Rising migrant flow to Spain could become 'big emergency': U.N.
WorldGENEVA (Reuters) - The rising flow of migrants to Spain from North Africa could evolve into a "big emergency" if the pace continues, the U.N.'s migration agency said on Friday. In addition, 121 migrant deaths have been recorded on the route, against 128 for all of last year. Migrants, who are part of a group intercepted aboard a dinghy off the coast in the Mediterranean sea, stand after arriving on a rescue boat at a port in Malaga, Spain August 7, 2017. "Obviously if this grows at the rate it's growing it could be a big emergency," Millman said, adding that other aid actors would have to help. So far this year 119,069 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea, with almost 83 percent landing in Italy and the rest divided between Greece, Cyprus and Spain, IOM said.
Source:Sunday Times
August 18, 2017 12:22 UTC
Cricket: Sri Lanka reach Lawyers World Cup semi-finals
SportSri Lanka lawyers' cricket team beat Bangladesh lawyers by 9 wickets to reach the semi-final of the 6th Lawyers' Cricket World Cup. Sri Lanka recorded an easy win in their last group match played at De Soysa Stadium in Moratuwa on Thursday and will meet Pakistan in the semi-finals at Colts grounds in Colombo. Bangladesh lawyers batted first and made 161-5 in 35 overs while Sri Lanka reached the winning target, losing just a wicket and with 16.1 overs remaining. Opener Yohan Jinasena hit a hurricane knock of 100 not out in 68 balls with 14 fours and four sixes. Bangladesh Lawyers 161 for 5 wickets (35) (A. Rahuman 30 n.o., D. Mukheerjee 34, Asela Patabendi 2/15)Sri Lanka Lawyers 165 for 1 wicket (18.5) (Yohan Jinasena 100n.o., Eshan Ariyarathnam 30, Priyantha Rajapaksa 20n.o.)
Source:Sunday Times
August 18, 2017 10:41 UTC
Norwegian Research vessel is to visit Sri Lankan waters next year for stock assessment of marine resources
NewsA Norwegian new Research vessel named Dr Fridtjof Nansen is scheduled to come to Sri Lankan waters next year for stock assessment of marine resources, a statement from Norwegian embassy said. The planning seminar is taking place in Colombo for the new Norwegian Research vessel Dr Fridtjof Nansen to come to Sri Lankan waters in 2018 to carry out a survey on the marine resources. The aim of the planned survey is to know the current status of marine resources including fish stocks and to investigate stocks of unexploited/ underutilized fishery resources on the continental shelf and slope. The last stock assessment for Sri Lanka has been carried out by the previous Dr. Fridtjof Nansen in 1978 to 1980. The new marine research vessel RV Dr Fridtjof Nansen is owned by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and is jointly operated by the Institute of Marine Research of Norway, and Food and Agriculture organization to help developing countriesimprove their fisheries management.
Source:Sunday Times
August 18, 2017 09:22 UTC
Lotteries' returns to Finance Ministry
A large and high-tech ocean Research Vessel (R/V) of the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), ‘ISABU’, arrived at t... Features & Analysis'Write' magazine a platform for budding young writers across the islandDo you remember the days where you’ve created something beautiful, but had no way of sharing it with the world?... Fifth edition of Colomboscope 2017 to get underway in SeptemberIn a move to draw in art tourism as a major component of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and bring in bigger ...'Ankara' serving up some delectable Turkish cuisine‘Ankara’ is the latest restaurant serving up authentic Turkish food in Colombo. The restaurant, down Mila...“Private and Confidential” - comedy drama by director Dammage Don Ariyawansa at the Punchi Theatre“Pudgalikai Rahasigathai” (“Private and Confidential”) a comedy-drama by the versatile direct...
Source:Sunday Times
August 18, 2017 09:00 UTC
'Write' magazine a platform for budding young writers across the island
‘WRITE’ magazine is a platform dedicated to budding writers between the ages of 16 and above, to publish their work. “It is true what they say about your bathroom being your thinking room,” the chairman of WRITE, Shehara Willie began. This had given them the idea to use the magazine to serve as a global network for writers one day. The first edition of ‘Write’ comes packed with 35 submissions that truly portray the talent of Sri Lanka’s younger generation. 400 and could be purchased from Barefoot Colombo and Expo Graphic (Battaramulla and Kandy)Interesting Facts revealed by the WRITE teamThey received over a 150 submissions from across the island.
