Dec 31 (DM) Sri Lanka and China are set to take a final decision on the proposed Colombo Port City as well as several other development projects at a top-level meeting to be held on Jan 6 between a high powered Chinese delegation and the Sri Lankan govt. A spokesman from the Ministry of Policy Planning, which comes under the purview of PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, said a top level delegation led by Advisor to Department of more..

Dec 31 (CI) Three SL rookies set the team's ODI series alight before Dilshan's slow-burn 91 provided the substance of their chase of 277. Sri Lanka's eight-wicket victory, achieved with 22 balls to spare, will bring some joy to a tour that had largely been disappointing so far. The apparent ease of the win, and the bright hands played by Danushka Gunathilaka, Jeffrey Vandersay and Dushmantha Chameera will instill a little hope, more..

Dec 31 (Island) The Department of Immigration and Emigration had not been informed of the man arrested last week with five different passports in his name, Deputy Controller Lakshan de Soysa said. "Customs have not reported the incident to us so far," he said. Wide media coverage was given to the arrest of a smuggler described as a personal assistant to the Minister Abdel Halim Mohamed Hasheem by the Customs at BIA. more..

Dec 31 (Island) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya ruled out the possibility of members of parliament being paid a staggering daily attendance allowance of Rs. 20,000 beginning next year instead of the current Rs. 500. Asked whether the govt would grant such a huge payment regardless of strong resentment expressed by sections of the public, Speaker Jayasuriya said: "Of course, various people have made suggestions pertaining to perks more..

Dec 31 (CT) As one passes through Meethotamulla, Kolonnawa one sees a mammoth visage as of a huge camel against the skyline and a damnably and unbearably suffocating, asphyxiating stench emanating from that Camel of Kolonnawa! There's a Jewish proverb as well as an ancient Sinhala saying about Straining out a gnat and SWALLOWING A CAMEL! Gnats are little winged fly-like creatures which fall into water and have to be strained out before drinking that water. more..

Dec 31 (CT) It is essential to try to go deep into the actions and politics of the NPC, led by TNA’s breakaway group centred around the CM, C.V. Wigneswaran and assess the inherent dangers. Separatist ideology and an attempt to return to the barren politics of the LTTE can be seen in every one of their actions. If this is not identified and exposed, once again the Tamil people will be forced to take the road to disaster and Sri Lanka will be plunged into another civil strife for decades. more..

Dec 31 (Island) The JVP has, in media statement, vehemently condemned the Administrative Court of Kiev for banning the Communist Party of Ukraine (CPU) at the request of Ministry of Justice of Ukraine. The statement says: "The aim of this decision is to prevent official functioning of the party, its participation in elections, right to demonstrate and to organize the people to win their rights. "We condemn the judgment given against a democratically functioning historical party like more..

Dec 31 (CT) The National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection (NMCRP) criticized Director General of Health Services, Dr. Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala for stating that the use of coconut oil should be curtailed during this festive season. Is the reason for the rise of non-communicable diseases solely the use of coconut oil? Writing to Dr. Mahipala, Chairman of the NMCRP, Ranjith Withanage queried. What is one to use as a substitute for coconut oil? He questioned. more..

Dec 31 (DM) The Colombo Magistrate’s Court today ordered the television stations which covered UNP MP Hirunika Premachandra’s news briefing -- on the abduction of a man at Dematagoda -- to hand over their video footage to the Police. This order was given in sequent to a motion filed by the Wellampitiya Police requesting that the video footage of the news briefing be handed over to them to be forwarded to more..

Dec 31 (DM) Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya today permitted Former Cabinet Minister Johnston Fernando to go to Singapore with his wife from January 4 to 7 to take treatment to his wife. Mr. Fernando filed a motion in Court through his instructing attorney Mary Dickman to grant him permission to go to Singapore. Mr. Fernando was on bail with regard to five bribery cases filed against him by CIABOC for non-declaration of Assets. The Commission stated that the former minister more..

Dec 31 (CI) Kane Williamson usually navigates even Sri Lanka's best deliveries with ease, so when he crossed fifty for the seventh time in 10 ODI innings, he seemed set for a straightforward march to triple figures. But even the best players are capable of giving it away. Williamson came down the track to convert a full Milinda Siriwardana ball into a full toss. Then, having given himself the option of hitting the ball anywhere, Williamson slapped it straight to mid-on. more..

Dec 31 (PTI) SL is in no dire need of emergency funding as the country's economy fared well in 2015 with reserves on a sound footing, Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran said. "Our reserves are comfortable at this point. We have over four and a half months of imports, admittedly some of that is borrowed but the country is in no dire need of emergency funding," he said, presenting his end of the year report today. more..

