Feb 19 (DM) National programme to develop 100,000 kilometres of roads would commence under the patronage of Prez Rajapaksa and PM Rajapaksa in Deltota today. The objective of the project is to develop 100,000 kms of roads which will directly contribute to the economy of the country and livelihood of the people. Roads and Highways Ministry, provincial councils and local govt institutions and other institutions related to more..

Feb 19 (EN) The SL taxpayer has bought 260.5 million rupees in paddy at a guaranteed price from farmers since January 29 with the involvement of the military, Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena. �So far, we have spent 260.5 million rupees and we have purchased a total of 5,217 metric tons of paddy,� he said. This is 0.2% of the 2.7 million metric ton Maha season paddy harvest expected by the Agriculture Dept. more..

Feb 19 (NR) The UNP has accused the govt of attempting to win the General Election by using the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. MP Thushara Indunil Amarasena speaking at a media briefing this morning said the present government used the Easter attacks during the Prez Election as a campaign slogan. He claimed the Rajapaksa camp was jubilant when Zahran Hashim and his group detonated bombs in country. more..

Feb 19 (ST) The Sunday Times trawled through four years of records, from 2015 to 2018, to look at the investigations that were launched. Below are some from the first year alone. The flood later slows to a trickle. But behind each case are funds and human resources wasted to, ostensibly, fix a system that today remains fundamentally the same. The same actors�the accusers and the accused�are running the country. more..

Feb 19 (AD) Interdicted High Court Judge Gihan Pilapitiya has filed a writ application before the Court of Appeal seeking an interim injunction order preventing his arrest. The IGP, the Director of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) and several others have been named as the respondents of the petition. The petition was taken up for consideration this morning before the Court of Appeal�s bench consisting of its President more..

Feb 19 (AD) The Chinese coronavirus (COVID-19) patient who was diagnosed in Sri Lanka has been discharged from the Infectious Disease Hospital this morning. She was accorded a farewell by Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Director-General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe and the staff of the IDH. She is set to depart for China this evening. The first confirmed case of novel coronavirus was reported in SL more..

Feb 19 (CT) A monkey once told a fish Hey, you're drowning. Let me help you. He then picked the fish up and placed him on a tree branch. In some desperate circumstances, most fish can fall for that line. This last week saw Philippines President Duterte coming off that tree because, as he saw it in today's context, the integrity to do what is determined of one in a national criminal context, is a matter of integrity and bears no global moral denigration. more..

Feb 19 (FT) There must be very few subjects in this country more investigated than the alleged wrongdoings in relation to Govt issued bonds. Beginning with the so-called Pilipino committee (appointed by persons whose very conduct was germane to the inquiry, and from the same political configuration to boot!), then several COPE inquiries, a presidential commission, to finally what is referred to as a forensic audit, needless to say, all these inquiries required extensive support more..

Feb 19 (FT) WERK, SL�s first online woman-centric professional network, was launched amidst much anticipation on Saturday (15) at Hatch in Colombo. The well-attended event brought together invitees from various stages in their respective professional lives, paving the way for a promising line-up of projects from the new online platform. Empirical � and considerable microeconomic � evidence from across the world has confirmed that an unlevel playing field between women and men more..

Feb 19 (DN) The CID has uncovered details of an illegal acquisition of Govt land for the controversial Batticaloa campus owned by former Eastern Province Governor, M.L.A.M. Hizbullah. CID sources said the owners of the campus had allegedly acquired 15 acres illegally to build the Campus in addition to the land given by the govt. CID sources the land given to build the campus, belonging to the Mahaweli Authority had been released in 2013 to an organization called the Hira Foundation. more..

Feb 19 (EN) National Organizer of JHU Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe is alleging that the govt�s sudden decision to declare Saindamaruthu as a new municipality is an attempt to appease a particular community. He told reporters at the Opposition Leader�s office this morning, that Minister of Public Administration Janaka Bandara Tennakoon should explain the rationale behind the govt�s decision to establish such a local authority. more..

Feb 19 (DM) Weligama police said that three males and a female, belonging to an infamous gang in the south, were taken into custody on suspicion for questioning while they were stealing jewellery and money in the possession of women who they abducted in motor vehicles. These suspects were residents of Walgama in the Matara police division, aged 34,44 and 52 years. They were all married and the 44-years-old suspect is said to be an Island Re-convicted Criminal (I.R.C). more..

Feb 19 (Island) More than 30 leopards have been killed since 2015, records at the Department of Wildlife indicate. Researchers say the number of deaths would be many more if the ones not reported to the department are taken into consideration. Twenty leopards have been killed due to traps and 12 due to poisoning and others due to unidentified causes including poisoning, says naturalist Rajika Gamage, who is conducting a research on the upcountry leopards. more..

