Nov 19 (Yahoo) Sri Lanka on Wednesday released the five Indian fishermen facing death penalty after President Rajapaksa commuted their sentence. The move comes after PM Narendra Modi spoke with President Rajapaksa on the issue a few days ago. Earlier, India had also filed an appeal in the SL Supreme Court challenging the high court verdict awarding the death sentence to 5 Indian fishermen for alleged drug trafficking. more..

Nov 19 (CG) External Affairs Minister G L Peiris today briefed diplomats from South Asian and SAARC countries and from the Middle East on the developments in Sri Lanka. South Africa had also attended the meeting at the External Affairs Ministry at which the Govt had reiterated its concerns over the UN led investigation on Sri Lanka. Yesterday the Minister had accused the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein of double standards. more..

Nov 19 (AD) A 47-year-old man was arrested at the BIA this morning for allegedly molesting a British woman in onboard a SriLankan airlines flight. The suspect has been identified as a Sri Lankan born British citizen who is a resident of Batticaloa. The person was arrested following a complaint lodged by the British woman with the airport police post. The incident had taken place while the 27-year-old woman was on her way with her boyfriend for a three week visit in Sri Lanka. more..

Nov 19 (ANI) BJP termed the release of 5 fishermen on death row in SL as 'heart-warming', adding that the action will help improve the ties between the two countries. "Reports of the Tamil fishermen being released are extremely heart-warming. PM Narendra Modi spoke to President Rajapaksa some time ago. Govt authorities and Ministry of External Affairs have also offered to give all kinds of possible help to the fishermen," more..

Nov 19 (AM) Jathika Hela Urumaya Legal Advisor and former Western Province Minister Udaya Gammanpila has made his letter of resignation from his ministerial portfolios available to media. He has sent the letter today to the Governor of Western Province Alavi Maulana. In this letter, he has confirmed that the JHU has yesterday decided to leave the UPFA on principle grounds, putting an end to the confusion that was created earlier today in the press conference called by the party. more..

Nov 19 (CG) Northern Provincial Council (NPC) today adopted a motion calling for the release of Tamil political prisoners who have been in jail for several years without a proper trial. The motion was submitted by the chairman of the council C.V.K Sivagnanam and was adopted unanimously. In the motion, the NPC called on President Rajapaksa and the Justice Minister to release the detainees. It noted that several Tamil political prisoners have been in jail for between 8-15 years more..

Nov 19 (GDI) A special Bodhi Pooja was conducted Tuesday evening at the Bellanwila Rajamaha Vihara. Chief Incumbent of the Bellanvila Rajamaha Vihara Ven. Bellanvila Wimalaratana Nayaka Thera conducted religious rites and invoked blessings on the President. Maha Sangha including Mahanayake of the Uva Syamawansika Maha Nikaya, Dr. Ittepane Dhammalankara Nayaka Thera chanted Seth Pirith and invoked blessings more..

Nov 19 (AM) Former Panadura UC Chairman and SLFP Kalutara District Organizer Nandana Gunathilaka has stated that a suitable common candidate for presidential election will be hopefully decided upon roughly within another week. He added that the candidate should be able to represent different opinions and attract votes from different ethnic and religious communities. Gunathilaka strongly criticized the economic policies of the present govt and emphasized the need more..

Nov 19 (AM) JHU Chairman Athuraliye Rathana Thera has said that the decision by the JHU to leave the govt will increase the faith of the people 'by a thousand-fold.' He maintained that "we relieved ourselves from our responsibilities with the Alliance govt. We have taken a political decision where the JHU will act independently in the Parliament." He also added that people including scholars, intellectuals and the public by their thousands have embraced them with respect after decision more..

Nov 19 (AM) As a surprise move just hours ahead of the possible announcement of the presidential election, Minister and SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena has been offered the position of PM, a highly placed govt source told Asian Mirror, under the strict conditions of anonymity. However, the minister, who is one of the most senior-most members of the cabinet, has still not responded to the offer positively. more..

