More Sri Lankans in charge-list
More Sri Lankans in charge-list ICC INVESTIGATIONS ON SRI LANKA NEARING END View(s): View(s):More Sri Lankans will be charged under the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption Code as the watchdog body edges closer to completing their months-long investigations into match fixing in Sri Lanka, a senior official told the Sunday Times. Sri Lanka cricket has been under investigation since 2017 after several former players questioned the manner in which the team conceded an ODI series to Zimbabwe at home (3-2). Former Sri Lanka skipper Sanath Jayasuriya was recently issued a two-year ban from cricket after he admitted to not cooperating with investigations — an offence under ICC’s Anti-Corruption Code. ICC Anti-Corruption Unit’s Coordinator of Investigations, Steve Richardson, has been based in Colombo since January and has gathered significant new and important intelligence. The conviction of Jayasuriya is the latest in a much broader ICC ACU inquiry into corruption in cricket in Sri Lanka.
Source:Sunday Times
March 23, 2019 19:18 UTC
Lankan businessman seeks buyer for palatial Boeing 747
Lankan businessman seeks buyer for palatial Boeing 747 By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s):One of the few surviving Boeing 747 VIP palatial aircraft that generated interest from the likes of John Travolta and placed on the market by a Sri Lankan businessman in the US, is now likely to be picked up by a tobacco billionaire. The aircraft is currently owned by CSDS Aircraft Sales and Leasing Inc, President Benedict Sirimanne, a Sri Lankan businessman in the US. In fact CSDS had purchased a Boeing 767-200ER VIP from a Saudi royal family member and sold it to the rapper musician Drake. This palatial aircraft is currently entertaining offers between $6-9 million and negotiations are underway with the interested buyer, Mr. Sirimanne said. Once in a while we would get an opportunity for a VIP aircraft such as this,” he said.
Source:Sunday Times
March 23, 2019 19:18 UTC
Nipping Dengue before it stings
A Public Health Inspector advises students of Munhena Junior School, Maggona, on precautions to be taken to prevent the spread of Dengue. In view of the recent rains, the number of Dengue cases have started to rise again. Pic by S. Siriwardena.
Source:Sunday Times
March 23, 2019 19:18 UTC
Beans from Balangoda
Beans from Balangoda View(s):It was a field research in Balangoda area carried out by a team of researchers and assisting students. Chandini asked: “Beans are just plucked from the farm and, about to be taken to the market. However, it should be noted that the average farm size in China varies vastly among the provinces. In the US the average farm size is more than 450 acres, while in Europe it varies between 45 – 170 acres in different countries. If you wish to compare the average farm size in Sri Lanka with countries mentioned above, it is little more than 1 acre and, therefore even less than the average farm size in China.
Source:Sunday Times
March 23, 2019 19:18 UTC
No lessons learnt from Dubai snub
No lessons learnt from Dubai snub View(s):It is about time someone counselled the President on matters of protocol when it comes to issues relating to foreign affairs and foreign policy. The UK has shown its gratitude by now co-sponsoring the Resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN in Geneva. Sri Lanka has no such Godfather State and mercifully so. Some countries backed Sri Lanka in Geneva, some pussyfooted and some were on a crusade against this country behind a masked face of support. 30/1 and for the Office of the UN High Commissioner to work in Sri Lanka only “with the concurrence of the Government”.
Source:Sunday Times
March 23, 2019 19:18 UTC
Sri Lanka and Singapore in new koloppan
Had Sri Lanka learnt from such Singaporean practices, Sirisena might have avoided putting both of his feet in his mouth. That is how Singapore’s Foreign Ministry came to reply so quickly to Sirisena’s charge that Singapore is not helping to have Mahendran returned to Sri Lanka. Sirisena goes about saying that since he and his coalition government came to power the international community has been treating Sri Lanka well. So when Singapore says in an official statement that Sri Lanka had failed to provide documents necessary to support the extradition request, is it Sri Lanka’s position that Singapore is lying? If Sri Lanka has sent all the necessary documents and Sirisena keeps saying Singapore is reneging, the way Sirisena and his officials can step out of this morass is to name the documents that have been sent and produce some proof that Sri Lanka has sent the requirements.
Source:Sunday Times
March 23, 2019 19:18 UTC
Festering power struggles bubble over, again
Festering power struggles bubble over, again By Damith Wickremasekara and Asiri Fernando View(s): View(s):Despite strong assurances from the Power and Energy Ministry that power cuts imposed due to the sudden breakdown of the Norochcholai coal power plant on Monday, people are left without electricity for three to four hours at times. “These unannounced power outages have hurt us badly, We have lost millions. “The unannounced power outages affect our business. “Tea Exporters are very concerned about the frequent power cuts and power interruptions,” Mr Jayantha Karunarathne, chairman of the Tea Exporters Association of Sri Lanka told the Sunday Times. Mr Masakorala pointed out that while the power disruptions haven’t had a significant impact on shipping yet, a prolonged power crisis and unannounced power cuts, may complicate matters.
