Apr 21 (CT) The rare occurrence of showers of icicles, often experienced in Nuwara Eliya District in colder seasons, made an appearance for more than 10 minutes in Kelaniya, including Dalugama, yesterday to the surprise of residents there. In all shapes and sizes, the ice followed the downpour that hit these areas late yesterday. A resident from Kelaniya said "I experienced this sort of thing for the very first time in my life in our area. When I heard a rare sound as that made by hail, more..

Apr 21 (CG) India�s Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has had talks with Sri Lanka on combating drugs and development assistance. Jaitley met with ministers from Britain, Sri Lanka and Thailand at the UN office to discuss cooperation in fighting the international drug menace. Jaitley met the ministers on the sidelines of the General Assembly Special Session on the drug problem, according to the Indian mission at the UN. During Jaitlehy�s meeting with Minister Sagala Ratnayake, more..

Apr 21 (CT) The joint govt which gave hope to the people that it would arrest the corrupt and the fraudsters who misused the common property of the people, is now burdening the public with taxes and shares the political stage with these very thieves in a state of nudity, Vasantha Samarasinghe, Convener of Voice Against Corruption said. President Sirisena has fallen into such depths that he will put any thief into more..

Apr 21 (Island) Colombo High Court Judge, Manilal Waidyatillake, ordered the Director of the Child Protection Authority to take steps to display in Court, the video tapes pertaining to evidence in a child abuse case. The accused is Saman Liyanage Sunil, former Chairman of Akuressa Pradeshiya Sabha. He is charged with the abduction and rape of a 14-year-old girl at a hotel. The parents of the victim had been employed under the accused during the time relevant to this event. more..

Apr 21 (DN) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe told a group of UNP MPs that the Govt would not allow taxes to be a burden on low income earners. "Unlike the Rajapaksa regime, we will not allow taxes to be a burden on low income earning groups," Premier said while speaking with a group of UNP MPs who visited Temple Trees to extend New Year greetings to the Premier. PM went on to say that a decision to increase the VAT had to be taken because of the heavy loans taken by the former regime. more..

Apr 21 (CI) Sri Lanka Cricket's doctors have confirmed a substantial injury to Lasith Malinga's left knee, after the bowler was ruled out of both the World T20 and the ongoing IPL. The SLC medical team has not advised surgery, but said the injury requires rest and periodic reassessment. For now, it appears that the bone bruise will rule Malinga out of the forthcoming tour of England, at least. more..

Apr 21 (CT) Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena questioned the credibility of the Panama Papers' disclosures pointing to the fact that the documents do not mention a single US company. He added most of the names revealed in the documents were those who oppose the supposed US hegemony and are critical of the world's only super power. Thus SL Govt cannot take a definite stance relating to these disclosures, he said, adding "It is still peculiar that no American names were revealed," he said. more..

Apr 21 (AM) President Maithripala Sirisean yesterday said that the Local Govt elections will be held in early 2017. He made this revelation speaking at an event in the Sri Lanka Foundation. The terms of most of the local govt bodies have already expired and they are now being administered by a special commissioner. The govt had earlier said that the elections will be held this year. However, the govt soon made it clear that the election is unlikely to be held this year. more..

Apr 21 (Island) JHU spokesman Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe claimed there had been nothing wrong with the presence of Minister Champika Ranawaka�s presence at a recent Constitutional Council meeting where the one of the President�s nominees was endorsed as the new IGP. Fielding a question during a press conference from journalists who referred to remarks by their erstwhile colleague cum UPFA MP Udaya Gammanpila, more..

Apr 21 (DM) History has shown that time-tested checks and balances are essential for the evolution of democracy. At times some restraints are necessary for democracy to flourish because it is obviously not wise to allow the freedom of the wild ass though some analysts believe such a clich� today is more an insult to that hard working animal. In addition we see business interests and the desire for personal gain or glory turning these checks and balances into cheques and imbalances in more..

Apr 21 (DM) In the transition from the populist authoritarian recent past to government conducted with governance, public trust and confidence in institutions and processes of govt is pivotal. That trust and confidence is what provides the oxygen for the transition and the reform it entails - a diminution of it constituting a warning sign of displeasure and disquiet and therefore one to be taken seriously. At the same time, an increase underpins and sustains optimism. more..

Apr 21 (DM) As witnessed during the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, Sri Lanka has pledged to move towards a fossil free path in development. Contrarily, Sri Lanka is currently focusing on establishing the second coal power plant in Sampur, Trincomalee; a natural harbour and a strategic location rich in marine bio diversity. In an era when many developed countries are resorting to be investing in renewable energy, Energy more..