Nov 20 (CT) My mother, had she lived, would have been 89 today. Mahinda Rajapaksa is 69, and today is also the 9th anniversary of his election to the Presidency. Given that the Constitution prescribes 6 year terms, it seems absurd that he is thinking of cutting short his Presidency yet again, and submitting himself for election for the third time. Given how exhausted he was during the Uva Campaign, it is worrying that he keeps going on and on with such campaigns, without reflecting on more..

Nov 20 (CT) EPRLF Leader K. Pathmanaba’s 63rd birthday is today. Comrade Pathmanabha was first of all a revolutionary, a Marxist-Leninist, a national liberationist and a humanitarian socialist. If we were to forget his characteristics we would then also forget his contribution. Pathmanabha was not just another leader of the Tamil national movement cut down by the LTTE. He was more, and this we should always remember. Comrade Pathmanabha political career goes back to more..

Nov 20 (SO) In the modern world, dominated as it is by angst, the unshaken mind is a rarity indeed. Stress affects all. Tempers are short. Violence lurks everywhere. Hatred, jealousy and intolerance have escalated into epidemic proportions. Irresistibly persuasive modern media, through their sophisticated messages, ensnare consumer-masses into a fairy world of unending expectations. more..

Nov 20 (NS) Sabbe Sankhara Anicca: Volume of a Ball is Impermanent, written by Colombo Uni, Math Dept Senior Lecturer, Dr. W Ramasinghe is not simply a book on mathematics or religion. It is a 156 page book that attempts to bring mathematics and religion together with a touch of culture. Author presents a personal philosophy as understood by him through his knowledge of mathematics and Buddhism. Sabbe Sankhara Anicca or the theory that ‘everything is impermanent’ more..

Nov 20 (SL) Bloody hell! I had awoken inside an old bush. Behind me I recognised the Diyawanna Oya flowing serenely with its pink and white lotuses. Ahead of me from Parliament Road came an ear shattering din. A massive procession was on the entire road. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Ranil, Mahinda, Buddhist monks, Rajavarothiam Sampanthan, Wigneswaran, Dinesh Gunawardene, Champika Ranawaka and a whole host of bitter political rivals were holding hands, smiling more..

Nov 20 (CT) SLMC General Secretary M.T. Hasen Ali speaking on the demand for a 'Coastal District' said "Everyone thinks we are asking for a 'Muslim Eelam'. We have been labelled as Al-Qaeda, without knowing the subject well. We don't have any grudge with the Sinhalese. We are requesting for Kalmunai, Sammanthurai and Pottuvil electorates to be formed as Kalmunai District under one administration according to the proposal more..

Nov 20 (CT) It was reported last week that President Rajapaksa and Indian PM Narendra Modi discussed the issue of the five Indian fishermen convicted by a Colombo Court for drug offences and sentenced to death. Though there were rumours earlier that Modi telephoned Mahinda, New Delhi reports indicated that it was Mahinda who had telephoned and expressed the desire to speak to Modi. Mahinda is reported to have told Modi that he was prepared to grant presidential amnesty more..

Nov 20 (GV) In modern day governance, there are certain principles that peace-loving people expect the rulers to implement. One of them is accountability. Accountability for the actions, expenditure, decisions, and appointments that governments make. In advanced democratic societies, there are mechanisms to ensure accountability with vested powers to seek and collect information, summon officials before parliamentary committees, investigate, and more..

Nov 20 (CT) Akbar Brothers Ltd was incorporated in 1972. Significantly, in the same year, the father of these founders retired from the Chairmanship of Hebtulabhoys & Co. and joined his sons, making available his 40 years experience in the highest echelons of the tea industry. Moreover, the flourish thus set, kept up its momentum for the company to become the largest tea exporter in the country. more..

Nov 20 (Island) Power corrupts as Lord Acton has famously said. But, it is not only political power that corrupts; the public supply of electricity also does. CEB is a glaring example. Even some ministers have shed light on its crooked power deals. Now, it is reported that the participation of 25 CEB engineers at a recent conference organised by the Association of the Electricity Supply Industry in East Asia and the Western Pacific, in South Korea, has cost the public Rs. 20 million. more..

