Sep 11 (CT) The Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) yesterday began its fact-finding mission to identify the factors that contributed towards Sri Lanka's lack-luster performance at the SAFF Championships as the committee to investigate met with several key stake-holders, including the manager, technical director and goal-keeping coach. Sri Lanka's 10-0 drubbing at the hands of the Maldives and the pre-mature exit from more..

Sep 11 (CG) Sri Lanka today informed the UNHRC that it is pleased to have been delisted from the Annex of the Security Council resolution on children in armed conflict last year. The Sri Lankan delegation at the 24th session of the UNHRC, currently meeting in Geneva, told the Council today that 169 former child soldiers who had been freed following rehabilitation, have qualified to enter university. The delegation said that Sri Lanka is acutely conscious of the grave phycho-social more..

Sep 11 (FT) The Chamber of Tourism and Industry has welcomed the opening of the Oluvil Port last week. In a statement the Chamber President A.M. Jaufer said the newly-constructed Oluvil Harbour which was declared opened by President Rajapaksa will boost the economic development in the Eastern Province. The harbour, once it is operational, has the potential of connecting the Eastern Province to the maritime network in Sri Lanka and to the region in general. more..

Sep 11 (PTI) A Sri Lankan MP claimed he was denied permission to participate in a Ganesh Chathurthi procession here. Seeniththamby Yoheswaran, MP from Mattakalappu in Sri Lanka, said that police, citing prohibitory orders, did not permit him to participate in the function organised by Hindu Makkal Katchi, supporters of Sri Lankan Tamils. He, however, said he was allowed to offer prayers at the temple here. more..

Sep 11 (DM) The controversy, conflicting claims and confusion over the Milkgate crisis is being sorted out in the best interests of the people of Sri Lanka. A Cabinet sub-committee has recommended that two of the main proposals made by the 15,000 strong GMOA and people-friendly nutritionists be approved and implemented immediately. In terms of this, Sri Lanka would gradually reduce the huge quantity of powdered milk it is importing at the staggering annual cost of about US $ 350 million more..

Sep 11 (DM) Ground breaking filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock once said that “drama is life with the dull parts left out.” Defining ‘drama’ is certainly not an easy task though it is an interesting topic. However, at the on-going 2013 State Children’s Drama Festival, many children came on stage and acted, sang, danced, played, and performed their roles to become a part of those artistic creations on stage at the John de Silva theatre in Colombo. The event itself was another drama: more..

Sep 11 (SL) UN High Commissioner of Human Rights Navi Pillay left Sri Lanka confirming what I discussed in an earlier article. The article ended stating, “The govt, in its election stages, moans that there are conspiracies being hatched against it. However, it is the govt that is conspiring by giving more opportunities for imperialism (and the ‘conspirators’ the govt complains about) to interfere in the affairs of the country. more..

Sep 11 (CT) TNA MP, M.A. Sumanthiran, reiterating that the TNA's Northern Provincial Council election manifesto was prepared in a manner to uphold the right of self-determination of the Tamils and to preserve the integrity of the country, said the Alliance is not concerned about the withdrawal of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) from the special Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) citing the TNA's manifesto as the reason. more..

Sep 11 (ST) As barking strays announce our arrival at her humble home within a cadjan-fenced compound, she greets us with a smile tinged with sadness and an anxious question that she has asked and will keep asking any visitor who comes by. “Do you have news of my sons?” Although we are in the home of grey-haired Kumarini* in Chavakachcheri more than a month ago, this is also the agonised question being asked by more..

Sep 11 (EAR) Salma Yusuf in conversation with Amitav Banerji, Director of Political Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat. Q: Could you share the background and details of how an interest in Commonwealth Election Observation of Sri Lanka’s Provincial Council Elections came about and a status update on preparations to date? A: The Commonwealth Secretary-General received an invitation from more..

Sep 11 (Island) Several Fast Interceptor Craft built by Solas Marine Lanka, are undergoing sea trials in Sri Lankan waters before being handed over to the Indian navy. The Dubai-based Solas Marine Services Group is in the process of building 80 FIC at a shipyard situated along the Hamilton Canal. The company, formerly known as Blue Star Marine, secured the deal worth USD 46 million in late Sept 2011 beating more..

Sep 11 (Xinhua) Japan's parliamentary vice minister for foreign affairs will arrive in Sri Lanka on Thursday for a two-day visit to strengthen bilateral relations, Sri Lanka's govt website announced. Minoru Kiuchi will be on a follow-up to the Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa's visit to Tokyo in March this year and to the visit of Japanese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Taro Aso to Sri Lanka in May this year. more..

Sep 11 (AAP) Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott will attend the CHOGM in Sri Lanka. Mr Abbott confirmed his attendance at the November summit in a telephone call with Sri Lankan president Rajapaksa on Wednesday. The Colombo event will be the first CHOGM not attended by Queen Elizabeth II in 40 years. Prince Charles will be attending in her absence. It will also be a politically controversial event. more..

