Oct 9 (Island) TULF General Secretary V. Anandasangaree urged the Maithripala Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government to accommodate even those political parties not represented in current parliament in proposed negotiations aimed at solving the national problem. Anandasangaree said that it would be a grave mistake on the part of the government to accept the four-party TNA as the sole representative of the Tamil speaking people. more..

Oct 9 (ST) Garbage disposal has been a major headache for Colombo which generates as much as 1,200 metric tonnes of rubbish every day. The dumping sites, some of them in the midst of residential areas, are also bursting at the seams. As the crisis aggravated, a new project to collect the garbage, transport it by train and dump it in a Sanitary Landfill in Puttalam emerged as a solution. But environmentalists are now raising serious more..

Oct 9 (ST) The fourth leading cause of death among children below the age of five, is accidents, a senior official of the Family Health Bureau said, while stressing these were preventable fatalities. These accidents include road accidents, home injuries and drowning. Around 600 children die of these various accidents annually, while around 270,000 are hospitalised, said Dr. Kapila Jayaratne, Consultant Community Physician- more..

Oct 9 (SL) If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher” – Late Indian President Abdul Kalam. However in Sri Lankan context, this axiom of this great personality cannot be applied as the very Appachchi of the nation has been plundering and pillaging the very economy more..

Oct 9 (Island) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament that the govt would not cancel the Central Bank transfers and it would further pursue its objective of creating a better banking service to the people. The PM, responding to a special statement made by MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardena, said: After the elections I met with the Governor and the members of the Monetary Board. more..

Oct 9 (Island) Opposition members of the UPFA yesterday walked out of the Chamber of Parliament protesting against what they called PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s use of unparliamentary language. The group of MPs who walked off were led by Wimal Weerawansa, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Udaya Gammanpila, Dullas Alahapperuma, Kumara Welgama, Johnston Fernando, Dinesh Gunawardena and Bandula Gunawardena. more..

Oct 9 (CG) The US State Department noted that the resolution on Sri Lanka adopted by the UNHRC last week, highlights the Sri Lankan govt’s efforts to advance respect for human rights and strengthen good governance since January 2015. A statement by the US State Department noted that the outcomes of the 30th Session of the UNHRC in Geneva underscored the importance of robust U.S. engagement at the Council, more..

Oct 9 (CG) A British company has denied claims it is being investigated by Sri Lanka over billions of dollars allegedly stolen from Sri Lanka by associates of former President Rajapaksa. Earlier this week, an investigation conducted by BuzzFeed News said that the offshore empire of the Lycamobile tycoon Subaskaran Allirajah is facing investigation as part of a sprawling international probe into allegations that more..

Oct 9 (Island) A large number of unemployed graduates took to the streets on Wednesday, in Colombo, demanding jobs. But, it is highly unlikely that such protests will jolt politicians into going hell for leather to solve their problem. A minister declared the other day that in the state sector recruitment priority should be given to party supporters! Successive govts have sought to solve the seemingly intractable problem of graduate unemployment by employing protesters in more..

Oct 9 (Island) The fact that the Govt did not exploit these internationally accepted provisions to restrict the impact of the OHCHR report, but instead, co-sponsored the resolution on Sri Lanka is to be deeply regretted. Since the findings in the report are not mandatory it may not be too late to reevaluate at least some of the principal findings since para. 1115 states that the "findings listed below are analysed primarily within the framework of international human rights law", when in fact more..

Oct 9 (CT) Sri Lanka over the past few years has turned into a prominent hub for drugs in the region. It is not a part of the govt but an unintended consequence of lawlessness. As a result, the number of youth in Sri Lanka getting addicted to drugs has seen a sharp increase. When it comes to the economics of drugs, they belong to the category of brown sugar which is mixed usually in a ratio of one to four or nine to one. more..

Oct 9 (Island) All Ceylon Nurses Union (ACNU) called for expediting the renovation work at the Cardio Thoracic Unit of the Kandy Teaching Hospital as the lives of cardiac patients were at risk. Chairman of the ACNU, Gamini Kumarasinghe said surgeries had stopped at the Unit over a month thought there were more than 1,000 patients awaiting cardiac operations besides 1,500 patients awaiting angiograms and other examinations. The delay in carrying out those tests and more..

Oct 9 (Island) Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne said that heart surgeries at some teaching hospitals had been suspended due to a tug of war among consultant doctors over theatres. Answering a query at the weekly Cabinet press briefing, the minister said heart operations at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle had been suspended due to a theatre issue which had been settled. He said that Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon Namal Gamage performed three open heart surgeries daily. more..

Oct 9 (DM) A new traffic plan will be introduced from Monday between 7.30 a.m. and 8.45 a.m. to ease the congestion in Colombo. Traffic DIG Amarasiri Senaratne said there was heavy traffic along Sri J'pura Road from parliament and Battaramulla towards Colombo. The most congested stretch has been identified as that leading from Welikada Junction to Devi Balika Vidyalaya because all buses enter Cotta Road via Welikada more..

