Nov 25 (Hindu) DMK president M. Karunanidhi called upon political parties to raise in the current session of Parliament the issue of Tamil fishermen being arrested regularly by the Sri Lankan Navy. “Bring pressure on the Centre to find a solution to the untold sufferings of Tamil fishermen,” he said. Mr. Karunanidhi said the arrest on Sunday of 14 fishermen had shattered the celebrations over the release of five fishermen sentenced to death by a Sri Lankan court. more..

Nov 25 (Island) India and Sri Lanka need to work towards unleashing the full potential of their bilateral economic ties ‘through creation of an enabling environment for trade in services and collaboration in diverse sectors, including tourism, education and construction services, High Commissioner for India in Sri Lanka Y.K. Sinha said. The High Commissioner was addressing the sixth annual general meeting of the Indo-Lanka more..

Nov 25 (Island) Doctors have used Global Positioning System (GPS) technology successfully in two pilot projects to collect information on the exact number of kidney patients. North Central Province Kidney Prevention Unit head Dr. Asanka Ranasinghe, addressing the media, pointed out that his medical team with the assistance of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and the Navy Commander had used GPS to detect exact number of persons afflicted with renal failure. more..

Nov 25 (CG) As a chilly weather was experienced in most parts of Sri Lanka today the department of meteorology said that showers can be expected to continue in the country tomorrow. Temperature was below 30 decrees celsius this afternoon with Colombo recording 25.8 and Nuwara Eliya 15.2 decrees celsius. Meanwhile the department of meteorology said that heavy showers (more than 100mm) are likely in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva & Central provinces tomorrow. more..

Nov 25 (CI) There must be some miscommunication somewhere. Each year, Sri Lanka line up a tour around November, and almost invariably, the series is so beset by rain that most matches go unfinished, and the remaining games advantage the chasing side. With four such tours having taken place in the last five years now, the only viable solution is clear: it is time SL's weather took stock of cricket patterns in the country, more..

Nov 25 (CT) The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) will release a new set of proposals today, that it wants included in the manifestoes of candidates contesting the Presidential Election, BBS CEO Dr. Dhilanthe Withanage said yesterday. He said they had been approached by representatives of Maithripala Sirisena, who is the candidate named by the common Opposition. "They had called Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera and expressed their willingness to discuss with us. more..

Nov 25 (AD) Colombo Additional Magistrate today further remanded Minister Mervyn Silva’s son Malaka Silva and six other suspects who were arrested on charges of assaulting a foreign couple at a night club in Colombo. Malaka, four of his friends and two Ministerial Security Division (MSD) officials attached to his father were ordered to be remanded until 28 November by Additional Magistrate Mohammed Sahabdeen. Minister Mervyn Silva’s son Malaka Silva, who came to the spotlight more..

Nov 25 (GDI) A special discussion to obtain EU's contribution to strengthen the rural development was held at Nuwara Eliya District Secretariat today. Discussion was held under the auspices of the new Ambassador of EU to Sri Lanka. The discussion focused on the mode of contribution that should be given to strengthen economy and living standards of rural community. Ambassador said that bringing the conflict to more..

Nov 25 (DM) Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya today said that he was only a public servant and that it was not his duty to protect or topple governments. “Though I was appointed by the President, I’m a public servant and not a servant of the government. I’m not here to protect or to topple any government,” he told a news conference. “I will also not fear the government when carrying out my duties,” he said. more..

Nov 25 (AM) The JHU, which is already an unofficial member of the common opposition, will officially announce on Nov 27 whether they would support the common candidate at the upcoming Presidential Election. JHU General Secretary Champika Ranawaka said that the JHU will announce their decision at a press conference in Colombo. “We will always work towards ensuring democracy and JHU has already taken steps to educate the people about our policies”, Ranawaka said. more..

Nov 25 (CG) While the Govt says no one else will crossover to the opposition from SLFP, common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena says more will join him. Speaking to media after he visited the Bandaranaike Memorial Monument in Horagolla today, Sirisena said that some people had asked him why more Govt Ministers and MPs did not join the opposition as expected in Parliament yesterday. more..

Nov 25 (CT) North Central Province (NCP) Minister, Peshala Jayarathna Bandara officially crossed over yesterday to the Opposition to support the Presidential campaign of former Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena. However, NCPC Chairman T. M. R. Siripala, said that Peshala Jayarathna Bandara would be the only person from the government ranks of the NCPC, to cross over. Other members have condemned such a crossover and would not switch sides at any cost, he said. more..

Nov 25 (DM) Fingerprints of some security personnel and those of 74 workers engaged in renovating the Colombo Museum were taken by the Cinnamon Gardens police during the investigations into force-opening of a Gallery door in the Museum. The fingerprints would be matched with the four fingerprints and the palm print which were removed from the location. Further investigations would be carried out after the fingerprints are identified. Statements from 22 people were recorded more..

