Sep 30 (DM) The Health Ministry has launched a ‘National Organ Donor Programme’ (NODP) with special emphasis on kidney donations. NODP with special emphasis on kidney donations from living and non related and cadaveric transplant is initiated by health minister Maithripala Sirisena. Kidneys for transplants have been obtained only from blood relatives, brain dead patients and matching donors up to now. more..

Sep 30 (DM) The United National Party (UNP) dissidents who were pressing for reforms and mulling over a decision to function independently in parliament have now decided to avoid precipitating matters any further to prevent the government taking advantage of the situation. UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera said the group had decided that in future it would act collectively in bringing about party reforms. more..

Sep 30 (ET) Sri Lanka Cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara has been elected for a third time as an ICC Ambassador along with four other leaders in the field for 2010 -2011. India vice-captain Virender Sehwag, England's World Twenty20 winning captain Paul Collingwood, Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke are the other ambassadors. In all, the ICC has chosen five ambassadors, including Australian umpire Simon Taufel, more..

Sep 30 (Island) Sri Lanka will be in a position to use thorium, a radioactive metal, to generate nuclear power as 30 per cent of the world’s deposits lay between Kerala in India and Beruwala, Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka says. The Minister said he was confident that thorium would be an asset on the completion of the ongoing extensive studies conducted by Indian and local scientists. more..

Sep 30 (DM) It was revealed at a meeting of four election monitoring bodies in the country on Tuesday that the cost of the last two elections including the abuse of state resources is more than the country’s education budget for 2009 which was Rs 4.6 billion. TI Executive Director J. C. Weliamuna said that the cost of advertising by the main political parties in the presidential election alone amounted to Rs 800 million. more..

Sep 30 (AFP) Sri Lanka's president has confirmed the 30-month jail term imposed on former army chief Sarath Fonseka following his conviction by a military court, an official said Thursday. President Mahinda Rajapakse approved the prison sentence for a period of two-and-a-half years after returning Wednesday from New York where he addressed the UN General Assembly, a senior government official said. more..