Feb 15 (ST) The clause in the Act of 1960 and 1961 in the government takeover of assisted schools in the early 1960s is causing serious problems to grade 5 scholarship students when choosing a school, a spokesman of the Ceylon Teachers Union, said. Last week a grade 5 scholarship student from the Nawala Janadhipathi Primary School who opted to study at a school in Colombo faced several obstacles as he could not prove that he had a Buddhist background, he said. more..

Feb 15 (CT) Experienced campaigner Upul Tharanga, will lead the SLC XI against the West Indies, in the warmup one day encounter at the P. Sara Oval on 17 Monday ahead of their 3-match ODI series. The team includes a few young stars such as Pathum Nissanka and Ashen Bandara, along with U19 World Cup team member Dilshan Madushanka and Kavindu Nadeeshan. It will also include allrounder Asela Gunarathne, who could not make a mark to be included in National team more..

Feb 15 (DM) If the fuel price in the global market continues to drop, the govt will consider a price reduction in the domestic market, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said. �We have observed that there is a drop in fuel prices in the international market as a result of the coronavirus epidemic. But that alone is not sufficient to reduce fuel prices in the domestic market. However, the govt will not hesitate to pass the benefit to the consumer if more..

Feb 15 (MFA) It was announced a short while ago that the US Department of State has designated Lt General Shavendra Silva, current Commander of the SL Army and Acting Chief of Defense Staff and his immediate family members. The public designation makes them ineligible for entry into the US. Govt of SL takes strong objection to the imposition of travel restrictions on Lt. Gen. Silva and his immediate family members by the Govt of US, based on independently unverified information. more..

Feb 15 (VNN) Nigerian Navy has handed over seven Sri Lankans, 46 Nigerians and two Ghanaians who were crew members on- board seven vessels that were arrested between 3 Dec 2019 and 30 Dec 2019, over alleged illegal bunkering, to the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for prosecution. One of the vessels arrested by operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Beecroft, MT ZEEBRUGGE, in which were the Sri-Lankans, sailed all the way from Morocco to more..

Feb 15 (PMD) A National Salaries Commission has been established to provide guidance and assistance to the Govt in formulating and executing a National Salaries Policy. Commission has been established by Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa in accordance with the powers vested upon him under the Article 33 of the Constitution. With the establishment of this Commission the National Salaries and Cadre Commission established more..

Feb 15 (EN) Sri Lanka�s Dialog Axiata Plc reported a net profit of 2.3 billion rupees for the December quarter, an over twentyfold growth from 92 million rupees a year earlier on foreign exchange gains. Dialog reported 30 cents in earnings per share in the firm�s interim financial report. The firm said it earned 1.32 rupees per share for the year ended 2019. Dialog closed trading on the Colombo Stock Exchange at 12.60 rupees a share on Friday. Revenue for the December quarter grew 4% more..

Feb 15 (DM) No one has gone against UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe other than emphasizing the need for unity to win the most number of seats at the general elections, MP Wijith Wijeyamuni de Soysa said today. He said Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has followed the principles of the UNP founder D.S. Senanayake and had formed an alliance bringing all communities together. �The late Mr. Senanayake brought all communities together for his struggle to win independence. more..

Feb 15 (Island) The country was in such a constitutional mess that a President elected by an overwhelming majority couldn�t remove an IGP arrested over the Easter Sunday carnage that claimed the lives of nearly 300 persons nor hold the defence portfolio as a result of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution enacted in 2015, President�s Counsel Manohara de Silva told a gathering at the Sri Lanka Foundation on Thursday, Feb 13. more..

Feb 15 (FT) Pathfinder Foundation Founder Milinda Moragoda visited the Chinese Embassy to meet Ambassador Chen Xueyuan and to express solidarity with the Govt and people of China. During the meeting, Moragoda expressed his condolences to the families of the victims of the COVID-19 and expressed confidence that China would overcome the epidemic soon. Ambassador Chen appreciated the expression of solidarity by Moragoda and said he saw the Pathfinder Foundation as a more..

Feb 15 (EA) Five researchers have been named winners of the 2020 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early-Career Women Scientists in the Developing World for their research in engineering, innovation and technology. The winning scholars from Bangladesh, Guatemala, Kenya, Sri Lanka and Yemen are being recognized for their diverse accomplishments in engineering, innovation & technology. The prize also acknowledges the scientists' commitment to leading and more..

Feb 15 (CT) The CID yesterday, told Mount Lavinia Chief Magistrate, Mohomed Mihal that investigations revealed that documents relating to the alleged fraud at Lanka Sathosa had been found from a house belonging to K.M.A. Aisha, wife of MP Rishad Bathiudeen. CID said the owner of the house where the documents were hidden will be questioned next week. CID also informed DIG of the CID, Nuwan Wedasinghe more..

Feb 15 (EN) US-based John Wiley and Sons Inc, a research and education publisher, is on track to make Sri Lanka its top technology centre, with the existing staff to be doubled in 18 months and more added later, officials said. The Colombo-based software development centre which began operations in 2019 already employs 215 engineers. �We plant to double the workforce over the next 12 to 18 months, and may add another 200 on top of that,� Aref Matin, Executive Vice President more..

