Dec 28 (DN) The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) expressed its concern for the need to prepare an environmental friendly methodology for the disposal of clinical waste in hospitals. The clinical waste management is a challenge faced by all the hospitals in the country, specially within the busy environment in the Colombo District. The CEA recently organized a workshop for govt hospitals in the Colombo district to raise awareness on legal and technical matters with regard to the disposal of clinical waste. more..

Dec 28 (Island) The govt has suffered a loss of Rs. 60.8 mn due to the import of school uniform material through a private import in spite of state-owned Salu Sala making a much better offer. The govt was to obtain 50% of the total requirement locally and import the rest from China. In line with govt directive, education authorities were to import 5, 105,000 metres of material for shirts and frocks, 2, 50,000 metres of white trouser material more..

Dec 28 (AHRC) When the impeachment proposal was announced, the immediate reaction of many was that the outcome was pre-determined as the govt has a two thirds majority in Parliament (acquired as this was even by foul means). It was therefore predicted that this would be the end of the matter. There will be rituals, like the PSC proceedings which were presumed to be artificial and then the beheading of CJ will take place, after govt MPs raise their hands in favour of more..

Dec 28 (CT) Nearly 100 abnormal geographical changes have occurred in the Matale District due to inclement weather conditions prevailing in the area, the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) said. Apart from the floods, earthslips and earthquakes, many cracks have appeared and certain ground areas have started sinking in the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Matale, Rattota, Ukuwela, Ambanganga Korale and Laggala. NBRO Assistant Director, M.M.U.C.B. Moremada, more..

Dec 28 (CT) It was a moment filled with tears, contemplation and solemn grief when friends, colleagues and family members bade farewell to 22-year-old Ceylon Today news journalist, Amila Jayasinghe, yesterday afternoon. The final rites of Amila, who was killed on Christmas morning by a lorry driven by a reckless, unlicensed driver, took place at the Delthara Public Cemetery in Piliyandala. Hundreds who paid their final more..

Dec 28 (Island) The ruling SLFP has replaced Chairman of Dompe Pradeshiya Sabha Milan Jayatilleke under investigation by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. Newly appointed acting Chairman of the Dompe Pradeshiya Sabha Nishantha Lal on Wednesday said that he had received a spate of complaints from residents regarding irregularities taking place in the local body. Nishantha Lal promised to take remedial action after investigating complaints. more..

Dec 28 (CT) State examination papers have been leaked many times in the past, but stern action is being taken only this time, because it was proved to the public that the papers had been leaked, the Ceylon Teachers' Union (CTU) said. CTU General Secretary, Joseph Stalin, accused the Examinations Commissioner of turning a blind eye to corruption with regard to exam papers in the past. "Action should not be taken based on if the leak of exam question papers were small scale or large scale. more..

Dec 28 (Island) The govt is considering urgent amendments to the Examinations Act to mete out stringent punishment to those responsible for exam irregularities. The existing laws under the Examinations Act were far too lenient and that was one of the reasons why some unscrupulous elements dared leak questions papers, Minister Bandula Gunawardena said. He stressed the need for new laws to introduce deterrent punishment. more..

Dec 28 (Island) A 54-year-old man, who allegedly attempted to steal some valuables from the Iththademaliya Purana temple in the Weeraketiya police area, was found dead with his neck stuck between two iron bars of a window yesterday morning. SSP Prishantha Jayakody said that the victim, Hetti Arachchige Mahathun of Omara in Walasmulla, may have made an attempt to enter the temple between 10.00 p.m. on Tuesday and 5.00 a.m. on Wednesday. He said the police more..

Dec 28 (CT) Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa had made arrangement to distribute Rs 5 million worth of dry food items among Bingiriya residents who were affected by the recent floods. Some 1,500 families received food items from the minister on the occasion ,which was attended by the North-Western Chief Minister Atula Wijesinhe. Minister speaking on the occasion said flood damages in the Kurunegala District was unprecedented and it was a rare occurrence in that part of the country. more..

