Oct 4 (CG) A police complaint has been lodged over the Malabe private medical college, the police media unit said today. The complaint was lodged at the police headquarters by the Govt Medical Officers Association (GMOA). According to the police, the GMOA had asked IGP N.K. Illangakoon to investigate the circumstances under which the private medical college was established in Malabe as well as several other issues. The police media unit said that investigations will be launched more..

Oct 4 (DM) UNP MP Harsha de Silva today insisted that the govt was facing a major crisis because it has got its priorities mixed up. He alleged that instead of cutting down on unnecessary expenses the govt cut down on vital expenses in order to bridge the budget deficit. "It allocates more money on unnecessary things such as developing the roads and tiling the pavements than the allocation on important sectors like higher education. more..

Oct 4 (CG) Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka has warned that a crisis situation could arise in the power sector if there is a further delay in rain falling in the hydro catchment areas. The Power and Energy Ministry quoted the Minister as urging the public to conserve electricity in order to avoid a power crisis. The concerns raised by the Minister come despite the Norochcholai coal power plant operating at full capacity following the recent breakdown. more..

Oct 4 (Economist) WHEN the prisons department recently advertised for hangmen, several shortlisted hopefuls asked an unexpected question of its board of interviewers: What, pray, would they be expected to do? Currently, 369 convicts are on death row, and a further 471 have appealed against their sentences. Yet though capital punishment remains on the statute books, it has long been suspended. Sri Lanka has not hanged a man in over three decades. The prisons department was not rushing more..

Oct 4 (CI) On a crumbling, turning, brute of a pitch by Twenty20 standards, Mahela Jayawardene responded with a T20-size classic. His 42 off 36, as delightful as it was delicate, proved to be the difference between the two sides in a tight semi-final. It was a bittersweet night for his opposite number: Mohammad Hafeez outmanoeuvred a rampant Kumar Sangakkara in a crucial moment in the first innings, he came back from a more..

Oct 5 (NS) Sri Lanka has not had a trade surplus since 1977, when a small trade surplus of US$ 41 million was achieved under a rigidly controlled trade and exchange control regime. Although the country has achieved trade surpluses in only a few years, there have been some years when the balance of payments was in surplus. This is owing to earnings from tourism and services, workers’ remittances, foreign borrowing and other capital inflows. The economy has become increasingly more..

Oct 5 (NS) We are getting shackled in unimaginable ways. We need fresh thinking and fresh systems. Are we prepared? If we could answer this question in the affirmative then we are safe and on the right road. King Asoka has inspired Indian thinkers, scholars and historians. Let our own kings be “an Asoka”. Ages ago he sent his son and daughter with the message of the Buddha. This time let him send a message that our own kings have the message for us to save ourselves. We had occasion earlier to refer to the printed political discourse that more..

Oct 5 (SO) Sri Lanka is achieving its development goals rapidly when compared to other countries in the region. The Govt has speeded up infrastructure and livelihood development projects in the country including in the North and the East. The North and the East which contained many ghost cities are turning into hubs of prosperity. The people in these provinces have resumed their normal lives. The Govt has taken all possible efforts to develop more..

Oct 5 (DBS) ‘Suththam Sugam tharum’ (Cleanliness gives good health) is an age old Tamil adage that underscores the importance of a healthy life. Cleanliness is an important aspect for a healthy environment. Healthcare in Jaffna has gone through several phases during the war and after.Healthcare system in the North is still finding its feet after a gruesome war. People have demanded maximum healthcare facilities as a direct and indirect result of the war. more..

Oct 5 (DBS) As university teachers were marching from Galle to Colombo to press their now well known case for the education sector, an equally impressive mobilisation was taking place just a few hundred miles away in Tamil Nadu. The villagers of Kudankulam were burying themselves up to their necks in sand in a last ditch attempt to prevent a nuclear reactor from being commissioned, having spent a couple of days standing in the ocean more..

