Aug 22 (AFP) UN chief Ban Ki-moon has urged Sri Lanka's new govt to ensure long term peace as PM Ranil Wickremesinghe was set to form a coalition committed to ethnic reconciliation. "The secretary-general encouraged the prime minister and the national unity govt to seize this opportunity to advance long-term peace for all Sri Lankans," the UN said in a statement. It added Ban had a telephone conversation with Wickremesinghe more..

Aug 22 (CT) Yesterday was the second time for the year that the country's two major parties, the UNP and the SLFP entered in to an agreement to form a National Govt. The first occasion was on 8 January 2015 after Maithripala Sirisena defeated his former boss, then President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the presidential election. Not to be outdone, Rajapaksa, like a rubber ball tried to re-enter politics by contesting the recently concluded general elections from the UPFA ticket, more..

Aug 22 (CT) Legitimacy of the UNP-SLFP consensual coalition to draft a new constitution has been seriously undermined by the composition of the UPFA national list. It seems that President Maithripala Sirisena has set a new constitutional precedent by exercising a right to reverse the people�s verdict by nominating six defeated candidates who were members of the previous parliament. It is an ingenious constitutional precedent of the right to recall defeated MPs more..

Aug 22 (SL) Details of the alleged misuse of Employees� Provident Fund (EPF) monies invested in the questionable Grand Hyatt Regency projects, without guarantees of proper returns are being continuously exposed, with massive wastage and mismanagement being unearthed by a recent audit report. The alleged looting of the hard earned monies of the private sector employees during past 5 years has shocked the nation more..

Aug 22 (Island) Acting on a tip-off received, a team of 20 Excise officers led by the Gampaha Asst. Commissioner of Excise R.M. Ratnayake raided an upholstery shop at Nilpanagoda in Minuwangoda and took into custody a large stock of arrack and beer worth about Rs. 200,000 which had been stocked to be distributed by a politician on the day of polling (17). The stock of 123 bottles of liquor and 100 cans of beer was taken into custody along with the owner of the shop. more..

Aug 22 (CT) Sri Lanka imports chillies to the value Rs 7 billion annually, although with the capacity to produce its requirement, president, Seedmen's Association of Sri Lanka, Aruna Weerakoon said. As one of the countries with the highest consumption of chillies in the world, Sri Lankans use chillies in a wide variety of food on a daily basis. "Although Sri Lanka was self sufficient in chillies in the 70s and 80s, we have now gone to a point of utter dependency on more..

Aug 22 (CI) Angelo Mathews scored his sixth Test century and dominated a wicketless first session but Sri Lanka lost their way thereafter, losing their last seven wickets for 65 runs as India ran to a dominant position at the end of day three. Mathews and Lahiru Thirimanne resisted the steady drip of pressure exerted by India's bowlers, adding 127 for the fourth wicket, but the rest of SL's batting couldn't cope with it. more..

Aug 22 (CT) The recently concluded Parliamentary Election has created a kind of hostile politics of the enemy-friend bi-polarity� in terms of intended political reforms and the proposed reconciliation agenda of the new government. An analysis of the election results would show that a little over 50% of voters are for reforms and a little less than 50% of voters are against reforms. What does this mean in terms of bringing intended political reforms into reality and implementing a reconciliation process successfully? more..

Aug 22 (CI) India are still 253 runs ahead of Sri Lanka after day two in Colombo and the team believes a lead of 100 would be good enough to push the game into series-levelling territory. That very idea will allow its fans the overnight dream of India's bowlers turning into ravenous predators on Saturday morning. A day of tight, disciplined bowling reflected in Sri Lanka's cautious crawl and will give the Indians much satisfaction. But they will wait for the sessions when more..

Aug 22 (Island) Federation of National Organisations (FNO) alleged President Maithripala SIrisena abused his powers to defeat his own party /alliance at the recently concluded general election. Therefore it cannot be considered a free and fair election. FNO President Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera said. He said that President Sirisena announced that he would be neutral in the general election, but he made several obstacles to more..