Source:Sunday Times
August 18, 2017 07:58 UTC
Ryan Jayalath remanded
NewsThe Convenor of the Medical Faculty Students' Action Committee (MFSAC) Ryan Jayalath was remanded until August 23 after he surrendered to the Maligakanda Magistrate's Court this morning. He was wanted in connection with an incident on June 21, when a group of student demonstrators forcibly entered the premises of the Health Ministry and caused damage to public property. A warrant had been issued for his arrest after he failed to appear in court for a hearing on the case on August 10.
Source:Sunday Times
August 18, 2017 07:52 UTC
Fifth edition of Colomboscope 2017 to get underway in September
FeaturesIn a move to draw in art tourism as a major component of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and bring in bigger benefits to the country’s business ecosystem, hospitality giant Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts is hosting the fifth edition of the popular arts festival, Cinnamon Colomboscope 2017 this September. Cinnamon Colomboscope was founded by EUNIC Sri Lanka (Goethe-Institut, British Council and Alliance Française de Kotte) as a contemporary arts festival open to the public. Cinnamon Colomboscope 2017 aims to highlight these issues through arts, while triggering a progressive conversation on the topic of how toconserve planet Earth as we progress into new futures. Roshanie Moraes, Sadesh Paul, Nadija Tambiah, Udaya Nanayakkara, Sutheash Balasubramaniam, Dr. Petra Raymond, Menika Van Der Pooten and Sunimal Senanayake mark the collaboration for Cinnamon Colomboscope. Dr Petra Raymond on EUNIC's involvement as initiater of Cinnamon Colomboscope
Source:Sunday Times
August 18, 2017 07:52 UTC
New Foreign Affairs Minister Tilak Marapana
The National Lotteries Board and Development Lotteries Board have been brought under the purview of the Finance Ministry, Finance Minis... Features & Analysis'Write' magazine a platform for budding young writers across the islandDo you remember the days where you’ve created something beautiful, but had no way of sharing it with the world?... Fifth edition of Colomboscope 2017 to get underway in SeptemberIn a move to draw in art tourism as a major component of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and bring in bigger ...'Ankara' serving up some delectable Turkish cuisine‘Ankara’ is the latest restaurant serving up authentic Turkish food in Colombo. The restaurant, down Mila...“Private and Confidential” - comedy drama by director Dammage Don Ariyawansa at the Punchi Theatre“Pudgalikai Rahasigathai” (“Private and Confidential”) a comedy-drama by the versatile direct...
Source:Sunday Times
August 18, 2017 07:18 UTC
Eighteen year prison sentence sought for Sri Lankan man convicted of human smuggling
NewsLawyers in Canada are seeking an 18-year prison sentence for a man convicted of human smuggling for his role in the voyage of the MV Sun Sea, the dilapidated cargo ship that made the voyage from Thailand to B.C. 's coast with 492 Sri Lankan Tamils aboard seeking asylum, Canadian media reported. Christhurajah was tried with three other men who were all acquitted of human smuggling charges. Crown lawyer Charles Hough told the judge an 18-year prison sentence is appropriate. The Crown told the judge that this is a case of international organized crime and that a strong sentence needs to be imposed for deterrence and denunciation.
Source:Sunday Times
August 18, 2017 07:18 UTC
Govt deflecting public attention from corruption: Mahinda
NewsFormer President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that the government was trying to deflect public attention from corruption scandals. ‘As the corruption of the ‘Yamapalana’ government comes to light in dramatic and unexpected ways, they are engaged in a desperate attempt to deflect public attention by hauling members of my family to the CID and FCID’, he said. Even if such a special court is set up, what is the evidence that be placed before this court?. As the corruption of the yamapalana government comes to light in dramatic and unexpected ways, they are engaged in a desperate attempt to deflect public attention by hauling members of my family to the CID and FCID. Every member of the public knows that the same cannot be said about Ministers of the yamapalana government.