Source:Sunday Times
March 23, 2019 19:18 UTC
The Karannagoda order and the Geneva ‘spectacle’
The Karannagoda order and the Geneva ‘spectacle’ View(s):Accountability in Sri Lanka was always about the working of the criminal law. Technically, the prevention order by the Court is nothing very new. Different strategies are neededIn these instances, impassioned appeals to the Court to listen to the pleas of grieving mothers will not suffice by themselves. A different strategy is needed, part of which must be to desist from adulation of the Court itself. During the last three years, incidents such as these have at least been brought to court, marking a difference from the past.
Source:Sunday Times
March 23, 2019 19:18 UTC
Sri Lanka’s vehicle conundrum
Returning to today’s conversation vis-à-vis the motor show, the vehicle market has, in reality, come down in recent times largely due to rising taxes and a sluggish economy. Premium motor cars recorded 111 units in February, marginally down from 113 units the previous month and 188 units 12 months ago. “Reflecting the impact of policy measures to curtail vehicle imports, expenditure on personal motor vehicle imports showed a significant decline in December 2018 compared to the corresponding month of the previous year,” the Central Bank said in its December 2018 statistics. A subdued vehicles’ market is a plus and a minus for the Government’s revenue projections and import costs. The small vehicles’ market is essentially for buyers who are affected by the pressure of daily travel owing to overcrowding in public transport – road or rail.
Source:Sunday Times
March 23, 2019 19:18 UTC
State hiring protocols hamper economic development
Inadequate hiring protocols can affect economic development. With plans to attract businesses and citizens, a government needs to provide services that are competitive with other places. He said that Sri Lanka has a successful track record implementing PPP and SOE divestitures. And the moment, the repayment of that loan was taken off, Sri Lanka Ports Authority balance sheet became profitable and $1.2 billion was received by the Government.” he said. He cited sectors such as Tourism, Ports, Shipping and Aviation, Knowledge based services, financial services and agri business as key economic drivers in the country.
Source:Sunday Times
March 23, 2019 19:18 UTC
Nuwan’s debut, a movie for whole family
Nuwan’s debut, a movie for whole family ‘SULANGA APA RAGENA YAVI’--”THE WIND BENEATH US” View(s): View(s):Long waited ‘Sulanga Apa Ragena Yavi’–”The Wind Beneath Us”, young filmmaker Nuwan Jayathilake’s maiden direction is now being screened at LFP and MPI circuit cinemas around the country. Starring Iranganie Serasinghe, Priyankara Rathnayake, Suranga Ranawaka, Sujeewa Priyalal, Sampath Jayaweera, Anjana Premaratna, Sudam Katukithule, Praveen Katukithule and Semini Hennanayake in the main cast, the film is produced by Maya Nawagattegama for Nawagattegama films. Revolving around a family living in rural Sri Lanka, “The wind beneath us” narrates around two young brothers and their white bull, which they rely solely upon for income. The film depicts the very spirit of perseverance and the innocence of a child’s determination against all odds. The film won Remi Award: World Fest-Houston (Oldest Independent Film & Video Festival in the world) and Best Feature Film at Metricamente Corto – Festival, Italy.
Source:Sunday Times
March 23, 2019 19:18 UTC
SEC strengthens Investigations Division, takes on offenders
SEC strengthens Investigations Division, takes on offenders By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera View(s): View(s):The new chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission [SEC] has successfully faced the challenge of capacity building at the institution and actually taken on certain offenders. Ranel Wijesinha has managed to beef up the Investigations Division within six weeks of becoming the chairman. SEC in the past nearly four years has got a lot of flak for not completing or re-starting investigations – especially against the stock market mafia. “Many experienced chartered accountants and lawyers were mainly transferred out of divisions such as the Supervision Division and the Corporate Affairs Division into the Investigations Division,” Mr. Wijesinha explained. Until we fill this vacancy, the Director General is heading this position,” Mr. Wijesinha added.
Source:Sunday Times
March 23, 2019 19:18 UTC
Lecture on importance of financial literacy
Lecture on importance of financial literacy View(s):A public lecture on “What is financial literacy and why is it important” will be held from 4.30 to 5.30 pm on Thursday March 28 at the Central Bank auditorium, Rajagiriya. The CFA Society Sri Lanka, the local society of the CFA Institute collaborates with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to support the bank’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS). Those who attend the public lecture are likely to benefit from understanding the basic concepts of financial literacy to make better and more informed decisions when it comes to saving and borrowing money. “The financial literacy rate in Sri Lanka is 35 per cent compared to an average of 65 per cent in more developed economies. Low financial literacy levels and poor financial education are the root cause of financial problems faced by many Sri Lankans.
Source:Sunday Times
March 23, 2019 19:18 UTC
An evergreen’s birthday
An evergreen’s birthday View(s):My dear Green Man,I thought I must write to you when I realised that it was your 70th birthday today. You have also been leader of the Greens for 25 years, by far the longest period anyone has led the Greens. Still, I am not sure whether you are proud of that, because most of it was in the opposition. Unfortunately, you were never in absolute control of any government when you were PM because someone else was always the boss. Green Man, your greatest lapse is not what you couldn’t achieve for our country – but what the Green Party has become under your leadership.
Source:Sunday Times
March 23, 2019 19:18 UTC