Nov 25 (CT) Environmentalists have criticized wildlife officials for failing to take action against a safari jeep driver for knocking down a deer in the Yala National Park recently. Eyewitnesses said that a safari jeep driver from Daya Safari Jeep Service (vehicle number EP PU 5281) was speeding inside the Yala National park while taking Chinese tourists on a safari and knocked down a deer, whose leg had been broken into two. more..

Nov 25 (AM) A senior UNP MP today charged that the ruling party had allegedly offered Rs. 100 million to govt MPs whose names were mentioned in connection with crossovers. "In addition to offers," he said, "the govt has intensified its spy-missions and surveillance operations: even their telephones have been tapped," the MP said. He made these remarks when asked whether the 'crossover' plans of the govt MPs had backfired on the UNP and the common opposition. more..

Nov 25 (GN) A worker, who was under the influence of alcohol when he bit his co-worker's finger following a heated argument, has been jailed for one year. The 29-year-old Sri Lankan worker, was said to have had a heated argument with his Pakistani co-worker during and he bit the latter's finger in June. Dubai Police's forensic examiner confirmed that the victim sustained a permanent disability in the bitten finger. Dubai Court of First Instance jailed him one year for assaulting the victim, more..

Nov 25 (UCAN) An election monitoring body and Catholic leaders in Sri Lanka have condemned the use of Pope Francis’ image on campaign posters featuring President Rajapaksa and called for their removal from public spaces. “The president has already used the Pope’s image for his election campaign and there are posters in public places in Colombo,” said Rohana Hettiarachchi, executive director of PAFFREL. more..

Nov 26 (GV) This analyst has always maintained that the formulae for the defeat of the Rajapakse regime, was a divided govt and a unified opposition. Given the absolute fragmented disarray in which the main opposition UNP was in, only a very short while ago, it was nearly impossible to imagine a situation in which the opposition could coalesce around a single candidate and a common program. However, due to the astute political coalition building of a few key national political leaders, more..

Nov 26 (GV) A long awaited concerted action has now been initiated by the opposition parties in their identification of a common candidate for the upcoming presidential elections, and the agenda for action. Understandably, the opposition needs a simple yet mass rallying slogan for their campaign. The abolishing of the executive presidential system has been designated by them as the call and the cause. In his first press conference as a proposed presidential candidate, more..

Nov 26 (SO) He is a man with a vision. He is the epitome of a gentleman: talented, insightful, dignified, humble-and far from simple. He's the style guru to most recognisable faces in the country. Having started his career in the tailoring and fashion industry straight out of school, there were many he looked up on to learn the beautiful art he has now mastered, one of whom being his father and grandfather who he deems his mentors. more..

Nov 26 (CT) Mysterious are the ways in which political strategies have moved in Sri Lanka. The opposition determined to do its duty by the people labored for long to unseat the incumbent President, perched seemingly secure in power. Weeks of effort and a day’s decisiveness have directed the country towards a new course of hope and promise. The Opposition which had evolved into a national collective of purpose weighed its strengths and weaknesses. more..

Nov 26 (CT) Prabhakaran’s infamous boycott at the 2005 election backfired and paved the way for Mahinda Rajapaksa’s emergence which did not help the separatists’ course. The country as a whole benefited from the boycott that time as MR played the lead role in vanquishing Prabhakaran and his murderous marauders. After the war Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) had the most conducive political and social atmosphere to be the best-ever leader that Sri Lanka had seen. more..

Nov 26 (CT) Western Provincial Councillor and Leader of DPF Mano Ganesan said the ethnic and religious minorities require an environment where they can stand up and speak on their issues and to conduct a democratic political campaign to achieve their aspirations. "Here we have a govt that has totally knocked down the norms of democracy and rule of law. Therefore, we are joining hands with the rest of the country more..

Nov 26 (Island) It is popularly said that there is a code of conduct even among thieves, but politicians are guided by Rafferty’s rules (no rules at all) in trying to gain or retain power. But, the latter also act with some restraint and apparently abide by omerta or code of silence associated with Mafiosi. The naïve among us tend to believe that the method of setting a thief to catch a thief works in politics. But, with the benefit of hindsight we know it doesn’t. Once ensconced in power, politicians more..

Nov 26 (Island) How to solve a problem like Mahinda must be a question asked in London, Washington and may be a few other cities in the west. However, it is a major problem in London and a problem to a great extent in Washington, which will be solved by the west in their usual "democratic" way of good governance and what not by demanding blood. Mahinda Rajapaksa, who defied the west by not allowing them to send a ship to rescue Prabhakaran has been hated by more..

Nov 26 (CT) General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers' Union, Joseph Stalin spoke about the 2015 Budget's vision for education, while highlighting current issues affecting the sector. He was of the view that Education Minister Bandula Gunawardene had a tuition oriented mindset being a former tuition master and he believed to showcase pass percentages as successes while his deputy minister owned private schools. more..

Nov 26 (NS) The normally intransigent TNA has suddenly started acting as if they care about presidential politics in Sri Lanka. The president, deputy president and at least one of the deputy secretaries of the TNA have been making coy statements about who the Alliance will support if a presidential election were to be held next year. Wow, the TNA seem willing to take their subservient attention away from their diaspora mafia, however briefly, and actually consider acting more..