Source:Sunday Times
August 18, 2017 06:00 UTC
Intelligence officer caught with 2kg of gold at BIA
NewsA State Intelligence Services (SIS) officer attached to the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) has been arrested by Customs officials with 2 kilograms of gold jewelry concealed in his knee guard. The seized gold has been valued at Rs. The suspect was arrested while trying to smuggle the gold out of the airport through its Arrival Lounge, Customs Spokesman Sunil Jayarathna stated. It has been revealed that the gold had been brought by a passenger who arrived on a flight from Singapore last night. He is currently missing and investigations have been launched to arrest him.
Source:Sunday Times
August 18, 2017 05:15 UTC
China's top party school urges cadres to learn from Xi's teenage travails
WorldBEIJING (Reuters) - China's top training school for Communist Party cadres has published a book on the experiences of President Xi Jinping during the Cultural Revolution, exhorting party members to learn from the events that drove his "unshaken pursuit of ideals". The book will become "essential" learning material for all party cadres, the Central Party School's official newspaper, the Study Times, said on Friday, directing its lecturers to "conscientiously learn and digest" the book's details. "Whatever the masses needed, Jinping did," it quoted a villager, Shi Chunyang, as saying in an extract from the book. Xi was among roughly 16 million young people sent to China's impoverished villages to be remolded by hard labor. He later became president of the Central Party School, from 2007 to 2012.
Source:Sunday Times
August 18, 2017 04:07 UTC
Video : Ousted former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says already eyeing a return to office
The National Lotteries Board and Development Lotteries Board have been brought under the purview of the Finance Ministry, Finance Minis... Features & Analysis'Write' magazine a platform for budding young writers across the islandDo you remember the days where you’ve created something beautiful, but had no way of sharing it with the world?... Fifth edition of Colomboscope 2017 to get underway in SeptemberIn a move to draw in art tourism as a major component of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and bring in bigger ...'Ankara' serving up some delectable Turkish cuisine‘Ankara’ is the latest restaurant serving up authentic Turkish food in Colombo. The restaurant, down Mila...“Private and Confidential” - comedy drama by director Dammage Don Ariyawansa at the Punchi Theatre“Pudgalikai Rahasigathai” (“Private and Confidential”) a comedy-drama by the versatile direct...
Source:Sunday Times
August 17, 2017 14:48 UTC
Telecom levy to be removed on Internet services
The Sri Lankan government has decided to remove the 25 per cent telecommunication levy imposed on Internet (broadband) services with the aim ... Features & Analysis'Ankara' serving up some delectable Turkish cuisine‘Ankara’ is the latest restaurant serving up authentic Turkish food in Colombo. The restaurant, down Mila...“Private and Confidential” - comedy drama by director Dammage Don Ariyawansa at the Punchi Theatre“Pudgalikai Rahasigathai” (“Private and Confidential”) a comedy-drama by the versatile direct...Celebrity Chef Julia Childś life as a chef and American spy working as a researcher in Sri Lanka to be featured as a dramedyABC Signature Studios has announced that it will be combining Celebrity Chef Julia Child's success as a Fren...Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma was spotted in Sri Lanka with beau Virat KholiAnushka Sharma was seen in Sri Lanka with Indian Cricket Captain Virat Kohli as the Indian team concluded a test seri...
Source:Sunday Times
August 17, 2017 13:18 UTC
In Pictures: Negombo building collapse
A large and high-tech ocean Research Vessel (R/V) of the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), ‘ISABU’, arrived at t... Features & Analysis'Write' magazine a platform for budding young writers across the islandDo you remember the days where you’ve created something beautiful, but had no way of sharing it with the world?... Fifth edition of Colomboscope 2017 to get underway in SeptemberIn a move to draw in art tourism as a major component of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and bring in bigger ...'Ankara' serving up some delectable Turkish cuisine‘Ankara’ is the latest restaurant serving up authentic Turkish food in Colombo. The restaurant, down Mila...“Private and Confidential” - comedy drama by director Dammage Don Ariyawansa at the Punchi Theatre“Pudgalikai Rahasigathai” (“Private and Confidential”) a comedy-drama by the versatile direct...
Source:Sunday Times
August 17, 2017 11:37 UTC