Aug 12 (CT) Elections Commission (EC) Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya has expressed his concern over curbing election violence and the EC Chairman's efforts should be supported by the law enforcement agencies as well as media and all democratic institutions to hold a free and fair election in the country. EC Chairman's concern over curbing election violence is timely and he has focused on creating the right atmosphere before engaging himself in working out strategies to conduct more..

Aug 12 (EN) Sri Lanka is targeting US$ 3.5 billion in foreign exchange and 350 million kg of tea production by 2030. "Our target is 350 million kg of tea production and US$ 3.5 billion in exports," Michael de Soyza an ex-Chairman of the Colombo Tea Traders' Association (CTTA), an industry body said at the 125th anniversary of the industry association. He said that a workshop was held on Aug 9 to start the program, more..

Aug 12 (CT) Minutes after the SLPP formally declared the former Secretary to the ministry of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa as their presidential candidate at the forthcoming presidential election, Jenifer Weerasinghe, mother of Dilan, one of the 11 young men who went missing in the infamous 11-youth abduction case, took to Facebook last night calling out the govt�s incompetence in serving them justice and colluding with the culprits to ensure their safety. more..

Aug 12 (AD) Five youths arrested over the murder of the manager of a salon in Slave Island have been remanded until the 19th of August. They were remanded as per the order of the Fort Magistrate�s Court when they were produced before the magistrate today. The manager of a renowned salon in Chapel Street, Slave Island has been clubbed to death by a group of youths, last night. Reportedly, manager had arrived near the salon with his female friend when a group of youths nearby more..

Aug 12 (DM) Road Planing and Development Company, which at one time existed under the RDA, was terminated to establish the institutes Maga Neguma Emulsion Private Company, Maga Neguma Road Construction and equipment Company and Maga Neguma Planing Company in 2014. In an investigative article published on Jan 24, 2018 it was highlighted as to how Maga Neguma functioned without more..

Aug 12 (EN) Sri Lanka's gross official foreign reserves dropped US$ 421 million during the month of July 2019 to end at US$ 8,343.9 million, official data showed. Gross official reserves are made up of Treasury's dollar balance and central bank monetary reserves which are tied to the pegged reserve money of the country. Drops in Treasury reserve come from debt repayments and do not reflect any balance of payments trouble. Balance of payments trouble come from printing money to resist more..

Aug 12 (AD) The total number of drunk drivers arrested during the raids conducted since the 5th of July has increased to 8147, says Police Media Spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekara. During the 24-hour raids conducted from 6.00 am last morning (10) to 6.00 am this morning (11), 180 motorists arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol were taken into custody. A special month-long operation was launched island-wide on the 5th of July to apprehend drunk drivers. more..

Aug 12 (AD) A special ceremony held to welcome Minister of Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs Sajith Premadasa to the public rally in Badulla commenced a short while ago. The rally is held at the Wheels Park Playground in Badulla. Minister Sajith Premadasa arrived at the venue of the function a few moments ago. He was carried on the shoulders of the crowd into the venue amidst the warm response of the gathered public. more..

Aug 12 (AD) A Pradeshiya Sabha member was arrested in Anamaduwa at around 11.20 am this morning over the possession of heroin. The suspect was remanded until the 22nd of August when he was produced before the Anamaduwa magistrate�s Court today. A Karuwalagaspitiya PS member named Deemantha Vimukthi Ekanayake had been remanded in this manner. However, it is reported that the arrested PS member is a nephew of UNP MP Palitha Range Bandara. more..

Aug 12 (AD) Two MPs have been summoned to testify by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to investigate and inquire into serious acts of fraud, corruption and abuse of power, state resources and privileges. Accordingly, the Minister of Buddha Sasana and Wayama Development Gamini Jayawickrama Perera have been requested to appear before the Commission. This is to record a statement on the alleged fraud case with regard to the Mahapola Scholarship Trust Fund. more..

Aug 12 (AD) No one who understands what the UNP govt has done to the country in the past 5 years will vote for them again, says the Leader of the PHU MP Udaya Gammanpila. He states that Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa didn�t just announce the name of the SLPP Prez Candidate, yesterday; but, also the name of the future president of SL. All nominees of the UNP are responsible for the destruction of the country more..

Aug 12 (FT) Owned by John Keells Holdings, The Victoria Golf & Country Resort sits on an 18-hole golf course, which is designed to international U.S.G.A. standards. Spread across a vast landscape of greenery, which constitutes well over 500 acres of prime land, this unique property is one of the most sought-after destinations in Sri Lanka by both locals and foreigners. A testament to the property�s desirability can be seen in the veritable list of awards and accolades more..

Aug 12 (Island) Apropos Opp. decries underhand agreements with the US; calls for UN intervention with strap line points to regional, global security issue, NATO role, Tamara Kunanayakam, former Ambassador/ Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva has sent us the following clarification: "My comments below seek to correct any misunderstanding in relation to its signatories, and the nature of the appeal addressed to the IORA Secretary General. more..