Aug 22 (CT) Attorney-at-Law, U.K. Arunasiri yesterday filed an application in the District Court of Colombo requesting to vacate the enjoining order issued on former UPFA Secretary Susil Premajayantha. On 14 August after considering the application made by present UPFA Secretary Vishwa Warnapala, District Court issued an enjoining order on former UPFA Secretary Susil Premajayantha. By that enjoining order Court informed Premajayantha to restrain from more..

Aug 22 (CG) The police are investigating a clash which broke out between supporters of two political parties in which at least three people were injured. ASP Ruwan Gunasekera said that the police had received three complaints with regards to the incident. One complaint involved an attack on a shop which caused damages to the glass windows and other property. The police spokesman said that the other two complaints involved threats and an assault on three people. more..

Aug 22 (EN) UPFA risks losing seats in two districts as it transpired that foreigners or dual citizens had been among its candidates in violation of a newly enacted constitutional provision. In the district of Galle, Geetha Kumarasinghe who was elected as a member of the UPFA is a Swiss national according to recent interviews she has given. 19th amendment bars "a citizen of Sri Lanka who is also a citizen of any other country" from holding elected office more..

Aug 22 (DM) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and former president Chandrika Kumaratunga are in the process of finalising the list of members from the two main parties to be assigned portfolios in the national unity govt. It is learnt that the new ministers will take their oaths on Monday. Some members have requested that they be assigned the same portfolios they held during the tenure of the 6-months old govt while some others have requested that the subjects previously assigned to them be changed. more..

Aug 22 (AD) President�s Coordinating Secretary, Attorney at Law Rajika kodithuwakku sworn in as a member of Municipal Council, Sri J'pura Kotte, before President Sirisena today. Kodithuwakku succeeds Ranjith Ponnamperuma who was in the Municipal Council, J'pura, Kotte. Kodithuwakku, who is a lawyer in profession, entered the active politics in 1999. Several members of the Sri J'pura Kotte Municipal Council and Minister Champika Ranawaka too participated in the event. more..

Aug 22 (Island) The Public Service United Nurses Union (PSUNU) said it would hold a conference early next month with representatives from its branches to discuss several issues in the nursing profession. PSUNU Deputy Chairman, Dayananda Boralessa said that following discussions they would be able to have a clear view of issues which needed to be addressed. Several problems had remained unresolved under successive govts, he said. more..

Aug 22 (AM) JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said that its Matara District candidate Sunil Handunnetti was appointed through the national list following strong popular demand. Silva said that Handunnetti cannot be described as a defeated candidate. He was not elected because the JVP could not attract enough votes, Silva elaborated. Furthermore, he pointed out that the JVP missed representation in several districts by a matter of a few hundred votes. more..

Aug 22 (CI) Amit Mishra's return to Test cricket has been marked by two opposite ends of a third afternoon experience. In Galle, he was part of the dazed Indian bowling unit, that found itself blindsided by Dinesh Chandimal after having the match virtually in their pocket. In Colombo, on a slow pitch after Angelo Mathews and Lahiru Thirimane held off the Indian bowling for an entire session, Mishra finished with figures of 4 for 43 in a 7 for 65 batting collapse in the second session and more..

Aug 22 (CB) Growing up in the 90s, one of my favourite wicket-keeper batsmen used to be Romesh Kaluwitharana. Kalu, as he used to be fondly called, belonged to the quirky group of players, who used to chatter away all the time, irritating batsmen to no end. Vividly resonant as this bit of memory is, it also unexpectedly segues into the imagery of Kumar Sangakkara. A player, who's not only a keeper-batsman par excellence, but someone who's also more..

Aug 22 (CC) Expressing disappointment of conceding an 87-run first innings lead to India in the ongoing second Test, batsman Lahiru Thirimanne today said Sri Lanka will now look to restrict the visitors to under 300 runs in their second essay here. India ended Day 3 on 70 for one with an overall lead of 157 runs at the P Sara Oval. Earlier Lanka were bowled out for 306 in response to India�s 393 in the first innings. Thirimanne rued the hosts� collapse after more..