Dec 28 (G&M) Two Tamil-Canadians pleaded not guilty to criminal charges before a Brooklyn judge on Thursday, years after U.S. prosecutors first accused them of ties to a terrorist organization. Suresh (Waterloo Suresh) Sriskandarajah, 32, and Piratheepan Nadarajah, 36, stand accused of taking part in distinct conspiracies to run weaponry to the LTTE last decade. Both men had been in Canada resisting extradition for more..

Dec 28 (Island) The Health Ministry has decided to establish outlets of State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) near main hospitals and the railway stations soon. SPC Chairman Prof. S. D. Jayaratne told The Island that the project had been undertaken on the instructions of Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena. Responding to a query, SPC Chief said that Minister Sirisena felt that SPC outlets would be able to provide good products at a reasonable price if they were made easily more..

Dec 28 (Island) Following the Govt Analyst’s conclusion that the fire that destroyed a section of the Colombo Kachcheri was an act of sabotage, a special police team has questioned security personnel attached to the institution. The Nov. 26 fire destroyed the upper floor of the building built during the Colonial period. The investigators were trying to ascertain whether the arson attack was politically motivated or whether it was intended to destroy some vital documents. more..

Dec 28 (Island) The TNA yesterday said that the prorogation of Parliament could be a way out of the simmering dispute between the ruling coalition and an influential section of the judiciary. The prorogation could pave the way for a fresh inquiry into allegations against Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake. TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran emphasized that a new inquiry would be necessary in the wake of widespread more..

Dec 28 (DM) Though the world did not end and there was no three-day darkness as feared by superstitious crackpots or horror-scope worshippers, Sri Lanka struggles into 2013 with a heavy load of political and socio-economic crises. Govt leaders and self-styled economic pundits in the Central Bank and the Treasury are often boasting of reaching the goal of a per capita income of some US$ 4200 annually for every Sri Lankan. This means at the current rupee rate every Sri Lankan will more..

Dec 28 (DM) After the orgy of food, drink and presents at Christmas we will have a week to think of our sins before the New Year arrives and we have to make our promises to be better human beings in 2013. What resolutions will you make? For each person there are probably a good dozen of things to consider but my humble suggestion is that we concentrate on drink, smoking and drugs. Should our governments ban them, limit them or shrug their shoulders and say “this is a free society more..

Dec 28 (SL) In a sensational development to the controversial import of coal from Indonesia for the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant, highlighted week after week by The Sunday Leader over the past four weeks,it has been revealed that the Ministry of Power and Energy is urgently seeking the return of monies from Taurian Iron and Steel Company (TISCL) with relation to the latest three shipments of coal. The Ministry has admitted more..

Dec 28 (CI) Sri Lanka will be without batsman Kumar Sangakkara for the remainder of their tour of Australia, after scans revealed a fracture to his left hand, where he was hit by a Mitchell Johnson bouncer during the Boxing Day Test. Sangakkara will undergo surgery this evening and will be unavailable for six to eight weeks, as he recovers. Fast bowler Chanaka Welegedara has also been ruled out of the Sydney Test more..

Dec 28 (ST) The adverse weather conditions and the high cost of living have put a damper on the usual seasonal shopping spree, heralding a not so bright Christmas for many. Malini Perera (62) from Rattanapitiya, a mother of two said celebrations were on a low key this year round. “We didn’t buy any decorations this year. We are using our old Christmas tree and decorations because the expenses are very high. We are not buying more..

Dec 28 (GDI) Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) together with Malaysian Airlines organized a Familiarization Tour for 14 Leading Travel Agents from China to promote Sri Lanka as a popular tourist destination. China travel agents met minister Basil Rajapakse and had prospective discussions in developing Chinese inbound tourism market. Fourteen leading travel agents including Xiamen Airlines, participated more..

