Feb 12 (CT) One of the fallouts of the political crisis that occurred towards the end of last year in October was the mobilization of civil society groups that engaged in discussion and debate about the constitutional propriety of the president�s decision to sack the prime minister and dissolve parliament. As the new prime minister and his govt took swift action to take control and oust their rivals from all official positions, the president�s decision seemed irreversible in political terms, more..

Feb 12 (Island) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Press Institute, recently conducted a two-week intensive training course in Public Diplomacy and Media Relations for the 2018 intake of Foreign Service officers (SLOS) and some others who had joined in recent years. The program included interactive sessions with both local and foreign media experts and covered key areas in Public Diplomacy of writing news releases, conducting press conferences, more..

Feb 12 (ST) National Shooting Sports Federation of Sri Lanka (NSSF), after eagerly, desperately and fruitlessly waiting for state support to build up a permanent national shooting range, has put up a makeshift air rifle range, aiming to support its national shooters which include upcoming School children who will be the future medalists in the sport of shooting now numbering over 5000. more..

Feb 12 (FT) National Development Bank PLC said yesterday it has concluded the financial year 2018 on a high note, with exceptional results reported on all fronts. Financial performance for the year reached a new high in the Bank�s history with impressive profitability and strong balance sheet growth. Increase in business volumes as well as enhanced operational efficiencies led to these sound results. The year also marked the Bank and its Group companies being externally endorsed more..

Feb 12 (CT) The odds appear to be stacked against SL in a 2-Test series against South Africa, which starts at Kingsmead on Wednesday, but the tourists can take heart from their previous record in Durban. The away team head into the series following heavy defeats in New Zealand and Australia, and having unceremoniously dumped captain Dinesh Chandimal. SL have lost 11 of 13 Test matches in SA. The exceptions occurred at Kingsmead in the only two Tests SL have played at the ground. more..

Feb 12 (FT) Reinforcing the importance of stronger ties, especially economic PM Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sunday described Sri Lanka and India as two sides of the same coin. Speaking at the a reception to commemorate the 70th Republic Day of India and 71st Independence Day of Sri Lanka on Sunday at Taj Samudra, Wickremesinghe recalled that it was trade between the two countries which led to more..

Feb 12 (CI) South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk continued her good run of form with the bat, scoring her maiden one-day international hundred to set up a seven-run win over Sri Lanka in the first of three ODIs in Potchefstroom. In a match reduced to 48 overs per side by morning rain, van Niekerk put on 117 with Andrie Steyn as South Africa reached 225 for 7. The hosts then held their nerve to overcome a Sri Lankan side who stumbled in the closing moments of a tight chase. more..

Feb 12 (FT) The Central Bank is expecting the remaining $ 16 million of the total $ 70 million on the sale of select assets of ETI Finance Ltd., (ETIF) this month. �Currently, $ 54 million of the total $ 75 million has been received to ETIF, which was primarily utilised to repay 20% of the deposits of the company. A further $ 16 million which was delayed due to various reasons is expected to be received by the company within the month of February 2019, as informed by the buyer,� Central Bank said. more..

Feb 12 (CT) Mohan de Silva and Ravin Wickremaratne have decided to seek legal redress with regard to their disqualification in the run up to the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) elections to be held on the 21st of this month. After perusing the objections and the counter objections, reports were submitted to the Sports Minister by the 3-member panel, which sought legal advice from the Attorney General and subsequently disqualified both more..

Feb 12 (CI) Sri Lanka crushed South Africa 2-0 last July, and now, at the tail end of an excellent home summer, it's South Africa's turn to return the favour. So said left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who knows better than most that these two teams have been trading whitewashes over the past few years. The last time SL were in the country, in 2016-17, Maharaj had been part of the South Africa team that had walloped the opposition 3-0. With South Africa having also thumped Pakistan 3-0 more..

Feb 12 (Island) Hayleys PLC, recorded a strong all-round performance in the third quarter of 2018 (3Q18), as the Group turnover rose by 20% Year-on-Year (YoY) to Rs. 59.7 bn, resulting in a sharp 80% YoY increase in Group�s Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) toRs. 9 bn for the quarter. The Group�s nine months performance was equally impressive with Turnover reaching an enviable Rs.163 bn and the EBITDA reaching Rs 15.1 bn. more..

Feb 12 (Island) SL�s white ball skipper Lasith Malinga�s future as the captain has come under the scanner after being accused of serious misconduct by fellow senior players. During a meeting called up by Minister Harin Fernando last week, Malinga had been accused of being a disruptive element in the team creating disharmony and friction. All 3 former captains � Angelo, Thisara and Chandimal more..

Feb 12 (FT) In an apparent message to China and pro-Sino lobbies, Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu highlighted how supportive his country has been to SL and urged the nation to benefit from the giant neighbour�s success story by virtue of destiny. Speaking at the a reception to commemorate the 70th Republic Day of India and 71st Independence Day of SL on Sunday at the Taj Samudra, Taranjit was emphatic that SL is special for India. more..

