President considers new gamble but it is likely to fail
For weeks now, the matter has been engaging the attention of President Sirisena. Nevertheless, President Sirisena remains keen on the referendum for another reason. They have handed in to President Sirisena both their interim and their final reports. On Thursday, just ahead of his departure to Tajikistan’s capital of Dushanbe, President Sirisena wrote to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya. Of course, the fault lies with President Sirisena for making appointments to key sensitive positions like defence and foreign affairs.
Source:Sunday Times
June 15, 2019 19:06 UTC
Marking a milestone in game development with ‘Nero’
Marking a milestone in game development with ‘Nero’ By Sashini Rodrigo View(s): View(s):A rimac Digital is making news again. This time with ‘Nero’, a multi-platform, third-person shooter game that is purely Sri Lankan. The launch of the game takes place this August, and marks a milestone in the history of game development in Sri Lanka. Arimac Digital is a digital product development company that has its headquarters in Sri Lanka and several sub offices in Australia, UAE and Trinidad & Tobago. After the success the company had with ‘Kanchayudha’, they aim to further “disrupt and revolutionize” the game development industry in Sri Lanka through ‘Nero’.
Source:Sunday Times
June 15, 2019 19:06 UTC
Muslim MPs who resigned to reconsider accepting ministerial posts
Muslim MPs who resigned to reconsider accepting ministerial posts By Chris Kamalendran View(s): View(s):Muslim MPs who stepped down from their Cabinet, State and Deputy Minister positions will hold a special meeting in the Parliament complex on Tuesday to consider whether to again accept ministerial posts in the Government. Former Minister Abdul Haleem told the Sunday Times that the meeting would take place once Parliament sessions resume on Tuesday. He said the MPs would hold the meeting to discuss an appeal made by the Chief Prelates of the three Buddhist Nikayas and leading members of the Maha Sangha, urging the Muslim MPs to take up their ministerial portfolios again. We have informed all ministers who resigned and they have agreed to come for this discussion.”The former minister said it was up to relevant law enforcement authorities to investigate various allegations regarding Muslim MPs and find out the truth. All Muslim MPs stepped down from their ministerial posts following a fast unto death launched by Parliamentarian Ven.
Source:Sunday Times
June 15, 2019 19:06 UTC
Sri Lanka must get back to basics
Sri Lanka must get back to basics By Kumar Sangakkara View(s): View(s):The famously fickle British weather has dominated the past week of the Cricket World Cup, rain and cold winds interrupting the summer and ruining several games, halting the momentum of a tournament that had started so positively. In Bristol, we saw the game between Pakistan and Sri Lanka being called off in sunshine due to wet patches on the outfield while the match between England and West Indies in Southampton was played despite heavy rain throughout the week. It’s a shame that it’s not practical to cover the entire playing area like is the norm in Sri Lanka. For Sri Lanka, the forward strategy is a pretty simple one: bat well and build totals the bowlers can defend; or work out how to chase down the totals set. Their body language has been a bit defeatist and they need to inspire that dressing room, with help from Lasith Malinga, for Sri Lanka to compete.
Source:Sunday Times
June 15, 2019 19:06 UTC
The killing fields of Sri Lanka Rugby
The killing fields of Sri Lanka Rugby View(s):Children should not work on the fields but on dreams. Sri Lanka beat Chinese Taipei convincingly after having gone down in the first match against the Philippines. Philippines topped Division 1 of Asian Rugby while Sri Lanka saved their skin by being able to remain in Division 1. Sri Lanka did so with a new but bubbling side of amateur professionals while big guns remained at home. Sri Lanka Rugby should enter into a tripartite agreement involving player club and Sri Lanka Rugby.
