Nov 8 (WI) Prior to the start of the ongoing One-Day International series between India and Sri Lanka, India were in the middle of a limited-overs series against West Indies, getting ready to shift to the Test matches. At the same time, the Sri Lankans were wrapping up a well-deserved break, getting back into their fitness regimes before the action started again. In the two matches we have seen of the ODI series so far, more..

Nov 8 (CG) Sri Lanka says it will continue to play a role in anti-piracy operations until it is completely eradicated from the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden, in order to provide safe passage for the sea lanes of communication. MEA statement said that Sri Lanka will support the regional and global initiatives taken by partner countries for the enhancement of maritime security and pledged its commitment to work together to combat more..

Nov 8 (Island) TNA Organiser for Vavuniya, Alva Pulle Vijendrakumar alias Sun Master wanted by police in connection with the ongoing investigation into an alleged plot to furnish false information to UN war crimes investigation team has escaped to India. Well informed sources alleged that Vijendrakumar had left Negombo in a boat on Thursday. The police and intelligence services have been looking for him in the wake of more..

Nov 8 (Island) New agreements and extended agreements for Independent Power Producers (IPPs) should benefit the CEB and the public unlike in the past, said Central Bank Deputy Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, who heads the high powered five-member committee. He said that new proposals and recommendations were being studied. Meanwhile, CEB Engineers said that committee had decided against extending more..

Nov 8 (Island) A joint Opposition front is to be unveiled in Colombo next Tuesday with the govt due to announce the date for the next national level election on Nov 19. Informed sources said that the UNP, the JVP, the JHU and the Movement for Justice headed by Ven. Maduluwave Sobitha Thera would jointly unveil their ‘political programme’ at a meeting scheduled to be held at Muttiah Park in Colombo 2. Asked if the meeting had been called to more..

Nov 8 (CT) Thirty-five sets of written submissions have been tendered to the Registrar of the Supreme Court yesterday, in respect of the two questions referred to the Supreme Court by President Rajapaksa. In terms of Article 129(1) of the Constitution, the President sought the opinion of the Supreme Court whether there is any impediment for him to be elected for a further term of office as the incumbent President. more..

Nov 8 (CG) Govt today hit back at the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, accusing him of using intemperate language to attack and vilify a sovereign member of the UN. In a letter to Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, hours after he issued a statement accusing the Govt of attempting to sabotage the UN led investigations on Sri Lanka, SL’s Permanent Representative to the UN more..

Nov 8 (CT) On 30 July, 2014, this newspaper ran an editorial headlined, 'From shipping hub to drugs hub.' That was in respect of the plethora of heroin detections made by the authorities during the course of the year. These detections however, are continuing unabated even to this day. Last week Ceylon Today reported of another multimillion rupee heroin bust and the arrest of two drug peddlers in this connection at Wellampitiya. It has also been reported that due to the police crackdown more..

Nov 8 (CT) It appears that not only the country, but also the Left parties, particularly the LSSP and the CP led by you, are facing a crisis as a result. This is inevitable. However, the question is how you would come out of this crisis, uniting the parties that you lead, and addressing the issues at hand, not based on short term benefits for the party or for yourselves, but for the best interest of the country and the people. In short, I urge you not to support Mahinda Rajapaksa at planned presidential election more..

Nov 8 (CT) "Forgive us for wading in mud over the land where you were buried," a father says. We may be standing on his child's grave. The heartbeat of the dead is silenced now, but the heartbeat of the living can be heard louder exposing acutely personal emotions. Those who were killed do not hear the heartbeat of the living. The living people also do not hear the heartbeat of the dead. A wailing mother mutters something. more..

Nov 8 (CT) In today’s Lankadeepa I read a story about the Kataragama Devale that made me wonder if I had travelled in time toward somewhere in the 10th century in Sri Lanka. This story is said to be based on an account given by the chief Kapumahattaya of the Devale, Mr Somipala Ratnayake. Claimed as having been written by the ‘editorial board,’ the story, therefore, is invested with some authority and official stamp from what goes as the most popular Sinhala daily in Sri Lanka. more..

Nov 8 (CT) This did not mean it was not sincere about reconciliation. Basil I think honestly believed that rapid development of the North would make everyone happy. Certainly he seems to have been surprised when the election results were announced, and winning less than a quarter of the vote clearly upset him, even though the confidence he had expressed previously, that govt would do well in several places, may have been bravado. The problem was, he did not consult those whom more..

Nov 8 (AM) Campaign for Free and Fair Election (CaFFE), Center for Human Rights (CHR) and the Department of Registration of Persons recently launched a joint mobile service to issue NICs, birth certificates and other identification documents for persons who do not have them, to safeguard their right to vote before the next presidential election. The second stage of this program in Badulla District will be underway more..

Nov 8 (Hindu) TNCC president EVKS Elangovan on Saturday urged PM Narendra Modi to take steps for the removal of Sri Lanka President Rajapaksa and install a new leader who would protect the interests of Tamils in the Island nation. "Mr. Modi knows how to do this. It is the duty of a super power to remove anti-people govt. India is a super power," he said. Commenting on the death sentence awarded to five Tamil fishermen by a Colombo court recently, he said Mr. Rajapaksa was behind the judgment more..