Feb 19 (DM) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has directed all Provincial Councils and Local Govt authorities to suspend the imposition of any extra levy or raising any existing rates or taxes, the PMD said. Furthermore, the PMD said these bodies have been requested to review the entire local authority rate and fees structure to simplify it within 30 days from Feb 19. Presidential directive has been conveyed to all Governors, Chief Secretaries more..

Feb 19 (Island) New York-based CEOWORLD magazine has billed Sri Lanka as the second most expensive country to live in South Asia and Pakistan the most affordable one in the world. In South Asia Bangladesh has been ranked as the most expensive country to live in, said a report published by Dhaka based The Daily Star. The Daily Star report says: The magazine identified the world�s most and least expensive countries to live in by collecting and reviewing data from dozens of studies, more..

Feb 19 (AD) Former CEO of SriLankan Airlines Kapila Chandrasena and his wife, who were arrested on money laundering charges after they surrendered to the CID this morning, have been remanded until March 04 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate�s Court. Attorney General on the 3rd of Feb instructed the Director of the CID to obtain an arrest warrant from court and to arrest the former SriLankan Airlines CEO and his wife Priyanka Wijenayake as suspects on charges of more..

Feb 19 (AD) SL Police today said 153 suspects are currently in custody in connection with the Easter Sunday terror attacks. Speaking to media regarding the progress of investigations being carried out into the attacks, DIG Ajith Rohana revealed that a total of 216 suspects including 07 women were arrested following the attacks. Out of them, 153 suspects are still in either police custody or remand custody under detention orders more..

Feb 19 (DN) SL Railways has introduced E-Ticketing system to facilitate the reservation of railway seats for pensioners with railway warrants. Accordingly, pensioners who have railway warrants will be able to reserve their railway seats directly through online or by producing either their Pension ID or the national ID or 48 railway stations across the country including the Fort railway station from today. Earlier, the Railway Department issued railway warrants to pensioners on the recommendations from more..

Feb 19 (FT) International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICCSL), a national committee of ICC Paris, noted the Govt�s recent move to reduce the tax on profits and gains to 14% for Construction services and Healthcare services and exempt farming was a progressive step to promote the development of the SME sector. The compliance burden of WHT payments for SMEs made to SL residents for professional services, renting of properties, interest on deposits and distribution of partnership more..

Feb 19 (CI) As many as ten players opted out of Sri Lanka's tour of Pakistan last year, the last time they played ODI cricket, and Sri Lanka have included many of them in a strong squad led by Dimuth Karunaratne, who was one of the players to withdraw, for the three-ODI series against West Indies starting Saturday. The 15-man squad also sees the return of Niroshan Dickwella, who last played an ODI in March 2019 more..

Feb 19 (AD) Major (Retired) Ajith Prasanna, who was remanded over contempt of court charges, has been granted bail by the Colombo High Court. He was ordered released under strict bail conditions when the case was taken up before HC Judge Dhammika Ganepola today. The court ordered Ajith Prasanna released on a cash bail of Rs 100,000 and two personal bonds of Rs 500,000 each while a bail condition was set completely barring the defendant from holding press conferences regarding more..

Feb 19 (AD) Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils & Local Govt has decided to grant permanent employment to office assistants and drivers who were recruited on temporary, casual, substitute, contract or concessionary basis for State institutions. Ministry mentioned that a Circular has also been issued to all Secretaries to the Ministries, Heads of Departments and District Secretaries in this regard. As per the Circular it is mandatory for more..

Feb 19 (AD) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa says that the Sri Lankan govt has decided to withdraw from the process of co-sponsorship in relation to UNHRC Resolution 30/1. He stated this issuing a statement today in response to the recent decision by the United States to prohibit the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva or members of his family from entering that country. more..

Feb 19 (AD) Major General (Retired) Vijitha Ravipriya has been appointed the Director-General of Sri Lanka Customs. During his tenure, Ravipriya has served many commands and staff appointments in his Regiment and the Army, including the office of Director General Training at the Army Headquarters, General Officer Commanding, 57 Division, Director Media and office of Military Spokesman, Director Personal Administration, Director Plans and a number of other key appointments in Army more..

Feb 19 (CT) Minister Mahinda Amaraweera told Parliament that a Rs 592 billion debt had been incurred due to the previous govt's implementation of the fuel pricing formula. Amaraweera responding to a question raised by Opposition Leader, Sajith Premadasa that the current govt has no intention of implementing the fuel pricing formula and inconveniencing the public. Premadasa requested the Govt to reduce the fuel prices as the prices of global market have been drastically reduced more..

