Jun 13 (DM) Supposedly the language spoken by nearly 16 million Sri Lankans, Sinhala does not fall into the category of the world�s most endangered languages. Still, being geographically limited to the island nation of Sri Lanka, the Sinhala language, unlike its sibling Tamil, runs the risk of being disappeared faster than many smaller languages with greater geographical spread. With the gradual upgrading of English from the second language to main spoken language at urban homes of more..

Jun 13 (GV) President Sirisena is evidently unhappy that a Select Committee of Parliament has been appointed to investigate the circumstances that led to the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks. UPFA MPs have not joined the Select Committee, and live coverage of the initial hearings was halted on state media. According to a press release from the Office of the Speaker on 8 June, the President had assumed that he can order (niyoga) Parliament to cease the Select Committee proceedings, more..

Jun 13 (SO) In the aftermath of Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera�s unilateral decision to embark on a fast unto death, demanding the removal of two Governors, A.L.A.M. Hisbullah and Azath Sally and Minister Rishad Bathiudeen over widespread protests and allegations of their possible links to the perpetrators of the Easter Sunday attacks, the Sunday Observer collected views from a cross section of political leaders as to their stance more..

Jun 13 (CT) The recent article which appeared on CT under the caption Cardinal Blunders Should Worry The Catholics on the 5th June has shown very poor journalistic standers, and must be said, it was right at the gutter. It is nothing but a scathing personal attack on the Cardinal. It in some ways reflects the standard of journalism we have generally in the country, not to mention the comments that appear on the social media. I at times wonder how one could not feel ashamed of oneself, more..

Jun 13 (GV) If you live as a foreigner in Sri Lanka, police hassle is likely part of your reality. Indeed, the majority of those who drive their own vehicle have multiple stories of unwarranted interrogation and arbitrary fining. In July 2018, Sri Lanka Police bolstered its fines for traffic violations, making misdemeanours like driving without a helmet and driving without a license punishable with on-the-spot fines ranging from Rs. 1000 to Rs. 3,000 (about �4/9/13). more..

Jun 13 (CT) For patients in Sri Lanka, the medical profession generates reverence and to its practitioners, especially the doctors, godlike status is bestowed and they are afforded godly veneration with all the associated spoils. Thus, any breach of this duty of care, is deemed tantamount to a mortal sin. A crisis of this magnitude is presently unfolding in two State/Govt Hospitals in the Kurunegala and Dambulla areas, more..

Jun 13 (DM) There is much debate going on in Social Media as to who should represent the country�s people in parliament. Most potential candidates for the presidency have already shortlisted the members of their probable cabinets while dreaming of a better and prosperous SL. This is why this year and the following year are important; hence Sri Lankans must use their votes wisely. Sinhalese hardliners are very happy that the present cabinet doesn�t include any Muslims. more..

Jun 13 (Island) The Cabinet has apparently crashed owing to a clash between the executive and the legislature. President Sirisena refuses to chair Cabinet meetings in protest against the ongoing Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probe into the Easter Sunday bombings. He says the PSC has put national security in jeopardy by interrogating high ranking intelligence officers and revealing sensitive information. The ongoing PSC proceedings are open to the media unlike in the past. more..

Jun 13 (CT) Sri Lanka is on the threshold of a fresh political crisis. Prez Sirisena, afraid that he will be implicated by the findings of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing Easter Sunday attacks, has resorted to subversive methods to derail the process. At an emergency Cabinet meeting called on June 7, the President said there would be no more Cabinet meetings until the sessions of the PSC are suspended. By not convening the Cabinet, more..

Jun 13 (Island) In order to counter Chinese acquisition of the strategically important Hambantota port and the Colombo port city, India is exerting pressure on the Sri Lankan govt to grant it control over Mattala and Palali airports, and a stake in Colombo and Galle ports. The Sri Lankan govt has recently entered into an agreement with Indian and Japanese partners to develop the eastern terminal of the Colombo Port, where the Japanese party grants a loan to the Indian party. more..

Jun 13 (FT) The tourism and airline industry yesterday unveiled a special four-month promotion campaign to woo tourists from Sri Lanka�s largest source market, India, following the Easter Sunday terror attack setback. Sri Lanka Tourism, in collaboration with Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL), and SriLankan Airlines, will offer a total of 15 packages, more..

Jun 13 (CI) A wild, seesawing game that always seemed just a little too far out of Pakistan's reach proved to be just that at the end, with Australia wrapping up a 41-run victory that was far nervier than the scorecard suggested. It came about thanks to a century from David Warner at the top end, coupled with generosity to the point of self-sacrifice from Pakistan both with the ball and in the field. Australia were so far on top in the first half of the first innings, talk of 350 and 400 more..

Jun 13 (Island) There will be a smile or two on the Sri Lankan faces upon returning to London where the weather is milder compared to the bitterly cold Bristol and Cardiff where the temperature at times reached single digit. In Bristol particular, the players were confined to indoors as the unseasonable weather saw 100 millimeters of rain within 24 hours whereas in the whole of June 2018 there was just two millimeters of rain. June is United Kingdom�s third driest month. more..