Apr 21 (ST) More students who sat the G.C.E. (O/L) Exam last year qualified to follow the next level � G.C.E (A/L) � with the number of students who obtained �A�s in all nine subjects also showing an increase, while last year a total of 536,152 candidates, both private and school candidates sat the exam. Performances in English and Science too showed an improvement. At last year�s exam 2.23% (6,102) had all �A�s more..

Apr 21 (SL) Although many economists and political analysts have hailed the recent visit of PM Ranil Wickremesinghe to China as an indication of strengthening Sino � Lanka ties, many believe that Sri Lanka should think beyond its conventional thinking and capture greater opportunities available, if it were to become the Megapolis of the region. Before Wickremesinghe concluded his four-day official visit to China, more..

Apr 21 (DM) The Govt Medical Officers� Association (GMOA) spokesperson wound up the year on the Sinhala calendar in an ugly style. A day before the Parana Avurudda, Dr. Nalinda Herath, the GMOA�s General Secretary took cheap advantage of a reported detection of a malaria patient, who happened to be an Indian worker in Sri Lanka and advised the public to be cautious if Indians are around them. more..

Apr 21 (Hindu) A three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court will soon decide whether the seven life-term convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case deserve to be released after spending 23 years behind bars. The case is among 12 that will come up for hearing before three-judge Benches of the Supreme Court. A notice issued by the Supreme Court on April 18 listed the cases for hearing on Mondays and Fridays. more..

Apr 21 (Island) The govt said yesterday that a regulatory mechanism for the electronic media would be introduced soon. Deputy Media Minister Karunaratne Paranavithana said that both the print and electronic media had all the right to publish or broadcast the truth, but some electronic media were abusing the new found journalistic freedom under the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration. more..

Apr 21 (Island) Govt admitted, that an LTTE cadre arrested in the north following the detection of explosives during the last week of March was being detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The police arrested 32-year-old Edward Julian alias Ramesh as he was fleeing the Jaffna peninsula after Chavakachcheri police found a suicide jacket, four claymore mines, three parcels containing about 12 kilos of TNT, more..

Apr 21 (EN) Sri Lanka will join an exclusive club of countries that charge value added tax from health and education, services which are almost universally exempt in tax regimes of free countries where private citizens are not mis-treated by rulers, under proposed tax changes. The VAT on health and education comes as the country claims to create a knowledge economy and is faced with an ageing population. more..

Apr 21 (Island) Excise Department personnel have arrested a student of a higher education institute in Colombo with a stock of LSD also known as acid. An official said that the LSD had been clandestinely imported from the West in the form of stamps to avoid detection. The arrest has been made in the Nittambuwa police area. Investigations have revealed that the suspect had initially given narcotics free to his colleagues more..

Apr 21 (DN) Joint Opposition members requested President Maithripala Sirisena to summon Central Bank and Finance Ministry officials to obtain an insight into the country's economic situation. MP Bandula Gunawardena said the people will face severe economic difficulties after May 2 due to the implementation of the increase of taxes including the VAT up to 15%. He said the President could get an understanding by summoning more..

Apr 21 (CT) President Sirisena's populist economic policies can be looked at in two contexts : 1) His manifesto commitments to ease the burden of rising commodity and services costs that wage earners and the self-employed fight a losing battle with, and 2) the objective of not giving the Opposition a weapon with which it can unconscionably rouse the ire of the less intelligent masses against it. This puts him on a direct collision course with the PM, Finance Minister and sundry policy planners. more..

Apr 21 (CT) The defeat of the UNF at the April 2004 Parliamentary Election can be attributed to the fact that the then President, Chandrika Kumaratunga pulling the political rug from under its feet by taking over three key ministries. Supporters of that Govt have lamented this fact. Indeed, Ranil Wickremesinghe inherited in 2001 an economy that was in shambles and a nightmare security situation. Few would have expected him to perform miracles in just three years. more..

Apr 21 (DM) I appreciate and endorse Dr Ranga Kalanasooriya�s views in his March 1, 2016 column in the Daily Mirror reiterating the need to seek means to create better understanding between Sinhala Buddhists and Muslims. Details of burning issues faced by Muslims provided in my response were aimed at highlighting their current miserable plight to dispel the myth that Muslims float in wealth and do not care for the country. The reality is that, according to a survey by Dr A.M.M.Riyas, more..

Apr 21 (DM) In the wake of development and natural disasters, the country has witnessed many relocation projects which are most often involuntary. Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of Colombo and researcher, Dr. Nishara Fernando elaborates on adopting a long term people-centred relocation policy, in which beneficiaries should be made partners. The Mahaweli hydro-electricity power generation and irrigation programme resulted in mass displacement and relocation in 1980s. more..

