Oct 8 (TI) Former Sri Lanka captain Aravinda de Silva, who would have been much sought after in this the T20 era, spoke to The Telegraph at his residence. Aravinda, 46, is into business in a big way. However, he’s associated with a Coca Cola-funded programme for schoolkids. “I’m really passionate about it and we regularly scout for talent,” he said. The following are excerpts from the interview. Batting in T20: (Smiles) Sometimes, it’s easier... If we played a rash shot, then we more..

Oct 8 (Island) A GMOA spokesman warned the govt not to increase the salaries of one particular group of State employees by considering them a special category. In accordance with the 2006/6 Circular, only four categories had been recognised as special. The GMOA warning came amidst indications that the Federation of University Teachers’ Association were about to win their demands including their call to be more..

Oct 8 (NS) Contaminated food is yet being served in Colombo hotels charged the Head of the Food Division of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), Dr Pradeep Kariyawasam. “The food in these hotels is contaminated with bacteria,” he said. He said following several reports from tourists and local guests, the CMC was constantly monitoring the food in all leading hotels in the city as well as other food outlets. “After sampling their meals we found more..

Oct 8 (Island) A man who made a statement to the police while in custody in connection with the Kahawatte double murder had committed suicide swallowing poison after being released. He was admitted to the Kahawatte hospital and breathed his last after a few days. U.K.Seneviratne (41) of Opatha was taken into custody in connection with the killing of mother and daughter G.Premawathi (65) and H.G.Pushpakuamari (32) on July 18. more..

Oct 8 (CI) Mahela Jayawardene has resigned as Sri Lanka's Twenty20 captain, soon after his team lost the final of the World Twenty20 against West Indies. He said he will remain captain of the ODI and Test teams until at least the end of Sri Lanka's tour of Australia in January, and remains available for Twenty20 selection. "I had a chat to the selectors before this tournament started. I was going to step down from T20 captaincy more..

Oct 8 (Island) President Mahinda Rajapaksa has directed IGP N. K. Illangakoon to conduct an immediate inquiry and take into custody those involved in the attack on the Secretary of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) Manjula Tillekeratne in Mount Lavinia yesterday morning. Assaulted by a gang of four, the JSC Secretary is receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital. Minister of Justice Rauff Hakeem, too, strongly condemned the attack on the JSC Secretary and said more..

Oct 8 (FT) Following the initial restructuring, including the appointment of the Deputy Director General, the SEC has implemented a fresh reshuffle of roles of Directors in the Secretariat. The new Director Surveillance is Namal Kamalgoda, who was previously Director Supervision. He replaces Chandu Epitawala, who has now been assigned Director Corporate Affairs. Surana Fernando, who was Director Corporate Affairs previously, has been re-designated as Director Supervision. more..

Oct 8 (Island) Judges and lawyers will boycott courts today in protest against yesterday’s assault on Judicial Service Commission Secretary Manjula Thilakaratne, demanding that the perpetrators be brought to justice. Five lawyers associations yesterday decided to extend the boycott to Tuesday as well and the lawyers practising in Colombo and suburbs are scheduled gather at Hulftsdorp this morning for a sit-in more..

Oct 8 (DM) It would matter little whether Sri Lanka today wakes up to a shining ray of victory or under a cloud of defeat. With the unbending unity it has cemented in the Sri Lankan culture, cricket has certainly done its duty and justified its long existence. Being a cricket fan in Sri Lanka is a lot more than what one sees on the television screen. There is an intricate picture beyond the painted faces, houseful pavilions and fluttering Lion flags. These were the people who lived in fear of more..

Oct 8 (DM) Participating in governance, the SLMC had discovered was far more complex than agitation and protest. Our principal concern at the time was our demand for a territorially non-contiguous Muslim majority council that would encompass the Muslim majority areas. While this may sound rather unusual in today’s context it must be seen together with the rationale we offered at the time. The then SLMC leader Asharaff pointed out that the Muslims more..

