May 29 (Island) Ministry of Education changed the bidding deadline for applications for the tender to provide tab computers for GCE A/L students and their teachers on four separate occasions, Prez Commission investigating frauds under the current administration was informed. Keerthirajah Ananda Kumar, Sales Manager at Abans said that the bid document and its schedules had also been changed twice. more..

May 29 (CT) The BBS will hold a special Sangha Convention on 7 July where they are expected to announce proposals aimed at overcoming many of the challenges faced by the country. BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera said they will hold the special Sangha Convention and the proposals in this regard will be made public. He said that currently the proposals were being drafted by the BBS and requested the public also to submit their proposals to the BBS. more..

May 29 (DN) The reduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) from 15% to 5% which is a part of the financial relief package that the govt introduced to support the tourism sector in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday attack has created a new problem to hoteliers. �With the reduction of output VAT rate to 5% all our input VAT of 15% is now disallowed,� Chairman, Tourist Hotels Association of SL (THASL), Sanath Ukwatte said. Thus an additional cost of 15% is incurred on their operations. more..

May 29 (FT) The Govt yesterday outlined measures taken to re-establish national security and to continue development work following the 21 April extremist terror attacks, while insisting on political parties should abstain from opportunistic agendas. �It is been one month and six days after the Easter Sunday extremist terrorist attacks, and as a responsible Govt we have been able to provide the families of diseased and injured some relief. more..

May 29 (Island) Ramadan festival prayers - falling probably on June 5- must be confined to mosques only instead of celebrating it in the open this year, says the All Ceylon Jamiathul Ulama (ACJU). The premier Islamic cleric body has requested devotees to refrain from travelling to mosques by vehicles on the day of the festival. "Those who require vehicles must share it with others while travelling to mosques for festival prayers," ACJU said. The ACJU also insisted that the administration of each more..

May 29 (Island) The Court of Appeal yesterday re-fixed for June 31, the re-hearing of the petition related to the destruction of the forest bordering the Wilpattu jungle. On May 27 Justice Mahinda Samayawardene, recused himself from hearing the case. The re-hearing will be before a bench without him. Centre for Environmental justice, had complained against forest destruction, citing as respondents, forest conservator, Director General of Wildlife & Minister Rishad Batiudeen. more..

May 29 (Island) NFF Leader Wimal Weerawansa requested the Most Venerable Mahanayake Theras of Malwatta and Asgiriya to summon a meeting of political leaders of the country such as the President, PM and Leader of the Opposition and the top religious dignitaries including the Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith to formulate a national action plan to wipe out ISIS terrorism from Sri Lanka. more..

May 29 (AD) Leader of the Mahasohon Balakaya Amith Weerasinghe, who was arrested over espousing racial and religious hatred among communities, has been further remanded until 04th of June by the order of the Colombo Additional Magistrate. Magistrate declared that a decision on the bail application will be delivered on that date. Leader of the Mahasohon Balakaya Amith Weerasinghe was arrested by police on 14th May in Teldeniya, Kandy for allegedly espousing more..

May 29 (FT) On a representation made by Muslim MPs on Saturday, President Maithripala Sirisena agreed to look in to allegations that some of those arrested during the raids include innocent civilians who have no links to extremism or terrorism. The members of the delegation included Ministers Rauff Hakeem, Rishard Bathiudeen, M.H.A Haleem, State Ministers Seyed Ali Zahir Moulana, M.S. Ameer Ali, Deputy Minister Abdullah Mahroof, MPs A.H.M. Fowzie, M.S. Thowfeek, M.I.M. Mansoor, more..

May 29 (PTI) A two-member team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is in Sri Lanka to hold discussions with authorities about a probe in the Easter Sunday bombings over claims that some terrorists, owning allegiance to ISIS, had travelled to India, including Kashmir, officials said today. NIA team is led by Inspector General Alok Mittal, who has probed various ISIS-related cases in South India, including a conspiracy by more..

May 29 (FT) Following the launch of a national media campaign on Safe Labour Migration, the key messages of the campaign are being taken to the masses through a series of awareness programmes across the island. The first phase of the activations, which will cover 200 locations in the 25 districts in total, came to a conclusion recently with positive feedback from the public. The activations have been initiated at present and conducted in 25 locations to date, with the aim of covering 200 locations more..

May 29 (DN) Pakistan Under 19 team beat Sri Lanka Under 19 by three wickets in the second Youth ODI match to level the series 1-1 at Mahinda Rajapaksa Int'l Cricket stadium Hambantota yesterday. Sri Lanka Under 19 team won the toss and elected to bat. They scored 208 runs for 8 wickets in 50 overs. Right hand middle order batsman Avishka Tharindu scored 54 runs in 78 balls with 5 boundaries and left hand batsman Rohan Sanjaya scored an unbeaten 45 runs more..

May 29 (AD) The complaints received by the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital regarding the conceiving complications which appeared following the caesarean sections performed by Dr. Mohamed Shafi have risen to 120. On May 26th, the Police urged the public to come forward with any complaints of Dr. Seigu Siyabdeen Mohamed Shafi having carried out illegal sterilization. 69 complaints were lodged against Dr. Shafi yesterday, more..