Nov 8 (Island) Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) has urged the SLFP to take immediate steps to stop public exchanges involving constituents of the SLFP-led UPFA or face the consequences, political sources said. The oldest constituent of the UPFA stressed that criticism of one another was causing irreparable damage to the govt in the run-up to the presidential election. The request was made at a meeting between SLFP and MEP delegations on Wednesday (5) at Temple Trees. more..

Nov 8 (TOI) Your journey in life has just begun and convocation marks that day, said D.M. Jayaratne, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. Addressing graduating students at the 19th Manipal University Convocation here on Saturday, he advised students to be responsible citizens. "Now you are ready face and contribute to the world at large as worthy citizens. Today is a day when teachers deliver final advice and blessing for more..

Nov 8 (ST) About 250 post intern medical officers who have completed their internship appointments in December last year and March this year are still temporarily posted to hospitals in the North and East and remote hospitals island-wide, while most of their batch members have been given permanent appointment letters by the Public Services Commission (PSC). The affected doctors have requested the Health Ministry Secretary Sudharma Karunaratne to consider their plight as more..

Nov 8 (Island) Deputy Minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratne has requested Civil Aviation Minister Piyankara Jayaratne to ensure that those attached to all statutory boards coming under his purview was equally treated to avoid recurrence of situations such as the recent wildcat strike at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). The request was made in Parliament on Friday. Gunaratne said that Minister Jayaratne should have heeded the pleas of SLFP union at the BIA. more..

Nov 8 (Hindu) An appeal is likely to be filed in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on Monday against the death sentence awarded to five fishermen from TN. Indicating this, an official release issued on Saturday stated that steps were on to move the Supreme Court. Chief Secretary Mohan Chunkath and Secretary of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries S. Vijayakumar ascertained the status of the case with more..

Nov 8 (GDI) With the view to promoting economy of destitute people of Jaffna while strengthening North-South ethnic and religious bond, Sri Bodhiraja Foundation, Colombo donated 100 cattle among 100 low income families of Jaffna Thursday (06) morning at Jaffna Mutaveli ground. With coordination of the Security Force Jaffna, Founder of Sri Bodhiraja Foundation Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha Thero donated the cattle, saved by the Foundation from being slaughtered. more..

Nov 8 (CT) Chairman of the Standing Committee on the Rule of Law of the BASL, Lal Wijenayake, said it was legally compulsory that victims and eyewitnesses be present at identification parades. Wijenayajke said this with regard to Minister Mervyn Silva's son, Malaka Silva, assaulting a British national at a nightclub in Colombo last Friday (31). "It is compulsory by law that victims and witnesses at the incident be present during the identification parade. more..

Nov 8 (AM) Two schools of thought are prevailing among MPs of the UNP as to who should be the presidential candidate of the party at forthcoming polls. Names of UNP LC Chairman Karu Jayasuriya and former President Chandrika Kumaratunga have been proposed as potential presidential candidates of the UNP. Their names have been proposed in a context where the opposition leader has given his consent to more..

Nov 8 (PTI) Northern Province Chief Minister C V Vigneswaran today visited the ashram established by controversial self-styled godman Premananda near here. Vigneswaran went around the ashram and enquired with the officials of the trust, managing it, about its functioning and their activities, police and ashram officials said. He offered worship at the Lord Shiva temple constructed near the samadhi of Premananda and participated in a special pooja at the ashram, they said. more..

Nov 8 (Island) Hanwella police have arrested a 21-year-old youth for allegedly killing his fiancee following an argument at their home on Poya Day. Under interrogation, the suspect has admitted that he attacked the victim as the latter had not heeded his objections to her taking part in religious observances. The youth had gone berserk after the girl insisted that they visit the nearby Buddhist temple. The police identified the victim as Iresha Lakmali of Kadugoda North, Waga. more..

Nov 8 (PTI) Former Union Minister G K Vasan, who quit the Congress, on Saturday faced the ire of fishermen, who are on an indefinite stir, when he visited them to express his solidarity with them on their demands, including release of five fishermen sentenced to death by a Lankan court. Some women posed questions to Mr. Vasan, asking him why he was coming now to meet them after quitting the Congress and what was he more..

Nov 8 (CG) Parliamentarians were today advised against sleeping in the House during sittings after the issue came up during a speech made by UNP MP Ajith P. Perera. The UNP MP held up an image appearing in a Sunday newspaper showing Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva sleeping while President Rajapaksa was presenting the 2015 budget in Parliament. However Minister John Seneviratne said making such comments in Parliament by pointing at a particular MP is unfair and should not be more..

