Mar 30 (Island) While the Sri Lankan contingent for the Commonwealth Games 2018 reach Gold Coast, Australia in portions, the shooting team, including three athletes and its manager, is set to leave the country this Thursday. The three-member shooting unit is said to have a potential silver medalist in Suranga Fernando, who have impressively performed at recent events conducted by the National Shooting Sports Federation of Sri Lanka (NSSF). But for the dismay of the athlete and more..

Mar 30 (EN) The re-authorised US GSP scheme enabling duty free exports will become effective for SL exporters from 22 April, Minister Rishad Bathiudeen said. �This initiative greatly strengthens relations with our biggest trade partner in the world and helps not only our exporters but US importers and US consumers as well,� he said. Sri Lanka will now benefit from the renewed US GSP Scheme until 31 Dec 2020. more..

Mar 30 (LP) Globally, 2.1 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water services. Furthermore, over 80% of the wastewater generated by society flows back into the environment without being treated or reused. This year�s theme for World Water Day is Nature for Water, with a focus on finding nature-based solutions to the water challenges we face. UNDP supported Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project (CRIWMP) is one such example of using more..

Mar 30 (SLA) A meeting between Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Vignewswaran and the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake took place at the Chief Minister's Office in Nallur, Jaffna on Thursday. The Commander in his discussion pointed out to the Chief Minister that Army is capable of providing leadership for school cadetting programmes if the provincial department of education seeks such assistance. more..

Mar 30 (DM) Gamini Marapana PC who appeared for Arjun Aloysius and Kasun Palisena in the revision bail application filed before the Court of Appeal yesterday, challenged the introduction of the bond report into the Magisterial Inquiry as it was inadmissible in a court of law. Therefore, the materials, based on which the Fort Magistrate had given the bail order on the suspects, cannot be regarded as evidence, PC said. more..

Mar 30 (DM) The UNP working committee had decided to put off taking action against Former Minister Ravi Karunanayake till it gets the opinion from the Attorney General on the recommendations made on the former Minister over the bond commission report, party sources said. The Bond commission recommended that legal action should be taken against Mr. Karunanayake if it is proven that he had committed some offence. The commission said Mr. Karuanayakae may more..

Mar 30 (Island) Leaders of the constituents of the UNP-led United National Front, at a meeting with PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, yesterday, pledged to vote against the motion of no confidence moved by the Joint Opposition. The meeting, which commenced around 4 pm at Temple Trees lasted for more than three hours, according to sources. The meeting was not open for the media. Among notable absentees was SLMC Leader Rauff Hakim. The SLMC has 8 MPs in the current Parliament. more..

Mar 30 (Island) Provincial Councils and Local Govt Minister Faiszer Musthapha said that the no-confidence motion against PM Ranil Wickremesinghe would have no negative impact on President Maithripala Sirisena. Responding to Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardena outburst on Wednesday, Minister Musthapha said that the statement clearly showed that Minister Abeywardena had no legal knowledge or more..

Mar 30 (DN) The Commission to Investigate the Allegations or Bribery or Corruption is investigating affairs of former Sri Lankan Ambassador in Moscow Udayanga Weeratunga to ascertain how he had amassed assets running into billions within a short duration. The Commission had received a complaint against Weeratunga during the time the FCID started investigations into his alleged financial misappropriation involving the purchase of MiG aircraft. more..

Mar 30 (DN) The National Dengue Control Programme will be held in 50 high risk MOH areas in 15 districts from April 3 to 9, Health Ministry sources said. The sources said dengue control teams would visit house to house and private and state institutions, especially schools, to inspect whether they have dengue mosquito breeding sites. All parents should clean schools on April 7 to prevent mosquito from breeding in schools during the school vacation, the sources said. more..

Mar 30 (Island) A tug-o-war between two groups of UNP Working Committee (WC) members on whether the party should introduce reforms forthwith ended with the group loyal to party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe winning. Winners want reforms postponed until after the no-confidence motion debate and vote in Parliament scheduled for April 4. The WC, comprising a majority of members appointed by the party leader, more..

Mar 30 (DM) Sri Lanka�s King Parakramabahu the Great, is famous for what he said, �Let not a drop of water flow to the sea without serving the people�. He is also famous for constructing the world�s largest man-made lake � the Parakrama Samudraya. Sri Lanka had a system of Wewas or man-made lakes that filled up during the rainy season and provided water during the dry season to Sri Lanka�s traditional rice-growing areas, the plains below the central mountains, extending from North to South, more..

Mar 30 (DM) When the allegations that a fraud running into billions of rupees in the process of a Central Bank bond sale in Feb 2015 was first levelled by Opposition MPs, the UNP would not have thought that the issue would have the potential of deciding its fate. Therefore, they denied the allegation and defended those who were accused of the fraud, even writing books on the matter. However, the bond scam turned out to be the main cause for the humiliating defeat of the UNP more..

