Jul 15 (CT) Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa has issued an Extraordinary Gazette suspending the registration of 5 National Sports Associations/Federations, including the Netball Federation of SL (NFSL), and appointed a competent authority in respect of administrative and other proceedings. Director-General of the Department of Sports Development Amal Edirisuriya was appointed as the competent authority. The five sports bodies suspended are: more..

Jul 15 (FT) Newly appointed Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa has begun stakeholder discussions to assess their challenges and prospects. The initiative will be kicked-off today at the Temple Trees with separate meetings with seven sectors. They are textile and apparel; gem, diamond and jewellery; coconut; ICT; food and beverage; electrical and electronics; and boat building. Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa, other subject specific more..

Jul 15 (CT) Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda said on 13 July that all arrangements have been made to pay compensation to the fishermen who were impacted by the MV X-Press Pearl cargo ship disaster and expressed confidence that the programme to pay them compensation will commence from next week. Minister went on to say that Rs 420 million has been allocated to pay compensation to the fishermen who were affected by this ship disaster. more..

Jul 15 (DN) Central Bank of SL will have swap arrangements with Central Banks and various other institutions including SL�s commercial banking sector to help SL to tide over any disturbances in the short-term. Real economic measures are being followed by the Govt irrespective of export promotion activities, measures such as sensible implementation of import controls and further promotion of remittances whilst helping relevant industries in the tourism sector to revive more..

Jul 15 (TM) Ceylon Electricity Workers� Union (CEWU) has alleged that the Govt is preparing to amend the SL Electricity Act, No. 20 of 2009, to allow foreign companies � most likely to be certain Chinese companies � to generate electricity using renewable energy. When contacted, CEWU General Secretary Ranjan Jayalal claimed that there are plans to amend several sections of the said Act to enable foreign companies more..

Jul 15 (CT) During an inspection conducted yesterday, Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage and his State Minister located over 100,000 metric tons of fertiliser that had been concealed in two storerooms without being released to the farmers. The fertiliser stocks had been concealed at two private storerooms situated in the Kelaniya and Peliyagoda areas. Upon inspection the Ministers had noticed that the hidden stocks could have been released to the farmers at a rate more..

Jul 15 (DM) It is doubtful whether there is any public concern about the coronavirus. However, the risk of the virus spread is gradually increasing, the GMOA said. GMOA General Committee Member Dr. Prasad Kolabage said different genetically modified COVID variants have already been identified in this country. There is a risk of increasing the number of COVID positive cases with the identification of new OVID variants from different parts of the country, Dr. Kolabage said. more..

Jul 15 (Island) Top GMOA spokesperson Dr. Prasad Colambage says the enactment of the General Sir John Kotelawela National Defence Uni Bill will create an institution outside the purview of the UGC as well as the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC). The proposed University wouldn�t be subject to regulatory bodies of engineering, law and public administration, Dr. Colambage asserts. more..

Jul 15 (FT) A few things became obvious since my last column. Firstly, the ruling clan doesn�t know why the notification or announcement in the elevator�even a Chinese-built elevator�says it can carry only so many passengers. Secondly, the phrase the optics are wrong and the colloquialism cringeworthy do not figure in the Rajapaksa vocabulary. PM stood for a photo-op with the man convicted by the SC of murdering his Labour advisor (during his second presidency) and pardoned by his brother, more..

Jul 15 (FT) Tourism was perceived to be one of the fastest growing and imperative economic sectors in the world. It provided livelihoods for millions of people and paved way for millions of others to appreciate different cultures and witness the beauty of the natural world. Tourism embodied the third largest export sector of the global economy and it contributed to over 20% of the GDP of certain countries such as Maldives (38.92%), Macao (28.5%), and Seychelles (25.7%). more..

Jul 15 (MFA) Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena during a meeting with the Australian High Commissioner David Holly on 13 July 2021 discussed avenues for consolidating relations between the two countries in multiple spheres to achieve tangible outcomes. Following up from the successful telephone conversation held with the Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne in June this year, the two sides discussed ways and means to enhance the capacity of more..

Jul 15 (DN) The Mount Lavinia District Court has issued an Enjoining Order preventing a wife from collecting data, documents, text messages or any other information stored on her husband�s computer using any surveillance devices. This Enjoying Order will be effective until July 20. A husband had filed a Plaint before the Mount Lavinia District Court alleging that his wife had unlawfully and wrongfully accessed his personal computer while he was not at home. The husband claimed that his wife more..

Jul 15 (EN) Ministry of wildlife and forest conservation has denied a claim by opposition minister Sajith Premadasa that the govt is planning to take away 12,000 acres of land in the Yala national park for an unknown purpose. Nihal Premasinghe, coordinating secretary to Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation C B Ratnayake, quoting the minister said: �There is no such arrangement or request from anybody. more..

