UK Foreign Office destroys files on Tamil Tigers and MI5 involvement in Sri Lanka
LatestBritain’s Foreign Office according to a report in the Guardian has destroyed almost 200 files on Sri Lanka dating from the start of a Tamil Tiger uprising during which MI5 and the SAS secretly advised the country’s security forces, it has emerged. The loss of the files means that there is almost no record of the British government’s work with the Sri Lankan authorities at the start of the country's civil war. The destruction of the files raises fresh concerns about the Foreign Office’s attitude towards handling historic files on sensitive subjects. The Foreign Office has now confirmed that it destroyed 195 files on Sri Lanka, dating from 1978 to 1980, three decades after the country became independent from Britain. The scale of destruction is such that only three files have survived from 1978, compared to 38 files from the previous year.
Source:Sunday Times
May 24, 2018 05:37 UTC
U-20 Rugby: Sports Minister directs to stall referees from matches until matters are resolved
SportThe Minister of Sports, Faiszer Mustapha, issued an official press release stating that he had instructed Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) and Sri Lanka Rugby Referees' Society (SLRRS) not to provide referees for the ongoing Singer Schools League Rugby Championship, until pending matters are sorted out. "Consequent to the recent incidents where spectators have taken the law in to their own hands which resulted in threats to the safety of referees, spectators and players," the statement issued by the Ministry of Sports stated. "This is seen as a threat to the deputation of school rugby. "We requested the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association to take a firm decision because as the head of the Referees society I am liable for the safety of referees,” Nizam Jamaldeen, the President of SLRRS said on Monday. However it is said that the officials of the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association and other relevant authorities are at an important ongoing discussion, at the time when TimesOnline made an attempt to obtain an official statement from the Schools Section as at 5.15pm on Wednesday (23).
Source:Sunday Times
May 23, 2018 11:48 UTC
Nearly 85, 000 affected by adverse weather
NewsThe adverse weather that continues to prevail in the country has now affected 84, 943 persons from 18, 542 families across 12 districts, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) states. The number of deaths due to the adverse weather has risen to 10, with seven others injured. The weather has so far displaced 27, 621 persons from 7526 families. The number of houses that have been completely destroyed stands at 29 while 2527 others have suffered partial damage. The National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC) has so far provided Rs.14.7 million to the 12 district secretaries to address the immediate needs of the affected populations, the centre further said.
Source:Sunday Times
May 23, 2018 10:30 UTC
Rainy conditions to enhance from today
NewsThe prevailing rainy conditions in the Southerwestern part of the island is expected to enhance to some extent from today (23), the Met Department stated. The Department added that rainy conditions are expected to enhance, particularly tonight. Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Southern, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-Western provinces. Showers or thundershowers will occur elsewhere particularly after 2.00 p.m.Showers or thundershowers will occur in Jaffna, Mannar and Mullaitivu districts in the morning as well. Heavy falls, about 100 mm can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa, Western, Central and North-western provinces and in the Galle, Matara districts.
Source:Sunday Times
May 23, 2018 06:45 UTC
Police close off bridge linking Biyagama and Kaduwela
NewsPolice have closed off the main bridge linking Biyagama and Kaduwela to vehicular traffic at Nawagamuwa. Police said the bridge, situated along the Kaduwela-Colombo main road, is in serious danger of sinking due to soil erosion underneath the bridge caused by adverse weather. Police are advising motorists and members of the public to use alternate routes to minimise inconvenience.
Source:Sunday Times
May 23, 2018 06:22 UTC
Operation launched to save tank from bursting
NewsArea residents, the army and Government officials launched a major operation yesterday (22) to save the Udunowa tank in Rasnayakapura after a tunnel emerged from beneath the concrete layer near the tank's spill gate. Officials said the tunnel had emerged from beneath the concrete layer and there was a clear danger to the spill gate from water escaping from the spot. An operation was launched yesterday to pile sandbags in the area and officials from the Rasnayakapura Divisional Secretariat said that the situation was critical. Text and Pix by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe in Puttalam
Source:Sunday Times
May 23, 2018 06:00 UTC
Chevron Lubricants Lanka MD/CEO Kishu Gomes resigns
NewsChevron Lubricants Lanka PLC’s long-standing Managing Director/CEO Kishu Gomes has resigned from the company with immediate effect. Asked to comment on the unexpected move, Mr. Gomes told TimesOnline that this change (moving out) had been planned for a long time to enable him to spend more time on helping people, particularly the youth, and communities. Mr. Gomes has worked at two multinationals including Coca Cola over the past three decades. The company said Mr. Gomes’ resignation is effective May 22 and that Rochna Kaul has been appointed as Managing Director/CEO in an acting capacity. Ms. Kaul is General Manager of Chevron Lubricants Asia/Pakistan region, responsible for the sales and marketing of finished lubricants and coolants in Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
Source:Sunday Times
May 23, 2018 04:03 UTC
Bringing quality ideas to real life is about winning an Effie award
Effie awards’ is one such platform that recognizes creative ideas that makes an enormous impact in a society. In continuing to raise the standards of advertising anc creativity, the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing hosts the Effie Awards 2017 for the 10th consecutive year while Effie Awards Global celebrates 50 years this year. Mr. Ranwala also pointed out that small and upcoming advertising agencies did quality case work at last year’s Effie Awards. Effie Awards Project Chairman, Gayan Perera mentioned that entry for this year’s awards is for cases done by agencies between 1 October 2016 and 30 September 2017. Judging of the cases will take place in July and August and the Effie Awards 2017 will be held in September this year, he added.
