Financial City: Tripartite agreement signed

The Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development, the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd. today signed an agreement to establish a financial city in Colombo. 

The agreement formally replaces the agreement signed by the previous government on September 16, 2014.

The Cabinet, on Wednesday, approved the proposal by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to draft the required legislation to establish the financial city in Colombo.

It said the objective of the proposed financial city is to make Colombo a financial hub, to attract foreign investments from South Asian and Middle East regions, as well as from European countries.

US commends SL on passage of OMP Bill

The US said today the passage of the Bill to set up an Office of Missing Persons (OMP) by the Sri Lankan Government was an historic step towards achieving reconciliation. 

 While congratulating Sri Lanka for passing the Bill, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski, in a twitter message, said the move was remarkable in the pursuit of justice, reconciliation and accountability for all. 

Meanwhile, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal tweeted saying the Passage of the OMP Bill was a huge stride forward for Sri Lanka in advancing truth and reconciliation.

US Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Atul Keshap said the passage of the Bill was an historic milestone in the path toward meaningful national reconciliation for all in Sri Lanka.

Jackson Anthony before PRECIFAC

Actor Jackson Anthony and eight others arrived before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud and Corruption (PRECIFAC) this morning. 

They are being questioned on financial irregularities that occurred at the inauguration of the Hambantota Port, in 2010.

Kumar Sangakkara among Ricky Ponting’s greatest XI

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has named his greatest XI made up of individuals he played alongside or against in his stellar 18-year first-class career.

Ponting has selected five Australians, two West Indians, one each from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and South Africa.

The XI features a heavy smattering of Australians five in all, but perhaps unsurprising from an era where Australia dominated all forms of cricket.  Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara was nominated to be the captain of this all-star XI, and described by Ponting as “one of the modern–day greats”.

He further added that Kumar is a very determined player, loved winning and gave his team every opportunity to win when he was out in the middle.

He classified Kumar as a great leader of men, and that’s the reason why Ricky Ponting named Sanga as team captain.

Ponting’s All-Time XI

1. Matthew Hayden (Australia)
2. Justin Langer (Australia)
3. Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
4. Sachin Tendulkar (India)
5. Brian Lara (West Indies)
6. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka, captain)
7. Adam Gilchrist (Australia, wicketkeeper)
8. Shane Warne (Australia)
9. Wasim Akram (Pakistan)
10. Curtly Ambrose (West Indies)
11. Glenn McGrath (Australia)

Akalanka Ganegama's Pre Wedding Photo Shoot

Akalanka Ganegama's Pre Wedding Photo Shoot at Pitakotuwa

Pix By STUDIO3000DF

Yoshitha ordered to meet FCID

Mount Lavinia Additional Magistrate Lochana Abeywicrema yesterday ordered Yoshitha Rajapaksa and his grandmother to report to the FCID on 25 August, concerning a case of financial misappropriation related to the purchase of a land in Mount Lavinia, valued at Rs 512 million.

When the case related to the incident was taken up for hearing at the Mount Lavinia Magistrate's Court, the FCID made their submissions.

The FCID requested Court to issue an order to the Registrar of the Delkanda Land Registrar's Office to release the original copies of four lands purchased by suspect Yoshitha Rajapaksa.

The FCID also requested Court to issue an order to suspect Yoshitha Rajapaksa to be present at the FCID with the original copies of the land situated at Mihindu Mawatha.

The Counsels for the suspects, addressing the Court, stated that the first suspect in the case is a 62-year-old woman and asked Court to activate the previous order given to her to appear before Court through her lawyer.
The Mount Lavinia Additional Magistrate then allowed the suspect to appear in Court through a lawyer before postponing the case to 15 September.

BBS promotes supremacy of Buddhists

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), or Buddhist Power Force, continues to promote the supremacy of the country's ethnic Sinhalese Buddhist population and propagated views hostile towards members of religious and ethnic minorities, the US State Department said in a news report.

In its 2015 Report on International Religious Freedom, the department said that BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera regularly made inflammatory statements about 'Islamic invasion and aggression' and 'forced conversions' by Christian groups as posing an existential threat to the country's Buddhism.

The report added, "sources stated that Buddhist monks continued to operate with government protection, and some monks, particularly outside Colombo, regularly tried to close down Christian and Muslim places of worship on the grounds they lacked the Ministry of Justice and Buddha Sasana's approval. The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) documented a total of 87 cases of attacks on churches, intimidation and violence against pastors and their congregations, and obstruction of worship services during the year. NCEASL had reported a total of 96 such incidents in 2014.

The Secretariat for Muslims (SFM) recorded 82 incidents of hate speech, acts of discrimination, attempts to desecrate or destroy Muslim religious edifices, and verbal insults upon or use of physical force to impede Muslim cultural practices and rituals, a 62 per cent reduction from the previous year. There were no reported deaths related to interreligious disputes. The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), or Buddhist Power Force, continued to promote the supremacy of the country's ethnic Sinhalese Buddhist population and propagated views hostile toward members of religious and ethnic minorities.

The US Ambassador urged government leaders at the most senior levels, including President Maithripala Sirisena, to arrest and prosecute perpetrators of crimes against religious minorities and to protect religious freedom for all citizens. The embassy continued to meet regularly with representatives from a broad range of religious groups to promote cooperative engagement and strengthen bonds between and among various religious and ethnic communities."

Trishaw driver who fled after knocking down Girl

A three wheeler driver who fled after knocking down a girl, was arrested by Galle Police yesterday.

Police said the three wheeler driver had told the girl to get into the three wheeler after accident, promising to admit her to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital.

However, he had later fled without admitting her to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital. The girl, Fathima Fermilla, a resident of Dangedara, Galle was later admitted to the emergency treatment unit of the Karapitiya General Hospital.Police investigations have revealed that the three wheeler driver did not have a valid driving licence.

He was ordered to be remanded until August 15.