Tennis: Two Sri Lankans crash out of ITF F1 Men's Singles
SportSri Lankan players Shamal Dissanayake and Yasitha de Silva were eliminated from the ongoing ITF F1 Futures Men's Singles Tournament after suffering defeats in their second round games played on Wednesday (21). Dissanayake who recorded a stunning win against France's Francois Arthur Vibert on Tuesday (20) was defeated by Russian Mikhail Korovin on Wednesday (21) 7-6, 6-0. De Silva, who was impressive in the first round, had to suffer a 6-1, 6-2 defeat against Italian Davide Galoppini. The seven-day tournament which began on Monday (19) will end on Sunday (25) at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association clay courts at Greenpath in Colombo. Results of Men's Singles 2nd round matches played on Wednesday:Sumit Nagal (IND) beat Manish Sureshkumar (IND) 6/0, 6/1Davide Galoppin (ITA) beat Yasitha de Silva (SRI) 6/1, 6/2Fabrizio Ornago (ITA) beat Yuri Dzhavakian (UKR) 6/3, 6/1Mikhail Korovin (RUS) beat Sharmal Dissanayake (SRI) 7/6(6), 6/0Alexander Zhurbin (RUS) beat Nino Portales (FRA) 6/4, 6/4Pierre Faivre (FRA) beat Nicholas Bybel (USA) 6/1, 6/3Prjwal Dev (IND) beat Peter Goldsteiner (ITA) 3/6, 7/5, 6/3Carlos Boluda (ESP) beat Philip Bachmaier (AUT) 6/2, 6/0
Source:Sunday Times
June 22, 2017 04:52 UTC
Bangladesh extends monetary assistance for flood relief
NewsA cash donation by the Bangladesh Government to assist the victims of recent flood and landslides in Sri Lanka was officially handed over to President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday, Presidential Secretariat said. Following a directive issued by Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Riaz Hamidullah handed over the cheque to the President. He also appreciated the assistance given by the Bangladesh for their friendly neighbour, even their own people are facing flood havocs and said that it signifies the strength of the bilateral relations between the two countries. The High Commissioner said that recently the bilateral relations between the Sri Lanka and Bangladesh further strengthened and the aim of the Bangladesh is to nourish those existing relations in all sectors. President also expressed interest in the new agricultural seeds with drought resistance qualities developed by Bangladesh.
Source:Sunday Times
June 21, 2017 16:07 UTC
84 students injured as Police fire tear gas & baton charged at Health Ministry
NewsAt least 84 students injured today when police launched a baton charge using tear guns to evict university students who were forcibly occupying a building within the Health Ministry. All of them are currently admitted to Colombo National hospital. Entering ministry building despite an order issued by magistrate, the students also damaged office resources while casuing nuisance. Earlier student protesters had earlier forcibly entered the building during a protest march against the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM). The protest was organized by the Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF) and the Medical Faculty Students' Action Committee (MFSAC).
Source:Sunday Times
June 21, 2017 14:15 UTC
'Some luck tonight': Brussels commuter saw bomb explode
Then, over the music, something more sinister: "All of a sudden I heard a bang, looked over and saw this thing burning. "But when I heard the second explosion I started to get in instinct mode." "I think we had some luck tonight," Bonnaffe told Reuters by telephone after he finally made it home. Fire is seen at Brussels central station in Brussels, Belgium June 20, 2017. Courtesy Twitter/@remybonnaffe/via REUTERSStartled by the first blast, which he photographed, he then heard but could not see a second, similar explosion.
Source:Sunday Times
June 21, 2017 12:22 UTC
In pictures: French naval ship 'Revi' on goodwill visit
The Moragahakanda hydro-electricity plant, a 25MW hydro-power to the national grid is ready to generate electricty as all the testing works have be... Features & AnalysisA glimpse inside the beautiful ‘super-luxury’ M.V. Majestic PrincessThe ‘super-luxury’ M.V. According to the Daily Mai...Hindustani vocal recital at the Indian Cultural CentreIndian Cultural Centre, Colombo is organizing a Hindustani Vocal performance by Pt. Birendra Nath Mishra from In...Sixth edition of the French Spring Festival kicks offThe 6th edition of the French Spring Festival - that kicked off officially on June 14 will go on for a month.
Source:Sunday Times
June 21, 2017 12:00 UTC
Police baton charge student protesters at Health Ministry
NewsPolice have launched a baton charge to evict university students who are forcibly occupying a building within the Health Ministry. Student protesters had earlier forcibly entered the building during a protest march against the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM). The protest was organized by the Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF) and the Medical Faculty Students' Action Committee (MFSAC). Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel have also been called into control the situation.
Source:Sunday Times
June 21, 2017 11:15 UTC
Gnanasara Thera arrested again, given bail
NewsGeneral Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, who was earlier released on bail after surrendering to court, was arrested again by the Police Organized Crimes Division based on an earlier incident. He was then produced before the Colombo Additional Magistrate, who released him on bail.
