Oct 9 (LR) In response to the passing of Mrs. Manoranjana Kanagasabapathy when a commercial truck collided with a TTC bus, Scarborough-Rouge River MPP Bas Balkissoon will be introducing a private members’ bill, The Manoranjana Kanagasabapathy Act, that will implement stricter fines and penalties for distracted driving tomorrow. Mr. Balkissoon is expected to be joined by family members of Mrs. Kanagasabapathy at Queen’s Park Legislature in Toronto. more..

Oct 9 (CT) The TNA has declared the much anticipated war soon after its victory. The conflict with the Centre commenced with the refusal of the Alliance to take oath before the Governor, demanding he be replaced with a non-military governor. The appointing authority for the posts of Chief Minister and Provincial Ministers is the Provincial Governor. Hence, like it or not, their letters of appointments should be received from the Governor. After the appointment, more..

Oct 9 (Island) The Sports Ministry has formulated laws to produce sports persons who are caught for using illegal performance enhancing drugs before Magistrate Courts and impose prison terms not exceeding two years. The relevant bill was presented for Parliament’s approval on Tuesday by Sports Minister Aluthgamage. In addition to the prison sentence, those who would be found guilty would be imposed of a fine between more..

Oct 9 (Island) The Sri Lanka Lawyers’ Cricket Team will represent Sri Lanka in the 4th Lawyers’ Cricket World Cup, to be held in Delhi, India from Oct 12 to 22. The Lankan team is scheduled to leave the island this Friday. The previous World Cups were held in Hyderabad, India (in 2007), Cambridge, England (2009), and the Barbados islands in the Caribbean (2011). The national Lawyers’ Cricket Teams of India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Pakistan, England and West Indies will be more..

Oct 9 (Island) The govt and the TNA, in a rare display of political maturity, refrained from flexing muscles, for once, on the question of Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Vigneswaran’s swearing in. The TNA did not want him to take oaths before the Northern Governor Maj. Gen. (retd) G. A. Chandrasiri, whose ouster it seeks, but agreed to come to Colombo in spite of speculation that it would insist that the swearing in take place in Jaffna itself, and President Rajapaksa reciprocated. more..

Oct 8 (FT) Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera yesterday sounded upbeat ahead of the 2014 Budget next month, expressing confidence that economic growth this year will be over 7%. “I am sure this year GDP will grow well over 7%. I have no doubt. Even in the ADB’s recent outlook, they have come up with 6.8%, which was the growth forecast they made when the economy was not moving that well. more..

Oct 9 (AN) Tea plantations extend as far as the eye can see. This is Nuwara Eliya (pronounced nur-e-liya), an idyllic town in upcountry Sri Lanka, nestled amid lush tea gardens. After having spent two fantastic days in Kandy, we took off by a private coaster organized by Sri Lankan Airlines who sponsored our Sri Lanka tour. The route from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya threads through the breathtakingly beautiful hills, dense valleys, negotiating endless hairpins, passing the magnificent waterfalls more..

Oct 9 (Island) The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) relocated its Regional Office in Negombo to 2ndFloor, 72A 2/1, Old Chilaw Road, Negombo recently. The new location provides its patrons with more comforts, added convenience and greater accessibility to carryout investments in the equity market. The operation of regional branch offices is part of a strategy to reach out to domestic individual investors by expanding the CSE services throughout the country. more..

Oct 9 (IL) The first flag of the flag campaign launched by the Sri Lanka Council of Visually Impaired Graduates’ Association in line with International White Cane Day was pinned on President Rajapaksa at Tempe Trees yesterday. International White Cane Day will be commemorated on next Tuesday as it is marked on Oct 15 each year. The aim of selling flags is to raise funds for the welfare of visually impaired students. more..

Oct 9 (WB) Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reciprocated Sri Lanka Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne's request of help for providing shelter for Muslim refugees in northern Mannar, Sri Lanka. Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) has started construction of 100 houses with the instruction of Turkish PM. Prime Minister of Sri Lanka wrote a letter to Erdogan demanding for help for Muslims who suffered during the civil war in Sri Lanka, according to information received more..

