July 6 (DM) Cause for the cracks in the Bandarawela area was the use of the low quality excavation equipment in the Uma Oya Project, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said. He said foreign experts who advised on the project had expressed that the cracks had been created due to use of low-quality and unsuitable equipment. �Low-quality excavation equipment had cause more vibrations than the ground could sustain and that had resulted in the fissures and cracks more..

July 6 (AD) UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism Ben Emmerson will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from 10 to 14 July to gather first-hand information on initiatives in the area of counter-terrorism and assess how they affect the promotion and protection of human rights. �I will seek to provide assistance in the discussion of the country�s counter-terrorism policy and legal framework, as well as more..

July 6 (PMD) President Maithripala Sirisena says the Trade Union Movement of the SLFP contributed to make a huge transformation in the economic, social and cultural fields of the country. �The SLFP and its trade union movement were humanist movements forwarded through one path�, he said. President was speaking at the occasion to open the newly built office for the Sri Lanka Freedom Trade Union Federation, in the premises of the SLFP headquarters in Colombo. more..

July 6 (DN) Minister Rauff Hakeem today said that the govt was taking measures to assure the water provided through community projects was safe. He also accepted that although the water provided by the Water Supply and Drainage Board was safe there is an issue pertaining to cleanliness of the drinking water provided to rural villages through community water projects. Minister Hakeem made these observations today while responding to a question by MP Buddika Pathirana more..

July 6 (DN) The Supreme Court today allowed GMOA to intervene in the Appeal filed by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) challenging the judgment of Court of Appeal to register a student of the SAITM in Malabe provisionally as a medical practitioner in terms of Section 29(2) of the Medical Ordinance. However, the Supreme Court rejected a request made by four medical students to intervene in the Appeal. more..

July 6 (SNA) An official with Sri Lanka's embassy in Seychelles said that a report this week indicating that Sri Lanka would move its embassy out of Seychelles is false. A spokesperson for Seychelles' Foreign Affairs Department, meanwhile, said that Seychelles has not received any official documents from SL indicating the removal of its embassy from the island nation. An article in the Daily Mirror this week said that Sri Lanka will relocate its embassy in Seychelles to Madagascar. more..

July 6 (HRC) HRC Global Innovator Rosanna Flamer-Caldera, who participated in the inaugural Global Innovative Advocacy Summit in 2016, recently organized Abhimani, an international LGBTQ film festival in Sri Lanka for Colombo PRIDE 2017. Rosanna began her activism by founding the first LBT organization in Sri Lanka in 1999, and then went on to found EQUAL GROUND in 2004. HRC caught up with Rosanna following the film festival to discuss Abhimani, Sri Lankan pride and more..

July 6 (CBC) A Sri Lankan�man accused of killing his wife in Quebec five years ago appears to have been deported after the charge�against him was stayed because of an unreasonable delay. Sivaloganathan Thanabalasingham, a permanent Canadian resident,�was set to appear today at a detention review hearing, but it has been cancelled, a spokesperson at the�Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada said Thursday. more..

July 7 (CT) I�m not a Buddhist in terms of affiliation or adherence, but the Buddha is part of my makeup since, as one of humanity�s most evolved minds and greatest philosophers, he sure got a great many important things right. What I�ve quoted above is just one of them. I also see lots of movies and have done so since I was a kid. My father had family passes to the box seats because he was a film reviewer. Last week I saw the most honest, courageous and important piece of art more..

July 7 (CT) In an age of decimation of social justice and selective rule of law, carried out in the name of fighting manufactured enemies of choice purportedly to preserve a vulnerable majority from extinction, any civic choice will shackle us to an interconnected police bias and preferential status, hitherto unprecedented in extent and blatancy in contemporary Sri Lankan political history. Not too long ago, tyrannic serfdom, where the freedom of the wild ass was no freedom at all, more..

July 7 (CT) MP Udaya Gammanpila stated that their supporters who attended the recent rally at Trincomalee expressed their dissatisfaction with the govt and pledged allegiance to the Joint Opposition. He added that the people in Trincomalee could clarify myths with regard to the Rajapaksa regime after the recent rally. The MP also stated that the Bill to implement the Int'l Convention for Protecting All Persons From more..

July 7 (NS) Priyangani does not hire a tuk from the three- wheeler park at the top of her road.� She�s wary about strangers getting to know her whereabouts. Living alone in an annex, she is compelled to take specific measures to ensure her safety. �When you hire a tuk from a company, you get the driver�s and the vehicle�s details on your mobile phone. But when you hail a tuk, the driver is a stranger and there is that off chance that he may come on to you,� she said. more..

July 7 (NS) Their logic is simple. You can always dream bigger if only you�ve got the right attitude. From Youth For All (FYFA), the brain child of Lasantha Liyanage and co-founder Harshana Weerasinghe is an organization which focuses on attitude development and environmental conservation. Liyanage, a youth from Ratnapura wanted to lay the foundation to an organization that could help find solutions for issues in rural Sri Lanka. Liyanage first joined Healthy Lanka Alliance more..

