June 27 (DM) The decision by the forces is a matter of concern though it appears to be justifiable: from where did they get the courage, skill, and strength for the action and why didn�t they think of alternatives when they had plenty of other administrative avenues to raise the issue? Creating situations that are well blown up, extravagant, and thus improbable; the whole drama became a Comedy of Errors. The three Commanders, on May 25 ordered in writing, more..

June 27 (CT) Among the principal planks of present govt, riding to power, was the pledge to totally uproot rampant corruption, develop the economy while improving social standards, among a host of others. To the credit of govt, it had the will to pass 19th Amendment which transferred some of the powers vested in the President to Parliament, constituting Independent Commissions and some other developments such as more..

June 27 (DM) Eminent Attorney-at-Law, Manouri Muttetuwegama, the Chairperson of the Consultation Task Force Reconciliation Mechanisms (CTFRM) said that the CTFRM and the Secretariat for coordinating Reconciliation mechanisms was trying to give voice to voiceless people and bring justice. She stated that the purpose of the CTFRM was to seek public opinion on proposed mechanisms on the reconciliation. more..

June 27 (DM) Sri Lanka being a signatory to the Paris Agreement, is committed to safeguard the environment, help reduce global warming and tread in a fossil free path towards development. Amidst such a scenario, the use of coal and renewables for power generation has become a hot topic, heatedly debated on many social platforms with energy experts and environmentalists expressing different views on the subject and more..

June 27 (SL) Cash-strapped Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is once again in the midst of much controversy, not least in the matter of the exorbitant expenditure on a fund-raising event in London which is alleged to have been a total flop. Amongst the allegations levelled against SLC is that the Cricket Board could not even cover their expenses on the fund-raising dinner in London, the cancellation of the much needed indoor nets and more..

June 27 (DN) JVP said the govt has borrowed above the borrowing limit approved by the govt. According to JVP MP Vijitha Herath, Attorney General has placed a note in the Finance Ministry annual report with regard to govt borrowings. He said that the govt has exceeded the borrowing limit by 100%. �Govt has obtained loans to the tune of Rs. 35,49,805 million though Parliament approved borrowings up to Rs. 17,80,000 million. more..

June 27 (AM) Speculation is rife that Deputy Minister Eran Wickramaratne will be appointed as the new Central Bank Governor, after incumbent Governor Arjuna Mahendran's exit. If President Sirisena decides to appoint Wickramaratne as the Central Bank Governor, he will have to step down from his Parliamentary seat and the deputy ministerial portfolio. Wickramaratne is also the UNP organiser for Moratuwa. more..

June 27 (ST) The Salawa Armoury blast still casts a long shadow over the lives of residents whose homes were damaged by the explosion with many still awaiting compensation such as a promised Rs 50,000 monthly rental allowance. They claim the committees appointed in 12 Grama Seva divisions affected by the blasts to look after the needs of victims are not attending to their needs and are not satisfied with actions of govt valuers. more..

June 27 (LBO) Sri Lanka could shortly approve petroleum exploration and drilling for two blocks in the Cauvery basin, as bidders in the 2013 licensing round have recommitted to their bids, a govt official said. �The govt has already gone through the approval process for these bids, and bidders have recommitted to their bids,� Saliya Wickramasuriya, director general of the Petroleum Resources Development Secretariat, said. more..

June 27 (DM) All the lands except the ones occupied for the purpose of security in North and East will be released while paying compensation for the lands that were acquired, Defence Secretary Karunasena Hetttiarachchi said. He said this at a function of releasing 201.3 acres of land for resettlement within High Security Zone in Valikamam North. "President and PM are trying their best to resettle people living in welfare camps more..

June 27 (DN) The Health and Indigenous Medicine Ministry will introduce a special red label for all bottled drinks containing excessive sugar from August 1 under Article 32 of the Food Act No. 26 of 1980, Health Services Director General Dr. Palitha Mahipala said. Manufacturers and importers should display the red label if the sugar content of the drink is over 11 grams per 100 ml, Dr. Mahipala said. more..

June 27 (CT) The legendary late Singapore PM Lee Kuan Yew had predicted in 2012 that the European Union would not last long and in time to come it would fail. So, Britain's exit from the European Union has indicated that Lee Kuan Yew's prediction is now becoming a reality. On the EU the late Singapore PM said: "I don't view the EU as an inspiration for the world. I view it as an enterprise that was conceived wrongly because it has expanded too fast and it will fail". more..

June 27 (Reuters) Shares fell for a sixth straight session on Monday as investors turned cautious after the UK last week voted to leave the EU. Stock index ended down 0.81% at 6,318.21, its lowest close since April 11. Sterling fell more than 2%, euro took a hammering and stocks dropped again on Monday as Brexit drove investors to seek safety in the yen, gold and low-risk govt debt. "Market is down with the post-Brexit effects. There are no foreigners or big investors in the market. more..

