Sept 3 (DM) The Supreme Court today recommended the 3rd proposal out of 4 proposals submitted by the UGC to facilitate the accommodation of an additional 4,928 students to State universities. The Bench comprised Chief Justice Shirani A. Bandaranayake, Justices N.G. Amaratunga and K. Sripavan. Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake on August 30 advised UGC to increase the intake of students to the university increase the more..

Sept 3 (LT) The JVP states three of its election offices were attacked and set fire by govt patronized thugs. Three election offices of the JVP within Padiyathalawa Pradeshiya Sabha area in Ampara District were attacked and were set fire on the 1st night. The offices were at Palathuruwella, Peramankada and Kehelulla areas. The Palathuruwella and Peramankada offices were legal election offices of JVP candidate for Eastern PC election R.M. Anura Rajapaksa while the office at Kehelulla was the more..

Sept 3 (NF) Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe states that the UNP govt will put an end to the paddy mafia. He stated so at a rally in Ampara. This rally to garner support for candidates contesting the upcoming Eastern Provincial Council Election was held under the auspices of UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. 'It is the farmers that sweat and toil. It is the paddy mafia that steals the hard working farmers' money. The provincial council has the power to stop and control that. more..

Sept 3 (EAR) There is just one word that describes why the West refuses to acknowledge Sri Lanka’s successful elimination of globally banned terrorist movement the LTTE – it is because of their Jealousy. This explains why Sri Lanka received very few bouquets and why the force of that envy produced the demand that Sri Lanka showcase its plan for post-conflict. Taking up that challenge through an indigenously designed 5R program, Sri Lanka’s post-conflict success more..

Sept 3 (Reuters) Stocks jumped 1.4% on Monday to hit a near four-month high on renewed retail investor sentiment after the appointment of a new regulator head, seen as capable of coming up with market-friendly policies that may revive the market. Nalaka Godahewa took over as the chief of the Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday. The Colombo Stock Exchange's main index gained 1.37%, or 70.84 points, to 5,250.99, its highest close since May 9. more..

Sept 3 (LT) The President lies and deceives the voter to face the election saying interest would be reduced for loans for cultivations and regarding bank loans says the general Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva. Whatever the President says the normal procedure of cultivation loans is to recover the loan at the next harvest said Mr. Silva. He said, “The Commissioner of Elections and his officials are making a just attempt to conduct a free and fair election. more..

Sept 3 (CI) The Southern Expressway has halved the drive from Colombo to Galle to one and half hours, and has opened up numerous possibilities for those based in Colombo during the World Twenty20. A day trip down south is now feasible. Galle Fort is one of Asia's premier holiday destinations, teeming with history and quaint cobbled streets. It has museums, galleries and dreamy views over the Indian Ocean, as well as some of Sri Lanka's finest hotels. It also a perfect more..

Sept 3 (IANS) The Sri Lankan Cricket Board on Monday said it will take measures to boost their domestic cricket after its first ever Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) concluded last week. Board chairman Upali Dharmadasa said in a statement that they hope to transform domestic cricketing outlook from domestic to international level. "With greater things in mind I, together with the executive committee of SLPL, have decided to fund the participating districts and more..

Sept 3 (AD) The UNP has decided to move a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament to prevent issues arising in the education sector which has been marred with crises recently, from universities to Grade 5 scholarship exam. Our aim is to produce graduates suitable and qualified for occupation from the country’s universities, said UNP MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, who is to present the Private Member’s Bill to parliament. more..

Sept 3 (LT) The Network for Election Monitoring of intellectuals for Human Rights (NEM-IHR) in a press release states 282 election violations in relation to North-Central, Sabaragamuwa and Eastern PC elections have been reported to it from by 1st September. The press release by the Chief Executive of NEM IHR Dr Uditha Gunasekara states as the day of the election approaches an escalation of election violence could be observed. Among the incidents of election violence more..

Sept 3 (PTI) Close on the visit of Chinese Defence Minister Gen Liang Guanglie to Sri Lanka, China's top political leader Wu Bangguo would visit Colombo this month to firm up the deepening relations between the two countries. Wu, who holds the second rank in the ruling Chinese Communist Party, next only to President Hu Jintao, would visit the island nation as part of his four-nation goodwill tour beginning from September 9 to 23. Besides Sri Lanka, he would be visiting Iran, Myanmar and Fiji. more..

Sept 3 (CI) Kumar Sangakkara, the No. 1 ranked Test batsman, is raring to pick up his bat after a finger injury sustained during the ODI series with India in July forced him into a break. Prior to his injury, Sangakkara had a successful year in all three formats leading to four ICC awards nominations including the Cricketer of the Year. After what he says has been the longest period he has been away from the game, Sangakkara hopes to work on his fitness and more..

Sept 4 (NS) The Western coastal belt was especially monitored by security forces due to the easy access that LTTE could gain with Tamil Nadu. Therefore, strict security measures had to be taken for the protection of fishermen, and to ensure the LTTE’s sea movement was restricted. The sensitivity of the western coast of the Northern province was understood when the government chartered ships to carry essential items to the peninsula via Trincomalee. more..

