Nov 18 (ST) Looks like past roadshows and investment promotion efforts by the Sri Lankan stock market authorities and the broking industry at large have paid off. Many bankers and foreign fund managers have met up with top corporates during the past 10 months in a bid to channel funds into many firms, according to those who met officials of these organisations. After the New York investment forum in September more..

Nov 18 (IPS) A critical determinant in students’ overall schooling experience in general, and improving students’ education outcomes in particular, is the quality of teachers in schools. The recent budget speech presented in Parliament proposed to “recruit 50,000 teacher assistants to rural schools next year in English, Mathematics, Science, Information Technology, Aesthetic Studies and Sports. Once they complete their specialized subject training and leadership training, more..

Nov 18 (Island) Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera said in Parliament that the National Olympic Committee which engaged should be summoned before the parliamentary watchdog committee, COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises). Minister participating in the committee stage debate on Budget 2015 under the expenditure heads of the Ministry of Sports said that the National Olympic Committee (NOC) had ruined the image of the country by taking arbitrary decisions. more..

Nov 18 (Island) The Board of Investment (BoI) will not allow any industry to collapse and the govt would assist industries to enable them to boom, said Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena. Addressing a gathering at the inauguration of S&D factory in Biyagama, he said that he was pleased to see the company bouncing back in a short period after an unfortunate incident that led almost to the closure of the company. more..

Nov 18 (CT) Over 2,500 persons have lost their employment consequent to the ban imposed on 59 ice cream and refrigerated food industries in the Jaffna district. This sudden ban imposed by the Public Health Inspectors (PHI) attached to the Health Ministry of the Northern Province has affected over 15, 000 traders. A leading industrialist who is a member of the Yalpanam Chamber of Commerce and Industries speaking to Ceylon FT said, this sudden ban was very suspicious. more..

Nov 18 (FT) A planned move by Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka (MBSL) to sell its associate stake in stock broking arm Lanka Securities Ltd. (LSL) has caused a stir in the financial services market, especially when the Colombo Bourse has been on the rebound on fundamentals. The proposal had been tabled and approved on Friday at the MBSL Board meeting under other matters, prompting sources to allege that MBSL Chairman M.R. Shah was trying to rush the sale. more..

Nov 18 (CT) Former Navy Commander and SL Ambassador to Japan, Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda launched his memoirs on the 4th Eelam War titled Adhishtanaya (Defeat of LTTE-role of the Navy) yesterday at Nelum Pokuna. Secretary to the President, Lalith Weeratunga who spoke at the launch said the book was a frank narration of former Navy Commander's experiences under different political leaderships. more..

Nov 18 (ICC) Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews, meanwhile, has surged to the top of the Reliance ICC ODI Player Rankings for ODI All-rounders for the first time after accumulating 339 runs, including 139 not out and two half centuries (75 and 92 not out), to finish the series with an average of 113.00 with the bat. In doing so, he also moved up four places to a career high 10th place in the batting rankings. Colombo star also chipped in with four wickets, and now holds a 9-point advantage, more..

Nov 17 (Island) The Northern Province had tried out pilot projects to cultivate pineapple as an intercrop under coconut and mango cultivations in all of its five districts said NP Director Agriculture S. Sivakumar. He said that there were two varieties of pineapples cultivated commercially in the Gampaha district, one was the Mauritius and the other was the Keaau. The Mauritius variety was meant for table consumption and Keaau for canning purposes. Assistance were extended by Deputy Director more..

Nov 18 (CT) JHU totally disapproved the President's unofficial campaign, Leader of the JHU, Ven. Dr. c Thera said. The prelate referred to the ongoing felicitations of public servants from all sectors who gather at Temple Trees, apparently, to gain their support for the upcoming Presidential election. Minister Susil Premajayantha said that the SLFP had provided the JHU with a written reply signed by General Secretary of more..

Nov 18 (CT) Police believe that the Colombo National Museum had been broken into once again on 16 November, the Police Media Unit said. The Cinnamon Gardens Police has received a complaint that the back door of the gallery, that displayed antique textiles and clay items, had been forced open on 16 November night. Acting Director of the Museum, Thushari Kasturiarachchi, said that the incident has taken place between 6 p.m. on 16 November and 8 a.m. on 17 November. more..

Nov 18 (Island) Reacting to the President’s determination to seek a third term, JVP MP Vijitha Herath told a weekend TV programme that the people of the country could not be deceived again by President Rajapaksa, as he had failed to abolish executive presidency that he promised to do in his election manifesto for which the majority of people voted twice in 2005 and 2010. "Whether we support a common candidate or resort to some other action against the next presidential election more..

Nov 18 (CT) While govt has proposed to make Sri Lanka an education hub by 2020, the move will fall short, JVP told the House. Education sector had already collapsed, MP Sunil Handunnetti said. Falling short of being an advanced centre for education, Sri Lanka will be a place for educating animals, Handunnetti said. "Minister of Higher Education himself calls university students, animals. If he treats university students as animals, more..

