Dec 11 (DM) Demonising other communities is a comfortable way to be popular for many politicians in the South as well as the North. Various issues related to the long-drawn ethnic problem crop up occasionally as if to help them carry on their confrontational politics. The issue pertaining to the detainees arrested under the infamous Prevention of Terrorism (PTA) has now become the latest bone of contention for many politicians on either side of the ethnic divide. more..

Dec 11 (SL) Inaugural appropriation bill of the new govt that was presented in parliament recently has attracted both praise and criticism by many. Amongst the many controversial facts that are mentioned in the budget, reforms have been made to the fertiliser subsidy that is considered as one of the most discussed topics that have a direct impact on farming community. As a country that is heavily immersed in agriculture, farmers have always more..

Dec 11 (ST) Shopping complexes decked in bright lights and seasonal decorations are not drawing the usual Christmas shoppers because of new taxes that have seen prices of readymade garments going up and the general rise in the cost of living. Shopping malls in Colombo have introduced annual seasonal raffles, sales and discounts to attract consumers. But, most traders say that the purchasing power of consumer appears to more..

Dec 11 (CG) The British Foreign Office has issued an updated travel advice on Sri Lanka which takes note of the de-listing of two UK based diaspora groups. The updated travel advice issued today notes that on 20 Nov 2015, the Sri Lankan Govt published a revised list of organisations and individuals proscribed under SL law and the list no longer includes British Tamil Forum (BTF) or Global Tamil Forum (GTF). more..

Dec 11 (AD) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe says that the govt expects to hold the Local Govt election before the next Sinhala and Tamil New Year. However, as there are issues which need fixing when establishing a new electoral system, there is a difficulty is implementing it, he said in Parliament today. The PM also spoke about the importance of giving women a rightful place within this political system. more..

Dec 11 (Island) Engineering undergraduates of the South Eastern University yesterday protested opposite the Higher Education Ministry and the UGC against a shortage of lecturers at the three-year-old faculty. President of the Engineering Faculty Students’ Union Ashan Karunaratne said that their faculty had been started in 2013 to cater to the double batch admitted to universities due to Z-Score fiasco in 2011. more..

Dec 11 (Island) The GMOA refuted allegations leveled against them by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament on Wednesday stating that it was an apolitical organisation. GMOA Spokesman Dr. Navin de Soysa said that unlike Prime Minister Wickremesinghe the union could not take cover behind Parliamentary privileges to defend itself. "We have only the power of our membership by way of our defence," he said. more..

Dec 11 (CI) Where runs had flowed and wickets tumbled as a result of NZ's assertive batting approach on the first day, cricket was played at a slower pace on the second at University Oval, but was no less intense. Change in tempo was brought about by a battle of patience between NZ's attack, which moved the ball in both directions from accurate lines and lengths, and two SL top-order batsmen determined to cut out risk. more..

Dec 11 (CT) The govt is preparing to amend legislation to revamp the Land Development Act. Amendments to the Act will possibly be presented in Parliament within the first quarter of 2016. Secretary to the Minister of Lands, Dr. I.H.K. Mahanama, said the Legal Draftsman's Department has been directed to have this amending legislation ready by January 2016 in time for it to be tabled in Parliament within first 3 months of next year. more..

Dec 11 (CT) The LTTE's international weapons procurer Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP) cannot be easily arrested because of the manner in which the previous govt arrested him abroad and brought him to Sri Lanka, Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said. He said this in response to a question raised by journalists as to why the govt is dragging its feet over arresting KP. Asked to comment on former Defence Secretary more..

Dec 11 (Island) Strikes, pickets, demonstrations and trade union actions could not topple a govt and that was a task only people were equal to, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said in Parliament. He said that a few demonstrations by politically motivated trade unions would not level a knockout blow to the govt elected by the people. Wickremesinghe said that govt had increased the salaries of public employees more..

Dec 11 (Island) Fixing a date for the taking of no-faith motion against Minister Ravi Karunanayake was now up to the party leaders, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya told Parliament. The matter should be taken up at the party leaders’ meeting and a date for the debate should be decided there, he said. He made this observation after the govt and opposition engaged in an argument over the matter. Minister Lakshman Kiriella said that the actual passage of no faith motion against the Finance Minister more..

Dec 11 (Island) A draft bill seeking to make private sector employers increase the salaries of their employees by Rs. 2,500 had been sent to the Department of Legal Draftsman, Minister of Labour and Trade Union Relations W.D.J. Seneviratne told Parliament. Participating in the committee stage debate on budget proposals under the expenditure heads of his ministry, the Minister said: "We have requested the private sector employers to raise the salaries of their employees by Rs. 2,500. more..

Dec 11 (Reuters) Sri Lankan shares edged up on Friday to end a five-session losing streak as investors picked up battered banking and beverage shares, brokers said. The main stock index ended up 0.12% at 6,832.35, edging up from its lowest close since March 31 hit in the previous session. The index fell to a more-than-eight-month low on Thursday as investors turned cautious going into the holiday season and ahead of an interest rate decision by the U.S. Federal Reserve. more..