Feb 15 (CT) Discussions on a symbol for the UNP-led alliance, formed to contest the upcoming general election, ended in a stalemate yesterday as parties involved failed to reach a consensus, informed sources said. However, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa's faction informed Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe's faction that they would continue to work for the new alliance, even if the Elephant symbol was not given the green-light to represent the Samagi Janabalawegaya alliance. more..

Feb 15 (Island) The Security forces believe that the place where human skeletal remains were unearthed, recently, near Mankulam hospital in Mullaitivu, could be a mass grave. A large number of bones and pieces of clothes had been found, the police said. Mullaitivu District Judge S. Lenin Kumar ordered that the site be scientifically excavated after a group of construction workers had found some skeletal remains of humans. more..

Feb 15 (DM) Crucial talks involving the leaders of the two factions of the UNP ended yesterday with the decision to consult the legal advice on the possibility of the alliance using the elephant symbol at the general elections. One of the factions is led by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe while the other is led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and attended by MPs Ranjith Madduma Bandara, John Amaratunga, Chandrani Bandara, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Lakshman Kiriella, Malik more..

Feb 15 (DN) Only eight people in Sri Lanka are under observation for COVID-19 by yesterday (Friday) and so far only one COVID-19 positive case, a female Chinese tourist has been detected in Sri Lanka, the Epidemiology sources said. According to sources, the only case found positive for COVID-19 has been clinically cured and in good health. She will be discharged from hospital after the final medical report is received confirming her COVID-19 free status. more..

Feb 15 (DM) The US said Friday it would refuse entry to Sri Lanka's Army chief over what it said credible evidence of human rights violations in the 2009 finale to the civil war in Sri Lanka. Department of State said that it has designated Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, current Commander of the SL Army and Acting Chief of Defence Staff, "as required under Section 7031(c) of Department of State, Foreign Operations, more..

Feb 16 (SO) The very term �public servant� implies that State officials of whatever rank and capacity have to serve the public, not necessarily the Government or politicians. It is the long-term interests of the public that they pledge to uphold, not the short-term power plays of politicians. There was a time when public servants were zealously and fiercely independent and impartial, though the creeping politicization of the public service had dented this over the years. more..

Feb 16 (CT) It is no secret that our public service is highly politicised. From the ministry secretary to the office clerk, corruption, inefficiency and political bias is what defines our administrative structure. The transformation of public officials, from being State employees to simply Government servants, doing the bidding of politicians, following orders unquestioningly, with no regard for due process or the law, took place over time. Political influence has seeped deep into our once celebrated and more..

Feb 16 (SO) The Gampaha Division Forest Officer Devani Jayathilaka has become a household name after a showdown of sorts with State Minister of Inland Fisheries Industry Sanath Nishantha at a coordinating committee meeting last week. In a video that instantly went viral on all social media platforms, Jayathilaka was seen vehemently opposing the possibility of going against the law to clear part of a protected mangrove forest to more..

Feb 16 (TM) For the average, law-abiding Sri Lankan, life is a struggle. Whatever rosy picture politicians may paint of a prosperous, upward-looking middle-income nation, the reality is that life is hard for the ordinary man and the sad part is that it need not be so. What has made it that way is a corrupt bureaucracy and mafiosi that zealously control every important sector of economic activity. The result is that the average Sri Lankan is compelled to pay way over and above more..

Feb 16 (TM) The UNP has once again stolen the spotlight from all other political issues and this time over elephants and hearts. Last Monday�s Working Committee (WC) meeting was to resolve all issues related to the formation of the alliance with the appointment of its General Secretary by the Alliance Leader, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. However, with Premadasa and Co. moving to register the proposed political alliance along with a new symbol, the official UNP started to more..

Feb 16 (SO) �If you want me to describe this place, it�s awesome. I will tell my friends and family that the hospitality and care we received here is beyond star grade. I have never been to a military facility before,� Suganthan said of his experience at the Diyatalawa Quarantine facility setup by the SL Army for the group of Sri Lankans evacuated from coronavirus hit Wuhan. Suganthan, 37, an IT manager, was visiting his wife more..

Feb 16 (Island) There has been a 64% increase in court cases against heroin addicts, Minister of Justice, Human Resources and Legal Reform Nimal Siripala de Silva has reportedly said, stressing the need for eliminating the scourge of narcotics before it becomes a national disaster. We wonder if the situation can get any worse, given the sheer amount of narcotics police raids yield almost daily. As for drug addiction, heroin is not the only problem in this country. more..

Feb 16 (ST) At least the Mahinda-Modi bilateral talks in New Delhi last weekend were not a monologue of listening to the Indian leader�s homily on devolution and reconciliation with minorities in Sri Lanka. That PM Mahinda Rajapaksa was able to raise the issue of the incessant poaching in the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar, and the rape of marine and plant life in these Lankan waters is commendable. Sri Lankan political leaders, even the northern politicians have downplayed this continuing issue since more..

