May 26 (CT) Did the bubble burst for SL? The question could be answered today when SL meet England in the 2nd ODI. Will England continue their winning or was it a flash in the pan? Will the Lankans after their good win in the T20 game be able to strike back? These are obvious questions after a rather ordinary show by the Sri Lankans in the opening ODI game. To start with the Lankans were the favourites going in to the series with England looking to establish a combination. more..

May 26 (CT) Many are wondering what happened to S Chandrakanthan alias Pillaiyan. Some say that he has been cornered and is now frustrated with politics in the country. He said he is serving people as an ordinary Provincial Councillor and is not cornered by the govt although others may think so. Q: It is the view of some that you are frustrated with politics, but why exactly are you silent these days? more..

May 25 (CT) Brigadier Deshapriya Gunawardane, the officer who led Operation Weliweriya, has a new job � Military Attach� of the Lankan Embassy in Turkey. Brigadier Gunawardane and three Lieutenant-Colonels implicated in the Weliweriya killings were suspended, with fanfare, in late August 2013 and reinstated, with stealthy silence, eight months later. Now, according to the illegally-censored website Sri Lanka Mirror, Brigadier Gunawardane will join a select band of more..

May 26 (SL) What is the basis of forgiveness? Why do we need to forgive? Everyone needs to ask these fundamental questions to have peace of mind. If we don�t forgive it means that we will continue to hold on to the perceived sense of grievances and believe that the world has treated us unfairly. When we take on such a position, we then inevitably proceed to hold someone else responsible for how we feel. Thus, we become helpless victims at the mercy of others and reinforce the belief that more..

May 25 (CT) The newly-elected BJP will introduce a 'baggage-free' foreign policy that will allow India to foster relations with each SAARC member country and in that discourse, Sri Lanka � India's strategic neighbour � will enjoy a special place, Spokesperson for the BJP, Nirmala Sitharaman, said. She said, PM-elect, Narendra Modi's decision to invite leaders from all SAARC countries indicated his open-minded approach which is not more..

May 26 (CT) �It is sometimes forgotten that public sector values of debt and reserves, are far more than in the private sector. For example the EPF is one of the largest of investors; so we must always ensure the independence of financial reporting�. In the past certain people involved in scams had got away due to a lack of background information in financial reports. Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, made these comments when he delivered the keynote address at more..

May 26 (Island) Excerpts from a Convocation Address delivered at the University of Ruhuna in May 2014. The university research is an important subject that intertwines with higher education, not only in the Sri Lankan universities but in all universities in other parts of the world, both in developing and developed countries. University research is of particular significance at the present stage of economic development of Sri Lanka having reached the level of a middle income country more..

May 26 (CI) Eventually we all get old, and time erodes the faculties that quickened us in youth. For athletes, the slide is more acute. By 35, age has begun to diminish most batsmen; the reflexes slacken, the power fades, the feet grow heavy. For so long, TIllakaratne Dilshan had defied this inevitability of life. He was the man who refused to grow up - an impetuous whirr of wrists and blade, coiled menacingly at the crease, slashing more..

May 26 (Island) The Island editorial under the title Treating students like criminals (21 May 2014), in my opinion, hit the nail on the head regarding the long unsettled problem of the controversial curtailment of the Allied Health Sciences course at the Peradeniya University by one year. In a situation where the authorities concerned are trying to pass the buck to someone else and where some otherwise highly regarded professionals are said to be opposing a restoration of more..

May 26 (CI) It could have been Lasith Malinga to Joe Root, but that was a delivery to a new batsman not yet set. Chris Jordan's delivery to remove Dilshan was a beauty to a player eyeing a hundred. It nipped back off a length, scooting between Dilshan's inside edge and pad to hit middle stump. So Dilshan's wait for a one-day hundred in England continued. Thirimanne was lbw for a duck in the opening one-dayer and was again being troubled by the new ball at Chester-le-Street. more..

May 26 (CT) Around 300 migrant domestic workers have become pregnant in the years 2012 and 2013. A large majority of pregnancies were resultant of consensual pre-marital sex. Spokesman of the SL Bureau of Foreign Employment Mangala Randeniya said that while some of the women have been brought back to the island along with their children, some still remain in foreign countries. more..

May 26 (CI) Eoin Morgan was at a loss to explain England's humbling defeat at Chester-le-Street, terming it "one of the worst performances I've been a part of in an England shirt". Morgan was leading the side in the absence of Alastair Cook, who was ruled out on the morning of the game with a groin strain, and presided over England's heaviest ODI defeat on home soil and their sixth-lowest all-out total anywhere. England had won four ODIs on the bounce before this match but more..

May 26 (Island) The govt is in the habit of letting the grass grow under its feet in handling labour issues which could otherwise be nipped in the bud. It seems to think that making timely interventions to resolve them without resorting to suppressive measures is a sign of weakness and therefore infra dig. Former President of the FUTA Dr. Nirmal Dewasiri has been asking for two more lecturers for the Department of History affected by a severe dearth of teachers, for a long time. more..

