Aug 13 (TM) Colombo�s highly anticipated Orion City Towers opened last month. The 500,000 square foot structure will be occupied by Sri Lanka�s corporate sector and forms a part of the developmental master plan of the Orion City IT Park. The towers at 85 meters- offer up to 20 levels of office space for rent with ancillary facilities such as retail and commercial areas, a boutique sky hotel, green eco decks and a sky courtyard. The topmost floor holds a fully equipped gym, business centre, more..

Aug 13 (Island) Those on drives off Dale Steyn and the pull shots off Kagiso Rabada from rookie Oshada Fernando stunned all those who watched proceedings at Port Elizabeth as Sri Lanka became the first Asian nation to win a Test series in South Africa. Since then his snubbing from the World Cup squad earned a firm rebuking from former great Aravinda De Silva and there will be more dissenting voices after Chairman of Selectors Ashantha De Mel on Sunday confirmed that more..

Aug 13 (Island) The Island of 08.08.2019 carried a news item reporting the testimony made by the Chairman of the Procurement Appeals Board (PAB) at the PCoI, with regard to the tender floated by the Ministry of Education (MoE) in 2017 for the purchase of tablet computers for distribution among A/L students and teachers in selected schools. He has said that a lot of issues surrounding the distribution of tab computers more..

Aug 13 (Island) Hayleys PLC, SL�s most diversified conglomerate, demonstrated resilience in challenging conditions to record an improvement in turnover and operating performance during the first quarter of the 2019/20 financial year. The Group�s turnover grew by 4% to Rs.52.6 bn during the period, upheld mainly by the top line growth in Hand Protection (+10%), Purification (+24%) and Textiles (+41%) sectors. Consolidated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation & amortisation more..

Aug 13 (FT) SLT Group has announced a growth of 42% YoY in Operating Profit to reach Rs. 4.5 billion in the first half of this year. The growth momentum was driven by better management of costs and increase of revenue by 7.9% YoY to Rs. 42.6 billion with significant contributions from its key business portfolios of fixed and mobile broadband services, global business, career domestic, enterprise intelligent business solutions, PEO TV services, National Backbone Services, Digital Services. more..

Aug 13 (ST) Athletic Association of SL, which was inaugurated in 1922, have failed to rake in a local sponsors for this year�s National Championships to be from August 16 to 18 at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo. However, the Asian Athletics Association has come forward to fund with USD 5,000 for this year�s local national meet, which is considered the ultimate Selection Trial for forthcoming South Asian Games (SAG). more..

Aug 13 (FT) US Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells, who is in SL while on a visit to the region, will meet Minister Tilak Marapana today. Acting Assistant Secretary Wells yesterday visited the St. Anthony�s Shrine in Kochchikade, one of the churches bombed by Muslim extremists on 21 April, and laid a wreath in remembrance of the victims. Envoy assured that the US continues to work with SL and partners around the world to fight terrorism. more..

Aug 13 (DN) Regional Plantation Companies (RPC) are not re investing as much as private tea smallholders, Minister oNavin Dissanayake told the 125th AGM of Colombo Tea Traders Association (CTTA). He said the RPC�s should do more replanting and also look into introducing more scientific methods towards the tea industry. He said that this had resulted in 73% of tea exports been done by tea smallholders. The govt has supported them and during the last few years, more..

Aug 13 (TM) The Govt of Japan will be sending a team of officials to Sri Lanka in the near future to conduct skills tests for qualified workers under a Memorandum of Corporation (MoC) signed with the Govt of SL in June. SL Foreign Employment Bureau Deputy General Manager R.K.K.M.P. Randeniya said that preparatory work for the skills test is being carried out at the moment and upon completion, Japanese Govt will announce more..

Aug 13 (DM) In the midst of a campaign going within the UNP to name its Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa as the party's candidate for the upcoming Prez Election, its General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam today said the party should safeguard its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, who he said had achieved much during the recent times. Minister made this remark at a ceremony held to distribute compensation to farmers whose crops were destroyed during the recent drought. more..

Aug 13 (ST) Sri Lanka Tourism is for the first time funding an airport expansion � the northern airport in Palaly that is scheduled to be operational by the end of August. By the end of August it will be ready for operation and that�s the plan, he said noting that the airport has been funded through monies allocated from the SL Tourism Development Fund (Rs.1050 million), CAA and the Airport and Aviation Services Ltd. (Rs.900 million), and the Indian govt (US$2 million). more..

Aug 13 (RN) Minister Mangala Samaraweera says the selection of Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the presidential candidate for the SLPP shows that �in the mind of Mahinda Rajapaksa, SL, it�s land and its people are destined to be the private property of the Rajapaksa family.� The Finance Minister says Mahinda Rajapaksa�s message to the people �is that one of his brothers should be president, he himself should be PM, more..

Aug 13 (FT) The Ambassador-Designate to Thailand Samantha K. Jayasuriya assumed duties at the Sri Lankan Embassy on 8 August. Addressing the staff members, Jayasuriya shared her vision and plans for the Embassy, aiming at furthering the ongoing cordial bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Thailand. She further highlighted the need to build upon the long-standing and rich cultural and religious ties, as well as strengthening trade, investment and tourism, more..