Oct 8 (LB) The newly appointed principal of Vidyaloka Vidyalaya, Bandula Jayasinghe, who was pelted with stones and chased out of the school premises allegedly by students and parents on Monday, has been the fifth school principal to have faced such harassment in recent times, acording to the Ceylon Teachers Services Union (CTSU). The teachers union also charged that the attack on the newly appointed principal more..

Oct 8 (SL) The issue of the rising cost of living is a perennial problem faced by Sri Lankans for several decades. Referring to the cost of living issue in the country, economists note that it has now become the only gravity-defying indicator that never comes down after going up. The constant argument by economic analysts and trade unions is that salaries of the working people do not commensurate with the increase in the cost of living that almost often takes place due to more..

Oct 8 (ST) Temperatures in some parts of Sri Lanka rose to a record high in three decades this week with Vavuniya and Polonnaruwa recording 40 degrees Celsius. Vavuniya recorded 40.1 degrees Celsius while the temperature in Polonnaruwa District reached 40 degrees Celsius after fluctuating between 38.8 and 38.9 degrees during the early part of this week. “The warm weather will continue for a few days in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Vavuniya, more..

Oct 8 (IPS) In 2011, 1,463 cases of sexual exploitation of children were reported to the Police, who found every single complaint to be genuine and opened investigations. By the year’s end, not one case had proceeded to the High Courts, where, according to the country’s judicial system, grave sexual crimes against children are heard. Judging by this pattern, and similar cases in the past, the wait for justice is likely to be a long one. In August this year 4,000 cases of child abuse more..

Oct 8 (Island) An unidentified person threw burnt engine oil on President of the Women for Freedom organisation and a politburo member of the Frontline Socialist Party Dimuthu Atygalle yesterday in Jaffna. She was returning to her vehicle after buying some goods with four women when the attack took place around 2.30 pm near the Nallur Kovil. Atygalle said that two persons had come to attack in a red motor cycle bearing number more..

Oct 8 (CG) The United Nations (UN) has called for greater attention to be given towards the resettled war displaced people. Dr. Ajay Chhibber, the UN Assistant Secretary General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific and Chair, UN Regional Director’s Team, Asia and the Pacific said this in a statement at the conclusion of his visit to Sri Lanka today. Dr. Chhibber visited more..

Oct 8 (DN) Two thousand former rehabilitated LTTE cadres were recruited to the Civil Security Department (CSD) from the Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts. The new recruits recently gathered at the CSD Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu joint command headquarters in response to the CSD's call for ex-combatants to join its ranks. "These former LTTE combatants, now fully rehabilitated and reintegrated in to society have shown a keen interest in joining the CSD," more..

Oct 8 (AFP) Sri Lanka's press was distraught on Monday after the host nation lost the World Twenty20 final against the West Indies, with criticism focused on the team's record of crumbling under pressure. Millions of fans had prayed that Mahela Jayawardena's side would not choke in the Colombo clash, but the result was the fourth defeat for the country in major tournament finals since 2007. "Silence of the Lion," said the Ceylon Today. "West Indies carry out their threat and more..

Oct 8 (IBN) The Supreme Court has refused to restrain the Centre from giving training to personnel of the Sri Lankan armed forces, despite a furore by parties like the DMK and the AIADMK that have been protesting against their training programme in India. A group of MPs of the DMK, a key constituent of the ruling coalition United Progressive Alliance (UPA), had earlier last month met Defence Minister AK Antony and more..

Oct 8 (CI) Walking through the Khettarama neighbourhood into the R Premadasa stadium on Sunday afternoon, it was impossible to contain a smile. Police had cordoned off the streets leading into the grounds to ease congestion, but the locals had taken that as a signal to begin the street party early. Stereos were set up on the roadside, pumping everything from baila to Western pop, grown men were dancing with children, more..

Oct 8 (Island) Vidyaloka College Galle will be reopened today after one week’s closure due to violence that erupted there when its newly appointed principal came to assume duties last Monday. Secretary to the Education Ministry Gotabhaya Jayaratne said that the school would reopen today as the situation was under control. The school was turned into a battlefield his instigated students attacked the new principal, Bandula Jayasinghe, with stones and toppled vehicle after more..