Nov 8 (MoD) The recently affixed 'Golden Fence' covering the sacred Boo-Tree of the Aluthwala Purana Nandarama Temple was declared open by the Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a religious ceremony held at the temple premises in Aluthwala, Ambalangoda yesterday (6). Chairperson of the MoD Seva Vanitha Unit Mrs. Ioma Rajapaksa was also present at the historical religious ceremony. While opening the new-fangled golden fence, Secretary Defence unveiled a plaque more..

Nov 8 (CT) Sri Lanka needs to be careful not to have its markets flooded with Chinese goods when it enters into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China next year, Executive Director of the Institute of Policy Studies, Dr. Saman Kelegama, said at Gamani Corea Memorial Lecture. He said SL needs to add protectionist clauses to the agreement in order to avoid the island being flooded with cheap Chinese goods. more..

Nov 8 (ST) With the Kalpitiya whale watching season beginning, the Department of Wildlife Conservation is planning to bring in a new set of rules to ensure a safe and fun experience for visitors. The season officially begins in November and continues until April. The Department of Wildlife Conservation will be issuing tickets to both foreign and local visitors. Tickets will be priced at Rs. 20 per local adult and Rs. 10 per local child. Adult foreigners and children will be charged more..

Nov 8 (Island) Article 129/1 of the Constitution empowered President Mahinda Rajapaksa to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court on his eligibility to contest a presidential election again, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said. The second term of the President would end on Nov. 19, he added. Minister stressed that even the Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had said in Parliament on Nov. 3, 2014 that President Rajapaksa could consult the Supreme Court on his eligibility for more..

Nov 8 (CI) "Thrashed" and "embarrassed" were the words Angelo Mathews used to describe Sri Lanka's abject outing in Motera. He is not a captain who is accustomed to losing this year. Before this tour, Sri Lanka had won 15 of their 20 matches in 2014. Of those, 12 (out of 14) had been away victories. Sri Lanka had hoped to earn small victories on this tour, even if an outright series win seemed far from reach, but so far, more..

Nov 8 (MoD) Adding yet another facility to the recently modernized Colombo, Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared open a newly fixed stylish most modern Body Fitness Centre yesterday evening (5) at the Independence Square in Colombo. The Chief Guest, Mr. Rajapaksa unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion amidst the distinguished gathering at the outset of the opening ceremony. This unique Fitness Gym comprised both outdoor and indoor keep-fit facilities more..

Nov 8 (HT) Naik Prem Singh can now heave a sigh of relief. His 22-year-old legal battle ended on Friday as the Chandigarh bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) set aside his dismissal and granted him pensionary benefits. Singh, a resident of Hoshiarpur, was enrolled in 1 Sikh Light Infantry (LI) in 1971. In 1989, he was posted in Sri Lanka as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Pedro. He was the section commander of an LMG bunker. The bunker came under LTTE fire and more..

Nov 8 (AM) Presidential Commission on Disappearances probing cases of missing people during the nearly three-decade-long war with the LTTE has recorded more complaints of disappearances in Mullaitivu, a former Tamil Tiger stronghold. "We have had a good response from the Mullaithivu public over the last 4 days," said HW Gunadasa, the Secretary to the probe said. The panel received 166 new complaints more..

Nov 9 (SO) JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake seems to be perturbed over the news that the next presidential election would be held ahead of schedule. The Opposition should be elated that the polls would give them a chance to regain power, but Anura Kumara vehemently opposes the idea, fearing that his political nudity would be further exposed. Dissanayake has said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa's third term of presidency will turn the country into a pool of blood. more..

Nov 9 (SL) The Opposition’s search for a common candidate to challenge President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the forthcoming presidential election has proved to be elusive, so far. But it should not be likened to the proverbial search of blind men in a dark room searching for a black cat which isn’t there. There are candidates with proven political potential to be chosen but the choice has been difficult due to the disparate views held by contending parties. The Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha, more..

Nov 9 (SO) Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne said that executive powers of the President should be further strengthened to face challenges by creating an environment conducive for the people to live within a united Sri Lanka without any fear. Premier Jayaratne said under the prevailing situation in Sri Lanka, if the powers of the Executive Presidency is not utilised properly, the country cannot go forward. more..

Nov 9 (Island) In an interview we run in the business pages of this issue, we quote Architect Surath Wickramasinghe, the President of the Chamber of Construction Industry, saying that according to projections of the concerned agencies like the Central Bank, UDA and the BOI, Colombo City and its suburbs will be almost twice its present size by 2025 which is only 10 years down the road. Given the massive construction that is ongoing with hotels and high-rises mushrooming in more..

Nov 9 (NS) UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein is upset with the Government of Sri Lanka. He said, ‘The Government has refused point blank to cooperate with the investigation; such refusal does not undermine the integrity of an investigation set up by the Council – instead it raises concerns about the integrity of the government in question.’ He then asks, ‘Why would governments with nothing to hide go to such extraordinary lengths more..

Nov 9 (SL) The govt says that the incumbent president can ask for the presidential election to be held on the best possible date for him after four years in office as long as it is within the legal framework. Many also questioned whether it is fair for the president to seek a determination on contesting for the third time from the Chief Justice given that he was appointed by the President. In response, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella more..