Oct 2 (Island) The GMOA is planning a showdown over permission granted to private medical students to undergo clinical training at state-run hospitals. It has written to Secretary Mrs. Sudharama Karunaratne, protesting against Health Ministry decision. GMOA Assistant Secretary said that GMOA had warned Mrs. Karunaratne not to go ahead with the move as the Health Secretary had violated the Medical Ordinance. more..

Oct 2 (AD) Kenya has agreed to chair the Group of 15 countries (G15) after Sri Lanka, the 30th meeting of the Ministers of Foreign affairs of the Group held at the sidelines of the 69th UN General Assembly has been told. Speaking during the meeting, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Secretary Amina Mohamed thanked the Group for the confidence they had shown and the role they had bestowed on Kenya to lead the Group. more..

Oct 2 (Island) SLMC leader and Justice Minister, Rauff Hakeem said that his party preferred a parliamentary election ahead of the next presidential election. Asked what would be his position in case the SLFP called for a snap presidential poll early next year, the Justice Minister said that his party would look at it, though he preferred a general election first. Both presidential and parliamentary elections are held every six years, more..

Oct 2 (NIE) Civilians in the North Sri Lankan Tamil-speaking district of Kilinochchi keep complaining about ubiquitous surveillance by the army and state intelligence agencies, and say that the former “war zone” is today an “open prison”. But security forces justify spying on the grounds that it was necessary to prevent the recrudescence of the terrorist LTTE and ensure a peaceful life. “What is ‘spying’ for you is ‘being aware’ for us. more..

Oct 2 (CT) Rajapaksas are creating for Sri Lanka an expressway to disaster. Sajin Vass Gunawardena–Chris Nonis incident symbolises the violent mores of Rajapaksa rule. The news of a woman of 103 being bludgeoned to death by a boy of 13 demonstrates the degree to which the larger society has become infected by the virus of violence. The BBS-Wirathu alliance foretells the violent future which awaits this country at Rajapaksa hands. Monitoring MP Gunawardena attacked more..

Oct 2 (LBO) Stocks closed 0.79% higher with the price gains of diversified John Keells Holdings amid strong foreign buying. All Share Price Index closed 57.97 points higher at 7,351.05, up 0.79%. The S&P SL20 closed 42.25 points higher at 4,107.36, up 1.04%. Turnover was 2.46 billion rupees, down from 2.65 billion rupees a day earlier with 124 stocks closed positive against 78 negative. Arpico Finance closed 2 rupees higher at 162.40 rupees with two off-market transactions of 365.88 million more..

Oct 2 (CT) Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK, Chris Nonis says that although he is unable to comment on the reports that are being circulating of him being assaulted by Sajin Vass, he is sure everyone knows of what happened to him. Nonis speaking to Newsfirst had made this statement and they the program’s Twitter handle updated this status a short while ago: “I can’t comment. I’m sure everyone knows. But I can’t comment at this stage. I’m a professional…”- Dr Nonis to #News1st more..

Oct 2 (Island) study has shown that around 400,000 people move through the City of Kandy on a daily basis, and the Kandy Municipal Council (KMC) has to spend Rs. 241 million annually for its waste management operations, Chandana Tennakoon, Kandy Municipal Commissioner Namal Dissanayake of the KMC said addressing a group of restaurant owners operating within city limits. "Not even some of the big cities in the world have so many people moving through them daily. more..

Oct 2 (IL) Sri Lanka has called on refugee receiving countries to expedite the processes of finalizing resettlement claims and to also assist UNHCR to enhance its resource capacity, in order to overcome present difficulties being experienced in Sri Lanka on account of rapid influx of refugees/asylum seekers. Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva and CDA a.i. Mrs. Samantha Jayasuriya in a statement to more..

Oct 2 (LBO) Sri Lanka has been invited to invest and set up firms in Malaysia by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, the investment promotion agency of Malaysia, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said in a media release. This invitation was made by the official of Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), when they met local businessmen at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce premises, during early this week. Officials from MIDA said that the Malaysian govt offers more..

Oct 2 (Island) Army had not prevented any outsider from fishing in the Iranamadu Tank, Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said. He said that fishermen there had formed a fishing society and its officials had taken a collective decision not to allow any outsiders to fish in the Iranamadu tank as its water level had decreased drastically. Answering a query on the houses and shops being rebuilt by the army in Beruwala and Alutgama following ethnic violence in those areas, more..

Oct 2 (DM) The UNP is in the process of devising a secret plan to ensure victory at the next presidential election, the party’s Elections Affairs Secretary Talatha Athukorala said. Ms. Athukorala came out with this statement in response to a question raised by journalists at a media briefing held at UNP headquarters Sirikotha on the two contrasting statements that have been made by Party General Secretary Tissa Attanayake more..

Oct 2 (DM) Flesh of dogs was mixed with venison and other wild animals in Hambantota, officials of the Wildlife Conservation Department said. Ranger Gunatunga said organised gangs were killing the drought stricken wild animals that flock to the tanks in search of water. He said venison was a savoury among pilgrims and tourists and that the racketeers had taken its advantage. He said the heads and offal of dogs killed had been found in the Damana tank reservation area. more..

