Nov 27 (DN) Coast Guard personnel attached to the Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) Northern Region recently conducted an awareness program for fishermen at Point Pedro. The awareness program was held for fisherfolk in Kottadi, Point Pedro. The program was conducted to educate fishermen on duties of Coast Guard, importance of life saving equipment, first aid, basic safety measures to follow when sailing, importance of fishermen's profession and their contribution to the country. more..

Nov 27 (SLA) Commander of the Army, Daya Ratnayake on Wednesday announcing the release of another stock of gold jewelleries to 1960 more identified rightful owners in the North at a ceremony on Dec 4, headed by President Rajapaksa, spelt out the painstaking efforts and the time-consuming verification process that had been undertaken by Army for accelerated return of those stocks on a special directive of the President. more..

Nov 27 (ST) Discrimination and criticism of people living with HIV/AIDS in Sri Lanka have the main issues that affected persons who have been grappling with over the years. Beyond discrimination there have also been other problems they have faced in life. Even insurance companies refused to provide cover for affected persons. Now the International Labour Organisation (ILO) together with the Insurance Board of Sri Lanka (IBSL) has come up with an insurance coverage policy more..

Nov 27 (AM) Just a day after Minister Johnston Fernando threatened to fight the “rice” mafia, the Ministry of Trade announced that it would sell imported rice at cheaper rates from tomorrow – through Lanka Sathosa outlets. Lanka Sathosa will sell imported Samba at Rs. 60 per kg, Nadu at Rs. 55 kg and white raw rice at Rs. 50 per kg at Lanka Sathosa outlets. Minister said that there was a plan to create an artificial shortage of rice leading to a price hike ahead of presidential election. more..

Nov 27 (CT) Leader of UNP, Ranil Wickremesinghe, said the party agreed to form a National Govt, at least for a period of two years, if Maithripala Sirisena were to be elected as President. Other political parties were thereafter free to decide whether to continue with National Govt or choose to contest separately. Goal, was to strengthen Parliamentary System where even the Executive PM would be answerable to Parliament. more..

Nov 27 (CT) The failure of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) to remove illegal election propaganda within the city limits, given that its Mayor is a Working Committee member of the UNP, castes doubts on the party's stance on good governance, election monitors claim. CaFFE wrote to UNP General Secretary, Tissa Attanayake requesting him to explain the party's stance on the display of illegal election propaganda within the CMC limits, a municipality controlled by UNP. more..

Nov 27 (CG) Dialog Axiata chief Dr Hans Wijayasuriya has apologized for the inconvenience caused as a result of the interruption to the Dialog TV broadcast when the “Satana” program was aired on Sirasa TV last Saturday. In response to a concern raised by lawyer Saliya Pieris, Dialog chief said that customers are also at liberty to raise any issues which remain unresolved by the service provider to the Media Ministry or Telecom Regulatory Commission of SL (TRCSL). more..

Nov 27 (DM) Common Opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena pledged to form a national govt comprising all political parties represented in Parliament after he wins the presidential election. Mr. Sirisena who addressed a meeting at the UNP headquarters Sirikotha said this national govt would be for a period of 100 days because he expected to complete implementation of the much-needed reforms by then. more..

Nov 27 (DM) Then they relate the present political developments to 2009 where General Sarath Fonseka was fielded as the common opposition candidate. They say the same fate will befall new common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena as well. Fonseka was stripped of his medals and later sent to jail following a judicial verdict. Some may agree with them, seeing how things happened in the aftermath of 2009 presidential election. Let us keep the fear mongering aside for a while. more..

Nov 27 (DM) The surprise announcement that Maithripala Sirisena will be the common Presidential candidate who will face the current incumbent at the forthcoming elections and his promise to abolish the Executive Presidency within one hundred days has raised hopes that an alternative is finally in the air. Although there are a lot of ‘ifs’ on the way, including the need for a 2/3 majority in the legislature for constitutional change, of concern is Sirisena’s announcement of UNP leader Ranil more..

Nov 27 (SL) The country has walked five years down the lane after the end of the war. Muslims in the Eastern Province still complain that resettlement and land issues prevail in the area even though the govt claims to have completed the process of resettlement in most of the areas. The grave concern of the East where state is alleged to acquire lands belonging to the Muslim people in the area is not a new phenomenon. more..

Nov 27 (DM) Well in advance of the declaration of the presidential election on November 20, the UPFA, the govt party, worked out campaign strategies and laid the necessary infrastructure to execute them. It did so in anticipation that someone from the main opposition UNP would come forward as the candidate to oppose the ruling party’s unanimous nominee President Rajapaksa. However, it was in for a rude shock when it more..

Nov 27 (ST) The pro-eelam Tamil lobby is to call on Britain to lift its ban on the LTTE when the diaspora prepares for a major show of strength in London next Thursday to commemorate “Heroes Day” to coincide with the birthday of the late V Prabhakaran. Tamil sources said they expect the call to be backed by some British MPs from all three major parties. They are expected to participate at the day-long commemoration to be held at more..

