Susanthika Appointed As Adviser To Sports Ministry

Olympic medalist Susanthika Jayasinghe was appointed as an Advisor for selecting and training the competitors for international athletic games.

Minister of Sports Dayasiri Jayasekara gave her the appointment letter yesterday at the Ministry premises, Government Information Department said.Jayasinghe was the second Olympic medalist in the history of Sri Lanka. She won the silver medal for 200m at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Death sentence for rape and killing of young graduate

The killer of a young woman graduate at Katudeniya in the Matale District was sentenced to death by Central Provincial High Court Judge Menaka Wijesundera on Thursday (11).

In this case Kolambage Don Densil Jayawardana of Katudeniya was indicted of rape and murder of the 26-year-old graduate by attacking her with a sledge hammer at his residence on May 25, 2014.

Judge Wijesundera, after concluding hearing of the case in addition to the passing of death sentence on the accused, recorded a jail term of 20 years of hard labour for trespass and another 20 years of hard labour for rape of the victim.

The accused from the village of Warapitiya in Katudeniya in Matale District was a wage earner as a labourer, investigations disclosed.

State Counsel Dilan Ratnayake represented the Attorney General. Attorney K. Kodituwakku appeared for the accused.

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.