Oct 2 (Island) Public Health Department (PHD) of the Colombo MC has resumed raids on restaurants of sports clubs after a lapse of two years. Acting Food Inspector, Lal Kumara said that food inspectors had acted on many complaints received by Chief Medical Officer of the PHD, about the low quality of food served in those places. Legal action had been taken against two leading sports clubs so far. There were more than 18 sports clubs in the city and PHD had been able to inspect 5 of them. more..

Oct 2 (DM) The Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) was capable of conducting laboratory tests to the internationally accepted standards to determine DCD (Dicyandiamide) levels in imported milk foods in order to ensure consumers - children in particular - not to consume contaminated milk products, Minister Champika Ranawaka said today. He said certain media outlets had cast doubt unfairly on the efficacy and the competency more..

Oct 2 (GDI) Spiritual leader of the Borah Community, His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin Saheb, made a courtesy call on President Rajapaksa, at Temple Trees on yesterday. The meeting was very cordial and the President mentioned about the last visit of his father His Holiness, Late Syedna Burhanuddin Saheb and his blessings for the country. His Holiness commended the great leadership of the President for his excellent work in the rapid development of Sri Lanka. more..

Oct 2 (Island) Lightning had killed four persons––two males and two females––at Kosnilgoda, Morawaka in the Matara District yesterday, DMC Assistant Director, Pradeep Kodipilli said. One of the victims had been using a mobile phone during a thunder storm, the police said. With yesterday’s four deaths, the death toll from lightning increased to six during the past 48 hours. Meanwhile, the DMC has extended disaster warning in several districts till today evening.

Oct 2 (DM) Police said today that they had informed the woman who was allegedly assaulted by a policeman at the Ratnapura Bus Stand to come to the police and make a statement so that she could be referred to a medical check up and to provide details to the courts. Two teams were investigating the incident. One team is investigating to take necessary disciplinary action against the police sergeant. more..

Oct 2 (Island) The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCOESL) held a seminar in the Kilinochchi district on Wednesday to create awareness among young farmers and fishermen in the North of how they could link up with exporters in the South to usher in livelihood and economic development. Director, Trade Promotion National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) Shiham Marikar said Northern Provincial Minister of Agriculture, Agrarian services, Animal Husbandry, more..

Oct 2 (GDI) 'Colombo Children 2014' Art Exhibition was declared open by President Rajapaksa on Wednesday at the National Art Gallery. The exhibition displays 700 paintings selected out of the paintings submitted to the art competition. Colombo Children Art Exhibition is a programme organized by the Urban Settlements Development Authority under the Ministry of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities parallel to International children's Day & World Habitat more..

Oct 2 (AM) DP Leader Sarath Fonseka says it is disappointing that the political partiers of the opposition have failed to find a common candidate who can pose a significant threat to President Rajapaksa at the next Presidential election. He said that some Political Parties have chosen their candidates in order to fulfil their personal agendas. “It is the sole responsibility of all opposition parties to bring forth a common more..

Oct 2 (GDI) President Rajapaksa left the Island this afternoon for a visit to Italy and the Vatican on an invitation by the Holy See. He is accompanied by the First Lady. President will arrive at Fiumicino Airport in Rome in the evening. The highlight of the President's visit will be an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis I at Apostolic Palace which will take place on Friday. Thereafter President Rajapaksa will have talks with His Eminence Pietro Cardinal Parolin, Secretary of State and more..

Oct 2 (AM) CaFFE has stated that it is deeply concerned about the recommencement of the suppression of media in the run up to the presidential elections in 2015. In a media release, CaFFE stated today that the most recent attack on freedom of expression is the obstruction of a workshop for web journalists on cyber security, which was to be held on Sept 28, at Negombo. Around 20 web journalists, representing all leading websites operating from Sri Lanka, more..

Oct 2 (DM) Police today said the govt had been able to save at least Rs. 700 million of pension funds from being drawn through fraudulent means, due to raids conducted by the CID during the past three months. CID had conducted raids in several parts of the country including Kegalle, Gampola upper division, Nachchaduwa, Galnewa and Polgahawela where various incidents of major frauds had taken place relating to pensions. more..

Oct 2 (AM) Convener of ‘Movement for A Just Society’ Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha thera has said the common candidate for the presidential election has still not been decided. Sobitha thera said that if President Rajapaksa did not take steps to abolish executive presidency, a representative of the Movement for a Just Society would definitely emerge as the common candidate. “President Rajapaksa promised that he would abolish executive presidency and his ‘Mahinda Chinthanaya’ more..

Oct 2 (NDTV) Sri Lanka dumped defending champions Bangladesh from the Asian Games cricket through the luck of the toss after their semi-final was rained out on Thursday. Bangladesh, sent in to bat in overcast conditions, recovered from 6-3 to reach 59 without further loss in 11 overs when rain hit the Yeonhui cricket field to ruin the rest of the Twenty20 game. Match referee Venkatapathu Raju, took the two captains out for a toss where Lahiru Thirimanne called 'tails' correctly and more..

