Sept 30 (DM) A seat belt sometimes called a safety belt is a safety strap designed to secure the occupant of a vehicle against harmful movement that may result from a collision or a sudden stop. Wearing a seat belt properly while driving a vehicle can save a life. The traffic police are now all out to take on any person who fails to wear a seat belt from October 1. Police is to strictly impose the law against every person travelling in the driving seat or the front more..

Sept 30 (Island) Legendary revolutionary, Ernesto Che Guevara, who was executed and buried in Bolivia in 1967, was assassinated for a second time, so to speak, in Sri Lanka 4 years later. Che may have faced a violent death bravely but he must have screamed and spun in his grave the day a band of misguided ragtag insurgents in this country were dubbed cheguvera karayo. The JVP terrorists on the rampage in 1971 were given that name as they were thought to have the same agenda as the revolutionaries Che had once led. more..

Sept 30 (DM) This week our sister newspaper “Lankadeepa” carried a two page advertisement inserted by the Ministry of Sport seeking people’s views on the proposed forty-point Sport Policy Programme, which it is hoping to introduce shortly. The proposed Policy has left no dusty corners. It has covered most aspects so that Lankan sport will end up on cloud nine if it becomes a reality. It starts with – Sports to every citizen and ends with a code of conduct for sport. Meanwhile it takes you through a more..

Sept 30 (Island) Minister Wimal Weerawansa says that those who have undermined the UPFA’s successful war against the LTTE, are now busy attacking the govt on the economic front. In spite of its two-thirds majority in parliament, the govt is vulnerable to a destabilization project spearheaded by some Western govts, he says. He said those elements were disseminating rumours that the govt was not capable of devleoping the country, though it had won the war. more..

Sept 30 (SL) Some one asked, what the Ceypetco brand logo means. Another said, in school, they used to show that logo in a big, white, circular plate hung on a tall post in the petrol shed opposite college, to those classmates who used to go behind teachers expecting favour and say, “that’s what you are…” A nude person, running with a torch. The other said, “well, I wouldn’t comment about the South then.” “South” in Sri Lankan politics have come to denote the Sinhala society, as against that of the North and more..

Sept 30 (SL) Policy experts like to consult. One reason is that blue-sky policy formulation never works. One does need abstract concepts and specialised knowledge for good policy, but the best policy melds specialised knowledge and concrete facts about the problem that is to be solved. There is never a “best” policy for all circumstances; the best policy is what fits the circumstances best. Policy making also involves complexity. Concrete conditions are always complex. Problems interact with each other. more..

Sept 30 (Island) Nursing an ailing economy, the US government has set up a five year plan to boost its exports and Sri Lanka has been identified among several countries as key destinations for this purpose. "The United States has a huge trade deficit with Sri Lanka, since we import over US$1.7 billion in Sri Lankan goods, and we only exported US$180 million in goods to Sri Lanka in 2010. That’s a big deficit, over US$1.5 billion, and we would like trade to be more..

Sept 30 (SO) A French couple who lost a gold wedding ring, a wrist watch and 80 Euros while holidaying at a resort hotel in Sigiriya were delighted when the police found the stolen items in less than a day in the possession of a man who had burgled their hotel room while the couple had gone out for a walk after dinner, the Police media spokesman said. The cat burglar had removed a window pane to enter the room. Having stolen the gold ring and cash, the burglar had gone more..

Sept 30 (BL) Sri Lanka is strongly exploring the possibility of entering into barter trade with several countries at government level, it is reliably understood. Barter trade would be a huge boon to controlling the economy where such products like tea and fruits like pineapple and coconut and beetle could be exchanged for such essential commodities like crude oil, cement, onions and potatoes respectively, the President of the National Chamber of Exporters (NCE), Sarath de Silva said. more..

Sept 30 (DN) Lake House Chairman and senior journalist Bandula Padmakumara sent two letters of demand to the E News website on Wednesday, seeking Rs 1,000 million as damages within 14 days for causing damage to his reputation by publishing false and malicious information. The letters of demand have been sent to the E News office at 11/1, Rajagiriya Road, Rajagiriya, its director and Editor in Chief D P Sandaruwan Senadheera and News Editor Bennet Rupasinghe. more..