Sep 11 (ENS) At a time when political parties in Tamil Nadu, including the DMK the erstwhile ally of the Congress, are up in arms over reports that the Centre has decided to supply two naval warships to Sri Lanka during 2017-18, Union Minister for State, V Narayanasamy, on Tuesday confirmed the reports were indeed true. “The decision to give two naval warships to Sri Lanka is not based on a new agreement. more..

Sep 11 (Island) The TNA’s controversial manifesto calling for self-governance in a re-merged North-Eastern Province was just propaganda meant to draw voters as all those contesting the first NPC polls, on the TNA ticket, had furnished a letter each to the Elections Secretariat reiterating their commitment to the unitary status of the country in accordance with the ‘7th Schedule’ of the 6th Amendment to the Constitution, more..

Sep 11 (DM) No additional security contingents would be accompanying the visiting Heads of State during the CHOGM to be held in Colombo, External Affairs Ministry Secretary K. Amunugama said. He said apart from the standard personal security protocols for a Head of State, no additional security was to be expected, as the main security provisions were taken care of by a special Sri Lankan security committee headed by more..

Sep 11 (Reuters) The Sri Lankan rupee ended 0.4% firmer on Wednesday on exporter dollar sales, enjoying a rare respite after a three-month slide. The rupee spot, which had been inactive for several weeks, was actively traded and ended at 132.25/35 per dollar, dealers said, from Tuesday's close of 132.80. "There was selling pressure on the dollar, but we are closely monitoring the global situation," a currency dealer said. Dealers said the pressure on the rupee has eased and spot trading more..

Sep 11 (Island) Two armed robbers who entered a house in Pamburana, Matara, held a mother who was feeding her children at gunpoint and relieved her of gold jewellery recently. The intruders were about to make off with the valuables when the unexpected happened. The intrepid victim pounced on them. They tried to overpower her but she courageously fought back, beating them and holding on to their pistol which broke in two in the process. Scared out of their wits, the intruders took to more..

Sep 11 (Island) Minister Vasudeva rejected UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay’s assertion that Sri Lanka was becoming ‘increasingly authoritarian’ with rights activists apparently suffering growing harassment at the hands of security agencies. He said that there was no basis for UN rights chief’s claim. The veteran leftist who had been supportive of the UN mission here was responding to a statement attributed to more..

Sep 11 (CT) One of the delegations of local NGOs that presented a memorandum to Navi Pillay during her visit, was the Alliance of Media Organisations made up of the Free Media Movement, the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, the Federation of Media Employees Trade Union, the Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance, the Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum, the South Asian Free Media Association – Sri Lanka Chapter, and the Media Movement for Democracy. more..

Sep 11 (CT) Editorials are not the orbs of the oracles. But an editorial concern flagged on Sunday (8) about the increasing polarization of the Sri Lankan polity on ethnic lines is turning out to be an issue of real concern, with the decision taken by the JHU to opt out of the special Parliamentary Select Committee, ostensibly over the manifesto of the TNA. And if history is anything to go by, especially with regard to govt bungling of crucial governance issue,the situation has all more..

Sept 11 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka army today launched a massive training exercise in the eastern part of the country involving 40 foreign military participants and observers, including China and India. Separate Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force contingents with more than 25 fast attack craft and 25 pilots, in addition to their ground forces, joined Commandos and Special Forces of the Army in the mock "Exercise - Cormorant Strike IV 2013." more..

Sept 11 (Island) Investigating officers of the Permanent Commission to Investigate allegations of Bribery or Corruption told Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya that they had completed the investigations pertaining to the allegation of bribery against Police Constable Kithsiri and District Judge Sunil Abeysinghe. The report had been submitted to the Legal Department of the Commission and a response was awaited, they said. President’s Counsel Hemantha Warnakulasuriya, more..

Sept 11 (CG) Opposition UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe says the Tamils in the North should be able to live a dignified life with their human rights protected. Speaking at an election rally in Jaffna, the UNP leader said that northern and southern extremism is not the solution for any issue. He says working towards one Sri Lankan identity is the only solution to any issue in the North or South of the country. Wickremesinghe says the UNP is of the firm view that any person belonging to more..

Sept 11 (DM) The Education Ministry today said 31 schools in Colombo would be temporarily shut down for 13 days in November, to implement a comprehensive security plan for the CHOGM to be held in November this year. Education Ministry Secretary Anura Dissanayake said the schools - as listed - would be shut down from November 6-19. He said during recent discussions between the Ministry and officials more..

Sept 11 (Island) The All Ceylon Young Men’s Muslim Association (YMMA) Conference has alleged that certain extremist elements were trying to misinterpret a recent statement by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa that overseas groups were inciting extremism among the Muslims here. The full text of a statement issued by Razmara Abdeen, National General Secretary on behalf of YMMA: "All Ceylon YMMA Conference, at an Emergency Executive Council meeting more..

Sept 11 (Island) Four Iranians, attached to subsidiaries coming under the purview of SUNIR –Iran Power and Water Equipment and Services Export Company, visited the CEB Central Stores in Kolonnawa yesterday to inspect the alleged substandard items worth Rs. 100 billion sent from Teheran under the rural electrification project since 2011. CEB officials told The Island that with the greatest of difficulty they managed to use some of the parts and equipment. more..

