Aug 12 (SO) A case of contempt of court caused by loudmouthed behaviour in court does not always receive a high degree of national and even international attention. But when it involves a member of the clergy, and that cleric has had a record of being seen publicly behaving in a similar or more disruptive manner in other state institutions and towards public officers, then, public attention is firmly fixed. Factor in this cleric�s inflammatory posturings of inter-ethnic confrontation, more..

Aug 12 (CT) Minister and entrepreneur Daya Gamage speaking to agro based entrepreneurs in Colombo said 20% of the country�s population belong to the cannot work category. Those comprised 2.5 million elderly, two million disabled and 650,000 widows. SL had a population of 21.44 million as at last year end, according to latest official data. However, this category of helpless adults numbering 5.15 million according to Gamage�s statistics is closer to 25% and not 20%. more..

Aug 12 (SO) There were scenes of chaos when thousands of railway commuters turned their ire on Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) staff after railway unions launched a lightning strike at 3pm last Wednesday, leaving passengers stranded on their way home from work. Pawns between a war waged by the Railway trade unions and the Ministry of Finance, hundreds of thousands of passengers were stranded in and around Colombo, as unions more..

Aug 12 (ST) Just when one has to condemn doctors going on strike holding the general public hostage, the railway men decide to act � like doctors. The fact that railway men struck work only days after a rail accident due to their negligence causing grievous hurt to passengers is an irony. That irate commuters were prepared to assault the train drivers and hurt them during the strike is not an irony; it is a very real trend that might lead to civil commotion in time to come. more..

Aug 12 (Island) The wisdom of an old saying that the opposition must have its say while the govt will have its way has not paled, judging by the speaker�s decision last week that TNA leader, Mr. R. Sampanthan, will continue to be recognized as the leader of the opposition. JO has been making a lot of noise on this matter; given the fact that the JO claims that it commands the allegiance of 70 MPs against the TNA�s 16, even the ranks of Tuscany must concede the strength of their case. more..

Aug 12 (CT) A visit to the Mannar mass grave site on Monday morning, 6 August 2018, Ceylon Today witnessed several officials calmly excavating human skeletons under army and Police guard. Professor R. Somadeva, who has a PhD in Archaeology and Ancient History at the Uppsala University Sweden, is in charge of the Mannar excavation. At the time we visited, he was busy cleaning off soil covering the skeletons more..

Aug 12 (ST) My dear Karu, I am writing to you because you seem to be in the news these days for a variety of reasons, getting involved in the proposed pay hikes for MPs and the opposition�s request for a new Leader of the Opposition. I don�t agree with some of your decisions and I thought I should tell you why. MPs wanted an increase in their salaries only after the salaries of judges were raised. Now, Karu, it has been a long-standing tradition that the salaries of MPs are raised whenever more..

Aug 12 (ST) A small group of mischievous boys were running down the road with one singing, Avilla, avillaa � karadara kaley � avilla (The troubled period has come)�, to the tune of that popular Avuduru favourite, Avilla� avillaa Sinhala Avurudda avilla. There was a small commotion near the gate when Kussi Amma Sera along with Serapina and Mabel Rasthiyadu, shouted at the youngsters, Oyalata pissuda (Are you crazy)?� making a feeble attempt to chase them away. more..

Aug 12 (Island) South Eastern University in Ampara, has been in the news for the wrong reasons of late. Recently TV news bulletins showed footage of university staff and security personnel armed with wooden clubs raiding the hostels of the university looking for students who had been suspended who might still be in the university premises. Such a thing would never take place in any other university in the country and it was a clear indication that this university was marching to a different drum. more..

Aug 12 (ST) The JO claim to the post of Leader of the Opposition in Parliament is not entirely new. Ever since the last General election, when a sizable number of MPs who contested under the UPFA decided to sit in Opposition, and distance themselves from those who decided to be in Govt with the UNP, the JO has struggled to gain legitimacy as the true Opposition in Parliament. This week things came to a head when they sought a definitive ruling on the matter from Speaker more..

Aug 12 (CT) Tormented by constant fuel hikes and instant strikes, the masses of the country were seen resorting to violence last Wednesday (8) when they decided to protest against the railway employees who went on a lightning strike. Hundreds of stranded commuters flocked in front of the Fort Railway Station and demanded politicians, including President and PM to come to the spot and resolve the matter. more..

Aug 12 (Island) Strangely, some of the finest leaders the world has seen have had their terms cut short due to unfortunate circumstances. John F. Kennedy one of the most charismatic US Presidents was in office for less than three years. The equally enigmatic Cardinal Albino Luciani, who became Pope John Paul I in August 1978 had one of the shortest papacies in the history � one month. Cricket is no different. Sangakkara captained SL for less than 2 years before he threw in the towel. more..

Aug 12 (ST) As Sri Lanka and South Africa are set to lock-horns for the final time in the ODI series today at the R Premadasa Stadium each wanting to prove a point, home captain Angelo Mathews believes he can make a big impact in the remainder of the series and put things back on track. This weeks victory in the fourth ODI was Sri Lanka�s first in 11 encounters against South Africa, and they will go in search for another win for a more respectable 3-2 series defeat. SL won the Test series 2-0. more..