Sept 30 (DN) The politically bankrupt UNP is trying to create divisions within the Muslim community to attain short term selfish goals, Deputy Minister Abdul Cader said. He said that the UNP which was facing imminent defeat at the forthcoming local polls, was now trying to flare up divisions within the Muslim community, by spreading false rumours to gain petty political mileage. He urged Muslims not to be misled by such rumours. He predicted a comfortable victory for the UPFA including more..

Sept 30 (IL) US House of Representatives Sub-committee Chairman on the Middle East and South Asia, Congressman Steven Joseph Chabot called on Commander of the Security Force – Jaffna, Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe during his one day visit to Jaffna at Security Forces Headquarters in Jaffna on 28 Sept. Having received visiting US Congressman and the entourage by the Commander Security Force – Jaffna, presented a detailed account on more..

Sept 30 (Island) Former UPFA Leader of the Opposition of the Dehiwala-Mt Lavinia Municipal Council Kesaralal Gunasekera last week called on voters to independently elect a Mayor and a team who can manage and be held accountable by the people, about how their tax money is utilized to provide a better service to them. Addressing a UPFA rally outside the residence of the Western Provincial Council member Amal Silva at Weerasena de Silva Mawatha, Ratmalana, more..

Sept 30 (Island) Like achieving unprecedented heights in the battle field, winning a war that could not be tolerated by many Western nations, Sri Lanka’s security Forces are quite capable of achieving feats in development activities too, said Minister Dilan Perera. "Classic examples of Sri Lanka’s Army achievement is the construction of a spectator auditorium in Hambantota, however, the United National Party is spreading false rumours that Army will take control of Colombo city. more..

Sept 30 (CI) Sri Lanka's new head coach, Geoff Marsh, has said that he is keen to extend his two-year contract with Sri Lanka Cricket and help them win another World Cup. The former Australia batsman and coach succeeds another Australian, Trevor Bayliss, who retired at the end of the 2011 World Cup in April after coaching the Sri Lanka team for four years. "If Sri Lanka Cricket wants me to extend my contract till the 2014 World Cup its open from my end for discussions," more..

Sept 30 (FT) Four directors of Okanda Finance who intentionally suppressed information to Central Bank were fined Rs. 300,000 each by the Colombo Chief Magistrate. The four Directors – Manikku Waduduraga Okanda Silva, Theja Dilhanee Ruwandige Silva, Manikku Wadudurage Dhanapala Silva and Chamila Jeewani Sawundage Siriya – of Okanda Finance were convicted by the Colombo Chief Magistrate Rashmi Singappuli. They were convicted for intentionally suppressing information in respect of more..

Sept 30 (BBC) A new batch of thirty judges will be sent to India to be trained to work in the North say the Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake. "By next January, we will take necessary steps to reorganise the judicial procedures in the North and complete the hearing of all pending cases," Recently appointed chief justice said as she opened a new court complex in Killinochchi. The new complex was built at a cost of 46 million rupees, on the same premises where Tamil Tigers had their courts in the past. more..

Sept 30 (Island) The warring factions of the JVP vying for the party’s power, plan to hold two conventions in Colombo. The dates and venue have not yet been fixed but both Somawansa faction and the dissident group are preparing lists of names of the participants, according to party sources. The Somawansa faction would hold a convention without allowing the members of the dissident group to attend it, sources close to the party leadership said. more..

Sept 30 (TOI) India colts on Thursday managed to sneak past Sri Lanka by one wicket in the four-nation Quadrangular tournament courtesy patient half century by Hanuman Vihari and an all-round performance by Rush Kalaria. Chasing a modest target of 185, the Unmukt Chand -led team made a rough weather of the chase before a 44-run eighth-wicket stand between Hanuman (51) and Rush (47 not out). Opting to bat first at VDCA cricket stadium, only opener Shehan Fernando (70) looked comfortable against the Indian bowlers. more..

