Jan 28 (SO) Our astrologers have got busy again now that things in Parliament, thanks to our justice system, has played a straight bat and the umpires have called stumps. So what�s new then? The courts were informed this week that the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) election has been fixed for February 21. The question in the clubs is: �Was this date decided on after consultations with the soothsayers and astrologers? And what time will the key players leave their houses on the Election Day more..

Jan 28 (EN) Sri Lanka has slashed the volume of Treasury bill allowed to be held by foreign investor to 10% of total outstanding to 5% to maintain a soft-pegged exchange rate while the govt is trying to make Colombo a financial centre. SL saw capital flight in 2018 after credibility of peg targeting a real effective exchange rate index (REER) and other convertibility undertakings was lost, triggering capital flight & exporter holdbacks. more..

Jan 28 (AD) MP Kumara Welgama says that the allegations against him stating that 18 Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses had gone missing during his term as the Minister of Transport are false. If such an event has occurred, an investigation should be conducted and take legal action against him accordingly, Welgama said. Ada Derana, reported that the report of the COPE has revealed that 18 SLTB buses which had been given free of charge to the SLTB had gone missing more..

Jan 28 (Island) SL�s insurance giant, Ceylinco General Insurance Ltd., reported excellent results for the financial year ended 31st Dec 2018, recording yet another exceptional year. Announcing the details of the impressive performance, Patrick Alwis, CEO of Ceylinco General Insurance, said: "It gives me immense pride to state that during 2018, the company recorded a premium income of Rs. 19.1 Billion, which signifies an increase of Rs. 1.2 Billion over the previous year. more..

Jan 28 (ST) Sri Lanka�s state-run institutions and statutory boards coming under 12 ministries are functioning without heads or board of directors including Chairmen/Chairpersons due to the delay in ratifying the names proposed by relevant ministers to the President. A Presidential Committee headed by senior presidential advisor W.J.S. Karunaratne has been entrusted with the task of considering qualifications and more..

Jan 28 (SLN) SL Navy, in coordination with SL Coast Guard, released another thirteen (13) Indian fishing trawlers which had been apprehended on several occasions due to trespassing and illegal fishing in the Sri Lankan waters, yesterday (26). Prior to the releasing process, a group of Indian technicians arrived in Sri Lanka and repaired the Indian trawlers anchored at the jetty of SLNS Elara in Karainagar and the jetty at Kiranchi sub unit of SLNS Buwaneka in Nachchikuda. more..

Jan 28 (DM) The govt intends to complete construction of 4,750 houses within six months for the benefit of the people in the North under its plan to build 10,000 houses in stages, an official said. This project has been launched by the Ministry of National Policies, Economic Affairs, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Northern Province Development, Vocational Training, Skills Development and Youth Affairs. Ministry Secretary V. Sivagnanasothy said that work was well under progress more..

Jan 28 (CNT) On the rutted road to Camellia Hills, we pass a group of giggling schoolgirls in immaculate white uniforms. In fields either side of the track, their mothers are waist-deep in tea, slight and purposeful as blades in the glittering green rows. SL is a society on the move. The laughing, educated girls are unlikely to follow their parents to the fields (literacy rates here are the highest in SA), yet visitors cling to a vanishing past. more..

Jan 28 (CT) A number of Sri Lankan companies will be participating at Ambiente, the world's biggest and most international trade fair for the consumer-goods industry and with a clear, target-group specific structure within the Dining, Giving, Living and Sourcing sectors, a media release stated. The fair also offers an unique spectrum of products for the table, kitchen and housewares, gifts and decorative articles, and interior design concepts and furnishing accessories. more..

Jan 28 (CT) Born on 3 July 1967, Jayamini Illeperuma was the 3rd child in a family of 5 siblings. She attended Mahanama College, Panadura throughout her school career. Jayamini�s first tentative steps into athletics was when she took part in the Inter House Meet and won in the Under-11 category, and there was no looking back from that point, winning in all age groups until U-19. Volleyball, netball and elle were the other sports she excelled while in school, and continued more..

Jan 28 (CT) Six youths who posed for photographs in the uniforms of now the defunct LTTE have been arrested by the Police in Vavuniya. Acting on tip-off, received by the Police, on a person who was allegedly connected to LTTE terror outfit and also who has fled the area, the Police searched the suspect�s house and found a computer in which they found the photographs of 21 youths who posed for photographs in the uniform worn by LTTE more..

Jan 28 (CT) The peace walk titled Lova Dinana Bodu Maga Dharma Dheshanava, by the Sri Kalyana Mithra Sangamaya, took place on 26 January under the guidance of Ven. Ududumbara Kashyapa Thera, of the Vipassana Meditation Center in Colombo 7. The walk commenced from Bodhirukkarama temple in Kelaniya and went to the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya while chanting Pirith. This religious observances were held till 5 a.m. the next day. Speaking at the occasion, more..

Jan 28 (Island) Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) leader Arumugam Thondaman, MP, said that estate workers had been able to obtain the highest salary increase ever as a result of the govt intervention. He said that in terms of the new agreement between the workers and estate management, a basic salary and bonus attendance would be increased by Rs 200 and Rs 50, respectively. He said that Rs. 15 would be paid to workers per a kilo of tea leaves plucked in addition to the stipulated amount. more..

