Feb 19 (CT) After Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake up-ended the CID�s well laid plans to ensure MiG-deal mastermind Udyanga Weeratunga obtained bail on Monday (17), furious Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa has decided to dispatch two of his senior private counsel for a meeting with the AG on Wednesday. President�s Counsel M Ali Sabry and Shavindra Fernando will attend the meeting with AG Dappula De Livera, in order to decide more..

Feb 19 (CT) On Valentine�s Day there were two events that took place at Colombo�s iconic Vhara Maha Devi Park. The two events that took place at the park on Valentine�s Day highlighted the contrasts that continue to prevail in society. One event was replete with music and youth and covered by the commercial media, the other event was attended by mostly elderly women who had lost their loved ones in violent conflicts over the past four decades and was ignored by the commercial media. more..

Feb 19 (CT) Reports that the Sajith Premadasa faction in the failed UNP Opposition has sought to register a new group/party, by whatever name it finally calls itself, should make the ruling Rajapaksa clan happier than already. Despite the massive victory of their candidate, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in the Prez Polls of last November, that too against none other than Sajith himself, they seem still tentative about not making it equally big and convincing in the Parliamentary Polls, more..

Feb 19 (TM) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and the UNF would decide who in the UNP would receive nominations at future elections through a nomination board appointed by the proposed alliance, UNP MP Gayantha Karunatileka said. Q: Is your group satisfied with the current turn of events in which Ranil Wickremesinghe has retained the UNP leadership? A: Yes. Premadasa has been made more..

Feb 19 (ST) The govt is seeking parliamentary approval for an additional nearly Rs. 400 billion in borrowing to pay off bills, Minister Bandula Gunawardene told reporters on Thursday. Isn�t this a familiar theme? Didn�t we hear this five years ago too when the Maithripala-Ranil combine won power to rule the country for five years? Didn�t they too ask for more, like Oliver Twist, to pay off bills and borrowings by the previous regime? The now familiar routine for the first few months more..

Feb 19 (Island) The US travel ban on Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva and his family has provided the UNP leaders with an opportunity to wrap themselves in the flag. They know that the hostile US action will serve as a fresh rallying point for the govt, which is looking for issues to flog. The UNP is doing its darnedest to regain lost ground on the political front while its leaders are blaming one another for having alienated the majority community. Their intimate relationship with TNA has cost more..

Feb 19 (CT) It is election year for Sri Lanka. A general election has to be held before August 5th 2020 for a new Govt to rule the polarized and divided country of majority Sinhalese and minorities with Tamils and Sinhalese politically pitted against each other for the last 72 years. This election is unique and historical as the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his sibling PM Mahinda Rajapaksa have frankly declared their objectives to make Sri Lanka a SINHALA-BUDDHIST STATE, more..

Feb 19 (Island) Prez Rajapaksa in his speech at the opening of the current session of Parliament on 3.1.2020 said "The cost of electricity is an important factor in economic development. It particularly affects the attracting of investors to the industry sector. We need short-term and long-term solutions to generate power at a reasonable price. In looking at long term solutions, our principle is to pay special attention to the use of eco-friendly renewable energy sources such as solar, wind & hydro-power." more..

Feb 19 (CI) Sri Lanka have lost their 10 most-recent T20Is - a sequence that goes back to Nov 2018. Of their previous nine completed matches, Sri Lanka only won one, which means they have lost 18 of their last 19 games. Although there is a small measure of professionalism about women's cricket on the island - the board having announced better contracts, and organised longer tournaments, over the course of the past year - more..

Feb 19 (DN) Sri Lanka one-day opener Danushka Gunathilaka has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI and T20I cricket series against West Indies with a recurring back problem which according to team manager and chief selector Ashantha de Mel may require surgery. �Danushka has a back injury and has been ruled out of the West Indies series. He is under treatment and may require surgery. All-rounder Shehan Jayasuriya is likely to replace him in the final 15,� said De Mel. more..

Feb 19 (DN) The West Indies cricketers are in town and as in the past their presence always evokes memories of those Caribbean calypso style of play which is often associated with their style of play. West Indies cricket today no longer carries the big names and legends of the past, but wherever they play they are an exciting bunch of players that can draw the crowds because of their unique flair to play entertaining cricket. From the present side the big names who are in the squad are the captain more..

Feb 19 (CT) Show Jumper Mathilda Karlsson was left dejected when International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) altered their qualification criteria for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and Sri Lanka was removed from the 15 individual show jumpers list. According to the FEI Olympic Rankings updated on 6 January, Mathilda was ranked second from the South East Asia and Oceania region, and she grabbed more..

Feb 19 (Island) Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo issued two contradictory statements, on Feb 4, and Feb 7, as regards Sri Lanka. Congratulating Sri Lanka for celebrating her 72nd anniversary of Independence on Feb 4, Pompeo said the US looks forward to deepening ties with Sri Lanka. Three days later, Pompeo tweeted: "I am designating Shavendra Silva making him ineligible for entry into the US due to his involvement in extrajudicial killings during SL�s Civil War." more..