Oct 9 (FT) The TNA’s second most popular provincial councillor elect, Ananthi Sasitharan, is likely to take her oath of office before a Justice of the Peace in Jaffna on 12 October, boycotting a major oath-taking ceremony being organised by the TNA in the northern capital, the Daily FT learns. Sasitharan, the wife of former LTTE Political Wing Leader Elilan, had strong reservations about Chief Minister Wigneswaran’s decision to take oaths before President Rajapaksa on Monday. more..

Oct 8 (BN) Louise Fernandez has visited Sri Lanka about five times in the past decade, drawn by its white sandy beaches, tea plantations and historic temples. The South Asian island is about to give her more reasons to return. The Sri Lankan parliament is due to approve today a tax amnesty for the island’s first foreign casino venture, a $350 million investment backed by Australian James Packer’s Crown Ltd. more..

Oct 9 (AD) Former DIG Vass Gunawardena has been named by the Attorney General as one of the suspects in the Nipuna Ramanayake assault case. Ramanayake, a 21-year-old student of the SLIIT at Malabe was abducted and allegedly assaulted on Aug 9, 2009 by the son and wife of then SSP Vaas Gunawardena along with 11 other policemen. Ravindu Gunawardena, son of former DIG Vaas Gunawardena, was arrested for not appearing before the court on the assault case. more..

Oct 9 (Island) According to CMR’s Sri Lanka Quarterly Mobile Handsets Market Review, 2Q CY 2013, October 2013 release Android shipments account for over 96% smartphone shipments; Samsung is the market leader, followed by Micromax and Zigo Mobile. The Sri Lanka mobile phones market recorded sales of over 0.71 million units in 2Q (April-June) 2013. This was reported in the Sri Lanka Mobile Handsets Market Review, 2Q 2013, October 2013 release published more..

Oct 9 (Platts) Sri Lanka hopes to join the natural gas producing nations club soon, after initiating talks with Cairn India on a sales agreement, which, once finalized, will lead to production from the company's offshore blocks, according to an official. "We would like to be able to finalize a heads of agreement [with Cairn India] within this year," Saliya Wickramasuriya, director general of the Petroleum Resources Development Secretariat, said. more..

Oct 9 (FT) A Govt attempt to smuggle through the controversial Casino Tax Relief Bill was foiled by the UNP yesterday. Opposition Legislator Dr. Harsha de Silva requested Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa to launch a “fair investigation” to find out why copies of the controversial Gazette notification were not tabled before the business of the House commenced. “The Govt is trying to hoodwink and mislead the members,” complained MP Dr. de Silva, who stirred the House when Deputy Minister of more..

Oct 9 (Island) Minister Bandula Gunawardena told Parliament yesterday that principals who held the rank of Major and Colonel did not have to salute their past pupils, holding higher ranks in the security forces. The principals, awarded military ranks, did not go to their schools in their uniforms, the Minister said, adding that there was no need for them to stick to the military rule of saluting senior ranks. The minister was responding to a query by JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, more..

Oct 9 (Hindu) The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted six weeks time to the Centre to file its response to a writ petition filed by DMK president M. Karunanidhi for a direction to the Centre to retrieve Katchatheevu. Bench granted time on a request made by Additional Solicitor General Paras Kuhad and directed the matter to be listed after six weeks. Centre had already filed its response to a similar writ petition filed by CM Jayalalithaa more..

Oct 9 (FT) Talks to finalise modalities of the proposed UNP Leadership Council between Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and former Deputy Leaders Karu Jayasuriya and Sajith Premadasa tomorrow failed after Premadasa said he was unable to meet this week. During a meeting of the UNP Parliamentary Group, Thursday was proposed for the discussion between the three parties, which would make decisions on how the Leadership Council would function once it is set up. more..

