May 18 (DN) �Almost 98.7% of tax preparers have a chance of being automated. 93.5% of accountants and auditors routine work will be handled by machines,� Past President Chartered Accountants SL (CA), Lasantha Wicramasinghe said. Wicramasinghe was the chief guest at the Certificate Awarding Ceremony of the Corporate Level Soft Skills Programme organized by CA Sri Lanka. The award ceremony was for additional modules developing the soft skills of candidates at more..

May 18 (FT) Sentiment surrounding the economy continued to deteriorate in April with a mere 9% of respondents saying it will improve in the next 12 months in the latest monthly survey for LMD-Nielsen Business Confidence (BCI). A businessperson remarked at the time of the survey in early April that �although the rupee has appreciated slightly, it is still not performing well. Due to this, import prices remain high, taxes need to be paid on imports and the margins that our business can maintain more..

May 18 (CI) There will only be 92 dansal this time around in the Western Province, a first in recent times, the Association of Public Health Inspectors (PHI) said. PHIs said the reduction in dansal was due to the current situation in the country, following the Easter Sunday blasts. Meanwhile, 6,000 dansals were registered last year throughout the country, the number has drastically reduced this year according to the PHI. more..

May 18 (CT) President of the All-Ceylon Lottery Dealers Association (ACLDA), B.S.S. Marasinghe said the total sale of lotteries in the country has declined by 50 per cent since the 21 April Easter Sunday attacks. He said the sale of lotteries countrywide had seen a drastic and sharp decline with the people not venturing out to cities due to the prevailing situation. Agent who had sold around 5,000 lotteries daily had since 21 April seen sales being reduced from 2,080 to 1,820 per day. more..

May 18 (SWI) Switzerland�s ministry of foreign affairs has expressed deep concern over the recent flare-up in tensions in SL. It urged the govt of the South Asian island nation to �do everything in its power to safeguard and strengthen the peace and stability in the country.� The appeal comes on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the end of civil war in SL. The conflicted last 30 years and claimed tens of thousands of civilian victims. More than 50,000 Sri Lankans thought refugee in Switzerland. more..

May 18 (CT) The military will commemorate the 10th Anniversary of eradicating the brutal terrorism that plagued SL for nearly 30 years in a grand manner and noted that it respects the right of every citizen of this country to remember or commemorate any civilian killed during war as long as it is within limits of the law. Army Commander Lt. General Mahesh Senanayake said that while over 20,000 military members sacrificed more..

May 18 (AD) President Maithripala Sirisena in his capacity as the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces has promoted 38 senior army officers to their next rank in commemoration of National War Heroes� Day, which falls on Sunday (19). The promotions have been made on the recommendations of the Ministry of Defence and Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake. Accordingly, two Colonels of the SL Army Volunteer Force (SLAVF) more..

May 18 (DN) I extend best wishes to all celebrating Vesak, a sacred occasion to millions around the world. On this day marking the Birth, Enlightenment and Passing of the Buddha, all of us, Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike, can reflect on his life and draw inspiration from his teachings, states UN Secretary General Ant�nio Guterres in a Vesak message. The message: �In a time of growing intolerance and inequality, Buddha�s message of non-violence and service to others is more relevant than ever. more..

May 18 (Island) Deliberate attempts were being made by influential interested parties to divert public attention away from the Easter Sunday carnage, the worst ever single act of terrorism in Sri Lanka directed at civilians, a senior spokesperson for the Catholic Church said. Nearly 260 persons perished in coordinated attacks on three churches and three Colombo hotels. Well organised attacks on the Muslim community more..

May 18 (DN) Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa states Buddha�s message is even more relevant in the 21st century than it was two and a half millennia ago in his Vesak message. Full message: �Vesak is the most sacred day in the Buddhist calendar. It is a day Buddhists across the world revere the Birth, the Enlightenment and the Parinibbana (passing away) of the Buddha is celebrated this year with a heavy heart. �Penning this message down less than a month from tragic attacks on Easter Sunday, more..

May 18 (DN) Vesak Full Moon appears in the sky as the dark clouds of terror cast a shadow over our nation. There is a sense of anxiety and grief throughout society. In such troubling times, the sublime teachings of The Buddha shows us the way to unite spiritually and find common purpose in our humanity, states PM Ranil Wickremesinghe in a Vesak message. The message adds: �The Enlightened One taught us the path to liberation of the mind. It is relevant to each person more..

May 18 (DM) Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education and Human Resource Development has discussed the conversion of the Shariya Uni in Batticaloa into a public-private institution with the uni management. The members of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education and Human Resource Development include Professor Ashu Marasinghe, Rohini Kumari Wijeratne and S. Viyalendran, who all visited more..

May 18 (Island) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday advised the UNP Communications Wing to be cautious when releasing information to the media, because it could jeopardize ongoing investigations into the recent attacks on churches, hotels, houses and business establishments. Addressing members of UNP Communications Wing, he said that they should assist the Police and army who were engaged in tracking down the suspects responsible for the violence. more..

