21 remanded for attempting to illegally migrate via boat
NewsThe Colombo magistrate courts today remanded 21 Srilankan nationals who were arrested by Navy for attempting to illegally migrate overseas on a trawler. Naval personnel attached to the Fast Attack Craft belonging to the Western Naval Command, during their patrol to curb transnational crime in the territorial waters of the island, apprehended 21 suspects onboard suspicious trawler plying in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Sri Lanka yesterday. Having spotted a suspicious trawler in the sea about 117 nautical miles off Chilaw, the Navy hurried two Fast Attack Craft to the location. Accordingly, the naval personnel were able to hold 21 illegal immigrants aboard. Subsequently, the suspects were brought to the Colombo harbour and handed over to the Harbour Police for further legal action.
Source:Sunday Times
August 07, 2018 07:18 UTC
Committee appointed to probe Panaliya train crash
NewsSri Lanka Railways has appointed a four member committee to inquire into yesterday's train collision at Panaliya which left at least 32 passengers injured. Additional General Manager of Railways, Vijaya Samarasinghe, also said the department had suspended the driver, driver's assistant, head guard and assistant guard of the No.164 Colombo to Rambukkana train involved in yesterday's crash pending the conclusion of the committee's investigation. The four member committee appointed to probe the crash comprises of the Railway Department's Deputy Operating Superintendent, Deputy Chief Engineer (Way & Works), Deputy Chief Engineer (Motive Power) and Deputy Chief Engineer (Signal & Communication). The incident occurred last evening when the Colombo-Rambukkana train collided with another train bound for Kandy from Colombo. At the time, the Kandy bound train had been stopped on the tracks.
Source:Sunday Times
August 07, 2018 06:52 UTC
Ambassador – designate to Myanmar assumes duties
NewsThe newly appointed Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar E.M.M. Nandimithra Ekanayake assumed duties at the Mission on July 20, Foreign Affairs Ministry said. Buddhist monks invoked blessings on the new Ambassador-designate and an almsgiving was held at the official residence of the Ambassador to mark the occasion. Addressing the staff of the Embassy upon assumption of duties, Ambassador Ekanayake spoke on the centuries - old ties between Sri Lanka and Myanmar and stated that the relationship should be further enhanced in the future. Previously, Ambassador Ekanayake had held several high level positions in the Government.
Source:Sunday Times
August 07, 2018 06:45 UTC
Twelve persons held for engaging in illegal activities
NewsNavy apprehended twelve persons who were engaging in illegal fishing at different locations in the island last week alona, Navy said. Accordingly, a troop of Naval personnel attached to the North Western Naval Command on foot patrol apprehended four persons (04) who engaged in illegal fishing activities in Thirikkapallama area on last 31st July. Meanwhile, Naval personnel attached to Eastern Naval Command apprehended eight (08) persons who engaged in illegal fishing activities in the Eastern seas, on 2nd August. of Non electrical detonators and 3 meters of Safety fuse hidden under a bush in Chiruttoppu area were recovered by sailors attached to North Central Naval Command, on 3rd August. The recovered explosive items were handed over to Pesalai Police for further investigation.
Source:Sunday Times
August 07, 2018 06:45 UTC
Rowing: Sri Lanka misses World Junior Championship
SportSri Lanka has failed to send any of its athletes for the upcoming World Junior Rowing Championship 2018 to be held in Racice, Czech Republic from August 8 to 15. According to information the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka, the governing body of the sport in the country, has failed to submit the local entries to the world body, the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Aviron (FISA) or the International Rowing Federation. Over 750 athletes representing nearly 40 countries will take part in the eight-day competition in Racice.
Source:Sunday Times
August 07, 2018 06:22 UTC
Cricket: Sajith Fernando appointed SLC T20 Tournament Director
SportSri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has appointed Sajith Fernando as the Tournament Director for the upcoming SLC Twenty20 League. Fernando, who captained Sri Lanka ‘A’ team, is currently working as the Manager of the Sri Lanka Emerging team against South Africa Emerging. He has also functioned as a National Cricket Selector. The four-team SLC T20 League, will run from August 21 to September 2 at three different venues.