June 27 (CT) The Sri Lankan govt goes into the current session of the UNHRC with several accomplishments to show. These are primarily at the level of change of spirit and less as concrete changes that can be quantified. It is difficult to quantify the impact of the lifting of fear of agents of the state and their associates acting with impunity, of white vans into which people disappear and the attitude of confrontation. But these have transformed life in the country. more..

June 27 (AD) Former UPFA MP Sajin Vass Gunawardena has been arrested by the CID. The former MP was arrested in connection with an investigation on a financial fraud case, official said. The investigation was initiated following a complaint lodged by a Director of a private company with the CID accusing Gunawardena of defrauding him over Rs.600 million, it was reported. The suspect was ordered to be remanded until 5 July after being produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate. more..

June 27 (LBO) The difference between female and male life expectancy at birth reduced in 2012 to 6.6 years compared with 8.4 years in 2001. For the years 2011 to 2013, life expectancy is 72.0 years for males and 78.6 for females, while the life expectancies for males and females for the year 2001 were 68.8 and 77.2 years respectively. Therefore there is also an increase of life expectancy for both males and females more..

June 27 (Island) On the initiative of President and PM, the Prescription (Special Provision) Bill which was shelved for a long period had been revived by the Govt to provide relief to the people who were forced to abandon their properties due to the situation that prevailed in the country from May 1983 to May 2009 and to enable them to claim their titles for their properties due to prescriptive actions of the illegal and encroached occupants, Secretary Ministry of Prison Reforms, more..

June 27 (Island) Most Venerable Warakagoda Gnanaratana Mahanayake Thera of Asgiriya Chapter expressed his appreciation of the steps taken by the Central Province Governor Niluka Ekanayake to ban private tuition classes on Sunday mornings in the province. Thera said there had been an appeal for baning supplementary tuition for schoolchildren on Sundays mornings. "However, we are pleased that the Governor has taken action to ban private tuition on Sunday morning. more..

June 27 (AD) Any official invitation has not been made by anyone so far to accept the Deputy Leader post of SLFP, former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said. Observation was made while responding to media after arriving at the Court to give evidence in connection with the 2006 suicide bomb blast on him. Rajapaksa also said he requests Defence Secretary not to replace his military security with police personnel due to life threats. more..

June 27 (Island) Traders of Kandy at a largely attended meeting on Friday unanimously decided to close their businesses next Wednesday as a mark of protest against VAT increase. Meeting was held at headquarters of Kandy Sinhala Velanda Peramuna. Representatives of the Tamil and Muslim Traders Organisations were present at the meeting. The traders also decided as a prelude to the shutting down of business premises on Wednesday to put up black flags from June 27. more..

June 27 (DM) Democratic Party (DP) Leader and Minister Sarath Fonseka is expected to obtain UNP membership on Thursday. Party leader, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe would hand over the membership to Field Marshal Fonseka. DP sources who confirmed the report said the Field Marshal would explain the situation to his party members on the same day. He was appointed a MP through the UNP national list to fill the vacancy created by the death of former minister M.K.D.S. Gunawardene. more..

June 27 (CG) A SL delegation is to brief UNHRC members, NGOs and others at a side event to be held at UNHRC building this week. The briefing is to take place ahead of the presentation of an oral update on SL by the OHCHR at the ongoing 32nd session of UNHRC in Geneva. Minister Mangala Samaraweera is expected to head the delegation at the briefing which follows similar briefings held by Tamil diaspora groups. more..

June 27 (TG) In Oct 2015 the govt of Sri Lanka co-sponsored, along with the US, a resolution on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka, which was adopted at the 30th session of the UNHRC. However, this very same govt has since been backsliding from implementing its own commitments, promises and obligations made at the UNHRC. In contradiction to the adopted resolution, which called for international involvement, including that of int'l judges more..

June 27 (DN) Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa testified yesterday before the Colombo Special High Court, in a case against five LTTE suspects charged with aiding and abetting the LTTE suicide cadre who attempted to assassinate him on December 1, 2006. The case was taken up before Colombo Special High Court Judge Iranganie Perera and evidence produced by Deputy Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya and Senior State Counsel Nayomi Wickremasekara. more..

June 27 (Xinhua) Central Bank on Monday predicts uncertain economic situation caused by Brexit will last for at least two years in Sri Lanka. Latest report submitted to PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said it would take at least two years for the UK to leave the EU as per section 50 of the Lisbon Agreement and, therefore, global economic crisis that had already begun would last for two years. As 40% of SL's exports to Europe go to UK, more..

June 27 (Island) Welikada Police yesterday nabbed a woman who had stolen several Buddha statues, valuable pinnacles and other such items from Sunethraramaya at Mahindarama Road in Ethul Kotte. Police said that the suspect had stolen several Buddha statues donated by Thailand to the temple. Police recovered some of the items hidden at her home. Among the recovered items were two Buddha statues donated by Thailand, several pinnacles, 2 brass urns, & a gold plated pot, more..