May 18 (DN) Born in the Kingdom of Shakya of Bharath Deshaya, in the sixth century B.C., Prince Siddhartha attained Enlightenment at the shades of Bodhi at Buddhagaya and Passed Away at the Sacred Sal Uyana of Kusinara and this day of Vesak, which is triply blessed by those sacred events of the Buddha, is celebrated with much devotion and faith, states President Maithripala Sirisena in a Vesak message. The message: �Strolling along the banks of rivers, more..

May 18 (CT) A top security official said heavy security will be given to some of the country�s major Buddhist shrines such as the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura and the Kalutara Bodhi in view of Vesak Poya which falls today. He said the Tri-Forces and the Police will provide security to thwart possible attacks from Jihadist terrorists. �We have also increased security at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya and more..

May 18 (DM) Amid the tight security in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday suicide bomb massacres and the backlash three weeks later, SL celebrates Vesak today. This thrice-blessed day marks the birth, enlightenment and death (parinibbana) of Siddhartha Gauthama the Buddha. Due to the security situation, Vesak this year will be more spiritual and largely confined to temples where hundreds of thousands of people are expected to take part in Prathipatthi poojas, Aamisa more..

May 18 (DM) Commercialism, in the recent past hijacked the commemoration of the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha, initially through temples and Buddhist organizations and gradually in a direct approach, labelling a brand name to call it, Vesak kalapa. They exhibit numerous varieties of �Dhatu� or relics from temples as a crowd puller. If all Buddha relics spread across the Earth were brought together, the height of the enlightened one would measure few more more..

May 18 (BBC) It's been 10 years since the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka. For thousands of people, missing family members and friends are a constant reminder of the trauma of the conflict. This is the story of Father Francis. On 18 May 2009, a brutal conflict which lasted almost three decades came to an end. It's estimated that at least 100,000 people lost their lives. Many thousands are still missing. War was fought along ethnic more..

May 18 (DM) Elections Commission wants direct intervention by the govt to conduct provincial council polls before the presidential election and has sought a meeting with Prez to take a final decision on this matter. Election Commission Chairman, Mahinda Deshapriya said that the EC met Speaker on May 9 and PM on the 16th and discussed the possibility of holding PC polls before the prez election expected by the year end. more..

May 18 (EN) Sri Lanka's forex reserves had dropped US$ 416 million to US$ 7,212.7 billion in April 2019 from 7,629.2 billion rupees in March, official data showed. In April 2019 Sri Lanka had to repay a US$ 500 million sovereign bond. Foreign reserve values could go up because of interest earned on the dollars, inflows to the govt or private sector, which exceed outflows due to weak domestic credit. more..

May 18 (MB) For Nataraja Kumar, 47, a fisherman from Guru Nagar, a sleepy coastal village in Sri Lanka�s north, it�s no longer possible to continue with his traditional livelihood. �I went fishing as a 10-year-old boy with my father and grandfather. But I will not train my son to be a fisherman. There�s no fish to catch,� he tells Mongabay. Fishing is Kumar�s only life skill, and he has five mouths to feed. Having failed to eke out a living more..

May 18 (CT) Govt doctors yesterday alleged that State Minister of Health (SMH) Faizal Cassim was negatively impacting the health services of the Eastern Province with his racist activities. In a letter to President Sirisena, Secretary of the GMOA, Dr. Haritha Aluthge claimed that GMOA branch unions in the East had informed the GMOA�s Executive Committee regarding Cassim�s discriminatory conduct towards health services of the East. more..

May 18 (AJ) Former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, accused by rights groups of war crimes during the final months of Sri Lanka's long-running civil war a decade ago, has confirmed he plans to run for the presidency in the wake of the Easter Sunday attacks that have shattered the country's uneasy peace. Rajapaksa, the brother of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, told Al Jazeera that he would stand as more..

May 18 (FT) An amended version of the Madrasa Education Regulatory Bill to regulate madrasas will be presented to Cabinet following discussions with the Attorney General�s Department and the Muslim Affairs Ministry, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said. He said discussions with stakeholders, including the Muslim Affairs Ministry and AG�s Dept will continue, and the amendments would be included in a fresh draft more..

May 18 (TG) A family whose planned summer holiday to Sri Lanka will have to be cancelled have expressed disbelief after their travel insurer refused to cover their losses, but told them they would be uninsured if they went ahead. Sam Williams says his annual travel policy with Ecclesiastical turned out to be worthless after it emerged it would not cover the cancellation of his trip in the wake of the Foreign Office more..

May 18 (AI) On the tenth anniversary of the end of Sri Lanka�s three decade-long internal armed conflict, Amnesty International calls on the govt of Sri Lanka to end impunity and put accountability for crimes under international law and human rights violations and abuses at the heart of its transitional justice process. The horrific Easter Sunday attacks on 21 April 2019, that killed more than 250 people at 3 churches and 3 hotels, more..

