Jan 25 (SO) In search of fresh breeding grounds, the ubiquitous mosquito has now found new places to lay their larvae - on rooftops, drains and gutters apart from their traditional breeding sites � mainly empty plastic containers and coconut shells, Chief Medical Officer, Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Dr. Ruwan Wijemuni said. He said the disturbing new trend was discovered during recent cleaning up campaigns by the CMC and Health Ministry. �It proves that the mosquitoes still multiply more..

Jan 25 (ST) The tribunal set up to probe corruption will be an improved version of the Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) of 1972, Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said. �We will have to work out special laws to deal with corruption in mega projects and do it fast and effectively,� he said. In 1971, then PM Sirimavo Bandaranaike appointed CJCs, one to probe the 1971 insurrection and the other to probe foreign exchange rackets. more..

Jan 25 (SO) Justice and Labour Relations Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC said that there is no witchhunt against anybody and the Govt will not act with vengeance. �We are a democratic Govt. Our pledge to the people was that we wouldn�t follow the policy of the previous regime. We will do everything according to the law. Democracy will be upheld and we will not deviate from the legal structure, Minister said. Asked whether there is a witchhunt against former President Rajapaksa & his associates, more..

Jan 25 (SL) The Planters� Association of Ceylon has rejected concerns raised over the wage paid to employees in the estate sector. The wage earned by estate employees as stated in the article is incorrect and it contradicts the wage formula contained in the Collective Agreement entered into between the trade unions, the Employers Federation of Ceylon and the Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) point out. The Planters� Association says daily plucking norms have been established on most plantations more..

Jan 25 (CT) All eyes were on Parliament last Tuesday when it met for the first time in 2015, due to a number of reasons. It was the first time Parliament met after the presidential election, which saw the defeat of a President who had a two-thirds majority in Parliament and the victory of a candidate put forward by a common opposition. Amidst talks of a possible change to key positions in Parliament, including the post of the Speaker, more..

Jan 25 (ST) A foreign transport plane that made an unscheduled landing at Mattala Airport early Wednesday, with unidentified cargo, was allowed to leave the country the same evening, without being checked, airport officials said. They said the Antonov cargo carrier had arrived from the US en-route to Australia with an unidentified load of heavy machinery and a 19-member all Russian crew. The pilot of the aircraft had refused permission for local officials to conduct an inspection more..

Jan 25 (CG) North Western Province Chief Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera and Uva Province Chief Minister Harin Fernando have said they will contest the next Parliament elections. Both Jayasekera and Fernando had secured the highest votes in their respective provinces during the PC elections. Dayasiri Jayasekera had resigned from Parliament and the UNP when he decided do contest for Chief Minister as a candidate of the SLFP. Fernando had also resigned from his Parliament seat to more..

Jan 25 (Island) In a dramatic development, Golden Key (GK) vowed to "fight the legal battle to the end" without caving in to pressure to withdraw the ongoing Supreme Court case to clear the way for former Chairman Lalith Kotelawala to introduce a repayment plan to reimburse struggling depositors, a senior official said. The GK board of directors has come under tremendous pressure to allow Kotelawala into the picture to make a more..

Jan 25 (EN) A visiting Maldivian govt delegation has said it wants to promote a bilateral joint venture in Sri Lanka to farm sea cucumber, demand for which is growing in international markets. Maldivian Minister of Finance and Treasury Abdullah Jihad said his govt is keen to diversify its fishery as well as mariculture, the farming of aquatic plants and animals in salt water. "We believe that Sri Lanka could be a viable and a great partner with us in this project," he was quoted as saying more..

Jan 25 (CG) TULF says it is very regrettable to note that there is a deadlock in the election of the Chief Minister of the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) following a rift between the TNA and the SLMC. TULF Secretary General V. Anandasangaree says the delay had caused immense hardship to the people of the area and to the employees of the council. �Annual budget of the council has not yet been passed. Situation has now taken a communal turn and has consolidated to a position, more..

Jan 25 (DM) A Committee to gather information on allegations of corruption, misuse of funds and murders by members of the previous govt would be set up by the JVP, a party source said. The JVP has been expressing disappointment over the delays in taking action on those in the previous regime that were alleged to have involved in corruption, misuse of funds and even murder. The party said that it would help provide redress more..

Jan 25 (NS) Satyagraha campaign by the Students� Union of the Open University of SL (OUSL) has been continued more than one full month and their demands have not yet been considered by the university administration, educational authorities or the politicians. �The authorities have proposed solutions for two of our demands but we will continue the Satyagraha until the demand to reduce university fees is met and solved,� OUSL Students� Union convener Amila Sandaruwan said. more..

Jan 25 (Island) It has been a constant endeavour of the High Commission of India in Colombo, to make its services transparent and more accessible to Indian nationals in Sri Lanka. As part of this effort, an Open House is being held by the High Commission of India in Colombo on Jan 30, in the Visa Hall from 14:30-15:30 hours. During the Open House, any member of the Indian Community can interact, on issues under the consular jurisdiction of the High Commission in Colombo, more..

