Oct 29 (DN) Attorney General has filed four reports in Court on the LTTE's former leader of the International Wing Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP, as directed by Court of Appeal consequent to a writ petition filed by the JVP. Additional Solicitor General Jayantha Jayasuriya appearing for the AG informed Court that the AG filed these four reports based on the information given by police on four occasions dated June 2, June 4, June 19 more..

Oct 29 (DN) Investigation can be carried out into the allegations against former Chairman of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption Jagath Balapatabendi, a high ranking official of the Commission said. The JVP lodged a complaint against the former Chairman of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, former judge of the Supreme Court Justice Jagath Balapatabendi. The JVP alleged that Balapatabendi received a vehicle more..

Oct 29 (DN) Director General for the Prevention of Bribery and Corruption Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe said that the Commission will recruit an additional 50 police officers to investigate into allegations of Bribery and Corruption. She said that the Commission needs more police officers for the smooth functioning of the Commission. Therefore, the Commission decided to recruit 50 police officers with immediate effect. IGP earlier took a decision to deploy these more..

Oct 29 (DN) Former SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickremasinghe has gone missing according to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Serious Financial Crimes. A group of commission members who visited Wickremasinghe's Mount Lavinia residence to deliver summons on him was told by his wife that she had not seen her husband for past 3 years. She had also refused to accept summons more..

Oct 29 (Island) Some people have all the luck. They are our parliamentarians. They live off the fat of the land at the expense of the taxpaying public though most of them lack even basic educational qualifications to be employed in the public sector as sanitary workers. Monday’s article on this page revealed that, in an Indian state, 255 PhD holders had been vying with 2.3 mn job seekers including 152,000 graduates for securing state employment as peons. more..

Oct 29 (Island) While there are many renewable energy plants by the private developers have been approved and should come on line shortly, the CEB itself is planning to install 100 MW of wind power in Mannar Island which is a step in the right direction. The balance potential in Mannar alone is reported as a further 275 MW. All these would add muscle to the National Grid instead of bringing in any more coal power plants. The roof top solar installations are rapidly growing. more..

Oct 29 (SL) Following last week’s expose in The Sunday Leader on how the state run SL Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) had incurred huge losses during the presidential election for providing advertisements for Mahinda Rajapaksa campaign, further revelations have now surfaced as to how the corporation funds amounting to several millions of rupees have been allegedly misappropriated by previous management. more..

Oct 29 (FT) Capital market industry will make a fresh push to woo investors based in UK via the Invest Sri Lanka forum in London today. The first to be held since the assumption of the new govt, Invest Sri Lanka forum at The Savoy Hotel, London is expected to draw over 100 institutional investors. London forum is being held just after a breakfast meeting in Zurich on Wednesday to promote SL’s new investment profile. more..

Oct 29 (Island) The JVP-led Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union (CTSU) will go to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka today against the limiting of the number of students passing the Grade V scholarship exam to nearly 20,000. CTSU General Secretary and JVP WPC member Mahinda Jayasinghe said that 51,152 students had passed the Grade V scholarship exam in 2014, but this year only 31,853 students qualified at the exam. more..

Oct 29 (ST) Seven reports compiled by the Udalagama Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCI) appointed in Nov 2007 by then President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to investigate and inquire into 16 alleged serious violations of human rights, were presented to Parliament, more than six years after they were completed and handed over to then President Rajapaksa. 8-member Commission headed by retired SC Judge Nissanka more..

Oct 29 (EN) SL's Western province which has the highest population and is most integrated with the world generated the highest gross domestic product of 42% of the total, while the Southern province grew fastest at 11.1% in 2014. Using new GDP data, which the central bank split into district levels, the Central Bank said the Western province grew the slowest at 5.9% including inflation compared to 7.3% from the whole country. more..

Oct 29 (DN) The megapolis development plan for the Western Province will be launched in February next year, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Champika Ranawaka said. He said the proposals of various sections of the society were being taken up in formulating the plan. The minister said the Cabinet granted approval to allow more time to discuss the plan and launch it by February. more..

Oct 29 (EN) Central Bank will is to allow banks and finance companies to give loans up to 90% of the value of a car, up from a recently tightened 70%, by an order to be released today, Finance Ministry said. Though Minister Ravi Karunanayake said the Central Bank, which is the banking regulator will relax the rule it did not happen, and a recent circular which limited the LTV value to 70% remained in effect. more..

Oct 29 (CG) Sri Lanka endorsed the Open Govt Declaration committing “to foster a global culture of open govt that empowers and delivers for citizens, and advances the ideals of open and participatory 21st century govt,” thereby becoming the newest participating country of the Open Govt Partnership (OGP). Sri Lanka is the only South Asian participating country in the OGP and joins other countries in the Asian region more..