Oct 9 (CT) Pandemonium reigned in the second day of the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) sessions, today, while A.M. Jameel, the Leader of the SLMC, moved a motion appealing to the govt to strengthen, instead of diluting, the 13th Amendment that led to the formation of the Provincial Council system. Chief Minister, Najeeb Majeed, opposed the motion, stating it was not the time to bring up such a motion. This remark led to a heated exchange of words among the members, more..

Oct 9 (Guardian) Canada has launched a direct assault on the authority of the Commonwealth secretary general, attacking him as a stooge for a Sri Lankan regime it accuses of serious human rights abuses. On Tuesday Hugh Segal, Canada's special envoy to the Commonwealth, accused Kamalesh Sharma of "acting as a shill [a stooge] for the Sri Lankan leadership, defending their every mistake". more..

Oct 9 (CT) The govt admitted that todate no person has been recruited to work at the Hambantota Harbour. Answering a question raised by UNP MP, Sajith Premadasa, in Parliament, on the Hambantota International Harbour project, Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardane said, they deploy employees from the Colombo Harbour instead, whenever the need arose. He also said the govt intends recruiting 500 employees to work in the Hambantota Port when the second phase is commissioned, more..

Oct 9 (CT) In response to a proposal made by UN Human Rights Commissioner, Navanethem Pillay, during her recent visit to the country, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) is preparing to hold a series of seminars to educate politicians concerning human rights, said Commission’s Chairman, Dr. Prathibha Mahanamahewa. “A workshop on this subject was held in December 2012 for the ministers and MPs of both the govt and opposition parties, more..

Oct 9 (CT) It was revealed in Parliament that remains of 463 housemaids have been returned to Sri Lanka from Gulf countries, between January and October 2012. UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake, asked Minister Dilan Perera, during the oral question session as to what the govt expects to earn by risking the lives of women migrant workers. Out of the 463 bodies, about 75% were of women below 30 years of age. more..

Oct 9 (Island) Sri Lanka is likely to be invaded by a disease, known as Novel Corona Virus, which was often fatal, Health Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka warned. He said that the disease, which was endemic in West Asia, would enter Sri Lanka soon as many migrant workers from the South East Asian region were employed in West Asia. The syndromes of the Corona virus were serious. One was liable to get respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, difficulty in breathing, high fever and cough. more..

Oct 9 (CG) Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma says he has been formally informed that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will not be attending the CHOGM in Sri Lanka next month and he respects that decision. The Commonwealth Secretariat said that it is up to each member country to determine its level of representation at CHOGM and Canada has made that determination and the Secretariat respects the decision. more..

Oct 9 (Hindu) India will do everything possible to work with the govt of Sri Lanka to enable a lasting political solution, said Minister of External Affairs Salman Khurshid here on Tuesday. After meetings with Sri Lankan leaders across the political spectrum, Mr. Khurshid said India was committed to pursuing the full implementation of the 13th Amendment. He met President Rajapaksa and later opposition leader Ranil Wikramasinghe more..

Oct 9 (DM) A post-mortem examination by a judicial medical officer may be necessary to find the truth about a growing controversy between Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena and a widely-respected state legal officer who retired in April 2012. At stake is much more than the integrity of the two personalities involved, but the well-being or even the lives of millions of people who would have access to quality drugs at affordable prices if and when legislation to implement the more..

Oct 9 (DM) The results of the election of members for the NPC are still a hot topic of conversation/debate among the people. The debate on the subject centres around the question whether or not the people of the Northern Province expressed an opinion in favour of separation by giving a tremendous mandate to the conglomeration of racists/Tamil supremacists called the TNA. It is worthwhile, nay essential, to realise in this context that the voter at an election such as more..

