U.S., British, French air strikes target Syrian chemical capabilities
WorldWASHINGTON/BEIRUT (Reuters) - U.S., British and French forces struck Syria with more than 100 missiles on Saturday in the first coordinated Western strikes against the Damascus government, targeting what they called chemical weapons sites in retaliation for a poison gas attack. She said she had authorized the British action after intelligence indicated Assad’s government was responsible for the attack using chemical weapons in the Damascus suburb of Douma a week ago. French President Emmanuel Macron said the strikes had been limited so far to Syria’s chemical weapons facilities. The targets included a Syrian center in the greater Damascus area for the research, development, production and testing of chemical and biological weaponry as well as a chemical weapons storage facility near the city of Homs. A third target, also near Homs, contained both a chemical weapons equipment storage facility and a command post.
Source:Sunday Times
April 14, 2018 08:03 UTC
Kumar Sangakkara joins Sky Sports ahead of UKś summer of cricket 2018
SportSky Sports has added former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara to its already-impressive line-up of cricket commentators, foreign media reported. Sangakkara, who scored 12,400 Test runs and more than 14,000 ODI runs for Sri Lanka in a 15-year international career, joins former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh and Pakistan legend Wasim Akram. Throughout the summer, they’ll join regulars David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd, Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton, Sir Ian Botham, David Gower and Michael Holding in the Sky Sportsstudio and commentary box, Cable.Co said. England’s summer of cricket starts on 24 May with a two-Test series against Pakistan, followed by a one-off ODI against Scotland then five one-dayers and a T20 against Australia. Every match will be shown live on Sky Sports Cricket, the broadcaster’s dedicated cricket channel, as will England Women’s home ODIs and T20 Tri Series against South Africa and New Zealand.
Source:Sunday Times
April 14, 2018 04:30 UTC
CWG Update: Fiji thrashes Sri Lanka 63-5 in first Rugby Group game
SportFiji recorded a smashing 63-5 win against Sri Lanka in Rugby Group ‘D’ match at the Commonwealth Games 2018 today (14). Fiji led 28-5 at halftime and scored from a total of nine converted tries, Sevuloni Mocenecagi scoring a hat-trick. Alasio Naduva and Amenoni Nasilasila scored two tries each while Paula Dranisinukula and Semi Kunatani scored one each. Sri Lanka’s solitary try was scored by Danushka Ranjan.
Source:Sunday Times
April 14, 2018 03:22 UTC
CWG Update: Dinuka loses to Indian Prannoy in Badminton Men’s Singles quarters
President Maithripala Sirisena has temporarily suspended Parliament, with effect from April 12. An extraordinary gazette notification was... Features & AnalysisJacqueline Fernandez launches active wear brandBollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez has recently launched her on active wear brand 'Just F'. She has joine...British High Commission hosts Commonwealth Big Lunch for arts communityThe British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, James Dauris, together with the Director of the British Council in Sri La...Johann sets out on his journey to summit Mount EverestMonths of physical and mental preparation have culminated in the departure of Johann Peries, on his second atte...Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu delivers 14th Sujata Jayawardena Memorial OrationHigh Commissioner of India Taranjit Singh Sandhu delivered the prestigious 14th Sujata Jayawardena Memorial Ora...
Source:Sunday Times
April 14, 2018 03:11 UTC
CWG Update: Shuttlers Thilini and Kavindi out of Women’s Badminton Doubles
President Maithripala Sirisena has temporarily suspended Parliament, with effect from April 12. An extraordinary gazette notification was... Features & AnalysisJacqueline Fernandez launches active wear brandBollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez has recently launched her on active wear brand 'Just F'. She has joine...British High Commission hosts Commonwealth Big Lunch for arts communityThe British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, James Dauris, together with the Director of the British Council in Sri La...Johann sets out on his journey to summit Mount EverestMonths of physical and mental preparation have culminated in the departure of Johann Peries, on his second atte...Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu delivers 14th Sujata Jayawardena Memorial OrationHigh Commissioner of India Taranjit Singh Sandhu delivered the prestigious 14th Sujata Jayawardena Memorial Ora...
Source:Sunday Times
April 14, 2018 03:00 UTC
CWG Update: Boxer Ishan Bandara secures bronze in Men’s medal
President Maithripala Sirisena has temporarily suspended Parliament, with effect from April 12. An extraordinary gazette notification was... Features & AnalysisJacqueline Fernandez launches active wear brandBollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez has recently launched her on active wear brand 'Just F'. She has joine...British High Commission hosts Commonwealth Big Lunch for arts communityThe British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, James Dauris, together with the Director of the British Council in Sri La...Johann sets out on his journey to summit Mount EverestMonths of physical and mental preparation have culminated in the departure of Johann Peries, on his second atte...Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu delivers 14th Sujata Jayawardena Memorial OrationHigh Commissioner of India Taranjit Singh Sandhu delivered the prestigious 14th Sujata Jayawardena Memorial Ora...
Source:Sunday Times
April 14, 2018 03:00 UTC
CWG Update: Ondaatje finishes 6th in Rhythmic Gymnastics Clubs final
SportSri Lanka’s Anna-Marie Ondaatje finished sixth in the Rhythmic Gymnastics Clubs final at the Commonwealth Games 2018 today (13). She recorded a total of 11.200 points, inclusive of a deduction of 0.100. Ondaatje received 3.400 in Body, 3.000 in Apparatus and a further 4.900 overall to finish with a tally of 11.200.