Feb 16 (CT) FA Cup winning Coach Mahinda Galagedara stated that he is ready to take over the SL Women's Football Team if the Football Federation of SL (FFSL), wants him to do so. Mahinda Galagedara coached the Women's team successfully in 2012 bringing them to their first semi -final in the SAFF Women's Football Championship. He has also worked as a goalkeeping coach in the Men's National Team. Mahinda Galagedara stated: "At the time of my taking over more..

Feb 16 (Island) Though Parliament comes in for public scrutiny on a regular basis, it is seldom that the work of the various Committees of Parliament receives any kind of public attention, with the sole exception of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) which does make waves from time to time. One Parliamentary Committee that is almost never spoken of outside Parliament is the High Posts Committee which vets nominees for high positions in the govt service. more..

Feb 16 (CT) During a one-day debate at the UN Security Council (UNSC), SL on Thursday (13) said Timelines evolved externally in achieving objectives would only seek to hinder the process of reconciliation because they would be bereft of ground realities. SL's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Kshenuka Senewiratne, joining the debate titled Peace building and Sustaining Peace: Transitional Justice, more..

Feb 16 (ST) My dear Mahinda maama, I thought of writing to you when I saw you visiting India on a trip that has generated some amount of controversy. It must have been quite a different feeling for you, visiting a nation not as our Head of State but as its second in command- especially when the man in charge now is your younger brother. Despite that, Indians still rolled out the red carpet for you. However, what generated interest here were the number of people you took with you and more..

Feb 16 (SO) Govt while nurturing and protecting local industries will provide a conducive environment to achieve higher industrial growth and gain enhanced economic benefits in the long run, a top govt official said. �The govt is formulating an industrial policy to take the sector to the next level. To this end, it has called for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from interested parties and will launch the policy within eight to 10 months,� Secretary, Ministry of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises and more..

Feb 16 (ST) SL�s sprint sensation Shelinda Jansen, who missed the last SAG 2019, recorded a stunning run in the Girls� 100m final to become the fastest female runner while Kavindu Bandara became the fastest male runner on the second day of the 20th Lanka�s Int'l School Athletic Championships (ISAC) worked off at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday. Gateway College�s Jansen, who won the 200m gold more..

Feb 16 (SO) The Observer-Mobitel School Cricket awards has gained momentum over the years and accounts for almost half of the life story of Sri Lanka�s flagship English newspaper the Sunday Observer. The historic first ever school cricket awards show in Sri Lanka began exactly on the 50th anniversary of Sunday Observer. When the Sunday Observer celebrated its 92nd year this month, the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer had flourished for 42 years opening new horizons. more..

Feb 16 (ST) State Minister Kanaka Herath was elected uncontested as president of the Table Tennis Association of SL (TTASL) at the annual general meeting held at the Duncan White Auditorium, Sports Ministry on Friday. AGM was held to fill the vacant positions of the association and all office-bearers were elected uncontested. There were two candidates for the presidency but former national player Manzil Muthalib withdrew his nomination paving the way for Herath to get the top post. more..

Feb 16 (ST) Ahead of the three-match ODI series against West Indies, skipper Dimuth Karunaratne says SL are targeting to become the No. 4 team in the world across formats by the end of the year. SL have a slightly better ranking in Tests occupying the sixth slot but they are ranked 8th in the two limited over formats � ODI and T20 � so much so that the former T20 world champions are forced to play the qualifiers for this year�s World T20 more..

Feb 16 (ST) SL companies are going ahead with plans to participate at next month�s, biggest travel fair in Berlin even as participants from a number of other countries appear to have opted out. The annual Int'l Travel Borse (ITB), the biggest travel fair, is held from March 4-8 in Berlin every year with a large participation from a number of countries from around the world. Sri Lanka too takes part in the event every year. Head of ITB Berlin David Ruetz had stated on the fair�s official website: more..

Feb 16 (ST) Sri Lanka is still awaiting a response for its request for a 3-year debt moratorium from the Indian govt to gain some breathing space for its massive debt repayment of US$4.8 billion this year, Minister Bandula Gunawardena said. The request was made by PM Mahinda Rajapaksa from his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during their bilateral talks in New Delhi. Indian Govt, in similar gesture, earlier granted a 3-year grace period for SL to repay a debt of $30 million in 2005 to more..

Feb 16 (ST) Govt�s revenue plans for the year are in disarray with the Treasury yet to set out revenue targets for the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) amidst an anticipated tax collection drop by as much as Rs 400 billion, officials said. A senior Treasury official said the absence of a full budget had resulted in the delay in setting out revenue collection targets to the IRD. Govt is now operating on a Vote on Account passed by more..

Feb 16 (AD) The IMF's burden-sharing mechanism is a policy approved by the Executive Board of the International Monetary fund (IMF) in 1986 and this methodology has been adopted to reimburse the loss of income due to unpaid charges by members for various reasons. Accordingly, a request has been made to the member countries to contribute part or all of their respective shares in the IMF internal resources to support Somaliya - Possible Financing Package for Arrears Clearance & Debt Relief more..