Apr 21 (Island) Attorney General, requested the Colombo High Court Judge to extend for another three months the remand order imposed on two accused in the murder of former TNA MP, Ravi Raj. Senior State Counsel Nalin Hewawasam appeared for the AG. These two accused are police officer, Gamini Seneviratne and Pradeep Chaminda. Defence Counsel, Sunanda Deshapriya and Ruwan Dissanayake were allowed time till April 25, to file objections to the request of the AG. more..

Apr 21 (SLT) Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) was proud to announce that the company is about to launch a streaming service via the first of its kind, Sri Lanka's OTT (Over-The-Top) platform to make entertainment options available online to Sri Lankans. SLT being the leading ICT solutions provider in the country partnered with the largest and a pioneer in digital media entertainment in South Asia, Hungama Digital Media Entertainment and its local partner Evoke International. more..

Apr 21 (DM) Housing Construction Minister Sajith Premadasa said today his ministry would launch housing projects called Udagama to be named after past leaders of the country, be they dead or alive. He said one such Udagama would be named after former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He told a news conference Gam Udawa or the Village re-awakening programme initiated by his father the late President R. Premadasa, more..

Apr 21 (DM) Prisons Department would introduce a new mobile jamming system from May 18 to prevent communication in and out of the prisons, Prisons Spokesman Thushara Upuldeniya said. This follows the current system in operation being not effective, he said. �Preliminary investigations of testing the jamming devices within the premises are completed. Investigations were conducted by all the telecommunication service providers,� Mr. Upuldeniya said. more..

Apr 21 (CT) An estimate of 200 firearms is yet to be recovered from Army deserters who went AWOL with these firearms during the armed conflict, Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi said. "While the exact number is not certain, nearly 900 weapons were lost during the war. However, during the past few years, nearly 700 weapons were recovered" he said adding that "nearly 200 weapons are yet to be recovered." The govt offers an amnesty period from 25 April to 6 May so that more..

Apr 21 (DM) The govt will set up a centre for sharing intelligence on Drug Trafficking, Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake said. Govt has taken initial steps to establish A Centre for Sharing Intelligence on Drug Trafficking to empower national institutions for accurate information dissemination in South Asian and South East Asian regions, he had told UN Special Session on World Drug problem held in New York. more..

Apr 21 (Island) Meter readers employed by Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) under contract from Man Power companies for many years, finally stopped their protest staged in front of the Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy, Kollupitiya yesterday evening after they were assured by CEB General Manager N.C. Wickramasekara that they would be recruited as permanent employees after an interview in two weeks� time. The man power employees staged their strike for 23 days. more..

Apr 21 (AD) The blood samples of the cops who were on duty at the time of Laggala police station weapons theft have been sent to the Govt Analysis Department, a source said. Earlier, three police officers who were on duty at the Laggala police station the day that 6 firearms were stolen were interdicted. CID has recorded statements from 20 cops in connection with the incident so far. Following a search carried out based on information received, police officers however had found firearms more..

Apr 21 (ENS) India will convey to Sri Lanka its strategic concern over the latter�s proposal to enter into a debt-equity swap with China, converting its US$ 8 billion debt to China into equity, to turn around the non-functioning Chinese funded mega infrastructure projects. The issue will be taken up when Malik Samarawickrama, Minister and confidante of PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, visits India at the latter�s invitation sometime in May-June. more..

Apr 21 (ITN) Podi Sagara, a member of a strong underworld gang linked to six murders has committed suicide by shooting himself. He did so with his firearm when the Police attempted to apprehend him. Sumith Dayaratne alias Podi Sagara was a key member of an underworld gang which had been operating centering Katunayake and Seeduwa areas. The Police took action to raid a house in the Pahala Medagama area in Gokarella to take him into custody. more..

Apr 21 (ITN) Former Narahenpita Crimes OIC Sumith Perera has been remanded until May 05th. The remand order was given by Colombo Additional Magistrate Thilina Gamage, when he was produced in Courts today. The CID arrested former Narahenpita OIC yesterday with regards to the murder of former Sri Lanka rugby player Wasim Thajudeen. The Magistrate also allowed him to be kept under special protection since he is a Police Officer. more..

Apr 21 (ITN) PM Ranil Wickremasinghe has said that it will be possible to suppress ragging and violence related to gender and sexuality through the introduction of new regulations for University administrative activities. He also revealed of plans to create an Assistant Vice-Chancellor�s position in the future effecting a structural change in the local University network. more..

Apr 21 (Island) All SLFP MPs including former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had been officially invited to participate in the party�s May Day rally in Galle, UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera said yesterday. Amaraweera told the media briefing that though ex-President Rajapaksa had not yet confirmed his participation, the party was expecting his presence at the Galle rally. Formal invitations had been dispatched to all SLFP MPs, he said. more..