Jan 6 (FT) SriLankan Airlines Catering Ltd. is awaiting the appointment of new Cabinet Procurement Committee to call for Request for Proposals (RFQs) to double its flight kitchen output with a Rs. 250 million investment. �We hope to call for the RFQs for the flight kitchen expansion project once the new Cabinet Procurement Committee is appointed,� SriLankan Airlines Catering Ltd. CEO Lalith Withana said. The National Carrier�s profitable catering arm received Cabinet approval more..

Jan 6 (AFP) Sacked coach Chandika Hathurusingha has demanded $5 million in compensation from SLC over the premature termination of his contract. The former SL Test star and coach made the claim after the two sides failed to agree the terms of his termination last summer. "He has sent a letter of demand asking for $5 million," board secretary Mohan de Silva told AFP. Details were not immediately available, but more..

Jan 6 (Island) Jaffna District Development Committee has requested Secretary to the Defence Ministry, Kamal Gunaratne, to shift the security fence constructed by troops between Kadduwan and Myliddy 400 metres back from where it is now. UPFA MP, Angajan Ramanathan proposed the move when the Committee met under the leadership of Jaffna District Secretary Nagalingam Vedanayagam. Committee has determined that due to this fence put up in 2018, traveling along the Kadduwan - more..

Jan 6 (TM) A carcass of a leopard had been discovered near the canal connecting to Mau Ara Tank at the 14th milepost outside the Udawalawe National Park on Wednesday. Park Warden said that when the wildlife officers had found the carcass they had noticed the dead leopard�s front paws and several teeth had been removed. �We handed the carcass over to the Veterinary Dept of the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home to conduct a postmortem examination immediately.� more..

Jan 6 (FT) Senior Economic Advisor to PM, Ajith Nivard Cabraal renewed his condemnation of bond scam, making widespread revelations as well as listing measures that the new Govt could take to put those responsible behind bars. �Enough is enough, and now I suggest to the Govt that a new comprehensive legal inquiry be held soon, and those responsible should be named and shamed, deprived of their civic rights, and put in prison� more..

Jan 6 (AD) UNP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka says that UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is responsible for 99% of the wrongdoing by the past govt to the people. He mentioned this addressing a public meeting held in Kiribathgoda today (5). Fonseka says that the past govt forgot about the people by taking up the Yahapalanaya and UNP Leader Wickremesinghe is completely responsible for this. Stating that their govt committed many mistakes, the former Army Commander says more..

Jan 6 (AD) The leak observed in the main dam of the Moragahakanda Reservoir for the past few days does not pose any risks and the public should not be alarmed by the situation, says Chief Engineer of Mahaweli Authority Rohana Aruppola. According to him, this leak can be repaired within 10 days. A few days ago, reports were received of a leak upper in the upper corner of the main dam of the Moragahakanda Reservoir as the maximum water capacity of the reservoir had reached. more..

Jan 6 (AD) MP Lakshman Kiriella says that there had been a worse bond fraud in Sri Lanka which had occurred even before 2015. He claimed that while the previous govt sold bonds at Rs 10 million, prior to 2015 bonds worth Rs 6500 billion had been sold in a clandestine manner. He says that the Forensic Audit report on the CB states that the bonds worth Rs 6500 billion had been sold during the 10 years prior to 2015. more..

Jan 6 (DM) The new year and in fact a new decade have dawned under dark clouds in the region and the world more broadly. The concluding weeks of the last year have seen major protests in India against the worrying Citizenship Amendment Act, which has shaken the Muslim communities there in particular. The global situation has greatly deteriorated to the brink of war again in the Middle East with the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Suleimani by the United States on January 3. more..

Jan 6 (DM) According to a recent newspaper report, SL national anthem would be sung only in Sinhala during the 72nd Independence Day celebrations. This news created an emotional stir not only among Tamils in the North but also among right-minded citizens in the South. Speaking at a media briefing recently, MP Udaya Gammanpila said the singing of the national anthem in Tamil at state events is a violation of the Constitution. He added that Article 7 of the Constitution clearly states that more..

Jan 6 (DM) There was kudos for Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, within minutes after he tweeted that he had called on his former teacher when he visited Kallaru in Batticaloa last week. He found the time to do so during a three-day vacation he took in a coastal resort in Pasikudah. The tweet was accompanied by three photographs with a feeble V. Sivalingam fondly called Amude at Royal College, Colombo, in the 1960s. more..

Jan 6 (ST) For the first time in its 150-year history, and after a hard-fought battle, Sri Lanka Police have promoted eight women to SSPs where there was earlier vacancy for just one. In another giant leap, the Police Department, with National Police Commission (NPC) backing, has sought approval from the Finance Ministry�s Management Services Department to introduce a slot for 1 female SDIG and 2 female DIG. more..