Jul 15 (FT) Globally, today�s adolescents and youth are 1.8 billion strong. Representing a quarter of the population in Sri Lanka alone, they are instrumental in shaping social and economic development, challenging social norms and values, and building the foundation for the future. While notable progress has been made, many young people � especially adolescent girls � are denied the investments and opportunities that they require to realise their full potential. more..

Jul 15 (AD) The case filed against five suspects, including the captain of the X-Press Pearl, regarding the fire which occurred on the said vessel was taken up in the Colombo High Court today. When the case was taken up, the Deputy Solicitor General had stated that court no orders are expected regarding the investigations today. Deputy Solicitor General Madhava Tennakoon who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General said that further investigations are being carried out into the incident. more..

Jul 15 (Island) The UK will continue to take up accountability issues with Sri Lanka in terms of the latest Geneva Resolution, says the British High Commission. A BHC spokesperson said: �We�ll continue to raise human rights concerns with the Govt of SL and independent bodies and encourage full engagement with the resolution. We regularly meet with politicians from all political parties and discuss importance of minority engagement, more..

Jul 15 (TM) UNP condemned the Govt�s decision to sign a statement which raised concerns on the UK Human Rights record, according to a statement released today. It was mentioned that such actions by the Govt will only serve to jeopardise national vaccination efforts. �The U.K. has pledged their excess Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines to countries around the world who are facing shortages. SL is desperately in need of these vaccines as 600,000 citizens are awaiting their second dose of more..

Jul 15 (AD) Five individuals including the father of a 13-year-old girl have been arrested over a case of sexually abusing the said teenager. SDIG Ajith Rohana said that the arrests have been made over a case of sexually abusing an under-aged girl by 10 persons. Five suspects, including a woman who aided and abetted the crime and the father of the teen, had been arrested in Nawalapitiya yesterday. They had been produced before the Nawalapitiya Magistrate�s Court before being placed more..

Jul 15 (FT) SL�s maritime trade hub ambitions and future economic success depend on sound economic strategies and a robust foreign policy as well as on her ability to work in partnership with regional and global actors to ensure the safe navigation and security of the maritime domain around the Island. Many of the undersea communications cables, critical to the digital connectivity and global trade routes which more..

Jul 15 (SLN) The newly established Hemodialysis Unit at the Navy General Hospital, Welisara was declared open under the auspices of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne and with the attendance of the President Navy Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs. Chandima Ulugetenne today. This new facility for dialysis treatment was put up utilizing funds made available by the Directorate of Naval Welfare and essential accessories provided by the Navy Sava Vanitha Unit, through its funds. more..

Jul 15 (DM) The Inter University Students Federation and Ceylon Teacher's Union (CTU) today filed 15 Habeas Corpus petitions in Court of Appeal seeking an interim order directing authorities to produce 15 protestors before Court. The petitioners, the members of IUSF and CTU have filed these petitions naming IGP Chandana Wickremaratne, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Thennakoon, Officer-In-Charge of Slave Island Police Station, more..

Jul 15 (FT) Prez Rajapaksa has appointed seven Additional Solicitor Generals of the Attorney General's Dept as President's Counsels (PCs). Pursuant to Article 33 (e) of the Constitution, the President is empowered to appoint Attorneys-at-Law who have reached eminence in the profession and have maintained high standards of conduct and professional rectitude, as PC. Accordingly, Additional Solicitor Generals Milinda Gunetilleke, Harippriya Jayasundara, Vikum de Abrew, more..

Jul 15 (DM) The Attorney General today informed Supreme Court that the Minister of Defence had declined to allow a request made by MP Rishad Bathiudeen to be restricted to his place of residence from CID custody. Deputy Solicitor General Madhawa Tennakoon appearing for the Attorney General made these remarks when the two Fundamental Rights petitions filed on behalf of former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and his brother Riyaj Bathiudeen challenging their arrest more..

Jul 15 (AI) As much of the island was celebrating the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, senior lawyer and minority and civic rights activist Hejaaz Hizbullah got an unusual call from the Ministry of Health. They said they were worried he may have contracted COVID-19 and advised him to remain at home. Hejaaz had been in touch with the authorities about the pandemic. A day earlier he and others had written to the SL president about his govt�s more..

Jul 15 (NR) The captain of a ship and his assistant who were arrested over sexual exploitation of the 15-year-old girl in Mt. Lavinia have been identified. The duo was produced at an identification parade held today. The 15-year-old identified the two suspects during the identification parade. Colombo Additional Magistrate Lochani Abeywickrema ordered the two suspects to be released on two surety bail of Rs.2.5 million each and a cash bail of Rs.25,000 each. more..