Nov 18 (CG) UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe says some members of the UNP prefer a UNP candidate contesting the next Presidential election. Wickremesinghe, in an interview today (17), said that the UNP had decided to support talks with other opposition political parties and nominate a common opposition candidate at the elections. Asked if he was not confident of contesting the polls on behalf of the UNP, Wickremesinghe said if his party asks him to contest then he will consider it. more..

Nov 18 (Island) UNP Opposition Leader of the UVA PC Harin Fernando told the ruling UPFA administration last week that if the government failed to build 70 houses for the Koslanda landslide victims he would do so with his personal funds. He made this pledge during the council’s budget debate and JVP councillor Samantha Vidyaratne said the Chief Minister’s fuel bill exceeded the amount allocated to him by 60%. UNP members abstained when the Provincial Ministry vote was taken. more..

Nov 18 (Island) One-time national cricket captain and the present Chairman of Selectors Sanath Jayasuriya accepted responsibility for SL’s first ever 5-0 loss to India. Participating in the committee stage debate on budget 2015 under the expenditure heads of the Ministry of Sports, Deputy Postal Minister said that national players should be prepared to represent the country at any time of the year. more..

Nov 17 (DM) Daily Mirror guest columnist K.K.S. Perera whose articles have been widely acclaimed for exposing the powerful mafias behind the promotion of tobacco and big pharma, revealed last Tuesday that of the tobacco related deaths of 105 million in the 20th century, eighty percent were from the third world. The figures are increasing alarmingly at 5.5 million a year with Sri Lanka contributing 21000. A report by the WHO has warned that the number of people killed by tobacco abuse more..

Nov 17 (DM) There is an emerging consensus in many societies today on a perceived need to create a knowledge society that could pave the way for a knowledge economy. In a nutshell, this perspective assumes that modern technology could underpin all sorts of human activities such as production of goods and services, commercial transactions, both within and across countries, solving various problems that human societies face, etc. Diverse applications of modern technology are more..

Nov 17 (SL) The fate of the five Indian fishermen, who are on the death row at the Welikada prison for drug smuggling, is hanging in the balance. Convinced that the fishermen had done no wrong and that there had been a miscarriage of justice, the Indian govt is trying hard to get them released both through an appeal at the Court of Appeal, and through a Sri Lankan Presidential pardon. more..

Nov 17 (ET) Why are India-Sri Lanka relations in such trouble? The recent case of five Indian fishermen who were initially sentenced to death and then released (pending an appeal) for alleged smuggling of contraband is a case in point. The episode is scarcely the root of all problems but different perceptions of it point to a trust deficit. Similarly, the docking of Chinese nuclear-powered submarines and warships in Colombo, too, more..

Nov 17 (ST) Restructuring the O/L Exam mathematics paper, emphasising the importance of learning traditional tables, increasing mathematics periods in schools and establishing a maths teacher training college, are among recommendations made by a group of experts in the field of education. Education Ministry appointed a 9-member advisory committee to look into the failure rate at O/L Math exam more..

Nov 17 (CT) The date was 21 January 1995. At 9.15 a.m. thousands of devout Roman Catholics, from all over Sri Lanka, had gathered at the Galle Face Green, others who could not make it were glued to radios or the TV, to listen and participate in the Holy Mass celebrated by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II. The Pope celebrated the Holy Mass at an altar set up on special platform at the Galle Face Green. more..

Nov 17 (WI) The Sri Lankan team had been yanked off a preparatory camp to take part in the series against India, and their lack of match-fitness showed. Once India had taken an early lead, they kept pummelling the visitors, and even with the series sealed, Rohit Sharma added walloping to misery, turning a dead rubber into the match that will be the most talked of in the series in the fourth One-Day International. more..

Nov 17 (Island) Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva informed Parliament that the activities of the Special Select Committee appointed to discuss the heads of expenditure of 33 ministries had been hampered owing to lack of participation by top management officials of the relevant statutory boards. He said that the PSC had been appointed special select committee to discuss the heads of expenditure of 33 ministries as more..

Nov 17 (AM) Malaka Silva and a six others who were under arrest for assaulting a foreign couple in a night club in Bambalapitya, had been further remanded until Nov 25. Two foreigners were not present at the identification parade this morning due to medical reason. Therefore the court decided to further remand the suspects until Nov 25th. Police yesterday arrested two Minister Security Division (MSD) officers who were said to be with more..

Nov 17 (DM) Minister and JHU General Secretary Champika Ranawaka today said he and WPC Minister Udaya Gammanpila would resign from their ministerial positions and remain as JHU representatives of the UPFA. They would continue to function under the UPFA but will take action based on the JHU principals and policies. Ven. Athuraliye Ratana Thera said that the resignation of Cabinet minister & PC minister more..

Nov 17 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's central bank kept key policy rates steady at record lows for a 10th straight month on Tuesday, and said stable inflation and steady credit expansion should help the economy grow by around 8% this year and next. Ajith Nivard Cabraal, the central bank governor, said private sector credit growth is recovering and on an upward trend after slumping to 4-1/2-year lows of 0.8% in July. more..