June 27 (DN) Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma is accused of assaulting an employee of a hotel in Dewata, Galle. He had used foul language on the man when he assaulted him, on Sunday night. The incident is recorded on CCTV camera. They report that the Deputy Minister had returned after the assault with officials from the Galle Harbour Police and Public Health Inspectors, who inspected the drainage system of the hotel to find that it was located near the kitchen. more..

June 27 (EN) The United States has concluded a training program for Sri Lankan port and military personnel under its International Counterproliferation Program (ICP) aimed at preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The US embassy said in a statement a five-day workshop was done in Colombo for members of the Sri Lankan Ports Authority and Customs, Police, Navy, and more..

June 27 (APP) Advisor to PM on National History and Literary Heritage Irfan Siddiqui received holy relics from Sri Lankan delegation led by S.B.Navinna Minister for Internal Affairs and Cultural Affairs, here on Monday at his ministry. The delegation comprised of Minister S.B.Navinna, Prof. Kollupitiya Mahinda Sangarakhita Thero, Ms. Navinna daughter of the Minister, K.P. Dayaratne, Private Staff of the PM and High Commissioner of SL to Pakistan Maj. Gen (R) C.P. Lokuketagodage. more..

June 27 (CT) The Ministry of Megapolis and the Western Province Chief Minister are at loggerheads over the Meethotamulla Garbage Dump, says Provincial Council Member from Kolonnawa Saliya Wickremesinghe. He noted that last May Western Province Chief Minister Isura Devapriya had promised a solution, which involved negotiations with a British company that provided waste management solutions. Wickremesinghe added that Devapriya then promised to commence work more..

June 27 (CI) Batsman Lahiru Thirimanne has left Sri Lanka's ongoing tour of England after sustaining a lower-back strain, which restricted his movement. Wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella, who was in England already with the A team, has joined the national squad as Thirimanne's replacement. Thirimanne played all 3 Tests, but had not played in the ODIs - against Ireland or England - on the tour. more..

June 27 (AD) Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa eyeing to split the SLFP yet again, Minister Dilan Perera charges. He also pointed out that Basil Rajapaksa should accept the full responsibility of the election defeat of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2015. The observation was made while speaking at an event held in Badulla. The State Minister also stressed that time has come to identify a candidate repressing the party to contest at the next Presidential Election. more..

June 27 (PTI) Nine Sri Lankan Tamils were arrested at Tiruchendur in the district today for allegedly planning to travel to Australia in a clandestine manner, police said. "The Sri lankans who arrived in Tamil Nadu on tourist visas were tricked into believing that they could go to Australia," a top district police official said. He said they were picked up from a lodging house in the temple town of Tiruchendur by officials of Q branch police, but declined to disclose further information, more..

June 27 (EN) With the Narendra Modi govt reportedly planning to give Indian citizenship to illegal Hindu migrants from Bangladesh by Aug 15 this year, the case for giving Indian citizenship or dual citizenship to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in TN will be strengthened, human rights activists here feel. They point to the Modi govt�s 2014 promise to give citizenship to non-Muslim Bangladeshis who had fled to Assam, and also Sept 24, 2015 more..

June 27 (EN) SL govt has decided to obtain a Special Drawing Rights (SDR) loan from the International Development Association in US dollars at a fixed rate with 27 year tenure to avoid foreign currency and interest rate volatility and bunching up of debt repayments. Finance Ministry is to enter into an agreement with World Bank for the IDA loan of 71.3 million SDR, being the equivalent to US$ 100 million, to be given in a single tranche. SL as the borrower was given different options with more..

June 27 (CG) Govt today insisted that a draft of the new Constitution is not yet ready and that discussions are still ongoing. PM�s office dismissed reports that a draft of the proposed new Constitution has been prepared. �There is no truth to claims that clauses are being included to the new Constitution,� the PM's office added. The Govt also insisted that there is no truth to claims that existing clauses in the Constitution on Buddhism have been removed or will be amended. more..

June 27 (LBO) SriLankan Airlines said it will be suspending its operations to Paris and Frankfurt from winter 2016 as part of its restructuring plan. Accordingly, the last flights between Frankfurt and Colombo on UL 553/554 will be operated on Oct 30, while UL 563/564 of Nov 6, 2016 will conclude the operations between Paris and Colombo. SriLankan operates daily flights to both Doha and Abu Dhabi and has a strong more..

June 28 (CT) The landmark credit facility approved by the IMF early this month is not only a relief to ease the country�s severe external payments imbalance but also an opportunity to jump-start the long-overdue economic reforms. The facility amounting to US $ 1.5 billion comes under the Fund�s EFF. This 3-year arrangement aims to meet balance of payments needs arising from the weakening external finance situation and pressures that may persist during adjustment period. more..

June 28 (CT) In an attempt to address the needs of the vulnerable communities in Sri Lanka that are impacted by adverse effects of climate change, Sri Lanka has submitted a proposal to the Green Climate Fund for climate finance. The funding requested has as its objective strengthening resilience of smallholder farmers in the Dry Zone to climate variability and extreme events through an integrated approach to water management. Civil Society Organisations (CSOS) provide that more..