Aug 12 (DN) Former Justice Minister UPFA MP Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe speaking in Parliament last Friday (09) pointed out that one time Sri Lanka had developed an animosity with India, as a result of which the country was embroiled in 30 years of war. Rajapaksa stressed that the House should have paid more attention to the security of the country and heeded his warning about an ISIS threat to Sri Lanka in 2016. more..

Aug 12 (DN) Govt will present an interim budget for the first quarter of next year from Jan 1 to Apr 30, 2020, Minister Lakshman Kiriella said. He said that the Govt has decided not to present a full budget to Parliament for next year and, instead, would present an interim account. Govt took this decision because the Presidential election, scheduled to be held in December, would create a situation where there would be no time to present a budget and take it up for debate, he explained. more..

Aug 12 (DN) Muslims of Sri Lanka with rest of the world celebrate the Hajj Festival today. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. Hajj signifies peace, brotherhood: President; The Hajj pilgrimage marks the concluding event of the compulsory religious practices of Islam. �Hajj� means visiting a sacred place. This can be called as the global congregation of all Islam devotees bonded in peace and brotherhood. It is a great honour to extend my felicitations on this occasion of performing more..

Aug 12 (DM) Referring to remarks made by SLPP prez candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa that he would create an environment where everyone could live without fear, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe asked whether Mr Rajapaksa would apologise for some of the incidents which took place during the tenure of the previous regime. He said this at today's opening of the Green Valley apartment complex middle income earners more..

Aug 12 (DM) Referring to the current political situation, UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera said he was still trying hard to unify SLFP and SLPP to ensure victory for the anti-UNP camp's presidential candidate. �We have been saying right throughout that victory is possible for the opposition alliance candidate only through unity between the two main parties and I still hold that position,� he said. MP confirmed that the SLFP�s central committee would meet this week more..

Aug 12 (Metro) Colin Whiteside died yesterday, weeks after he was diagnosed with Dengue Fever. The dad-of-two, who was born in Wavertree but lived in Preston, was taken to hospital after suffering a mosquito bite and his wife flew to be at his bedside. However, while in hospital, the 52-year-old developed pneumonia and sepsis and suffered a catastrophic stroke which left him paralysed and only able to blink. Today, on Facebook, wife Caroline paid tribute to her husband. more..

Aug 13 (CT) The selection of former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the prez candidate of the SLPP will impart enthusiasm in an electorate that has grown discontented at the absence of coherence in governance over the past few years. UNF govt with Prez Sirisena and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe at the helm failed to govern with unity of purpose. They each had different advisors and different visions and the clash between the two grew to unmanageable proportions to more..

Aug 13 (CT) Every politically-sensible person in the country agrees on the imperative need for a new political culture of integrity. While many agree that it was an impossible task, considering the current vastly deteriorated political culture, a light at the end of the dark tunnel could be seen in the set of recommendations agreed to and approved by the Mahanayaka Theras of the three Chapters, Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, as well as dignitaries from other religions more..

Aug 13 (SO) A mother who has gone through the pains of bringing forth a child will vouch that raising a child is no mean feat, even if the mother is a cantankerous herbivore. And if the baby in question weighs 100 pounds with mama nothing less than 3,000 pounds, do you think the job will be any easier? Cantankerous or otherwise, a mother is a mother. Her outpouring affection for the fragile calf which was just 2-weeks-old when we visited more..

Aug 13 (CT) The rule of 'one' law and economic development are strongly inter-related and mutually reinforcing, that the advancement of the rule of 'one' law at national level, be it Personal Laws or Commercial Laws, is essential for secured peace, sustained and inclusive economic growth, sustainable development, and the eradication of poverty in any country. This basic concept has been pushed aside and forgotten by political leaders and the Govt since of late, which has led to more..

Aug 13 (CT) Only a few hours after the former Prez Rajapaksa anointed his brother and former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the SLPP�s prez candidate his associates are already in talks with friendly factions of the UNP about working out a national govt deal. �My brother becomes your brother today,� Mahinda Rajapaksa told the SLPP convention as the crowds broke out in thunderous applause. But Gotabaya Rajapaksa whose prez hopes have been ably assisted by more..

Aug 13 (Roar) Unexpected question caught Samadhi* (22) off guard, and she paused a moment before answering. The composure she had displayed thus far cracked, and her eyes welled up. �People make mistakes,� she answered finally. �[But] that doesn�t mean they have to be murdered.� Samadhi�s mother, Kumudini* (42), was arrested in 1999 for possessing 150 mg of heroin. Samadhi doesn�t believe her mother more..

Aug 13 (ST) My dear Uncle Sam, What a pleasant surprise it was to receive your letter this week after a gap of about four months when you wrote me last and advised me in your strict usual tones not to travel about and stay put at home for safety�s sake soon after the Easter tragedy. Rest assured, I followed your stricture to the letter and hardly ventured out but whenever I did dare to brave the risk to buy the bare necessities at the nearest food store, never did I leave the home door more..