Aug 13 (PI) Titanium Sands Ltd�s due diligence results have confirmed the continuity of the high-grade heavy mineral zone over a strike length of at least 8 X 2 kilometres through its acquisition tenure in Mannar Island. Last month, TSL had entered into an agreement to acquire a substantive 38 square kilometre tenure package that complements the company�s existing extensive tenure at Mannar Island in northwest SL. Part of the due diligence investigations being undertaken by TSL more..

Aug 13 (FT) Spinning a fresh take on an old analogy, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said even though the Rajapaksa family was attempting to return to power with a new party, new candidate, and new slogans, voters must understand that �a kobeyya (dove), whether it is fried or cooked in milk, is still a kobeyya, and will never be a rajaaliya (eagle).� Speaking in Kurunegala, PM pointed out that the announcement of more..

Aug 13 (Nikkei) The U.S. govt's new military blueprint in the Indian Ocean is facing headwinds in Sri Lanka, a strategically located South Asian island also being courted by India, China and Japan in a scramble for geopolitical influence. In the crosshairs is a Status of Forces Agreement initially signed by the countries in 1995, paving the way for the U.S. military to access Sri Lanka for logistics. But Washington's push to negotiate a new military cooperation deal under the SOFA, more..

Aug 13 (DM) Ten senior police officers including Senior Superintendent (SP) W.S. Nishshanka, the Director of the Judicial Security Division, had been transferred. The police said SP Nissanka had been transferred to the Police Headquarters. They said seven assistant superintendent of police (ASPs), a chief inspector (CI) and an inspector (IP) were among those who were transferred. Accordingly, the transferred ASPs were: C.R. Kottahachchi was transferred to the Police HQ from more..

Aug 13 (AD) The convention of the SLPP commenced this evening at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium under the patronage of Leader of the Opposition MP Mahinda Rajapaksa. At the commencement of the convention Chairman of SLPP, Prof GL Peiris proposed that MP Mahinda Rajapaksa take up the post of Chairman of the SLPP. MP Rajapaksa said a leader who prioritises the country is essential for country�s growth. more..

Aug 13 (Island) SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday flayed the UNP govt for offering compensation to the tune of Rs. 100,000 if a school going child perished in a terrorist attack. Addressing the inaugural SLPP convention at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, Mahinda Rajapaksa asked whether the country needed such a govt that equated life of a precious child to a quantity of money. Ridiculing the offer made by the govt in the wake of the Easter Sunday attacks, more..

Aug 13 (DN) Millennium Challenge Corporation�s (MCC), US $480 million grant to SL, is an opportunity that would help radically transform the public transport system in the country, said Nishan de Mel, Executive Director - Verite Research. As per the MCC Sri Lanka Compact, out of a US$ 480 million grant, US$ 350 million would be used to develop transport logistics infrastructure. He further said, that SL is a country that has missed an opportunity to transform its public transport more..

Aug 13 (FT) Amidst much spectacle, deafening cheers, and countrywide fireworks, Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday accepted the Prez candidacy of the SLPP, pledging to be a leader who will walk the talk and deliver development to a united and secure Sri Lanka. The maiden SLPP National Convention on Sunday received the younger Rajapaksa with a standing ovation at the packed Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium after more..

Aug 13 (DM) Minister Sajith Premadasa said that he would contest the forthcoming Prez Election without fail and that he expects the support of people in the country. After opening the Se-Dasungama - 246th model village in Demategama in Thirappane in Anuradhapura District under the Gam Udawa programme, the minister was responding to a query directed at him by someone in the audience. He said, �I am ready to contest the forthcoming Prez Election. I need support of Rajarata people. more..

Aug 12 (EN) Gothabya Rajapaksa, named the candidate for Sri Lanka Podujana Party led by his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa promised an environment for private sector growth and quick implementation of govt plans and tight national security. "I see my candidature as an opportunity given by progressive forces to make a revolutionary change in SL's future," Rajapaksa told a party rally in Colombo, soon after his brother named him as the candidate for upcoming presidential polls as more..

Aug 13 (AD) SLPP Presidential Candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa states that he would not allow anyone to interfere with SL�s sovereignty. He mentioned this at the first-ever SLPP National Convention held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium yesterday. At the convention, former Defense Secretary Gotabaya was named as the SLPP Candidate for the upcoming Prez Election. He stated that he is ready to provide leadership to more..

Aug 12 (DM) Over the past two-and-a-half months Hong Kong, a former British colony and now a part of the People�s Republic of China (PRC), has been in a continual state of turmoil. Demonstrations in Hong Kong which began over plans which would have allowed extradition of criminals from Hong Kong to mainland China - later put on hold - have now spread to reflect wider demands for democratic reform, the resignation of Hong Kong�s leader Carrie Lam, an independent inquiry into more..