Sept 4 (NS) Passing this location through tarred roads, viewing its beauty at a glance, one really cannot appreciate the full range of treasures contained in in the Peradeniya Gardens. Walking beneath the shade of the giant palm trees and inhaling the fragrance of unknown numerous flowers, life arrives even more fresh than one expects it to be. The salubrious environs within this garden are indeed unparalleled. For the many years that I lived in Kandy I have passed this more..

Sept 4 (SO) Have you heard about craftsmen who are engaged in sculpturing small scale portraits out of raw coconuts? They not only make portraits of people, but also figures of animals out of coconuts. I am sure only few would have seen our craftsmen sculpturing portraits and figures from coconuts. These items are called coconut creations. Making portraits and figures out of coconuts is not an easy task. It is a time consuming job. more..

Sept 4 (DBS) This will be the last Sunday before the elections to the Eastern, Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provinces and everybody is wondering which way the cookie will crumble. While the opposition has basically abandoned hope in the NCP and Sabaragamuwa provinces, all hope is concentrated on the East. Here too hopes are centred not on the SLMC which is an ally of the govt but on the TNA. The hope is that if the TNA sweeps the board in the Batticaloa district, more..

Sept 4 (GV) Manel Tampoe, school teacher turned journalist and environmentalist, was a force to reckon with – but she didn’t look the part. Beneath her soft spoken and demure personality, she harboured a keen intellect, steely resolve and a strong sense of justice that lasted for all her 85 years. Those who underestimated Manel soon discovered their mistake, similar to what happened with Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple. Such comparisons go only so far: more..

Sept 4 (DBS) Last Sunday I asked the question whether Tamils in this country can be glibly asked to ‘forget the past’ and move forward? Today I wish to list out the promises made to the Tamil People and their representatives, particularly after the General Elections of April 2010. It must be remembered that President Rajapakse did not win in the North and the East, although he got a clear mandate form the rest of the seven provinces more..

Sept 4 (CT) News items variously reported that NSSP leader Bahu was attacked at Dambulla, when he came to participate in the protest of the opposition-VV on 17 August. These claimed that people were protesting against his participation in TESO meeting in Chennai; some members of the public abused while others threw eggs at him. Under terrible pressure, frightened Bahu cried for help and pleaded Ranil for intervention. Ranil and other leaders came there in time to rescue more..

Sept 4 (CT) If there is one demand on which a cross-section of society, irrespective of ideology or ethnic and religious persuasion can be rallied, it is the demand for the abolition of the Executive Presidency (EP). The Sinhalese, the minorities, persons of all faiths, a majority in the SLFP, the UNP, the JVP, the Frontline, the Backline, indeed everybody who is fed with the EP and thinks the 18th Amendment and the rotten EP-regime is blight upon the country more..

Sept 4 (SL) Mega is a classic despotic-obsession. The largest, the tallest and the longest are absolutely irresistible to the nastiest, the meanest and the deadliest. Neither economic logic nor common or garden reason has any say in these pageants of megalomania. What the Rulers want they must have and damn the consequences. The fascination with the mega is an obsession the Rajapaksas share. They want to build, build and build – irrespective of whether the projects more..

Sept 4 (Island) Rt. Rev. Dr. Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith lent his voice to media rights campaigners. Speaking at the SIGNIS Award Ceremony, he said the killings and disappearances of journalists must be probed and the perpetrators brought to justice. Amen! On the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Impunity Index 2012, Sri Lanka is ranked fourth––below Iraq, Somalia and the Philippines, in that order. None of the crimes against journalists have been solved in this country; needless to say all perpetrators have gone scot free. more..

Sept 4 (Island) Despite losing the final of the Asian Netball Championship, Sri Lanka’s future plan of bettering the world rankings, in a bid to secure her place in the Commonwealth Games and World Championships will continue unchanged. But the biggest challenge the Federation faces is acquiring funds needed for the six test series abroad. Thamara Dharmakeerthi Herath, the President of the Interim Committee of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka told reporters more..

Sept 4 (DN) The Department of Wildlife Conservation has stepped up action to erect electric elephant control fences in Kakirawa, Anuradhapura following instructions given to them by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. This is a sequel to the recently telecast “President answers citizens’ questions Live’ programme on television channels where people living in Kekirawa, during their turn to speak to the President, requested him to protect them and their cultivation from elephant attacks that occur more..

Sept 4 (DN) Instant milk packets available in the local market contain 18 percent sugar, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said. Minister Sirisena said requests were made on several occasions from private companies producing instant milk packets and soft drinks to cut down the amount of sugar added. “These companies rejected the requests stating children will not drink their products without a lot of sugar. "They were asked to maintain the sugar percentage at 5% in their products. more..

