Two
displaced Muslim children from Mutur find a makeshift
home not in but under a bullock cart at Kantale yesterday.
They are part of some 100,000 people displaced by
the current fighting. Pic by Gemunu Wellage.
Read More
Financial
Times
Crisis over Apollo takeover
bid The
Board of Investment’s (BOI’s) intervention
last week in a legitimate stockmarket move where the
Harry Jayawardene-led Sri Lanka Insurance (SLI) made
a mandatory offer to buy shares in Apollo hospital
has triggered a major controversy including the unhealthy
practice of government interference in the market.
Full Story
Reconditioned car prices set
to rise sharply
Reconditioned vehicles which require an ‘export
inspection certificate’ from August 1 are expected
to rise by at least Rs 200,000 but on the other hand
the new rule would stop ‘junk’ imports,
government and industry officials said. Full
Story
Wijenaike
steps down after 50 years at the top Chandra
Wijenaike, founder chairman of Central Finance Company
Ltd, is retiring after nearly 50 years at the top and
the directors are expected to elect a new head after
the next AGM on August 24.Wijenaike, 79, led the Kandy-based
finance company to become one of the island’s
strongest non-bank financial institution, an achievement
which reflects the public trust in his integrity and
business acumen. It is the only finance company that
has grown up to a national level from an outstation
base. Full Story
New
Ericsson communication system soon in Sri Lanka
Metropolitan Communications Ltd., sole distributor of
Ericsson enterprise systems in Sri Lanka, is to launch
the new Ericsson MX One server-based communications
system in Sri Lanka. The company said that the Ericsson
MX One provides a complete solution for business customers,
and has been hailed as the future of enterprise communications.
Full Story
Queen's Award for British exporter
to Sri Lanka
The 'Queen's Award for Enterprise 2006' has been awarded
to an Egyptian-born entrepreneur in the UK for exports
of diesel and gas generators to Sri Lanka and many
other countries.Full
Story
Mahela serious despite recent
successes
Despite having a dream run in the last few months
and savouring back to back victories in tests and
one dayers Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene expects
a tough competition and a huge challenge from his
opponents South Africa and India when the Unitec cup
triangular series begins tomorrow.... Full
Story
National Cricket administration
to be revamped
Changes to the countries premier cricketing body,
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is expected to take place
later this week with the Ministry of Sports going
ahead with the formation of a Trust in order to administer
the popular game...Full
Story
More on the drug menace Speaking on the burning question of drugs
being used by school rugby players, which was highlighted
in the Daily Mirror yesterday, Asanga Seneviratne,
the S. Thomas’ rugby coach said: “The
Rugby Union knew that drugs were being used by schoolboys.
It was first spotted by former Sri Lanka coach George
Simpkin when he was in charge of the....... Full
Story
‘KANK’
creates a family tale
Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna - (KANK) (Never Say Goodbye),
another one of the big budgeted Bollywood movies made
by Karan Johar who is famous for his previous direction
, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Kal Ho Naa Ho. Coinciding
with the world premiere the film was released here at
Liberty cinema Colombo, Sigiri Katugastota and four
other theatres around the country..... Full
Story
‘Wanabime Sirakaruwo’: A tale of
a brave Boer Kapila
Kumara Kalinga has just completed his first teledrama
‘Wanabime Sirakaruwo’ (The Prisoners
of the Wild). Location shooting in Yala
Game Sanctuary, Matugama, Balapitiya and Ambalangoda
found its way to the Bogambara Prison in Kandy. In this
final episode Roger Seneviratne, Lionel Wickrema and
Chandrasoma Binduhewa complete their roles effectively
....... Full Story
Book
on Mount Lavinia - A Governor's Palace' During
the bicentenary celebrations of Mount Lavinia Hotel,
an exciting new coffee table book charting the 200-year
history of the hotel was launched. Entitled, ‘Mount
Lavinia - The Governor's Palace’, this extensive
and in depth work provides a vivid insight from the
inception of the house built originally as the British
Governor's residence to its present state as the Mount
Lavinia Hotel ...... Full
Story
The
unrest at Tapovana
King Udaya and the Yuvaraja destroyed everybody including
the animals, that lived in Tapovana. They went searching
for the small caves where the ministers were hiding,
rounded them up and killed them in a very cruel manner.