Aug 12 (DM) In the midst of rising public support for former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, SLPP�s Prez candidate especially from sections of floating voter has attracted a few clandestine flirtings by senior members of SLFP and UNP too. The former defence secretary has received the green light from big brother Mahinda Rajapaksa officially. He successfully renounced his US citizenship in order to contest the election. Politically astute MR sanctioned Gota�s candidacy more..

Aug 12 (ST) Prez Sirisena has sought a determination from the Supreme Court to conduct early PC polls but has also pledged to support the opposition�s potential presidential candidate, Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He initiated both these measures before leaving Colombo for Cambodia last Wednesday. Prez Sirisena wants to ascertain from the SC whether he could conduct PC polls after gazetting the Delimitation Report and more..

Aug 12 (CNA) Sri Lanka�s political landscape is fragile than ever - with frequent protests, no-confidence motion and a dysfunctional govt. Elections Commission chairman Mahinda Deshapriya announced earlier last month that presidential elections will be held between Nov 15 and Dec 8. Although the nominees have yet to be confirmed, both Prez Sirisena and PM Wickremesinghe may contest for presidency. more..

Aug 12 (TM) The opening of the Lotus Tower has been further postponed due to some security concerns. Commission member of the TRC, G.B.K. Perera, said the security forces had requested the opening be further delayed in order to resolve any security weaknesses. �The military informed us that there may be issues regarding security. The Army is doing an analysis and will submit their recommendations to us.� more..

Aug 12 (DN) Galle Chief Magistrate Harshana Kekunawela further remanded the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th suspects of the Avant Garde floating armoury case until Aug 23 and ordered that a complete medical report on the 7th suspect should be submitted to the court. Further remanded suspects are the 4th respondent, former Chairman of Rakna Lanka Security Firm Victor Samaraweera, 5th respondent, retired Major General Palitha more..

Aug 12 (Island) The UNF will field a candidate who can defeat his SLPP counterpart, Minister Rajitha Senaratne says. Addressing a ceremony held at Matugama to declare open a renovated bridge on the road linking Matugama and Alutgama at a cost of Rs 2,300 million, he said the Rajapaksa camp was due to name its candidate on Sunday but the UNF was ready to field a candidate who could secure the victory. more..

Aug 12 (TM) A UN Special Rapporteur is to submit a report critical of Sri Lanka at the Sept session of the UNHRC. Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation, and Guarantees of Non-recurrence will submit a report based on a visit to Sri Lanka in 2017. Pablo de Greiff, who was the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Guarantees of Non-recurrence, visited Sri Lanka in Oct 2017. more..

Aug 12 (Island) Minister Ravi Karunanayake has, recently, said that the public believe all politicians are rogues. The people despised lawmakers regardless of the political parties they represented, Minister said at an event held in Moratuwa to mark the 78th birth anniversary of Tyronne Fernando. In memory of Tyronne Fernando, the organisers of the event provided essential items to 600 pregnant women. more..

Aug 12 (Island) JVP has decided on its candidate for the forthcoming prez polls but the name will not be revealed till Aug 18, says party�s General Secretary Tilvin Silva. Silva declined to say whether it was party leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake or its Kalutara District MP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. Instead, he said that his party would not be the only party in a progressive front contesting as a single block & it was unfair for him to reveal name more..

Aug 12 (CT) Chairman of Elections Commission, Mahinda Deshapriya told Ceylon Today, that nearly 100 election monitoring foreign personnel would be in Sri Lanka during the upcoming polls, for the probable presidential poll, that is to be held before 7 December this year. He also said that Commonwealth Election Observers and European election monitoring heads will also be here with their teams. more..

Aug 12 (AD) The manager of a renowned salon in Chapel Street, Slave Island has been clubbed to death by a group of youths, last night, stated the Police. Reportedly, the manager had arrived near the salon with his girlfriend when a group of youths nearby had teased the girlfriend. A disagreement had occurred over the incident between the youths and the manager. However, this had escalated into the youths assaulting more..

Aug 12 (DM) Karuwalagaswewa PS member Dimantha Ekanayake had been arrested with heroin in Anamaduwa this afternoon. Police said 28-yr-old PS member, a resident of Karuwalagaswewa, was arrested by the officers of the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) in Colombo when he was travelling in a three-wheeler on the Anamaduwa-Puttalam Road. PNB recovered 700 milligrams from the suspect's possession. He was to be produced in Anamaduwa Magistrate's Court. more..

Aug 12 (Island) Amidst differences of opinion in the UNP over its 2019 presidential election candidate, Sujeewa Senasinghe MP, non-cabinet Minister has proposed significant amendments/additions to the proposed constitution of the Democratic National Front (Draft dated 28th January 2019) on behalf of an influential section of the parliamentary group. 2019 presidential aspirant UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa wants their nominee elected before the formation of the DNF. more..

Aug 12 (FT) With the news release that the govt is going to introduce a new Monetary Law Act, commonly known as MLA � the law under which the present CB has been established � to make the Bank more independent, many concerned citizens have begun to express their views on the subject. This is a salutary development since in a democracy, it is essential that the public speak up in public supporting or opposing any public policy being formulated by public authorities. more..