Oct 5 (CT) At the entrance to Zone 0 or what is referred to as the Kadirkaamam Village, stands the usual sentry point. There is barren land, piles of roofing sheets, the occasional UN Co-op vehicle transporting whatever that remains within the camp, once considered the world’s largest facility for the IDPs. Inside the rusted barbed-wire fence, cattle graze and dogs roam. “It is now closed and there is no harm if people visit the site,” assured the Govt Agent of Vavuniya, Bandula more..

Oct 5 (DBS) Since its establishment in May 2010, the LLRC has generated significant national and international interest, especially following the presentation of its final report to President Mahinda Rajapaksa in November 2011and the subsequent tabling of the report in Parliament in December 2011. The LLRC was brought back into focus in March 2012 when the UNHRC passed a resolution at its 19th Session, which called on the govt to implement the LLRC recommendations. more..

Oct 5 (CT) The judiciary in Sri Lanka is under threat. There cannot be any doubt about it. The extent and gravity might be the dispute, if any. First it was a Minister threatening the Mannar Magistrate. Now it is the President insinuating threats to the Supreme Court. This should be a concern of all right minded Sri Lankans, including the so-called ‘patriots’ and those who live abroad, and also the ‘international civil society,’ if anyone is allergic to the so-called 'international community.’ more..

Oct 5 (DM) The events unfolding after President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to India last month, suggest that the issue of power devolution is coming into the limelight again. Shortly after the visit, the Indian govt invited the TNA to New Delhi on October 10, obviously to discuss the national question in Sri Lanka and the way forward. The talks between the govt and the TNA in pursuit of a power devolution arrangement has been deadlocked since January this year, more..

Oct 5 (CT) The Bill bearing the title ‘Divineguma’ which was published in the Govt Gazette on 27th July 2012 and placed in the Order Paper of Parliament was challenged in the Supreme Court in terms of Article 121(1) of the Constitution. The Bill intends to repeal the Samurdhi Authority of Sri Lanka Act No. 30 of 1995, Southern Development Authority Act, No. 18 of 1996 and the Udarata Development Authority Act, No. 26 of 2005, in order to form one Department known as more..

Oct 5 (CT) The much respected and universally accepted concepts of ‘Rule of Law’ and ‘Independence of the Judiciary’ are again at the forefront of the political dialogue in our country. Article 12(1) and 12(2) of the Constitution declares ‘Rule of Law’ as a fundamental right by enacting that ‘all persons are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection of the law’ and that ‘no citizen shall be discriminated against on the ground of race, religion, language, caste, sex, more..

Oct 5 (Island) The state-run hellholes aka prisons receive public attention only when their inmates clash or stage rooftop protests, making various demands. Else, nobody spares a thought for the ordinary prisoners suffering in silence except their near and dear ones. We see on prison walls very eye-catching slogans intended to change people's attitude towards prisoners, the most interesting being 'Prisoners are also human beings'. Sadly, the very obverse of this slogan is more..

Oct 5 (DN) Sri Lanka will be the venue of the World Youth Summit to be held in 2014 with full backing of the United Nations Organization. UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon officially intimated this to Minister Dullas Alahapperuma when the latter met him in New York on the sidelines of the 67th UN General Assembly Sessions. A press release by the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry said this would be the first time, the World Youth Summit is held in an Asian country and more..

Oct 5 (CI) Three years ago, the Sri Lankan cricket team rode through the streets of Lahore, Pakistan, on the third day of a Test match. Captain Mahela Jayawardene, who is to his country what Derek Jeter is to the city of New York, rode near the back of the bus. The convoy, with a police escort, rolled through the streets outside the stadium. Mahela, known as MJ, took out his phone to call his wife, and that's when they all heard more..

Oct 5 (CI) 16 years ago to the day, Shahid Afridi had walloped Sri Lanka for 102 off 37 balls, which is still the fastest century in ODI cricket. His stay at the crease this time around wasn't all that much shorter, but it was far less effective. During that hundred, which was his first ODI innings, Afridi had had his most productive over against left-arm spinner Sanath Jayasuriya, hitting 28. On this occasion, Rangana Herath exacted revenge for Sri Lankan left-arm spinners by bowling Afridi first ball. more..

