Mar 4 (HRW) SL security agencies are stepping up surveillance, harassment, and threats against human rights activists and journalists, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said. Since Nov 2019, when the govt of Prez Rajapaksa came into office, there has been a rapid closing of civic space and freedom of expression. In interviews with 15 SL human rights defenders working in different locations around the country, HRW heard more..

Mar 4 (DN) Union Bank rang the opening bell to commence trading at the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) yesterday to mark its 25th anniversary as part of a series of events organised by the Bank to celebrate this significant milestone. Speaking at the market opening ceremony at the CSE, Director and CEO of Union Bank, Indrajit Wickramasinghe said, this year the Bank will continue to reinforce its Retail, SME businesses while capitalising on its clear competitive advantages to generate more..

Mar 4 (Island) Ministry of Power and Energy has taken steps to generate 10 megawatts of energy by using waste in the Western Province. A private company has started the project in Kerawalapitiya and the CEB has agreed to purchase the power generated. The construction of the power plant is complete. Minister of Power and Energy, Mahinda Amaraweera said that it was a solution to the garbage problem that severely affected urban centres in the Western Province. more..

Mar 4 (FT) SLPP assured that only the best suited candidates would be included on the nominations list for the forthcoming General Election. Former MP Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle said the party would conduct a background check on each candidate to assure that only the most suitable individuals would be included on the nomination list. �It is important to send competent individuals to Parliament to develop the nation and create more..

Mar 4 (HN) Kusal Janith Perera the star SL wicket keeper batsman enters a new chapter in his life. This was when he wedded his long-term girlfriend Kalani. It is also reported that a host of star cricketers and celebrities are attending the wedding ceremony. He is getting married a day before the T 20 match between SL and WI which will be held tomorrow. Kusal Perera's once-in-a-lifetime 153 not-out in 2019, which orchestrated an almost single-handed win over a South Africa became more..

Mar 4 (FT) The Court of Appeal on 19 Feb issued a Writ of Certiorari, quashing a determination made by a Compensation Tribunal established to award compensation for shareholders of Hotel Developers (Lanka) PLC, which was acquired by the State under the Revival of Underperforming Enterprises or Underutilized Assets Act, No. 43 of 2011. Justice Mahinda Samayawardhena, issuing the judgment, also ordered the Respondents, in the form of a Writ of Mandamus, to take necessary steps more..

Mar 4 (DN) Amendments should be brought into the Election laws to prohibit the granting of nominations to Bhikkhus to contest elections, Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanaratana Mahanayake thera of the Asgiriya Chapter said. Mahanayake thera said since the present election laws are archaic this should be done forthwith by bringing in the necessary amendments soon. Thera expressed these sentiments when EC Chairman more..

Mar 4 (DM) Former SL Cricket captian Tillekaratne Dilshan said he would contest the forthcoming general election from the Galle District with a new approach and wish the support of all irrespective of any religious and racial differences. He said this to the media at Bentota to make the people aware of his intention to contest the election. �I am now 43. I honour the leader who endeavoured from 2005 to 2015 to end the war. Under his leadership there was a progress towards economic development more..

Mar 4 (FT) The Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), the country�s most widespread business lobby group, will this week elect its first ever woman President, Jayawardena, a product of Central Province Women�s Chamber of Small Industry and Commerce and Central Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will take over the helm at the FCCISL, the apex body of the SL chamber movement established in 1973, at the 45th AGM on 6 March. more..

Mar 4 (DM) If the rift between the faction led by UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the one led by Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa is not settled by the date of nominations, the Ranil faction is to explore the possibility of contesting the general elections separately under the elephant symbol, UNP official said. However, senior party members have advised both Mr. Wickremesinghe and Mr. Premadasa to settle more..

Mar 4 (DM) Pharmacies located in hospitals are currently facing a crisis because of a shortage of disposable face masks urgently required in Sri Lanka. State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) Managing Director Lalith Jayakody said disposable face masks and raw material for the manufacturing of masks were imported from China but however, imports were stopped after the coronavirus outbreak in China. Even China is facing a shortage in disposable face masks because more..

Mar 4 (DM) A video which shows a drunken local man verbally harassing a foreign couple during the cricket match between Sri Lanka and West Indies held at Pallekele on Sunday has gone viral on social media. Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that he had informed the Ministry Secretary to send the video to the IGP requesting him to carry out an investigation into the incident. The video showed the man who was under the influence of liquor verbally harassing the female foreign national. more..

Mar 4 (FT) Govt yesterday introduced several new measures to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus COVID-19 in SL, with a mandatory 15-day quarantine period for locals and foreigners travelling from South Korea, Italy, and Iran, as well as a ban on cruise ships from disembarking passengers in the country. Nineteen people, including 3 foreigners, are under medical observation, with 11 at the IDH, more..

Mar 4 (DM) Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa has dissolved the Parliament at midnight on Monday, at the first moment he was constitutionally authorised to do so. He has fixed April 25 for the next Parliament election and the week between March 12 and 19 for tendering nominations by political parties and independent groups. In a way that would be the most important week as for the country as political parties and the independent groups are going to nominate their representatives to make laws more..