Sept 30 (DM) In the wake of the raid on a shop allegedly selling ‘sex toys’, aphrodisiacs and stimulants in Biyagama, the Gampaha District medical authorities said they were conducting further inquiries on two other shops reportedly importing and distributing similar equipment, sources said yesterday. The stock of ‘sex toys’ and stimulants valued at more than Rs.150,000 had not been registered for sale in Sri Lanka. The items -- which included sex toys meant to stimulate people of both sexes more..

Sept 30 (Island) The GMOA yesterday threatened to launch an island wide strike from Tuesday (4) if the authorities fail to return its President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya’s personal file by 12.00 noon on Monday (3). GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Sankalpa Marasinghe said that the decision had been taken when their general committee met on Thursday to decide the future course of action. "We resorted to severe trade union action earlier, but no one harassed us," more..

Sept 30 (FT) Reeled by the overall crisis in the Middle East, the country’s tea industry has got a fresh jolt with Syria banning imports in value added form though the Government is cautioning undue panic was unwarranted. As part of a national policy Syria has banned all imports carrying a tariff of over 5% and tea in packets and bags come under the move. Industry sources said that Syria is by far the biggest market for Sri Lanka’s export of tea in packets. Exports to Syria are estimated at 28 million kilos of more..

Sept 30 (Island) Breast cancer among women has increased in Sri Lanka within the last twenty years. Quoting the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) the spokesman for the Health Ministry said yesterday that 18.4 women in every 100,000 had suffered breast cancer in 2005. However, the numbers had increased by 6.6 within the last six years. They said that currently 25 women for every 100,000 suffered from breast cancer. Breast cancers are predominant in women between the ages of 50 – 69, more..

Sept 30 (Reuters) Canada publicly criticized Sri Lanka over its human rights record for the first time on Thursday, setting the scene for a confrontation at a major international summit next month. Sri Lanka is under increasing Western pressure to probe allegations of war crimes and humanitarian law violations at the end of its war with Tamil Tiger separatists in 2009. Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird said he had told his Sri Lankan counterpart of Ottawa's "concerns on more..

Sept 30 (DN) Two Tamil youths, Kumaravel Sasikumar and Gunasingham Visaban who underwent immense suffering due to LTTE atrocities, in an exclusive interview, praised President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his exemplary leadership in completely eradicating LTTE terrorism from our motherland. They also said that if the President had not given directions to the Armed Forces to end this 30-year-old terrorist war despite mounting foreign pressure, Sri Lanka would have continued to be in turmoil even today. more..

Sept 30 (DM) The Ministry of Fisheries, Caritas Sri Lanka- SEDEC- and the Sri Lankan Embassy in New Delhi are making a joint effort to bring back five Sri Lankan fishermen who had being found on Andaman Island on Wednesday after been missing since Aug 25. Caritas Sri Lanka SEDEC Consultant and Member of the Advisory Board to the Ministry of Fisheries S.P. Anthoneymutthu said that the vessel Sanjeev had been found in the Andaman Islands on Wednesday. All five fishermen who were on board had been found according to him. more..

Sept 30 (DM) The Malabe Private Medical College responding to the GMOA threatening to take legal action against the institution, said the GMOA could not do so as the medical college had fulfilled all legal requirements necessary to obtain degree awarding status. South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) Chairman Neville Fernando said the institution had undergone proper legal and investigative procedures conducted by independent commissions prior to more..

Sept 30 (DM) 80% of postal voters had cast their votes yesterday, the first day for postal voting for the remaining 23 Provincial Councils, independent election monitors said. Rohana Hettiarachchi, the director of PAFFREL, said that the marking of postal votes was taking place in a peaceful atmosphere. He further stated that their representatives had been deployed at 63 polling stations including CTB depots, Police stations, Army camps, Education offices and several Provincial administrative units and more..