Nov 27 (CI) Sri Lanka is not quite an island dream in November. Rains are nation-wide. Mosquitoes rule the gardens. Flood and landslide risk announcements invade airwaves, and drawn-out days are endured indoors, until the monsoon breaks and the cool, dry months sweep in. Even with the climate at its worst, though, Sri Lanka's cricketers appear glad to be back. On Wednesday, they settled back into their Khettarama haunt, more..

Nov 27 (Island) The Sri Lankan military had fought a relatively a clean war against the LTTE, when compared with others engaged in such operations, UPFA MP Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha told a special live Al-Jazeera programme ‘inside story: clinging to power in Sri Lanka’ anchored by Jane Dutton late last week. Liberal Party Leader Prof. Wijesinha was responding to allegations made by Global Tamil Forum (GTF) spokesman more..

Nov 27 (Island) Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi says certain elements are conspiring to destabilise the country in keeping with the agendas of some eternal powers. Speaking at the opening of SLFP office at Eliyagoda, she said UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe, who handed over the country to the LTTE through an agreement with LTTE leader Prabhakaran was using Maithripala Sirisena as a cat’s paw to become the PM. more..

Nov 27 (CI) Phillip Hughes has died as a result of the injuries he sustained when struck by a bouncer on Tuesday, Cricket Australia has confirmed. He was 25. Team doctor Peter Brukner confirmed the news in a statement released on Thursday afternoon. "It is my sad duty to inform you that a short time ago Phillip Hughes passed away," Dr Brukner said. "He never regained consciousness following his injury on Tuesday. more..

Nov 27 (DM) At a news conference held today, the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Organisation said it would give its unconditional support to President Rajapaksa at the upcoming presidential election. Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera said President Rajapaksa and common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena were good citizens. “The country has to be our priority, not politics. The country is already in danger today. more..

Nov 27 (CG) UNP has raised questions on the files President Rajapaksa claims he has on his Govt members. UNP notes that the recent blackmail threat by no less than this country’s head of state Mahinda Rajapaksa, indicates the darkness of his rule, his dismissive attitude towards corruption and his twisted notions of loyalty. “Angered by news of his ministers’ defection, President claimed he had files on all those who quit his govt, more..

Nov 27 (CG) British MPs have proposed imposing sanctions on Sri Lanka if the Govt of Sri Lanka does not allow the UN investigating team into the country. The UK House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee has noted that given the time that has passed since the launch of the international inquiry, and the constraints placed on the OHCHR team, they believe that UK Govt should be ready to consider all possible options, more..

Nov 27 (CT) Hardly a day passes without an incident of drug smuggling or gold smuggling coming to light at the Bandaranaike International Airport or the Customs warehouses dealing with containers shipped to the Port of Colombo. Has Sri Lanka become a haven for smuggling in South Asia? It certainly seems like it, given the number of detections of gold, drugs, and all kinds of other goods, that we see and hear about in the media practically every day. more..

Nov 27 (CT) Sri Lankans are not an unfortunate people. We know that they are never vanquished by famine and drought. The Tsunami came, but that was a rare regional geological oceanic shift. A bit of flood comes now and then. The land is defined by scenic beauty; it is fertile for any tropical cultivation. People are quick at learning, imitating and creating. They are intelligent and free in spirit. The light of the Dhamma came early in the island’s history and spread throughout the villages more..

Nov 27 (LBO) Sri Lanka's stocks closed 0.89% lower with telco and banking stocks losing ground despite net foreign buying, brokers said. All Share Price Index closed 63.83 points lower at 7,115.89, down 0.89%. The S&P SL20 closed 47.55 points lower at 3,977.15, down 1.18%. Turnover was 1.32 billion rupees, down from 1.70 billion rupees a day earlier with 35 stocks closed positive against 183 negative. Access Engineering closed 1.20 rupees lower at 35.70 rupees with more..

Nov 27 (Island) Consultant Vitreo Retinal Surgeon Dr. Charith Fonseka said Diabetic Retinopathy had become the fourth major cause of blindness. Diabetic retinopathy was associated with damage to the small blood vessels in the retina, resulting in loss of vision, he said at a media seminar on ‘Let No One Go Blind Due to Diabetes’ yesterday. Dr. Fonseka pointed out that diabetic retinopathy might occur in 23% of diabetics and 1.78% of the general population. more..

Nov 27 (DM) Elaborating on what would take place when common candidate Maithripala Sirisena wins the presidential elections, UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera said Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe would be appointed as the PM but not with executive powers. He said that a national govt would be formed till constitutional changes are made within 100 days while a general election would be held after the term of more..

Nov 27 (Reuters) Sri Lankan rupee forwards fell on Tuesday due to dollar demand by importers, but the central bank prevented further declines in the currency through moral suasion even as political uncertainty weighed ahead of the January 8 presidential polls. Eight loyalists from President Rajapaksa's UPFA, including Health Minister Mithripala Sirisena, have defected since Rajapaksa announced the snap poll last week. Sirisena has resigned to contest against Rajapaksa as more..