Sept 11 (BS) Tamil Nadu government today asked the Centre to drop its proposal to sell two naval warships to Sri Lanka. In a letter to the Prime Minister today, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said that there is a deep and widespread sentiment prevailing amongst all sections of Society and shades of political opinion in Tamil Nadu about the need to hold the Sri Lankan regime to account for the acts of genocide more..

Sept 11 (CT) General Secretary of the SLFP, Susil Premajayantha, said there was no law against candidates getting assistance from govt servants, despite charges to the contrary by various opposing political bodies. Commenting on allegations that State sector employees are being used for election campaigns, Minister pointed out that anyone could be a part of the process as long as they were not on duty, adding they could also apply for leave and then work alongside candidates during elections. more..

Sept 11 (DN) A symposium on Buddhist jurisprudence, with particular reference to the concept of reconciliation, was held at the Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies on Monday. Chief Justice Mohan Pieris and Minister G.L. Peiris made the main presentations. Senior members of the Maha Sangha were present. Examples drawn from the Buddhist Scriptures were cited and discussed as evidence of a rich body of doctrine embedded in the more..

Sept 11 (AD) The UNP asked the public to cast their vote for the ruling UPFA at the forthcoming PC election, if they have no issue with the cost of living, the “oppression” carried out by the govt and the shooting of innocent youth. If the people have no problems with the current cost of living, electricity tariff, the oppression of the masses and shooting of innocent youth demanding drinking water or fighting for the EPF, more..

Sept 11 (CT) The CID yesterday informed the Colombo Magistrate's Court that all investigation reports regarding the murder of businessman, Mohamed Shyam, were handed over to the AG, in order to take necessary action against former DIG, Vass Gunawardena, and other suspects. The case was taken up for hearing before Colombo Additional Magistrate, and eight suspects, who are in the remand, including Vass Gunawardena and his son Ravindu, were produced before the Court. more..

Sept 11 (Island) The British School in Colombo will reach another important landmark when they commemorate their 19th anniversary with the main ceremony scheduled to be held on Sept 12, at the school premises. This will be a significant and memorable occasion for the whole school as pupils, parents and staff celebrates the growth of the school from very small beginnings to become a leading international school in the region. The anniversary celebrations will also provide more..

Sept 11 (CG) Former Kenyan Vice President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka will head a Commonwealth election observer mission for the NPC Elections. Others in the observer team will be the former Electoral Officer for Victoria, Australia Jenni McMullan, former Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh Dr Shamsul Huda and Examin Philbert the Secretary of the Caribbean Association of Local Govt Authorities Saint Luci. more..

Sept 11 (CG) President Rajapaksa today accused the TNA of taking forward the propaganda of slain LTTE leader V Prabakaran. Speaking at an election rally in Vavuniya today in support of the UPFA candidates contesting the northern provincial council elections, the President said that there is no difference in what the TNA is saying today and what Prabakaran said back then. The President was referring to the election manifesto of the TNA which was made public recently in Jaffna. more..

Sept 11 (Island) The UPFA said that the UNP would not secure even one seat in the Northern Provincial Council at the September 21 polls. Minister Susil Premajayantha said that there was only one UNP member for the entire province in the Chavakachcheri Pradeshiya Sabha, but he was also contesting the forthcoming election on the UPFA ticket. "There was no campaign by the UNP in the entire province," he said adding that it was a very pathetic situation for the main opposition. more..

Sep 11 (DM) Sri Lanka has been ranked 137 among 156 nations in the UN-sponsored World Happiness Report, in which Denmark was deemed to be the happiest nation in the world. The 2013 World Happiness Report released by Columbia University utilised factors such as the GDP, life expectancy, social support, “perceptions of corruption”, and “freedom to make life choices”, to assign each country a total score. more..

Sep 11 (NE) A businesswoman is set to take part in an international charity challenge. Susan Routledge, who runs the Finishing Touch Health and Beauty Clinic in Consett, is taking part in a 400km cycle marathon in Sri Lanka to raise money for the Genesis Trust. The charity was set up by scientist and TV personality Prof Robert Winston to improve the health of women and babies. Ms Routledge has been training for months on the moorland roads and hopes her fitness levels will cope with more..

Sep 11 (Island) An almsgiving at a Hindu temple in Hatton on Monday night turned into a nightmare for 131 people including a number of children. Those who partook of the food distributed by the temple suddenly took ill and had to be admitted to Glandon hospital, where they were treated for food poisoning. Of the 131 patients, 31 had been admitted to Hatton-Dickoya hospital with severe abdominal pains, vomiting and diarrhoea. All the patients had been discharged following medication by more..

Sep 11 (NDTV) Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath has been named as the country's Cricketer of the year for the first time. Herath, currently ranked fourth in Test bowlers rankings, pipped former skipper Kumar Sangakkara for the coveted award for 2012-13 season. Herath and Sangakkara, meanwhile, highlighted most of the other awards in a Sri Lanka Cricket ceremony. Where Herath bagged the Test bowler of the year award, more..