Sept 4 (Island) The curtain came down on the SLPL with rain drops curtailing the finals out in the center. In the meantime 20 officials were seen cooped up in a makeshift presentation box inside the pavilion competing to get their respective faces on the big screen. The custodian of SLC made sure to be at the presentation ceremony. Sad we could not get a glimpse of him during the matches. You can bet your last dollar that more..

Sept 4 (Island) The Meteorological Department yesterday warned motorists travelling to Nuwara Eliya to be cautious owing to heavy mist prevailing there. Assistant Director of the Meteorological Department S. R. Jayasekara said that the prevailing rains in those areas had led to the mist. Jayasekara said the mist would clear if the areas experienced winds, a spell of sunshine or dry atmosphere. The valleys in the district were also covered with mist. more..

Sept 4 (DN) The Health Ministry warned the public, hospital authorities and health staff about a fake short message (SMS) sent all over the country claiming that 65 varieties of low quality drugs had been distributed among state hospitals. A spokesman said the fabricated short message had been sent all over the country to mislead the public. “Neither the Health Ministry nor the National Drug Quality Assurance Laboratory (NDQAL) have come across any low quality drugs. more..

Sept 4 (FT) With a new Head being appointed to the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) in a statement reiterated that effective regulations, embodying international best practices and strict enforcements are essential features of a sustainable, vibrant and investor confidence building stock exchange, which yields commensurate returns to all market participants. more..

Sept 4 (DN) The opening ceremony of the 125th Sri Lanka Amateur Golf Championship, the world's second oldest international golf tournament was held in a grand note at the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) yesterday before the tournament commences today morning at RCGC. The championship will continue till September 9. Altogether 107 golfers from six nations including Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and new comers to the contest Afghanistan will more..

Sept 4 (Island) Two supporters of former NCP Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake were admitted to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital on Sunday night after being assaulted allegedly by three men who accompanied the wife of a govt minister. The incident took place in Kahatagasdigiliya. Sanjeeva Ranasinghe of Kahatagasdigiliya and Buddhika SKumarasena of Konewewa were injured in the attack that took place around 7.30 p.m. Both were active members of the SLFP youth wing. more..

Sept 4 (CT) Safeguarding the A/L answer scripts will soon become a problem, as paper marking has been postponed indefinitely due to the lecturers’ trade union action, Teachers’ Unions warned. President of the Association of Educational Professionals (AEP), Wasantha Dharmasiri said as there are no proper storage facilities to securely hold the unmarked A/L paper scripts, the authorities will soon be faced with the problem of more..

Sept 4 (Island) UNP Deputy General-Secretary Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene, who always claims in public that he is law abiding and stands for only what is right, has been violating traffic laws by using at least two SUVs with identical garage number plates (C-9 3953). One is a grey Toyota Prado and the other is a red Toyota Land Cruiser. The Gampaha District MP said that he had obtained the Prado under the MPs’ duty free license ‘very recently’ and it was not as yet registered. more..

Sept 4 (Island) The Movement for the Protection of the UNP and its Trade Unions condemned a recent statement attributed to UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe that the Kapilavastu relics now on display in the country were not of the Buddha, but of his Chief Disciples, Sariputta and Mugalan Theras. The movement’s spokesman Lal Perera told The Island that it was an irresponsible statement made by a party leader and by that the UNP might further alienate Sinhala Buddhists. more..

Sept 4 (PTI) Sri Lanka on Monday issued a travel advisory asking its citizen not to visit Tamil Nadu until further notice in the wake of "increasing number of instances of intimidation" of Sri Lankans in the state. "The Govt of Sri Lanka regrets the increasing number of instances of intimidation of Sri Lankan nationals visiting Tamil Nadu for the purposes of tourism, religious pilgrimages, sporting and cultural activities more..

Sept 4 (FT) The national carrier of Sri Lanka, SriLankan Airlines is celebrating its 33rd anniversary this month. This milestone will be marked with religious ceremonies for the staff commencing from the first week of September. The airline said its life journey has been fascinating, checked with victories and surviving turmoil during the country’s three decade long civil war which claimed half of its fleet during the airport attack in 2001, the global recession and stifling competition in more..

Sept 4 (Island) Dewmini Ranagala (12), was a year eight student of Maharagama Madya Maha Vidyalaya. She excelled in soft-ball cricket and athletics. On Sunday she travelled to Buttala to participate in the Wijithamuni de Zoysa Challenge Trophy soft ball cricket tournament at the army grounds. On their homeward journey Dewmini’s team stopped for lunch in Sevanagala. While the lunch was being prepared at an eatery they decided to go for a bath in a nearby tank. more..

Sept 4 (CT) The SLMC and TNA, the prime local parties in the Eastern Province, have complained to the Commissioner of Elections, Mahinda Deshapriya that the so called `blue brigade’ of the UPFA is creating various forms of problems for the parties contesting against the UPFA and violating the election laws to a greater extend in the East. Commenting on the so called `blue brigade’ the SLMC leader Rauff more..