Oct 2 (DM) The three-member panel of foreign experts appointed by President Rajapaksa to advise the Commission on Missing Persons has not participated in the public hearings held during the past four days at the Pooneryn Divisional Secretariat Office. They had also not attended the public hearings held in Mannar. The three panelists -- Sir Desmond de Silva, QC (Chairman), Sir Geoffrey Nice, QC and more..

Oct 3 (CT) Vote in Uva has raised hopes for many: a possible defeat of Rajapaksa at a future election has built a certain momentum. It has generated discussion, debate, hypotheses and predictions. Electorate seems to have been awakened from a deep slumber. For an ecstatic UNP, it signals a probable opportunity of going alone and winning at the next election: It is possibly the best bargain for the party stalwarts. For the groups working tirelessly towards an opposition coalition, more..

Oct 3 (CT) Synergy is an important word in the subjects of management and business. A synergy is where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. In other words, when two or more people or organizations combine their efforts, they can accomplish more together than their accomplishments achieved separately. In mathematical terms, a synergy is where 2 + 2 = 5 not 4. The Oxford Dictionary defined the word synergy as “the interaction or cooperation of more..

Oct 3 (SO) If there is one thing the rubber growers talk of these days, it is the "Rubber Price". But unfortunately most of them do not realise that there is hardly any point in discussing the price, as we cannot influence it. Our production is less than 2% of the world rubber production and hence we are obviously price takers. If you look at the price of rubber for the period of 10 years from 1994, the increase is only marginal. more..

Oct 3 (NS) A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) is an organization that is neither a part of a govt nor a conventional for-profit business. Usually set up by ordinary citizens, NGOs may be funded by govts, foundations or businesses. Some avoid formal funding altogether and are run primarily by volunteers. The NGOs are highly diverse group of organizations. Some may have charitable status, while others may be registered for tax exemption based on recognition of social purposes. more..

Oct 3 (SL) If Colombo’s political manoeuvrings in the past week are to be an indicator, it looks like it has successfully checkmated Tamil Nadu. With the visits of two global economic giants, Japanese Premier, Shinzo Abe, and Chinese President, Xi Jinping, proving an opener to Sri Lanka’s current tryst with the Western world, one could say the Colombo administration won the first round quite impressively. It was clearly a jubilant Mahinda Rajapaksa who went to New York, and more..

Oct 3 (NS) Chinese President Xi Jinping’s historic visit to Sri Lanka earlier this month was widely seen as heralding a new chapter in bilateral relations between the two nations. During his visit, which was the first to Sri Lanka by a Chinese President in 28 years, Xi pushed for the country’s cooperation on China’s initiative to create a Maritime Silk Road (MSR) for the 21st century. The ambitious project aims to establish more..

Oct 3 (Island) Former TN Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa continues to be behind bars as the Karnataka High Count has put off hearing her appeal till early next week. Her lawyers staged a protest outside the court on Wednesday while her supporters took to the streets in TN. Special court judge, John D'Cunha, who sentenced Jayalalithaa, has been burnt in effigy and banners have been put up in Tamil Nadu condemning him and blaming the judiciary for being party to a political coup. more..

Oct 3 (LMD) MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe won LMD’s Sri Lankan Of The Year (SLOTY) award, back in 2007, for taking a gutsy stand on the state of the state and the spread of corruption in this country – despite being a ruling party MP at the time. He chaired the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) with aplomb, and blew the lid off corruption in govt and the public sector, both of which are partly funded by taxpayers. In our annual SLOTY interview that year, more..

Oct 3 (IPS) Sri Lanka will host the World Biodiversity Congress (WBC) Nov. 24-27. Given its long and active history of preserving biodiversity, it would be most appropriate for Sri Lanka to be the next host of this global event, which also marks the U.N.’s Decade on Biodiversity. The world is confronting massive threats to its biological resources due to climate change, pollution, agricultural chemical usage and pest control, more..

Oct 3 (FT) Recently, the Sri Lankan Government announced that the Cabinet has approved an environmentally-acceptable and economically-feasible solid waste management project to dispose of the solid waste collected in Colombo City and its suburbs. The proposal envisages the transport of collected garbage by train to a sanitary land-fill in Arukkalu in Puttalam District, to be buried in existing pits formed by the extraction of lime for the Puttalam cement factory. more..

Oct 3 (ST) It’s a funny world. Ten different people see the same peak of a mountain in ten different angles. It’s no different with cricket. There are hundreds of people who are involved with the game at different levels and all of them seem to be professing about the upliftment of the sport in the country. Yet, what really occurs in practice is different. For instance, take the majority of the dudes that scurry along the corridors of the Sri Lanka Cricket Headquarters at Maitland Place. more..

Oct 3 (Island) In this interview, Colombo district UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake speaks to C.A. Chandraprema about the new mood in the party following the good showing at the Uva PC election and the winning strategy for the forthcoming presidential election. "But remember that in a presidential system, running the race is not the victory. Winning is the victory. Getting 49.9% is not a victory. Getting 50.1% is a victory." more..