Jan 6 (TM) For several years, the Sri Lankan tourism industry has been plagued by rumours of discrimination against local tourists. Complaints had been flooding in from many of the country�s coastal regions, where locals had been refused services from establishments such as restaurants and hotels. However, this foreigners only policy soon disappeared following the tragic events of Easter Sunday, which saw a drastic decrease in more..

Jan 6 (Island) Yuthukama Chief Gevindu Cumaratunga said that the far reaching decision to continue with the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) clearly indicated that the new govt was on the right path as regards the accountability issue. The previous govt succumbed to Western demand that the longstanding PTA should be repealed to pave the way for a new Counter Terrorism law acceptable to them, civil society activist Cumaratunga more..

Jan 6 (FT) More than a month after Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed 38 State Ministers, powers and functions have been delegated to only six of them so far by the relevant Cabinet ministers. PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is also the Minister of Finance, Economic and Policy Development, delegated powers to State Minister of Economic and Policy Development John Seneviratne and the State Minister of more..

Jan 6 (EN) SL�s universities should be given the freedom to change their curriculum to the needs of the country, as some of their courses do not fit the need of the economy, Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa said. �Some of the courses taught in universities today are not in consonance with market requirements,� Prez Rajapaksa said in his inaugural speech to parliament. �Universities and other higher education institutions should be given more more..

Jan 6 (Island) Civil society group Yuthukama that backed Gotabaya Rajapaksa�s candidature at the 2019 presidential poll questioned UNP lawmaker Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse�s move to amend the controversial 19th Amendment to the Constitution. Yuthukama Head Gevindu Cumaratunga said that Wijeyadasa Rajapakse had quite conveniently forgotten his active role in enacting the 19th Amendment in 2015. more..

Jan 6 (RN) The Police and govt spokesmen have made contradictory statements about the arrest of UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake who was arrested on Saturday and released on bail yesterday. According to the police, the MP was arrested for allegedly possessing a firearm without a valid permit after his house was searched by the Colombo South Crime Division. However, Additional Magistrate of the Gangodawila more..

Jan 6 (EN) SL will enact a new Banking Act in 2021, which will include merging of banking licenses and regulation of banks in the China-built port city, CB governor said. �We expect to complete enactment of new banking act in 2021,� W. D. Lakshman said, delivering the Central Bank roadmap for 2020. �Key provisions include a single type of banking license for licensed commercial bank and licensed specialized banks,� more..

Jan 6 (DM) State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said there may be a conspiracy behind the arrest of UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake to defame the Prez and it is worthy to inquire as to who is behind this course of action. �There is nobody in our govt who was involved in the course of actions taken by the Police and the courts. Do not interpret these actions as political revenges. We have to inquire as to who has given more..

Jan 6 (CT) The biggest ever destruction caused by ongoing bush fire in New South Wales (NSW) Australia has made the country a hottest spot on the planet in recent months, according to the reports released by the climatologists who are closely monitoring the devastating bush fire in down under. Vast area of flora and fauna including human habitats have been destroyed in a big way and the latest assessment has revealed that in Australia's fire devastated 14.8 million acres of land, more..

Jan 6 (Island) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa challenges the govt to table a motion in Parliament next week to do away with the US Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) development assistance grant agreement. He assures that all the Opposition MPs will support the government in such an eventuality. MP said that the Opposition would help muster even a 5/6ths majority in the House if the govt wanted to do away with the MCC agreements with the US. more..

Jan 6 (FT) Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa � now fondly called Gota by everyone � inherited an underperforming economy. It was just like the economy which the previous administration had inherited from his brother some five years ago. As I had presented in this column repeatedly, the economy was turning from bad to worse since around 2013 and it was the job of the previous administration to put it on the right growth path. They were successful somewhat in constitutional more..

Jan 6 (AD) Court has been informed that former Prez Maithripala Sirisena had agreed to record a statement at the CID regarding the Easter Sunday terror attacks. Sirisena had notified that he is willing to record the statement on either on 6th or 7th of January, Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris told the court. The case against IGP Pujith Jayasundara and former Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando � both currently remanded � was taken up before Colombo Additional today. more..

Jan 6 (RN) Stop Child Cruelty, a civil society organization committed to the protection of children� rights today engaged in a silent campaign in front of the NCPA (National Child Protection Authority) demanding the activation of the national child protection policy to end corporal punishment in Sri Lanka by December. A group of activists led by renowned physician Dr Tush Wickramanayaka met the NCPA Chairman more..

Jan 6 (RN) National Medical Transport Institute has decided to set up 3 new regional units make it easy for applicants for drivers licenses to get their medicals done without having to come to Colombo. A centre in Awissawella will be set up for applicants in Ratnapura, Bandarawela and Nuwara Eliya a regional office will be established in Avissawella. A similar centre will cater to applicants from the North and East and the North Central Province and the third in Negombo will serve more..