Jan 25 (AD) Former Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga says that the 53 vehicles belonging to the Presidential Secretariat which were recently found at a vehicle yard, were removed from service after following proper procedures. Police on Friday discovered 53 vehicles, said to include bullet-proof limousines, belonging to the Presidential Secretariat parked in a property of Sri J'pura Multi Purpose Co-operative in Pita Kotte. more..

Jan 25 (CT) Political circles are abuzz about the many 'behind-the-curtain' political games were played out over the days from the Presidential Election Day. They speak about conspiracies to retain power while the then administrators dismiss these allegations. However, the truth of many stories about political game-play is yet to be established. The latest political game unfolding states, it was hatched by none other than the former Cabinet Minister Basil Rajapaksa. more..

Jan 25 (AD) OIC of the Welikada Police Station, Chief Inspector Kamal Amarasinghe, has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Nuwara Eliya Magistrate�s Court in connection with a case filed by the Department of Wildlife. He had been charged with entering the Horton Plains National Park without a permit and obstructing the duties of park officials on July 7, 2009. However, the case was heard without the presence of the Welikada OIC as he had failed to appear before the court more..

Jan 25 (CG) President Maithripala Sirisena today extended an open invitation to all political parties to support his 100 day plan for the country. Speaking at an event in Pollonaruwa today, he said that he has no intention of taking revenge on anyone who voted against him at the election. He said that the last Presidential election saw the most violations taking place where State resources were used by former President Rajapaksa during more..

Jan 25 (DM) A 4-year-old girl child had fallen to her death from an apartment of the Havelock City Apartments at Wellawatta last night. Child succumbed to her injuries on being admitted to hospital. Child was resident of Mabola and she had come to the Wellawatta complex, where the sister of the child's mother was residing on the 11th floor apartment two days before the incident. However, Police said the girl�s body was found from the 2nd floor of the building Saturday night. more..

Jan 25 (AM) Minister Rajitha Senaratne said there was no agreement between President Maithripala Sirisena and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to protect the latter and his family members from prosecution. It was widely reported in media that the present President had promised Rajapaksa, when they met teach other at the Speaker's residence to negotiate transition of the SLFP leadership, that the former President or his family members would not be prosecuted. more..

Jan 25 (DM) Six transfers of senior Police officials were ordered with immediate effect today, through a directive issued by Secretary to the Ministry of Public Order, the Police said. Accordingly, Western province senior DIG Anura Senanayake has been transferred to the Police Headquarters as Senior DIG � Assistant Service. Northern Province Senior DIG Pujith Jayasundare has been transferred as the Senior DIG of the Western Province more..

Jan 26 (CT) There are at least two fundamental challenges facing the new Sri Lankan government and both are of long standing. One is the North-South question, which is my shorthand for what is variously called the Tamil National Question or the ethnic problem. The other is the South-South Question. While this latter naturally embraces the party political competition, which is now intra-party as well as an inter-party issue, that is not the hub of the problem. more..

Jan 26 (CT) Some reports may be exaggerated; others not. From �imported� dogs, birds and horses, sharks and elephant-calves allegedly found in the official residences of Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa to the discovery of several private-armouries, many recent revelations indicate the unimaginable extent to which the Rajapaksas treated the state as their private preserve. What they wanted they got; what they willed they did. A singularity created by a combination of more..

Jan 26 (CT) Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayaka said, as promised by the govt in its 100-day programme, they will be taking out the files of all the thieves. "We will not let them escape just because they switched sides." Q: You seem to be behind the new President at all times? A: I don't regret it as he is not a drug dealer or an ethanol trafficker. He has not stolen tsunami aids or Samurdhi poverty alleviation funds. more..

Jan 26 (NS) In the corridors of power in Sri Lanka, it is honeymoon time. In the first flush of victory, President Sirisena is the man everyone wants to please. Mahinda Rajapaksa, seemingly invincible a few months ago, appears to be history as opponents and supporters rally around the new President. It is, of course, too early to pass judgment on President Sirisena�s political acumen but in just over two weeks, he has appointed a PM from the UNP and gained control of his own SLFP. more..

Jan 26 (ST) The fact that the now deposed Mahinda Rajapaksa Presidency set the standard so deplorably low for good governance and democracy should not deter the Sri Lankan public from demanding that the incumbent Govt fulfill election pledges to the highest extent demonstrable. We should not lapse into a mindset of settling for less purely due to the undeniably nightmarish possibility of a Rajapksa-return, with its minders now eagerly waiting and watching in the wings. more..

Jan 26 (SO) General Sarath Fonseka former Army Commander who directed the Army to wipe out LTTE terrorism from the country had to fight another battle on the political platform when he decided to step down from his military position and contest the 2010 Presidential election as the common opposition candidate against President Rajapaksa. His defeat at the 2010 presidential election gave Rajapaksa regime more..

