Nov 15 (SL) A fifty two year old woman from Hokandara, who had been previously caught dealing in Heroin; speaking to The Sunday Leader from the Welikada Prison said that she was slapped on both sides of her face, pushed to the ground and her gold chain of three sovereigns allegedly ripped by policemen at the Talangama Police Station on November 6, at about 1.30 p.m. more..

Nov 15 (LB) The UPFA govt plans to acquire 37 institutions owned by the private sector using the Reacquisition of Under-performing Enterprises and Unutilized Assets Bill which was passed in parliament last week. Last week Minister Basil Rajapaksa said that these will be re-privatized and that the president had warned that this step would be taken in his 2011 budget speech. Opening the debate in Parliament Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne said that these institutions more..

Nov 15 (Island) The govt has sold a land extent in of 628 acres in Haputale to a foreign national to build a golf course, UNP MP Harin Fernando said. He said that Soraguane at Haldummulla, in Haputale, had been disposed for a song to an Indonesian businessman and the transaction was clouded in secrecy. Seven thousand members of the farming community would be displaced as a result of the golf course project, more..

Nov 15 (Island) The Postal Trade Union Coalition, which includes 16 trade unions, yesterday launched a hunger strike demanding the immediate removal of the Postmaster General, M.K.M.B. Dissanayake. Coalition media spokesman Chinthaka Bandara said that they would continue the protest campaign till the present PMG was removed. He said the entire staff of the Central Postal Exchange had participated in yesterday’s protest. more..

Nov 15 (Island) An act will be introduced next year to control the sugar content in soft drinks, liquid milk products and sweets. The spokesman for the Ministry said yesterday that the amended act would be submitted to parliament to reduce the sugar content in confectionery and beverages. The sugar content in soft drinks, liquid milk products and sweets will be reduced to 10 percent by the act. more..

Nov 15 (DM) Three Habeas Corpus (an order requiring a person to be brought into court) petitions have been filed before the Court of Appeal alleging that a student who was about to leave the country to be enrolled at the University College of London along with two of his friends were allegedly abducted in 2008 and were being kept in continuous incommunicado detention by Navy personnel. They on November 11 filed three separate Habeas Corpus petitions before the Court of Appeal more..

Nov 15 (Island) Undergraduates are up in arms against Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake’s decision to set up police posts within universities in a bid to prevent further clashes. Convener of the IUSF Sanjeewa Bandara said that the minister’s decision would take universities back to the period when university students were severely suppressed by the then UNP government of 1984. more..

Nov 15 (PTI) In yet another incident over a week, a fisherman was injured on Tuesday when Sri Lankan naval personnel allegedly attacked three fishing boats from here in the Palk straits, officials said. The Lankan navy men allegedly pelted stones damaging the boats and the fisherman suffered head injuries, fisheries department officials said. The fisherman was discharged after treatment at a hospital, police said. more..

Nov 15 (DM) We must use our own strategies to resolve our challenges whether they are terrorism separatism or environmental issues and must not rely on imported theories and ideologies, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said. Addressing the main ceremony of the ‘National Tree Planting Programme’ in Battaramulla today, President Rajapaksa stressed that Sri Lanka possesses age old traditions, more..

Nov 15 (DM) Drivers who do not maintain a speed limit of between 80 kmh and 100 kmh while driving on the Southern Expressway could be charged for either ‘obstruction’ or for ‘speeding’ as the case maybe, senior DIG Ashoka Wijethilaka, said yesterday. “Those found guilty of violating the speed limits will be fined a minimum of Rs.5000. The violations will be gauged by way of the speed-gun and more..

Nov 15 (DM) Countries around the world marked World Diabetes Day yesterday amid alarming reports that more than 60 per cent of the people in scores of countries including Sri Lanka are suffering from one or more non communicable diseases including diabetes. Reports here indicate that a disturbingly large number of people including 14 per cent of the schoolchildren are suffering from diabetes, which medical specialists say should be considered as more of a heart ailment more..

Nov 15 (LBO) Stocks plunged 2.3 percent Tuesday to a 14-month low despite strong quarterly earnings amid low liquidity and an expropriation law casting a pall over sentiment. The Colombo All Share Index fell 147 points to 6,092.30, the lowest since September 13, 2011 and the Milanka Index fell 137.7 points to 5,397.03. Turnover was 809 million rupees. Stock fell despite strong earnings which are offering good value in some stocks which now sport single digit earnings multiples. more..

Nov 15 (CI) The ICC Test Championship will not be held before 2017, Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, has said. The tournament was initially scheduled for 2013, but it cannot be conducted before 2017 due to the ICC's commitments to its broadcaster and sponsors. "I am afraid that [the Test championship] is no longer going to happen in 2013," Lorgat said in Dubai, where he was attending the second ODI between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. "At the last board meeting we decided the more..