Source:Sunday Times
June 15, 2019 19:06 UTC
History, art and more in Italy
History, art and more in Italy View(s):Students of four Colombo schools – St. Bridget’s Convent, Bishop’s College, Ladies’ College and Visakha Vidyalaya, studying Greek and Roman Civilisation as a subject for their A/Ls, got to experience a bit of Roman history recently. Embarking on a trip to Italy along with their teachers, the trip was organized by Jetwing Holidays and conducted by Ellenora Rochhi. The following is a recollection of highlights from an amazing hectic week filled with art, architecture, fashion, history and ofcourse…food. Pompeii – It’s impossible to wander around Pompeii (which still has buildings, mosaics and streets of a Roman city almost perfectly preserved) without having Vesuvius looming above you, its caldera very clearly visible. Florence – Its no surprise that Florence was a centre for art, architecture, culture and fashion and the domain of the powerful Medici family.
Source:Sunday Times
June 15, 2019 19:06 UTC
Looking their best on their big day
Looking their best on their big day Concluding our two-part article on modern day weddings, Sashini Rodrigo and Ruqyyaha Deane look at changing trends in traditional attire View(s): View(s):It’s the day you’ve dreamed of – and whether you are in a suit or sarong, flowing gown or saree — it is important that you look your best on your wedding day. “When designing a bridal I give preference to the bride’s own requirements of what she likes, traditional, modern or something in-between, keeping in mind what will suit her the best. With the modern Kandyan, Sri Lankan weddings and bridal outfits are moving to a new level of sophistication without losing their old world charm, she feels. At the end of the day, it’s the bride’s big day, and she needs to feel comfortable in what she wears, she needs to feel beautiful in the design, she has to fall in love with it,” shares Indi. The shift is in bridal make-up too.
Source:Sunday Times
June 15, 2019 19:06 UTC
Wennappuwa HA emerge champions
Wennappuwa HA emerge champions View(s):Wennappuwa Hockey Association emerged champions at the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation organised Under-21 Junior Women’s National Hockey Championship 2019 at the Astro Turf, Torrington Square last weekend. Wennappuwa scored a 2-1 victory over Kandy Hockey Association in the finals played in overcast conditions. Kandy HA defeated Sri Lanka Schools ‘Gold’ 3-1 in the first semi-final while Wennappuwa HA booked their slot in the finals scoring a 3-2 win over Colombo. Six minutes later Devindu Samudra scored the second goal for Wennappuwa to end the second quarter 2-0. Abeyratne with a solo run beat the Wennappuwa backs and goal keeper to score the solitary Kandy goal.
Source:Sunday Times
June 15, 2019 19:06 UTC
Is this the frustrating ICC World Cup thus far?
Is this the frustrating ICC World Cup thus far? Seven teams out of ten have so far fallen victim to the British weather and Sri Lanka has been at the receiving end far more than others. Three matches–Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka and India vs New Zealand–were abandoned so far. In Sri Lanka, the whole ground is covered within minutes by possibly the world’s fastest ground staff who work in perfect unison. Here, the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan game never got underway due to wet field even after the rain stopped.
Source:Sunday Times
June 15, 2019 19:06 UTC
Australia flattens lucklustre Sri Lanka at the Oval
Australia flattens lucklustre Sri Lanka at the Oval By Champika Fernando reporting from London View(s): View(s):The Australians flattened the lacklustre Sri Lankan team with an excellent performance in the field to record an overwhelming 87-run victory in their World Cup fixture here at the Oval grounds yesterday. Sri Lanka got off to a flyer, scoring 87 off the first power play, the highest in the tournament so far. With four points, Sri Lanka must now win at least three of their last four games to earn one of the four semi-final spots. But they thereon managed just 32 runs for the loss of three wickets as Sri Lanka penetrated their bowling in the death overs. Sri Lanka refuses tomeet pressmen Following their 87-run defeat Sri Lanka yesterday refused to attend the post match press conference – a mandatory requirement under ICC tournament regulations.