May 26 (FT) In an email interview, the former Judge turned politician stressed: �Sinhalese leaders make a lot of fanfare attempting to speak in Tamil but do not recruit adequate translators in Courts. There are cases which have languished for more than 20 years purely because there are no translators. Tamils are not allowed to sing the National Anthem in the language they understand. We try to take shortcuts and attempt to more..

May 26 (TOI) TN chief minister J Jayalalithaa will not attend the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi, according to TV reports. Jayalalithaa may not even send any representative for the ceremony, the reports quoting sources say. The Tamill Nadu chief minister had earlier expressed dismay over PM-designate Narendra Modi's invite to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his May 26 swearing-in. While the sentiments of Tamils living in India and elsewhere towards more..

May 26 (CT) Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen will attend the Tunisia Investment Forum (TIF) 2014 along with a Sri Lankan business delegation on 12 and 13 June at El Mouradi Gammarth Hotel, Tunis. The forum takes place just six months after Tunisia�s adoption of a new constitution. Under the theme, �New Tunisia: New Democracy, New Opportunities,� TIF 2014 will showcase the impact of democratic progress on the country�s economic and social environment. more..

May 26 (CT) Officers attached to the Police Crime Division have been able to solve the murder of UPFA Peliyagoda UC member, Shaymil Sandaruwan. The crime was not committed by an underworld criminal who was in exile, as suspected earlier. Neither those involved in drugs, nor iron vendor Yakada Ranga were behind the killing. It was not due to politics either. The reason for the killing as it turns out was a personal enmity. more..

May 26 (CT) The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) is scheduled to host an �Invest Sri Lanka- Investor Forum� in London on 30 May 2014 at the Savoy Hotel, London. The event is organized in association with the London Stock Exchange and Bloomberg. The forum, has received an unprecedented response from institutional investors with over 120 registrants. The programme will focus on the growth potential and opportunities more..

May 26 (Island) Mount Lavinia police had found a body of a 25-year-old youth floating in the Bolgoda Lake on Saturday, police said yesterday. The victim was identified as Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Supun Namal Bandara of Mahiyangana. A tri-shaw driver, he had been residing at a temple at Thelawala in Ratmalana. He had gone missing on May 19. The monks living in the temple had complained to the police about his disappearance. A younger brother of the victim more..

May 26 (FT) The IMF first mission for 2014 is in town as part of continuous engagement with the Govt and other stakeholders. The two-man team which is assisted by the Sri Lankan staff arrived last week on a 13-day visit with the objective of assessing the local economic activity and progress achieved so far. Under the mission �IMF Article 4 Post Progress Monitoring,� team comprises IMF Mission Head Todd Schneider, more..

May 26 (DN) National E-waste Management Week declared by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) commences today under the theme 'E-waste free Sri Lanka'. The inauguration ceremony will be held at the BMICH today with the participation of Minister Susil Premajayantha as the Chief Guest. CEA Director General Dr. Saranga Alahapperuma said the aim of this is to draw the attention of the people on the importance of safe disposal of e-waste and to facilitate their collection. more..

May 26 (DN) Sri Lanka will host the 24th South Asia Teaching Session on international humanitarian law organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with the support of the External Affairs Ministry from today to May 31. Approximately 50 nominated individuals from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan will participate in the event. Participants range from govt ministry officials, members of the Armed Forces, more..

May 26 (Scoop) Entrepreneurs and CEOs of companies, from Coca-Cola to Trelise Cooper, Air New Zealand to The Warehouse will be taking part in a unique charity auction for ChildFund New Zealand. Twelve New Zealand business leaders will put their time and business nous up for auction, giving Kiwis the rare opportunity to learn from and network with the often-inaccessible leader of their choice over a one-on-one business lunch. more..

May 26 (DN) Air conditioners installed in offices are mosquito breeding nurseries. These air conditioners should be cleaned regularly, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said. Minister Sirisena said if premises of 99 houses are cleaned, and one is neglected, this could lead to the breeding of dengue mosquito and the spread of dengue fever. �All should be vigilant and clean mosquito breeding sites in their properties. It is a collective effort,� he said addressing a dengue awareness program more..

May 26 (SM) The DP does not agree with the view that an apolitical common candidate should be fielded at the next presidential elections, said its leader Sarath Fonseka. JVP is of the stance that a common candidate without any political affiliations should challenge president Rajapaksa. Commenting on JVP�s view, Fonseka said that what the country wanted was a person who is populist, democratic and knows the people�s problems to lead the country, rather than a change of system. more..

May 26 (TS) The Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division is hunting down more suspected members of the LTTE believed to be hiding in the country. The operation comes in the wake of the arrests of three Sri Lankan men on May 15. The men, believed to be members of the terrorist group also known as Tamil Tigers, were held after raids conducted here and in Klang. IGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said they were believed more..

May 26 (CT) JHU charged the alleged involvement of the that Chief Incumbent of the Pannipitiya Sri Devram Maha Vehera, Ven. Kolonnawe Sri Sumangala Thera's in baby elephant trafficking as a disgrace to the entire monkhood. Sumangala Thera is involved in a case where he has been unable to produce valid annual licences issued by Director General of Wildlife Conservation for two baby elephants held in captivity at No. 6, Kandalama Walawwa, Giriulla Road, Mirigama. more..