Dec 28 (DM) Director of the Medical Research Institute Dr. Anil Samaranayake, commenting on the red rains which have been reporting from different parts of the country,said tests carried out on red rain samples by the Cardiff University in England have detected the presence of some living organisms and that they were multiplying. “MRI tested the red rain samples collected during mid November and found more..

Dec 28 (DM) Govt and opposition politicians were expected to meet in the New Year for a public debate on the impeachment motion brought against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, informed sources said. The debate was expected to be between Minister Wimal Weerawansa and UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella. Both Mr. Weerawansa and Kiriella were members of the special select committee appointed by speaker Chamal more..

Dec 28 (DM) All abusive remarks made on Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake by ruling party members of the PSC that probed charges against her have been expunged from the records, the UNP charged today. UNP MP Ajith P Perera referred to the statement made by Minister Anura Yapa, the Chairman of the now defunct select committee that everything which transpired had been recorded in the report, said this more..

Dec 28 (DM) TNA MP Suresh Premachandran has requested Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem to transfer the Tamils in Sri Lankan prisons with British citizenship to British prisons. He was referring to the Tamil prisoners who had been arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the emergency regulations sometimes ago. According to him, some of them have been convicted by various courts in Sri Lanka over more..

Dec 28 (CI) In his summary of the 1974-75 Ashes series, Wisden's correspondent John Thicknesse wrote of the havoc wrought by Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson that "England's batsmen must have experienced the same sort of emotion as they waited for the next ball as early Christians felt as they waited in the Colosseum for the lions." Sri Lanka's batsmen were wracked by that same feeling of helplessness and more..

Dec 28 (DM) The Opposition members of the Parliamentary Select Committee that probed the charges against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake yesterday charged that the Chairman of the PSC Anura Priyadarshana Yapa had deliberately misled the public by making ‘”completely false statements” and “laughable” ones in defence of a flawed select committee process for the impeachment of the Chief Justice. more..

Dec 28 (CT) The Ministry of Education is winding up the year 2012 with another exam debacle. This time it is to do with the GCE O/L Science exam paper, which was found leaked. In a year of examination leaks, mishaps and frauds, the grand finale seems to be a joke. But the joke is really not in the numerous disasters that have turned the Education and Examination Departments into places of ridicule and laughter, the real joke is that the man in charge is still holding the post. more..

Dec 28 (CI) Halfway through the first over of the second innings, Sri Lanka contrived a dismissal that betrayed their disturbed mental state. Dimuth Karunaratne went back to punch Mitchell Johnson towards cover, and though he had found a gap, he had not timed the ball well enough to truly pierce the infield. Two men gave chase and reeled the ball in, but Karunaratne, intent on two, turned and began charging towards the striker's end even as the throw was already on its way. more..

Dec 28 (CT) A Leaked ‘Confidential’ US diplomatic cable, dated January 17, 2003, updated the Secretary of State regarding the anti-peace process tirades and Sri Lanka’s 'Sinhalese extremists' shows that the controversial ‘importing radio equipment’ by the Norwegian Embassy has done at the specific request of the govt’s Peace Secretariat. The cable is classified by the US Deputy Chief of Mission Lewis Amselem and signed by the more..

Dec 28 (CT) First and foremost, I wish to convey my appreciation to all 117 Members of Parliament who wittingly or unwittingly placed their signatures to the petition calling for the impeachment of the CJ, Dr. Ms. Shirani Bandaranayake, wherein they have raised the issue of annual “Declaration of Assets and Liabilities” which is also equally applicable to all 225 MPs. They therefore now have to answer my questions, on their own declarations of assets and liabilities as MPs since May 2010. more..

Dec 28 (PM) 64 Sri Lankans suspected of being trafficked with help of Thais to a third country were captured while waiting for transport in Pattaya. Chonburi Immigration Police raided the Bai-Yok Resort Dec. 19 following a call from a Rong Poh resident asking for investigation of a large number of foreign visitors to the neighborhood. None of those taken into custody were believed to be the traffickers. A local resident said a Thai woman had been seen checking in on the Sri Lankans more..