July 7 (NS) The youth hold the future. The statement holds true to all nations, including Sri Lanka. The youth in Sri Lanka have potential. They have the ability, but sometimes lack the resources and the support to chase their dreams. Many lives were lost in the 30 years of conflict. Many left but many stayed back. It has been a rollercoaster ride for Sri Lanka. But, last week was a proud one for all Sri Lankans, especially more..

July 7 (CT) A new Constitution looms in the horizon, and it spells new beginnings for politicians new and old. It seeks to exfoliate the irregular excrescence in the present Constitution and heal the wounds of the yesteryears, but what does it mean for Sri Lanka as a whole? Will it be a fresh beginning for amity and peace, or a stepping stone for a new war? Will it purify the politics in Govt, or is it simply another devious political stratagem to keep the Govt in power? For decades until present, more..

July 7 (CT) A house is a structure that can provide shelter and safety. The doors and windows are necessary as they provide fresh air and light. It becomes a home only if it can make the inhabitants comfortable and safe. The simpler it is the more manageable it becomes. Why are there living rooms, sitting rooms or lounges, patios and verandahs, kitchens and dining rooms? Isn't it because an organized house can give a more homely environment wherever the inhabitants live? more..

July 7 (CT) There were no proper safety measures that had been taken in the Sir John Tarbet Athletics Championship concluded yesterday. The Sri Lanka School Athletic Association (SLSAA) along with Ceylon Biscuits Limited organized the championship but this year there was no ambulance kept stand by at the venue. Ambulances being kept at the site is a must in any sporting event and Sri Lanka has been facing many sad situations of athletes dying as a result of this lapse. more..

July 7 (Island) Your news item (2nd July) speaks of various scenarios required to be further analysed, to facilitate a decision by the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL), on the country�s long-term power generation plan. Meanwhile, Minister of Power and Renewable Energy announced that the Trinco gas-fired power plant is cancelled, and a letter of intent is issued to India to build a solar power plant in Trinco. To start with, there was no Trinco gas power plant in generation plan more..

July 7 (Roar) Current judicial system of Sri Lanka was established by the Judicature Act No 02 of 1978 and was entirely influenced by the English Law and Roman-Dutch Law. It originated during the Dutch rule of Ceylon, and further evolved in the British Period with the enactments of the Charters of Justice of 1801 and 1833. But what you may not know, is that the ancient kingdom of Kandy (1593-1815), more..

July 7 (Island) The govt is in the same predicament as a hapless man, pinned against a wall by an overflowing garbage truck. While it is struggling to extricate itself it is suffering judicial gavel blows, which aggravate its misery. It is in an unenviable position. PM Ranil Wickremesinghe saw red in Parliament on Wednesday. He took exception to court orders which blocked the dumping of municipal waste in suburban areas. His consternation is understandable. more..

July 7 (MX) Snakebites are a major public health problem in many rural communities around the world, often requiring medical care and affecting victims' ability to work. Every year, snakebites cost the Sri Lankan government more than 10 million USD, and lead to economic loss of nearly 4 million USD for individuals, according to a new study in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. The victims of snakebites in poor rural communities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are often young individuals more..

July 7 (Island) Govt is to amend the archaic Land Reforms Commission Act to effectively regulate the distribution of lands and intends setting up a Land Bank for the country, Minister T.B. Ekanayake said. "At present country's lands are managed by different govt institutions and agencies, such as, Land Reform Commission, Mahaweli Ministry, Wild Life Dept, Forest Dept and many other public organisations. more..

July 7 (DM) Sri Lanka is currently facing a shortage of sand and granite essential for the construction industry, spiralling the construction costs upwards, Tokyo Cement (Lanka), the country�s largest cement manufacturer and supplier, said. �The shortages of key raw materials, such as sand and aggregates, put additional pressure on the overall industry prices,� TKYO Managing Director S.R. Gnanam said. Restrictions on river sand mining and sand transport licences curtail more..

July 7 (ICC) If Sri Lanka commits a second minor over-rate offence during the event with Ranaweera as captain, then she will be suspended for one match. SL has been found guilty of maintaining a slow over rate during its Women�s World Cup match against India. Richie Richardson of the Emirates Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after Inoka Ranaweera�s side was ruled to be one over short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration. more..

July 7 (DM) Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) held their Annual General Meeting (AGM) for 2017/2018 at the National Olympic House (NOC) Auditorium in Colombo on Sunday. The AGM was held in view of electing members for the ensuing year but there were no changes as the outgoing committee of the Appeal Board retained their positions. After the minutes were read and the report for the past year was presented, Asanga Seneviratne, President SLR addressed the gathering and said that more..

July 7 (ST) Athletics President Maj.Gen. Palitha Fernando claims that, Asian Athletics Championship in India, will give them a clear indication of where Sri Lanka stands in the Asian circuit. 22nd Asian Athletics Championships will be held from July 6 to 9 in Bhubneswar, India. This event is also the final selection trial for SL Athletes to qualify for the World Athletics Championships to be held in London from August 4 to 13, for which Athletes can qualify until July 23. more..