Feb 12 (DN) Sri Lanka needs to make greater efforts to get into the US market using the United States GSP scheme as a tool while ensuring that buyers are aware of GSP, said Dr. Fredrik Leuhusen from the School of Management at the University of California, Los Angeles. Stressing the need to identify ways to provide necessary assistance to buyers through this process, Dr. Leuhusen said, �it is essential to identify ways SL can produce more GSP eligible products that USA market wants.� more..

Feb 12 (DM) The retail prices of fuel have been increased based on the fuel pricing formula, Finance Ministry said. Accordingly, prices of fuel were increased as follows: Petrol (Octane 92) will be increased by Rs.6 a litre and the revised price is Rs.129, Petrol (Octane 95) will now be sold at Rs.152, after an increase by Rs.5 a litre. Price of diesel should have to been increased by Rs 9.59 in keeping with latest global market price more..

Feb 12 (Island) Russian Ambassador Yury B. Materiy says that the latest example of the ever growing partnership between Russia and Sri Lanka was the establishment of direct flights between Moscow and Colombo. "We are confident that direct flights will greatly contribute to strengthening people- to-people contacts and in the exchange of business delegations", the ambassador said. He revealed that Russia intended stepping up cooperation in all the key areas this year. more..

Feb 12 (CT) BoI signed an agreement with Bellevue Residencies (Private) Limited regarding a mixed development project for a 35-storey Tower and shopping complex. The unique aspect of this project is that it will be constructed in Ja-Ela; it is the first time that such a high-rise tower is built outside the city of Colombo. In fact, the Bellevue Tower will be the tallest building outside the Colombo District. The investor, Chandima Karandawala, who is a Civil Engineer residing in Nice, France, more..

Feb 12 (DN) Democracy has been firmly established in the country due to the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. If a govt has the majority support in Parliament it should be allowed to go forward, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said. He said they could be proud of strengthening democracy, strengthening the Supreme Court and establishing several other independent commissions. more..

Feb 12 (DN) Interbrand, the world�s largest and most influential brand consultancy, will announce its Best Indian Brands and Best SL Brands in March 2019. The ranking, which identifies the most valuable brands in India and SL, is modeled on Interbrand�s prestigious Best Global Brands annual report, the definitive guide to the world�s 100 most valuable brands. Established in 1974 and an opinion leader in the field of value-based brand management, Interbrand was the first brand consultancy to more..

Feb 12 (Island) The police are looking for UNP Badulla District MP Chaminda Wijesiri to arrest him for assaulting Dilshan Sivarasa, a police constable attached to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), in the Bandarawela police area. The Police have arrested Bandula Rathnayake, Wijesiri�s driver, who had got himself admitted to Diyathalawa base hospital. The policeman who came under assault is a security officer of DIG Sajeewa Medawatte, attached to the Police Narcotics Bureau. more..

Feb 12 (CT) Notice has been issued to all unauthorised businesses on the pavement, in the vicinity of the R. Premadasa Stadium, along Keththarama Road, to evacuate, claimed Western Province Governor Azath Salley. �Pavements are meant for pedestrians and roads are meant for motorists. If someone else is occupying either of these two, we will remove them. Chief Secretary of the Provincial Council has more..

Feb 12 (Island) Kebitigollewa District Court recently released a suspected LTTE woman cadre taken into custody on March 10, 2010. Mannar District Citizens Committee moved the court seeking her release as the charges against her were yet to be proved. The Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) arrested Ravindran Madani, a resident of Vishvamadu in the Mullaitivu district following information regarding her alleged involvement in terrorist activities in Padaviya and Weli Oya areas. more..

Feb 12 (CT) Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka started the New Year on a sluggish note, growing only at 2.2% during January 2019 to 244,239 visitors, from 238,924 a year ago. The official breakdown on the number of tourists arrivals has been delayed and is yet to be released to the public; however, SLTDA issued a press communiqu� stating that 244,239 visitors came to the country in January this year. The largest source market for tourists in January was India, followed by China and the UK. more..

Feb 12 (CT) During a protest held in Vavuniya, the relatives of the missing persons and Civil Societies in Jaffna, alleged that the leader of TNA R. Sampanthan and MP M.A. Sumanthiran were acting according to the whims and fancies of the Govt by forgetting their responsibilities to the Tamil community which elected them. The protesters demanded that Sampanthan and Sumanthiran should quit politics without more..

Feb 12 (DN) Wanted criminal Makandure Madush and 30 others who were arrested as part of a sting operation have not been produced before Dubai courts. This is only because the preliminary toxicology reports have been furnished and the group is to be produced courts later this week officials said. �The arrested individuals have not been produced before courts, only the toxicology reports were filed last week, which is part of the preliminary investigation. more..

Feb 12 (DM) Plantations Human Development Trust (PHDT) in a statement said it completed housing and infrastructure development projects to the value of Rs. 2 billion in 2018, as compared with Rs.1.4 billion in 2017. Comprised of a tripartite coalition of Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs), Plantation Trade Unions and the Govt of Sri Lanka, PHDT implements social development programmes to enhance the quality of life of the 210,000 families strong estate sector community. more..