Because of this, the priests who lived in Tapovana got
extremely frightened.... Full
Story
Ananda moves from Pettah to Maradana
Ananda College moved to its present location at Maradana
on August 17, 1895 after a philanthropist, Gate Mudaliyar
Tudor Rajapakse gifted three and a half acres at Paranavadiya.
The school, first known as Buddhist English School,
had been established at Maliban Street, Pettah on
November 1, 1886 on the initiative of Colonel H. S.
Olcott.... Full
Story
Heavy
battles in North and East
Military and commercial flights between Colombo and
Jaffna were suspended yesterday after Tiger guerrillas
mounted artillery attacks on the Security Forces Headquarters
including the Air Force base and the runway on Friday
night. Full Story
Peace
Secretariat deputy chief shot dead
Kethishwaran Loganathan, 53, deputy head of the Government
Peace Secretariat, was shot dead at his residence in
Dehiwala last night by suspected Tiger guerrillas, Police
said. Full Story
Lankan
Police trainees move to Madhya Pradesh
The training of 44 selected Sri Lankan Police officers
in Coimbatore, South India has been shifted to an adjoining
state following protest from the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
M. Karunanidhi.Full
Story
Computed
tax loss – staggering Rs. 389 b
The computable value of the loss in government tax revenue
and non collection of taxes in the past four years amounts
to a staggering Rs. 389 billion, excluding the amount
that could not be computed accurately, the Auditor General’s
Department has revealed. Full
Story
Look
into this crocodile death On
August 8 a newspaper carried a news item about the
death of a crocodile of the National Zoological Gardens,
Dehiwela. This crocodile had been borrowed by a teledrama
producer to be used in an episode where its hero grapples
with a crocodile in a river. The animal had died about
three days after it was returned to the Zoo. Full
Story
Let
the show begin Art
meets technology in this place. It is a magical spot
- this theatre - a space which lends itself to illusion
and enchantment and ultimately to belief. Fittingly,
it seems to have a life of its own; tiers stretch
and contract, the stage moves around, the lights that
carpet the ceiling can be manipulated at will…all
ensuring that you’ll never be sure of exactly
what you’re going to discover within these walls.
And that, you will find, is just another kind of magic...Full Story
Aditya
synonymous with romance
There are many places that can arouse the senses.
Some places may even enliven the intellect. But only
a few can draw the soul into the experience. Aditya,
Sri Lanka’s latest boutique hotel, professes
its capability in ‘the seduction of the soul’.
Completed early this year, the hotel sits on a secluded
stretch of beach in Rathgama, between Hikkaduwa and
Galle... Full Story
A
murder retold On
a dark, rainy day in 2003, Prof. Ravindra Fernando
accompanied by a few colleagues and a Buddhist monk
went to Angunabadulla, a village in the Thihagoda
area on the Matara Hakmana road, about 168 km from
Colombo... Full
Story
Little
things that matter
One small thing you never thought will make you feel
happy… One small thing that could lead you to
the path to eternity..... Full
Story
B‘n’S
on BBC It’s
a fact that some people achieve more than others in
their chosen fields. Adding to their repertoire of
numerous professional achievements, Bathiya and Santhush
had yet another noteworthy milestone recently. Interviewed
by BBC World a few weeks ago on their music and the
Sri Lankan entertainment industry, they fall into
a handfull of Sri Lankans, most of them eminent political
personalities, to be featured on the international
television channel ...... Full
Story
To
be or not to be
But, in Sri Lanka do we have a proper sense of planning?