Aug 12 (CI) Danushka Gunathilaka, Jeffrey Vandersay and Lasith Malinga - three players currently out of favour with the cricket establishment - could all find their way back into the SL team. So says coach Chandika Hathurusingha who, albeit not a selector, exerts substantial influence in selection decisions. Like captain Angelo Mathews and batting coach Thilan Samaraweera, Hathurusingha believes SL are yet to identify the combination of more..

Aug 12 (ST) Finally national swimmer Akalanka Peiris will be able to do some multitasking while training in Indonesia for the Asian Games. The nineteen-year-old Peterite who bagged nine �A�s at the GCE O/L Exam is sitting his A/L Exam which started on August 6. Yet, he was also selected to participate at the Asian Games in Indonesia and is a pivotal part of the swimming relay team, which comprises the Abeysinghe brothers, Mathew and Kyle, Cherantha de Zoysa & Akalanka Peiris. more..

Aug 12 (ST) Court of Appeal (CA) has ordered sports authorities to include a 15-year-old tennis player in a doubles event for the upcoming Asian Games after her parents took legal action to overturn her exclusion from the tournament. Savini Jayasuriya, the country�s number two-ranked tennis player, was directed by the CA to be named for either a women�s or mixed doubles event. While she had initially been included by tennis selectors for participation in the multidisciplinary sporting more..

Aug 12 (CT) Sri Lanka is set to send their largest ever contingent to the Asian Games with the total being 255 which includes 177 athletes representing 30 sports disciplines, will fly off to Indonesia later this month for the 2018 edition. The team includes 135 male, 43 female athletes together with 66 officials which makes up a total of 243. This will be joined by Chef de Mission, deputy chef de mission, four medical staff and six Head quarters and more..

Aug 12 (CT) Former national cricketer Asela Gunaratne nudged the selectors with a superb all round display to help Sri Lanka Emerging team to beat the South African Emerging by five wickets, in the second Unofficial One Dayer played in Dambulla yesterday. With this win Sri Lanka win the series 2-0 with one to go. Gunaratne�s bowling restricted the visitors to 267 all out as he captured four wickets for just 30 runs. He grabbed the last three wickets giving away only two runs. more..

Aug 12 (ST) Sri Lanka secured the third place after beating Singapore 26-12, after a near flawless playoff second half at the one-off Asian Under-20 Sevens Series at the Kings� Park in Hong Kong yesterday. After allowing Singapore to breach the defence and take an early lead the Junior Tuskers bounced back but trailed the first half 7-12. Eventually Sri Lanka made a serious approach in the second half to completely outplay the Singaporeans and finish off in style with more..

Aug 12 (EN) SL urban planners have been exposed to the latest Japanese urban planning and design methods under a Japan Int'l Cooperation Agency (JICA) program to modernise Kandy city. JICA is supporting development of the Greater Kandy Urban Development Plan under a technical cooperation project with the island�s Urban Development Authority (UDA) to modernise the hill country capital. more..

Aug 12 (Island) The Hayleys conglomerate sitting on a large extent of prime real estate close to the Eye Hospital Junction/Lipton Circus has completed plans for a mega property development project of two office towers, each 50-storeys high, but is awaiting the grant of concessions allowed to similar projects to begin work. "The site has been tested, the plans drawn and we�re ready to start," Mr. Sarath Ganegoda, who heads the project told a media conference held on Friday. more..

Aug 12 (AD) The railway trade unions engaged in strike action have decided to operate several train services. Secretary of the Locomotive Engine Operators Association, Indika Dodamgoda, said that the decision was reached following a discussion held today (11) with the participation of representatives of the trade union engaged in the strike. He stated that although they decided to operate several train from this evening in response to the request made by authorities, more..

Aug 12 (ST) Several amendments are to be made to the Inland Revenue Act (IRA) this month withdrawing certain taxes imposed on savings accounts of small children and local artistes. Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera will present these amendments in parliament for its approval before the end of this month. The 5% withholding tax imposed on children�s bank savings accounts under the age of 18 will be removed after passing more..

Aug 12 (ST) Sri Lanka�s apparel industry is negotiating with Korea and Indonesia to buy fabric to secure a complete duty waiver exporting to the European Union (EU) under the GSP + concessions. Fabrics from Korea and Indonesia are said to be of a higher quality and purchasing from these countries would help Sri Lanka obtain a complete waiver of the duty concessions under the GSP + trade with the EU, Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association President Felix Fernando said. more..

Aug 12 (Island) Over 150 teams from across the globe will gather at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico in Mexico City, Mexico, from the 15th to the 18th of August for the First Global Challenge (FGC) 2018. The FGC is an annual international robotics competition, which takes place in a different nation each year. Themed around the 14 Grand Challenges of Engineering identified by National Academies of Engineering, each year a different Grand Challenge takes center stage more..

Aug 12 (CT) Parliamentary corruption watchdog, the COPE reprimanded top officials of the CEB for attempting to meddle with the regulatory work of the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) by issuing � what they termed - threatening letters. In a letter dated 13 July 2018, addressed to the Chairman PUCSL, the General Manager of the CEB, A.K. Samarasinghe, stated that the CEB has no means to process more..