Nov 15 (DM) A 60-year-old woman walking along the Meddewatte road in Matara was killed on the spot when a motor car returning from Kataragama after a pilgrimage crashed into her. Two children were also injured in the accident, Matara police said. The woman T.M. Gnanawathie was a resident of Edirisinghe Place in Meddawatte and a mother of five children. Police said at the time of the tragedy she was returning home from the Matara Mahajana Pola after purchasing vegetables. more..

Nov 15 (DM) Hot on the heels of the enactment of a new law to acquire underperforming and underused assets, the govt today leased out the Embilipitiya Paper Corporation to an Australian company on a 30 year-period under the government’s plan to restructure some state enterprises, a Minister said today. The employees of the paper mill will be laid off on a voluntary retirement scheme after being compensated, he said adding that 51 per cent of more..

Nov 15 (AD) Student of the Arts Faculty and the Science Faculty of the Colombo University have temporarily been barred from entering the university premises today, as a result of a clash between students of the two faculties last night. Senior Students’ Counselor Dr. Premakumara de Silva said the University of Colombo premises has been temporarily made a “restricted zone” for students of both faculties from 12noon today. Three students had been hospitalized as a result of more..

Nov 15 (CW) Sri Lanka bounced back from yesterday’s defeat to South Africa by beating Netherlands by seven wickets at the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier Group A fixture at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Meanwhile, hosts Bangladesh also recovered from its loss to Pakistan yesterday by crushing Japan by ten wickets at BKSP* 2. Salma Khatun’s side skittled Japan for 38 runs and knocked off the target in just 4.4 overs more..

Nov 15 (Reuters) Sri Lanka has planned more than $21 billion in public investment through 2015, aiming to revive the infrastructure after the end of civil war in 2009, the central bank governor said. Since the end of the war, Sri Lanka has allocated more than $6 billion to the development of ports, power plants, railways and highways, to meet needs neglected during the 25-year conflict and make the country more attractive for foreign investment. more..

Nov 15 (ANN) When the war ended in May 2009, it was the worst that was over, but the ethnic conflict that spans more than five decades is not yet over. The ethnic polarization in the first years after Independence was on account of citizenship and language. Impatient and angry at the failure of the Tamil democratic leaders to obtain reform from the Sri Lankan State, young Tamil militants took to arms in the mid 1970s. The ethnic conflict took the fateful path of violence more..

Nov 15 (AP) Sri Lankan officials think their bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games may have been doomed because of the deeply flawed games held last year in neighbouring India. Sri Lanka's southern venue of Hambantota was defeated by the Gold Coast in Friday's polling in St. Kitts, with members of the Commonwealth Games Federation voting 43-27 in favor of the Australian bid. Sri Lanka's Central Bank Governor and bid chairman Ajith Nivard Cabraal said more..

Nov 15 (AFP) The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday cleared the way for the national cricket board committee to be elected for the first time in seven years in line with ICC rules. Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said he was dissolving Sri Lanka Cricket's interim managing committee and hoped there would be elections before the end of the year. "I will sign a gazette (notification) tonight dismissing the interim committee," Aluthgamage said. more..

Nov 15 (PRIU) The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka High Commission in London recently launched a web based information gathering system to help Sri Lankan students to find placement/employment opportunities in Sri Lankan blue chip companies. The launch took place at the High Commission. Dr Chris Nonis, High Commissioner welcomed the Sri Lankan students who attended the launch and outlined the conducive more..

Nov 15 (PTI) A judge of the Madras High Court today recused himself from hearing a petition seeking the arrest of Sri Lankan Minister Douglas Devananda. When the matter came up, Justice T Sudanthiram, one of the judges hearing the petition, said he did not want to adjudicate the petition. He directed the court's registry to place it before the Chief Justice for posting before another bench. Justices C Nagappan and Sudanthiram were the other judges more..

Nov 15 (IANS) A prominent Sri Lankan politician who played a key role in the peace process says his country stands at 'a critical point' when decision makers need to make choices to help heal the wounds of a war that ended two years ago. 'We stand at a critical point. We have an opportunity to make our future,' Milinda Moragoda, who has held many cabinet posts in the past, said on the sidelines of an event here. more..

Nov 15 (GDI) Minister Basil Rajapaksa participated as Chief Guest at the inauguration of the exhibition held at the BMICH on November 14, to create public awareness about the National Physical Plan of Sri Lanka. The National Physical Plan of Sri Lanka will be launched on November 15 under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the BMICH. This is the first National Physical Plan to be launched after independence. Since 1948 various types of development plans and more..

Nov 15 (GDI) A fun event was organised by "YoungSmiLes' to celebrate the launch of the programme for its' new members at the Speedrome in Battaramulla on Sunday with Kiddies games, food stalls and music, and a Pro Kart competition for children of different age groups being the highlight of the day. "YoungSmiLes" an exciting new membership for children was launched by FlySmiLes, the frequent flyer programme of SriLankan Airlines on October 1st, coinciding with Children's Day in Sri Lanka. more..