Mar 4 (DM) The political scene in SL is filled with stories of dynastic politics and we are witnessing the trend continuing, but with a small twist. We saw the baton changing hands from SWRD Bandaranaike to Sirimavo and then to Chandrika and in much recent years Mahinda Rajapaksa creating the path for his brother Gotabaya to take the hot seat as the first citizen of the country. While Gotabaya rewrites the script in Sri Lankan politics as the first apolitical president and comes under the spotlight, more..

Mar 4 (CT) Do we need to sing the Tamil version of SL's National Anthem, Sri Lanka Matha, on official occasions? This question has led to so many controversial statements and other contentious issues in recent times, as the Tamil version was not sung at the main ceremony to mark the 72nd Independence Day. Politicians and other so-called intellectuals who are for the singing of the Tamil version, argue that this recent action of not more..

Mar 4 (SEY) The crew of a Sri Lankan registered fishing vessel intercepted on suspicion of fishing illegally in the Seychelles' waters have been remanded for 14 days by the Seychelles Supreme Court. Seven fishermen who were on board the vessel appeared in court on Monday. The Sri Lankan fishing boat was intercepted by the Seychelles Coast Guard on suspicion of fishing illegally in the Exclusive Economic Zone more..

Mar 4 (TM) Current reigning Mrs. World, Mrs. Caroline Jurie, Mrs. World Organization (USA), National Director of Mrs. World (SL), Mr. Chandimal Jayasinghe and Event Co-Producers, Colombo Lifestyle Company, at a special press event held today at The Kingsbury Hotel, announced Sri Lanka as the host country for the 2021 Mrs. World Pageant. The Mrs. World 2021 international pageant is scheduled to be held in SL more..

Mar 4 (AD) The overseas travel ban imposed on former MP Champika Ranawaka has been lifted temporarily. Accordingly, the Colombo Magistrate�s Court has granted him permission to travel abroad from April 26 to 12 May. When the case pertaining to a road accident at Rajagiriya back in 2016, in which Ranawaka was named as a suspect, was heard today, defence attorney, Prez�s Counsel Anuja Premaratne more..

Mar 4 (CT) Statement by MP Mangala Samaraweera on SL's withdrawal from UNHRC Resolution 30/1 and subsequent resolutions, extending its mandate in the UNHRC. The full statement: On 23 May 2009, the then President of SL and the Secretary-General of the United Nations adopted a Joint Statement, in which SL reiterated its strongest commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, more..

Mar 4 (Island) The Election Commission (EC) was empowered to strip a candidate of his or her seat in Parliament if he or she had campaigned at a place of worship, EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said, in Kandy, yesterday, after meeting the Mahanayake Theras of the Asgiri, Malwathu Chapters and Ramanna Nikaya. Deshapriya also requested the chief prelates to instruct other monks not to allow more..

Mar 4 (Island) The CID yesterday commenced investigations into the JVP�s complaint that Yahapalana govt spent Rs. 2.8 billon to purchase vehicles for Ministers, State Ministers and Deputy Ministers. JVP�s former Kalautara District MP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa was summoned to CID headquarters in Colombo to record a statement on his complaint. Dr Jayatissa said that he had been to the CID headquarters around 10.30 am more..

Mar 4 (ST) Customs trade unions say Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa has assured them the new Director General of SL Customs, Major General (Rtd.) Vijitha Ravipriya, will only remain at the post for a maximum of two years, after which it will go to a Customs officer. At a meeting held with union leaders this week, Prez told them that after the general election, the new govt would introduce an amendment to more..

Mar 4 (Island) National Freedom Front (NFF) spokesman Mohammed Muzammil, yesterday, faulted Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa for having SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem and ACMC leader Rishard Bathiudeen as allies. Former JVP MP Muzammil, now a leading member of the NFF, said if LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and mastermind of Easter Sunday carnage Zahran Hashim more..

Mar 4 (CT) About nine top officers in the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) have been transferred illegally, claimed former Parliamentarian Lakshman Senewiratne. Claiming that these transfers were politically influenced, Senewiratne added that those nine officers were handling cases related to politicians. Senewiratne stated that transfers at the CIABOC should be approved by its Commissioners. more..

Mar 4 (FT) Did you see the video of the vandal threatening a couple of overseas visitors? Here is a link, in case you can spare five minutes for a fit of pique. There are many comments elsewhere on social media, which may take you the better part of the interest invested. If you can�t take the time off, here�s a summary. An evidently inebriated individual stands over a seated couple at a local cricket stadium. Scintillating proceedings out at the pitch appear to be of no interest to the swaying more..

Mar 4 (CT) This is not about raising up issues for public debate but is in fact about the most important issue that might cause a major percentage shift in shaping the overall Sinhala Buddhist oriented nationalistic emotional drive to swing the majoritarian vote towards the SLPP at the coming General Election. It was triggered when the Govt intentionally decided to announce its disavowal from the UNHRC Resolution 30/1 and others, and thus opened the doors wide open to huge public more..