Jan 6 (Island) Ministry of Foreign Relations says that the information about 7 Sri Lankans who have been arrested by the Nigerian authorities will be further confirmed at the official level. SL High Commission in Abuja said that it is working with the Nigerian govt on this matter. Nigerian police have informed the media yesterday that seven Sri Lankans have been arrested along with 59 other Africans. Nigerian police said in a statement that they are accused of engaging in illegal oil transactions. more..

Jan 6 (DM) Four men including two hunters had been arrested yesterday over the death of the young male leopard last week in Udawalawe, Sevanagala Police OIC I.P. Dissanayake said. He said the suspects were arrested following information gathered by the Police investigations division. The carcass of the leopard, with its limbs and several teeth missing, was found close to the 14th-milepost outside the Udawalawe more..

Jan 6 (DM) Police Headquarters has started a special investigation over Inspector Nishantha de Silva for abruptly leaving the country for Switzerland without obtaining permission from the Police Department. The inquiry has been commenced over the former OIC of the CID�s Organized Crime Investigation Unit Nishantha de Silva, who had reportedly left for Switzerland with his family few weeks back. A senior police officer said this investigation has been initiated to find more..

Jan 6 (RN) UNP MP Harshana Rajakaruna says that neither the govt nor the opposition should get a two-thirds majority in parliament in the upcoming general elections. MP said that the govt is trying to abolish the 19th amendment and make changes in the constitution and for that, they need a two-thirds majority in the parliament. He added that the govt finds 19th Amendment which reduces the powers of the Presidency a hindrance to Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa�s to implement his manifesto. more..

Jan 6 (EN) New Central Bank Governor W D Lakshman said banks should drop a risk averse mindset and finance startups, and a development bank was needed. Following a spike in bad loans in the wake of Sri Lanka�s latest currency collapse, the govt has asked banks to give a debt moratorium to small and medium-sized industries. �In this context, I urge Sri Lanka�s banking sector to rethink its credit disbursement policies, more..

Jan 6 (DM) The govt has withheld approval for a Cabinet paper seeking to abolish the FCID till SC rules on its legality, a Minister said. FCID was formed by the previous Yahapalana govt to probe large scale financial frauds of the govts prior to 2015.Cabinet paper was submitted last Thursday seeking for approval to scrap the FCID. However, some ministers took the view that the legality of the FCID was challenged in the SC at that time and they should wait for some time as a result. more..

Jan 6 (AD) IGP Pujith Jayasundara, who was sent on compulsory leave, and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando have been further remanded until the 22nd of January. The Colombo Additional Magistrate delivered the order when the two defendants were produced before the court today. Duo was arrested for allegedly committing a criminal offense by failing to prevent the coordinated terror bombings on Easter Sunday this year, even after receiving forewarnings on the attacks. more..

Jan 6 (HT) Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Saturday, spoke about an episode with Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara and recalled a sledging incident which took place in Delhi during a Test match. Irfan said that both the players fired personal salvos at one another and that, they were not too happy with each other. �I remember one of the stories with (Kumar) Sangakkara. more..

Jan 6 (CT) State Minister of Information and Communication Technology Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said that those who misused the law at Temple Trees during the former Govt have forgotten how the Attorney General, Chiefs of the Bribery Commission and FCID were called to Temple Trees and advised on misusing the law. Regarding the complaints against Champika Ranawaka, Rajitha Senaratne and Ranjan Ramanayake, he challenged the Opposition more..

Jan 6 (AD) Former SPC Chairman Rumy Mohamed and the other two individuals arrested and remanded over the White Van media briefing have been released on bail by the Colombo Magistrate�s Court. The three suspects were ordered released on two personal bonds of Rs 500,000 each by the Magistrate, who also barred them from leaving the country. They were ordered to hand over their passports to the court. On Nov 10 last year, then Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne had called more..

Jan 6 (AD) Six persons are reported dead from an accident which occurred on the Passara-Madulsima road in Badulla, stated the Police. A SL Transport Board (SLTB) bus traveling towards Madolsima from Passara had fallen off a precipice near the 6th-mile post on the Passara-Madulsima road at around 5.20 pm this evening. Measures have been taken to immediately hospitalize the persons injured in the accident. more..

Jan 6 (AD) Over 130 foreign nationals have been arrested over illegally staying in the country without valid visa documents, stated the Police Media Division. The arrests have been made during a special island-wide raid carried out from 10 pm last night (05) until 6 am this morning (6) on the directions of the Acting IGP. Accordingly, 136 foreign nationals have been arrested over visa violations in this manner. The majority among the arrestees are Indian nationals (82), stated the police. more..

Jan 6 (AD) A gazette notification has been issued declaring the respective subject areas of four state ministers. The gazette notification has been issued by PM Mahinda Rajapaksa and Minister of Education, Sports and Youth Affairs Dullas Alahapperuma. Following the appointment of Cabinet Ministers, Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa stated that Cabinet Ministers should take steps to delegate the responsibilities of the State Ministries through Gazette Notifications. more..