Oct 29 (DM) Questions have been raised by different parties over the manner in which Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has handled a tender estimated to be worth Rs. 20 million to supply 200 cricket kit bags to schools and an e-mail exchange between one of the bidders and some SLC interim committee members shows how certain members of SLC interim committee had attempted to influence the tender process. more..

Oct 29 (CG) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe will make a special statement in Parliament on the 5th of Nov on Medium Term Economic Framework of the present govt. Along with the budget, the PM is scheduled to present the present Govt’s five-year plan to Parliament on Nov 5th. Special attention will be focused on the Govt’s future economic strategies as well as large scale investments Sri Lanka would secure. more..

Oct 29 (CT) Independent Trade Union Organization consisting 16 trade unions had a protest in front of the Colombo ILO office on Oct 26 against its support to the govt to amend labor laws to make hiring and firing easier. I understand that in response to this protest, a seminar is planned by the Ministry of Labor to outline the planned labor market reforms. Former SC Judge, Ms Shiranee Tilakawardane is named in the agenda of the seminar as the key presenter and it shows more..

Oct 29 (CT) The media this week carried a news item that tele-drama/film personality Jackson Anthony is to be summoned before the PRECIFAC probing alleged financial irregularities during the previous Rajapaksa regime, regarding the costs of performances at the opening ceremony of the Hambantota Port where huge sums had been paid to Artistes. The Contractor of that assignment had charged Rs 1.5 billion for the extravaganza which had choreography spearheaded by more..

Oct 29 (LBO) Stocks closed down at 0.34% on Thursday with losses in index heavy stocks after a two week high, brokers said. All Share Price Index closed down 23.96 points at 7,070.13 lower 0.34%. S&P SL20 closed 12.11 points lower at 3,827.89 down 0.32%. “Institutional participation continued with foreigners becoming set sellers,” Lanka Securities said. Turnover was 899 million rupees, down 1.1 billion rupees with 38 stocks closing positive against 100 negative. more..

Oct 29 (Island) The Puttalam Base Hospital (PBH) is faced with a grave shortcoming owing to the absence of a drug storage facility. PBH Medical Superintendent, Dr S. Attanayake, contacted by The Island, said that the situation had forced the hospital to store drugs on the corridors of the Out Patients Department (OPD). Some patients sat on boxes containing drugs while waiting in the queue and there had been instances where attempts were made to open them. more..

Oct 29 (AD) Police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters blocking Ward Place and causing a traffic jam. The protest march was organized by the University Student to pressurize the govt over several issues within the universities. However, as the students attempted to march towards the University Grants Commission (UGC), they were stopped by the anti-riot squad and later police fired tear-gas and water cannon, more..

Oct 29 (Island) A 30-year-old woman was remanded till November 11 by the Hatton Magistrate on Tuesday for snatching Rs. 147,000 from her uncle and after slitting the 45-year-old victim’s throat in the Hatton town on Monday. The unmarried suspect, who was the victim’s niece, had been living with the couple in the same house at Welioya Watte. She had come from behind wearing a black coat and attacked the victim while the latter and his wife were leaving a bank after withdrawing the money. more..

Oct 29 (CG) A group of Sri Lanka tourists were among 22 people hurt when their tour bus overturned in a ditch in Ratchaburi’s Photharam district in Thailand this afternoon. The coach was returning from the Damnoen Saduak floating market when the driver lost control while overtaking another vehicle, careening into the gulch along Phetkasem Road in tambon Nong Pho, said Pol Lt Pradit Khongprem, at Photharam police station, who was alerted around 2pm on Thursday. more..

Oct 29 (DM) Former president Rajapaksa and former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella arrived at the PRECIFAC with regard to the non-payment of bills owed to state owned ITN. Rajapaksa, Keheliya and several others had been questioned regarding this matter on two previous occasions and both had averred that the party should be held accountable. more..

Oct 29 (CT) Several complaints concerning a group of individuals attempting to extort businessmen in the Anuradhapura area to finance the bail applications of those arrested in connection with the murder of Anuradhapura nightclub owner Wasantha Soysa, were received by the Anuradhapura Police on Tuesday. Accordingly, the police ascertained that the calls had been made from within a prison in the Colombo District. Apart from the complaints made to police, it was also reported that more..

Oct 29 (CT) Scientist Saraj Gunasekera of the Arthur C. Clarke Centre said, the precise place where the space debris, which academics say will crash off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, will fall and the exact time can be predicted only on 10 Nov. This object which is said to be about two metres in length is expected to plummet into the sea about 60 kilometres off Hambantota. Gunasekera added that it was not certain whether the phenomenon can be observed as and when it occurs. more..

Oct 29 (CT) President's Counsel Romesh de Silva appeared for a young Lawyer, W.K. Achala Priyadarshani before Colombo District Judge T.D. Gunasekera and submitted that her left arm was amputated on 23rd January 2013 due to the negligence of staff of the Colombo and Matara Hospitals. He said the plaintiff has suffered loss and damages which she estimated at Rs. 100,000,000 that she claims from Govt of Sri Lanka. more..