Nov 15 (AD) Colombo Magistrate’s Court today ordered the CID that MP Duminda Silva be arrested and produced before court, over the killing of former MP Baratha Lakshman Premachandra. Attorney-at-Law Ajith Pathirana, who is appearing on behalf of Premachandra’s relatives, said that Duminda Silva was named as a suspect in the incident as requested from court. The list of suspects had been submitted today, when the case was taken up, after the report on more..

Nov 15 (DM) Five Principal’s Unions have made allegations that the Education Ministry is taking action to recruit some assistant teachers who were recruited as acting principals to be recruited as principals with the assistance of politicians and without passing the competitive exams. The General Secretary of the Lanka Teachers Union Joseph Stalin said at a press briefing held on November 14 with the representatives of five teachers unions that if the Govt gives them more..

Nov 15 (JS) Sri Lanka's apparel industry says its order books are full through the Christmas and New Year season but the future is cloudy with its main markets, the EU and US in economic doldrums. While exports from January to the end August grew 45% compared with last year, the chairman of the Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association, Rohan Abeykoon, told just style that export growth is expected to lose steam in the last quarter of the year. more..

Nov 15 (GDI) President Mahinda Rajapaksa inaugurated the second stage of the National Tree Planting Campaign themed under "Haritha Ratak - Deyata Sethak" at the auspicious time of 9.01 am. today at the Botanical Garden in Battaramulla. It is planned to plant 1.1 million trees islandwide with a novel project of establishing a Green Park adjacent to the Japanese Friendship Road near Diyawanna Oya in Battaramulla. more..

Nov 15 (SLN) The International Maritime Security Conference, “Galle Dialogue 2011”, organized by the Sri Lanka Navy under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence, concluded today pledging support for strategic cooperation to overcome the challenges in the Indian Ocean Region. 38 foreign delegates from 18 countries and 130 local delegates participated in the two-day dialogue held under the theme, “Challenges and Strategic Cooperation for Indian Ocean Maritime Concerns”. more..

Nov 15 (SL) Public and private sector employees are to stage a protest in Fort tomorrow evening demanding a salary increase. National Trade Union Center (NTUC) Head, K.D. Lalkantha said that the protestors would demand a Rs. 10,000 salary increase for the public sector and a 40 percent salary increase for the private sector workers. He told The Sunday Leader that the workers would continue with their agitation until the government responded to their demands. more..

Nov 15 (BS) The Sri Lankan govt has set a target of $3 billion FDI inflow into the country by 2015, of which the 15-20 per cent is expected from India, according to a senior govt official from Sri Lanka. During January-October this year, the Sri Lankan govt has granted approvals to nine Indian projects with an estimated investment of $168 million. Since the end of its 25-year civil war in 2009 Sri Lanka has been working to improve the investment climate, more..

Nov 15 (DM) Popular film and teledrama producer and businessman Upul Jayasinghe has been questioned by two unidentified men whether his upcoming film ‘Ethumai Methumai’ is based on the Kolonnawa incident. Mr. Jayasinghe said that he was reading the daily news papers after parking his jeep on the Pannipitiya road connecting to Thalawathugoda when the two men came and questioned him about his upcoming film. “I told them that the film has nothing to do with the Kolonnawa incident as more..

Nov 15 (LBO) Sri Lanka will explain to Moody's, a rating agency that expressed alarm over policy uncertainty and deteriorating property rights, that there will be no more expropriations, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said. The State is seizing land in some 37 enterprises and expropriating one listed firm it is entirety for underperformance with no opportunity to explain or judicial redress through a law which critics said deeply flawed and more..

Nov 16 (NS) “What is evident around us is a mood of urgency and even impatience. This is especially so, because a large and influential part of our societies consists of young people, inspired by new ideas and looking forward with enthusiasm to a promising future for themselves. They cannot be kept waiting for long. Patience is not infinite.” President Mahinda Rajapaksa, opening speech at the SAARC Summit. “Govts will be caught off-guard when large numbers of their citizens, more..

Nov 16 (NS) For Sri Lankan tourism, 2011 is already a record year. We’ve had 668,000 guests and are expecting about 780,000 by year’s end. The country has been featured by National Geographic, New York Times (2010) and World Travel Market 2011 as a go-to destination, for good reason. I was recently looking through some photos and I was like, ‘wow, I live here’. Sri Lanka truly is a land like no other. To anyone who’s been here, the appeal of Sri Lanka is quite self-evident, more..

Nov 16 (SO) They are stunningly beautiful, adorable and extremely inquisitive. The new logs set out for them to climb, the new wooden platform, the new pond and everything in their new enclosure have made them excited and hyperactive. This would surely continue for a few more days. The antiques and tricks of the three leopard cubs easily attract the attention of all those who visit the Dehiwela zoo. There was a lot of leopard fascination for Sri Lankans more..