Nov 17 (CG) A global survey on terrorism, conducted by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), has found that there is a risk of terrorism in Sri Lanka despite the end of the war over five years ago. The report, which has been endorsed by leading public figures including Nobel laureates, world leaders and others, notes that at least 13 countries, including Sri Lanka are facing a greater risk of substantial terrorist activity. more..

Nov 17 (CT) A capacity for shame keeps us from violating our dignity and exposing ourselves in such a way as to cause discomfort and offense to others. That also enables a person to live happily within the boundaries and limits set for us by our capabilities, uphold our relationships with others, and respect each other maintaining our own sense of dignity and self worth. Today, we have a web mafia in this country with some locals operating from overseas conducting themselves like the earth's more..

Nov 17 (CT) The best, as they say, must not be the enemy of the good. I have long advocated that the best kind of candidacy for the Opposition would have been or would be a Karu-Sajith or Sajith-Karu ticket, i.e. a ticket that symbolized the UNP Reformist option of 2011-2013. That ticket no longer exists. That bitter fact is probably far more Karu’s fault than that of anyone else, but right now, all that must be regarded as water under the bridge. Given that reality, I think that a Sajith candidacy more..

Nov 18 (LBO) Sri Lanka's stocks closed 0.32% higher with telco and diversified stocks gaining. All Share Price Index closed 24.23 points higher at 7,548.23, up 0.32%. The S&P SL20 closed 34.79 points higher at 4,204.87, up 0.83%. Turnover was 3.83 billion rupees, up from 2.43 billion rupees a day earlier with 97 stocks closed positive against 114 negative. Access Engineering closed 70 cents lower at 41.50 rupees with a massive off market transaction of 1.60 billion rupees more..

Nov 18 (DN) Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when Parliament met at 9.30 am yesterday. After the presentation of papers and oral questions, House took up the expenditure heads of the Sports Ministry during the Committee Stage debate of Appropriation Bill 2015. John Amaratunga (UNP): I propose this House to cut of Rs. 10 of the allocations made under the recurrent expenditure to the Sports Ministry. Nalin Bandara (UNP): Indian tour was organised only for the purpose of getting money. more..

Nov 18 (FT) Kenya, the newest entrant to Africa’s top 10 list, called for renewed trade with Sri Lanka and in a display of its commitment towards this end requested three trade pacts with Sri Lanka in one go by 2015. “We are looking forward to more trade interaction and expecting a delegation to Nairobi from Sri Lanka next year. By the time of your visit to Nairobi we are looking forward to conclude current discussions on three agreements more..

Nov 18 (LBO) Sri Lanka's Employee's Provident Fund’s unrealized profits of the share portfolio of investments in equity passed 14 billion rupees on November this year, Central Bank said. The “mark to market” value of EPF’s investments in equities as at 14 Nov 2014 comfortably exceeded 14 billion rupees, in the background of the favourable equity market performances. The EPF has also realized 6.7 billion rupees by way of dividends, debenture interest and capital gains from its investments more..

Nov 18 (Economist) Maya Arulpragasam is a British-born rapper of Sri Lankan heritage, better known as M.I.A. Her background is rather different from that of most people working in the music industry. Her father was heavily involved in the fight to defend the rights of the minority Tamil community in Sri Lanka, and M.I.A. spent her early life in the northern, Tamil-dominated part of Sri Lanka. During the 25-year civil war, which saw fighters struggling to create a Tamil homeland before more..

Nov 18 (FT) Outdated curriculum and the politicisation of the higher education system heated the House when the Ministry of Higher Education was up for Committee Stage Debate of the Budget 2015. Opposition lawmakers charged the Govt for failing to meet the students demand and to create employable graduates who could help meet the development targets. Moving the debate, UNP MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam demanded more..

Nov 18 (FT) Eminent jurist R.K.W. Goonesekere, an expert in constitutional and human rights law, passed away on Sunday night. Goonesekere counted nearly 60 years at the Sri Lankan Bar and authored several books on law that have remained part of major academic literature on Sri Lankan law and jurisprudence. The renowned lawyer and constitutional expert was an ardent defender of civil liberties throughout his life and is best known in political circles for being more..

Nov 18 (Island) A 19-year-old schoolboy awaiting GCE A/L exam results had gone missing since the early hours of last Thursday from his home. According to his parents Asela Perera is a bright student and won several medals including gold medals for computer wizadry. According to his mother there had been threats on his life. On the day in question, he had woken up around 1 a.m. and complained of a stomach ailment and wanted her to prepare some coffee. more..

Nov 18 (LBO) International designer brand Tommy Hilfiger will open its first store in Sri Lanka next month marking the first international designer brand to launch in the country. The design house is renowned for its preppy style and has been worn by top international celebrities such as Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Kapoor, Jessica Alba, Katy Perry, Jennifer Lopez, Bradley Cooper, Bipasha Basu, Naomi Campbell, Ranveer more..