Jun 13 (EN) Kyoto, Japan based Tosslec Company Ltd is developing an agricultural light at its unit in Sri Lanka to repel the adult of the fall armyworm, a pest that is devastating agriculture in Asia and other regions of the world, an official has said. The firm is already producing light emitting diodes (LED) that are repelling moths in organic farms. "We are working closely with State Institutions such as Horticultural Crop more..

Jun 13 (DN) For the fourth consecutive year, Gamer.LK, the pioneer in Esports and digital entertainment in Sri Lanka brings the excitement and thrill of competitive video gaming to the university-level with the Inter-University Esports Championship powered by Sri Lanka Telecom PLC. Considered the largest university-level sporting event in the country, this year�s event will have over 40 universities taking part. Gamer.LK has partnered with MTV/MBC to have the event televised more..

Jun 13 (Island) The Rally to Care initiative by Dialog Foundation, continued its relief efforts on 9th June 2019, by providing long-term educational support for children affected by the tragic incidents of Easter Sunday at Zion Church, Batticaloa.The relief disbursement activities were initiated in Batticaloa on 9th June 2019 at a temporary location being used by the Zion Church; which is currently under reconstruction, following the tragic events. Supun Weerasinghe, Group CEO of Dialog Axiata, more..

Jun 13 (AD) Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero has lodged a complaint against the Batticaloa Campus yesterday. Complaint was filed with the Office of the Superintendent of Police in Batticaloa. Ven. Rathana Thero on 11th June had visited the Batticaloa Campus but denied entry to the uni by its security officials. Thero said that the complaint was filed pertaining to the activities of former Governor M.L.A.M. Hizbullah. more..

Jun 13 (ST) Nakamura-sensei, a young university lecturer from Japan, came to Sri Lanka in the mid-1960s and joined the Peradeniya University. Sensei is the Japanese term with a sense of respect used to address any type of a teacher, while San is the term for all others. Nakamura-sensei spent a couple of years at Peradeniya Uni doing his research work as well as learning Sinhala and Tamil. He also made many SL friends there, while some of them were also the young lecturers from the university. more..

Jun 13 (ST) Capital formation gets bloated during an election year which invariably tends to spur capital markets. This is the reason that most stockbrokers and investors are looking forward to an election, analysts say. President Maithripala Sirisena has announced that presidential elections will be held around December 7-9, this year. �An election itself becomes an economic activity. It is very true for the presidential election, because it is an island-wide one,� said Dimantha Mathew, more..

Jun 13 (CT) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has strenuously denied the malicious and damaging allegations currently flooding social and digital media claiming that SLC will be bankrupt in 9 months. The contents of these reports/articles which are based on an article published by an Indian gossip website with its own agenda, are untrue, unfounded, malicious, and aimed at damaging the reputation of SLC and more importantly the morale of more..

Jun 13 (CT) Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO), which has local power generation and transmission equipment operations, has expanded its business into Myanmar and Uganda, an official said. �The successful joint bid for a CEB project with our principals, Siemens, our first venture in Myanmar in the power sector and our entry into Uganda, could be considered milestones in our growth phase,� DIMO Chairman, Ranjith Pandithage told shareholders in the firm�s annual report. more..

Jun 13 (Island) Relations between SL and Iran date back to Pre-Islamic era of the Persian Empire. In this context, Pathfinder Foundation, has recently established Hafez Centre for Cultural Understanding (HCCU) located at its Hq at Riverpoint, Peliyagoda. Centre has been set up with the purpose of studying, creating awareness, and promoting cultural understanding between SL and Iran by focusing on the historical links, culture, customs, and traditions of these two ancient civilisations. more..

Jun 13 (AD) Muslim youths were arrested for having Zahran�s video in their mobile phones and they were not even not allowed to fast during Ramadan, former Governor of WP claimed while testifying before the PSC. �Whom does the curse of arresting these youths during the fasting season fall on?� the former governor questioned. Further testifying, he said certain actions can propel Muslims towards terrorism. more..

Jun 13 (FT) SL Red Cross Society (SLRCS) and Muslim Aid SL (MASL) signed a MoU to collaborate on a program that will support the victims of the Easter Sunday Attacks. The MOU was signed by SLRCS Director General Dr. Mahesh Gunasekera and MASL Country Director Faizer Khan. The main aim of this intervention is to provide humanitarian assistance to the victims through livelihood support, educational scholarships for affected students, medical support and psychosocial care. more..

Jun 13 (FT) SKAL International Colombo, an International Association of Travel and Tourism Professionals, met the Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith at the Archbishops House and handed over a donation towards the fund to be used for the victims of the Easter Sunday bomb attacks. Subsequent to the attacks, the World SKAL Day dinner that was to be held on 23 April was cancelled and SKAL members voluntarily donated the proceeds of the event to the fund. more..

Jun 13 (AD) The committee set up in the Police Head Quarters to receive complaints against Rishad Bathiudeen and M.L.A.M. Hizbullah and Azath Salley has received 21 complaints by 3 pm this evening (12). Reportedly, 11 of these complaints are against the former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen. On June 4th, a 3-member committee comprising of three senior police officials has been set up at Police Hq to receive any complaints more..

