Nov 30 (SM) Govt analyst’s reports have revealed that certain coconut oil products available in the island’s market have been mixed with palm oil and vegetable oil. Palm and vegetable oil which are cheaper oil products have been mixed with coconut oil producing an inferior product, the report revealed. The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) deputy director Asela Bandara stated that, the scam was revealed in a sample testing conducted following complaints received from the consumers. more..

Nov 30 (IANS) Former Sri Lankan explosive batsman Sanath Jayasuriya said Saturday that Sachin Tendulkar is the best player he has seen. "Everyone knows what Sachin has done for cricket and for India. He is one player who is dedicated, committed and played with passion. I had played along with him for three years in Mumbai Indians and found him to be a very simple man and easy to approach," Jayasuriya said. more..

Nov 30 (Island) The Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA), while showing its disappointment at some political parties boycotting the CHOGM held in Colombo, congratulated President Rajapaksa on becoming its Chairman and the successful hosting of the meeting. OPA president V. Ganesh said that his organisation expressed its disapproval of the boycott by certain political parties and was disheartened that several events had been organised by certain groups more..

Nov 30 (Island) Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama told Parliament that the last census, held during the years 2011-‘12, had cost Rs. 1,730 billion. Of that sum Rs. 870 million had been spent on salaries and allowances of the officials who took part in the census, the minister said. Responding to a question raised by UNP Colombo District MP Ravi Karunanayke, Dr. Amunugama said that 99,000 persons had been employed to gather data. There had been 81,000 enumerators, more..

Nov 30 (IL) The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Seoul participated at the 2013 SIWA & Diplomatic Bazaar which was recently held in Seoul. The SIWA & Diplomatic Bazaar, organized by the Seoul International Women's Association (SIWA), is one of the leading fundraising events with a history of more than 30 years. This annual Bazaar attracts a large number of Korean visitors and foreign expatriates living in Seoul. more..

Nov 30 (Island) With reference to the article on the above topic, published in The Island, on 22nd November 2013, which says that the Broadlands (35MW) and Uma Oya (120MW) Hydro Plants are sidelined, CEB deputy general manager and Media Spokesman, says that the construction activities of both those projects have already been started. He adds "The expected completion date of Uma Oya is still as planned at the end of November 2015 and that of the Broadlands is end 2015. more..

Nov 30 (FT) UNP MP and famous actor Ranjan Ramanayake yesterday lamented in Parliament that the 2014 Budget was silent on the important migrant workers’ welfare but lavish on pet food. Amidst noise in Parliament, he said Budget 2014 undermined the heavy toil and the earnings of the migrant workers but gave priority to cats and dogs in Sri Lanka by affording tax reduction on imported pet food. “In budget 2013 President labeled the migrant workers as ‘rata viruwo,’ more..

Nov 30 (ENS) The household of V Prabhakaran, leader of the LTTE, will not be included in the on-going Sri Lankan island-wide census on human and material losses inflicted by the civil wars in the country since 1982. Explaining, the Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics, D.C.A. Gunawardena said that there was no one in Prabhakaran’s family now alive to answer enumerators’ queries about more..

Nov 30 (FT) Minister G.L. Peiris on Thursday highlighted the success of the recently concluded CHOGM 2013, identifying the high profile meeting of world leaders as an event aimed at increasing goodwill towards Sri Lanka and showcasing the country’s reality before the world. Minister who joined in the Budget debate in Parliament this week, said 51 of 53 member countries took part in CHOGM 2013 leaving out Fiji, which is suspended from the Commonwealth for the second time. more..

Nov 30 (CT) Govt officials from all 14 Divisional Secretariats in the Batticaloa District staged a protest against a Buddhist monk who had threatened the Pattipalai Divisional Secretary (DS) in the Batticaloa District, and had ransacked his office on Wednesday. Informed sources said the Chief Incumbent of the Mangalaramaya Buddhist temple in Batticaloa, Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera had walked into the Pattipalai Divisional Secretariat and requested the DS to grant permission to more..

Nov 30 (FT) The Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) latest risk briefing on Sri Lanka has rated the 2014 Budget and prospects well, while insisting reforms are key. In its report titled ‘Sri Lanka Risk: Alert – Focusing on the right things,’ the EIU said: “For now, the country is rapidly becoming a success story, swiftly rebounding after more than two decades of war, a situation that has bolstered the standing of the president more..

Nov 30 (BBC) A rights group says a US man is being held in a maximum security prison in UAE accused of endangering national security after posting a parody video about youth culture in Dubai. Shezanne Cassim, a consultant, is the first foreign national to be charged under a 2012 cybercrimes law, says the Emirates Centre for Human Rights. Mr Cassim has been held since April without a trial date, says the centre. It says the law has also been used to prosecute local political activists. more..

Nov 30 (CT) TNA MP, R. Sampanthan, addressing Parliament on Wednesday, delivered a speech calling for the need to have ‘reconciliation accountability’ in order to arrive at a political solution for the ethnic conflict in the country. Sampanthan first expressed his views on the Budget saying that it had not made an effort to address wasteful expenditure in the country and emphasized that it should focus more on the export sector as the future of our economy would depend on more..

Nov 30 (FT) The Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy Admiral D.K. Joshi called on President Rajapaksa at the President’s Office yesterday. During the meeting, the President, Admiral Joshi and the two delegations discussed several maritime topics of particular significance in the Indian Ocean region. At the outset, Admiral Joshi informed President Rajapaksa that the Indian Navy will be offering training to SL Navy officers more..