Feb 19 (EN) Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa is claiming that India, China and the Western countries have confidence in his govt and therefore this country could expect more investment from those states. He said the previous govt�s actions had discouraged investors. Speaking at his first public rally since being elected Prez, Rajapaksa said the first priority of his administration has been national security and that has been bolstered. more..

Feb 19 (Island) The dispute between five suspended students and the Administration of the Jaffna Uni was settled before the Court of Appeal yesterday. The university authorities will not take disciplinary action against the five students, suspended for setting up a dais for a Buddha statue, in their hostel premises, in defiance of an order from the university authorities. The students will be able to attend lectures. This dispute took place in April 2019. Four students are Sinhalese and one is a Tamil. more..

Feb 19 (PN) The death of three Sri Lankan nationals in Azerbaijan � two of which were international students � last month has prompted the SL Ministry of Education to look into shoring up regulations around education agents and studying abroad. This, in turn, has prompted confusion from agents in the country who see little linking the tragedy and their work. The students who had been attending Western Caspian University in Baku were named as Malsha Sandeepani and Tharuki Amaya, more..

Feb 19 (TM) UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has urged the SL govt to fully implement resolution 30/1, and continue to engage positively with OHCHR and UN human rights mechanisms to promote reconciliation, accountability and human rights. Bachelet expressed these views in a report on Sri Lanka presented to the UNHRC in Geneva, ahead of the 43rd session of the UNHRC more..

Feb 20 (CT) Prez JR Jayewardene, continuing the modifications to the Constitution started by the coalition Govt which came to power in 1970, changed the whole structure of the SL Constitution. This aspect has been discussed over and over again by many persons making it unnecessary to handle it here. What needs to be asked is: what was the philosophy behind these modifications? Was there a grand political scheme of development for the country? more..

Feb 20 (DM) This is a reference to the matter of Abeyaratne Ratnayake of Kahalla in Katugastota under Section 51 of the Courts Ordinance 1889 in the Supreme Court (SC). The person charged was none other than the honourable (truly honourable) State Councillor A. Ratnayake, at the time an Advocate of the Supreme Court, later to be a member in the first Cabinet of independent Ceylon and last President of the Senate (Prez D.B. Wijetunga was his private secretary). more..

Feb 20 (SO) Only eight persons in Sri Lanka are under observation for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) by Friday. Only one COVID-19 positive case was found in Sri Lanka, who was a female Chinese tourist, Epidemiology Unit sources said. According to the sources, the only case found positive for COVID-19 is clinically cured and in good health. She will be discharged from the hospital soon after the final medical report more..

Feb 20 (CT) Whether it is because of the 19th Amendment or not, India has been treated to two state visits within three months from its utmost isle to the south. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa paid the first visit last year soon after his election, accepting PM Narendra Modi�s special invitation. Not to be outdone, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has just concluded his first Prime Ministerial visit to Delhi. The visits and the talks were given extensive coverage in the Indian media. more..

Feb 20 (DM) Those utilising transport Apps have experienced what one would call nightmares during the recent past. While some, especially ladies, had it in the form of verbal abuse, the males have experienced several incidents of physical abuse. The recent incident was reported a week ago where the two users had a close call. The extent of such incidents have discouraged customers from using the App while many have started utilising homegrown services. more..

Feb 20 (Roar) In Mar 2019, a group of fishermen from Bopitiya, a village north of Wattala, departed on a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, in Mannar. Upon returning, they found a number of extensive sand pits in their fishing port. Villagers noted that this was the third instance of covert sand mining they had experienced in the area. This time the miners had extracted around 150-200 cubic metres of sand, more..

Feb 20 (Island) Politicians rarely want what they have and always strive to have what they want. State Minister Nimal Lanza would have the public believe that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR) has fixed many ills of the country and needs a two-thirds majority to end its paralysis. One is puzzled. We haven�t faced a bigger problem than LTTE terrorism, and when that scourge was removed the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa�s govt had only a razor thin majority in Parliament! more..

Feb 20 (DN) About twenty five years ago a young graduate from the University of Peradeniya got a teaching appointment in Dutuwewa, which is close to Galenbindunuwewa in the A'pura District. Rangawadi Gedara Wickramasuriya is not from Dutuwewa. He�s from a small village called Kotaligoda close to Menikdivela in the district of Kandy. Wickramasuriya, Wicky to his university friends, was an alumnus of Peradeniya Maha Vidyalaya. Wicky was a Stubbs Shield boxer. more..

Feb 20 (GV) When talking about conflicts around land in eastern Sri Lanka, explanations based on ethnic identity spring to mind. SL�s ethnic majority, for example, is seen as having the right to cultivate their ancient lands in Gal Oya, or they are seen as occupying the traditional homelands of Tamil-speaking people. Such arguments are rooted in the notion that the powerful State has expanded its control over land through ethnicised colonisation. This notion, in turn, more..