Apr 26 (LR) Following the death of 46-year-old Renuka Amarasinghe, a single mother of a seven-year-old, a crowd-funding page has been set-up to support her son. She was among 10 people that were killed and 15 injured when a van mounted a crowded side-walk in a deliberate attack on unsuspecting people enjoying the first beautiful day this spring after a long winter in North York, Toronto. Toronto District School Board (TDSB) employee was killed after dropping her son off at school. more..

Apr 26 (UP) A delegation of pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) will visit Sri Lanka to explore new avenues for cooperation in infrastructure development, policy and institution development, superior technological capabilities, modernizing work force in knowledge ,skills and attitudes,and marketing and investment opportunities in furniture sector. In a statement PFC CEO Mian Kashif Ashfaq said that the possibilities of usurping the potential of furniture trade with SL to expand more..

Apr 26 (Island) Ratnayake Central, Walala damsel Dilshi Kumarasinghe continued to rewrite record books and so was St. Peter�s, Bambalapitiya thrower Rumesh Tharanga as youngsters kept day three of the Junior National Athletics Championship alive at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Wednesday. Kumarasinghe who had shattered long standing Sri Lanka Junior record in 800 metres on day one, yesterday slashed more..

Apr 26 (FT) Canada�s Director General for South Asia at Global Affairs David Hartman, together with Ambassador David McKinnon, met with Minister Mangala Samaraweera at the Treasury yesterday. The discussion focused on deeper participation of Canadian Govt and Canadian businesses in SL�s development, investment and reconciliation processes. Hartman was accompanied by Political Counsellor Jen Hart, Export Development Canada (EDC) Vice President William Brown, more..

Apr 26 (SMH) Canberra's historic cricket fixture is set to avoid a nightmare timeslot clash with the Australian Open tennis tournament when the capital hosts Australia's first February Test match in 21 years. Cricket Australia is poised to announced the dates for the summer of cricket as early as Friday, with officials putting the finishing touches on the schedule. It's understood Canberra will likely take centre stage from Jan 31-Feb 4 when Australia plays against Sri Lanka more..

Apr 26 (FT) Budget 2017 has scored better on transparency than implementation, with 22% of proposals making substantive progress and only 8% fulfilled while almost a quarter have been broken, but managed to improve on information disclosure in the 2nd half of the year, think-tank Verit� Research said. Verit� Research released the full details of 37 budget promises above Rs. 1 billion (totalling Rs. 116.9 billion) which they tracked for a year. more..

Apr 26 (FT) More important utilities and key products are billed to come under the purview of the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) which is currently regulating only the power sector. At present, the commission acts mostly as a shadow regulator, by way of advising and providing technical assistance to prepare the regulatory framework, standards and procedures for implementations. With the new Act, it will vest full authority to the PUCSL to regulate the lubricant, petroleum & natural gas industries. more..

Apr 26 (CT) With the convenience of mobile phones and websites, a formidable partnership, DOC990 operated by Digital Health (Pvt) Ltd, a joint venture between Digital Holdings Lanka, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dialog Axiata and Asiri Hospital, with equity investments from Nawaloka Hospitals and Ceylon Hospitals (Durdans) will transform healthcare and provide a digitally empowering experience for healthcare needs, extending a wide spectrum of healthcare services to subscribers. more..

Apr 26 (Island) President Maithripala Sirisena had directed the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) to take necessary steps to implement the 2018-2037 Least Cost Long Term Generation Plan (LCLTGPL), which brought the PUCSL and the CEB on a collision course. Thanking Prez Sirisena for his directive, CEB Engineers� Union President Saumya Kumarawadu said they also expected the President to take steps to more..

Apr 26 (DN) Dinuka Bandara and Ayaan Sadath, 12-year-old football enthusiasts from Sri Lanka have been selected as country�s representatives at the global Football for Friendship (F4F) social programme. The F4F programme, supported by Gazprom and FIFA aims at developing youth football and a healthy lifestyle as well as promoting tolerance, open-mindedness and respect for different cultures and nationalities between children from across the globe. more..

Apr 26 (Island) Sri Lanka has been invited again to showcase its investment and export portfolios at a premier global Forum, dubbed as Russia�s Davos. "This year�s St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) will have an exhibition the SPIEF Investment & Business Expo along with other events. We officially invite you to SPIEF 2018. This invite is directly from our Deputy PM Vladimirovich Dvorkovich" said HE Russian Ambassador to SL Yuri Materiy on 25 April in Colombo. more..

Apr 26 (DM) While stating that the proposal to restrict Pandals on Vesak and Poson Poya Days is not a governmental decision, but a ministerial request made to people, Buddhasasana Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said the request to restrict pandals on Vesak and Poson Poya Days still remain. Minister Perera earlier said the pandals would be prohibited on Vesak and Poson Poya Days whilst more..