July 7 (Hindu) Sri Lanka on Thursday banned the destructive fishing practice of bottom-trawling in their waters, making violators liable for a fine of LKR 50,000 and face two years imprisonment. The development could directly impact a section of fishermen from TN, who engage in bottom-trawling and have often been found trespassing into SL�s territorial waters. Following a debate in SL Parliament, an Amendment to more..

July 7 (DN) The industry recorded growth in Gross Written Premium (GWP) of both Long Term and General Insurance business sectors. The total GWP income for both sectors in 2016 was Rs. 142,969 million compared to Rs. 122,962 million in 2015 reflecting a growth of 16.27%. The long term insurance sector generated GWP amounting to Rs. 63,495 million in 2016, up by 18.26% against the GWP of Rs. 53,691 million generated in 2015. This significant growth was attributable to factors more..

July 7 (FT) The latest edition of LMD reports that biz confidence fell by four basis points to 115 in June. LMD-Nielsen Business Confidence Index (BCI) is also lower than its April score of 117 and both its 12-month and all-time averages (130).� Nielsen�s Managing Director Sharang Pant said that �this drop was expected with inflation showing no signs of slowing down, and the floods in May severely impacting day-to-day life and business in many parts of the island.� more..

July 7 (EN) Law and Order minister Sagala Ratnayaka, who criticism over a spate of failures,�announced that he was ready to go if President Sirisena was unhappy with his performance. Ratnayaka, who is also the chief of staff in PM Ranil Wickremesinghe�s office, defended himself in the face of severe criticism during Tuesday�s cabinet meeting where President had suggested that he should be relieved of his portfolio. more..

July 7 (FT) Following a first round assessment, Govt has shortlisted Indonesia, Pakistan, India and Myanmar as potential sources for imports of up to 100,000 MT of rice, the Industry and Commerce Ministry said. �A team of technical officials which included food technologists from Sri Lanka is expected to visit these countries and test rice samples. �We have decided to test rice samples of Indonesia, Myanmar and Pakistan,� Minister Bathiudeen was quoted as saying. more..

July 7 (DM) The people did not mandate to this govt for Constitutional reforms that would necessitate a referendum, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera said. Thera said that President Sirisena�s Presidential election manifesto stated that he would never permit to a Constitutional reform resulted from a referendum. Ven. Rathana Thera said around 6.2 million people who believed in President Sirisena�s manifesto voted him to office to uphold the country�s sovereignty and unitary state. more..

July 7 (Island) A govt�s move to remove the Universities of Colombo and Peradeniya from the purview of UGC and turn them into profit earning institutions was disclosed at a recent meeting of the parliamentary watchdog committee � COPE, according to sources. The proposal was discussed at the Higher Education Sub Committee of the Education Sectoral Oversight Committee sessions on May 12 and 19 at parliamentary complex. more..

July 7 (GDI) Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine will sign 33 MoUs with 23 drug manufacturing companies to locally manufacture drugs for the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation of Sri Lanka. The MoUs are scheduled to be signed on 11th July in Colombo. The new factories will be set up in Horana, Kalutara, Koggala and Kandy generating nearly 2,000 job opportunities. Construction of several factories has already commenced. more..

July 7 (Island) The 87th Sir John Tarbet Senior Athletics Championship witnessed one of the closest battles for the boys� title as Maris Stella won the decisive final relay to edge out St. Benedict�s by just five points to retain the overall title at Diyagama on Thursday. It looked as if Ratnayake Central, Walala were heading to win both the girls� and boys� titles when the final event of the meet, the Under-20 boys� 4x400 metres relay commenced. But a mishap in the baton change forced more..

July 7 (Island) A heated argument ensued in Parliament yesterday over what the Joint Opposition (JO) called a draft of the new Constitution, proposing to do away with the Article 9, which gives Buddhism the foremost place and makes it the duty of the State to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana. JO MP Dinesh Gunawardena said that copies of the draft in question had been distributed at a recent seminar at the BMICH. more..

July 7 (DN) The Employees Trust Fund (ETF), the country�s second largest social security fund worth Rs.250 billion is to completely revamp its software system by the end of the year. The Fund signed an agreement with the Information and Communication Agency (ICTA) on Wednesday, the funds Chairman Mahinda Madihahewa said. Responding to a query regarding the system breakdown the Fund witnessed yesterday, Madihahewa said that the system would be restored by late last night. more..

July 7 (DN) Sri Lanka is ready to host CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) in 2019 with the participation of 5,000 experts from over 187 countries, Minister Gamini Jayawickrema Perera said. Minister said that giving permission to hold this conference in Sri Lanka is a great victory achieved by the Ministry and it proves that Sri Lanka is among the top list of countries actively engage in wildlife conservation activities. more..