Source:Sunday Times
August 07, 2018 05:15 UTC
Confusion continues over the implementation of WHT
Confusion continues over the implementation of WHT View(s):Commercial banks are deducting the 5 per cent With Holding Tax (WHT) from the interest paid to any person on any rupee or foreign currency deposit including the Non-Resident Foreign Currency accounts in accordance with the Inland Revenue Act (IRA), Finance Ministry sources confirmed. Under the new Foreign Exchange Act No 12 of 2017, all existing Non-Resident Foreign Currency Accounts (NRFC), Resident Foreign Currency Accounts (RFC), Resident Non-National Foreign Currency Accounts, Non-Resident Non-National Foreign Currency accounts have been re-designated as Personal Foreign Currency Accounts. Existing Foreign Exchange Earner Accounts (FEEA), Inward Remittance Distribution Accounts (IRDA) and Foreign Currency Accounts for Agents of Foreign Shipping Line or Airlines (FCAAF SAs) will be considered as Business Foreign Currency Accounts (BFCAs). Resident Guest Foreign Currency Accounts and Senior Foreign Nationals Special Accounts will remain as it is under the previous law, he revealed. Personal Foreign Currency Accounts (PFCAs) and Business Foreign Currency Accounts (BFCAs) could be opened and maintained as Current (but without cheque drawing facility), Savings or Term Deposit accounts in any designated foreign currency.
Source:Sunday Times
August 04, 2018 19:32 UTC
Banning mania can be hazardous to the nation’s economic health
Now the government has thought it fit to ban tobacco cultivation. And done on the grounds to protect the nation’s health. Why this government fails to understand, at the cost of its own popularity amongst the masses, that the economic consequences of banning should also be taken into account without rushing to ban, ban ban everything in its sight? The Catechism of the Church, which sums up the teachings, had previously stated that the death penalty could be used in some cases. The Church will now work with determination for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide, a statement from the Holy See said.
Source:Sunday Times
August 04, 2018 19:32 UTC
Wigneswaran seeks police powers to fight sword gangs in North
Wigneswaran seeks police powers to fight sword gangs in North View(s):As the Police struggle to maintain law and order in the North amidst increasing incidents of sword gangs terrorising the region, Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran has proposed that if the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) is given police powers, he can bring the situation under control within two months. However, the NPC’s Opposition Leader S. Thavarasa criticised the Chief Minister’s call for police powers to be vested in the Provincial Council. Having also indicated that he intends to contest the next SLC election, Mr Sumathipala is the living embodiment of politics connected to cricket. Journalists would also have wanted to question Mr Sumathipala after he again publicly brought up match-fixing allegations dating back to the 1990s. Though journalists pointed out that the topic was now finished and asked they be allowed to pose some questions to Mr Sumathipala on sports, the request was denied.
Source:Sunday Times
August 04, 2018 19:32 UTC
Not even by five cents, President slams proposal to raise MPs’ salaries
Not even by five cents, President slams proposal to raise MPs’ salaries View(s):President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday vowed that he would not allow salaries of MPs to be raised “even by five cents.” Speaking at a function at the Polonnaruwa new market complex last evening, he said he had read and watched the media coverage on the issue of raising salaries of parliamentarians. Pointing out that any such proposal would have to be submitted to the Cabinet, the President said he would not approve it. The controversy arose after a proposal was submitted to the Speaker, recommending a salary hike for ministers, deputy ministers and MPs in terms of a parliamentary resolution passed in 2006. The resolution recommends that ministers’ and MPs’ salaries should be given a salary increase whenever the salaries of higher judicial officers are increased. Minister Lakshman Kiriella addressing a function in Matale said that salaries of parliamentarians were increased according to a law passed in 2006 when Mahinda Rajapaksa was the president.