Dec 11 (CT) Nothing gains humanity's criticism as well as affection more than the monsoon rains that falls at the end of every year. The rain that falls has its share of songs from plays to dramas and to movies touching the humanity in such a way that it makes most of us poetic and romantic about it. Rain has been used as a powerful tool to portray love, sex, romance and passion as well as loneliness, sadness and downright despair. From our own local popular poets such as H.M. Kudaligama more..

Dec 11 (CI) In August this year, SL lost half their side for less than 110 in five of their six Test innings against India. In the previous series, against Pakistan, Yasir Shah and company had spun out, reverse-swung, and metaphorically undressed them. Sri Lanka batted a little better against a modest West Indies side [see current score of Hobart Test] in October, but even in that series lost 6 for 29 to Kraigg Brathwaite, who had had three more..

Dec 11 (CT) This is the most difficult subject in economic governance. It is not commonsense. Due to its highly technical nature I honestly regret that I will not be able to discuss the technical details as to how I would propose to reform the monetary system. Yet, I need to convince my readers as to what I am proposing to do differently. In this regard I could not figure out a simple methodology other than submitting an open challenge. For opting to this approach I humbly apologize to more..

Dec 11 (CI) 2.51: The run rate on the second day in Dunedin: 219 runs were scored in 87.1 overs. On the first day, 419 runs were scored in 90 overs at rate of 4.54 runs per over. There were 23 maidens on the second day, compared to seven on the first. 19.05: Sri Lanka's average opening stand in Tests in 2015, their second-lowest in any year where they have had ten or more partnerships. In 2006, they averaged 18.60 in 21 innings. This year their openers have had only one fifty-plus stand more..

Dec 11 (Island) Minister Dr Rajitha Seneratne told Parliament that Sri Lanka’s first heart transplant operation would be performed very soon. Participating in the committee stage debate on budget proposals under the expenditure heads of the ministry of health, he said that liver transplant surgeries in the country had been begun on March 2, this year and arrangements had been made to conduct heart transplant surgeries soon. more..

Dec 11 (CT) PRECIFAC case against Rakna Araksha Lanka Ltd (RALL) will continue to be heard in an open Court session today. Secretary of PRECIFAC Lacille de Silva said that the Court proceedings that commenced last Thursday and Friday will continue today, and 22 and 23 Dec. PRECIFAC commenced investigations into the financial irregularities that had occurred in company, as well as its attachment with the Ministry of Defence during the previous administration. more..

Dec 11 (AD) Parliament proceedings were suspended for 10 minutes, a short while ago, due to a tense situation which had prevailed as a result of a heated argument between several MPs and a physical confrontation. Certain opposition MPs allegedly attempted to assault Mujibur Rahman inside the chambers while he was delivering a statement regarding the death of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen. As the UNP MP was expressing views regarding controversial issue, more..

Dec 11 (CI) ICC has clarified that Kusal Perera's positive sample had been taken on Oct 12, and not during the Pakistan series, as a Sri Lanka Cricket statement had earlier said. Perera was withdrawn from Sri Lanka's ongoing tour of New Zealand after being provisionally suspended on Monday, and is currently in Sri Lanka mulling his response to ICC's Notice of Charge. "The sample Perera provided in an out-of-competition test, more..

Dec 11 (EN) Sri Lanka will soon offer aircraft parking services from the country's second international airport in Mattala, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said. State-run Airport and Aviation Services making loan repayments of 2.5 billion rupees a year for the Chinese built and financed airport, he said. There were 576 workers in the airport but aircraft movements are few and far between. "We want to offer aircraft parking services, at this airport," he told parliament on Dec 9. more..

Dec 11 (OS) Sri Lanka opener Dimuth Karunaratne felt he missed a golden opportunity by failing to score a big century against New Zealand on Friday. Karunaratne was dismissed for 84 by Mitchell Santner on day two of the first Test in Dunedin as the tourists closed on 197-4 in reply to 431. The 27-year-old has made three centuries in his Test career and was left to rue failing to reach three figures again in batting-friendly conditions at University Oval. "It's a pretty good wicket. more..

Dec 11 (DM) The FDIC has summoned the Former Governer of Central Bank, Ajith Nivard Cabraal and UPFA Johnston Fernando today. Cabraal was summoned to record a statement regarding an irregularity of tender process and Fernando was questioned over a complaint regarding Mahapola lottery. According to the complaint against Fernando, the alleged financial irregularity has taken place when Mahapola more..

Dec 11 (Globes) IDB Development Corp. (TASE: IDBD) unit Israir Airlines and Tourism Ltd. has applied to the Israeli Ministry of Transport's Civil Aviation Authority to operate direct charter flights between Israel and Sri Lanka. Globes has also learned that Israir CEO Uri Sirkis, who returned this week from a visit to Sri Lanka, will meet with Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Israel on the subject. There are currently no direct flights between Israel and Sri Lanka. more..