Aug 22 (GDI) Grade Five Scholarship Exam will be held on Sunday the 23rd at 2907 Centres countrywide. Examinations Commissioner General has said that the possession of a question paper or part of it sans his permission is an offence. The number of candidates sitting this year�s Grade Five Scholarship Exam is 340,926. A staff comprising 2400 will be manning the exam centres. Parents have been instructed to bring their children in time to these centres. more..

Aug 22 (DM) The two main parties are hoping to arrive at a consensus with regard to the appointment of the Uva Provincial Council's Chief Minister and the administration of the UPC. Post would fall vacant with its current Chief Minister Harin Fernando being elected to parliament at the general election. Mr. Fernando said he discussed the matter with President Maitripala Sirisena and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. more..

Aug 22 (LT) The MoU signed by the UNP and SLFP to form a national govt is not a programme to develop the country but to carve out portfolios and privileges says JVP MP Vijitha Herath. He said while there were many issues confronted by the people and the country the SLFP and the UNP are attempting to solve the issues of their MPs. The MPs elected from the SLFP forming a national govt with the UNP is an instance of disregarding the mandate given to them at the election and more..

Aug 22 (DN) The threat of wild elephants is increasing in Digampathana and the suburbs of the Matale and Anuradhapura Districts causing severe difficulties to the public. Digampathana forest reserve has become a garbage dumping centre for the Dambulla Municipality. Over 30 metric tons of accumulated garbage in the Dambulla town are being dumped here daily. Wild elephants in the Sigiriya sanctuary arrive at this location to consume garbage threatening villagers. more..

Aug 22 (SL) From the grass root level of Grama niladharis and Palath Sabha members up to the minster and other relevant personnel should be made aware of the importance of flora, fauna and the natural environment and its value says Sri Lanka�s leading herpetologist Dr. Anslem de Silva. Dr. Silva who is also a member of several specialist groups of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) & chairs few of them more..

Aug 23 (SO) A new govt will be formally established and operational by the end of this week. The Cabinet of Ministers will be appointed over the next few days. Once the Cabinet and non-Cabinet portfolios have been sorted out, it is all systems - go! for Ranil Wickremesinghe and his team. In a normal democracy - which is what Sri Lanka used to be at one time - the citizens, having done their duty and cast their vote decisively, can now sit back, sip their tea and turn on the TV to their favourite more..

Aug 23 (SL) Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in for the fourth time as the PM of Sri Lanka in a simple and elegant ceremony that has been characteristic of his personality. The number of times he had taken oaths as PM is indicative of the vicissitudes he had gone through in his 38-year-long political career undeterred by the many misfortunes he has suffered but yet not deviated from his principles. It is a career dedicated for the creation of a prosperous and democratic Sri Lanka which more..

Aug 23 (CT) President Maithripala Sirisena sacked the SLFP General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa before the general election and appointed Duminda Dissanayake as the Acting General Secretary. Yapa says he is still the General Secretary and Dissanayake says he is the Secretary. Excerpts: I am still the SLFP secretary � Anura Priyadarshana Yapa. Q: Are you still the secretary of the SLFP? more..

Aug 23 (NS) Kumar Sangakkara is playing his last Test. He has picked the ongoing Second Test against India as his farewell game. He�s within striking distance of a few batting records but as the man himself has pointed out if it has come down to things like records it is time to quit. He goes out on his terms, he quits on a high. S Rajesh gives the numbers in a piece for Cricinfo titled A colossus who ticked all boxes. �Among batsmen with at least 8000 Test runs, more..

Aug 23 (Island) The election dust will finally settle after the country knows who the members of the new cabinet will be later this week. There are many things that we have to be grateful for � chiefly the assured stability now that the UNP and SLFP have reached agreement on a national govt. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa attending the swearing of PM Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday was a good sign. It suggests that he is willing to let bygones be bygones, more..