Nov 27 (Island) A meeting of representative of a number of political parties and civil organisation organised by the Kandy Citizen Front (KCF) on Tuesday pledged to extend their support to the Opposition Common candidate. Local representatives of the United National Party (UNP), Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), Sri Lanka Communist Party (CP), Democratic Party (DP) and members of Bar in Kandy and trade union representatives attended the meeting. more..

Nov 27 (CG) Major General Jagath Alwis has been appointed as the new Commander, Security Force Headquarters – Jaffna (SFHQ-J), effective from Friday by the Commander of the Army. He is also to take over as the Colonel Commandant, Military Intelligence Corps beginning 10 Dec 2014. His predecessor, Major General Udaya Perera, has been appointed the Director General, General Staff at the Office of the more..

Nov 27 (AM) Kotikawatta – Mulleriyawa PS Chairman Prasanna Solangaarachchi has joined the common opposition to support Maithripala Sirisena's candidature at the upcoming presidential election. Solangaarachchi has made an official statement regarding his crossover at a UPFA local govt representatives’ meeting yesterday afternoon. During the meeting Solangaarachchi has confirmed that he would extend his support to the common candidate Maithripala Sirisena. more..

Nov 27 (CI) Tillakaratne Dilshan has been fined 25% of his match fee for excessive appealing during the first ODI against England, while Thisara Perera has been fined 20% of his match fee for a separate incident. Both players admitted to the Level 1 breaches of the ICC code of conduct. Dilshan's breach had occurred in the 30th over of England's innings, when he struck Moeen Ali on the pad as the batsman attempted to sweep. The raucous appeal from Dilshan was quickly turned down more..

Nov 27 (CG) Govt says activities of non-state actors and incidence of transnational crime in particular need to be closely monitored and guarded against and as such, improving the cooperation and collaboration between nations is essential. Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that one of the primary aspirations of all countries in the South Asian and South East Asian region is to maintain peace and stability for their more..

Nov 27 (GDI) A high profile business delegation from Brazil, consisting of twelve leading tour operators and destination promoters will be in Sri Lanka on a familiarization tour from 3rd to 10th Dec 2014. The tour is being jointly organized by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Brazil and Aitken Spence Travels of Sri Lanka. With increasing disposable income, Brazil is becoming an important source for global tourism, especially for Asian countries. According to Euromonitor International, more..

Nov 27 (Hindu) Alstom T&D India has been awarded a Rs. 56 crore contract by Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to monitor and control Sri Lanka’s electricity transmission network. Alstom will supply energy management system to enable reliable, secure and efficient operation of Sri Lanka’s hydro-thermal electricity system, the company said. It will build in Colombo a new National System Control Centre, equipped with supervisory control, data acquisition, and energy management system. more..

Nov 27 (AM) JHU General Secretary Champika Ranawaka today confirmed that the JHU would not support President Rajapaksa at the forthcoming presidential election. “We expect a positive response to our proposals from Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena,” Ranawaka said President rejected the 35 proposals presented to him by the JHU. “We are ready to work together with any group that agrees with our main proposals more..

Nov 27 (Island) The relationship and trade between Sri Lanka and Latvia have significantly developed over the last years, and we are aiming at further strengthening the ties between our two countries, Thomas F. Daetwyler, Latvia’s Consul General said celebrating the 96th National Day of Latvia on Nov 18. Sri Lanka’s coconut-based products and rubber exports to Latvia in 2013 amounted to US$ 8.6 million while tea and spices fetched US$ 27.04 million. Ceramic exports at US$ 27.57 million more..

Nov 27 (AM) Responding the remark made by opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and common candidate Maithripala Sirisena that the latter is still the General Secretary of the SLFP, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, newly appointed General Secretary of the party said such claims were nothing but frivolous. UNP Leader and Common Candidate said Siisena was still the General Secretary on the grounds that he was removed by President “illegally”. more..

Nov 27 (AM) Several Leaders of the SAARC region have extended wishes to President Rajapaksa for the upcoming Presidential Election in January, 2015. The leaders have made their wishes to President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Twitter social media while they were taking part in the SAARC summit in Nepal. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has tweeted, “"President Rajapaksa will soon go into (re-election) & I wish him good luck." more..

Nov 27 (Island) Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team Coordinating Centre has not come across a single online based terrorism activity in the country since the European Union Court’s decision to de-list the LTTE as a terrorist organisation last month, (Sri Lanka CERT|CC) Security Engineer Roshan Chandragupta said. He said that CERT remained alert round the clock. "We have a good cyber security system here in Sri Lanka and we have already signed MoUs with more..

Nov 27 (AM) Asian Mirror reliably learns that Western Provincial Council member Hirunika Premachandra and Minister Jeewan Kumaratunga has met common candidate of the opposition, Maithripala Sirisena, at his residence in Colombo and pledged to extend their support to him at the forthcoming presidential election. Sources close to Sirisena’s family confirmed that the meeting between the two parties has been successful. Premachandra, at a public meeting in more..