Oct 8 (CG) The police have arrested a youth who sold a Rs 1540 ticket for the finals of the Twenty 20 cricket world cup for Rs. 14000, the police media unit said. Police media spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said that the suspect was arrested in Wellawatte after information came to light about the transaction. SSP Ajith Rohana said that the Colombo Crimes Division carried out the arrest yesterday just before the Twenty 20 final. The Colombo Crimes Division is carrying out more..

Oct 8 (MoD) Under the guidance of Secretary Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 23 Class 1 Principals of Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service and officers of the Ministry of Education were Commissioned as Brevet Colonels at a ceremony held at the Defence Ministry premises today. They were thus commissioned as Brevet Colonels in recognition of the services rendered by them towards the betterment more..

Oct 8 (MoD) Secretary Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared open the new 'Dharmashala Hall' of the Sadaham Sevana Buddhist Center in Rajagiriya yesterday. Up on arrival at the venue the Secretary Defence was led to the new 'Dharmasala Hall' in a colouful traditional perahera. After unveiling a commemorative plaque the Secretary Defence offered flowers to the Buddha statue and involved in religious worship. Speaking at the event Secretary Defence said more..

Oct 8 (Island) CdrNaohide Arakawa, Senior Specialist, International Criminal Investigation Division, Japanese Coast Guard and a team of officers from Japanese Coast Guard paid a courtesy call to Director General SL Coast Guard Rear Admiral Ruwan Dias on 05th Oct 2012 at the CGHQ premises. Visiting Japanese Coast Guard officers are from Japanese Naval vessels " Ikasuchi DD 107 " and " Sawagiri DD 157 " and will stay in Colombo harbour from 04th to 06th Oct. more..

Oct 8 (GDI) The Tokyo Bureau of Japan Mint of The Government of Japan minted a 1,000 Rupee Silver Coin to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and Sri Lanka. The so-called, the First-Strike of the issuance of 1,000 Rupee Commemorative Silver Coin, Ceremony was held at the Japan Mint of Tokyo Bureau on 4th of October, 2012. The Japan Mint, the Govt more..

Oct 8 (NF) A group of persons who broke into the Manampitiya Wildlife Office in Polonnaruwa have torched files stored at the office. Police said that the group had entered the building after breaking open a window. Police said that the incident occurred Saturday night, adding that there were no officials inside the building at the time of the incident. Our correspondent stated that the two officers who were on duty at the time, were away from the office conducting a raid. more..

Oct 8 (CG) Legal proceedings in Colombo were crippled today as Judges, Magistrates and lawyers protested over the attack on the secretary of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) Manjula Tilakarate. All court cases which were to be heard today at the Colombo High Court were postponed for October 22 while Magistrate court cases were postponed to October 12. Lawyers staged protests outside the Colombo Hulftsdorp court today over the attack while the High Court judges more..

Oct 8 (PTI) Two Sri Lankan youth unable to put up with the national team's defeat in the ICC World Twenty20 cricket final against the West Indies have committed suicide, police said here on Monday. 17-year-old Ashan Lakshitha, who returned home after watching the match on a giant screen at city's Galle Face promenade, was found hanging on a mango tree early this morning. Similarly, 21-year-old Mahendran Suresh from Hatton hanged more..

Oct 8 (CT) Minister Basil Rohana Rajapaksa together with Jonmoon Choi, Ambassador of South Korea made an inspection visit to see ongoing progress of the Sri Lanka's first ever sanitary landfill site construction project in Maligawatte, Dompe on 4 October. This landfill site is being constructed with technical expertise and financial assistance from the Korean govt, through KOICA. KOICA has facilitated US$ 4.5 million as a grant with a counterpart funding of US$ 1.5 million from the Sri Lankan govt more..

