Nov 11 (FT) Daimler AG., the manufactures of Mercedes-Benz has selected the new Mercedes-Benz Centre in Sri Lanka – ‘DIMO800’ – to have their 2014 After Sales Conference. Heads of After-Sales Service facilities in countries from the region such as Singapore, Philippines, Nepal, Laos, Brunei, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, Laos, etc. will be taking part in this two-day conference to be held from 19-20 November. more..

Nov 11 (SLA) Four senior officers, representing a 20-member military delegation of the Army War College of India, currently on a familiarization tour, called on the Commander of the Army, Daya Ratnayake at the Army Headquarters, Monday. Led by Brigadier J.S Sandhu, a Directing Staff at Higher Command Wing, Army War College of India, the group from the Army Higher Command Course of the Army War College of India, included more..

Nov 11 (PTI) Skipper Angelo Mathews said the challenge of performance against India in their own backyard was never beyond doubt but he is pained to see that they have failed to play their brand of cricket. "It was always going to be tough in India, whether you are prepared or not prepared. It is a challenging tour for any team, not only us. Not many teams have won against India in India. But we just wanted to play our brand of cricket, which we haven't played in the last three games," more..

Nov 11 (CT) Relief workers, assisting the victims of the Koslanda landslide tragedy, were in for a rude shock recently. They were stopped by the authorities, kept in the pouring rain for hours, before being allowed to proceed with only part of the relief items. They had been stopped on the pretext that the authorities had to first check the items they were taking to the relief centres, where the displaced persons were housed, coupled with the need to get higher authority permission more..

Nov 11 (Island) JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti told Parliament that govt was afraid of women as the stories doing the rounds were mentioning the possibility of a woman contesting at the next presidential poll. Handunetti, participating in the committee stage budget debate 2015 under the expenditure of the heads of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Child Development, said that the govt had a reason to be afraid of women. more..

Nov 11 (FT) A party representing up country plantation Tamils in Sri Lanka, Upcountry People’s Front (UPF) has pledged to support President Rajapaksa at the upcoming presidential elections. A UPF delegation including its leader, MP P Radhakrishnan met President Rajapaksa yesterday at Temple Trees and offered their full support to the President. The group commended the President and the govt pointing out that the present govt is the only administration that worked for more..

Nov 11 (Island) The officers of the CID are still trying to locate the body of Sarath Jayathilake of Baddegama, who disappeared on Sept 17, 2013 after he had been arrested by the Agaliya police post personnel. Senior Superintendent of Police Ajith Rohana said that the then driver of the Agaliya police station had confessed to the CID what happened to Sarath, after he had been arrested and assaulted by the five suspects and how his body had been dumped into a river. more..

Nov 11 (Island) NWP Chief Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera ridiculed UNP-led joint opposition for contemplating twice-president as well as former SLFP leader, Chandrika Kumaratunga as an alternative to UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. He highlighted the dilemma of UNPers in having to choose between the former and present SLFP leaders, in case she contested the forthcoming presidential poll. more..

Nov 11 (BM) At a time when our highly-demanding netas rush to blow up tax-payers​​' money on exclusive jets and swanky cars, B​engaluru witnessed something uncommon: Sri Lankan PM D M Jayaratne travelling by a civil​ian​ aircraft like any other ordinary passenger. Though he could have flown in and out of B​engaluru in his official aircraft along with his entourage comprising top-ranking officials and dozens of security personnel, he chose to travel by Sri Lankan ​Airlines. ​ more..

Nov 11 (BHC) The British High Commission in Colombo marked Remembrance Sunday with a commemoration service on Sunday, at the Liveramentu Commonwealth War Grave at Torrington Avenue, Colombo 7. The service was presided over by Rev. Roderick Campbell, Minister of St Andrew’s Scots Kirk and attended by Commonwealth High Commissioners and representatives, European Ambassadors and War Veterans’ Association of SL among others. more..

Nov 11 (Island) The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has rejected submissions as regards accountability issues in SL on the basis the complainants couldn’t provide English, French, Spanish or Russian translations of all supporting documents. Petitions and Inquiries Section of the OHCHR has ruled that those wanting to lodge complaints should meet three main conditions including translated documents. more..

Nov 11 (DM) At least 77 Sri Lankan fishermen with 29 fishing trawlers are still languishing in Indian, Bangladeshi and Myanmar custody on charges of illegal fishing within their territorial waters, the Sri Lanka Fisheries Department said. “There are 40 fishermen and 22 fishing trawlers in Indian custody, 20 fishermen and four trawlers in Bangladesh custody and 17 fishermen and three fishing trawlers in Myanmar custody,” Fisheries Department Assistant Director Lal de Silva said. more..

Nov 11 (CT) The Supreme Court opinion, on whether there are any constitutional barriers to prevent President Mahinda Rajapaksa from contesting for a third term, was expected to be conveyed to the President before midnight yesterday, well placed sources said. Registrar of the Supreme Court Mahesi Jayasekera told Ceylon Today that she received 38 sets of written submissions from various persons and she referred all those files to Chief Justice Mohan Peiris. more..