May 26 (SM) In a media release, Deputy Minister Faizer Mustapha says that Senior DIG Anura Senanayake has assured that the Molwatta mosque would not be removed. It adds citing Senanayake as to saying that new renovations would ensure all facilities Muslim pilgrims would require to observe their religion. The agreement was reached after Senanayake, who heads the religious police unit, met with Deputy Minister Faizer Mustapha and residents of the Colombo Grandpass area more..

May 26 (Island) Having presented a set of proposals reforms to President Rajapaksa at Temple Trees on Saturday, NFF leader, Wimal Weerawansa said that it would quit the ruling coalition if the govt involved foreign powers to facilitate talks with the five-party TNA. The NFF leader was responding to a query raised by The Island at a media briefing. The NFF adopted a 12-point plan at its Second Convention more..

May 26 (Island) An incident where Secretary of the Jathika Bala Sena, Watareka Vijitha Thera sped into the jungle, climed up a tree and spent the night there, fearing that he was being fired upon, is reported from Mahiyangana. This had happened when the thera, who is also a member of the Mahiyangana Pradeshiya Sabha, accompanied by two police constables assigned to protect him in view of alleged threats to his life, visited his temple, Mahaweli Vihara at Aluyatawela. more..

May 26 (Hindu) Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa ordering the release of five Tamil Nadu fishermen facing a narcotics case, ahead of his visit to India to take part in the swearing-in of Narendra Modi, has evoked mixed response in the State. While most political parties have opposed Mr. Rajapaksa�s visit to India, fishermen�s associations have welcomed his �goodwill gesture� with caution, saying India should use the occasion to ensure the security of Tamil Nadu fishermen, more..

May 26 (DM) The govt hit out at the Northern Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran, saying it was a pity that he rejected the invitation to join the delegation led by President Rajapaksa to participate at the swearing in ceremony of India's PM designate Narendra Modi in New Delhi today. "It is a grave error to attribute with the worst of motives for spontaneous gesture made with sincerity and good faith," Minister G.L. Peris said. more..

May 26 (DM) As the largest selling independent English language daily newspaper in Sri Lanka spreads its wings today with a high-tech modern design, we hope the Sri Lankan Govt also would be able to strategically design a new relationship with our giant neighbour India. President Rajapaksa will be among eight South Asian leaders visiting New Delhi today for the unprecedented ceremonial inauguration of BJP Leader Narendra Modi more..

May 26 (DM) Public debts, that are debts incurred by govts to meet public expenditure, have been increasing over the years. Some countries like Greece, Italy and Japan have very high levels of public debts as a proportion of their GDP. In other words, many countries have been borrowing money, from both domestic and international sources as govt revenues have not been adequate to meet the increasing public expenditure. Meanwhile, household debts that are more..

May 26 (SL) The mysterious death of cop killer suspect, Tharuka Nilan (32), who died last Sunday (18) while in the custody of the CID, is the latest addition to a long list of deaths in police custody. The police announced on the same day that the notorious suspect wanted by police for many criminal activities was killed in a confrontation with police officials, while he was being escorted to uncover a hidden weapons cache. more..

May 26 (LT) The govt that increases the prices of milk powder instantly when the prices in the world market go up carries out various maneuvers not to give the advantage to the people when the prices go down in the world market states �Women for Rights�. The Co-President of Women for Rights� Ms. Samanmali Gunasinghe said, �We could hear a dialogue being carried out in the country, specially by parents, regarding milk powder. more..

May 26 (CT) 75 Inspectors of Police have filed a Fundamental Rights Application against the promotion of 229 Police Inspectors to rank of Chief Inspectors. In their petition, filed through Attorney-at-Law Gowry Thavarasa, the petitioners claimed that grave irreparable loss, damage and prejudice had been caused to them by the promotions of 229 officers and urged the Court to issue an interim order restraining the respondents from more..

May 26 (DM) The UNP MPs who were attacked during their fact finding mission in Hambantota have decided to meet Attorney General Palitha Fernando and discuss legal steps that could be taken against those who were accused of attacking them, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told journalists. �The decision was made by the MPs after they were informed by IGP N.K. Illangakoon that he had sought Attorney General�s advice more..

May 26 (Island) NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa said that Opposition political parties wouldn�t have talked about a common presidential candidate if they had felt confident of challenging President Rajapaksa at the next presidential election. He emphasized that ongoing efforts to field a person who hadn�t been engaged in active politics as common presidential candidate meant no one in the Opposition wanted to join the fray. more..

May 26 (ST) The trouble-riddled unit 1 of the Lakvijaya coal-power station will be shut down in July for the Chinese contractor to replace its mammoth condenser which has malfunctioned multiple times since the plant was commissioned. China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) has also agreed to correct any other defects at its own cost, said Bandula S Tilakasena, the CEB Additional General Manager. more..