Oct 9 (CT) JVP noted that the burning of the Jaffna Library evoked an empty space in the public's consciousness, adding also that prominent Ministers of the UNP administration at the time had been complicit in the act of arson. Party's Socialist Youth Union in commemoration of late revolutionary, Dr. Ernesto Che Guevara, donated books to the Jaffna Library which JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake and All Ceylon Estate Workers' Union Leader Ramalingam Chandrasekar handed over to more..

Oct 9 (CG) Govt of Japan will provide food grant assistance to the value of 240 million Japanese Yen (Rs. 275 million) to Govt of Sri Lanka through the World Food Program (WFP) to support their ongoing emergency program in Sri Lanka including the School Meals Program. The distribution of the food assistance will be supervised by the Govt of Sri Lanka. From 2012 to 2014, the Govt of Japan provided food grant assistance amounting to 500 million Japanese Yen to Govt of SL through more..

Oct 9 (CG) The European Union (EU) today welcomed the announcement by the Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha that Sri Lanka would vote in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution on a moratorium on the Death Penalty. A joint statement issue by the EU in Colombo said that the European Union, Norway and Switzerland oppose the Death Penalty in all circumstances. more..

Oct 9 (Reuters) Stocks closed at a one-week high on Friday, led by banking shares ahead of the announcement of Sept-quarter results, brokers said. Main stock index ended 0.15% higher, or up 10.41 points, at 7,096.06, its highest close since Oct 2. "We have seen buying starting to come in to market from retail and institutional investors," said Dimantha Mathew, a research manager at First Capital Equities. "Things looks a bit more positive ahead of the September quarter earnings." more..

Oct 9 (DM) Deshabandu Patrick Amarasinghe, former Chairman of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka and a veteran industrialist passed away on Friday at the age of 83. Amarasinghe, who was also the Founder President of the National Chamber of Exporters Sri Lanka and former Chairman of the Ceylon National Chamber of Industries, was known as Godfather-of- entrepreneurship in SL. He initiated the Annual Entrepreneur of the Year Awards scheme more..

Oct 9 (CI) Batting allrounder Milinda Siriwardana and 20-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Mendis have been named in Sri Lanka's squad for the two-Test series against West Indies. Siriwardana had been expected to make an appearance in the squad, having made an encouraging start to his international career in the limited-overs formats, in addition to top-scoring in the most recent first-class season. more..

Oct 9 (TD) Are Sri Lanka’s ongoing corruption investigations on a road to nowhere? The new government’s incipient steps towards transitional justice have received significant attention in recent weeks. Yet it’s important to keep in mind that widespread corruption was a serious problem during former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure and a hot topic during the presidential election last January. On the one hand, complex financial fraud investigations may take time. more..

Oct 9 (PO) Taking keen interest to purchase multipurpose JF-17 Thunder aircraft from Pakistan, Sri Lankan Air Force Chief Air Marshal Gagan Bulathsinghala will arrive here next month to further pushing the deal, diplomatic sources said. A co-production of Pakistan and China, the fighter aircraft have participated successfully in world’s reputed air shows including the recently held in Paris, attracting buyers from Asia and Africa due to its performance and competitive price tag. more..

Oct 9 (DM) President Maithripala Sirisena said today some media institutions were attempting to make him disappear politically even though the new govt had ensured media freedom by putting an end to the disappearances of journalists. The President said the media should report the truth with criticism through discussion and wisdom. He expressed these views at the 60th Anniversary celebrations of Sri Lanka Press Association more..

Oct 9 (CT) 117 workers, both men and women, recruited three months back to the Pulmoddai Ilmenite Factory were dismissed without any notice and reason given by the authorities. The dismissed workers staged a silent protest campaign demanding that they should be given employment. The workers had continued their campaign for the seventh day on Wednesday and were seen assembled opposite the Pulmoddai Ilemnite Factory. MPs, provincial councilors and social activists more..

Oct 9 (CT) The Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy sources said yesterday that the German Govt has come forward to provide financial assistance of 200,000 euros for the promotion of renewable energy in Sri Lanka. This was disclosed at a discussion held at the ministry by Ambassador Dr. Jurgen Morhard when he met the Minister of Power and Renewable Energy, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya on Wednesday. Agreement will be signed shortly between SL and Germany. more..

Oct 9 (AD) Sri Lanka has moved two places to sixth in the 2015 Global Impunity Index prepared by an international media watchdog on the basis of unsolved murders of scribes. Only 14 countries where at least five journalists have been murdered without a single perpetrator being convicted are included in the list. Index covers murders that took place between Sept 1, 2005, and Aug 31, 2015. “Sri Lanka moved to 6th place more..

Oct 9 (DN) Minister Thalatha Athukorala expressed confidence that she will be able to grant voting rights to Sri Lankan migrant workers within the next five years. She made this observation while addressing the media after a ceremony to introduce the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment new Chairman Rajpal Kumar Obeysekera. "Requests have been made by various institutions to pay our attention on this issue and discussions are currently on among the authorities to find-out more..