Oct 29 (CG) US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, Catherine Russell, who concluded her visit to Sri Lanka today, had talks with Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera. The Foreign Ministry said that Ambassador Russell also held talks with Chandrani Bandara, the Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs. Ambassador Russell discussed strategies to advance women’s economic empowerment and issues related to gender based violence. Prior to assuming this position more..

Oct 29 (DM) Actresses Upeksha Swarnamali and Ruwanthi Mangala arrived at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC). PRECIFAC will record their statements with regard to the investigations it is carrying out into a complaint about fraud and corruption at SriLankan Airlines. The Commission currently conducting investigations following more..

Oct 29 (Island) Former UNP Provincial Councillor and Chairman of Lanka Coal Co. (LCC) Limited Maithri Gunaratne alleged that the govt was playing politics with the on-going investigations into alleged waste, corruption and irregularities during the previous administration. Gunaratne succeeded Menaka Liyanage at LCC. Attorney-at-law Gunaratne took exception to the appointment of PRECIFAC and FCID to more..

Oct 29 (AD) The Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate has ordered to prevent Iron Ranasinghe alias SF Loku Malli, who is said to be the main suspect in the Anuradhapura nightclub attack, from leaving the country, Ada Derana reporter says. The police have thus far arrested 20 suspects in connection with the murder of nightclub owner Wasantha de Zoysa. Alexander Wasantha Wickrama de Zoysa, an ex-Karate champion who is said to be the owner of several Guinness World Records, more..

Oct 29 (DM) Three more suspects including a naval rating attached to the Karainagar Naval base were arrested yesterday in connection with the killing of Anuradhapura nightclub owner Wasantha Soysa while 8 more suspects taken into custody on Wednesday evening were produced before Anuradhapura Additional Magistrate and Additional District Judge and remanded till Nov 9. ASP Ruwan Gunaseka said that the Navy had handed over the naval personnel to the Anuradhapura police more..

Oct 29 (CG) Govt is to seek compensation from India for the damage caused to Sri Lanka’s marine resources by Indian fishermen. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said the Govt will also not return the boats seized from Indian fishermen arrested for poaching in Sri Lankan waters. Amaraweera said that 54 boats seized from Indian fishermen as well as their fishing equipment are in Sri Lankan custody. more..

Oct 29 (DM) Former SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe has informed that he was abroad and unable to give a statement to the Presidential Commission PRECIFAC this Friday. The PRECIFAC said it was unable to hand over the notice summoning Mr. Wickramasinghe as he was not at his residence. Wickramasinghe was expected to report to PRECIFAC at 9.00 a.m. on Friday in connection with a complaint regarding irregularities at the SriLankan Airlines Catering Service. more..

Oct 29 (LBO) Sri Lanka will enter into a memorandum of understanding between the ministry of agriculture of Sri Lanka and the ministry of agriculture and land reclamation of Egypt to obtain arid climate resistant fruit species, particularly planting materiel of orange species, along with the technology applicable. Accordingly it has been planned to establish fruit cultivation in arid areas in Sri Lanka including the North and East. Egypt situated centering the Nile River more..

Oct 29 (CG) The joint opposition today questioned the state of democracy in Parliament saying that the Govt is now controlling the activities of the House. NFF leader MP Wimal Weerawansa said that even the JVP is being controlled by the Govt. He says even the State sector is in disarray as no one wants to give directions fearing if the Govt changes then they will be hauled before the FCID and be questioned on corruption. more..

Oct 29 (CI) At a meeting in Singapore on Tuesday, it was decided the Asia Cup will be held in Bangladesh for the third consecutive time. The five-nation regional tournament featuring the hosts, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and an Associate, will begin on February 24 and the final will be held on March 6. With the World T20 scheduled to begin five days later, the upcoming edition of the Asia Cup will be the first that includes Twenty20 contests as well. "Pakistan raised the point that Bangladesh more..

Oct 29 (LT) People like us living in countries in Asia has an attachment to lands that goes beyond the possession of assets says the Leader of the JVP Anura Dissanayaka. He said people in various areas inn eh country are confronted with a land crisis adding that the land issue in areas battered by the war should have been solved as soon as the war was over. However, the rulers have brought about strain, anxiety, or suffering to the people in addition to the land issue added the JVP Leader. more..

Oct 29 (CI) A breakneck 193-run eighth-wicket stand between Carlos Brathwaite and Andre Russell transformed West Indians' position from dire to dominant in the Colombo practice match, which the visitors went on to win by 43 runs. Sri Lanka Board President's XI's chase was cut short by rain at 21 overs. Their response of 103 for 3 to West Indians' 318 was found to be well short via the Duckworth-Lewis method. more..