Mar 30 (DM) 1. FROM WHOM IS THE PRESIDENT RUNNING AWAY? NO CONFIDENCE MOTION HAS BEEN BROUGHT AGAINST THE PM, SO WHY IS THE HEAD OF STATE RUNNING AWAY FLYING TO PAKISTAN?? GUILTY CONSCIENCE?? HAS HE FINALLY REALIZED THAT HE IS PRESIDENT TODAY BECAUSE OF RANIL?? �OH WHAT A TANGLED WEB WE WEAVE WHEN FIRST WE PRACTISE more..

Mar 30 (DM) Prof. Channa Jayasumana, a leading academic who has done extensive research into kidney disease in Rajarata, speaks about Glyphosate and its impact on the spread of the disease. Also, he compares the disease pattern in SL and India. Q: How do you view the move to ban the use of weedicide called Glyphosate? It is an unwise proposal. The ban on Glyphosate should not be lifted due to any reason. more..

Mar 30 (ST) The daily routine of Mutthan Theiventhiran, 72, involves first praying at the Kilinochchi Kandaswamy Kovil in the morning where he seeks divine help for the return of his missing son and then joining fellow protesters at a temporary shed near the kovil. This has been his routine for at least a year. Theiventhiran�s forehead bears Vibhooti, the sacred ash he receives after prayers, reflecting his devotion to the cause of more..

Mar 30 (MB) Visitors to the Sinharaja Man and Biosphere Reserve, Sri Lanka�s largest remaining primary rainforest, could easily miss the fact that adjoining the forest�s entrance is the old and thriving community of Pitekele. Yet on foot, it takes just a quick turn and a climb over a boulder or two to exit the UNESCO World Heritage Site and enter into this bucolic village landscape of fallow rice paddies, more..

Mar 30 (CT) On the minds of many Sri Lankans these days is the state of politics in our country as one of our most enduring politicians UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe faces an immensely challenging period in the coming two weeks. In more developed democracies such as India, European countries and North America, the party in power at the centre does not really impact the daily lives of people, but in SL it is not so. more..

Mar 30 (DM) Law and Order has become the most controversial subject the Yahapalana Govt has had to deal with for the past three years. Very recently Ranjith Madduma Bandara took over as Minister-Law and Order. When handing over this Ministry, which till then came under the purview of PM, to Bandara the Premier gave specific instructions to the new Minister to compile a report on National Police Commission & its working. more..

Mar 30 (DM) Startling revelations are now coming to light as to how Sri Lankans too are getting actively involved in human trafficking. But there is a failure on the part of the authorities concerned in taking adequate action against these law breakers which has raised eyebrows in the society. Although the CID, SL Foreign Employment Bureau and the Department of Immigration and Emigration are closely keeping a check on more..

Mar 30 (DM) The govt has invited the power struggle between China and India into the country by handing over national assets to these two countries, former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said. He said Hambantota Port was leased out to China by the govt citing false reasons and India was offered the Mattala Airport afterwards. �We had plans to make port viable. After coming to power, this govt stopped all projects for 2 yrs. more..

Mar 30 (CT) There will be no gas or milk powder price increases, Ministry of Finance Information Director Mohammed Ali Hassen said. He said that this assurance was given by Sathosa CEO Dr. Mohamed Faraaz Shaul Hameed and Ministry of Industry Additional Secretary Indika Ranatunga at a press conference. Other Govt officials present at this occasion included those from the Consumer Affairs Authority and more..

Mar 30 (DM) While welcoming the President�s decision to move the Central Bank which was under the PM�s purview back to the Finance Ministry, the joint opposition yesterday said however, the said decision could be regarded as closing the stable after the horse had bolted. President Maithripala Sirisena, in an Extraordinary Gazette issued on Wednesday, moved two key institutions; the Central Bank and the SEC; more..

Mar 30 (CT) The recent incident where a student in Ganemulla was, allegedly, harassed as her mother was believed to be HIV positive has once again raised concerns on the existing education system. The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has called for a swift investigation into the incident as well. There are allegations levelled by the student�s family against the school and vice versa. Although there are many aspects that need to be cleared in this scenario, more..

Mar 30 (FT) Right now, the JVP is set to back the Opposition move for a vote of No-Confidence on the Prime Minister. Has any member of that party reflected on the meaning of such a judgment in terms of the end-goal or purpose of the party? In the original days of the JVP, it had a clear sense of purpose. Whether that purpose or general goal had been right or apt or realistic is another issue altogether. The important thing is that the party had a clear and unambiguous eventual goal more..

Mar 30 (CT) Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has stated that intervention at critical points has ensured the right to education of a school girl who was subjected to harassment due to her mother having participated in a programme to raise awareness of HIV prevention in 2017. When the girl, who was attending a school in Ganemulla at the time, was harassed to the point she couldn�t attend school, the Commission had intervened to uphold her right to education. more..