Oct 8 (GDI) Uduththurai in Vadamarachchi East, once hit with fear of artillery and mortars fall posing an ugly picture of morose life due to overwhelming terrorist activities has now been able to provide civilians there with a peaceful environment for a revitalized life. People in this area, majority fishermen, are now leading a normal life continuing with their livelihood, education and sports activities. Soccer is the most popular sport played more..

Oct 8 (Reuters) Outgoing Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene was named skipper of the ICC team of the World Twenty20 tournament on Monday, one day after his side were beaten in the final by a rampant West Indies. Jayawardene announced his decision to give up the captaincy after the hosts lost by 36 runs on Sunday, Sri Lanka's fourth successive defeat in a World Cup final, in front of a disappointed full house more..

Oct 8 (SLN) Sri Lanka Navy arrested 67 persons illegally bound for Australia in a multi-day trawler on 08th October 2012. The trawler named “ Nathasha Duwa ” with 45 Tamils and 22 Sinhalese on board was intercepted by a Fast Naval Patrol Craft attached to the Western Naval Command off Chilaw seas. Among the arrested persons are 54 men, 07 women and 06 children (03 boys and 03 girls). They are residents of Jaffna, Vavuniya, Killinochchi, Chilaw, Batticaloa, Ingiriya and Kotahena. more..

Oct 8 (AN) The family members of the two deceased Korean volunteer workers arrived in Colombo, in the wee hours of Monday. They went directly to where the bodies of their loved ones lay and confirmed their identities. Twenty-two-year old Kim Young-woo and 24-year-old Jang Moon-jeong were killed after being struck by lightning on Saturday evening in the mountainous Haputale region in central Sri Lanka. The two were volunteers for KOICA, more..

Oct 8 (MR) Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) is considering oil well explorations off the shores of Sri Lanka, possibly near the Palk Straits and the Mannar Basin bordering India and the island state. It is learnt that the government of Sri Lanka has invited Petronas, through the Malaysian government, to study and review the possibly of working together in exploiting oil and gas (O&G) resources in the straits and the Mannar more..

Oct 8 (TOI) Mihin Lanka, the domestic airlines of Sri Lanka, has announced its schedule to operate flights from Madurai to Colombo starting from Dec 7. According to official sources from Mihin Lanka in Madurai, an Airbus 321 type aircraft with 212 seating capacity will be operated three days in a week. On Mondays and Fridays, the flight will leave Colombo at 2pm and reach Madurai at 3pm while the flight from Madurai will depart at 4.10pm and reach Colombo at 5.10 pm. more..

Oct 8 (AD) The UNP today said it condemns with disgust the brutal attack on the Secretary of the Judiciary Service Commission (JSC), Judge Manjula Tilakaratne. UNP spokesman Gayantha Karunathilaka stated that they demand that the govt immediately apprehend the “thugs” responsible for the attack and bring them to justice. We continue see the ‘white van’ culture, the attacks, threatening and oppression being carried out by more..

Oct 8 (AD) Sri Lanka "needs development" but must focus on "its people's welfare, and respect everyone's dignity, rights and liberty. By contrast, making decisions on people's backs will not turn it into the 'Marvel of Asia'," said Card Malcolm Ranjith, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka. The prelate called on the govt to review its tax policies, more..

Oct 8 (LT) The victory gained by President Hugo Chavez at the presidential election held in Venezuela yesterday is proof that heroic people of Venezuela have endorsed leadership of Chavez and the Bolivarian Revolution launched in Venezuela says a message sent by the Leader of the JVP Somawansa Amarasinghe on behalf of the Political Bureau of the party. The message also states that ‘neo – liberal capitalism is undergoing an unprecedented crisis and it will stay there more..

Oct 8 (CG) A special discussion is to be held next month over the High Security Zones in Jaffna and private land being occupied by the military. The decision to convene a special meeting to discuss the issue was taken following the district development meeting in Jaffna today. Minister Douglas Devananda and Northern province Governor G.A Chandrasiri were among those who took part in the district development meeting today. Among other issues discussed at today’s meeting was more..