Oct 9 (SL) In true Board of Investment (BOI) style, an asbestos sheet manufacturing company in Ekala, Ja-Ela has been allowed to bypass the pre-conditions laid down by the BOI in the investment approval and to commence its production without any restriction. Rhino Products Limited of No. 111, Maithri Mawatha, Ekala, Ja Ela, a subsidiary of Rhino Roofing Products of No. 30, Minuwangoda Road, Ekala, Ja Ela more..

Oct 9 (ST) The Govt Medical Officers Association (GMOA) claimed that lifting the ban on quality-failed drug manufacturers, due to the shortage of lifesaving drugs, is not the remedy to solve the current crisis in the pharmaceutical sector in the country. GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr Nalin Ariyarathne said that they are happy that the authority is now quality testing drugs more regularly. “But it is strange that the Cosmetics, more..

Oct 9 (CI) Paul Farbrace had admitted he is "flattered" to have been connected with the role of Sri Lanka coach. Farbrace, who is currently Yorkshire second XI coach, spent a couple of years as assistant coach to the Sri Lanka side between July 2007 and August 2009, and has now confirmed that he is among those talking to Sri Lanka Cricket about the possibility of succeeding Graham Ford, who leaves the post of more..

Oct 9 (IPS) Stricter laws could curb the rising trend of child abuse in Sri Lanka, experts say. However, recommendations like witness protection, special courts and procedures to hear abuse cases and more legal assistance to victims are unlikely to be included in a new draft Child Protection Policy that is to be presented to parliament before the end of the year. Although detailed data are not available, more..

Oct 9 (DN) The British Council will launch an international music video under the theme ‘Commonwealth Youth Unite’ to mark the CHOGM 2013 in Sri Lanka in November. British Council Marketing Manager Randima Jayasinghe said it will include the contributions of all 54 Commonwealth countries. The music video will be officially launched at the Commonwealth Youth Unite carnival organised by the British Council on November 16 more..

Oct 9 (DM) Internet users in Sri Lanka as in India and Bangladesh, enjoy partial freedom in the subcontinent. This is against the backdrop that there is no freedom at all for those who want to express their opinion online, said a new survey of a US-based Freedom House. For partial freedom, Bangladesh obtained 49 points out of 100 earmarked for countries having no freedom at all for the internet users, said the study. more..

Oct 9 (Island) Construction work on six new fisheries harbours in the North would begin next February, as part of the govt’s efforts to revive the region’s economy, Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratna said yesterday. The construction work would be carried out by the Huwachi Construction Company of Taiwan, with which the Fisheries Ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last Saturday in Colombo. more..

Oct 9 (NP) A suspected organizer of the human smuggling operation that brought 492 asylum seekers to Canada three years ago aboard the MV Sun Sea has apparently been killed in northern Sri Lanka. Sathyapavan Aseervatham “died under tragic circumstances” on Sept. 6 near his hometown in Jaffna district, according to an obituary that appeared in Uthayan. Vancouver refugee lawyer Gabriel Chand, who had more..

Oct 9 (CG) British Prime Minister David Cameron will be carrying a tough messages for Sri Lanka’s leadership when he visits the country for the CHOGM in November. The tough stance taken by Canada on the summit has forced Britain on the defensive as officials sought to justify Cameron’s participation in the summit. He insisted that Cameron would still attend, carrying “tough messages” for Sri Lanka’s leadership but more..

Oct 9 (CI) Tillakaratne Dilshan is set to retire from Test cricket. A SLC media release stated that Dilshan will hold a press conference on Thursday to make a formal announcement. "I have taken this decision to allow Sri Lanka Cricket to groom another youngster in my place," Dilshan, 36, said on Wednesday. "I was to announce my retirement after the Zimbabwe Test series but unfortunately the tour was postponed." more..

Oct 9 (CT) If the landslide victory of the TNA in the recent Provincial Council elections in the North was historic, Monday's events, which saw C.V. Wigneswaran taking oaths as the new Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council from President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees, was no less significant. The progressive action, reportedly initiated by TNA Leader R. Sampanthan, must and needs to be commended by all peace loving citizens of this country. more..