Jun 13 (AD) Colombo Magistrate�s Court has granted permission to the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) to detain and interrogate the notorious underworld figure Mohamed Najim Imran alias Kanjipani Imran, who was deported to SL after being arrested with Makandure Madush in Dubai. Kanjipani Imran was held under CCD custody and produced before the court for observation. CCD informed the Colombo Magistrate that investigations into the suspect are still underway. more..

Jun 13 (DN) The South and Southeast Asia Commodity Expo and Investment Fair 2019 got off the ground yesterday in Kunming, capital of southwest China�s Yunnan province with Sri Lanka being named as the theme country. A total of 3,348 enterprises from China and abroad are attending the SSACEIF. Sri Lanka the theme country has over 100 stalls showcasing various local products. The leader of the SL delegation Deputy Minister Nalin Bandara addressing the inauguration said more..

Jun 13 (CT) The CID informed Colombo Fort Acting Magistrate Jayantha Nanayakkara, that the suicide bombers who were involved in the Easter Sunday terror attacks in April had been taking part in National Thowheed Jama�ath (NTJ) activities since 2014. The CID told Court that these suicide cadres of the NTJ had also taken part in weapons training camps held in Nuwara Eliya. They made these submissions when more..

Jun 13 (DN) 3-judge Supreme Court bench headed by CJ Jayantha Jayasuriya ordered the Attorney General to issue a rule within one month for Contempt of Court against State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake for allegedly making a derogatory statement regarding the SC. SC made this order pursuant to a complaint that Ramanayake had recently made a comment in the media regarding an ongoing case at the SC in a manner insulting and damaging the reputation of the judiciary. more..

Jun 13 (DM) The appointment of three acting ministers for the ministerial portfolios fell vacant following the resignation of Muslim ministers contravene the Constitution of the country, PM has informed Prez in a letter on Tuesday. After the resignation of all Muslim ministers, UNP had sent names of Ministers Rajitha Senaratne, Malik Samarawickreme and Ranjith Madduma Bandara to the Prez requesting to appoint them as acting ministers to fill those vacant posts. more..

Jun 13 (DM) People have doubts about whether our political leaders can bring stability to the country and save us from the unfortunate situation we are in, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said. �There are some politicians here today. We request them to be honest and to work with a backbone, not to safeguard those who have done wrong. I request them to work towards a country where justice and fairness prevail. more..

Jun 13 (AD) JVP led a protest in front of the Fort Railway Station this evening (12) demanding the traitorous govt to step down. JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, addressing the protesters, stated that the leaders who failed to ensure the public security do not have the right to be in power anymore. He alleges that the PM attempts to divert the accusations levelled at him towards the President. Ranil-Maithri Govt should step down but that does not mean it paves the way for more..

Jun 13 (DM) CID today informed the Fort Magistrate Court that several documents including an application form to open an Arabic school in Sri Lanka were found from the Kolonnawa house of Azzam Mohammed Mubharak alias Abdullah, who blew himself at the Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo. The CID also informed acting Magistrate Jayantha Dias Nanayakkara that the suicide bomber Abdullah and several other suspects had undergone weapon training in Nuwara Eliya, while more..

Jun 13 (Island) The US expected future SL govts to respect the international obligations taken on by the current UNP-led administration, a senior US embassy officer told a group of journalists. The Colombo-based senior official who wished to remain anonymous also said that the last three years had seen an expansion in US-SL relations and whether that change would continue under a new govt was yet to be decided. more..

Jun 13 (DM) The crisis waiting to happen during the past few days in May fizzled out into what turned out to be an anti-climax with the Ven. Athurelue Tathana Thera calling off his much-hyped fast unto death after Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, the two provincial governors M.L.A.M. Hizbullah and Asath Salley resigned from their posts. Although the fasting monk had demanded the resignations of the Minister and the Eastern and Western Province Governors, what he had not bargained for or more..

Jun 13 (DM) We don�t have to listen to the not-so-veiled threats of ex-Governor of the Eastern Province, Mahabood Hizbullah to understand that there is a real and abiding danger of a kind of terrorism this country did not know before Easter Sunday. And yet, the noises made in English, in and out of the media (mainstream and social) are almost exclusively directed at the majority community, the Sinhala Buddhists. We know what happened. And we know also, that women (close to 800) more..

Jun 13 (DM) The Dailymirror discussed the current political and economic situation of the country in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings with the General Secretary of the SLFP, former Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara. Q: President and SLFP Leader Maithripala Sirisena, who is also the Minister of both Defence and Law and Order has been blamed for failing to take timely action to prevent the Easter Sunday carnage. more..

Jun 13 (DM) Minister John Amaratunga yesterday urged the industry stakeholders to actively look at introducing activities to spice up the nightlife for tourists, so that more would be keen on visiting the country. Pointing out that the common complaint, mostly from Indian authorities, is that there are not many entertainment activities to keep tourists occupied, Amaratunga stressed that this area requires increased attention. more..