Sept 30 (DM) Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake was the first VIP to use the Iranamadu airstrip that was built by the LTTE and later developed by the Sri Lanka Air Force, said Minister Rauff Hakeem in Kilinochchi yesterday. Mr. Hakeem made this observation at an event to mark the opening of the district and magistrate’s courts in Kilinochchi, at which the Chief Justice was the chief guest. The courts were opened in the same place where the LTTE had its own courts, when the area was under its control. more..

Sept 30 (Island) The Sri Lankan govt yesterday alleged that a small but influential section of the Commonwealth was carrying out an anti-Sri Lankan campaign ahead of the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth, Western Australia. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is scheduled to attend CHOGM 2011 in late October 2011. Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, while expressing serious concern over the move, stated that a disgraceful attempt was being made to more..

Sept 30 (Island) A section of those living at Ascon Residencies, Dr. Danister De Silva Mawatha, Col. 9 is up in arms over a UPFA candidate contesting the Oct. 8 CMC polls setting up an election office there. Seevali Wickremasingh, Resident Manager, in a letter sent to President Mahinda Rajapaksa has called for his intervention to get the politico out of the premises. SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena, too, has been informed of the SLFP politician taking over more..

Sept 30 (DM) With the much publicized debate between the mayoral candidates of the two main political parties yet to take place, UNP MP Palitha Range Bandara yesterday challenged UPFA candidate Milinda Moragoda for a public debate. Mr. Bandara who made several allegations against Mr. Moragoda asked him to come for a debate and prove his innocence on the findings of the parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE). He said several govt MPs including the then more..

Sept 30 (LB) Many people who were displaced by the government’s operations to free the Mawilaru bund from the LTTE still continue to live in abysmal conditions at relief centres in Muttur. Despite it being over two years since the war having come to an end, a large area of Sampur is still a high security zone. The govt has handed over this high security zone to an Indian firm which is building a thermal power plant there. more..

Sept 30 (SL) The roads of Colombo continue to suffer from congestion and increased accidents. The government, in a move to combat this problem, has instructed the police to ensure all road rules are properly enforced. Unfortunately, despite action being taken, motorways in the city continue to be blocked with traffic. I went out this week in an attempt to learn how effective traffic police really are in enforcing the law. more..

Sept 30 (Island) University non-academics, including executive officers, who met the officials of the National Salaries and Cadre Commission (NSCC) yesterday, said they would give the govt four weeks to resolve their salary problems or they will resort to trade union action immediately. President of the Inter University Trade Union Federation (IUTUF) R. M. Chandrapala said that they were not happy with the discussion at the NSCC on Thursday more..

Sept 30 (AFP) Once a location of choice for directors shooting World War II classics and big 1980s adventure films, Sri Lanka is hoping to make a comeback on the movie trail as it emerges from civil war. Since the island's bloody conflict ended in May 2009, the govt has been trying to promote a new image focusing on its elegant colonial buildings, tropical jungles and golden beaches. more..

Sept 30 (GDI) Representative of Sri Lanka on the Executive Board and Education Minister Bandula Gunawardhana stressed the importance of UNESCO not limiting itself to a mere technical assistance provider but to instead transform itself into a catalytic institution which would be able to facilitate the sharing of best practices of member states, especially in the areas of disseminating more..

Sept 30 (Himal) The national flag of Sri Lanka fluttered in the breeze. Soldiers milled around. Omanthai looked like an international border. But in fact it was – and is – simply the key point for crossing into the north, the final theatre of the Sri Lankan war. It might just as well be known as the Forbidden Territory, so tightly has access to the north been controlled by the authorities since they vanquished the Tigers nearly two and a half years ago. more..

Sept 30 (Island) A last minute attempt by the Somawansa faction to thwart the printing of the October 2, 2011 issue of Lanka failed on Thursday evening. The printer decided to go ahead with the printing order in spite of pressure being exerted by the Somawansa faction. Lanka is now in the hands of the JVP dissident group. A spokesperson for Irudina printers said that they wouldn’t give in to pressure. more..