Dec 31 (CI) 12: Consecutive home ODIs won by New Zealand before this defeat by eight wickets. Their run began with a seven-wicket win over Pakistan in Wellington on Jan 31, 2015. Unbeaten streak included two matches against Pakistan, eight World Cup games and the first two matches of the ongoing series. Previous longest winning streak at home lasted eight matches across 2007 and 2008. longest such streak for New Zealand at home was their eight wins across 2007 & 2008. more..

Dec 31 (PTI) 29 fishermen from Nagapattinam district in TN were today detained by Sri Lankan naval personnel when they were fishing off Trincomallee coast. The navalmen also took their three boats along with them, according to Joint Director of Fisheries Department, Subburaj. He said that the fishermen from Akkaraipettai in Nagapattinam district, along with their boats, had been taken to an army camp in Trincomallee, adding, they have been detained there. more..

Dec 31 (CG) TNA today expressed satisfaction with the decision taken by the Govt to free land held by the military in parts of the North. A TNA statement welcomed the release of 701 acres of land occupied by the military in Valikamam North and East. TNA said that the land was released after TNA leader R. Sampanthan made a request to the President when the President visited the North recently. more..

Dec 31 (Island) The writ application filed by the Avant Garde Maritime Services Pvt. Limited and its Chairman, retired Maj. Nissanka Senadhipathi, was called before the Court of Appeal yesterday, and fixed for Support on Jan 19, 2016. The petitioner has complained that a licence was not issued for 2016 enabling them to continue to retain the firearms owned by them. The petition said since 2002 his company had been in the possession of firearms with the permission of Ministry of Defence. more..

Dec 31 (Reuters) SL's main share index fell 5.5% this year, but ended firmer at a more than one-month high on Thursday in thin trading due to the holiday and investors awaiting the impact of a hike in commercial banks' statutory reserve ratio (SRR). Central bank on Wednesday raised the SRR by 150 basis points to 7.5%, to stabilise a rupee hovering near record lows and slow private sector credit growth. The main stock index recouped early losses to end 0.35% firmer at 6,894.50, more..

Dec 31 (PSL) President Maithripala Sirisena recalled that the Buddhist Philosophy still exists in our country due to the great commitment of the Mahasangha and said that the followers should take example from the pioneers regarding these good values and perpetuate them. He made these observations participating in the 100th birth anniversary celebrations of the Most Ven. Davuldena Gnanissara Mahanayake Thera, more..

Dec 31 (DN) Legal action will be taken against all institutions operating without licenses, which come under the new Atomic Energy Act, Power and Renewable Energy Ministry sources revealed. The Ministry sources revealed that the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council (SLAERC) will issue these new licenses with effect from January 1, 2016 under the new Act. Sources also revealed that the issuance of these licenses have already begun. There are around 500 institutions, more..

Dec 31 (DM) Two policemen and a car driver who were shot at by a man at Bulugaha Junction in Kelaniya were admitted to the National Hospital this afternoon, Police said. They said a car and a lorry had collided at the junction before the police officers arrived at the scene. “The two drivers had come to an agreement but a man from among the crowd gathered near the junction had shot at the car driver. The injured car driver had fled the scene. When the police officers arrived to more..

Dec 31 (DN) On the advice of Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Education Ministry has taken several measures to maintain transparency in the Grade One admission process. Accordingly, principals are advised to display the final list of selected students for Grade One and waiting list in schools for a certain period continuously. Besides, selection procedure including the marking scheme relating to each admission category more..

Dec 31 (DM) Budget allocation for the ministries under the purview of the Western Provincial Council Including its Health Ministry was passed unanimously today. Health Ministry’s budget was defeated on December 22 by a majority of 22 votes with 45 councillors voting against and 23 voting in favour. Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Chief Minister Isura Devapriya, who took over the Health Ministry following its budget defeat, said today’s voting proved the unanimity of the councillors. more..

Dec 31 (EN) Sri Lanka's inflation slowed to 2.8 in the 12-months to December 2015, down from 3.1% in November, the statistics department said. Prices rose 0.3% during the month with the Colombo Consumer Price Index rising to 185.2 from 184.7 points. Food price inflation slowed to 0.8% during the month from 3 percent in November. The statistics department said year-on-year inflation of the Food Group fell to 4.2% in December 2015 from 5.2% in November 2015 while more..

Dec 31 (DM) High speed internet access in Sri Lanka would not be affected and instead, the Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure Ministry was taking measures to increase the internet speed through FBH (Fiber to Home), Minister Harin Fernando said yesterday. In a tweet, the minister said “Internet broadband speed will not be affected instead we are in the process of strengthening it through FBH (Fiber to Home) soon to all,” more..