Apr 26 (FT) Among the main changes proposed for the existing electoral system during yesterday�s stakeholder discussion on the same was to have a minimum cut-off mark of 2.5%, with overhangs done away with to establish a fixed number of MPs for electorates. The change was initially suggested by Sri J'pura University Applied Sciences Faculty Dean Professor Sudantha Liyanage while taking part in yesterday�s discussion. Professor Liyanage recommended that a different cut-off point more..

Apr 26 (Island) Former CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal yesterday said that during the past one week, the SL rupee had depreciated Rs. 1.58 (from Rs. 157.46 to Rs. 159.04) against the US dollar. Since the foreign debt of Sri Lanka was approximately USD 30 billion, the depreciation of the currency, during the past week, had increased the total public debt by around Rs. 47 billion, he added. To understand such debt increase in perspective, the following facts were relevant, more..

Apr 26 (Island) Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe revealed that Prez Sirisena had been powerless to prevent the appointment of certain members to the Office of Missing Persons (OMP), though he had reservations about them. The SLFPer declined to name those who hadn�t been able to win President Sirisena�s confidence. Samarasinghe said President Sirisena had been left with no alternative but to endorse the names, more..

Apr 26 (CNT) A female elephant shepherds her calf between her legs. It scurries beneath her belly, following her trunk and disappearing from my sight as they pass through the tall grass. For a moment, I have to remind myself I�m in Sri Lanka, not somewhere in Africa. Despite the Sri Lankan elephant being noticeably smaller and darker than the African elephant, the setting feels similar: thick brush, muddy earth, a large pool of water where the animals drink. more..

Apr 26 (CT) The 16 SLFP MPs who left the Govt, in the wake of supporting the No-Confidence Motion filed against PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, have decided to meet former President and incumbent MP Mahinda Rajapaksa soon, before taking future political decisions, informed sources said. Former State Minister T.B. Ekanayake said that a written request had already been submitted to Rajapaksa to provide them with a convenient date and time to hold the proposed meeting. more..

Apr 26 (CT) There will be no reshuffle of UNP Ministers at the next Cabinet reshuffle, political sources said. They said that there will be no changes in the UNP Cabinet Ministers as they had already been reshuffled. The proposed reshuffle was not taken up at the weekly Cabinet meeting held on 24 April, though the SLFP Ministers, who had abstained from voting at the NCM against PM were also present, they said. more..

Apr 26 (DM) While stating that 3,000 police personnel will be deployed on Vesak Day for the security of the people and traffic controls in the Colombo City, SP Ruwan Gunasekara said five Vesak zones will be held in Colombo including 11 pandals. �We have arranged a special operation on Vesak Day ensuring the security of the people and the traffic controls. 1900 police personnel will be deployed around the Vesak zones while 1100 will be deployed as traffic police officers. more..

Apr 26 (Island) The UNP had commenced a disciplinary inquiry against Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake for publicly criticising UNP leader and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe earlier this week, Minister John Amaratunga said. "Ramanayake�s actions are deplorable. He has criticised the PM and stated that Wickremesinghe has to go. Only the Working Committee can criticise the party leader. We have already commenced a disciplinary inquiry against Ramanayake," he said. more..

Apr 26 (Island) SLFP has told the UNP that those who had voted for the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against PM, should also be given Cabinet portfolios, if they were willing to accept them. 16 SLFP Ministers, State Ministers, Deputy Ministers and an MP (Deputy Speaker Tilanga Sumathipala) voted for the, moved on April 4, over PM�s alleged complicity in treasury bond scams, as well his failure to swiftly tackle recent extremist violence more..

Apr 26 (DM) Mayday is a signal. The term indicates a life-threatening emergency usually used by aviators and mariners, but also in some countries by firefighters and other working in difficult conditions. Apparently it was coined by a senior radio officer at Croydon Airport, London in 1923. He had been asked to come up with a distress-indicating word and had drawn it from the French word m�aider which means help me. It is unrelated to the holiday May Day, Wikipedia notes. more..

Apr 26 (DM) Sunday April 22 was World Earth Day � a day of vital importance for the people of Sri Lanka and worldwide because our failure to act as responsible citizens and get involved in the battle against global warming could lead to catastrophic consequences. It is a sacred duty. Thus all religions and all races need to work together though the US President Donald Trump -- predictably unpredictable and facing charges ranging from being a cad and a conner to collusion with Russia more..

Apr 26 (Roar) With Spielberg�s Ready Player One blurring the boundaries between the online and offline world, the rapidly growing phenomenon of eSports has been thrust once more into public consciousness. For many people, however, eSports is a central part of their day to day lives regardless of the latest hollywood blockbuster. Last December, Sri Lanka Cyber Games (SLCG) eSports Championship at SLECC saw more..

Apr 26 (DM) Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake, speaks about political reforms of the UNP. Q: There are talks about reforms to the UNP. What do you specifically expect in the name of reforms? A: There are certain ideas about reforms. The word that comes to my mind is change. There are certain changes that the party and its grassroots want. That is apparently felt by a lot of people. more..