Jan 26 (ST) If oil is refined, alcohol is distilled and grain winnowed to separate the wheat from the chaff, then what folly will it be to add the crude discarded back to the resultant product, cleansed of its impurities. As the new Govt embarks upon cleaning up the system and paving the way to restore the old cherished values and morals this nation was robbed of along with its wealth by the corrupt and degenerate regime that was, the new President Maithripala Sirisena more..

Jan 26 (NS) For as long as one can remember Sri Lanka has been a nation of shifting political alliances. Hardly surprising, because that has widely been considered a national characteristic that has become more pronounced in the wake of the socio-economic and political upheavals that have been an integral part of its problems as a result of a secessionist war that had raged for decades. The people have spoken. A new administration is in place. By the looks of things on the surface more..

Jan 26 (CT) The TNA and the SLMC, the political parties that played a significant role in the Northern and Eastern Provinces in defeating former President Rajapaksa at the presidential election, have turned against each other over the Chief Minister post at the Eastern Provincial Council. A couple of days ago, the TNA and the SLMC leaders had separate meetings with President Maithripala Sirisena and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, over the Eastern Province Chief Minister post, more..

Jan 26 (SL) The unity between the several political parties that constitute the NDF govt has been holding better than expected. There has been a concern that the opposition alliance will be too unlike-minded for governance to take place effectively. It includes members of political parties that have been severely critical of one another and who come from different ideological persuasions and ethnic communities. So far, however, there has been an exceptionally smooth takeover of the reins more..

Jan 26 (NS) Minister Rajitha Senaratne in an exclusive interview with The Nation mentioned that the government will do what it takes to maintain good governance and will always stand by what they promised. What is the latest situation of the Chief Justice�s (CJ) issue? His spokesperson has told the media that the CJ is very much in office and has never agreed with the PM to resign from the post. What is the govt�s position more..

Jan 26 (Island) The unity of the UPFA is in jeopardy with some of its constituents threatening to vote with their feet, as we reported last Saturday. This is the fate that usually awaits coalitions consisting of strange bedfellows when they lose power which is the cement of political alliances. The arbitrary manner in which the SLFP has chosen to handle the UPFA affairs, especially the post presidential polls issues, is said to have irked its allies. SLFP, which, intoxicated with power and seeing more..

Jan 26 (Island) For both domestic and international reasons the economic prospects for Lanka remain flat for the short and medium term periods ahead; short-term is the 100-Day duration of President Sirisena�s Action Plan and I use medium-term to denote the two-year transitional national govt envisaged for the subsequent phase. It needs no great political acumen to make these two forecasts, the first is self-evident but some light may be shed by probing why this will be the case more..

Jan 26 (GT) Sri Lanka and Pakistan have reaffirmed their commitment to expand bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation when the High Commissioner of Pakistan Major General (retired) Qasim Qureshi called on External Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera on Sunday, at the Ministry of External Affairs. They discussed a range of issues encompassing the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, including ways and means more..

Jan 26 (CI) Bangladesh Under-19s beat Sri Lanka Under-19s by 60 runs at the Premadasa Stadium in the fourth Youth ODI to level the five-match ODI series 2-2. Batting first, the visitors made 236 for 9 in 50 overs with fifties from Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Zakir Hasan. Zakir also added 66 for the fifth wicket with Shahanur Rahman who hit a 44-ball 42. Left-arm pace bowler Duvindu Tillakaratne took three wickets while Asitha Fernando and Charith Asalanka picked up two scalps each. more..

Jan 26 (Island) The Foreign Minister's visit to India offers an opportunity to reflect on the role of the Indo-Lanka economic partnership in charting the future prosperity of the country. The Pathfinder Foundation (PF) has previously advocated a 'resetting' of the Indo-Lanka relationship and it has emphasized that it should be one of 'irreversible excellence'(article titled ' Resetting Indo - Lanka Relations - Irreversible Excellence is the Goal 200414'). more..

Jan 26 (FT) Daya Aviation, one of the Daya Group�s subsidiaries, will be introducing a brand new Airbus Helicopter EC130T2 to Sri Lanka � making it one of the largest helicopters available in the country for commercial services � in March 2015. �This marks a tremendous milestone in the company�s 11-year growth,� Daya Aviation said. With the addition of the new helicopter, Daya Aviation will be the only IATA-approved more..

Jan 26 (CT) Markets expect Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) to do away with its two tier standing deposit facility (SDF) regime introduced by the previous government four months ago on 23 September 2014 at tomorrow's monetary policy review, while fears of a rupee devaluation to ease pressure on the country's foreign reserves in the budget to be presented three days later on Thursday are placing depreciating pressure on the rupee, market sources told Ceylon FT. more..

Jan 26 (FT) Jim McCabe has been appointed the new CEO of Standard Chartered Bank, replacing Anirvan Ghosh Dastidar. McCabe�s leadership in Bangladesh delivered impressive revenue growth, elevating business and diversifying operations beyond traditional banking into sophisticated financial solutions to meet the more complex needs of corporates. Regional CEO of India and South Asia, Sunil Kaushal, announcing the appointment, said: �Jim�s effective leadership in more..