assistance to the 1990 Suwasariya service in its portfolio, but Govt Ministers insist the shipping and aviation company has nothing to do with the free ambulance service. Govt planned to develop a section of Galle harbour as a marina back in 2013. A Saudi Arabian investor named more..

Sep 3 (CT) It is good to be back after 9 years, if I use a slightly amended phrase borrowed from Madonna, the pop singer. When she visited Argentina, 13 years after she had played the main role Eva in Evita, to sing to an ecstatic live audience Don�t cry for me Argentina; the truth is I never left you, it was an overwhelming reception she received from Argentineans. In my case too, I never left the Central Bank. For that matter, no Central Banker could leave it behind to live more..

Sep 3 (ST) The progress of ongoing criminal investigations into the grisly killing of several Tamil youths following a racket of abduction for ransom, spearheaded allegedly (here, I use the term quite deliberately) by a Naval officer and others during 2008-2009 will be the crucible on which this Government and this Presidency�s commitment to promises made, will be tested most severely. Unlike other instances of the killing of youths, such as what occurred in Trincomalee in 2006, more..

Sep 3 (CT) Secretary to Provincial Council Delimitation Committee and Deputy Elections Commissioner, Saman Ratnayake throwing light on the now much-maligned Delimitation Committee Report said it was only a Report and defeating a Report in Parliament was nothing to talk about. He said it is well-known that Parliamentary disapproval smacks of a political motive and emphasized that DCR committee comprised more..

Sep 3 (SO) This essay is an exploration of our current political discourse wherein everyone is doing what they think is somehow justified. That includes those now in power, those who hope to regain their lost power and those convinced that they alone are entitled to power. Evil is an accusatory adjective that calls for some explanatory reasoning. Most people do things which somehow later turn out to be evil and remembered as evil. Who is Lasantha? Gotabaya Rajapaksa famously asked BBC�s more..

Sep 3 (Island) Prez & PM apparently spend more time overseas than here, trying to help solve int'l problems while the country is faced with a surfeit of unresolved domestic issues. After glad-handing sessions abroad, where they pose for photos with western leaders, they return home empty-handed only to appeal for more Chinese funds. Their govt is maniacally focused on only two things�the election-oriented development programmes and non-stop trials against its opponents. more..