Jan 28 (LBO) The Finance Ministry under the Enterprise Sri Lanka concessionary loan scheme is to introduce further concessionary loans to widen the schemes enabling the stake holders to move towards next generation economic activities in their areas of activities. Accordingly migrant workers will be given up to 10 million rupees concessionary housing loans to be repaid in 15 years with two year grace period. more..

Jan 28 (DN) Police on the directives of the Jaffna Senior DIG Roshan Fernando seized 114kg of Kerala Cannabis from the Valvettithurai area on Saturday. Kerala Cannabis was being loaded into a lorry for transport when the detection was made. The raid had been carried out on a tip-off received and Chief Inspector Kumarasinghe who headed the raid. The Kerala Cannabis was being loaded onto a lorry at the time of the raid and 10 kg and 100 grams of Kerala Cannabis was seized from the lorry more..

Jan 28 (DN) Mulleriyawa which became famous for the historic battle against foreign invaders launched by Sinhala kings will be transformed into a megapolis with a technological city and a light railway system as its main features, Minister Champika Ranawaka said. He was speaking at the launch of construction work on the rainwater pump house at Ambatale recently. This project is aimed at preventing floods in a 21 square kilometre area around the Madiwela Ela which includes more..

Jan 28 (Island) The 1000 Movement, a collective of unions and grassroots activists, who want the daily basic salary of an estate worker increased to Rs. 1,000, expressed their displeasure at the collective agreement to be signed between the Ceylon Employers� Federation (CEF) and three unions. It said that according to the new agreement the estate workers daily wage would increase only by Rs. 20 each. more..

Jan 28 (DN) �The govt has decided to conduct the National Vesak Festival at Telwatte, Thotagamuwa ancient Raja Maha Viharaya in Galle district this year,� Buddhasasana and Wayamba Development minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said. �I hope to obtain the support of all ministries and govt departments to make this effort a success. About 59 low-income Buddhist temples in the district would be developed to mark this noble event,� he said. About 200 Dhamma Schools in the Galle district more..

Jan 28 (DN) Minister Sajith Premadasa vested the 159th model village, Gayathripuram in Thirukkovil in the Ampara district, with the villagers of the area on Saturday. The model village which consists of 35 housing units worth Rs. 14 million, was also facilitated with pipe-borne water supply, electricity supply, an internal network of roads and entry roads. Minister Sajith Premadasa and UNP party officials received a warm traditional welcome at Gayathripuram. more..

Jan 28 (CT) Since the corn crops of the country have been invaded by Fall Armyworm (FAW) or Sena caterpillar, Director General of Agriculture W.M.W. Weerakoon advised farmers to temporarily halt cultivating corn till further notice and to also destroy the existing crops. He added that if the farmers can skip one season without cultivating corn, the damage by FAW can be controlled by 90%. more..

Jan 28 (DM) President Sirisena has over the past few months shown a penchant for pulling surprises on our people during weekends. The first major surprise occurred on Friday, October 26, 2018, when he appointed former President and incumbent MP for Kurunegala District Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister even before he dismissed the then PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. A somewhat nebulous situation and it resulted in the country having two Prime Ministers at the same time. more..

Jan 28 (DM) Although it is high time to put the recent unprecedented constitutional crisis behind us without brooding over it too much, yet it would be useful to probe into the lessons we can learn as a country from that sad episode. Was it a result of defective legal advice? Did it precipitate due to sheer force of circumstances beyond one�s control? Was it triggered by personal vested interest? Or, was it mere fancy and folly? A gloomy 51-day recent drama in our motherland witnessed more..

Jan 28 (FT) Responding to the latest COPE report on State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), SL�s leading strategy consultancy with experience in 43 countries, MTI, has opined that most of the loss-making SOEs have fundamentally-viable business models and strong consumer franchises from which they can profit. According to MTI CEO and internationally-acclaimed Strategy Consultant Hilmy Cader, more..

Jan 28 (EN) SL's UNP has well and truly lost its reputation for economic management during three and a half years of coalition politics with President Maithripala Sirisena, who stopped reforms, but most of its troubles were of its own making. Pushed by outside activists, the administration had lofty ideals of good governance but both PM Wickremesinghe and Prez Sirisena were legacy politicians from the 1980s and more..

Jan 28 (CT) The National Delimitation Commission (NDC) which was set up in Nov 2015 under the 19th Amendment, says that no official mandate has yet been assigned to the Commission, sources said. Even though a national policy is required for all types of delimitation in the country, these sources alleged further, that as of now no national policy has been prepared. �Since there is no national policy, what is happening in Sri Lanka is that more..

Jan 28 (ST) Career diplomats have petitioned the Supreme Court against the Foreign Ministry�s failure to implement a service minute provision which allows Grade 1 officers who are Deputy Chiefs of Mission, Deputy High Commissioners, Consuls General and Ministers to receive the title of Ambassador. Appointment of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Heads of Mission remains the prerogative of the President. more..