Nov 26 (Island) Sri Lankan cricketers are hopeful that local fans will give a grand send off to the Big Three – Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillekeratne Dilshan, who will be playing their last ODI series at home. "Yes, this will be their last series. They are the foundation of our team. They have won us so many games. I sincerely hope the fans will turn up in numbers and give them a good send off," Lahiru Thirimanne told journalists yesterday. more..

Nov 26 (Island) Today’s burning issue is the struggle to find a common candidate to contest at the oncoming presidential election. That choice will affect only the next election. But the highest national priority is undoubtedly to save the country from the shackles of autocracy imposed on it by Constitutional amendments made by successive self-seeking rulers. If the inroads made into the people’s freedoms are allowed to continue more..

Nov 26 (Guardian) England’s cricketers are in Colombo and about to begin a seven-match series against Sri Lanka but they have all had Australia on their minds. The focus has not been on the Australasian World Cup, for which they are preparing here, but the plight of Phil Hughes, in hospital in Sydney after being struck on the head while batting in a Sheffield Shield match at the SCG. Hughes has been a team-mate of several of this England squad (those from Middlesex and more..

Nov 26 (ST) The govt’s 2015 sunshine budget with some erroneous estimates, data and records is endangering the country’s economy with relation to 77 expenditure proposals mostly for handouts where the financial allocations to be made from Treasury votes for the medium term 2015-2017 provisions, economic experts warned. Several budget estimates have gone haywire with printing mistakes and miscalculations and Treasury officials were being pressurised to review the whole more..

Nov 26 (CI) Lahiru Thirimanne, Sri Lanka vice-captain, suggested he would continue to bat in the lower middle order until the World Cup, despite having tasted his greatest successes higher up. Thirimanne struck two centuries opening the innings in this year's Asia Cup - for which he received a Player of the Tournament award - but he has been more often seen at No. 5 or lower, as Sri Lanka seek support for Angelo Mathews more..

Nov 26 (NS) It had to happen that way, and the break was only possible with a serious split within the regime. The moment had come for members of the SLFP to take the plunge. And when finally Mr. Wasantha Senanayake, MP, crossed over (the first member of the brave ‘suicide squad’) and mentioned that he knew who the common candidate was, the matter was settled. It had to be one name; Maithripala Sirisena. And yet it was somewhat remarkable, in this day and age of more..

Nov 26 (CI) This series, in itself, amounts to very little: just seven more ODIs squeezed into the Sri Lankan rainy season to accommodate a schedule that is already bursting at the seams. But its proximity to the World Cup provides relevance. Two sides struggling for form and to find settled line-ups have another opportunity to define positions and tactics before departing for Australia and NZ. Some players will see their Word Cup hopes enhanced or crushed in coming weeks. more..

Nov 26 (CT) President Rajapaksa's proposal to purchase the entire fish catch of fishermen along the Negombo coast line at a fair price must be extended to the fish caught by fishermen all over the country, All Island General Fisheries Federation said. This follows Presiadent's instructions Monday that the Ministry of Fisheries paurchase all fish caught from the Negombo, Chilaw, Kalutara and Beruwala coastal areas, more..

Nov 26 (Island) Justice Minister and SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem is on an official visit to Malaysia to meet his counterpart in that country and hold discussions with high level officials of the trade chamber and Malaysian Arbitration Centre. He will be a panelist at a forum under the theme "Hyper connected world-challenges in the Nation Building". He will also be participating at the annual general assembly of United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Malaysia’s largest political party, more..

Nov 26 (Island) Department of Archaeology had commenced constructing a canopy for the protection of the Maligawila Buddha Statue, which is known as the tallest ancient free-standing image in Sri Lanka, at a height of 37 feet 10 inches (11.53 m), Director General of Archaeology Dr Senarath Dissanayake said. He said that the protective canopy was being constructed on the instructions of President Rajapaksa at a cost of Rs 15 million released by the Ministry of National Heritage more..

Nov 26 (GDI) President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal this morning ahead of the 18th SAARC Summit that is taking place in Kathmandu Nov. 25-27. Upon his arrival, the President was warmly welcomed by Deputy PM and Minister for Home Affairs, Mr. Bam Dev Gautam, at the VVIP Lounge at Tribhuvan International Airport. President was offered the guard of honour by Nepal Army. more..

Nov 26 (Island) Licensed Finance Companies (LFCs) and Specialized Leasing Companies (SLCs) should look at the Central Bank as an ally that provides them with good regulations and input for sustainable business practices, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said Monday at the Directors Symposium- 2014 organized by the Central Bank for the seventh year and held at the Kingsbury. "2015 road map to be unveiled on Jan 2, 2015 will give you further clues as to how more..

Nov 26 (DN) Sri Lanka’s interest in hosting the this year UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia And the Pacific (ESCAP) - Asia Pacific Business Forum will raise the country’s profile and create opportunities for trade, tourism and investment, Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene said. Addressing the Asia Pacific Business Forum inauguration ceremony held in Colombo he said many of the delegates who are attending the conference are from private sector more..