Oct 5 (CI) There was a time during the India-South Africa game when I really suspected that someone was making South African flags out the back of the Prema and selling them for a few rupees. At first they weren’t there, and then suddenly one whole stand was holding up the South African colours. The Pakistani fans were the ones holding the flags, as most of the South African fans had gone home. During the India-Pakistan game it appeared like four out of five Sri Lankans at the game had more..

Oct 5 (FT) On the back of the lucrative Krrish Group deal, Cabinet has approved a US$ 140 million hotel project by the Indian Tobacco Company (ITC) to tap into the post-war tourism boom. ITC announced the intention of leasing out land on the premier seaside strip of the capital earlier this year and paid US$ 73.5 million to the Sri Lankan Govt in May. However, the ITC deal is far lower than the US$ 550 million project by Shangri-la, which more..

Oct 5 (CI) Sparks of instinct, moments of inspiration, flashes of genius. They just happen. And sides like Pakistan seize them. They can't be planned for, and they just weren't coming today for Pakistan. What they required was sensible and unglamorous batting through and through, as is usually the case in tricky chases on difficult pitches. And even the most ardent fan knew in his heart that Pakistan's batsmen had been found wanting twice before in this tournament. more..

Oct 5 (CI) Mahela Jayawardene has led Sri Lanka into the fourth major limited-overs final of his career - now all he has to do is win one. He calls himself "blessed," and he is, but he knows that only victory in Colombo on Sunday will silence complaints that Sri Lanka always fail at the final hurdle. Sri Lanka had to battle for their 16-run win against Pakistan after setting them a target of 140, which was distinctly vulnerable even on a slow, turning pitch at the Premadasa Stadium. more..

Oct 5 (Island) The very recent fiscal and govt borrowing numbers released by the Central Bank fail to inspire confidence in the economy and concerns are mounting that taxes could be raised while key public investments too could be cut as was the case in the past resulting in more hardship for the people. With the budget deficit showing signs of veering off target, UNP MP Dr. Harsha De Silva reiterated that the govt would have to more..

Oct 5 (CI) Nothing came easy for Sri Lanka in their semi-final against Pakistan. After five overs, they had made 24 - easily their slowest start of the tournament. An opener renowned for his aggression couldn't find the boundary, heaping inadvertent pressure on the men around him on a difficult track. Kumar Sangakkara rarely looks comfortable attacking, but that's exactly what he had to do from his first ball. He landed a few punches, but was knocked out sooner than he would have liked. Still, he can console himself that has never made more..

Oct 5 (Island) Over 5,000 youth out of nearly 35,000 sitting the Korean language proficiency test, which would be hold on October 13 and 14, would be able to work in South Korea, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) said. Heavy security would be deployed in and around exam centres to avoid malpractices, over which the Korean govt has expressed concern. The test, conducted by the Examinations Department, along with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment and more..

Oct 5 (DN) The govt will declare a Tax Week to create awareness among the public in respect of the govt tax system, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said. The Tax Week will be held annually from Nov 1 to 8, in keeping with the Cabinet proposal made by the President, as the Finance Minister. He said that the main objectives of the Tax Week is to increase the awareness of the tax system among the public. more..

Oct 5 (DN) Prasanna Vithanage's seventh feature film Oba Nathuwa Oba Ekka (With You, Without You) will have its European premiere at 56th London Film Festival which will be held from Oct 10 to 23. The film is scheduled to be screened on Oct 13, 15 and 17. All three shows have been sold out weeks in advance to the screenings. Oba Nathuwa Oba Ekka has been described in the festival catalogue as "Sri Lanka's independent cinema at its best". It is a bilingual film (Sinhala/Tamil) which more..