Jul 15 (Island) Turkish Ambassador in Colombo Demet Sekercioglu says the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FET�) is likely seek return to SL. Turkish envoy in a statement issued to mark the fifth year commemoration of the FETO spearheaded coup attempt on July 15, 2016 said that their efforts to neutralise the threat had been largely successful. Ambassador has said: �In the wake of these developments, we are pleased to note that our collective efforts with international partners more..

Jul 15 (NIA) Prez Rajapaksa on Thursday launched the website www.cu.ac.lk to introduce the City University Programme to coincide with the World Youth Skills Day � 2021. The first City University is planned to be established in the next few weeks, in Pinnawala area in Kegalle District. City Universities will be established covering all districts with the aim of producing talented graduates equipped with cutting edge technology, more..

Jul 15 (Island) Catholic Church has thanked Prez Rajapaksa for stopping further expansion of the Norochcholai coal-fired power plant complex. The following is the text of a statement issued by Rt. Rev. Dr. Valance Mendis, Bishop of Chilaw: The diocese of Chilaw including the Clergy, Religious and Laity are very much pleased to receive the news that His Excellency the Prez has decided not to allow the expansion of Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai. It is indeed a very timely and more..

Jul 15 (PTI) Top defence officials from India, SL and the Maldives participated in a virtual trilateral table top exercise where they discussed best practices and procedures for countering common transnational maritime crime like curbing narcotics and assistance in maritime search and rescue. Two-day exercise, TTX-2021, from July 14 to July 15 aimed at enhancing mutual understanding and exchange of best practices procedures for countering common transnational crime more..

Jul 15 (AFP) SL's cricket board is planning disciplinary action against batting coach Grant Flower following allegations that he breached a bio-secure bubble during an England tour, cricket sources said. SL's preparations for a home series against India were disrupted when Flower, 50, tested positive for Covid-19 on his return to the national team on July 6. Three SL players, including vice-captain Kusal Mendis, more..

Jul 15 (TM) Members of the diplomatic community in Sri Lanka called on new Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday, the Finance Ministry said. Ambassadors of the US, Germany, China, Russia, and the European Union as well as the High Commissioners from the UK and India visited the Finance Ministry for talks. Incidentally, this was the new Finance Minister�s first meeting with the diplomatic community. During talks with the Ambassadors and High Commissioners, more..

Jul 15 (NR) Election monitoring body the People�s Action For Free and Fair Elections has informed the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Law Reforms, that SL should have a mixed electoral system that includes the First-Past-the-Post system and Proportional Representation. PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi proposed to increase the number of electoral districts from 22 to 40, taking into account geographical factors, population and other diversities. more..

Jul 15 (AP) Prez Rajapaksa has ordered an investigation of allegations that some members of state intelligence agencies knew and met with people who carried out Easter Sunday bombings in 2019 that killed more than 260 people, a govt official said. The Catholic Church in SL wrote to the president on Tuesday raising concerns about the govt�s handling of the suicide bombings and asking it to investigate alleged links between more..

Jul 15 (DM) Following reports that former MP Ranjan Ramanayake's belongings will have to be evicted from the MP's official quarters in Madiwela next week, event organizer Chandimal Jayasinghe said that he will hand over one of his three houses to Ramanayake. Chandimal Jayasinghe in a video on his Facebook page said that all arrangements will be made for Ranjan to live in one of his houses on the day of his release. It was reported that imprisoned Ramanayake's belongings will have more..

Jul 15 (EN) A minor oil spill at the Hambantota International Port in Sri Lanka has been brought under control and the country�s Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) has lodged a complaint with the police, an official said. MEPA Chairperson Dharshani Lahandapura said facts pertaining to the spill have been presented to the Hambantota magistrate. The spill occurred last Sunday (11) when a bunkering barge was refueling the Vishva Ekta, an Indian commercial vessel. more..

Jul 16 (GV) SL has seen various large scale environmental disasters over its history from British colonial rulers scraping out the the central hills for tea to the fast paced Mahavali River diversion project and various unsustainable development projects that have done irreversible harm to our environment. Land Reform Commission that blocked out large tracts of forests lands and the introduction of agrochemicals by British companies in 70s have also done great damage in terms of more..

Jul 16 (CT) Media and advertising tycoons Varuni Amunugama and Dilith Jayaweera have turned their guns on cartoonist and musician Shanika Somatilake, a vociferous critic of Rajapaksa regime on the social media platform Twitter. Both Jayaweera and Amunugama are members of President Rajapaksa�s innermost circle and played a monumental role in building the politician�s brand as a clinical administrator with their branding prowess that has made the Triad Ad agency more..