Oct 9 (CT) Deputy Inspector General of Police Amarasiri Senaratne in charge of Traffic and Road Protection said that legal action will be taken against beggars and vendors who hang around near traffic signals. These beggars who approach vehicles which stop near traffic lights appeal for money and some other persons will engage in selling things, the DIG replied when questioned by journalists at a special media briefing held at the DIG's office complex in Colombo. more..

Oct 9 (Island) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) sources stated that they had recorded losses during the past few months subsequent to the govt reducing fuel prices in January. Govt will consider reducing fuel prices to be on par with world market prices, but due to recurring losses registered by the previous govt, ‘We are hoping to introduce a special price formula to pass those benefits to the public, Deputy Minister Anoma Gamage said. more..

Oct 9 (NS) The International Cricket Council (ICC) today launched the official ICC Women’s Team Rankings, which incorporate results in all three formats of the game into one rankings system. Not surprisingly, Australia is ranked number one following its success in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2013 in India and the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 2014 in Bangladesh. It also leads the ICC Women’s Championship, which is the qualifying tournament for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017. more..

Oct 9 (AM) Constitutional Council (CC) decided on appointments to four Independent Commissions a short while ago. Accordingly, the members of the Public Services Commission, Independent Police Commission, Human Rights Commission and Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption were named. Their names will be forwarded to the President for approval. CC met for a meeting today to discuss the appointments to nine Independent Commissions. more..

Oct 9 (PTI) India and Sri Lanka should hold joint naval patrols to prevent fishermen from poaching in each others' waters, Sri Lanka's main opposition leader said today. Speaking during a debate on alleged poaching by Indian fishermen in northern Sri Lanka, opposition leader R Sampanthan said the incursions had also raised tensions between the two countries and should be resolved amicably. more..

Oct 9 (LBO) Sri Lanka’s state owned retail chain Lanka Sathosa aims to get support to revive from Singapore as the retail chain is making continues losses. Lanka Sathosa owned more than 310 outlets around the island. “We are restructuring LAKSATHOSA and are still experiencing monthly losses,” Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, has said. In 2014, Singapore became the fourth in exporting products and services to Sri Lanka representing 6.6% of Sri Lanka’s total imports. more..

Oct 9 (CT) Cabinet has approved the decision to resolve the many issues related to the introduction of the electronic National Identity Card (eNIC) and issue them for all eligible citizens within a period of two years. Although the Cabinet approval was granted to establish the National Register of Persons and to issue eNICs, the process has been delayed due to various technical difficulties, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said. The proposal to issue an eNIC with the authority vested with more..

Oct 9 (PMD) A Chinese delegation headed by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister called on President Maithripala Sirisena today (8) at the Presidential Secretariat. President, recalling the long term friendship between China and Sri Lanka expressed his satisfaction over the fullest support extended to him, by the Chinese President and the government, during his visit to China. President commended the Chinese support given to SL more..

Oct 10 (CT) If the Sri Lankan nation is to go forward, the polity needs to take the Tamils into confidence. They have to move together. The Tamils in turn need to act in a manner to inspire hope and reliance among the communities. With neither party taking the initiative, there is not even a glimmer for either. So too for other minorities. This writer has asserted this position consistently since the end of hostilities. Sheet anchor for unification is economic parity – of opportunity and reward. more..

Oct 10 (CT) In 2013, Governor of Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal invited Ruchir Sharma, head of Emerging Market Equities and Global Macro at Morgan Stanley Investments to deliver Central Banks 63rd Anniversary Lecture. Title of his lecture was Prospects of SL as a breakout nation. Lecture was attended by Senior Staff of the Bank, Academics and invited elite of commerce and industry. A few months earlier he had authored Breakout Nations: In search of Next more..

Oct 10 (SO) With rain and thunderstorms forecast to continue and the DMC contines to warn of landslide threats in Nuwara Eliya and Badulla regions. The safety of the people in the hill country, specially the plantation community is at grave risk. They are victims of two disastrous landslides in the recent past and as inhabitants of the treacherous hills, with no proper shelter, exposure to the inclement weather and more..

Oct 10 (NS) As the UK Permanent Representative explicitly stated when addressing the UNHRC on Oct 1, the US-UK resolution is firmly founded upon Zeid al Hussein’s report. As Zeid al Hussein made amply clear in his video statement to the Council a day earlier, Sept 30, his report contains at its core, the conclusion that war crimes, system crimes, of such magnitude and extent, were committed during our war that our judicial mechanism does not have the capacity to deal with them! more..

Oct 10 (NS) Whatever the form of govt, a monopoly of power in State would be the end of all civilised politics, whether it be the presidential executive or parliamentary executive. Constant experience has shown us that every man/woman invested with power is apt to abuse it to carry his/her authority as far as it will go. The more politicians want power, less it is about principles. As such the existence of a constitution does not mean automatically that there also exists a democratic system to go along more..