Oct 5 (PTI) The war-affected ethnic Tamils would be able to elect their first Provincial Council of the northern region by September next year when the Sri Lankan govt holds the first ever local polls. The govt’s plan to hold the first elections at the provincial level post-war is seen as a first step towards achieving a political solution to the ethnic Tamil question. Though people in the northern province voted both in 2009 Presidential and the general elections next year, more..

Oct 5 (MoD) Secretary Defence and Urban Development Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa graced the occasion as the Chief Guest of the 6th Annual Session of the Institute of Environmental Professionals Sri Lanka today (4) at the Water’s Edge hotel. Upon arrival at the venue the Secretary Defence was cordially welcomed by the President of Institute of Environmental more..

Oct 5 (DN) The Department of Archaeology will build a museum at the entrance to Jaffna Fort. The work is to be completed before the end of this year, Archaeological Director General Senerath Dissanayake said. “This will help in the study of the history of the Jaffna Fort, while housing monuments that speak of its centuries old past,” he said. “Around 60% of the renovation programme of the Jaffna Fort has been completed by now. 'Around 65% of the Fort wall has been renovated," more..

Oct 5 (Hindu) The present political scenario is favourable to the AIADMK and chances of the party winning all seats in the State in the forthcoming Parliament elections are very bright, said Minister O. Pannerselvam. Preparing the party workers for the Parliament elections at a meeting held here, he said that the AIADMK had fulfilled all its election promises and had brought more schemes for the uplift of the poor and the downtrodden thus gaining the confidence of the people. more..

Oct 5 (Island) A crucial meeting scheduled to be held between striking university dons and a top level govt delegation headed by Minister Basil Rajapaksa did not take place yesterday. Minister S. B. Dissanayake said that the govt was ready to discuss the issue with the FUTA to pave the way for re-opening of Universities. Dissanayake said that Treasury Chief Dr. P. B. Jayasundera, too, would participate at the meeting. more..

Oct 5 (CT) For the first time in the country, a suspect, who has got a DNA test done at his own cost, to prove his innocence in connection with a heroin possession case, has come out with results favourable to himself. The DNA test was ordered to be performed by Colombo Additional Magistrate, Prasanna Alwis, subsequent to a request made by Defence Counsel, Wasanatha Pitigala, who appeared on behalf of the suspect. The Defence objected that an undergarment, which was more..

Oct 5 (Island) The Court of Appeal yesterday issued notice, returnable on Nov 1, 2012, on the Commissioner of Elections and the Returning Officer for Akuressa, Matara. The notice was pertaining to a Writ Application filed by the former chairman of the Akuressa Pradeshiya Sabha, challenging the gazette notification, dated July 25, 2012 which removed him from the office of Pradeshiya Sabha chairman. The gazette notification followed the removal of the former chairman more..

Oct 5 (Island) Gen. Sarath Fonseka describes himself as a key man of a new alliance of political forces – for which the name has not yet been decided yet —to be launched on Oct. 18. He makes no bones about the fact that the avowed goal of this alliance being forged is to overthrow the government. In an interview with The Island in his office at Etul Kotte, Gen. Fonseka challenged President Mahinda Rajapaksa to restore his civic rights fully. more..

Oct 5 (CT) The FUTA predicted the university academic year for those who sat for A/Ls in 2011 will begin only in June 2013, as cut-off marks, university selections and other formalities have to be settled before admitting the students. FUTA Vice President, Venerable Dambara Amila Thera said it would be impossible to admit new undergraduates to universities before June 2013, as cut-off marks have not been released and also older students would have to pass out first. more..

Oct 5 (Island) The Supreme Court yesterday granted leave to proceed with the Fundamental Rights Violation application filed by 21-year-old Nirosha alias Dilani, a dancer at the Cleopatra Restaurant and Pub, Colombo 3. She said that she had been arrested on August 28, by officers of the Colpetty police station arbirarily. They had taken her along with the box that contained her pet snake. She said that from her childhood, she had liked snakes as her father was a snake charmer more..