Source:Sunday Times
April 14, 2018 02:37 UTC
CWG Update: Sri Lanka qualifies for Men’s 4x100m final
SportThe Sri Lanka Men’s 4x100m Relay team qualified for the finals with a timing of 39.47secs in the Heat 1 at the Commonwealth Games 2018 today (13). The Sri Lanka team included Shehan Ambeypitiya, Mohamed Ashraful, Vinoj de Silva, Himasha Eshan and Sumesh Wickramasinghe. South Africa clocked 38.71secs to win the heats followed by Australia, who timed 38.78secs, as both teams reached the final.
Source:Sunday Times
April 14, 2018 02:37 UTC
CWG Update: Yashoda de Silva finishes last in Women’s 1m Springboard Diving
President Maithripala Sirisena has temporarily suspended Parliament, with effect from April 12. An extraordinary gazette notification was... Features & AnalysisJacqueline Fernandez launches active wear brandBollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez has recently launched her on active wear brand 'Just F'. She has joine...British High Commission hosts Commonwealth Big Lunch for arts communityThe British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, James Dauris, together with the Director of the British Council in Sri La...Johann sets out on his journey to summit Mount EverestMonths of physical and mental preparation have culminated in the departure of Johann Peries, on his second atte...Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu delivers 14th Sujata Jayawardena Memorial OrationHigh Commissioner of India Taranjit Singh Sandhu delivered the prestigious 14th Sujata Jayawardena Memorial Ora...
Source:Sunday Times
April 14, 2018 02:15 UTC
CWG Update: Sampath Ranasinghe finishes at 7th in Men’s Javelin Throw qualifiers
SportSri Lanka’s Sampath Ranasinghe finished seventh in the Men’s Javelin Throw qualifiers at the Commonwealth Games 2018 today (12). He recorded 74.72m, his best in three attempts, in the qualifiers topped by Anderson Peters of Grenada.
Source:Sunday Times
April 14, 2018 02:15 UTC
President prorogues Parliament till May 8
NewsIn today's News President prorogues Parliament till May 8President Maithripala Sirisena has temporarily suspended Parliament, with effect from April 12. An extraordinary gazette notification was issued late on Thursday. A statement from the Government Information department reads as followsNotice of the Government of Sri Lanka: The prorogation of Parliament has no negative impact on the functioning and operation of the GovernmentBy Gazette notification (Gazette Extraordinary 2066/43 of April 12,2018), with effect from Thursday 12th April 2018, the Parliament was prorogued. The next Parliament session will commence on 8th May 2018. The prorogation is the period between the end of a Parliament session and the opening of the next Parliament session.
Source:Sunday Times
April 13, 2018 16:38 UTC
Russia lawmakers draft list of U.S. imports that could be banned
WorldMOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia’s lower house of parliament is to consider draft legislation that would give the Kremlin powers to ban or restrict a list of U.S. imports, reacting to new U.S. sanctions on a group of Russian tycoons and officials. Senior lawmakers in the State Duma, which is dominated by Kremlin loyalists, said they had prepared the list ranging from food and alcohol to medicine and consulting services in response to Washington’s move last week. A Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said it was understandable that Russian lawmakers wanted to retaliate against the U.S. measures. He said, though, that the Kremlin had yet to familiarise itself with the draft law. The Russian parliament is often used to send assertive messages to foreign states, but these do not always translate into concrete measures.
Source:Sunday Times
April 13, 2018 12:11 UTC
Defence deals with Russia
NewsA top level Sri Lanka delegation has just returned from Russia after high level talks on military procurements but it is not immediately clear how many deals were concluded. The delegation was led by Defence Secretary Kapila Waidyaratne and included Navy Commander Vice Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe, the Defence Ministry’s Additional Secretary Sarath Kumara and the MoD’s Air Defence Advisor Air Commodore Dilshan Wasage. Read more Cafe Spectator
Source:Sunday Times
April 12, 2018 17:15 UTC
Tainted medicinal drugs: Urgent need for quality assurance labs
Tainted medicinal drugs: Urgent need for quality assurance labs By Chrishanthi Christopher View(s): View(s):The lack of quality assurance labs to evaluate imported medicinal drugs has led to dozens of product recalls, adverse reactions among patients and also rejected or outdated stocks piling up in the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation stores, awaiting destruction. State Pharmaceuticals Corporation Chairman Sarath Liyanage said substandard drugs were flooding the market because there were no quality assurance labs. He said a huge amount of substandard pharmaceutical drugs got cleared by the National Medicinal Drugs Regulatory Authority (NMRA). “India and Pakistan have well developed quality assurance labs,’’ he said, and questioned whether Health Ministry bureaucrats understood the importance of quality assurance labs. Although there are private quality assurance labs, government departments have misgivings about their efficiency and do not use them.
Source:Sunday Times
April 12, 2018 17:14 UTC
Battle after battle in CMC
Battle after battle in CMC View(s):The local councils are meant to be the ‘miniature legislatures’ of the country and the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) is showing the way how true that is. Already, the CMC is imitating the national Parliament with a heated contest for the post of Leader of the Opposition. The battle for the Leader of the Opposition post is not the only battle to have got the CMC going. At its first meeting, all manner of games went on in the appointment to the various Standing Committees of the CMC. A Sri Lanka team is expected to leave for Abu Dhabi for this purpose anytime now.
Source:Sunday Times
April 12, 2018 17:14 UTC