Feb 12 (Island) PHU leader Udaya Gammanpila, claimed that so far there was no basis for allegations that UPFA MP Niroshan Premaratne had laundered underworld kingpin Makadure Madush�s drug money. Those who accused MP Premaratne of money laundering owed an explanation as to how they had arrived at that conclusion, he said. UPFA MP said so when the media sought his views on the allegations more..

Feb 12 (DM) Many people seem to think that the arrest of notorious drug kingpin Samarasinghe Arachchige Madush Lakshitha alias Makandure Madush and some of his accomplices in Dubai is the end of drug peddling, trafficking and use in Sri Lanka. However, in light of the fate of high profile cases of drug peddling and terrorism in the past, we can�t help but have to be pessimistic about the success of the fight against drugs. Any right thinking man would have been elated with the news more..

Feb 12 (DM) Readers will remember how the Pohottuwa demonstrators tried to promote the crown prince; a move that ended in a flop on September 12 last year. What happened endorsed the old Sri Lanka proverb gahen wetuna minihata gona enna waagei (The man who fell from the tree was gored by a bull). These demonstrators had to be hospitalised after consuming packets of milk containing a poisonous substance. The milk was distributed by an unknown well-wisher. more..

Feb 12 (DM) Since the defeat of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa four years ago, there has been speculation in the political circles that his brother and Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, known as an efficient administrator, would come forward as the next Presidential candidate. His Viyathmaga movement was seen as a launching pad in this direction. Recently speaking at one of its meetings he publicly stated that more..

Feb 12 (ST) Mohammed Aleba, a 70-year-old driver from Badulla, spent three days in his lorry during recent trade union action by Customs officers, to make sure nobody dismantled its parts. Mr Aleba couldn�t return home empty-handed. The fuel for a return trip costs around Rs 25,000. And if he didn�t go back to Badulla loaded with goods as he usually did, he would not earn enough for his family of seven. more..

Feb 12 (AD) The Dubai Police have confirmed that no narcotic substances were found in the blood samples of Nadeemal Perera, according to Attorney at Law Udul Premaratne. A team of lawyers including Udul Premaratne is currently in Dubai to represent singer Amal Perera and his son Nadeemal Perera. Singer Amal Perera and his son were arrested, along with underworld leader Makandure Madush at a party, more..

Feb 12 (Island) A heated argument erupted between Assistant Governor of the Central Bank, Dhammika Nanayakkara and Deputy Solicitor General Neil Unamboowe, yesterday, over the acceptability of issuing treasury bonds under the direct placement method at the PCoI yesterday. Unamboowe criticised Nanayakkara for having issued Treasury Bonds under the direct placement method, to SriLankan between 2012-14; more..

Feb 12 (DC) At least 25 Sri Lankan Tamil families staying the in the largest camp for them at Mandapam camp near here for long years have petitioned the special deputy thasildar in-charge of the transit camp, Mr. Ramachandran, stating they wish to get back to Sri Lanka as early as possible. This is reflective of a wider trend found among over 7,500 SL Tamil refugees who have been staying in various camps across Tamil Nadu, more..

Feb 12 (EN) Sri Lanka is expected to produce 2.85 million tonnes of paddy (rough rice) in the current Maha major cultivation season, indicating a full recovery from two years of drought and almost reaching records set in 2015 and 2016, an official forecast said. Dept of Agriculture revised up the 2018/2019 Maha area cultivated to 743,000 in the current season based on December data out of a target of 828,455 hectares. more..

Feb 12 (CI) Sri Lanka have arrived in South Africa in substantial turmoil. Not only have they not won a match since October, the administration and selectors are on poor terms with coach Chandika Hathurusingha, regular Test captain Dinesh Chandimal has been jettisoned for the series, while a very inexperienced squad has been named. Coach Hathurusingha talks to ESPNcricinfo about the challenges he and his team face. more..

Feb 12 (PSL) �This is an election year. While politicians are fighting this election this year, we are confronted with the challenge of raising the country�s economic growth rate, which is an achievable goal this year� stating President Sirisena invited the entire public service to join hands to make this year a changing point in the economy of the country. If not, we would have to face a bitter economic situation. more..

Feb 12 (ST) One morning I walked into the office room of the University Registrar � the highest administrative officer of a state university. As I entered I saw him working with two loads of folders laid in front of him on his table. Over the folder loads I looked at him and asked: �What are all these files you are busy with early morning?� �These are the applicants from the Minister�s list for the post of Computer Assistants.� He answered and more..

Feb 12 (DM) Rejecting allegations that he favours his brother, President Sirisena said he couldn�t borrow even a single rupee from him. �Some people are of the opinion that I look after my brother because he has a big rice mill in this country. You do not know about my brother. I cannot borrow even a single rupee from him. That is the real situation. As rice mill owners, you may have a suspicion that you are not giving a helping hand and that more..