Aug 12 (SO) Nine new meet records were established on the third day of the 44th edition of the National Age Group Swimming Championship at the Sugathadasa Indoor Swimming Complex yesterday. In the U-17 boys 100M backstroke Shevinda de Silva from St Joseph�s College set the new record clocking 1:02.05 and broke the record set by Imesha Chathuranga (1:02:86) in 2014. Lasith Saranga from St Sebestian�s College Moratuwa was placed second with 1:07.99 and Chamindu Lakshan more..

Aug 12 (EN) Reports of an illegal phone tapping operation from a safe house in Pita Kotte has sparked fears that top politicians may have been targeted, according to a RTI request to the police chief. IGP Pujith Jayasudara has been asked under a RTI Act request about the alleged clandestine operation said to be carried out by a covert arm of the police outside standard intelligence gathering. Last week, it was reported that phone tapping equipment & software had been installed at more..

Aug 12 (Island) Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says he had offered to hold talks with V Prabhakaran to find a peaceful solution to the Tamil Question. But the founder of the LTTE wouldn�t listen. This left no alternative to physically eliminating him to end the bloody civil war that ravaged the island for over 25 years. Rajapaksa disclosed this during an hour-long informal breakfast meeting with this correspondent at his more..

Aug 12 (CT) Commissioner of Prisons (Rehabilitation), Chandana Ekanayake, urged a process of rehabilitation for prisoners on death row. He said �Rehabilitating such prisoners should go beyond capital punishment and we should strive to reintegrate them into society.� Adding he said, We should give everyone a chance, Meanwhile, the Prisons Chief said there were a staggering 1,262 convicts awaiting the death penalty. He spoke of some of the rehabilitation programmes more..

Aug 12 (NR) Chief Justice Priyasad Dep says the delay in conducting hearings can be prevented by introducing new technology to the judicial sector. Speaking during an event in Embilipitiya the Chief Justice said it will also ensure the efficiency in all activities related to the sector. CJ Dep meanwhile noted the delay in hearing cases is a common issue that can be seen worldwide. He stressed there are some cases where hearings have been conducted for over thirty years without a verdict. more..

Aug 12 (Island) Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake says that his successor, Minister Mangala Samaraweera, is being misled by a group of ministry and central bank officials. He said that a small group of officials in the finance ministry and the central bank were ruining the economy. "These officials have become the hindrance to develop the country and its economy. They lead Minister Samaraweera astray. more..

Aug 12 (CT) A top official of the Finance Ministry said that salaries paid to State sector workers had increased by a whopping Rs 290 billion in the past three years. He attributed the staggering increase to the Got being forced to grant salary increments to satisfy State workers who resort to strikes organized by trade unionists. This he said had a detrimental effect on the country�s economy as well. Granting salary hikes at the drop of a hat he said would lead to a serious situation as far as the economy more..

Aug 12 (ST) The countrywide railway strike is set to continue today, with the Govt and trade unions maintaining their tough stance. The Transport Ministry is insisting that the unions should end the strike action and come for negotiations, but the unions have rejected the call. Transport Ministry Secretary G.S. Withanage said that the railway unions had been invited to take part in a discussion with ministry officials on the issues concerned. However, he insisted that more..

Aug 12 (ST) Not only Sri Lankans, but the whole world knows that it was under the then Prez Rajapaksa that the LTTE was militarily defeated. That has never remained in doubt or a matter of dispute. Now, nine long years later, it is Prez Sirisena, who wants to record the history of how that defeat came about. The reason � he has been made to believe by his advisors and officials, who were nowhere near a battlefield, more..

Aug 12 (Island) Recent developments in South Asian countries, and foreign policy changes in China and the US towards South Asia, are causing alignment shifts and subtle tensions among South Asian countries, as well as between them and China and the US. The election of Imran Khan as PM in Pakistan has set the stage at least to start a new conversation between India and Pakistan, as well as between Pakistan and the US, and between Pakistan and China. more..

Aug 12 (Island) Yes, and yes again; whatever the promoters say of this blistering, glaring, stupendous port city that is being made to rise off the sea. Each time I see the expanding area of beige sand with cranes and vehicles and what not, my old heart sinks. What is Colombo in for? Why ever did the country start this project? A monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend. This was my architect son�s response when I asked him about the Port City project. more..

Aug 12 (ST) Russia will become the latest partner to train Sri Lankan troops and extend defence co-operation. For this purpose, the Govt has reached accord with a top level visiting delegation from Moscow. This is under a Joint Russia-Sri Lanka Working Group on Military Technical Co-operation. The terms of reference of the new arrangement were presented to last Tuesday�s weekly Cabinet meeting. more..

Aug 12 (ST) The Int'l Air Transport Association (IATA) this week criticised CEYPETCO�s opaque pricing for jet fuel and called for a transparent formula, warning that the soaring cost of refuelling in Sri Lanka was stifling the aviation industry. A team from the union of global airlines visited SL and sounded caution to officials, including those of the CPC, that jet fuel here is significantly higher priced than at other Asian airports. more..