Mar 4 (Island) Australian High Commission in Colombo said that Royal Australian Navy�s frigate HMAS Parramatta would visit Colombo to continue the close maritime security cooperation between Australia and SL. As part of its four-month deployment to South and South-East Asia, the visit to Colombo will provide an opportunity for SL and Australian Navy personnel to foster professional and personal relationships through a range of technical & social engagements. more..

Mar 4 (DM) Referring to Govt�s attempts to make new appointments to China-gifted National Nephrology Hospital in Polonnaruwa, former Prez Maithripala Sirisena said it was a gift to him by China, and hence, he would not let anyone lay eggs there. �It is I who should make the appointments. No one can intervene with that,� he said. �Some are attempting to lay eggs in others� nest. However, I will not allow making such appointments according to the whims and fancies of political bodies. more..

Mar 4 (AD) Applications for postal voting of the General Election 2020 will be accepted from 6th to 16th of March, says the Chairman of the Election Commission, Mahinda Deshapriya. An extraordinary gazette notification was published on the midnight of March 2, dissolving the 8th Parliament and declaring the date for the General Election as 25th of April. Election Commission yesterday published 4 extraordinary gazette more..

Mar 4 (EN) Working committee meetings of the UNP are no longer relevant to the faction loyal to prime ministerial hopeful Sajith Premadasa, ex-MP Sujeewa Senasinghe said. Premadasa loyalist said that he will boycott the working committee (WC) meeting scheduled for later this afternoon. �WC meetings are no longer relevant to us. We gave [the faction of the party loyal to leader Ranil Wickremesinghe one last chance. But Wickremesinghe was repeatedly talking more..

Mar 4 (EN) Former UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella will contest the upcoming parliamentary election from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) alliance led by Sajth Premadasa. Kiriella previously supported the faction of the UNP led by Ranil Wickremesinghe. Kiriella, a senior MP and former Leader of the House, met Premadasa yesterday and expressed his wish to support the SJB during the parliamentary elections. Premadasa loyalist Sujeewa Senasinghe confirmed that Kiriella will contest from SJB. more..

Mar 4 (AD) Former CEO of SriLankan Airlines Kapila Chandrasena and his wife, who were arrested on money laundering charges, have been granted bail by the Colombo Fort Magistrate�s Court. They were each ordered released on a cash bail of Rs million and surety bail of Rs 2 billion. The Attorney General on the 3rd of Feb instructed the Director of the CID to obtain an arrest warrant from court and to arrest more..

Mar 4 (EN) Hambantota Port, operated by China�s CM Ports group is setting up warehouses and distribution centres to strengthen its position as a regional logistics hub, a top official has said. �Our full range of services include container handling, general cargo, Ro-Ro, passenger, bunkering, bulk terminal, gas and project cargo,� Ray Ren, CEO of Hambantota Int'l Port, was quoted as saying. �In addition to maritime services, we are well on the way to becoming a logistics hub more..

Mar 4 (DN) Aitken Spence Maritime & Freight Logistics was adjudged the Integrated Port & Terminal Logistics Operator of the Year 2020 at the Global Ports Forum Awards ceremony held in Dubai on Feb 26. The primary objective of The Global Ports Forum Awards is to recognise the most valuable contributions made by the organisations and professionals in different areas of ports and terminals industry. This award category recognises ports/ terminals specialising in port logistics, more..

Mar 4 (EN) Former Minister Ravi Karunanayake is calling the order to arrest him in connection with the Bonds Scam a political conspiracy in a Facebook post and a Youtube video uploaded Wednesday. In the post, he says he is �curious to know as to whose political agenda it was in having an arrest warrant issued on him less than 12 hours after Parliament was dissolved though this case had been ongoing for almost five years.� more..

Mar 4 (TM) The govt has requested the public to take precautionary measures to avoid health conditions that may occur as a result of sudden temperature increases experienced in the Island. The govt has warned of health conditions such as heat stress, heat crams and heat strokes. It added that children, senior citizens, those engaged in outdoor work activities and heart patients are prone to health conditions during the heat wave. The public is advised to take shelter in cooling places, more..

Mar 4 (AD) The decision on whether or not to issue arrest warrants on MP Ravi Karunanayake and 11 others will be announced by the Fort Magistrate on the 6th of March. The AG, yesterday directed the Acting IGP to obtain arrest warrants against several suspects in CB bond scam case including former Minister Ravi Karunanayake, former CB Governor Arjuna Mahendran and PTL owner Arjun Aloysius. Further, the 12 suspects have been barred from leaving the country. more..

Mar 4 (AD) UNP calls on the govt to provide relief to the people by reducing fuel prices in relation to fuel price drop in the world market. UNP MP Rajitha Senaratne says that the local fuel prices would have gone down by Rs 15 by now had the fuel price formula was still in effect. There is a shortage of medicine in hospitals and many patients at the Apeksha Cancer Hospital in Maharagama have died over this, Senaratne further said. more..