May 29 (DM) Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara in a Fundamental Rights Petition filed before the Supreme Court today pleaded for an interim order preventing the President from dismissing him from office. The Petition said that the order by the President to send Jayasundara on compulsory leave had violated his Fundamental Rights. The Petition urged the suspension of the order made by the President to send IGP Jayasundara on compulsory leave. more..

May 29 (AD) A new commander has been appointed to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), stated President�s Media Division. Air Vice Marshall Sumangala Dias of SLAF was promoted to the rank of Air Marshall, today (29). Subsequently, he was then appointed as the new Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force. The new Commander received his letter of appointment from President Sirisena this morning at the President�s Official Residence. Meanwhile his predecessor Air Marshal Kapila Jayampathy, more..

May 29 (AD) Special Parliamentary Select Committee looking into the terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday assembled at 9 a.m. this morning and media persons were also allowed to witness the inaugural meeting of the committee. Defence Secretary General (Rtd) Shantha Kottegoda was summoned to the meeting to testify before the committee. The Committee will look into whether intelligence officers had received information more..

May 29 (CT) President of the Bar Association of SL (BASL), Kalinga Indatissa (PC) in a statement said that though the Executive powers vested in the President through the Constitution were unquestionable, the exercise of this power should be based on sound legal principles and reasoning. He was referring to the Presidential Pardon granted to Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera last week. The BASL said that Prez Sirisena should not have exercised his Executive powers to grant more..

May 29 (Island) The Sri Lanka Medical Association yesterday called on all members of the medical profession to refrain from making hasty and ill-considered statements on the issue with regard to Dr Shafi Shiyabdeen allegedly conducting unconsented sterilisations on mothers who sought his services for C-Section operations. A statement signed by Dr. Anula Wijesundere, President - Sri Lanka Medical Association, on behalf of Council of the Sri Lanka Medical Association said: more..

May 29 (AD) New appointments to ministerial posts and stated ministerial posts have been made by Prez Sirisena, today. Accordingly, two new Ministers and a State Minister have been sworn in this morning. UNP MP Wasantha Senanayake has been appointed as the State Minister of Foreign Affairs. Ranjith Madduma Bandara has been sworn in as Minister of Rural Economic Affairs in addition to his current more..

May 30 (ST) The question uppermost in the minds of most persons is whether the peace of the Vesak weekend was the turning point to peaceful conditions and economic recovery. There are signs that the country is getting back to normal with the fear psychosis diminishing though not eliminated. This return to peace and normalcy is an essential condition for economic recovery. The assurances of the Army Commander, PM, Prez and State Minister of Defence that there is no threat more..

May 30 (CT) Our politicians, of all hues, have done a marvellous job. Really they have. Since the Easter Sunday carnage, more than five weeks ago, they have systematically and deliberately carried out a campaign to distract all Sri Lankans from the main issue. The issue is, quite simply: Who knew about the impending suicide bombing attacks, and why did they not act to prevent them? How have they done this? Quite simply, by diverting our attention from the main issue by creating other issues. more..

May 30 (CT) Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera says that Sinhala Buddhists have become anarchists in the country. �Today the Sangha is engaged in politics and the politicians are preaching sermons.� Q: What do you think now about the months that you were imprisoned? A: I think that is similar to doing a postgraduate degree in a university. I learnt a lot of things. At the same time, I received more..

May 30 (ST) Even as BBS Boss Gnanasara Thera shed his shameful jailbird jumper and adorned himself with the saffron robe of the Buddhist Sasuna and slipped through a back door exit from Welikada jail on Thursday afternoon, many questions arose as to the wisdom of the President�s rash decision to grant the wayward monk special presidential pardon and let him walk a free man. He had insulted in open court the judge and the entire judicial system; and had been found guilty of contempt by CA more..

May 30 (CT) While the whole country is eager to uncover the truth about the 4000 illegal sterilization procedures supposedly done by a Senior House Officer attached to the Gynecology and Obstetrics Unit of Teaching Hospital Kurunegala, the allegations alone raises much more sinister issues which may very well be critical to the very existence of the noble profession. Along with the allegation of doing thousands of illegal sterilization procedures during Caesarian Section of Sinhala Buddhist more..

May 30 (CT) General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva says that they are totally opposed to the Counter-Terrorism Act. �Democracy and human rights should not be sacrificed on behalf of national security.� Q: An opinion has been created that there is a danger of a dictator-type military ruler coming into being due to the political instability that is building up in SL. How does JVP see this? A: No military administration will be built up more..

May 30 (DN) In a move that was not entirely surprising, President Maithripala Sirisena last week pardoned Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, who had been jailed for Contempt of Court. The presidential decision was not surprising because there was speculation that it would eventuate. Nevertheless, it will have significant repercussions on the current socio-political dialogue in the country. The incident for which Gnanasara Thera was convicted dates back to 2016. more..