Nov 11 (CT) Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga has rejected an invitation, from several UNP MPs to contest the coming presidential election, as the Common Opposition Candidate. Several UNP MPs, including Chairman Kabeer Hashim and media head Mangala Samaraweera, met Kumaratunga last week and requested her to contest as the Common Opposition Candidate. However, she has rejected the invitation. more..

Nov 11 (DM) As Sri Lanka begins National Poison Prevention Week, head of Toxicology & National Poisons Information Centre (TNPIC) officially revealed what people-friendly nutritionists and organic agriculture activists have been saying for years. TNPIC Chief Dr. Waruna Gunathilake said that according to latest research, toxic food was the prime cause of several non-communicable diseases including chronic kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancers & lung problems. more..

Nov 11 (DM) Unprecedented ferocity of the Meeriyabedda landslide buried many alive whilst razing a large number of houses in one of the worst ever natural disasters to hit Sri Lanka after the Tsunami. Rescue effort currently underway is making slow progress due to inclement weather that hampers ongoing work. One of the heartbreaking aspects of the colossal human tragedy that ensued is the heartrending story of nearly 75 children becoming orphaned by the sheer magnitude more..

Nov 11 (Island) Minister Sumedha Jayasena told Parliament that increasing the health insurance cover of Rs. 250,000 allocated for each MP to Rs. 350,000 had been taken up at the Cabinet meeting. She said that the matter had also been discussed at the Party Leaders’ meeting and most probably the increase would be granted from next year. The minister said so responding to a query raised by Chief Opposition Whip more..

Nov 11 (Island) JVP said that it was awaiting President Rajapaksa’s announcement of the Supreme Court ruling on the determination he had sought with regard to his eligibility to seek re-election for a third term to decide on its future course of action. Former JVP leader Somawansa Amerasinghe said that they believed in going step by step. "Once the SC opinion on the Presidents reference is known, we will announce more..

Nov 11 (AM) Leader of the Democratic Party Sarath Fonseka and DNA MP Tiran Alles – who were earlier at loggerheads with each other - have arrived at a fresh understanding just two months ahead of the presidential election. Political sources revealed that Fonseka had agreed to pledge his support consolidate UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s position as the potential presidential candidate of the party. more..

Nov 11 (SL) With the continuous unruly behaviour of Malaka Silva, son of Minister Mervyn Silva, nightclub owners in the city say they fear that there would be a decline in foreign and local arrivals to their clubs since last week brawl at R&B night club involved with two British citizens. Club owners queried whether Malaka can enter a night club since there was a court ruling prohibiting Malaka from entering night clubs more..

Nov 11 (AM) A heated verbal battle occurred between Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne and Senior Minister Milroy Fernando in Parliament during the committee stage debate on the Fisheries Ministry this morning. Fernando accused Senaratne of attacking the fishermen who protested in front of the Fisheries Ministry two weeks ago. It was alleged that a group who were inside the ministry premises pelted stones at protester more..

Nov 11 (AM) A heated debate had broken out in the Central Committee (CC) meeting of the Communist Party of SL due to a proposal that party should support President Rajapaksa in the next presidential election. General Secretary of the party DEW Gunasekera has made this proposal on the CC meeting on Sunday. Member of the CC, Raja Uswatakeyiyava said that proposal was passed with a majority. more..

Nov 11 (DN) Construction work on the first phase of the proposed Expressway to the North is scheduled to commence this week, Minister Nirmala Kotelawala said. Foundation stones will be laid on November 14 at Senkada interchange, Rambukkana and Galewela interchange. The first phase of construction work will commence in Galewela, Galagedara, Rambukkana and Kurunegala next week. more..

Nov 11 (ST) Sri Lankans here and abroad will be able to obtain personalised number plates for the vehicles they buy in Sri Lanka in terms of proposals made to the Cabinet by Transport Minister Kumara Welgama. The Minister has proposed that Rs. 1 million be charged for each personalised number plate which will be issued in association with the Information and Communication Technology Institute (ICTI) of Sri Lanka while more..

Nov 11 (CG) UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has written to the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini urging the to file an appeal against the EU court order on the LTTE. Wickremesinghe said that he had sent the letter after he found that the govt was not taking any firm action on the EU court order. EU judges had last month struck down anti-terrorism sanctions imposed on the LTTE by the European Union, more..

Nov 11 (CG) UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon has backed the views on Sri Lanka of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein and has urged Sri Lanka to cooperate with Zeid’s office. The views on the UN Chief were expressed following a war of words between SL Govt and Zeid on UN-led investigations on SL. “Secretary General supports the views of High Commissioner Zeid, more..