Nov 20 (NS) On the eve of writing this submission, Aslam Marikar, whose Twenty First Century Monk played to a packed audience last week, was not ‘available’ for comment. But, his production had left a various impact on part of Colombo’s theater-goers when it was unveiled at the Punchi Theater, Borella. The ‘manipulation of comedy’ in the discussion of ‘social and domestic alienation’, for instance, had captured the mind of a viewer seated immediately next to me. more..

Nov 20 (FT) ‘At the stroke of the midnight hour’ on 20 Nov, President Rajapaksa, who turned 69 years old on Tuesday was tipped to finally rubber-stamp and reveal the world’s worst kept secret. On 19 Nov 2014, President Rajapaksa completed the mandatory four years in office before he was constitutionally empowered to call snap elections for the presidency. Speculated for months nationally and internationally, prefaced by more..

Nov 20 (DN) In a new development in the ongoing Indo-Lanka trade dialogue, an independent survey team has arrived in Colombo to map barriers to FTA trade. The first round of this bilateral study will conclude in early 2015. "After the FTA was entered into, bilateral trade improved tremendously. I welcome your efforts to identify aspects where improvements are needed in our Free Trade dialogue" said Minister Rishad Bathiudeen addressing visiting independent study team more..

Nov 20 (FT) Savings giant NSB said it has recorded a profit before tax of Rs. 6 billion for the nine-month period ended 30 Sept 2014, a rise of 492% from Rs. 1 billion recorded in the corresponding period last year. Net profit recorded an increase of 679% to Rs. 3.5 billion from Rs. 445 million recorded in the same period last year. Bank mobilised Rs.45 billion deposits during the nine-month period, recording a growth of 7.5%. Savings deposits accounted for a large share in mobilisation, more..

Nov 20 (Island) ‘We were encouraged by Indian authorities at the highest level to make a significant investment in Sri Lanka and that is one of the reasons we have decided to make an outlay of US $300 million in our maiden overseas foray in the hospitality sector, Y.C. Deveshwar, Chairman ITC Ltd. said in Colombo. Deveshwar who heads ITC businesses in India with a market cap of over $45 billion said so more..

Nov 20 (Island) More than 5,000 foreign students were studying in Sri Lanka at present at the state universities and degree awarding institutions, Minister S.B. Dissanayake said. He said that govt expected to increase it to 100,000 by 2020 under the govt’s programme to become the Asia’s education hub. "Students from the Middle East come here for higher education due to problems they face in the West," he said, adding that students from India, the Maldives and Pakistan also come to SL more..

Nov 20 (ST) Smooth workings of a govt could be ruined if officials in govt offices in a remote area don’t handle the public in a people-friendly manner. Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the President, made this comment while speaking at the media briefing to mark the launching of facility to view ETF Information. He said that once a politician in England has said that the popularity of the govt based in London depends on the attitude of the police constable on the road, towards the people. more..

Nov 20 (FT) The Port of Colombo delivered on its promise of establishing Colombo as the regional maritime hub when the brand new 16,000+ TEU ship MV MSC New York berthed at Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT) yesterday. The terminal is owned and operated by China Merchants Holdings International Company (CMHI). CICT General Manager Tissa Wickramasinghe said: more..

Nov 20 (FT) The celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Thailand is being launched today. The two countries established formal diplomatic relations on 20 Nov 1955. Sri Lanka and Thailand have a long history of close religious, cultural and trade links fostered over several centuries. Buddhism has played a pivotal and catalytic role over several hundred years in binding the two countries together, and relations have been further consolidated more..

Nov 20 (Island) Following the restoration of train services from Colombo to Jaffna last month after a 24-year lapse, the Department of Railways has taken steps to reconstruct the 62-km track, 62 km between Anuradhapura and Omantai under an Indian Line of Credit. Subsequent to the commencement of the reconstruction of the Northern and Talaimannar railway lines, the construction work along sections of the track from Omantai to Pallai and from Medawachchiya more..