Suddenly one morning you get up only to read in the
morning papers that the Traffic Police have decided
to stop people from parking their vehicles in a certain
zone in the city. The result is chaos ...... Full
Story
Mighty
Mini stand the test of time The
Mighty Mini Sikkens Akzo Auto test which was held
at the AMRC speed dome at Battaramulla on Sunday the
16th of July 2006 was a roaring success. The track
had a carnival atmosphere with Lankem Sikkens Akzo
Nobel flags decorating the perimeters of the track
in addition to the large number of colourful little
minis which participated. ....... Full
Story
Formula
for a Classic Car Day
of nostalgic memories, fun and family celebrated the
launch of SLI's Formula World Centre in Seeduwa. The
Formula Plus Classic Car Rally held with the Classic
Car Club of Ceylon paraded the streets of Colombo,
as they made their way up to Seeduwa to the Formula
World Centre for a day of fun activities ....... Full
Story
The
Board of Investment’s (BOI’s) intervention
last week in a legitimate stockmarket move where the
Harry Jayawardene-led Sri Lanka Insurance (SLI) made
a mandatory offer to buy shares in Apollo hospital
has triggered a major controversy including the unhealthy
practice of government interference in the market.
Chandra
Wijenaike, founder chairman of Central Finance Company
Ltd, is retiring after nearly 50 years at the top and
the directors are expected to elect a new head after
the next AGM on August 24.Wijenaike, 79, led the Kandy-based
finance company to become one of the island’s
strongest non-bank financial institution, an achievement
which reflects the public trust in his integrity and
business acumen. It is the only finance company that
has grown up to a national level from an outstation
base. 
Kapila
Kumara Kalinga has just completed his first teledrama
‘Wanabime Sirakaruwo’ (The Prisoners
of the Wild). Location shooting in Yala
Game Sanctuary, Matugama, Balapitiya and Ambalangoda
found its way to the Bogambara Prison in Kandy. In this
final episode Roger Seneviratne, Lionel Wickrema and
Chandrasoma Binduhewa complete their roles effectively
....... 
During
the bicentenary celebrations of Mount Lavinia Hotel,
an exciting new coffee table book charting the 200-year
history of the hotel was launched. Entitled, ‘Mount
Lavinia - The Governor's Palace’, this extensive
and in depth work provides a vivid insight from the
inception of the house built originally as the British
Governor's residence to its present state as the Mount
Lavinia Hotel ...... 
On
August 8 a newspaper carried a news item about the
death of a crocodile of the National Zoological Gardens,
Dehiwela. This crocodile had been borrowed by a teledrama
producer to be used in an episode where its hero grapples
with a crocodile in a river. The animal had died about
three days after it was returned to the Zoo. 
Art
meets technology in this place. It is a magical spot
- this theatre - a space which lends itself to illusion
and enchantment and ultimately to belief. Fittingly,
it seems to have a life of its own; tiers stretch
and contract, the stage moves around, the lights that
carpet the ceiling can be manipulated at will…all
ensuring that you’ll never be sure of exactly
what you’re going to discover within these walls.
And that, you will find, is just another kind of magic...
There are many places that can arouse the senses.
Some places may even enliven the intellect. But only
a few can draw the soul into the experience. Aditya,
Sri Lanka’s latest boutique hotel, professes
its capability in ‘the seduction of the soul’.
Completed early this year, the hotel sits on a secluded
stretch of beach in Rathgama, between Hikkaduwa and
Galle... 
On
a dark, rainy day in 2003, Prof. Ravindra Fernando
accompanied by a few colleagues and a Buddhist monk
went to Angunabadulla, a village in the Thihagoda
area on the Matara Hakmana road, about 168 km from
Colombo... 
It’s
a fact that some people achieve more than others in
their chosen fields. Adding to their repertoire of
numerous professional achievements, Bathiya and Santhush
had yet another noteworthy milestone recently. Interviewed
by BBC World a few weeks ago on their music and the
Sri Lankan entertainment industry, they fall into
a handfull of Sri Lankans, most of them eminent political
personalities, to be featured on the international
television channel ...... 
The
Mighty Mini Sikkens Akzo Auto test which was held
at the AMRC speed dome at Battaramulla on Sunday the
16th of July 2006 was a roaring success. The track
had a carnival atmosphere with Lankem Sikkens Akzo
Nobel flags decorating the perimeters of the track
in addition to the large number of colourful little
minis which participated. ....... 
Day
of nostalgic memories, fun and family celebrated the
launch of SLI's Formula World Centre in Seeduwa. The
Formula Plus Classic Car Rally held with the Classic
Car Club of Ceylon paraded the streets of Colombo,
as they made their way up to Seeduwa to the Formula
World Centre for a day of fun activities ....... 