Feb 19 (DN) St Anthony�s College Wattala right-hand batsman Avishka Tharindu broke several batting records on his way to a monumental 350 against Lumbini College Colombo in a Singer Trophy Under 19 inter-school cricket match which ended in a draw at Wattala yesterday. Tharindu who was unbeaten on 278 on the first day went onto hit 56 fours and three sixes in his innings of 350 that came off 285 balls as St Anthony�s reached 514 all out. According to available records more..

Feb 19 (FT) Govt is planning a new model to boost tourism, ensuring greater coordination, maximisation of resources and delivery of efficient and effective services. The new idea is to establish a single agency consolidating SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), SL Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and SL Convention Bureau (SLCB). A single agency steering tourism development and promotion was status quo more..

Feb 19 (Island) With a pledge to build the eSports category, Mobitel, the premier connectivity provider in partnership with Gamer.LK has come forward to power SL�s largest mobile league tournament. PUBG Mobile is a third-person combat game known to be one of the most popular mobile games played in South Asia with millions of youth connecting online to play through their smartphones. Bringing the excitement to SL, Mobitel Esports Premier League will feature a team from each of 9 provinces more..

Feb 19 (FT) SL�s largest foods manufacturer using local inputs Cargills (Ceylon) PLC has achieved a robust third quarter boosting its nine months performance and signalling a record FY2020. Group revenue in 3Q ended on 31 Dec 2019 was Rs. 27.86 billion, up by 18.8% and gross profit up by 39.4% to Rs. 3.4 billion. Results from operating activities jumped 66.6% to Rs. 1.8 billion. Pre-tax profit improved by a healthy 47.6% to Rs. 1.04 billion and post-tax profit was Rs. 571.7 m, up by 79%. more..

Feb 19 (DM) In the wake of the Daily Mirror Eye�s investigative piece, High-rise Corruption on buildings and planning violations of apartment projects in Colombo and the suburbs, the UDA working on introducing reforms to the existing building and planning regulations for high-rise apartment projects countrywide. UDA's Colombo Metro Region Director Lalith Wijayaratne said he had received a directive from more..

Feb 19 (AD) Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa stated that his resolution is to transform Sri Lanka as the most favourable country for investments. Addressing a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat with officials attached to the Ministry of Environment and Wildlife this morning (18), Prez declared that SL needs to form a legal framework that would safeguard the environment and lead to the development of the country simultaneously. Prez advised all institutions to cooperate with each other more..

Feb 19 (EN) Sri Lankan banks are trading at a ten year lows compared to their most recent earnings, with stronger profits expected in 2020, due to tax cuts and a pick up in credit growth, equities researchers said. �Compared to frontier and emerging markets, Sri Lankan banks have the lowest price to earnings ratios,� First Capital Senior Research Analyst Hiruni Perera said. �Banks are still undervalued in Sri Lanka. Banking stocks are at a ten year low,� she said, more..

Feb 19 (FT) The SLFP will contest upcoming elections under the SL Nidahas Podujana Sandanaya, although discussions are underway to contest in the northeast under a different alliance. SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara said he was unable to comment further on contesting in the northeast as nothing had been decided upon yet. As for the coalition with the SLPP, Jayasekara said the next step was to more..

Feb 19 (CT) Former SL skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan will lead the SL Legends team for the Road Safety World Series 2020, which will kick-off on 7 March when India Legends take on West Indies Legends. The legends of cricket from different parts of the world are joining hands to create awareness about road safety with the intention of changing people's mindset towards their behaviour on the roads. This series is a 5-nation tournament which will feature some of the biggest names in cricket more..

Feb 19 (FT) National Development Bank said it has recorded Rs. 10 billion Profit before Tax, highest-ever PBT in banking operations in its journey of 40 years. This is a 6% year-on-year growth, affirming its resilience in a challenging market environment that prevailed during 2019. NDB�s Profit after Tax was Rs. 5.1 b, a reduction of 8% over 2018, impacted mainly by the Debt Repayment Levy (DRL) which came into effect on 1 Oct 2018. Bank paid additional tax of Rs. 1,003 mil via DRL. more..

Feb 19 (DM) Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith today said that Catholics cannot be satisfied with the ongoing investigation carried out by the govt over the Easter Sunday bomb attack. He said the 5-member commission which appointed by the former Prez Sirisena to probe the Easter Sunday attacks is conducting the investigations effective manner but it was shown whether the defence services analyzing incident properly. more..

Feb 19 (AD) A special discussion between PM Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Prez Maithripala Sirisena was held this evening at Temple Trees. The meeting was also attended by senior members of SLPP and SLFP. The prevailing political situation in the country and the forthcoming General Election were among the topics of today�s discussion. SLPP led by Rajapaksa and Sirisena�s SLFP have decided to contest the general election under the alliance - SL Nidahas Podujana Sandanaya. more..