Source:Sunday Times
June 15, 2019 19:06 UTC
Financial sector slow to grant state tourism relief
Financial sector slow to grant state tourism relief By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s):With only four banks making good progress on the relief package granted by the government to the tourism industry, some at the peripherals seem to have been left out in the process even as other financial institutions are yet to fall in line. Tourism Development Minister John Amaratunga said that while the state banks had fallen in line and were providing relief to the tourism industry some of the private sector banks and leasing companies were yet to do so. Private banks had minor problems which was the main reason for the delay but now they too have provided relief to their customers in the tourism industry, it was noted. Two months since the Easter bombings the tourism industry continues to reel from the after effects of the attacks as tourists are slow to arrive in the country following a number of travel advisories against Sri Lanka. “A few more banks need to be told they need to honour the government decision to help provide relief to the tourism industry,” Mr. Amaratunga said.
Source:Sunday Times
June 15, 2019 19:06 UTC
Industry reps removed from key tea promo committee
Industry reps removed from key tea promo committee By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s):With the Sri Lanka tea industry just months away from launching its much-awaited global promotional campaign in September, a number of stakeholder representatives have been removed from the Promotion and Marketing Committee (PMC) said to be due to certain “structural changes” required by authorities. Plantations Minister Navin Dissanayake on June 7 had informed the respective stakeholder associations that their representatives have been removed from the PMC. The PMC is the committee that looks into how the funds of the promotional levy is being used and grants approval for these projects. In this respect, four representatives had been removed from the committee. But industry sources complain that tea promotion funds were once used to establish the now defunct Tea Café during the previous government and currently as well it was being used for activities within the country like the Nuwara Eliya tea festival.
Source:Sunday Times
June 15, 2019 19:06 UTC
Unlicensed, unregistered – rogue lenders exploit the dark
Following a cabinet decision last August, 45,139 women beneficiaries from 12 districts were selected through microfinance companies – not from a grassroots-level process – to have their loans written off. 1.2 billion in write-off capital for some 37 microfinance companies to whom the nominated women were indebted, with the institutions agreeing to bear Rs. Treasury stated in a circular it would reimburse the microfinance companies for the loss incurred due to writing off capital. Even after the Microfinance Act was passed in 2016, making it mandatory for microfinance institutions to register with the Central Bank, none of the unregistered companies have registered to date. The Central Bank, the apex institution in the financial sector, admitted it did not carry out any regulatory or supervisory action against unregistered microfinance companies operating in the country.
Source:Sunday Times
June 15, 2019 19:06 UTC
Legendary Vaas urges batsmen to come out of fear factor
Presently he is in charge of nurturing the younger generation, after being appointed as Head Coach of the Sri Lanka Emerging team. Sri Lanka will field five fast bowlers — Asitha Fernando, Kalana Perera, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Madushanka and another one from the Under-19 set-up. Now it is said that the First Class pitches in Sri Lanka have played in favour of spinners. He said that Sri Lanka cricket needs to look into this prolonged problem. We have to improve the standard of our pitches, for that to happen Sri Lanka cricket has to take some important decisions.
Source:Sunday Times
June 15, 2019 19:06 UTC
Dickwella blitz helps SL ‘A’ draw ODI series
Dickwella blitz helps SL ‘A’ draw ODI series View(s):Opener Niroshan Dickwella hit a sparkling century as the touring Sri Lanka ‘A’ Team came from behind to beat India ‘A’ Team by 7 wickets in the fifth and final Unofficial ODI worked off at the Nehru Stadium in Hubli, India yesterday. Sri Lanka ‘A’ also had the satisfaction of drawing the five-match Unofficial ODI series 2-2 (one no-result) after conceding the Unofficial Test series to India ‘A’ 0-2. However, Sri Lanka ‘A’ lost both openers in the space of two overs before Shehan Jayasuriya and Skipper Ashan Priyanjan added the finishing touches with an unfinished fourth-wicket partnership of 65 runs. Earlier, India ‘A’ put into bat were restricted to 259 runs following some disciplined bowling from Akila Dananjaya and Priyanjan who claimed two wickets from just three overs. Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad carried his excellent form with another splendid half century which included eight boundaries.
Source:Sunday Times
June 15, 2019 19:06 UTC