Aug 23 (SL) UNFGG recorded victory at the recently concluded general election securing 106 seats in parliament including 13 slots from the national list. However, UNFGG failed to secure a majority in parliament. When questioned as to whether it will affect the performance of the new parliament, MP elect Ravi Karunanayake said that it will not have any impact on their performance as UNP will receive cross-party support in p'ment. more..

Aug 23 (CT) Five defeated former UPFA MPs have been taken in from the backdoor by the UPFA hierarchy. The UPFA is the coalition that the SLFP heads. Those former MPs are Vijith Vijithamuni Zoysa, S. B. Dissanayake, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and Thilanga Sumathipala. Though having had lost their seats by not garnering sufficient preferential votes, they will in any case find their way as MPs from UPFA's National List when Parliament resumes. more..

Aug 23 (ST) It was vox populi � the voice of the people. The people have indeed spoken and, in a broad sense, endorsed the January 8 changing of the guard in the country�s politics. The results declared last Tuesday (parties) and Wednesday (MPs) are a true reflection of what the people of this country wanted; some to guide the destiny of the nation, others for their own goals and personal ambitions. All the same, the Commissioner of Elections, his army of public servants who more..

Aug 23 (SL) With the defeat of the UPFA at the general election, upon an invitation extended, the SLFP took a leap to form a national govt with the UNFGG. SLFP member, newly elected MP Mahinda Amaraweera who was a Minister during the interim coalition govt, said before forming the national govt on Friday, that if forming a national govt results in splits in the SLFP, it is wise for the SLFP to remain in the opposition. more..

Aug 23 (ST) In the wake of intense promotions to attract Chinese travellers to Sri Lanka, Chinese-run companies are giving tours of Sri Lanka to their nationals causing a stir among the local tourism industry. Chinese nationals have established at least six unregistered Destination Management Companies (DMCs) in Sri Lanka most of which are unlicensed and this number has been growing since a year ago, SLAITO President Mahen Kariyawasam said. more..

Aug 23 (Island) Sri Lankan political history can be described in terms of cycles. The first parliamentary election of 1947 saw the beginning of a cycle dominated by the UNP which ended in 1956. The domination of the SLFP which began in 1956 ended in 1965. The UNP had a short run from 1965 to 1970 and in 1970 the SLFP came in for a short run and lost again to the UNP in 1977. This was followed by a long period of UNP domination until 1994. From there onwards we had a long period more..

Aug 23 (SL) The JVP expected a better mandate from the people at last week�s general election to strengthen its role as the opposition in parliament. However, the party only managed to secure six seats including two national list slots. Leader of the JVP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the party has built a strong representation in society beyond the representation that they have in parliament and expect to work towards a more..

Aug 23 (ST) My dear Green Man, I thought I will write to you because I am sure you will find time to read this, despite being a very busy man these days after your victory because, after all, your swearing in took only fifteen minutes! Please accept my hearty congratulations � and I sincerely hope you will be fourth time lucky! I say so because although you have been PM three times before, your periods in office have always been rather short and you haven�t been able to hold on to your job more..

Aug 23 (SL) The potpourri of political events that unfolded last week would undoubtedly make the week that we just passed, one that would go down in the country�s history. Apart from the euphoria that usually follows the conclusion of a general election, the laying of the foundation for the formation of a national govt with the participation of the UNP and the SLFP marked a new era in SL politics. National unity govt that was formed following the Jan 8th Presidential election more..

Aug 23 (CI) Second new ball in hand, Ishant Sharma bends his back to issue Angelo Mathews a threat. Almost before he can look back up, the batsman meets the delivery like it was a greeting card. The bouncer rises to Mathews' chest. With no hint of fuss or flourish, he clatters it in front of square on the legside. Next two balls, also at the body, end up beyond the boundary. Mathews' cricket is often like this. There are no airs to it. more..