Apr 26 (ST) Violence during the Avurudu season has doubled since last year with much of it caused by drunken, murderous frenzy. Most patients admitted to hospital over the season had deep cuts, crushed skulls, fractured bones and other injuries caused during brawls, the Deputy Director of National Hospital (Accident Services), Dr Samiddhi Samarakoon said. �The recent trend indicates that most injuries inflicted during violent incidents more..

Apr 26 (Island) The National Joint Committee (NJC) vehemently opposed the JVP�s move to abolish the executive presidency. Addressing the media, Gevindu Kumaratunga of NJC said the JVP had no moral right to propose a constitutional amendment to do away with the executive presidency and risk the country�s territorial integrity in the process. The briefing was attended by the members of the NJC, more..

Apr 26 (CT) Sri Lanka Society for Medical Laboratory Science (SLSMLS) yesterday (25) urged President Maithripala Sirisena to instruct Governors to work towards the development of their Provinces rather than working for their own benefit. SLSMLS President, Ravi Kumudesh alleged that his Union had brought several issues pertaining to the medical laboratory service of the Eastern Province to the attention of its Governor, more..

Apr 26 (Island) Sri Lankan professionals would be compelled to carry out crippling union action unless the govt scrapped the Free Trade Agreement it signed with Singapore, representatives from the Association of Engineers (AoE) said. "We have held discussions with a large number of representatives from professional bodies and trade unions on Tuesday. If the govt is not willing to scrap this deal that would have more..

Apr 26 (DN) The new Family Budget Unit will look into solving the economic issues faced by families in the country and look into a family�s expenditure, income and the ways in which the country�s economy impacts individual families, said PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. He was speaking at the new Family Budget Unit of the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs which would look into the family economy which held its inaugural more..

Apr 26 (DM) Former MP Joseph Michael Perera says that he has resigned from the UNP Working Committee, in protest of the appointing of Ravi Karunanayake as the party�s Assistant Leader. The former minister stated that he walked out of today�s Working Committee meeting and vowed never to return again. �I am against Ravi Karunanayake as Assistant Leader. I said it is not right for me to express my views then and more..

Apr 26 (CT) Minister Faiszer Musthapha said, while Provincial Council Elections should be held this year, the final decision regarding this matter is vested in the Parliament. �I have presented the relevant Delimitation Report to the Parliament, and the Parliament has the power to amend and bring in a new delimitation. This means that the Parliament, which is supreme, can take any decision. more..

Apr 26 (NR) The Working Committee of the UNP has approved the names proposed by the Politburo for new posts within the party. The Working Committee of the UNP convened this morning under the patronage of party leader PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. New National Organiser of the Party Minister Navin Dissanayake said all appointments that were proposed yesterday are now in effect. more..

Apr 26 (CT) The Police admitted they were at times rendered helpless when tackling crimes and lawlessness in the country owing to several reasons. Such an open statement not only brings to light they are helpless in tackling crimes at times, but also the fact that the culprits are well connected, thus preventing the Police from taking any action. Law and Order is an essential component that enables every citizen to carry on with his or her day-to-day life with a sense of security. more..

Apr 26 (FT) Way back in 2009, the country�s economy was just $ 30 billion dollars and as at today, Sri Lanka is almost at three times the value touching $ 85 billion, which tells the pace of development that has happened in the last nine years. According to trading economics, the GDP from the construction industry in Sri Lanka where quarterly the value had increased from Rs. 142,133 million in 2016 to Rs. 157,734 million gives us an indication of the quarterly growth we see more..

Apr 26 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka and China, on Thursday launched the construction of a mega luxury mall complex in the heart of Colombo which will transform the island's capital into an attractive shopping destination in South Asia. Odel, owned by Softlogic Holdings Limited, will fund the construction of the new Odel Mall, which will be constructed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC). The mall will be constructed over 645,000 square feet and will be dubbed as more..

Apr 26 (AD) Ten university students including a Buddhist monk were arrested for attempting to forcibly enter UGC premises during the protest staged by the Inter-University Bhikkhu Federation (IUBF). Earlier, Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesting university students in front of the UGC at Town Hall, Colombo. The IUBF launched the protest march in opposition of hindering the enrollment of students for subjects of Buddhist Philosophy and more..

Apr 26 (DM) Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai has been a controversial establishment ever since its first unit was commissioned on March 2011. Power Plant, which adds 900 Megawatts to the National Grid through three generators using coal, was constructed at a cost of US $ 1.3 billion. However in Jan 2018 it was reported that this establishment was operating sans an Environmental Protection Licence (EPL) more..

Apr 26 (DN) Three businessmen in Buttala, including two brothers-in-law and their uncle, who had arrived in Dambulla to sell two gajamuthu for Rs. 7 million, were arrested on suspicion by the Dambulla Police on April 23. They are suspected to have obtained the gajamuthu by killing a tusker in the Yala sanctuary. Police said the Dambulla Police special operations unit officers, acting on a tip-off, persuaded the three suspects to have a rendezvous in Dambulla by discussing the deal more..