May 30 (DN) Every cloud is unique and has its own different silver lining, the Easter Sunday carnage triggered an unprecedented religious and racial unity among Sri Lankans. The celebration of Easter or the Paschal mystery of Christ is the principal feast in the Liturgical calendar of the Church. This year the coincidence of Palm Sunday with Sinhala and Hindu New Year made a great opportunity for all to show their unity devoid of differences like race, religious, caste, creed, and customs and more..

May 30 (Island) Research is something that's only encouraged at higher levels of education in SL. Although the govt introduced project work for A/Levels in the late 90's, lack of guidance and facilities hamper original research. In a system where originality and creativity is often stifled by the lack or resources and capital, the work of Institute for Research and Development goes a long way to creating a high quality research culture. The Institute for Research and Development is more..

May 30 (Island) The 77th birth anniversary of Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera fell yesterday. Various ceremonies were held to mark the event with the participation of some govt bigwigs who would still have been in the political wilderness but for the fearless monk, who was instrumental in bringing down the seemingly monolithic Rajapaksa administration, in 2015. What would Sobitha Thera do, if he were alive today, on seeing the yahapalana leaders drifting away from his ideals? more..

May 30 (Island) Colombo Fort Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne, yesterday released a female attorney-at-law who was charged with obstructing the duty of a woman constable performing her legitimate duty at the entrance to the Colombo High Court and causing minor injuries to the latter on Rs. 100,000 surety bail. While the lawyer was entering the Colombo High Court on Tuesday, the woman constable on duty more..

May 30 (SLN) SL Navy removed logs and branches of trees clogged underside of the Wakwella bridge in Galle, as prior preparation of averting a possible flood to the area, today (28). The metrological Department has predicted that the intermittent rains prevailing now might increase in the forthcoming days and accordingly it will cause to raise the water level of rivers in many areas. Therefore, bamboo bushes and other debris of trees which had blocked the Wakwella bridge over the Gin ganga, more..

May 30 (ST) On Easter Sunday, our country after many years of peace was shocked and shaken by a terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 250 plus, men, women, and children. The usual post disaster record was played by the powers that be: a) Compensation would be paid. b) A disaster would NEVER happen again, c) The rest of us Sri Lankans would be hit by our national disease�the 21 day memory loss syndrome.�.. we will forget the incident after approximately 21 days. more..

May 30 (Island) Household electricity tariff would not be increased while plans were in the pipeline to increase reserve capacity by up to 25% of the total generation and the additional cost would not be passed on to the consumer, said Minister Ravi Karunanayake. Minister told The Island that the increase in reserve capacity would not to be passed on to consumers as the CEB had cut down the cost of a unit of power. more..

May 30 (EN) Sri Lanka's should phase out term repurchase deals now that bank credit has slowed, allowing the central bank to be a net buyer of dollars, and floor of the policy corridor is active. Central bank should instead shift to progressively selling down its Treasury bill stock. Sri Lanka's floor policy rate window, called the standard deposit facility rate, where new money generated from dollars purchased by the central bank is deposited is now 8%. more..

May 30 (ICC) With scores below 300 becoming increasingly rare in modern ODI cricket, a new fan of the sport could be forgiven for thinking that big-hitting batsmen were the nucleus around which the entire game evolved. There is, however, at least one player involved in this year�s ICC World Cup 2019 who disagrees with the view that power hitting is integral to a strong limited-overs team. When asked if he was worried at the lack of recognised hard-hitting batsmen in the Sri Lankan squad, more..

May 30 (CT) Turkish Embassy in SL rejected the statement made by Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera during a televised programme on a private channel on 27 May. Ven. Gnanasara Thera had said, �A special fund from Turkey has been set up and money amounting to US$ 40 million flows into the country. What�s the purpose of this? This operation is aimed at creating tensions, propagating false ideas and influencing radio, television more..

May 30 (EN) SL's farmers are estimated to lose about 80,000 metric tonnes of maize, or a quarter of the expected production in Maha cultivation season, mainly due to fall army worm infestation, the state agricultural office said. SL's farmers had cultivated 88,154 hectares of maize this season, on the back of better rainfall up from 63,926 hectares last year. But 43,576 hectares had been damaged by fall army worms, drought and floods. The pest started widespread crop damage from last year. more..

May 30 (DN) It is unprecedented for SL to have no less than 17 players from a touring squad of 26, including a 23-year-old captain, making their international debut for Asia�s premier rugby tournament. There have been precedents in the past when rookies have been appointed to lead such as South Africa�s Graeme Smith (cricket) and England�s Will Carling (rugby), both of whom were just 22 when they were picked to captain their country. When selected players withdraw at 11th hour more..

May 30 (IE) 5.45 AM, Victoria Coach station, London. Every week, around 2,000 immigrants arrive here, bleary-eyed, haggard, stepping out of long-distance buses for a coffee and often a smoke. Africans in hoods, Romanians and, of course, the Polish. Not a bad place to ponder over the Brexit mess and the cricket World Cup that starts Thursday. With hardly any promotional signs visible at coach station and elsewhere in London, more..