Source:Sunday Times
August 04, 2018 19:32 UTC
NDB making strides in Bangladesh
NDB making strides in Bangladesh By Jayampathy Jayasinghe View(s): View(s):National Development Bank (NDB) is the only foreign investment bank that operates in Bangladesh in a growing economy. Referring to digital banking, he said the bank launched a new digital financial solution unit which had recorded growth and is progressing rapidly. “In the capital market cluster we are in a unique situation with subsidiaries of the NDB Investment Banking, NDB Work Management, stock-broking and with NDB Capital Bangladesh operation. The bank recorded an operating profit before tax on financial services of Rs. 2.42 billion, a 63 per cent growth over the comparative period.
Source:Sunday Times
August 04, 2018 19:32 UTC
SLAF suspends civilian flights; incentives for other domestic operators
SLAF suspends civilian flights; incentives for other domestic operators View(s):The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has suspended civilian flights after the aviation regulator recalled the certificate of airworthiness (CofA) issued to its Xian MA60 aircraft, pending technical compliance. “The SLAF has not made any policy decision to refrain from transport of civilian passengers in duly approved and certified civilian transport aircraft and will continue working with the CAASL to improve its civilian passenger transport safety and standards,”Group Captain Seneviratne said. But the SLAF admitted it had stopped scheduled civilian passenger transport for the time being, including its Jaffna and Trincomalee flights. There are separate concerns that the SLAF’s involvement in civilian passenger transport is choking the domestic aviation sector by discouraging private operators who cannot compete on a level playing field. Ground-handling charges at BIA will be reduced for domestic air operators and aviation fuel supplied at all internal airports.
Source:Sunday Times
August 04, 2018 19:32 UTC
Mathews wants look beyond the Proteas series
Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Matthew said Sri Lanka needs to change its way of thinking to keep Sri Lanka a better prepared unit for the World Cup, starting 10 months from here, in England. Sri Lanka is currently 2-0 behind in the five match ODI series but the skipper stands firm on his feet saying “We will move forward regardless of the outcomes”. Sri Lanka team management had an in-depth analysis considering the last 36 ODI’s played and realised that they had won only nine of them. Sri Lanka has played 66 ODI’s since the World Cup and won only 21 of them in patches. Sri Lanka’s last ODI series win at home was beating below ranked West Indies in 2015.
Source:Sunday Times
August 04, 2018 19:32 UTC
Faiszer looking to change regulations before cricket elections
Faiszer looking to change regulations before cricket elections View(s):Sports Minister Faiszer Musthapha wants to amend the regulations pertaining to the appointment of election committees of national sports bodies before calling for fresh elections to Sri Lanka Cricket. “I have identified certain clauses, primarily who should be in an Election Committee, whether we should have a pre-selection criteria for those elected to the election committee and etc. This resulted in the appointment of a Competent Authority to look after the cricket affairs until fresh elections are conducted. A month after the elections were postponed, the International Cricket Council (ICC) asked SLC to hold elections within six months or face suspension. “I am committed to hold election expeditiously, but there are certain issues I need to clear up before going for the election.
Source:Sunday Times
August 04, 2018 19:32 UTC
BoC celebrates 79 years of service to the nation
BoC celebrates 79 years of service to the nation View(s):Sri Lanka’s number one bank, the Bank of Ceylon, celebrated its 79th anniversary on Wednesday, August 1 with the main ceremony held at the head office premises in Colombo. BoC Chairman Ronald Perera addressing the gathering said: “As celebrations begin for the 79th anniversary, it necessarily calls us to look back at the bank’s journey as the No.1 bank in the country. It has been a strenuous path to travel with many success stories to share but a well paid off journey. I must say the benefits of all these achievements have been uncompromisingly shared with all Sri Lankans. I would like to take this as an opportunity to thank all our distinguished customers, the Government, the staff of BOC and all our stakeholders for support and well wishes.”
Source:Sunday Times
August 04, 2018 19:32 UTC