Mar 30 (DM) SL consumer prices rose 4.2% in March from a year earlier, but eased from the previous month�s 4.5% rate, govt data showed. Core annual inflation, which excludes fresh food, energy, transport, rice and coconuts, rose 3.4% in March on an annual basis, easing from the previous month�s 3.5%. The index has a revised base year of 2013 and market basket. On a month-on-month basis, the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) fell 0.4% in Mar, compared with a 0.7% decline in Feb, more..

Mar 30 (DM) The only option to prevent the removal of the prime minister on a no-confidence motion and protect yahapalana govt was for PM Ranil Wickremesinghe to step down before April 4, State Minister Dilan Perera said. He said the UPFA, SLFP and the UNP wanted to protect the govt and continue till 2020 but the only roadblock was the PM and therefore he should resign from the post and save himself, Prez Sirisena, govt and more..

Mar 30 (Island) A no-confidence motion must be brought against Minister Mangala Samaraweera for co-sponsoring a UNHRC resolution without obtaining the approval of the President or Parliament, retired Navy Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera said. Former UPFA MP however was certain that Samaraweera had obtained the blessings of PM Ranil Wickremesinghe when he got Sri Lanka to co-sponsor UNHRC Resolution 30/1 in 2015. more..

Mar 30 (AT) On the night of Feb 22, four drunken Muslim youths traveling on a three-wheeler in Sri Lanka�s Kandy district beat up a Sinhala Buddhist truck driver because he had not allowed them to overtake his truck. The police arrested the assailants but released them on bail. Although intelligence officers had warned that the incident could be used to instigate ethnic tensions in the area, the police did not take immediate action. After the truck driver died and his body was being taken from more..

Mar 30 (DM) The Coca-Cola Company President/CEO James Quincey who met Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe during his maiden visit to Sri Lanka recently has made a US $ 50 million commitment to SL. �Affirming the company�s commitment to SL, Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partner, committed to contribute US $ 50 million into the ecosystem of the country over the next 5 years,� media communiqu� said. more..

Mar 30 (Island) SL youth had given the govt a stern warning at the recently held LG election, Minister Sagala Ratnayaka said at the Yowvunpura (City of Youth) Int'l Youth Camp. "It is up to us to learn from this and create a better future for the youth. It�s our responsibility to guide the youth in the right direction." He said that youth by nature held radical views and they played a decisive role at all elections. "This is true if you look at 1956, 1977, 1994 and even the Jan 2015 election. more..

Mar 30 (NR) A Nepal national has been arrested at the BIA with lumps of heroin. Police said the suspect had swallowed the heroin. The Nepalese national has been admitted to the Negombo Hospital and is being administered medicine to pass the lumps of heroin. The individual had arrived in Sri Lanka from Dubai via Pakistan around 8:40 this morning. Police said the Nepal national was produced before the Minuwangoda Magistrate�s Court and was ordered to be held under detention orders. more..

Mar 30 (NR) The UNP says the No-Confidence Motion against PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and the govt will be defeated without a doubt. MP Kavinda Jayawardene said if any Minister within the govt were to vote in support of the No-Confidence Motion, they must tender their resignation from their post with immediate effect the very next day. MP Jayawardene stressed even though certain Ministers of the SLFP representing the govt have more..

Mar 30 (Island) Bathymetric surveys on four out of seven sites identified by the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry to develop as fisheries harbours in the North and North East have been completed by the SL Navy. Accordingly, SLN has completed the survey on topographic and hydrographic elements for the planning and designing of the proposed fisheries habours. The final report of the surveys was handed over to the Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera by more..

Mar 30 (EN) Central bank said it will continue to accept defaced currency notes and exchange them for good ones until further notice given difficulties faced by and requests from the public. The central bank had earlier announced the service of exchanging wilfully defaced currency notes would be stopped after 31 March 2018. �Considering the immense requests made and the difficulties faced by the general public in exchanging wilfully defaced currency notes after 31.03.2018, more..

Mar 30 (AD) State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena says that MPs of the SLFP cannot oppose the no-confidence motion against PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. He stated that a committee was appointed to look into the CB bond scam and submit a report, during an SLFP Central Committee meeting, and that out of the 15 points in that report, 13 are included in this no-confidence motion. more..

Mar 30 (PSL) President Maithripala Sirisena today opened the newly constructed Polonnaruwa District Labour Office. This state-of-the-art three- storey Labour Office located in the Kaduruwela Town, Polonnaruwa and this new building which consists of all facilities has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 158 million. Around 50,000 employees in 3,000 various institutions in Polonnaruwa district can obtain daily services through this new office. After declare open of the new building more..

Mar 30 (DM) Buddhasasana Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said today the govt had decided to prohibit pandals on Vesak and Poson Poya Days to stress the need to focus on the spiritual aspect of religion rather than on mundane activities. He said that the govt had made this decision to safeguard Buddhist principles and encourage Buddhists to engage in spiritual activities during Vesak & Poson. He said this move had also been approved by Mahanayake Theras. more..