Aug 13 (Island) The SLPP is cock-a-hoop, having picked former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa as its presidential candidate while the UNP is still struggling to name its. The SLFP/UPFA, which tried to coalesce with the SLPP to field President Maithripala Sirisena at the next prez election, has been left with egg on its face. The SLPP, in a state of euphoria, seems to think everything is now copacetic, and the upcoming prez race is going to be a walk in the park. more..

Aug 13 (ST) Although the govt�s strategy was to reduce the fiscal deficit and thereby the outstanding debt to a sustainable level over the medium term, the current spending spree of the govt is likely to derail the fiscal consolidation process, destabilise the economy and slow economic growth. In as much as 2015�the first year of the coalition govt� was one of fiscal slippage, the final year is also likely to be a deviation from its avowed intent of fiscal consolidation. more..

Aug 13 (Island) After his impressive start in Test cricket, national selectors have expressed their willingness to offer left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya the long rope to help him develop his game. 22-year-old had little exposure when he was chosen for cricket�s one of the most challenging tours � South Africa. He was one of the key architects of the 2-0 series win and the selectors have been impressed by the attitude shown by the youngster. Embuldeniya was injured during more..

Aug 13 (TM) Interpol has issued red notices to a total of 118 SL fugitives including former CB Governor Arjuna Mahendran. Yet, in some cases, even though their whereabouts are known, fugitives have not been arrested. Among them is SL�s former Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga, who is wanted in SL over allegations linked to the MiG aircraft deal. There is video footage of Weeratunga allegedly attending more..

Aug 13 (Island) Our once peaceful and beautiful country is heading fast towards a chaotic state. I would say that all this started with the 1953 Hartal. The innocent and kind man Dudley Senanayake was ousted by the Marxists and Bandaranaike. Other than a heap of garden rubbish the Sinhala people had not before burnt anything. But in 1953 they burnt the wooden railway sleepers, and pulled down the telephone wires. There were no govt corporations running at losses. more..

Aug 13 (BBC) SL's controversial former defence chief, who played a leading role in crushing Tamil rebels in a bloody civil war which ended 10 years ago, has been nominated as the opposition's prez candidate in the forthcoming election. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is loathed by SL's minority Tamils but celebrated as a hero by many in the majority Sinhalese population, particularly hardliners. He believes he can capitalise on calls for a strongman to govern the country rocked by a series of more..

Aug 13 (EN) Sri Lanka is making agricultural policy based on unscientific claims at times with the backing of Prez Sirisena, Minister Navin Dissanayake said. "The executive does not understand modern agriculture, whether it is the glyphosate issue or the palm oil issue," minister said at the Colombo Tea Traders' Association AGM. He said that there has never been proper communication between Prez's office and more..

Aug 13 (FT) Colombo Port has suffered the first-ever dip in volumes handled in many decades, causing concern within the industry. As per provisional data, total throughput of Colombo Port in July had declined by 2.6% to 585,379 TUEs from a year earlier. The July drop has dented the year to date growth to 4% to 4.17 million TEUs, down from 5.2% in June. The biggest contributor to the drop in July had come from SL Ports Authority, whose volume had declined by 12.7% to 166,440 TEUs. more..

Aug 13 (Island) One of the leading sports bodies in the country, Athletics Association of SL (AASL) will conduct its 97th National Championship from Friday offering dozens of South Asian Games (SAG) hopefuls a final opportunity to grab very limited spots in the team for the regional event. SAG will be held in Kathmandu and Pokhara in Nepal in December. AASL officials expressed hopes of improving the track and field medal count despite only one athlete each being picked for a single discipline. more..

Aug 13 (CI) Some teams are chartable. They are open to analysis. The spreadsheets make sense. The planning leads somewhere. Gains are built upon. Weaknesses are minimised. They may retain the capacity to surprise, but they are not, at their core, out to shock. NZ is one of these. They've arrived in SL with a plan. Having studied England's 3-0 Test series victory on the island last year, NZ have picked a squad more..

Aug 13 (WWM) At least 176 children lost either one or both of their parents in the Sri Lanka Easter Sunday bombings, according to the Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith. Just over three months ago, at St. Anthony�s Shrine in the country�s capital saw a powerful explosion rip apart the bodies of worshippers. The shrine has already been rebuilt, but its congregation could not hold back their tears as they met for a packed Sunday service on the three month anniversary, more..

Aug 13 (FT) Hemas Holdings said it sees ongoing recovery, after a difficult first quarter largely arising from external factors. �Q1 FY2019/20 has been a challenging period for Hemas, with revenues 2.3% below last year. This has been primarily a result of the terrorist attacks of 21st April, with the aftermath causing economic slowdown and difficult trading conditions. Our profitability has been more significantly impacted as we recorded a loss before tax of Rs. 140 million,� Hemas Holdings CEO more..