Source:Sunday Times
May 23, 2018 03:33 UTC
Education: Women dominate in Sri Lankan universities over men
NewsAlthough there are more educated women than men in Sri Lanka, this development impacts on the economy and when that happens, it’s the women who eventually suffer, according to Dr. (Ms) Sulochana Segera, Founder/Chairperson, Women in Management. She was speaking at the media briefing to launch of ‘Top 50 Professional and Career Women Awards Sri Lanka 2018’ held Tuesday at Hilton Colombo. Last January, ‘The Awards’ event was held in Canada with Sri Lankan-born women in Canada being recognised and another ‘Mini-awards would be held in Maldives in July this year. At this media briefing, Ms Amena Arif, Country Manager Sri Lanka and Maldives, IFC (International Finance Corporation) spoke on equal opportunities, equal resources and equal choices of women. In Sri Lanka formal female labour force participation dropped from 41 per cent in 2010 to about 36 per cent in 2016.
Source:Sunday Times
May 23, 2018 03:22 UTC
SLT Rainbow Pages National Business Directory now comes out annually
The adverse weather that continues to prevail in the country has now affected 84, 943 persons from 18, 542 families across 12 districts, the Disast... Features & AnalysisIn pictures : AsymmetryThe cast of Silent Hands recently presented Ric Robinson’s Asymmetry, a story of human relationships that ...'Superman' star Margot Kidder dead at 69Margot Kidder, best known for her role as Lois Lane in the "Superman" films of the 1970s and 80s, has di... In Pictures: 'Fun Home'Captured here are images from the musical ‘Fun Home’ written by Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron was pre...“Chaos by SMS” this weekend“Chaos by SMS” is back by popular demand. First staged in November last year, the play was an instant hit...
Source:Sunday Times
May 23, 2018 03:22 UTC
Aitken Spence posts 22 % growth in pre-tax profit for 2017/18
BusinessAitken Spence PLC recorded a steady financial performance for the financial year ending March 2018 with a 22 per cent year-on-year growth in profit-before-tax to Rs. The holding company’s revenue growth reflected across all key operational sectors including tourism, maritime and logistics, strategic investments and services. 10.7 billion, Rs. 1.9 billion respectively, indicating a growth of 7.7 per cent, 6.3 per cent and 16.8 per cent respectively, over the year. Aitken Spence PLC reported a profit attributable to shareholders of Rs.
Source:Sunday Times
May 22, 2018 11:26 UTC
President's former Chief of Staff and ex-Timber Corp. Chairman further remanded
Cabinet today approved a 12.5 per cent increase in bus fares. Accordingly, the minimum fare will rise to Rs.10 to Rs.12 under the new price scheme.... Features & AnalysisIn pictures : AsymmetryThe cast of Silent Hands recently presented Ric Robinson’s Asymmetry, a story of human relationships that ...'Superman' star Margot Kidder dead at 69Margot Kidder, best known for her role as Lois Lane in the "Superman" films of the 1970s and 80s, has di... In Pictures: 'Fun Home'Captured here are images from the musical ‘Fun Home’ written by Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron was pre...“Chaos by SMS” this weekend“Chaos by SMS” is back by popular demand. First staged in November last year, the play was an instant hit...
Source:Sunday Times
May 22, 2018 09:45 UTC
Over 150mm rains expected in several provinces and districts
NewsOver 150mm of heavy rain can be expected at some places in the Sabaragamuwa, Western, Central, North-western provinces and in the Galle, Matara districts during the next 24 hours, the Met Department stated. Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Southern, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces. Showers or thundershowers will occur elsewhere particularly after 2.00 p.m. There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. The general public is requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
Source:Sunday Times
May 22, 2018 07:30 UTC
Heavy rains lash Puttalam District
NewsThe Puttalam district has been lashed by heavy rain during 24 hours which ended at 8.30am yesterday. According to rainfall figures from the Met Department, the highest rainfall of 353.8mm has been reported from Anamaduwa. Andigama and Kamalsram, also from the Puttalam District, has also received rainfall in excess of 300mm. Andigama has received 339mm of rain while Kamalsram has received 302mm. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) states 5862 persons from 1486 families have been affected by adverse weather in the Puttalam district, with 728 persons from 206 families displaced.
Source:Sunday Times
May 22, 2018 07:18 UTC
Canal meant to reduce floods causes flooding in village
NewsAbout 150 families in the Alamba village in Maikkulam, Chilaw claim that they have been exposed to floods due to a canal that had been dug in an unsystematic manner. The canal had been dug by the Puttalam District Disaster Management Unit about a year ago on a request made by the Puttalam District Coordination Committee. However, the water which flows along this canal has now caused flooding in the Alamba village. Residents claim that the flooding in the village is due to the canal, which authorities had allegedly dug in an unsystematic manner. They claim that water flows into the village as there is no proper way for the canal to flow into the nearby lagoon.
Source:Sunday Times
May 22, 2018 06:11 UTC