Dec 28 (CI) If there is a moment that captures Sri Lanka's first Boxing Day Test in 17 years, it is Dhammika Prasad fleeing from the ball as it approached him at fine leg on day two. Michael Hussey had hooked a Shaminda Eranga bouncer and, having failed to pick up the ball, Prasad picked a direction to sprint in and chose poorly. That is perhaps unfair to Prasad, whose drive and desperation did him credit on day two, but more..

Dec 28 (CT) Pradeep Jeganathan’s intervention in the ongoing discussions on the Impeachment (“Impeachment, CJ Sir Alan Rose and Dudley Senanayake: An Ethos of Ethics?” Dec 20, 2012 Colombo Telegraph,) has brought to focus the ethical dimension involved in the issue. Jeganathan narrates the story of Dudley Senanayake being appointed to succeed D. S. Senanayake (D.S.) as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on the occasion of the latter’s untimely demise. more..

Dec 28 (AN) For dozens of Catholic families, this will be a Christmas "without joy, peace and sharing" because their husbands and fathers are still in prison, some for three months, after they tried to reach illegally Australia and New Zealand in search of a job. Since the men's arrests, few of the families involved (some non-Catholic) have been able to raise the money to pay for bail because most of them are poor. Moreover, the wheels of justice have been turning uselessly more..

Dec 28 (IL) On 20th December 2012, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Stockholm celebrated Christmas for the first time in the Embassy's history with the participation of Sri Lankans living in Sweden and special guests. The event was held at the Embassy premises. Religious leaders representing main religions were present at the event. The Embassy was adorned with Christmas decorations in an impressive manner. more..

Dec 28 (Island) The National Freedom Front (NFF) yesterday urged EPDP leader and Minister Douglas Devananda to take meaningful measures to resettle all Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese displaced due to the conflict. NFF spokesman Mohammed Muzammil said that tangible measures were needed to pave the way for those who had fled their villages in the Northern and Eastern Provinces to be resettled. Muzammil was responding to a recent statement attributed to Minister Devananda. more..

Dec 28 (Island) The Assembly of the Attorneys at law took place on the morning of the 15th Dec at the Colombo District Court compound. The podium of the meeting was on the back veranda of the High Court No: 03 and temporary structures were put up on the compound adjacent to the chambers allotted to the district judges. The place of assembly was structured as an elongated rectangle, narrow at front which ran down the length of the compound towards the lawyers canteen. more..

Dec 28 (Island) Hardly anyone would disagree that UPFA members at all levels (Local Authority/Provincial/ National level) have been elected and key officials and advisors hold their positions courtesy Mahinda Chinthana and Mahinda Rajapakse and the trust placed by the people. They all have heavily and extensively used both Mahinda Chinthana and Mahinda Rajapakse (since they have nothing else to use) during respective more..

Dec 28 (LBO) Chinese visitors to Sri Lanka has surged 164% to 3,353 in Nov 2012 with total visitors in the first 12 months up 46% to 22,176 data from the tourist promotion office shows. It is not clear how many are 'tourists' per se, no breakdown available for business visitors at this stage. Many workers from China are in Chinese funded state projects in the country. Earlier this month police arrested more than a 100 Chinese in a single sweep, who were apparently engaged in more..

Dec 28 (CG) The Govt of Japan will continue its proactive support for the recovery in the conflict affected areas, and to the overall development of Sri Lanka in cooperation with the Govt of Sri Lanka as well as the international community and NGOs, Japanese Ambassador Nobuhito Hobo said today. Japan has partnered with UNICEF to extend support to the Family Tracing and Reunification Project. A funding grant of US$ 445,000 will be used to help families looking for their missing children, more..