Feb 19 (IOM) The challenges posed by human trafficking in this South Asian island nation, where over 200,000 people migrate to work abroad each year, are daunting. Since 2017, IOM Sri Lanka has assisted over 90 victims of trafficking and vulnerable migrants through victim assistance grants. It also operates a hotline to assist victims, refer cases and provide information on human trafficking. Now IOM, in partnership with Sri Lanka�s Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and Legal Reforms, more..

Feb 19 (FT) Govt and Opposition MPs clashed over the legality of the forensic audit reports prepared as part of the investigation into the CB bond scam by an Indian audit company as a two-day parliamentary debate on the subject got underway. State Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage who opened the debate on behalf of the Govt said the audit reports were prepared to give a clean chit to former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and more..

Feb 19 (FT) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will dissolve Parliament between 2 and 6 March, Information and Communication Technology State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said yesterday. He said President was constitutionally empowered to dissolve the Legislature after 2 March when the current Parliament completes four and half years of its five-year term. The General Election will be held during the last week of April, the State Minister told reporters at a press briefing. more..

Feb 19 (Island) Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, found fault with the US for its ban on Army Commander Lt Gen Shavendra Silva. Cardinal said that he had been surprised to hear the US travel ban on SL Army Commander. SL as a nation should not be discouraged in the face of adversity of foreign forces inimical to its national interest, the prelate said adding that tseveral authorities were trying to absolve themselves of the responsibility for the Easter Sunday carnage. more..

Feb 19 (Island) There was no agreement among party leaders on releasing all the phone recordings that were tabled by UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake to MPs as it might create serious issues, Parliament was told. Earlier this month Speaker said that Parliament Library would allow MPs to access CDs, containing phone call recordings handed over by MP Ramanayake, after obtaining party leaders� approval. more..

Feb 19 (AD) Committee on Public Finance consented to presenting 3 bills to parliament, at the Committee Meeting held today (18) in Parliament under the chairmanship of MP M.A. Sumanthrian. Accordingly, the Nations Building Tax (Amd) Bill, Economic Service Charge (Amd) Bill and Ports and Airport Development Levy (Amd) Bill will be presented to parliament on Thursday (20). Furthermore, the CB submitted their own observations regarding Forensic Audit report more..

Feb 19 (AD) The Chinese coronavirus patient who is being treated at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) has fully recovered, according to the Ministry of Health. The female patient is to be discharged from the hospital today, the ministry said. The first confirmed case of novel coronavirus was reported in Sri Lanka on the 27th of January as a female Chinese national was diagnosed with the deadly virus, which has now rapidly spread across many countries just within days. more..

Feb 19 (CT) Former Ministers of the Good-Governance Govt, urged the Govt to commence an investigation to find out what happened to the luxury vehicles purchased by the previous Govt at the cost of Rs 2.8 billon as they, who were alleged to have used them, had not used the said vehicles. Current Minister Mahinda Amaraweera and former Ministers Ranjith Aluwihare, Gayantha Karunathilaka, Lucky Jayawardena, Harin more..

Feb 19 (DM) Though the US President Donald Trump still insists that climate change is mainly a Chinese hoax while continuing with his despicable and dangerous measures that have upset the balance of power in the US, one of the world richest company owners Jeff Bezos took to Instagram to announce the launch of the Bezos Earth Fund. He�s putting $10bn into climate change action, describing the crisis as the biggest threat to our planet. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos does not like a bad media, more..

Feb 19 (DM) The conversation that took place between Gampaha District Assistant Conservator of Forests Devani Jayatillake and State Minister Sanath Nishantha received much publicity on print, electronic as well as social media. Since social media was a forum where the ordinary citizen could instantaneously respond to a news item, the social websites were replete with the comments of users who unanimously decried the moronic ideas of Dy Minister who did not give a tuppence worth more..

Feb 19 (DM) The Missing Lovers Day 2020, an event organised by the Families of the Disappeared (FOD), was held on Feb 14, Valentine�s Day. It provided a platform for people who were still holding on to the love saved for their loved ones, who disappeared from their lives, before they got an opportunity to openly grieve and share their thoughts publicly. On a day where people around the world celebrated love, with their loved ones, more..

Feb 19 (DM) Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake acquitted a woman arrested in a brothel on charges of prostitution said it was not considered an offence in Sri Lanka for a woman to earn a living through prostitution but however it was an offence to operate a brothel. Citing two major superior court judgments (Saibo vs Chellam and Coore vs James Appu), he said, prostitution is not an offence per se under our law and more..

Feb 19 (DM) In the wake of the increasing supply of vegetables, there is a decline in the retail and wholesale prices of both up-country and low-country vegetables at the Pettah and Dambulla markets, Central Bank reported. The price of beans had decreased in the Dambulla market because of the favourable supply from Nuwara Eliya and Jaffna while price of carrots decreased at the Pettah and Dambulla markets because more..

Feb 19 (FT) UNP Working Committee will meet today to finalise the symbol of the proposed coalition which is to be led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa for the forthcoming General Election, MP Palitha Range Bandara said. Since last week, the UNP has been discussing whether to contest under the Swan symbol or the Elephant symbol. Meanwhile a group calling itself the Patriotic United National Party (PUNP) submitted more..