Jan 28 (AD) The Chairman of the Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya says he will resign from his post if Provincials Council elections are not held before the Presidential election, this year. Although there is no issue with holding the Presidential elections early, if the provincial council elections are not held before the 9th of Nov, the Elections Chairman says that he will resign from his post as a mark of objection. more..

Jan 28 (EN) New vehicle registrations had fallen sharply Nov and Dec when a political crisis gripped SL and the rupee came under severe pressure. Vehicle registration fell to 4,990 in Sept from 7,003 in August when the rupee came under pressure for a second time in 2018 amid a build-up of unsterilized excessive liquidity mainly from foreign asset purchases after the peg strengthen from a run triggered in April. more..

Jan 28 (Island) UPFA MP D.V. Chanaka Dinushan, yesterday, admitted that strict measures had to be taken to ensure MPs� participation in parliamentary proceedings. The SLFPer regretted the abrupt end to Friday�s debate on the inordinate delay in holding Provincial Council polls, as the House lacked a quorum. MP Dinushan said so when The Island sought his views on the issue of absenteeism of MPs. more..

Jan 28 (CT) Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) sources said it had to pay a staggering Rs 116 billion in loans and repayments to three institutions including State Banks for 2018. The loss incurred by the CEB in 2018 is Rs 26 billion. However, the loss incurred in 2017 was much more amounting to Rs 49 billion. The reason for the loss is the inability to construct power plants included in the Least Cost Long Term Generation Expansion Plan, more..

Jan 28 (DM) A new Constitution can be worked out later if it is impossible now due to uncertainty in getting it approved by a two-thirds majority in Parliament, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said. He was attending a Jana Hamuwa (public gathering) held in Kalutara after the opening of a new commercial centre and market last evening. �It is possible to enact a Constitution only if it could be approved by a two-thirds majority in Parliament. more..

Jan 28 (DM) The UNP will request President Maithripala Sirisena to appoint three more Non-Cabinet Ministers, it is learnt. According to UNP sources, the party has decided to nominate MPs Palitha Range Bandara, Wasantha Aluvihare and Sydney Jayaratne as non-Cabinet ministers. According to 19th Amendment, Prez has to make the appointments. There are 28 Cabinet Ministers appointed at the moment in addition to more..

Jan 28 (FT) The presence of good governance at both the public and private sectors in a country has been viewed as a positive contributor to sustained economic growth. At the private sector level, practising good governance principles will enable the stakeholders of a private venture to get the best out of their deals with such ventures. If a private venture does not practice good governance principles, it amounts to an unequal exchange and the stakeholders are destined to more..

Jan 28 (CT) As SL completes a decade successfully ending the war this year, the Jaffna International Trade Fair (JITF) which is one of the mega trade events to be held soon after the turbulent conditions ended in the North in 2009 also completed its tenth edition on a grand scale in Jaffna, yesterday. The JITF which was an annual event for the past ten years attracted nearly seventy thousand people not only from the Northern Province but also from other parts of the country making the theme of more..

Jan 28 (CT) National Peace Council in a statement stated that the extension of the UNHRC resolution by a further time period was necessary for good governance in the future which will necessarily include correcting the violations of the past. The NPC statement said, �We note that countries such as the UK have stated that they are committed to supporting the SL govt�s efforts to improve the human rights situation in the country and support Sri Lanka�s commitments to the UNHRC more..

Jan 28 (FT) The National Sales Average (NSA) for tea in 2018 at Colombo auctions has declined by Rs. 36.23 or 6% to Rs. 581.91 per kilo from an all-time high of Rs. 618.14 in 2017. According to Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers, NSA for High Growns for the period Jan-Dec 2018 of Rs. 571.51 was down by Rs. 29.42 per kilo. Medium Growns too averaging Rs. 521.86 per kilo was down by Rs. 41.68 in 2018 as against previous year. Low Growns� NSA totalling Rs. 600.79 in 2018 was down by Rs. 36.61. more..

Jan 28 (DM) A sharp slowdown in spending on imports, especially cars, helped narrow Sri Lanka�s trade deficit in Nov 2018 from a year ago with exports growing by 4.1% to US$ 980 million, the central bank said. Spending on imports contracted by 9.1% in Nov 2018 to US$ 1.77 billion. �The deficit in the trade account narrowed significantly in Nov 2018 in comparison to Nov 2017 due to a sharp decline in import expenditure more..

Jan 28 (DM) Popular actor and Western Provincial Councillor Ravindra Yasas has been hospitalised when a car he was driving crashed into a tree at Gammanpila in Bandaragama on the Kesbewa Road early this morning. Police said there were no other passengers in the car at the time of the accident. According to the police, the car crashed into the tree when he lost control of the car. He is undergoing treatment at the Horana Base Hospital. more..

Jan 28 (SLN) Navy apprehended 4 Indian fishermen and a trawler of them for poaching in SL territorial waters today. The apprehension was made in the sea area off the Delft Island by a vessel attached to the Northern Naval Command. Subsequently, the apprehended fishers and the seized trawler were brought to the naval base SLNS Elara. The 04 Indian fishermen were then produced for a medical test before they being handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries in Jaffna for onward more..