Nov 11 (CT) State hospitals are usually overcrowded as space and facilities do not meet the requirements of the patients. However, these patients have to line up at State hospitals for treatment as they are not financially sound to seek treatment from private hospitals. At times there is also a long list for serious surgeries. Some patients die before the given date for surgeries. Their lives go in vain because they are poor. Over ninety percent of those below the poverty line in more..

Nov 11 (CT) Betrayal of a country, its people divided and debauched, destituteness and despotism, desperation dawning from denial of justice…. we have seen it all, and all along! Rules and laws have been changed, broken, absent or made defunct. Promises have been made and broken by the very same rulers, and to whom we have sworn our oath of allegiance. In a country where GDP is confused with the standard of living and where crimes against humanity is not even a subject of discussions more..

Nov 11 (LBO) Sri Lanka's stocks closed with mixed results amid foreigners remained active closing as net buyers. All Share Price Index closed 9.34 points higher at 7,412.72, up 0.13%. The S&P SL20 closed 0.87 points lower at 4,120.00, down 0.02%. Turnover was 1.64 billion rupees, down from 1.88 billion rupees a day earlier with 111 stocks closed positive against 86 negative. The aggregate value of all off-the-floor deals represented 21% of the daily turnover. more..

Nov 11 (LBO) Sri Lanka launched a new floating restaurant at the Wetland Park in Nawala, Colombo yesterday. The craft named 'Garton's Ark' holds a spacious fully air conditioned restaurant and an open deck which offers a complete package of a trip around the lake with food and drinks served at an affordable price, the report said. Garton's Ark' is also equipped with special safety and security features for the benefit of its patrons. The Urban Wetland Park popularly known as 'Weli Park' more..

Nov 11 (PTI) India today said it will file an appeal in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka to bring back the five Indian fishermen on death row in the country for alleged drug smuggling. "We will file an appeal in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka to bring back the five Indian fishermen," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said accompanying PM Narendra Modi to Myanmar for India-ASEAN and East Asia summits. more..

Nov 11 (Island) Govt Medical Officers’ Forum (GMOF) urged the govt to provide doctors with official vehicles and chauffeurs or give them duty free vehicle permits as in the 1970s. President of the GMOF, Dr. Rukshan Bellana, complained that doctors were being discriminated against in comparison to other professionals. Engineers, SLAS officers, police ASP’s and Army Majors were provided with chauffeur driven vehicles besides being paid fuel and maintenance allowances. more..

Nov 11 (Island) Transport Ministry had taken action to deploy policemen to man unprotected railway crossings, according to a document tabled in Parliament. The document tabled by Transport Minister Kumar Welgama in response to a question raised by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake said that measures had been adopted to ensure the safety of railway crossings and the police would take relevant measures to ensure public safety at unprotected level crossings. more..

Nov 11 (CG) Former military intelligence head of IPKF says Deputy Minister V Muralitharan, known as Karuna Amman, should apologize for the crimes committed during the time he was in the LTTE. Colonel R. Hariharan, who served as the head of intelligence of the IPKF from 1987 to 90, said that when Karuna took over as Special Commander of Batticaloa in 1990, LTTE cadres under his command perpetrated some of more..

Nov 11 (Reuters) Sri Lankan rupee forwards traded a tad weaker on Tuesday due to importer dollar demand, while moral suasion by the central bank prevented a fall in the spot currency. Traders said the local currency was under pressure as imports continue to rise in a stable exchange rate regime. Spot currency was trading flat at 130.90/131.00 per dollar at 0619 GMT. Dealers said banks were reluctant to trade the spot below 130.90 due to moral suasion by the central bank. more..

Nov 11 (Island) Minister Tissa Karalliyadda said in Parliament that he received blame and criticism from women who had dozens of paramours. Minister participating in the committee stage debate on budget 2015 under the expenditure heads of the Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Affairs said: "This I have noticed for a long time. The women who criticise and blame me and my work were the ones who had ten or twelve lovers each. That has been the case always." more..

Nov 11 (DM) BBS said that it was even ready to contest at the Presidential Election independently, saying that its decision depended on how parties gave prominence to Buddhism. “We have four options: to support the present govt, to support the opposition, to remain neutral, to contest in the Presidential Election,” BBS Secretary Ven. Galagoda Atthe Gnanasara Thera said. “We are ready to go even for the last option, more..

Nov 11 (GDI) Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), the nation’s number one ICT solutions provider together with its mobile arm, Mobitel (Pvt) Ltd.National Mobile Service Provider in the country proudly announced that the group has been entered to a tri-party agreement to provide an exclusive total communication solution to the Sri Lanka Police Department which heads and monitors social security of the country. The group won the contract after a competitive bidding for more..

Nov 11 (Island) An exclusive training programme on communication skills, medico-legal aspects of medicine, enhancing professional working conditions, dealing with terminally-ill patients, lifesaving procedures (cardiac resuscitation) and medical ethics for all interns would commence on Nov. 13, the GMOA said yesterday. GMOA President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya said there were three categories of doctors such as specialists, intermediate doctors and interns. more..