Source:Sunday Times
June 21, 2017 10:18 UTC
Netball: Mandira Chathurangi named Sri Lanka skipper for World Youth Championship
SportMandira Chathurangi was named the captain of the Sri Lanka team for the 8th World Youth Netball Championship which will be held in Botswana from July 8 to 16. Kavitha Gunathilake, a player from Hillwood College Kandy has been named as the vice captain of the tour. The Sri Lanka team will include Melani Wijesinghe, Tamara Aluwihare, Sethmi Dinushi, H.D. Sri Lanka had been drawn in Group 'A' that also includes New Zealand, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Samoa. Sri Lanka will compete against Group 'A' rivals Scotland, Northern Ireland, Samoa and New Zealand on July 8, 9, 11 and 12 respectively.
Source:Sunday Times
June 21, 2017 09:56 UTC
What happened to the SL Cricket Team ?
Police have launched a baton charge to evict university students who are forcibly occupying a building within the Health Ministry. Features & AnalysisA glimpse inside the beautiful ‘super-luxury’ M.V. Majestic PrincessThe ‘super-luxury’ M.V. According to the Daily Mai...Hindustani vocal recital at the Indian Cultural CentreIndian Cultural Centre, Colombo is organizing a Hindustani Vocal performance by Pt. Birendra Nath Mishra from In...Sixth edition of the French Spring Festival kicks offThe 6th edition of the French Spring Festival - that kicked off officially on June 14 will go on for a month.
Source:Sunday Times
June 21, 2017 09:33 UTC
Anti-SAITM protesters enter Health Ministry
NewsA group of university students have forcibly entered the premises of the Health Ministry and are engaged in a protest. The students had been engaged in a protest against the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM). The protest march was organized by the Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF). The march commenced from near the Town Hall area and the marchers then proceeded towards the Health Ministry. Heavy traffic currently prevails in the Town Hall area.
Source:Sunday Times
June 21, 2017 09:22 UTC
Tokyo governor to move world's biggest fish market, redevelop area
World(REUTERS) The governor of Tokyo announced on Tuesday a long-delayed plan to move the world's largest fish market, one of the Japanese capital's biggest tourist attractions, to a man-made island with contaminated soil. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike attends a news conference at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Tokyo, Japan, June 20, 2017. "Because we're a nation that treasures our traditional culture, I want to promote the Tsukiji brand," she told a news conference. But Koike said the market's age and vulnerability to a big earthquake meant it had to be rebuilt. Tsukiji was originally due to move at the end of 2016 despite the objections of many fish mongers.
Source:Sunday Times
June 21, 2017 08:37 UTC
Gnanasara Thera released on bail
NewsGeneral Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera has been released on previous bail by the Colombo Fort Magistrate. The Thera had surrendered to court this morning. Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne also recalled the warrent issued for the Thera's arrest for not appearing in court previously. A warrant for the Thera's arrest was issued on June 15. Four police teams had earlier been deployed to arrest the Thera.
Source:Sunday Times
June 21, 2017 08:26 UTC
New Indonesia law to allow jailing of militant returnees
WorldJAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia is set to approve a law allowing authorities to jail for up to 15 years citizens coming home after joining militant groups abroad, lawmakers said on Wednesday. Police stand guard near the home of a suspected militant, following his arrest in Singosari District, Malang, Indonesia June 19, 2017. Law enforcement agencies have long complained of their inability to deal with people who have travelled abroad to join Islamic State and then returned home. Authorities believe Islamic State has thousands of sympathizers in Indonesia. Hundreds of Indonesian men, women, and children are thought to have travelled to Syria in recent years, and authorities believe about 400 Indonesians have joined Islamic State.
Source:Sunday Times
June 21, 2017 08:15 UTC
Extreme heat grips Northern Hemisphere on summer solstice
WorldSINGAPORE (Reuters) - Extreme heat across large tracts of the Northern Hemisphere raised fears for crops in China, fuelled forest fires in Portugal and Russia's Far East, forced flight cancellations in the Southwest U.S., and melted tarmac on roads in Britain. Children play at a water fountain on a hot day in Singapore June 21, 2017. Rounding up the record temperatures set in the past two months, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said the Earth was experiencing "another exceptionally warm year" and the heatwaves were unusually early. The trend seen during the past two months has put average monthly global temperatures among the highest ever recorded since data began to be collated in 1880. Thomson Reuters Eikon data shows that precipitation in Liaoning for the past month has been between 40 and 60 percent below the seasonal norm.
Source:Sunday Times
June 21, 2017 07:07 UTC
Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman elevated to Crown Prince: SPA
World(REUTERS) Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was elevated to crown prince on Wednesday, replacing his cousin in a sudden announcement that confirms King Salman's 31-year-old son as next ruler of the world's leading oil exporter. Analysts said the change empowers Prince Mohammed bin Salman to move faster with his plan to reduce the kingdom’s reliance on oil, which includes the partial privatization of state oil company Aramco. He added that Mohammed bin Nayef supported the decision in a letter sent to the king. The decree said Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, long a favorite of Washington's for his tough stance against Islamist militancy, is relieved of all positions. FILE PHOTO: Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman waves as he meets with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 11, 2017.
Source:Sunday Times
June 21, 2017 07:07 UTC