Nov 20 (LBO) The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy is to build 18 naval bases in various regions in the next 10 years including in Sri Lanka, a media report said. Namibian newspaper quoting Chinese media reports said Hambantota Port is among the three navel bases that will be established in the northern Indian Ocean. However Sri Lanka’s defence ministry refuted reports that claimed China is planning to establish a naval base in SL. more..

Nov 20 (Island) The Central Bank has pumped in Rs. 300 million to mint Rs. 500 million worth of coins, constituting a new series of 25 coins of the Rs. 10 denomination, portraying the 25 administrative districts of the island. Bank’s Currency Department, Superintendent, Deepa Seneviratne said that they had minted two million 10-rupee coins for each district. She strongly believes with sufficient stocks of coins entering the market, the shortage of coins would ease. more..

Nov 20 (CT) A new method adopted by the Western Province Education Ministry in distributing term test papers to schools has greatly inconvenienced a number of principals who are finding it difficult to conduct the term tests, the Ceylon Teachers' Service Union (CTSU) said. "Although the ministry distributed all the exam papers for schools at once, now they are only handing over exam papers that are needed on a particular day through zonal education offices," said Mahinda Jayasinghe, more..

Nov 20 (PO) The individual no.3, a senior India player who has been in Team India for some years and named in the Mudgal committee report is “safe” as far as his involvement in having a lady in his hotel room in Sri Lanka during the 2010 Asia Cup. The lady, believed to be an executive of the management company, which looks after other players as well, didn’t sleep with the player but she stayed in room alone whole night till 4 AM. more..

Nov 20 (UH) Kapiʻolani Community College’s Professor of Culinary Arts Kusuma Cooray blends the exotic flavors of her native Sri Lanka with a local Hawaiʻi flare in her new cook book, Ocean to Plate: Cooking Fish with Hawaiʻi’s Kusuma Cooray. Ocean to Plate takes readers on the a culinary journey, from buying the freshest and tastiest fish, to choosing a recipe that compliments its natural flavors, to preparing a meal with ingredients that are certain to arouse the taste buds. more..

Nov 20 (Island) For the first time in parliamentary history an expenditure head of a ministry was taken up during a committee stage debate in the absence of the subject minister and his deputy. JHU General Secretary Champika Ranawaka had given up the Science, Technology and Atomic Energy portfolio on Tuesday over a dispute between his party and SLFP, Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga told Parliament. Govt had not appointed a deputy to Ranawaka, MP Amaratunga said, more..

Nov 20 (Island) An influential section of the UNP is bringing pressure to bear on the party Working Committee to nominate its National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to contest the upcoming presidential election with newly appointed Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa, MP, playing a significant role. Convenor of UNP trade union organisation at the CPC Ananda Palitha said that there shouldn’t be a further delay in unanimously naming more..

Nov 20 (CT) A young economist in a Colombo think-tank has been hand-picked to advice on Sri Lanka's industrial portfolio development. "I welcome you to assist our Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Now let's get to work!' said Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, after appointing Economist Wijesinha as his Special Adviser on Industrial Development and Youth Entrepreneurship. Anushka Wijesinha is a Research Economist at Industry, Competitiveness and Regulatory Policy Unit of IPS in Colombo. more..

Nov 20 (CG) This month on CNN’s ‘Talk Asia’ Anna Coren sits down with the former cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara. In their candid conversation they talk openly about his life, cricketing career, World Cup ambitions and retirement plans. Sangakkara also discusses the devastating three-decade long civil war in Sri Lanka where “a lot of people paid the ultimate price with their lives for that conflict” and his parents’ brave actions in protecting the lives of their Tamil friends. more..

Nov 20 (DM) Minister Maithripala Sirisena said that there was talk going around that he was going to resign from the govt. Minister had gone to the Gampaha residence of Editor Karunatilaka Suriyaarachchi as a representative of President Rajapaksa and the Govt, to express his condolences. While there a journalist questioned the minister on the reports that he was ready to leave the govt and become the Common Candidate more..