Dec 11 (DN) A batch of 83 Sri Lankan housemaids stranded in Kuwait due to various problems taking refuge at the Sri Lanka Embassy in Kuwait flown to Sri Lanka on the intervention of Foreign Employment Minister Talatha Atukorale, arrived at the BIA by Sri Lankan Airline Flight UL 23D at 6.45 am on Wednesday. Minister Atukorale met the housemaids at the Sri Lankan Embassy during her visit to Kuwait on September and directed Embassy officials to send them back to SL as requested by them. more..

Dec 11 (ICC) ICC on Friday announced the groups and schedule of the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016, which will be staged across eight venues in India from 8 March to 3 April. A total of 58 tournament matches, including 35 men’s matches and 23 women’s matches, will be played in the 27-day tournament in Bengaluru, Chennai, Dharamsala, Kolkata, Mohali, Mumbai, Nagpur and New Delhi. New Delhi and Mumbai will host semi-finals more..

Dec 11 (DN) Former SLBC Chairman Hudson Samarasinghe yesterday arrived at the PRECIFAC. He had been summoned by the PRECIFAC to record a statement with regard to a complaint about an alleged malpractices in the Coconut Development Authority. The PRECIFAC previously summoned former Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Minister Jagath Pushpakumara, his wife and officials attached to the Coconut Development Authority to record more..

Dec 11 (DN) 25% of all the elected representatives of the local govt institutions would be comprised of women, under whatever system the polls is held, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe assured in Parliament today. He said that the motion related to this move would be presented in Parliament in January next year. PM made these observations after informing the House that the Gazetted notification for the amendment with regard to the 25% women representation was to be issued later in the day. more..

Dec 11 (AP) About 100 colleagues and family members protested outside Fort railway station on Thursday to urge the govt to conduct a new investigation into the fate of two activists who disappeared four years ago. Activists — Lalith Weeraraju and Kugan Muruganandan — went missing on Dec 9, 2011, while organizing a news conference to mark Human Rights Day in the country's former civil war zone in the north. more..

Dec 11 (CG) US Under Secretary of State (Designate) for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon is to arrive in Sri Lanka on Monday, the Foreign Ministry said. Shannon will have talks with Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, among others, during his visit. The US Embassy in Colombo said that Ambassador Shannon will meet with senior govt and parliamentary leaders, business leaders, and civil society, as well as tour a USAID-funded livelihoods project in the Eastern Province. more..

Dec 11 (AD) FSP political committee member Premakumar Gunaratnam, who was arrested and remanded for visa violations, has been further remanded till Dec 18 by the Kegalle Magistrate’s Court. The court had rejected the bail plea of Mr Gunaratnam when he was produced before the court Nov 27, under Section 45 of the Immigration and Emigration Act. Therefore when the defendant was produced before the court once again today, he was ordered further remanded till Dec 18. more..

Dec 11 (EN) A citizens group has expressed concern over a special which is expected to give more powers to the State over the people in a bid to build a megapolis in Western Province. Group said it was clear from statements made by Megapolis Minister Champika Ranawaka and other reports that a law was being drafted to give special powers to plan and implement the megapolis project. "We are concerned about the scale more..

Dec 11 (DN) A lawsuit filed by well-known novelist Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara seeking an order requiring UN Resident Coordinator Subinary Nandy to admit in writing that the investigations against Sri Lanka authorized under a resolution in March-2014 is illegal was today dismissed by the Colombo District Court. While ordering to set aside the lawsuit, Judge observed that UN Sri Lankan representative has diplomatic immunity to keep away from Court regarding the said matter. more..

Dec 11 (AD) President Maithripala Sirisena has encouraged suspended wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Janith Perera to stay strong and face the future with courage. Perera was recently withdrawn from the New Zealand tour squad after being tested positive for a banned substance. “I phoned @KusalJPerera this evening, and encouraged him to stay strong and face the future with courage,” he wrote on Twitter. Perera’s shock suspension after failing a drugs test, more..

Dec 11 (DM) Former minister Johnston Fernando today alleged that the current govt had sold Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) which was worth about Rs. 10 billion for a mere Rs.400 million without calling for tenders or without Cabinet approval. He revealed this to the media when he reported to the FCID to give a statement over an incident with regard to Mahapola Lottery. more..

Dec 12 (CT) While I sit down to prepare this message on 9th of Dec this year in time for the World Human Rights’ Day declared for 10th of Dec, an important fact comes to light. During the early part of this year UN General Assembly had adopted 9th of Dec for the first time as the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime. Remembering all those victims of Genocide I proceed to prepare this Message. more..

Dec 12 (SL) An end seems to be in sight for the political prisoner issue with the Govt saying it will consider a General Amnesty for the detainees arrested for minor offences under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The detainees, Sunday Leader learns, had informed the Govt through their relatives last week that they will not accept another investigation but instead want their unconditional release. Govt had earlier said it will appoint a special commissioner to expedite more..