May 18 (IANS) As Sri Lanka on Saturday marked the 10-year anniversary since its brutal civil war came to an end, the country finds itself again at a crossroads following the Easter Sunday bombings that ripped through the nations fragile peace and fuelled some of the islands worst fears of returning to violence. The island nation was set to commemorate the end of the bloody armed conflict between the govt and the LTTE. more..

May 19 (SO) Ten years ago, Sri Lanka finally ended a bloody conflict that spanned three decades. It is particularly tragic that the week preceding this milestone was marked by calls to guard against a repeat of July 1983, which likely sparked the full-blown war over Tamil separatism. Before the riots of July 1983, the LTTE numbered a few dozen scrappy militants operating largely in Jaffna. For four long days, the mobs pillaged and killed. Some estimates claim up to 3000 Tamils were killed, more..

May 19 (CT) Remember Arun Sitharth Maithreyan, the Tamil youth from Jaffna who came into the limelight a few months ago? The AVAA Group�s member�s appearance before electronic media came at a time when the said group was alleged being behind a number of incidents that took place in the North and the East, most memorable of such incidents being the killing of two policemen who were on duty in Vavunathivu. (It was later revealed that the group of extremists who carried out more..

May 19 (SO) Army Intelligence Major Prabath Bulathwatte has been back in the spotlight after Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake stunned civil society in a television interview last week, announcing that the officer, who was interdicted for allegedly running the white van squad responsible for a slew of attacks against journalists, had been reinstated into a team under Senanayake�s more..

May 19 (Island) Vesak could not have dawned on this trouble-torn land at a better time. The occasion, when the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha are commemorated, is the time for self-reflection and pursuit of inner happiness which is not attainable without love and compassion towards others. The most important of the achievements of ancient Lankans inspired by Buddhism was popular morality, which has sadly been in decline. more..

May 19 (ST) Vesak, celebrated by the Buddhist world and marked by the United Nations due to the efforts of a Sri Lankan Christian Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, is being observed in this country in a sombre way this year. The reverberations from the Easter Sunday multiple bombings on churches and hotels still resonate throughout the country; the Government trying desperately to avoid more mayhem by those responsible for the April 21 attacks. more..

May 19 (CT) The two armoured trucks roared down the street raising a cloud of dust and ash as they reached the smoldering eastern end of the Minuwangoda Town, which had, on the previous evening, been targeted by heavily armed mobs hunting for Ethnic Muslims and their homes and establishments. Perhaps the armoured trucks, loaded with soldiers in full battle gear and armed to the teeth, had arrived much too late simply more..

May 19 (Island) An obviously spontaneous outbreak of violence over a Facebook post in the Chilaw town in the Puttalam district, soon resulted in several non-spontaneous and obviously organized attacks on Muslim-owned shops and business establishments in places like Kuliyapitiya, Bingiriya and Dummalasuriya in the neighbouring Kurunegala District and also in places like Minuwangoda in the Gampaha district. While the clash in Chilaw, which is supposed to have sparked off more..

May 19 (SO) Aftermath is the entirety of all consequences of a disastrous event. In the stupor of grief following Easter Sunday, it now seems that we have not ceased to finger our foulest wounds as the Russian poet observed in her poem written a century earlier in 1919. When confronted with a mindless mass murder in the most horrific fashion what do we do? The natural response of those who witnessed the horror from a distance as well as those who survived the event at more..

May 19 (ST) My dear Velu, I am writing to you after a very long time. I thought I should, even though you are now in the Land of Never Return. That is because it is exactly 10 years to the day since you left us, meeting your end in a watery grave at Nanthikadal. You may want to know how we are, since that fateful day 10 years ago. You will be annoyed to know that since your departure, we had almost 10 years of peace. I say �almost� because it lasted a month less than 10 years, more..

May 19 (ST) Bleary-eyed, I was woken up by the shrill rings of the landline. As I picked it up, I was distracted by the barking of the neighbourhood dogs. Looking out of the window, I could see they were disturbed by the presence of Kussi Amma Sera, Serapina and Mabel Rasthiyadu engaged in a conversation at the gate � this time not as usual under the Margosa tree. Pity, because the Margosa tree conversations gave a lot of food for thought and ideas for the column. more..

May 19 (CT) Former President and incumbent Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa in an interview said, a terrorist of religious extremism doesn�t really have a religion. His beliefs don�t represent a religion or a race. Q: The country is yet to return to a state of normalcy following the Easter Sunday attacks. As former President, do you see at least some sort of a peaceful state? A: This is a very unfortunate situation. more..

May 19 (ST) Senior Deputy Solicitor General (SDSG) Sumathi Dharmawardena, who was instrumental in preparing the proposed match-fixing Law, has been promoted Additional Solicitor General (ASG) of the Attorney General�s Department. He is a member of the Appeal Board of the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency. In addition, he advises the Ministry of Sports with regard to Legal matters, including drafting new legislation to prevent corruption and match-fixing in Sports. more..